The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1898-10-14

Graf and . soldier who fought on
the Confederate side in the Civil
war with conspicuous gallantry
and success, and since then, as a
member Of Congress and public
man, hehas kept in touch with
matters military. Besides all
that, owing to his character and
the fact that he is not tainted
with the suspicion Of being q pc.
litical general, there are few to
whose testimony the public will
attach more weight. His testl-
mony does not minimize in any
degree the hardships of the ex-
traordinary campaign of Santa
go. 1t shows that, those hard
ships we're shared by officers and
men alike but what he testities
to shows pretty clearly that there
we're few hardships that could
have been avoided under the
peculiar circumstances. The in
clemencies of the weather, the
nature of the country and the
conditions under which the adj
vance had to be made were re.
sponsible for the most of them.
Food was plentiful, with rare ex-
captions, aud such care was given
to the wounded as was possible
during and Immediately after a
fierce battle. which called forth
the utmost exertions of the army
engaged. That there should be
some mistakes and blunders in
pushing an army hastily to the
front over such a country, and in
fighting a series Of desperate
battles, was to be expected.
Clocklike regularity in the auxil-
larry service of the army at such
time is no more to be expected
than on the fighting line."
General Wheeler in speaking
of his experience at Camp Wikoff
said that President Mckinley
ION giving him command there,
had ordered him to spare no
pains or expense to make the
men comfortable. He made an
examination of the camp and
found it necessary to undertake
much preparations to care for
the men properly, to bore wells,
lay water pipes, build laundries.
disinfecting plants. get floors for
the tents, erect hospitals, etc.
The surgeons at his request, had
made a list of special articles to
be purchased for the sick. The
list included evaporated fruits,
green corn in cans, sugar cured
hams, oatmeal, fish, ice, canned
peas, prunes, soups, pickles,
lemons, oranges, eggs, tea, milk
and many other articles in addi-
ton to their regular rations. The
people came with many kinds of
food, land 7 undertake to say
he declared, THAT no army on
earth was ever so abundantly
supplied with necessaries or
luxuries." Gen. Wheeler said he
did not think the hospitals were
crowded, that if the sick were
without blankets or adequate
shelter he had not known the
fact. and if he had known such a
want he would have supplied it.
There was no red tape he men
toned one case in which he had
telegraphed to New York for
four car loads of medicine and
they had arrived on the evening
of the next day. He had read to
the regular soldiers the assertion
that they had been in an almost
starving condition, and they
laughed at the report. The men
asserted that the only trouble
was that they had too much; and
as matter of fact, no soldiers
had ever been so we'll supplied"
Then came the testimony of Gen.
Fitzhugh Lee, another Demo
crat who was on background. He
said the camp at Jacksonville
wasin a most excellent condition.
General Lee said in his testi-
mony thatsoldiers are like school
boys, "they sometimes complain