Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-09-09
More Testimony Against Hancock
(Manitowoc Tribune.)


Editor Of the Tribune. Since the
publication in the Chicago Tribune
and other papers including the Tri.
bune, OF the extracts from the book
of DIR. Castleman, / have been re-
peatedly requested by numbers OF
fellow citizens and old comrades re-
siding here and by letter from those
residing at distance to prepare a
statement of the facts alladed 10.
| was with the 5th Wisconsin
Regiment from its organization till
its return home, upon the expiration
OF its term of enlistm mt. During
the time General Hancock was in
command of the Brigade to which
was attached. l was absent from
duty only three or four days.
Like DR.. Castleman and Lieut..
Langridge | kept daily record OF
events during my army life. / pre-
sumo 1t is for this reason known to
many of my old comrades that
have been requested to make this
statement. can state that both
from recollection and from the record
made in my diary and in letters
written at that time that fully cor.
roborate the extracts made from the
book of DR.. Castleman, and the
statement made by Lieutenant Lang
ridge.
No soldier who has fought under
Gen. Hancock will deny that he pos.
sesses personal courage and military
skill in high degree. The men
who made his record are proud of it,
for it ls their record also, aud they
will not stultify themselves by BELT
thing him in this respect. But when
those things are conceded to him il
does not alter the fact that is already
indicated by the statements hereto
fore published, that he, is a harsh,
arbitrary, vindictive man, needless
ly cruel at times, and always arrogant
and intolerant TO his interiors in
rank.
The facts in relation to the Gener.
al depriving the men of the fish they
had purchased with the hard earned
pay of private soldier, were notori.
Gus throughout the Brigade from the
fact that at first the men forcibly re-
sisted the Generals Brigade guard.
They could not believe that a com
handing officer could be so mean
and small-minded as to do such a
thing they suspected job on the
part of some practical jokers to
enjoy a feast at their expense.
Had it not been that there was an of.
fcer of the Generals staff presen,
enforcing the order, and for the good
nature of the private soldiers com.
posing the guard, who felt ashamed
of the duty they had to perform and
begged the men not to compel them
to use force there might have been
serious trouble. Under the circum-
stances all they could do was to look
gloomily on with muttered curses
while the coveted prize was carried
past them to the Generals mess tent.
| was not present during this occur
renee, but knew all about it from two
of my company who had somo mon
ey invested IN the matter. Sergeant
Willard Rickaby, now residing al
Niles, in this county, was present,
and can, | think, satisfy the curiosity
of any who want to know further oil
the matter.
The incident of the General order
ing the removal of hospital attend.
ants and consure of hospital patients
because they appreciated Dr. Castle
mans efforts enough to present aim a
Surgeons sword and accoutrements
in token thereof was equally well
known. The poisoning of the three
men of the regiment at Flint Hill
in consequence of the removal of the
skilled medical dispenser, created a
profound sensation in tue regimen,
and when it became known that
General Hancock refused to reinstate
the druggist, even after that fatal
event, it amounted most to conster.
nation.
| l stood, one Of q large circle,
around the PROSTATE form of the hap
less victim of petty malice watching
the surgeons Of the Regiment, as
they endeavored to save the life so
miserably wasted, recollect well
the heartsick expression of DR.. Cas-.
tleman as the death.rattle sounded
in the throat Of the victim. As the
breath left the body the Doctor rose
from his kneeliBg position by the
side of il and said to the officers aud
soldiers around : THAT is all gentle.
men, that is the end; l wash ng
hands Of this mans blood and
charge his Geath directly to General
Hancock If l am not mistaken
DR.. Wilbur, assistant Surgeon of the
Regiment, now r siding at Mineral
Point, 10 this State, was present, and
active in his exertions TO save the
lives of the poisoned men.
/ was present at the ranks at the
time when General Hancock refused
to permit US to get water, as related
by Lieut.. Lsngridge and Major But
terield, and can testify TO the truth
that the account given oy the former
is absolutely true in all the detail:
and incidents given by him. The
march remember as probably tht
most severe the regiment had evei
made.