The record-union., 1898-10-30

first witness before the War Investi-
eating Commission to-day He was
medical purveyor here during the life
of Camp Thomas. He stated that
there had never been any delay IN
filling his acquisitions on the Surgeon
General, and that he had always been
able to meet all acquisitions upon him
self.
Major Comegys admitted that he had
refused to fill some acquisitions from
the hospital of the Second Division of
the Third Corps, because satisfied the
articles demanded were not needed.
He accounted for the sickness in Camp
Thomas by saying the men did not
know how to take care of themselves.
"They seemed to think" said he, that
when they had put on the uniforms
there was nothing else to do; that they
could simply enjoy themselves, and
their officers would do the rest He
thought the Colonels and regimental
surgeons were to blame.
Lieutenant James M. Arrasmith, who
acted as Chief Commissary OF SUB
sistence for Camp Thomas, said that
while in the beginning there had been
some congestion on the transportation
lines, there had never been any snort
age of supplies. He also said the dis
cipline was very slack. Witness con-
sidered Chickamauga natural camp
ing site, but that there were more men
in it than there should have been.
Some Of the volunteer regiments never
took down their tents during their
entire stay, and there was general
negligence of cleanliness and SANTA
ton. He said there was a general
Improvement in the camp after Cen
eral Breckenridge took command.
Drs. Baxter and Boyd, local physi-
clans, were called to testify IN re1er-
ence to the case of Sergeant Frank
who died during the summer as the
result Of a railroad accident. Dr. BaX-
ter said that notwithstanding the man
was in a state of profound shock after
the accident, DR.. Samuel D. Hubbard,
surgeon of the regiment, insisted up
on removing the wounded man TO
Chickamauga Park. The man d1ed on
the way out, as he (Baxter) had pre-
dicted he would.
Edward Belts, engineer of the Chick
amauga Park Committee, gave the
particulars of the establishment Of the
water supply system of the park for
the army. including the digging OF
wells and the establishment of pipe
lines. He said there was an ample
supply of water for the troops at all
times. and that there would have been
snas for $4,000 more troops on the
pipe line.
]. c. Howell, railroad station agent
told of an instance in which fifty-four
sick men, being part of the Wisconsin
command, had been placed on tram
and started to their homes without
medical supplies or physicians, ana
without furloughs or transportation
papers. They were taken off the tram
at Chattanooga, and there admins
tered to by members of the rel1ef So
cieties.
Ira J. Hannes, a private acting as
member of the hospital corps, who salo
he had been practicing physician III
Louisville, KY, for eight years, was
examined on the lines of communl-
cation he had sent to the Commission.
In this communication he had charged
that patients had been treated for ty-
phoid fever when they plainly had
pneumonia. He said there were several
such patients, and he gave the name
of Vincent Flora Of the Third Illinois
as one Of them, this he said. being as
plain a case of pneumonia as he had
ever seen.
Upon being pressed, he modified his
statements. saying that he had no
consultations with the physicians as to
their line of treatment. He said, how
ever. that he considered some of the
physicians incompetent. He also
charged that appointments were made
in the hospital upon political influence.
CAPTAINS Daniel E. Mccarthy and NJ.
q. Zalinski of the Quartermaster's De-
partment at this point gave testimany
as to the conduct of his office. They
agreed that the administration of this
department had been as efficient as
could have been expected under the cir
cumstances.
Captain Za1inski, who had change of
the issuance of clothing, said it had
been impossible in some cases to sup
ply certain sizes of clothing. but other
wise the men had been we'll supplied.
DR.. F. B. Stapp, a local physician
detailed a visit to the hospital of the
Second Division of the Third Corps in
August, Saying he uau lOuHu II oNSl-
crowded and dirty, and with no physi-
clans in attendance at the time. DR..
Stapp said he had seen great deal of
drunkenness among the soldiers in the
city, but that he had never heard of
any special effort to close the saloons
and other places of vice. He had seen
drunken soldiers lying in the streets,
and he was sure that much of the sick
ness at Camp Thomas was due to the
habits of the men.
The Commission closed it's sitting to-
night by hearing the testimony of some
residents, stating their observations of
the condition of Chicamauga Park
while the troops were there, and giving
their conclusions as to the causes of
the sickness of the soldiers They de-
Tended the climate as salubrious and
healthful and generally attributed the
prevalence of disease to the habits of
the volunteers.
At midnight General Dodge's private
car was detached from the special train
to permit the train to depart to Knox
Vile, with all the Commissioners on
board except General Dodge, Colonel
Sexton and DR.. Connor. These three
members of the Commission will re-
main in Chattanooga until tomorrow
night, when they will leave here for
Lexington, proceeding thence to Gin
cinnati. Chicago and Detroit and TAX
inc tastff,aonv n & an cf r,1acn Il, fi,rn