Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-06

surface. THE only typhoid fever in the
camp was brought in from the outsids.
The volunteers were located in the
wooded portion of the park, but the wood
was, insufficient for shade. 1t could be
easily penetrated by the sunshine The
surface was well covered with wild grass.
small number of the troops were To-
Gated IN flat woods He did not con-
slider the site especially desirable. but it
was dry. He had never heard of mldew
forming in the camp on account of damp
ness.
Gen. Boynton asserted that the camp
self selected the ground for each regiment
and brigade. Gen. Boynton said that the
sinks Were from 80 to 90 feet from the
tents and that in some instances the
kitchens were not further than 20 feet
from the sinks. Much of the kitchen offal
was burned, but in other cases the offal
was dumped into kitchen sinks and then
at times it was hauled off and dumped in
the woods. contrary to orders. Men We're
obdurate about such matters and it was
difficult TO properly police SO extensive a
camp. The chief surgeon of the camp
had assured him that there was a daily
Inspection of the sinks.
The typhoid fever in the camp did not
excite serious attention. until about the
middle of July. when the cases averaged
about ? per 1000. 1t afterwards increased
until taere were about 800 among the 50
eco men: He had given especial attention
to the hospital of the I'd Division of the
attention of the sensational press.
He had found that out of 24s2 cases OF
illness in this hospital there had been
only. 2l6 cases of typhoid. The fever had
in all cases been of a mild character AT
one time. after measles broke out in the
camp, the hospitals were crowded, though
at any other time. Practically all the
sickness was among the volunteers The
regulars We're not sick. Asked if each
regiment had a sutler. Gen Boynton re-
hlt h1d \, iIatr
a sutler, each one had a canteen.
He said that So carloads of beer had
been sold in the camp. Capt. Howell
asked about whiskey sales, and Gen.
Boynton replied that it had been difficult
to entirel~ shut out the sharp moon
sinners from Capt. Howell's state Chat
tanoosa was a splendid town, but the
Gen. Brooke's orders allowed two men
| out of each company to visit Chatta-
nooga. per day. which would represent
the absence of about 1900 men. He depre-
Gated the fact that army regulations per-
mitted the canteen system. He said he
had never seen such efficiency in the sup
ply departments Of the army in the field
as in the case of Camp Thomas. Suffi-
Gent medicines were sent to Atlanta from
| Camp Thomas to supply so regiments for
a campaign There was no lack of ra-
| tons and the rations were all good The
| variety was equal to that supplied by a
| family grocery
No army was ever so we'll supplied
WIN Icou. ana II tI1e men dlQ not Know
! how to cook it, certainly Secretary Alger
| nor President Mckinley nor anyone in
| Washington cannot be held responsible, "
| said the general.
| Gen. Boyntom commended the Young
| Mems Christian Association tents. which
| he said were the best things in the ser
| vice. He condemned the outside drinking
houses. where, he said, Slop was sold that
was worse than whiskey. He asserted
| that there was no lack of transportation
| especially in coming in
| Most of the complaints Were he said
| from typhoid fever patients. who were
| kept on low rations as medical precau-
! ton. There was never any shortage OF
| rationS. Gen. Boynton said he had found
| some garbage receptacles by the LIST Hi.
nois Cavalry. the day after it broke camp
| which were full of vermn. The regiment
| however. was a good one. and he did moi
| desire to cast any reflection upon it.
| AT p. NJ, the commission adjourned
for the day. Gen. Boy.lton will continue
| his testimony. tomorrow.