Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-15
DR.. HUIDEKOPER
Tells What He Knows About
Chickamauga Park.
"0Aicers Of Regiments Responsible
for Bad Condition Of Camp"
Gen. Breckenridge Sought to Remedy Evils
Rather Than Fix Blame.

Washington, Nov. 14.-Gen. Breckin-
ridge, DR.. Huidekoper and Major Knox
were before the war investigation COM
mission, today. Gen. Breckenridge s
testimony dealt with conditions at
Camp Thomas, of which he was for a
time in command, and of which ne
took occasion, to say that but for the
change that was made previous to the
war requiring inspector generals in the
field to report to the adjutant general
instead of the inspector general, the
condition Of camps now being develop
ed by the commission would have de-
veloped three months ago.
Gov. Woodbury. has returned from
Vermont and sat with the commission,
today.
DR.. Huidekoper said that he had
occupied the position of chief medical
officer of the LIST Army Corps at Camp
Thomas, Chickamauga park, until the
23d of July, when he had gone to Porto
Rico with Gen. Brooke. Speaking of the
supply depot, he said there were large
quantities of some articles and super
abundance of others at the beginning of
the historic Camp Thomas, but that this
condition did not long continue. He had
Immediately undertaken to regulate
acquisitions so as to equaiZe them in the
various divisions of the command. At
one time he had to appeal to Gen. Brooke
to get supplies necessary.
"Do you not know" asked DIR. Conner
that there was a full supply of medical
stores at the depot at Lytle?"
Il knew that many articles were lack
ing the doctor replied. He continued
saying that he had made constant rep
reservations to the surgeon general of the
shortage of supplies. He had never
turned down any acquisitions from the
division hospitals, except on one occa-
sion, except when he knew that the ar
ticles were not on hand. Also he had re-
fused his sanction to requisitlon for floor
ing for hospital tents when Gen. Brooke
had expected to move. He contended that
there had been a sufficiency of tentage,
saying that no patients had been COM
PEELED to lie without covering for any
length or time. Tt was true, however. that
there were occasions on which sick men
had been kept for several days at a time
under tent flies.
1.-The I'd and Sd Division hospitals Were"
he said in reply to a question, always
clean and well ordered Both institu-
lions were well built, but they had suf-
fered throughout for proper attendance.
There was never a sufficient number of
hospital corps men.
REWRITING to the question of tentage,
DR.. HuidekOper said he knew of his own
knowledge that the surplus tentage at
the reserve hospital was turned over to
the division hospitals and that tents had
been held there to the detriment of other
hospitals.
Speaking of the condition of the camp
in general, he said that some of the sinks
were excessively filthy.
"Who was responsible for that condi-
tion?" asked DIR. Connor
1.-The officers of the regiment" respond
ed DR.. Huidekoper.
did not the commanding general have
a duty to perform in that Connection"
the questioner continued.
The reply to this question was not sat
:sfactory, and DIR. Conner insisted upon
knowing whether anything had ever been
done by the commanding general to Sc
cure the punishment of regimental Off
GERS who had refused to obey orders for
the proper policing of the camps. but DIR.
declared that he knew of no
instance of the prosecution of any officer
of this kind.
Col. Huidekoper said he had succeeded
in getting supplies only by being the first
on hand, as the medical depot. was run
in very parsmonious manner.
DR.. Huidekoper said that with few
unimportant exceptions the medical sup
plies for the Porto Rican expedition had
been ample. At Newport News he had
given orders that the sick men be elm
mated from the command, but he found
that the order had been evaded and sick
men taken aboard. The witness said that
Deputy Surgeon General Hartsuff had
refused to supply disinfectants for the
camp at Chickamauga, saying that to do
SO was contrary to army regulations.
Col. Huidekoper returned frequently in
his testimony to his difficulties in secur-
ing nurses. He said he had once secured
an approach to the necessary number
through an arbitrary order from Gen.
Brooke, and when this order was issued
the colonies had insisted on supplying the
worst men they had in their regiments
for the hospital corps. One was an cpl
optic and another confirmed drunkard,
yet the men who had given him the poor
est nurses were generally the first to
make complaint of lack of attention. The
witness asserted that the sick in Porto
Rico had had good attention.
Major Thomas T. Knox, inspector gem
sral. who had participated in the early
part of the Santiago campaign as a cap
tain in the LIST Regular Cavalry, was be-
,ore the commission at its afternoon ses-
sion. He was wounded in the battle of
"a Guasama when he was the only officer
If his regiment present. He said that
lis wounds had never received or re-
Iuired any attention beyond being dressed
ind that he had been able to sit up in
about three weeks time.
Major Knox said that he had re-
NAMED with his troops about 10 MIN
ltes after receiving his wound and
that he had for that time forgotten
himself in giving attention to his
He said the ship on which
his. regiment went from Tampa to
Santiago was greatly crowded and that
when they landed the men were in