The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 2, Volume 5. Page: 344

                                
PRISONERS OF WAR AND STATE, ETC.

rainy weather together with the low location of the camp have been
quite uncomfortable. A system of drainage has been established which
when completed promises the best results. The labor is performed by
the prisoners themselves.
The guard of the prisoners is composed of the Sixty-third and One
hundred and fourth Illinois and Ninth Vermont Infantry with a bat-
tery of the Illinois artillery, making a total of 1,737 enlisted men pres-
ent for duty. The commissary department is under the charge of
Capt. C. C. Pomeroy, acting assistant commissary of subsistence and
mustering and disbursing officer at Chicago. This department is con-
ducted with economy and to the entire satisfaction of all interested.
The rations were found to be good, wholesome and of the first quality.
The reduced ration is issued in accordance with your instructions.
Captain Pomeroy resides in Chicago and his duties as mustering officer
require a large share of his attention. He employs an agent who
remains constantly at the camp. The number of troops and prisoners
at Camp Douglas would warrant and require that an officer of the com-
missary department should be stationed there. The rations are fur-
nished by contract at a cost of $14.43 per 100 rations; William F. Tucker,
of Chicago, contractor. The quartermaster's department is under the
charge of Capt. J. A. Potter, assistant quartermaster at Chicago, hav-
ing for his assistants Capts. J. P. Rutherford and Charles Goodman,
assistant quartermasters, U. S. volunteers, at the camp. The affairs of
the quartermaster's department are properly and economically admin-
istered. There is no necessity for two quartermasters at this camp and
I respectfully recommend that Capt. J. P. Rutherford be relieved.
Captain Rutherford is senior to Captain Potter in date of commission,
although acting in a subordinate capacity. Captain Potter concurs
with me in this recommendation, which will prevent any conflict in
regard to rank.
The medical department is under the charge of Dr. George H. Park,
surgeon Sixty-fifth Illinois Infantry. I found the hospitals generally
neat and clean and are well supplied with cots and bedding. The sick
prisoners were well cared for. The medical supplies were sufficient.
Doctor Park is kind in his treatment of the sick prisoners and en-
deavors to perform his duties satisfactorily. He is zealous, energetic and
attentive and will endeavor faithfully to carry out your instructions.
He has four physicians employed by contract as his assistants with the
prisoners. There has been and still is a large amount of sickness here.
This is to be attributed mainly to the fact that when these prisoners
came up the river they were crowded upon transports without proper
protection from the weather and without proper facilities for cooking
their rations. They were delayed en route, many of them sick, with
only the clothing they had on their backs. They had been subjected
to much exposure for some days previous to their capture and were
literally broken down in health and spirits. On their arrival 800 were
under medical treatment. Among the prisoners are four persons who
represent themselves to be medical officers of the C. S. Army. I have
no reason to doubt their statement. No roll accompanied them by
which to verify their statements. They represent themselves as follows,
viz: D. F. Stewart, surgeon Tenth Texas Regiment; Thomas C. Foster,
assistant surgeon Tenth Texas Regiment; John A. Schomblin, assistant
surgeon Fifteenth Texas Regiment; James W. Motley, assistant sur-
geon Seventeenth Texas Regiment. These medical officers are employed
at the prisoners' hospital and their services are quite valuable. They
desire to remain and take care of their sick fellow-prisoners. The com-
manding officer has permitted them to remain until he receives contrary

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