The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-19

massed from 10000 to 900 men at this point.
1t was not until some months had elapsed,
not until various diseases threatened to deci-
mate the camps and public sentiment began
to get IN motion that the military and the
surgeon generals subordinates began to pro-
vide pure water and decent hospital accom-
modations for the victims of official incompe-
tency.
To the blundering Of some man or men Is
due the astounding fact that there are graves
In the National cemetery filled by men who
died at Camp Thomas and which are marked
Unknown
There is no doubt in my mind that many
men have died because of lack Of intelligent
attendance and the medicine which, for a
long time, the hospital authorities, strange
as 1t may SEEM say they could not secure
in this land of plenty.
When Uncle Sam turns his convalescent
soldiers from Camp Thomas, he gives then
few hard tack and a slice or two of salted
pork, which is satirically termed bacon, but
which no self-respecting dog would deign to
touch. Then he is given permission to make
his way over rough roads that are either deep
In dust or slippery with mud 1t often hap
pens that the poor fellows who started out
from home with heart swelling with patriot
ism, will leave for home with swelling and at
tenuated feet under broiling sun or pour
ing sky. Uncle Sam is too poor to provide
even a mule wagon for the convenience of
these convalescents from camp to railroad de-
pot, although l have seen great many fat
mules and large number Of empty govern
ment wagons standing idle in camp and many
thin soldiers bound home on furloughs.
hoJn fnH1
worthy citizens that it was a common sight
to see footsore and sick soldiers waiting for
hours at railroad depots for their trains and
unsupplied with food.
All the charges of incompetency, neglect
and brutality made over my signature, one
week ago, are confirmed today by the official
report made to Maj. Gen. John G. Breckin-
ridge, by Milo B. Ward, major and brigade
surgeon James j. Johnson, major Second
Arkansas volunteers, and Emil s. Helburn,
major Second Kentucky volunteers This re-
port was in course of preparation during my
stay in Chattanooga, and. printed by the
New York Herald, it contains the following
astounding official admissions
There was a great deal of unnecessary
suffering and many deaths resulting from lack
of proper attention to the sick.
"It is our unanimous opinion that the basic
causes for this unnecessary suffering may be
found in the principles governing the manage
ment of hospital of this kind. 1t is not con-
ceivable that men taken from the ranks pro-
miscuously and with no previous preparation.
and put in charge of helpless sick men, could
do justice to them, and especially so when
forced to do SO against their wills.
"The next cause for i'll treatment of the sick
in this hospital came from lack of supplies of
every nature We can find no reasonable ex-
cuse for the lack Of supplies, which could
have been easily obtained and were not. by
those responsible, and they should be held
strictly responsible.
THAT there is a Generalization of the med
icaI corps there is no doubt. This caused a
feeling of indifference, which led to actual
neglect
"It is not possible for this board to say
whether they did all that was possible to be
done to get the supplies, but that they did not
succeed is apparent.
1t certainly appears that those higher in