The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-21


shortly after 10 O'Clock LETT Jacksonville
for Atlanta, expecting to take up bus
mess there. The committee has spent
four days in Jacksonville. this being
the first of the camps to be visited, II
having been awarded somewhat more
time than Will be given to other points,
with the possible exception Of Chlcka-
manga.
The commissioners are generally
pleased with the result Of their iabors
here. They have naturally met with
complaints, but these have generally
dealt with comparatively unimportant
points, and in very few, if any, cases
have they indicated neglect or culpab4e
mismana CEMENT Generally one pr
vate or non-commissioned officer IRON
each regiment has been called, and IN
many cases more than one. In the
case of enlisted men they were select
ed at random, the commissioners mere
" asking that men be sent TO them
without any specification OF the pur-
pose for which they We're called Iney
have, without exception, said that they
We're receiving enough to eat and wear
There were occasional complaints of
defects in clothing or request Tor
greater variety OF food. but IN no IN
stance has a spirit Of fault finding
been developed among this class OF
witnesses. IL some cases a deficiency
of supplies at the beginning of the
camps history was shown. and there
has been more or less tainted meat re-
ceived by the men. but it was agreed
bv all the witnesses that the first con-
dition.Was due to the congestion at
Tampa and the latter to the climate.
General McCock and Colonel SaXton
returned today from their investigation
of conditions at Tampa. They found
that the congestion that occurred at
that point at the beginning Of the war
was due to the fact that cars were
shipped from all over the country with
out being labeled. and without forward
ing bills OF iadlnS-
The commission heard several of the
professional female nurses at the fore
noon session today, including Miss
Copeland, chief nurse at the Third di-
vision hospital; Miss Robins, head
nurse at the First division hospital;
Miss Hubbard, head nurse at the Sec
ond division hospital, and Misses Wal
ker and Waters, ward nurses
Miss Cop Gland said that when the
nurses first came to the camp there
was one nurse to each 40 or 60 pa
tients. but this condition had been
5 eadily improved. There was also in
the beginning some scarcity of appli-
ances for the sick, such as hot water
bottles. which, while not a necessity
were often a comfort.
Major James Z. Pitcher Of the regu-
lar army, depot surgeon for the Seventh
army corps. said that he thought the
medical staff here was efficient as ply
sicianS, but shey were without adminis-
trative ability. Many of them knew
nothing of formulating acquisitions,
and were not disposed TO learn. To this
DR.. Pitcher attributes the fact that so
much of relief society supplies We're
asked for in preference to those fur
nished by the government.
Captain John w. Swatek of Company
L, Second Illinois, complained that on
two or three occasions the fresh meat
furnished his men was poor, but said
on all other occasions the food was
pure and ample. General Dodge told
the captain that there had been COM
plant from almost every man in the
company in regard to their breakfasts
and suppers- Captain Swatek replied
to the men, and that it was satisfac-
tory to him. He said, however. that he
did not ordinarily inspect the meats
Of the men.
Sergeant A. Z. forenoon of the same
company admitted there was some
complaint among the men. but he
thought the complaints were due to the
fact that the men were hOmesick
Colonel Taylor of the Fourth Virginia
regiment was the first witness at the !
afternoon session. He said he had no
complaint whatever to make concern |
ing any department Of the government |
and he knew of no case of willful neg
lect.
Lieutenant Morrow, acting commits |
sary of the Third Nebraska, Colonel |
organs regiment. testified to the gen |
eral good character of the commissary |
supplies. He mentioned two instances |
when poor bacon had been received, |
and said there were occasional COM
plants from the men, though not of a (
serious character.
Colonel W. J. Bryan was next called.
He asked to be excused from testify
ing, requesting that his lieutenant colo
mel be examined in his stead.
''You will" 1 have no doubt under
stand my reasons for the request" he
said.
IT think the request very proper and
responded Governor Bea-
yer, and, as the entire commission as
scented to this concession. Colonel |
Bryan was excused, with the request
to send up his lieutenant colonel
DR. Alexander Kent, pastor of the
Episcopal church at Washington and
field agent at Jacksonville for the Red
Cross. was questioned concerning the
operations of the Red Cross at this
noint. He said he thought il had been
very difficult to get medical men Of
sufficient administrative ability to
manage such institutions as the divi-
zion hospitals. Before the female
nurses were secured, the nurses, who
were men Of the hospital corps, were
not capable. They We're not intelli-
cent. as a class. and while some of
them were doggedly faithful, they fail
ed TO meet the requirements. They did
not. for instance. sem TO regard it as of
if flies were crawling in
and out of sick mans mouth with i'm
punity.
Other witnesses examined at the al
ternoon session were Colonel W. T.
O,,rbin of the One Hundred and Sixty
frst Indiana: Colonel Letch Hardin of
he Sixth Missouri; Lieutenant Colonel
Vifouain of the Third Nebraska: Lieu
Virginia. Private Allen o. TTnite of the
same regiment; Private S. c. Thomp-
sor of the Third Nebraska: Lieutenant
Fraernan, commissary1 of the One Hun t
7red and Sixty-hrst Indiana; Commits 5
.arv Sergeant Morse of the One Hun Y
5red and Sixty-first Indiana: James r. &
pourie. q company commissary SER !
yesnt of the Sixth Missouri, and Pri- q
2ete lanes T. James of the Sixth Mis-
souri,. I
,aIves as satisfied with their treatment. Y
Tho commissary officers said the ra- e
tons were abundant, but that occa- l
.ionoIIv the fresh meats were tainted
wing TO the heat. The privates found \
~ faIIlt. all saying they had enough to t
at and, generally. that the food was 5
good !
ANOTHER '"VINDICATIoN." !