June 18, 1917.

From: Lieut. Colonel H. J. Hunt, Infantry.

To: Commanding General, Southeastern Department.

Subject: Inspection of Supply Co., 3rd Inf., N.C.N.G.

1. Pursuant to instructions contained in your letter of June 13th, I submit the following report of my inspection of Supply Company, 3rd N.C. Infantry, made this date:

2. KITCHEN. The food is cooked, served, and eaten in a large high-roofed shed, with no sides. Everything is open; nothing, and no place, was screened, and flies were noticeable in large quantities, everywhere about the kitchen and the vicinity. The ground had just been policed, and lime scattered about, but swarms of flies in certain places on the ground indicated that the soil was soaked with a liquid that attracted them; several crusts and pieces of bread were on the ground near the kitchen, evidently carelessly thrown there; the pans for cooking food were caked with dirt on the outside, and practically all were greasy and covered with soot. Flies were everywhere and no attempt was made to cover swill and garbage barrels within ten yards of the kitchen. High weeds and some tall grass were growing in the near vicinity, and the surroundings generally indicated a lack of habitual police.

3. LATRINE. The latrine is about as unsanitary, and open to the free admission of flies, as it is possible to be. Fecal matter lays on the ground, entirely unscreened and in the open, and about 75 yards distant from the kitchen. I was told that the fecal matter is shoveled, each morning, into a pit, and buried. The deposits of each succeeding day are left exposed, and flies swarm in the vicinity. Absolutely nothing is done to keep the place closed.

4. STOREHOUSE AND STORES. The Storehouse is a large frame building with dirt floor covered with saw-dust, or shavings. All the property has been dumped into this building, and it has remained there, apparently untouched, as far as caring for it is concerned. Everything showed neglect, and an absolute lack of attention. Many classes of articles were scattered about, or were not properly prepared for storing and many articles were rusting and deteriorating, from lack of attention. The escort wagons had been run into the building, and left in a disorderly manner, with no regular arrangement; the harness had been oiled and placed in sacks and thrown into a pile; saddles were hanging to pegs, apparently untouched with soap or oil; etc. Everything was confusion, and no attempt had ever been made to put things in shape.

QUARTERS. The men are quartered in one of the buildings on the Fair Grounds. They have ample room. The building did not seem very well policed. The grounds in the near vicinity of the building occupied by the men were not well policed,- a broken pop bottle, scraps of writing paper, tops of pop bottles, etc, were in plain sight, showing a decided lack of thoroughness in policing. Around the Storehouse were high weeds, and in rear were many empty beer bottles, some discarded underwear, etc.

COMPANY INSPECTION. At inspection the men did not have neat, clean looking clothes, and the shoes, generally, were not polished. There was a general slackness. The revolvers were all clean; some rifles were not clean, being oily, and some were dirty. Some haversacks and canteen covers, and practically all of the cartridge belts, were greasy and more or less dirty. I was told that clothing and other supplies had been requisitioned for. The men did not impress me as being familiar with the proceedure of inspection.

COMPANY PAPERS. The Company book and papers were found to be in a “fair” condition. The following irregularities were noted: Company fund vouchers did not correspond with voucher number in book; initial clothing allowance not correct on many of the Descriptive Lists; Correspondence book poorly kept; (Summary Court book shows but two trials since must in, in Oct. 1916.); Morning Report poorly kept; Duty Roster poorly kept and no separate list for R.Os and K.Ps.; Files of G.Os, Circulars, and Bulletins, not complete; retained muster rolls for November and December, 1916, missing; retained copy of Company return for March 1917, missing; no sizes of clothing for enlisted men.

ADMINISTRATION. I found that no interior guard had ever been maintained about the camp,- and at the time of my inspection no watchmen were kept in the storehouse. Drill for one hour each week day, is the only requirement.

REMEDIAL MEASURES. In the way of remedial measures, I directed the following: to maintain, hereafter, a guard of at least one non-commissioned officer and three privates; to detail watchmen to sleep in the storehouse; to immediately make requisition for lumber to build covered seats for a latrine,- and sufficient wire screen to screen a kitchen; to turn out the entire company for general police work until all government property is properly arranged in the storehouse, and put in proper condition against deterioration,- thereafter to make such details as may be necessary to keep the place and property in proper condition; to issue orders for the maintaining of a proper state of police throughout the camp and to personally see to the execution of same, and to the proper punishment of those who fail to obey said order.

CONCLUSION. In my opinion the officer in command of the Supply Company, 3rd N.C. Infantry, is particularly unfit for his position as Supply Officer of a regiment. He is slow, dense, and shrinks from assuming responsibility. He has not had the necessary experience and does not possess the ability to properly administer the affairs of his present command. With the approach of warm weather it is highly important that proper conditions be established in a sanitary way.

H. J. Hunt.

Enclosed in: 1918 (sic), June 21. Kilbourne to Bickett.