The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-10-25
INVESTIGATION OF The WAR
No New Facts Brought Ont by Yes
terday's Testimony.
WERE NO DEATHS FROM STARVATION
~ .lIovyncsx Of sinks Caused Great
Deal Of Sickness--Morc TO EAT
Than the Soldiers wanted.

Ann,ston Ala. October 24-Thc war inves-
t,vat,on commission sat today and examined
about a dozen witnesses. including number
OF officers and men OF the regular troops. as
wei, as a number of volunteer officers. 1t is
nov expected that they Will leave for Hunts
Vile tomorrow night.
The commission began its session today with
Major Otto II. Falk on the stand. He was
the chief quartermaster Of the First division
o. the Third army corps while at Chickamauga
Park and he now occupies the position OF
chief quartermaster for this camp. lie said
the most serious complaint In the carly MS
tory OF Camp Thomas was from the First MIS-
souit whose men claimed that their trousers
werc nothing more than rags and threatened
to appeal to charity NJ nome to supply theIr
waru. There was also shortage In tents,
whicl. became quite serious at the time oil
the beginning OF the rainy season. He thought
that upon the whole there was too much red
tape In the quartermaster' department
DR.. Charles NJ. Drake. IN charge Of the gem
era, hospital here, and who was In command
O; the hospital OF the First division OF the
Third corps at Chickamauga Park. was tho
neat witness. He told OF various improve
ments he had found 1t necessary 10 make IN
the hospital at Chickamauga. There was,
he said such a hood OF disease that 1t was
almost Impossible to meet the demand for
tonnage aud quite out OF the question to an
t.cipate 1t.
lie was positive there had been no death
from starvation or deprivation. Replying TO
charges made by signal corps patelt IA
the Jhckamauga hospital. DR.. Drake sad he
had seen maggo.s ON Ons occasion n Il box
in The hospital but never on patients. Often
the men came there lousy. but they did not
remain
Joseph H. Heatw ole OF the commissary oil
Subsistence said the quality OF the rations was
excellent. As for tho quantity, man woulc
have to be glutton TO eat II. Major Heat
wDie was dismissed
Major David Hickey. who was inspector gen.
siai for the Second division of the Third corp
al Chickamaugn, attributed the troubles y
that csmp to the shallowness OF tho sinks. li'
said also that some OF the regimental officer
insisted on making poor selections for cam
sitts. aud In ono instance mississippi colo
mel who had put his men in swamp, ma
irssted upon remaining, On the ground tina
Mississipplans hud u natural affinity 10
sVBmps. Nevertheless the men were take
sicl. Major Hickey complained that IN
drinking water was poor. lie thought IN
osnp unnt for the soldiers. lie SAID tnat I
ona time the beds Of all the patients were
the floor and there were some cases IN VIM
some OF them wore on the ground
Asked us TO the competency of the surgeon
at the hospitals, he said there was one ma
~ the hospital whose proneness to profanl'
united him for the service. This mun WI
Mljor j. H. Hubbard, surgeon OF the Mht
'He used profanity OF such character, ga
Major Hickey, which pretty nearly MADE II
suk. and | know 1t could not have hau
pleasant effect on patients"
Lieutenant Colonel Bisbec. In command
tao First infantry, said There was aonle an
Guilty In getting food while In front OF Sa
tiago. But we had enough. he said.
there had been more to eat the men l,.N Won y
probably have been sclser lilo oppressed U
OF irion that the only deprivation mad peen
getting proper food for the sick.
1T had been impossible TO secure medic
supplies" said tho witness. ''nnd II we u
had them we could not have carried them.
Major Dempsey OF the Second regular
fartry covered very much the same ground
Colonel Bisboc
other members of the two regiments OF re
ulars stationed hero who wore examined w
Captain Warning OF the First, Lieutenant ~
al the Second Quartermastor Sergeant Is
OF the First. Private Folius Of tile tli
Quarterinaster Stahl of tho Second and !
yetc Hounchali OF the Second. All tostl'
TINT while there was difficulty In getting 81
plies Issued while the troops were In
ir,nches in the vicinity of Santiago, there v
no real suffering on the pert OF the nen
that account. The mon were satisfied I
they had received ~ good attention as posi-
under the circumstances 49,
Colonel James y. Fyfe OF the first Tenn
see which had been enCamped at Chic
nIauga Park ~ part OF the FIRST DIVISION
tho Third corps previous to arrival hor9,
quality and ample in quantity until VII
the past month.
Colonel Fyfo said, In reply TO quest
tina. a cantecn had been maintained In
regiment and that heer'lu large quantities
been sold at II. Most Of the receipts, amo'
lnE 10 aauV or AnNt per uhg, NNIc lipHi uN'it
'.Did you consider 1t proper for your r
ment to maintain n general beer garden
all tho camp" asked br. Connor, read
frcm q letter as his authority.
Colonel Fyfc anawered. NO. but tie
was there to be sold" lie denied that
was sold to be carried AWAY, except to
ccrs, and advocated the sale Of beer NJ
teens as a protection against more serious
diligence in whisky. lie expressed the Opt
tnut chicko%aasS was an eses Hn,v camp g
ives arranged. He thought pipe line sh
have been run to the camp from Craw
spring.