The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-09-23
Correspondence Chicago Tribune.l
SERIOUS CHARGES.
HancOck's Refusal to Let the Boys Have


Water.
DR.. Castleman particularly men,
toned the name of Captain Charles
Langridge, Of Lancaster, Grant Coun-
ty, Wis, as cognizant of all that was
charged in his book against General
Hancock. Captain Langridge was
therefore found, DIR. Castleman' S
charges shown him, and request
made that he tell what he knew of
the affair.
Know exclaimed the plain but
sturdy Captain; why I know all
about it. | was in command at that
time, and the damning | got when [
told Hancock | could not tell among
so many men just who called for wa
ter will keep the affair fresh in my
mind as long as | live. l have told Of
the brutal punishment Hancock dealt
us that time very frequently in BY
gone years, before [ ever thought he
would come before the people for any
office. DR.. Castleman' has not clothed
that outrage with more than half its
real atrocity 1t is what he refers to
as happening August 10, 1862. Pos
sibly, however, this incident is only
another of similar kind that happened
the same day and in the line of march
some distance from me- The General
resolved we should have no water. 1t
looked as if he premeditated the wick
edness the night before, and kept rid
ing along the brigade to see that the
resolve was enforced. | will tell what
| know, and what will be sustained by
any others who know tie facts. On
the 18th of August we marched over
the old Williamsburg battle-ground,
and at about 4 o'clock halted on an
eminence at the base Of which was a
small mill-pond The day had been
intensely hot and dusty, end as soon
as the boys broke ranks they made for
the mill-pond with soap and towels.
After taps (call to retire. that even
ing the boys were ordered to have
their eanteens filled ready foran early
start the rexS morning. The only
possible place for filing the canteens
was to get water out of this miIl-pond,
which was literally a pond Of soap
suds, for thousands Of men had soaped
and bathed themselves in it. Of
course all of them did not fill their
canteens from this pond, for they
could not drink it, but hoped to be
able to get some better water on the
march. We took the early start, and
after marching few miles we noticed
men in regiments ahead of us were
breaking to the left with canteens,
evidently going for water. The men
of our regiment then asked permission
Of their officers to go for fresh water.
Permission was given, and, as usual,
a few selected to take canteens for the
whole company. The stream proved
to be mill-race of fine, clear running
water, think from a sawmill. The
men got their canteens filled, Or near
ly so, when, to their surprise, Han
cock and his staff rode out from be-
hind the mill and compelled them to
empty their canteens and 90 back to
their company without water. The
The boys were very angry as well as
very thirsty, but could do nothing.
About noon was the next opportuni-
ty for a short halt, and peremptory
orders were given by Hancock that
the men should have no opportunity
to get water. We went on and reach
ed Yorktown about 2 o'clock. We
had started from Williamsburg, and
on hot day in August in that sultry
climate we had marched eighteen or
twenty miles with only soap-suds
drenched off our bodies in our can
teens when we started. and without
any water III them after we were re-
quired to empty them. Near York
town we halted, and Hancock and his
staff on horseback made their appear
ance in front of the Fifth Wisconsin.
The men began calling Water! wa
| teri Hancock rode up to the officer
commanding the first division. This
happened to be myself. | was Lieu
tenant and was in command. What
is your name?' he demanded. | gave
him my name. "A Cd id pretty
officer you are to allow your men to
call water when the Commanding
General rides round in review. | de-
mand the names Of the parties so that
can punish them,' howled the Gene.
raj. | answered, Occupying the po
sition | do, General, in front of my
men, it is impossible for me to desig
nate them. He then went to the Off
Ger commanding the second division
Enoch Totten. and the same role wa
repeated. Then, said he, by Cd
III punish the whole id regiment.