The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-10-25
INVESTIGATING THE WAR.
Commission Examined Witnesses at
AnnistOn.
INSPECTOR GENERAL TELLS OF
TROUBLE AT CHICKAMAUGA.

TROUBLE AT CHICKAMAUGA.
A New York Surgeon Whose Profanity
Made Him Sick-Lt. Col. Bisbe.'s Ex-
periences at santisgo-Men Had Plenty
of Food Such As 1t Was-Too Much
Fat For Warm Climate.
Admission, Ala, October 24.-The war
investigating commission sat from to
S. 80 today and examined about a dozen
witnesses, including a number of volun-
teer officers. 1t is now expected that the
commission will leave for Huntsville
tomorrow night. Major David Wicker,
division of the third corps at Chicka-
mauga, attributed the troubles in that
camp to the shallowness OF the sinks. He
said also that some of the regimental
officers insisted on making poor selections
of camp sites and in one instance Mis-
a swamp, had insisted upon remaining
ON the ground that Mississippian had
natural affection for swamps. Never.
theless his men wree taken sick.
Major Wicker also complained that the
drinking water was poor. Asked as to
the competency Of the surgeons at the
hospital, he said there was one man in
the hospital whose proneness to profanity
untitled him for the service. This man
was Major Hubbard, surgeon Of the. Ninth
New York.
"His profanity was of such villainous
character said Major Wicker. "as to
pretty nearly make me sick and I know
it could not have had pleasant effect
upon patients.
Lieutenant Colonel Bisbee, in command
of the First infantry, told the story of the
transportation of his regiment to Santi-
ago, described the fighting about Santa
the return to Montauk Point and OF the
stay at that place and the transfer South.
Asked if the landing at Santiago could
have been accomplished If opposed, ne
replied:
s'The facilities were SO poor that I
think not, at least should say If had
been on shore, no enemy would have been
UGrIulbU6u W lduu L CnAhOU soy AoW Az
was with the Spantards."
He said there WAS considerable difficulty
in getting food while in front of Santia-
go, but the soldiers had enough. He said
if there had been more to eat, the men
would probably have been sicker. He
thought the rations contained too fat
meat for the climate. Colonel Bisbee
stated that himself and sixteen men were
1.-The only mem bers of his regiment who
had not been ill at some time during the
Santiago campaign.
Colonel Bisbee did not believe there was
a sufficient number of doctors in the
! Cuban campaign. Speaking generally Of
| the Cuban experiences, he expressed the
| opinion that the supplies had been as lib
pected. Colonel Bisbee said he had not
complained of the voyage North. He said
that distress signal had been put out
| for food while they lay out at sea and
when some vessel came alongside he said
| he had called out to those aboard to bring
them food. He stated in explanation n
| that the food was wanted for the officers
mess.
"The men had enough, such as it
| was, he said.
After this, and while at Montauk they
got more than they needed.
| 4 "We got it from the people from New
York relief associations and citizens.
They sent us everything, including whis-
key and champagne, far more than we
:. He said he knew of no deprivation at
| Montauk. ss
1.-THE raw recruits were bowling to
get into house. but that was all.
Major Dempsey, of the Second regular
| infantry, covered very much tho same
ground as Colonel Bisbee; he SAD tna'
| his command had never during the San
tiago campaign suffered for want of sup
niles. Men had sometimes at night felt
| the want of covering. but not of food.
Major Dempsey said the only deficiency
he had discovered at Montauk was in the
matter of transportation facilities
The members of the two regiments OF
regulars stationed here that were eX.
amined were Carteju Waring of thu First,
Lieutenant Leutz Of the Second Quarter
| master Sergeant hatz of the First Pri.
vate Feltus Of the First, QuartermasteI
Sergeant Stahl of the Second anu Private
h. Cuncheu of the Second. All testified
that while there was q deficiency in the
rations issued while the troops were in
the trenches near santiago, there was no
real suffering on the part of the men on
this account.
Colonel James P. Fife of the Third
Tennessee, whose regiment had been en-
camped at Chiekamauga as part of the
First division of the Third army corps
previous to mOydl mere, salu Una1 q GAIL
| teen had been maintained in his regiment
| and beer in large quantities had beer
sold. Most of the receipts. amounting te
$4OO or $500 per day, of the capteen, We're
| from beer .eNsa5
sDid you consider it proper for your
regiment to maintain a general beel
garden for all the campp' asked DR.. Con
nor, reading from letter as his author
ity.
Colonel Fife answered.: mo, pu5 tha'
beer was there to be sold.'
He denied that beer was sold to be car
ried away except to officers and advocated
the sale of beer at canteens as prooec-
tion against more serious indulgence Il
He expressed the opinion that Chicka
mauga was an excellent camp site, hui
he considered the water supply bad as II
was arranged. He thought pipe line
should have been run to the camp from
| Crawfish Springs.