9th Regiment, Infantry
New York Volunteers
Spanish American War
From the September 1, 1898 edition of the New York Times
Dead Soldiers Dissected
Orderly Stanley, Home on a Hospital Train, Tells of Surgeons’ Work at Camp Thomas
Two hospital trains bringing sick soldiers from Camp Thomas, Chickamauga, arrived at the Pennsylvania Railroad Station, Jersey City, yesterday. Each consisted of two Pullman cars. The first arrived at 6:40 o’clock A.M.. It brought twenty men. Four of them belonged to the Eighth New York and the rest were members of the First New Hampshire Regiment, with the exception of one. He was Corp. William M. Johnston of Milton, N.Y.. He was in Tennessee when the war broke out and enlisted in a regiment in that State. He was the only really sick man in the lot. He said the men received only twenty four soda crackers a day with some salt pork and potatoes that were unfit to eat. Fresh meat was seldom issued.
John Grant of 209 West Sixtieth Street, Manhattan, said that the camp at Chickamauga was on marshy ground and unfit for human habitation.
Frank Diamond said the water was fairly good, but the men had to carry it two miles.
William J. Coyle, George Callahan and Lewis Kitchen, of Berlin, N.H., all said that the horrors of Chickamauga had not been exaggerated. Some of the men, Coyle said, had been removed to Lexington, Ky.
The men were all able to walk to the ferryboats except Johnston, who had to be helped by his comrades. They said they would go with him to the Grand Central Station and see him safety entrained for home.
The second train arrived at 2 o’clock P.M.. It brought twenty two men of the Ninth New York Regiment, all of whom were supposed to be convalescent, but several of whom, were scarcely able to walk. These had telegraphed to friends, who met them with carriages. They were lifted into these and driven to the ferryboats.
The worst case was that of Leroy C. Shaw of New York. He was utterly helpless. He was met by his mother and sister, but, by the advice of the Pennsylvania Railroad officials, an ambulance was summoned and he was taken to Bellevue Hospital.
Orderly Robert Stanley, who was in charge of the men, and whose home is at 319 West Seventeenth Street, Manhattan, said that, if possible, he would like to have public attention further directed to the condition of affairs at Chickamauga. He said that in addition to the complaints made about food and lack of attention, he wished to make one in regard to the disposition made of soldiers’ bodies. Charles Munn and Frank Graham died on Saturday. Their comrades wished to have the bodies embalmed so they could be sent home, but the doctors dissected them and then had them buried in Ashland Cemetery. Graham’s body, he said, was cut up an hour after death. He said he had complained to Adjt. Kipp, who had promised to make an investigation.
Edward Raleigh, who was also very ill, was met by two of his sisters, who took him in a carriage to their home.
The other men of the command were Michael Cunningham, William Hughes, Charles Griswold, Thomas Murphy, Frank Herring, William F. Stewart, William Robinson, Joseph Lindauer, William Bennett, Henry Betts, James Ryan, George R. Manning, Robert Fischer, William Scully, Jacob Stawsche, William McCoy, Hamilton Graham, Frederick Gooddale, and Edward Umpton. They were carried down the elevator from the train shed to the ferryboats.
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