Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-26
CONDUCT OF WAR.
Different Views Seem to Be
Held by Witnesses.
Some Saw a WoefuI Lack Of Medical
Supplies and Stores.
Others Found The Men, Camps and Hospitals
All Well Equipped.

Admission. Ala, Oct. 25.-Dr. r. D.
Boss. assistant surgeon in the LIST In
fantry, was the first witness before the
war investigating committee, today.
He was with his regiment and with the
4th Infantry in Cuba. He reached
Santiago in July. He found the medi-
cal supplies short and was unable to
secure any for few days until he
learned how to get them from the d.
vision hospital. He was able to secure
hospital stores such as food delicacies
by ''hustling" for them, getting them
first from the Red Cross Society and
then going to Santiago for them. He
had no serious illness in the command.
DIR. Conner asked if the government
could not have gotten these supplies
to Santiago as promptly as the Red
Cross, and DR.. Boss replied that while
he had no information he thought it
could have been done SO. He had left
Santiago with the 4th Infantry and
went to Montauk Point on the Seneca.
When they left Cuba, he said the CON-
mand was "all broken up" and every
man Of the command was sick on the
way North. The doctor himself was
sick and in the detention hospital at
Montauk Point and he testified to the
careful conduct of that institution,
saying the supplies were ample and the
attention all that could be desired.
Col. Fife of the Sd Tennessee. having
made request to supplement his state
ment Of yesterday, said the sinks were
very near the tents and that it was
f,vry 20 f,,r hor
ing to proximity of other regiments.
Nevertheless the sinks were carefully
looked after and his regiment had been
especially commended by the brigade
commander for the condition of its
camp. He characterized as false and
malicious some charges made against
his regiment by a Chattanooga must
clan named Hunt, who had been with
his regiment for time.
Other witnesses examined were Lieut..
Reed of the 4th Wisconsin, Lieut. West
of the Cd Alabama, and Lieut.. HALEY
of the Sd Tennessee.
Lieut.. West. quartermaster of his
regiment. said the supplies were ample
and excellent. but Lieut.. Reed COM
planned somewhat of the meats. Lieut..
Haley said there had been a few COM
plants that the rations We're not suffi-
cient but he thought the complaint
was caused by the return of men on
furlough.
Other witnesses of the forenoon ses-
sion We're Foundain Ragland and Ed
ward Simmons two colored men of the
Bird Alabama; III. c. Lemke, quarter
master sergeant of the 4th Wisconsin:
Congressman COlson, colonel of the 4th
Kentucky, and Lieut.. Col. Cabell of the
End Arkansas.
Col. Cabell said in reply to questions
put by DR.. Conner that he had OBJ
served condition of affairs at the hos
pital of the End Division of the 3rd
Army Corps in June which he consid-
cred horrible. He had himself seen one
sick man lying in the rain without
the protection of even a tent, and he
had been informed by other officers
that several others had been left in the
same way.
He thought the doctors were honest
enough but they did not know how to
give supplies. Mule drivers had been
used for nurses and he had been relia-
bly, informed that many Of them were
in the habit of getting drunk and on
this account neglecting their patients.
He said DIR. Schoeler was the division
surgeon at the time.
Col. Cabell is a lieutenant in the reg
ular army and his testimony made an
evident impression upon the commits
sion.
Major Charles r. King, surgeon of
the 4th Wisconsin Regiment, was one
OF the first witnesses of the afternoon.
T. Cf n
iment were sufficient and that there
was a sufficient quantity of food, but
said some of the men would not eat it,
preferring to buy food for themselves
Gen. Wilson asked of the men had
ever complained to him as surgeon Of
the regiment. and Mr.. King replied thai
they had.
What did you say to them?" asked
the general.
II told them to go to the devil and
eat what they had" he replied.
II think that a very improper reply
for you to have made" said Gen. Will
son and he declined to continue the ex
animation.
Major Benson, who was inspector
general Of the LIST Division, Sd Corps
at Chickamauga, said it had been i'm
possible to enforce sanitary regulation
at Chickamauga, because when mel
were arrested the courts would no
punish them.
Capt. Fremont. who was adjutan
general Of the I'd Division, Sd Corps
detailed the difficulties attending tn
government of the hospital of that di
vision. He said that when attendant
were complained to concerning neglec
1t was not uncommon for them t
swear at the compliments. DR.. Ere
mont said DR.. Hubbard, who was :,
one time executive officer of the hos
pital, was tyrannical and overbearine
After the examination of several othe
witnesses the commission adjourned t
meet at Huntsville. tomorrow, leavin
here at p. M.