The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-19
BATTERY As HARDSHIPS
REPRESENTATIVE OvERsTREET is
ASKED TO INVESTIGATE.
More Letters Showing Apparent Crim-
inal CareIessness of the COM
missary Department.

The report in the Journal yesterday morn
ing from its correspondent with Battery A
In Porto Rico was read by many anxious
parents and relatives in indianapolis, for
it was the first word received from the
indianapolis artillerymen since they sailed
from Newport News July q, three weeks
ago. The press dispatches from Porto Rico
have been scanned in vain for any refer
ence to the battery, for the details of all
movements of troops in the island have
been meager. 1t is believed the boys from
this city have been close to the skrmishing
with the enemy, even if circumstances did
not give them an opportunity to participate
in the actual warfare.
The account of the hardships on the trip
to Porto Rico detailed by the Journals
correspondent was corroborated by other
letters received in the city after the publ
cation in the Journal. The criminal care
lessness which brought about such condi-
tons aroused a great deal of indignation,
not only among those who have relatives
in the battery, but among citizens gener-
ally. There was strong feeling that an
investigation should be made by the au-
thorities at Washington and the blame for
the conditions located. The impression was
general that the War Department bureau
having the commissary in charge was large
ly responsible. Last night letter was sent
to Representative Overstreet by friends of
the battery asking him to take up the mat
ter at Washington and insist upon an in
vestigation.
Frank M. Millikan yesterday received a
letter from his son, Harry B. Millikan, a
member of Battery A and one of the men
who was supposed to have been left at New
port News when the ship bearing the bat
terry sailed for Porto Rico. Young Mill
kan's letter was brief and does not indi-
cate that he was entirely left" The letter
appears to have been written on shipboard
off the coast of Porto Rico thirty-five miles
from Ponce. The letter is not dated. The
writer does not speak of his reported mis-
hap at Newport News. The letter is chiefly
devoted to a description of the manner of
signaling in the navy. Young Millikan re-
marks that he would like to be regularly
connected with the navy, and especially
during war times
Yesterday morning when the father of
Millikan read in the newspapers that his
son had been left at Newport News he was
very anxious until he received the letter
from his son later in the day. The writer
does not say whether he left Newport News
with the battery or what vessel carried
him to his destination. AT the time his let
ter was written the battery had evidently
not yet landed.
From letter received yesterday by ex-
Councilman Cooper from his son, W. r.
Cooper, a member of Battery A, it is con-
Jectured that Harry Millikan with three
other members of the battery, followed the
Roumanian on board the City of Washing
ton Under date of July %, few hours
after the battery had embarked, Mr..
Cooper wrote: I'VE left four of our boys
were Ed Gates, Harry Millikan, S. Mckee
and Fred Sanders. / think they will come
on the City of Washington. She will leave
this afternoon"
Mr.. Cooper, writing in midocean, says:
"Bookwalter is seasick. Lots of the boys
are sick, but l am feeling fine. We have
guard and police duty to do, just the same
as we did at Chickamauga. 1t is very warm
where we sleep, and the boys like to go on
guard. They get to sleep on deck.
To-day is Sunday, but you could not tell 1t
if you were on the boat Most of the boys
can't tell what day it is We are going to
have good dinner to-day. This is about
the first time we have had anything
good since we left Newport News, and then
we had to buy it. Most of the boys are
better. Bookwalter is we'll, and is
so happy he Is running about like a chicken
with it's head off. We have sighted a ship
to-day. 1t was reported on board that 1t
was Spanish boat, but in an hour we were
in two squares of it and they ran up the
American flag You ought to have heard
the boys cheering. The boat is only
making nine miles an hour