New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-07
GENERAL WHEELERS TESTIMONY

Were the testimony Of General Wheeler to end
the business. the Commission to investigate the
conduct of the war would be compelled TO make
a most favorable report His testimony Is pc
culiarly important because it is that of an expe
renced and successful soldier. whose honesty
and thorough knowledge of the business have
never been questioned and who has been for
years prominent Democratic member of Con-
gress from Alabama. 1t is the especial value Of
such testimony that it depryes the whole ques-
ton of the partisan aspect which some journals
were eager 10 give it. When Joe" Wheeler tes-
ti1es against them all their rumOrs and manu-
featured stories will have little political weight
because Of his peculiar position.
Whatever the other testimony may be- the
fact is likely to stand that the most conspicu
Gus complaints yet made have been entirely I'M
founded, since this appears on the evidence of
one better qualified TO know and to Judge than
any political critic, and in such high standing
with Democrats that his evidence cannot be
questioned. Men who know anything bout war
are quite well aware that hardship and suffer
ing are always unavoidable. With the best pos
sible service in all departments. there will al
ways be some lack Of supplies for longer or
shorter time. or lack of surgeons and cOmpe-
by their exposure and their cxertions. and, be-
sides. there is always vast amount of suffer
ing caused by the inexperence or neglect of
company and regimental officers. When the
whole subject has been ventilated by testimony
from all quarters it will probably be found that
this last cause of trouble was more extensive in
its effect upon health than all others put to-
gether.
1t was not within General Wheclers province
| 10 say how far the general staff departments at
headquarters were properly conducted. His
testimony only indicates, as TO that part Of the
inquiry. that he was not able TO perceive much
ground for complaint although there may have
been beyond his observation much delay and
lack of cniciency. rs has been charged owing 10
want of proper management in the departments.
But the testimony is especially valuable and
timely fl regard to the hospital camps. because
10 other has been more savagely criticised than
the one at MoniauK and no other with as much
appearance of sound reason. The declarations
| OF eminent medical men like DR. Sem are fatty
| contradicted by the General who was in COM
mand, who showed al considerable length and
quite effectively that he used unusual efforts TO
ascertain the facts in regard TO every point crit
icised and that the absence of the typhoid fever
so conndcntly predlcted goes 1ar 10 prove tnat
| the camp was not in the condition described by
| Dr. Sem and others. but was on the whole re.
inarkably healthy, well cared for and supplied
with every necessity, and even with provisions
| which Secretary Alger ordered. though not
| deemed necessary by the surgeons. because they
! might save the lives of some.
| All this evidence is highly gratifying. No
genuine American can take pleasure In finding
that his Government has been utterly incompe-
| tent or Indifferent TO the welfare Of the men
under it's command. 1t Is but the plain truth
| that the charge Of Indifference has never had
anything TO sustain it. for the utmost anxiety
| has been shown at all times 10 make the best
provision possible regardless OF expense. That
| there have been mistakes In Judgment by some