The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-09-07
A Task for the Legislature.

A company officer of the Vermont
regiment, referring to the condition of
its sick, remarked that the suffering of
these men would have been lightened
if they could have had plenty of ice
and milk. For his company seventy
five dollars was raised at home but it
supplied the needs of his sick for but
few days, with milk at ten cents quart
and ice sixty cents hundred pounds.
The invalids of the companies for
whom no provision was made went
without even a temporary supply of ice
and milk, or any other of the common
est blessings for the sick, but roughed
it on ''sow belly" and hard tack. The
water, even that which was carted from
distant spring, was steaming hot
when it arrived at the camp, and,
without ice, was absolutely unpalata-
BILE.
Again the inquiry is made, Why was
not Vermont supplying its soldiers
languishing in pestilence-smitten
camp, amid the stenches from over
flowing cess pools, in hospitals without
the comforts the thrifty Vermont
farmer supplies his cattle-why was not
Vermont providing the regiment with
those simple necessities, ice and milk,
for the sick2 Why was not the State
going further and furnishing for the
stomachs of these stricken people some
delicacy other than SOW belly and hard
tack? A strong and perfectly healthy
man, up here among the Green Mount
aims, does not exactly banker after this
sort of diet. How might he regard it in
a close approach to torrid heat, amid
odors not from "Araby the blest"?
How might man debilitated by eli
mate and weakened by disease regard
this kind of fodder2
Was any officer of the Vermont State
government, from any Of the depart
ments charged with the administration
of its military affairs, at any time at
Camp Thomas2 And how long did he
stay? Did he "mess" with any of the
boys, or visit the hospitals2 Did he
venture far beyond the precincts of
headquarters and the officers mess?
Did he, or did the regimental or COM
pany officers, report the condition of
the men, the sick and the well, to the
head of the State government? Igno-
rance of the condition and sufferings
at Chickamauga Park can hardly be
pleaded, and if it were it would not
avail. The newspapers were full of re-
ports showing that all was not serene
at Camp Thomas. Enough was known
to place the most obtuse of administra-
tors on the alert, and to point his nose
towards the spot where were encamped
the men for whose welfare he was pri-
marily responsible, and who had at his
disposal sum of money ample for
every emergency.
Governors are appointed to govern,
Presidents are charged with the obi
cations of chief executive authority,
and cabinet officers with the RESPONSE
bilities of administration. The man in
chief authority cannot skirk the re-
sponsibility of the initiative in official
action. He enjoys the honors and
emoluments of office; he must should
er, also, it's cares and burdens, and be-
come sternly accountable to the
people for his stewardship. If the
death or needless suffering: of single
soldier is the fruit of official dullness,
or heedlessness, or parsimony, or in.
competency in any form or degree, it
were better for him that a milestone
were hanged about his neck and he
were drowned in the depth of the sea OF
oblivion that is the common lot of the
great mass of unofficial and untitled
mankind. The people of Vermont
want to know all about the causes OF
the mortality and sickness, and general
inefficiency, in regiment that never
passed the national boundary, and
never engaged an hour in active mill.
tsry service. The Legislature chosen
yesterday ought to manage to procure
and publish the nformation-without
fear and without favor.