The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-26

Now York, August 2l.-The Hon.
Chauncey NJ. Depew has received
the following letter from Secretary
of War, and has consented to it's pub
lication. The letter, which was writ
ton in reply to n request for infor.
nation on the subject referred to, is
as follows
War Department, Washington,
August l3, 1893. My Depr Mr..
Depew: The great pressure of bust.
ness has up to now prevented me
from sending to you the statement
you were kind enough to ask for, rs
to what had been accomplished in
tho way of cutiitting the army for
the field, The conduct Of campaign,
etc. Also the chiefs of divisions
have been 10 much driven with work
10 compile the data required. One
not in the midst OF tho work cun
hardly roalize what an undertaking
it is to call 125,0o0 men into tho
field at ono time, coming from all
the State, and to have them muster
ed and gathered in camps on so short
notice, and this, too, when we bad
scarce any camp outfit. for their ac-
commodation, all having to be pro.
vided for, by the war department..
As you know, when war was de-
clared, there was no equipment what,
ever for the volunteers in store.
That this was successfully accom-
plished, with very few accidents, is a
matter of record. Subsequent calls,
including the regular army, (Which
numbered about $4,000 men when
war was dec)arcd,) made total Of
26S,8OO NOR, To accomplish ull IN
so short time hes been great
work. Of course gathering this vast
number Of mon together in a large
measure under untraioed regi-
mental and company commanders
mean in actual field duty-the lack
of knowledge as to the sanitary con-
ditions to be observed, the careless.
ness in not obsel 5ing instructions
which were furnished us to proper
care of the men, has added greatly
to the work Of the medical depart
ment. Thus from the homes of 21G,-
| 600 volunteers has been constantan
great anxiety rs to what might
happen to their soldiers, and hun
dreds of inquiries made by letters
and kilograms have been received
every day concerning individual sol
diers. The feeling on the part If
these individuals that the war de-
partment is responsible for the care
of their men individually has natnr
ally caused sympathy in case of sick
ness and death, and has created
much soTrow. There is nothing
| young men in robust health are SO
prodigal of rs their health, until it is
gone. Men 60 into camp feeling
that they can stand anything aud
everything, and cannot be made to
believe to the contrary until stricken
with disease. Every effort has been
made from the beginning to furnish
evory camp with all appliances ask
cd for, but, Of conrse, the command
ing otficeis in tho field are the ones
who have all the direct charge of
these men. For instance, ono army
corps commander has given orders,
and enforces them, respecting suni-
tary affairs, and he has today but n
fraction over 2 per cent on the sick.
list Others have been less success
full, and the consequence is typhoid
and other fevers have bepn bred
and spread to q considerable extent.
One regiment IN the Chckamauga
Camp has colonel who enforces
sanitary rules in his regiment, oblig-
ing the men to boil all tho water they
drink, keeping the camp cleanly, and
tho result is less than 25 sick, and
his camp, too, in rs unfavorable q
place rs any in tho command. Others
more favorably situated have ter
times that number on the sick list
One of the regiments of the last call
! not yet removed from it's State, send.