New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-29
SECRETARY ALGER RETURNS.
,,r TELLS THE PRESIDENT WHAT HE
SAW IN THE CAMPS.
CONDITIONS GENERALLY SATISFACTORY But
ROOM FOR IMPRoVEMENT-No SENSATIONAL
SCENE AT BRECKNRIDGES HEAD
QUARTERS

SCENE AT BRECKINRIDGE'S HEAD
QUARTERS.
Washington. Sept 2S-Secretary Alcer re-
turned 70 Washington this morning and came
~ the War Department immediately after
t,.atfast He was soon besieged by number
- nersons who have been waiting FOR him
The Secretary looked much improved by his
,,,n although II was filled with hard work after
IA left Detroit He said that he had sained
Great deal OF information as to conditions In
The camps and hospitals. which might take
ebeoe in official action The Secretary
los, no time in visiting the White House and
FOR two hours and a half he was occupied in
communicating his observations to the Prasi.
dent Secretary Long came over from the Navy
Department with friend and Joined the party
IN the Cabinet room.
on leaving the White House Secretary Alger
said he was much gTatified with the condition
NJ the camps generally. He refrained from spe
ciAcany charging exaggeration Of the hardships
Of camp life but said that the results Of his
trip Of inspection were satisfactory. He had
visited every one Of the camps. the hospitals
and the sick He especially gratifed TO
find the men in the hospitals steadily improv
inc and that there were so many convalescents
where the odds against them from their NAL
aides had been great. Most OF the men in the
hospitals were IN ROO0 spIIlS, CHeel1ul anu
happy. and brightly looking forward to the
time when they would be we'll again.
In a general way the camps were kept salts
factorilv but there were, he conceded. numer-
Gus points which might be improved. citing
especially the unsatisfactory condition Of the
sinks at some places At Jacksonville the re-
ports seemed to show fairly large proportion
Of sick. but the percentage Of sickness was
accounted for by the fact that the sick Of all
the regiments departing and mustered out were
kept in the camp.
The main trouble" said the Secretary,
which ] found was, perhaps, the matter or
troops taking care Of themselves. This was
one of the great difficulties encountered At
some points the eating tents outside the camps
conducted by private enterprise proved TOO
tempting for soldiers, and the results Of i'm
proper and iniudicious taking If food soon man
ifested themselves in the general condition or
the men. These are things which sometimes
cannot be helped and where there was most
rigid discipline along these lines the improved
state Of affairs very evident"
The Secretary said that the reforms or
changes which might result from his inspection
would be discussed later. but he made no more
detailed observations regarding his trip
Secretary Alger says that the report or
scene in General Brecknridges headquarters
camp is absolutely without foundation. There
was no scene. no high words and no excited
language He says the story was mace GU, ~
u,h0Ie cloth Secretary Alger and Generals
Ludineton and Sternberg have letters from
General Wiley. who reported as having
made charges against them expressing ms Ie-
greet that the report was circulated Inc le''er
70 Secretary Alger follows;
Headquarters First Brigade, Third Division. First
Army Corps. . ..
Camp Hamilton Ky. September - lSH
Nv Dear General Aleer ] hear that some or me
Northern papers are making a Sreat o'5ptaE %.
headlines showing how I pitched into General
Alger Ludington and sternberg al General BTeckI1
inridee's headquarters on the 3th inst now
CaiieS YOU down etc eta LOT Of untruthful
trash Every word ] said was directed 70 you
rArsonallv and We were within four or i've zee
~ each other and YOU no doubt heard every Nolu
~ II NOT word sentence was uttered az Inat
~ anv other time with reference TO yourself Gen
ersl Iudngton or General Sternoerg, except IN ~
rreseon Of the highest regard and respect TOT Nopt
successful and faithful performance or a ste-t
-, ~ JOHN 4 WILEY,
N'"'' Friee5ier-C;eneral Volunteers.