The record-union., 1898-11-27
INVESTIGATION OF
CONDUCT OF WAR.
The Commission Concludes Its
Hearings at New York.
Members of the Board Leave for Boston TO
Take Further Testimony.

of the Society for the Protec-
ton of Soldiers, Relating to the
Testimony of Witnesses Who
Have Appeared Before the
Board Of Inquiry.
NEW YORK, Nov. 26.-When the
War Investigation Commission met to-
day DR.. M. r. Terry, Surgeon General
of the National Guard of the State
of New York. was asked to tell what
he knew about the various camps he
visited.
DR.. Terry began with Camp .Alger.
This site was a good one, he said, and
everything appeared to be in good con-
dition. The water was clear in ap-
pearance, but had a bad odor 1t was
analyzed, but with what result he did
not know. He found the camp of the
Eighth New York Regiment at Chick
amagua in a very unsanitary condi-
ton. The camps of the Ninth and
Twelfth New York were in good con-
dition. In the course of his remarks
he stated that the water there ap-
peared to be clear, and he was not
certain as to it's salubrity, because he
did not taste. it.
"Why did you not taste the water,
doctor?" asked DR.. Connor.
'I don't know why I should take any
risks retorted the witness.
Dr. Terry said that the Sternberg
Hospital at Camp Thomas under the
charge of Surgeon Major Hoff was in
excellent condition, and the best of
order prevailed. The sick were given
every attention, and everything that
could be done was done for them.
In speaking of the camp at Hunts
vile, Ala, DR.. Terry said that he met
Colonel Duffy, and both he and the
officer and men of his regiment ap-
peared to be in excellent condition
Colonel Duffy, he said, did all he could
for his men, and there was little sick
ness.
Captain Howell read letter ad-
dressed to the commission by Robert
J. Roosevelt, Secretary of the Society
for the Protection of Soldiers.
Colonel Dodge suggested that the let
ter be received and filed. and by gen.
eral consent General Dodge's sugges-
ton was adopted.
The letter written to the Commission
by Mr.. Roosevelt read in part as fol-
lows:
ITO the Presidential Commission of
INQUIRY: I have noticed in the morn
ing press that one of your members
criticises the witnesses who have testi-
fed at the request of the commission
formed in this city to protect soldiers
They do not fix the responsibility, nor
-. 81
to be a misunderstanding between US.
We supposed that all the witnesses
had to do was to prove the facts, and
that the commission would fix the re-
sponsibility.
''The heroic boys may forget their
sufferings; may even refuse to TESTIFY
to them, but their mothers will not
and their fathers will not. Nor will
it do to take refuge behind the errors
of the Civil War There was no IN
territorial cruelty, such as seems to
have so often prevailed in this war.
The sick men were not starved
..The uncomplaining endurance OF our
men has simply been heroic. They bore
wounds, sickness, privations, to death
even without a wcsd. 1t was only
neglect starvation in fact, and abuse
in the hospitals which called forth
letters. and them only home to their
families: letters which were sent 10
me by broken-hearted mothers in pitt
full appeals to try and help their sons.
wish your commission could have
read them, but as many OF them were
transmitted to me confdentially. |
cannot even quote from them.
..The witnesses have established mon
strous incapacity. That they have not
full confidence in the power of your
commission. no matter how good its
will. TO meet all the requirements the
public demands of it, is only echoing
vo,1r own doubts, but in spite Of that
they seem to have done their share, and
If would seem that it only rests for
Won to do your best, even if that best is
not quite satisfactory to yourselves. If
done in good faith, it will teach the
soldiers that at least there is power
which was honestly endeavoring to do
them justice.
.sYou can direct your Inquiries in the
first place to the food supply. Find out
who gets the difference between the
double rations allowed by the Govern
ment and the meager hard tack, bacon
and green coffee served to the soldiers.
The witnesses are the books and the
rolls in the public departments TO
which you have full access.
1--WE have furnished you the facts,
shown you the brutality, cruelty, neg
lect. Indifference; how men whom the
Government was under every obligation
to protect and especially because they
had a right to rely upon such protec-
ton. were starved even in the land of
plenty: were uncared for when sick, left
without attention; when wounded were
abused maltreated in some cases
practically murdered. We have shown
you an indifference and belittling OF
human sufferings, which continue even
now. If this nation is to become a
warlike one, if we are to have an army
which shall be efficient and to be re-
lied upon, those crimes and blundars
must be corrected, and your commits
sion must correct them 1t is not for
YOU to make the feeble excuse that
your commission, a merely voluntary
association with no legal existence
even, shall shoulder this responsible
ity''
The afternoon session completed the
work of the commission in this city
The members went to Boston tonight.
Top Gallant Brings Good Figure.
LEXINGTON (Ky), Nov. 26. At
the Easton sale of thoroughbreds to-
day the fourteen-year-o stallion imp.
Top Gallant, owned by John B. Ewing