He instituted certain measures, and let things take their course.

That course was a rapid transition from bad to worse, but it was still in the direction of his wishes, and, what little of his own energy was infused into it was in the direction of impetus,-not of controlling or improving the course.
To have done things better would have involved soma personal discomfort.
He was not likely to incur personal discomfort to mitigate evils that were only afflicting someone else.

By an effort of one hour a day for two weeks he could have had every man in Andersonville and Florence given good shelter through his own exertions.

He was not only too indifferent and too lazy to do this, but he was too malignant; and this neglect to allow--simply allow, remember--the prisoners to protect their lives by providing their own shelter, gives the key to his whole disposition, and would stamp his memory with infamy, even if there were no other charges against him..