New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-02

Washington. Oct. 1.-Major-Genera J. ]. Cop
pinger has made the following report TO the War
Department:
Headquarters Of the Fourth Army Corps,
September q. 1895.
To the Adjutant- General Of the United States
General: ! have the honor to inclose the reports
received from division brigade and regmental
commanders Of this corps as to the quantity ana
quality Of supplies furnished the troops Of TINS
the beginning OF the war with Spain.
Subsistence Departmental my judgment me
paTiment was good. and the quantity ample;
The Regular troops lived we'll The volunteers, IN
TO the Ignorance OF inexperienced officers. who did
know how to procure and care for the ratlons:
10 cook them. | have been especially impressed
by the comfortable messing of Regular soldiers
close TO my headquarters, while volunteer HOOPS ~
the adjoining field were subsisting on chunks or
i-coOked beef and vile biscuit-an excellent held
up the Subsistence Department did well Inc
volunteer troops in many cases suffered for want
OF wholesome food because they ola not Kh"" NO"
to handle the ratiOns furnished:
Quartermaster's Department-Clothing camp ana
ty the natural result OF an effort to equip
some 225,co men when supplies mad been pre-
was much increased by the lack Of knowledge on
the part of the staff officers fresh from civil life
ignorant Of the methods and manner or supplying
an army. At Tampa the difficulty was again IN
creased by the crowded and congested condition
existing along the railroad tracks and storehouses
scattered the sands.
In many the men suffered from lack OK
clothing. when good supply was on lahd Wilmn
Ave miles Of their camps. The quality oil team
mules furnished by the Department was very good.
The treatment they received in many instances was
atrocious. Unframed and often brutal teamsters,
without proper wagonmasters serving und9' IN the
trained regimental quarteTmasters, aillu III, 1he :
TAMPA sandhls. under the burning sun, produced
f reS aud t db mfh mules Re Th wax the
outcome Of IA declaration OF war without organized
auartermasters who knew how to handle them
In my judgment the horses furnished our cavalry
Clothing-The United States clothing OF hand
nj the declaration of war was good ana satis-
emeprySncv was GOOD but some Of the dark blue
trousers and shirts were of poor quality. on the
can be attached TO the Quartermasers Department
in this matter. The khaki clothing, the best SER
as yet 1t is OF inferior quality. not well cut. |
failed to find in the quortermasters s,orehoHse ,
Medical Department-Whl many complaints
me to believe that the Sureeon-General mas a.-
cumstances IT is difficult to provide full sup
ply OF medical when troops are ordered sud
movements are accompanied by serious outbreaks
o, sickness. This difficulty was increased IN
mental brigade and division surgeons were entirely
new to military work. I am well satisfied that
NV corps ana was ably assisted by Chief Surgeon
Robert NJ. O'Reilly. to whose ability and energy ]
Ordnance Department.-At the outbreak of the
trouble with Spain we had about 43o Inen, IN
muniion' Few days after we were called on to
equip for The field some 2z5@o inen,-smply an i'm
Of these men in the ranks short of cartridges.
short OF cartridge belts. armed with muskets Of
Of place in a modern battle. For this have no
blame whatever 10 attach TO the Dhef OF pfdn4nce.
He was simply given an Impossible task. Very
respectfully. ,opn,,,crp
No,or corerol = { V Commandine