Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-27
CONDITION OF CAMPS.
CUICKAMAUGA TOO CROWDED.
FERNANDINA IDEAL.
lick At SANTIAGO SUFFERED
Deficiency Of Medicines and Medical
suppIics-undcr the Circumstances
Commis.nry Department Quite Eff
acknowledgements Hospital.

War Investigating Commission to-day
postponed the inspection of the camp.
owing 60 n rain-storm and very muddy
roads. The camp is a large one. with
about fifteen subdivisions Of troops, 10
say nothing of the hospitals. There are
a great many regulars here. and among
them many who participated in the San
tiago campaign. Many OF these will he
examined by the commission.
The investigation here will be directed
especially TO the procuring OF facts con-
corning the management Of the hospitals
and the care of the sick while the army
was in Cuba.
The commission began the examination
Of witnesses to-day with General Lodis
II. Carpenter, who is in command during
General Wheelers absence. lie had been
at Chickamauga, Tampa. and Fernan-
dina previously TO coming here. He said
the camp at Chickamauga was too crowd
ed. That at Tampa was unsatisfac-
tory, but it was not intended to be per-
manent. That at Fernandina was ideal.
The food supply had been ample through
out, but the quartermaster's supplies
were generally slow, and there had been
especial trouble in securing tents. There
was more difficulty in getting supplies OF
Tampa than elsewhere, because of rail-
way congestion.
VOLUNTEERS EXACTING.
Major Charles w. Candy. the surgeon
who was in charge of the medical supply
depot at Tampa, said he had been able
to fiji all reasonable acquisitions for
many bulky articles. for which substi-
tutes could be had, were not supplied.
Regular troops were easily satisfied. but
the volunteers were exacting. Still, there
were delays, and he mentioned one in
stance of supplies ordered from New
York that were not delivered for two
months
He fitted out the Shafter expedition for
Cuba, and thought that in the main, the
expedition was fairly supplied. This was
true of the first expedition. He
had afterward heard that many of the
stores came back to Tampa in the hold
of the Iroquois. He gave the name OF
Captain Munson as authority for this lat
ter statement and he was sure that
Captain Munson would testify willingly
and fully.
SANTIAGO CAMPAIGN.
a number of officers who had
served in the Santiago campaign and in
Florida were examined. General G. S.
Carpenter said the sick at Santiago had
suffered somewhat on account of the de-
icency of medicines and medical supplies
Jut this was the only deprivation of
which he spoke. The troops did not re-
ceive the entire ration while in the field, |
)ut he was quite sure that no man in the |
command had gone hungry.
Captain George $. Cartwright, who had |
)een aide 10 General Kent in the Santiago |
ampaign, said that doubtless some of the |
men had been hungry at times, but he |
thought the excitement of battle had sus- |
-ained them. On the night of July 1st he |
had had half a bareback for supper and |
The remaining half the next morning. lie |
thought that under the circumstances the |
Department had been quite |
Efficient i'm Santiago.
Lieutenant Farnsworth, General Law |
TONS Quartermaster at Santiago, gave the |
letails Of forwarding supplies, and Lieu |
enant Grierson, experimenting commits |
AIRY at Tampa, and Captain Thompson, |
Who had held the position at Fernandina, |
old Of the supplies at these two points.
Mr.. Farnsworth said that for a time II |
ldO DttIl lInpOSSlDlc u Stl lull lOliOIlS " |
he front Messrs. Grierson and Thomp-
on said the principal complaints they had |
heard about supplies concerned the bacon
furnished.
HOSPITAL AT MONTAUK.
Major II. ID. Thomasson. surgeon OF the
Michigan, who had served in
he general hospital at Montauk Point
fter August 18th. said that in August
here were coo patients in the hospital
nd that there were often eight i'm a
ent. There were in the beginning of his
ervice not sufficient cots, and some men
lad to sleep on blankets Some of the
Members of the hospital corps were with
nut training, but he had known of hut
ne instance i'm which hospital refuse
vas thrown out on the ground beside the
ent There were times when there was
ot a sufficient number of attendants. As
rule, the surgeons were capable. but
'hen he went into the institution there
vas a sad deficiency in number He had
card no complaint of ill-treatment from
atients, but there was criticism from
utsiders. He thought deaths were caused
y the removal of patients before they
'ere in condition to be moved. Yet. the
cmovals were made to make place for
theirs who were still sick. who other
Use would not have found a place in
he hospital. In one instance he bad
cen told TO get 300 ready for removal.
ut when going through the hospital he
ad found only seventy fit to be moved.
nd had demanded a written order. This
rider he did not get, and therefore re-
loved only the seventy. He estimated
nat from 200 to 800 had been thus pre-
laturely removed.