The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-27
THE BEEF AT CAMP THOMAS
MAJOR ARRAsMITH, DEPOT COMHIS-
ARR REPORTS TO MILES.

MAJOR dRRASMITH, DEPOT COMMITS
S1RT, REPORTS TO GEN. MILES.
He Says tho Refrigerated Reef Was of EK-
cellent Quality and In Splendid Condition
Tho Quality of the Ration Furnished
was Probably the Best Ever Issued.
WARRINGTON. Fob. 28.-The Army Board of
Inquiry has received the report Of Major ]. NJ.
Arrasmith. late commissary at Camp Thomas.
Ga, upon the character OF the rations issued
at that point. The report covers the rations
supplied to the 1900 soldiers modified at
Chickamauga Park from May. 1893. TO jan
uary. 1890. and was made IN accordance with
tho following order from Gen. Miles;
WA DEPARTMENT,
1NsPECToR-GENERALs OFFICE.
WASHINGTON, Jan, %, 1879.
Major James ". Arrdsmith, Depot Comrntssdrv, Chick.
dmdu1d Park. Ga.
Sir; The commanding General having re-
ferred TO this office for investigation and report
the matter Of unsatisfactory food issued to the
troops during the past year. l have tho honor
to request that you furnish me at your earliest
convenience such information as you have, or
can secure, bearing upon the general subject.
but especially concerning the food received
during the military operations in the recent
war with Spain. particularly refrigerated or
canned beef. and all component parts Of the ra-
liOl htSJA'1tus " htNiltl VI HuuoVluVIbN W
issue to troops. Very respectfully.
"E. A. DARLINGTON.
Acting Inspector General"
To this Major Arrasmith replied:
OFFICE DEPOT CoMMIssARY.
CAMP GEORGE H.. THOMAS
C~HICKAMAUGA PARE. Ga, Jan. ~. 1892.
Col. r. 4. Darlington. Acting Inspector. General
Washington, d. c.
SIR: In compliance with instructions con-
tanned in your letter OF the 23d inst. l have the
honor to submit the inclosed report relative to
rations issued at Camp George II. Thomas.
Chickamauga Park. Georgia: also amount
condemned and sold or destroyed. All stores
unfit for sale or issue were acted upon by n
Board Of Survey and in all cases were con-
demned prior to issue to troops. with the ex-
ception that in q few instances damaged pota-
toes and bacon were returned to the Depot
Commissary and exchanged prior to condemna-
ton. The 5000 pounds Of beef condemned
and destroyed was local beef purchased in
The refrigerated beot was sufficient in
quantity and excellent in quality, and the fact
that the depot commissary inspected and is
sued over 10000 900 pounds OF thlsb beef, and in
a hot climate, without losing a pound of it in
dicates the splendid condition of the beef and
the care exercised in handling 1t.
The bread condemned was purchased in
Nashville during the time the regular troops
were here, and prior to the erection OF. the
bakery at this camp. The bread, baked, here
was NSIy koou' L HoN0 hCNCl oCSh p0'toh Di0oN
issued to troops.
The bacon condemned was a portion OF the
large amount sent to and stored in Chattanooga
for use OF the army at Chickamauga. 1t deteri.
grated rapidly in this climate. and a portion Of
it became infected with shippers. and when
shipped out to camp some OF 1t had to be con-
demned and replaced by good bacon,
The greatest care was taken by, the Depot
Commissary for the preservation OF all subsis;
tence stores, and any damage that occurred
was due to climate and natural causes, and was
Incident to the service. The canned, beef and
baked beans were very good and showed no
signs Of lermentation. The damage to the two
cans OF the former and the nine cans OF the lat,
driven through the boxes. penetrating the cans.
Only 1872 pounds Of canned roast beef were
received here. and this amount was sold to Of
tcers and men ofthe command and gave en-
tire satisfaction.
preservation OF the vegetables in this climate.
particularly at about the time that the supply
Of old potatoes was exhausted and he new po-
| sand four hundred pounds OF sugar were dam
aged by a heavy raLnstorm. which. owing to the
portion of the Commissary.
The quality Of the %ratiqns furnished was
an army of $4,000 men, with the. exception OF
some potatoes and bacon that spoiled owing to
a aaieEf' r SansGf; f By be tins r s,1si a fH Ss a g SSS
quality of the same: and taking into consider
alton the fact that approximately 0OO OO9
pounds OF subsistence stores were shipped
here and issued. the percentage OF loss is eX-
ceedingly small. Respectfully
D. vi. hRhhSMlIh, 90
Major and c. S. U. s.. V. Depot Commissary."
The table accompanying this report shows
that 5.l63. 300 pounds OF refrigerated beef
were issued without the loss OF a pound; OF
corned beef there were, issued in travel ra-
tons y rs c lSo'o00 tTYoI6b9fqHaHdo G esf tSre OF r %h1eh c t%9
Of baked beans. nine cans were condemned.
OF 100000 cans of salmon. two, cans were
pounds Of soft bread. OF which 5,245'
Semnea; OF 4.2@#,l2o pounds Of ,p9ta;
toes. "a. 500 pounds were rejected before
issue, OF l.12S,32O, pounds Of onions. 2.0OG
cans OF tomatoes. 81 were condemned. Of
l0l 200 gallon cans. 1874 were condemned. All
these COMBINATIONS were before, issue, to the
troops. Out OF l3..225. 900, pounds OF bacon,
l39.S63 were condemned before issue. This
had been shipped in bulk from western army
posts and became heated on the way and in the
storehouse at Chattanooga. All other items oil
the ration were in good condition.