The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-18
WERE FED PUTR|O BACON
A Story of Neglect and Abuses at
Jacksonville.
TORREY WAS UNPOPULAR
He Took No Interest in His Men-Bryan
Spent More for the Sick Than He
Will Ever Receive From the
Government.

John Campbell. brother of DR.. DON
aid Campbell, arrived in Butte yester-
day from Jacksonville, Fla. where he
has been in camp since about the 25th
Of June. as a member of Colonel Tor
rey's Rough Riders. According to the
testimony before the war investigating
committee. the Jacksonville camp has
been a model and the absence of sick
ness remarkable.
Mr.. Campbells story, however, differs
from the testimony given before the
commission. He secured his discharge
through influence at Washington and
left the Jacksonville amp before the
Torrey regiment was mustered out. On
the day he left, on Wednesday of last
week, only So men in the entire regi-
ment reported for duty. The remand
er were either sick or away on fur
loughs, because Of previous sickness.
At one time there were 80. 900 men I'm
the Jacksonville camp and the camp
has never been changed since the day
1t was formed. The Torrey men petit
toned several times to be moved, but
no attention was paid to their petition.
THE sick were. however. well taken
care Of" said Mr.. Campbell. The la
dies Of the Red Cross did everything
possible for the boys and have won
their undying gratitude. The Red
Cross hospitals were the only mes we
had there for a long time. but towards
the last we had a regimental hospital
also. The greatest complaint the men
had to make was on account of the ra-
lions. All we got, until very recently.
was putrid bacon and hard tack. The
bacon was alive with maggots. The
officers were blamed for the poor grub
we got, for We always understood that
there were plenty Of good provisions
furnished by the government. but we
never got them. When complaints
were made to the officers about the
rotten bacon, the answer was that IL
was good enough for us. II has been
charged that the good provisions were
sold by the q~uartermaster. but of
curse I know nothing about that. II
was also very general talk that grain
furnished for the horses was sold by
the carloads"
Mr.. Campbell states that Colonel Tor
reg vas very unpopular with his regi-
ment. He did not interest himself in his
men and was never known to visit the
sick. On the other hand. Colonel Bryan
OF Nebraska. whose regiment was
camped neal Torrey's. spent nearly all
Of his time I'm the hospitals, visiting the
sick and assisting In ministering to
their wants. He saw to II that the sick
had all they wanted whether they be-
longed to his regiment or some other
regiment, and he spent his own money
in providing for their needs and com
forts. when II could not be obtained
otherwise.
He spent more money for the sick
and for the comfort OF soldiers at Jack
sonville than he will ever get out OF the
government" said Mr.. Campbell.
Colonel Torrey. however. seems to
ave done well financially through his
connection with the war. Torrey Is a
Wyoming rancher and has a horse
ranch. He furnished the government
$50 head of horses, mostly csyuses, at
$40 a hea Somebody else did as well
In the sale OF horses. according to Mr..
Campbell's story. for there were anil
mails sold to the government at Sllo
that were not worth s1.l0.
Mr.. Campbell enlisted in the troop
that was organized at Salmon City.
Idaho. He was sick at the time he re-
ceived his discharge and FASTENED TO
Butte to place himself under h care
OF his brother, where he knew he would
receive good care inc treatment.
Il am glad to get out OF II and get
back alive" he a last evening. Il do
not believe that there IL a man in the
whole regiment who would enlist again.
They all had enough of IL. They enlist
ed for the war inc were ready to fight.
they did not expect to be kept
and starved In disease-breeding
camps"