Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-22
INVESTIGATORS At ATLANTA.
Sick Soldiers at Fort Mcpherson Are All
Comfortably Situated.

Augusta, Ga, Oct. 21.-The war in
vestigating commission arrived here.
at IL O'Clock today, and after calling
upon Gen. Pennington, in command of
the department, proceeded to Fort Nc
Pherson. The only work to be done
here is in connection with the hospi-
tai at the fort. The members separa-
ted into parties of two each to visit
the various divisions of the institution
They found that the barracks at the
post had been transformed into hos
pital wards and notwithstanding the
wet day the wards We're all found to
be comfortable and warm, made SO in
each case by large stove in the CEN
tire of the room. There are now 800
patients in the institution and many of
them are convalescent
The commissioners talked with sur
geons. nurses and patients. They en-
countered no complaint from the sick
men and the nurses stated that the
work was constantly growing less and
less irksome, owing to the decrease in
the number of patients. They also
visited the mess halls of the GONZALES
cents while they We're at dinner and
the diet kitchen while dinner was be-
ing prepared. They found the men in
the mess room abundantly supplied
with. food and all partaking of it with
relish known only to men who have
just recovered from typhoid fever.
The commissioners examined only two
witnesses here. They were Major Blair
B. Taylor surgeon in charge of the gen
eral military hospital here, and Rev. Or
willie / Nave rbaDlajp of
Both appeared at the afternoon session of
the commission. Major Taylor related
the history of the hospital from its in
ception. He said that recently he had
no difficulty in securing supplies, as he
had been given carte blanche to purchase
them. This authority, however, had not
been given until the first of August,
whereas it had been asked for as early
as the 18th of June. He had in the be-
filled, although he had no difficulty in
getting them approved by the authorities
the 18th of May and another on the 24th
of June had not been entirely filled until
very recently. These requisitions had
been made upon the New York supply de
pot, while all that were made on the ST
Louis depot had been promptly filled. One
hundred and sixteen cots ordered in the
now needed. DR.. Taylor had, on account
| of delay in filling these requiSitiOnS beer
compelled to call upon the surgeon gen
eral for a portion of his special fund ano
had thus prevented any suffering among
patients. Among the articles in which
there was delay was bed linen
| DIR. Taylor said he had found that G.
cents day Communication fund was more
than sufficient to furnish food for the
sick men, and expressed the opinion tina
40 cents per day would be sufficient fol
the purpose of supplying food. DR.. Tay
| lor stated that he considered Atlanta al
excellent place for Il winter hospital.
| Rev. Orville J. Nave said he had visited
every patient who had been in the hos
pital and that he had never heard sin
gle complaint from man who was pos
sessed of his reason, while on the con
trary he had heard many expressions o
gra titude for the excellent conduct of tn,
| hospital He said: 1.-The thieving which
has been going on and the petty pecula
ton which has been practiced upon sol
diers oftentimes by their comrades ha!
been one OF the saddest features of tn,
war. While the bodies of patients wer,
fcarefully guarded, their property wa.
| not
| Chaplain Nave said he had seen som.
of the surgeons at the hospital under tn,
Influence of liquor, but not 10 a sufiicien
extent to interfere with the proper per
Torrance of their duties.
| The commission left, at II o'clock to
night, for Admission.