Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1898-10-28


but never on patients. often the men
went there lousy, but they did not re-
main 50.
Meeting the charges concerning the
furluughing and shipment of members
OF the Eighth and Fourteenth New York
regiments, he said that the men of the
two regiments had not wanted to travel
together, and that the delay in shipping
those of the Eighth had been due to the
fact that, after he had secured trans
purtatiOn for them over the Pennsyl-
Nania line. a major in their regiment
changed the order so as to secure trans
purtatiuu over a more circuitous route.
Dealing with the insinuation that he
tried to favor the Southern road because
he had been the chief surgeno of that
line. he said that he had not been con-
neCted with the road since August, 1897.
Major Heatwole, chief commssary of
subsistence, said the quality of the ra-
tions had been excellent. As for the
quantity, man would have to be gor-
mandiZer to eatit.
After Major Heatwole was excused,
General Dodge read a letter from DR..
Seaman of New York, who was before
the commission in Washington, in which
he corrected an error in his testimony.
He had stated that he had received only
the regular army ratiOns for the couva-
lesCents on the OLDHAM, from Porto Rico
to New York. He says that such sup
plies as had been received up to the night
previous to sailing had been received
from the relief societies during he night,
and he continues: The hospital ship,
Relief, arrived, and early the next morn
ing l boarded the Relief and personally
secured without any requisition the ad-
ditional supplies enumerated in the re-
reipt signed by me. Until my confer
"Uce yesterday with Major Bradley
believed these supplies, like many Others,
were brought by outside contributions,
aud were not government supplies. The
letter is dated oct. IL, and is directed to
the surgeon general of the army.
Lieutenant Colonel Bispee, in com
mand Of the First infantry, told the story
of the transportation Of his regiment To
Santiago. described the fighting about
Santiago; spoke of his experience in
cuba, of 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. he replied: The facilities
were so poor that | think not; at least
should say If / had been on shore, no
enemy would have been permitted to
land. | cannot say how it was with the
Spauiards." He said there was cOnsid-
erahl,a difficulty in getting food while in
front of Santiago. but the soldiers had
enough. If there had been more to eat
the men would probably have been
SiCkcr. He expressed the opinion that
the only deprivation had been in not
having proper food for the sick. The ra
tiuns contained too much fat meat for
the climate Colonel Bishee stated that
himself and ii men were the only men,
hers of his regiment who had not been -
during the Santiago campaign. 1t had
been impossible to secure medical sup
plies" said the witness. and if we had
them We could not have carried them ."
health when Santiago surrendered and
the capituation came at just the right
time. After the surrender of the city
there was plenty for all To eat.
Speaking of the Spanish troops, Colo
mel Bisbee said: Il think about three
fOurths of them would have enlisted in
our army but for their home ties They
found that we were giving them better
treatment than their own government
did. | am satisfied that their own Off
GERS were sWindIinG them The officers
We're fat and sleek looking, but the men
We're i'll and pale, and apparently under
fed
Colonel BiSbee did not believe there
Cuban campaign. He thought the con-
tract surgeons were capable doctors. but
they We're not familiar with army meth
DDS, and did not know how to get the
necessary medicines. Speaking gener-
ally of the Cuban experience, he ex-
pressed the opinion that the supplies had
been as liberal as could have been rea-
sonably expected. Colonel Bisbee said
he had not complained of the voyage
north. He said that distress Sigral
had been put out for food while they lay
out It sea. and when some vessel came
alongside he said he had called out to
those on board to bring them food. He
stated In explanation that the food was
wanted for the officers mess. The men
had enough, such as il was - After this
more than they needed. I'VE got it
from the people. from New York relief
associations and citizens. They sent us
everything. including whisky and cham
pagne--far more than we wanted" He
knew of no deprivation at Montauk THE
raw recruits were howling to get into a
house, but that was all"
Major Dempsey of the Second regular