Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-09-24
HANCOCk'S CRUELTY.
Dr.. G. D. Wilber on Or. CastIeman,


The following letter written by
our townsman, DR.. G. u, WilhcG
was published in the Chicago rri-
hunc IT Friday, the 18th inst. Mr.
Castlcman is striving to make him
self notorious Ivy preteuing charges
of cruelty against Gen. Hancock.
and in one Of his letters referred to
Dr. Wilher as one who would bear
linn out IN his statements. How
DR.. Wilher bears him cat will be
seen by the letter below, which
should be read by all who have
heard the charges Of nr. Castleman.
We hope the Grant County Herald,
and other papers which have been
instrumental in circulating tho
stories of DR.. Castlcman, will have
the fairness to publish DR.. Wilber's
letter also.
MINERAL PorNr, Wis, sept, 0.
As | do not indorse the doctrine
that all is fair in politics, but hold
that no cause Ia good enough to
warrant its advocates in warping
the truth to doiamc its adycrsaries; I;
and as my namc has boon uscd
in your columns III connection
with charges of cruelty, etc,
against Gen. Hancock, ] am inn
PEELED to rise to explain" 4" Al
though m m original Republi-
can, and feel IN duty bound 10 use
all honorable means within my
power to secure the election Of Gar
field and the defeat of Hancock,
for President, | do not on that ne.
count feel absolvcd from the duty
Of giving tie devil his due
The general truthfnlncss Of the
several acts Of seeming cruelty to
the men on the part of Gen. Ham
cock being conceded, it is impor-
tant to consider how far their state
ments may have been influenced
by personal bias against him; and
III the ease Of Dr. Castleman, in
particular, it is pertinent to mon
ton that in n bitter dispute be.
tween the Doctor and myself, Gen.
Hancock decided in my favor, TO
the Doctors great chagrin. From
that moment the Doctors cnnity
knew no bounds; and il il not
probable that in his state of mind
he would be an impartial narrator
Of facts as touching the man
against whom his onmity had been
aroused. While he might not will
fully peryert his liability TO give u
false coloring To the facts would be
great. He might even give his in
fcrences for facts for the facts them
selves, weakness too frequently
seen.
Concerning the alleged intcrfc-
renee Of Gen. Hancock with the
medical department of the Fifth
Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers, 10
which ] then belonged, il is emf
nently proper TO state that the
appointment and removal Of the
hospital steward, druggist and
other hospital attendants, were
were made by the colonel of the
regiment, and not by the brigade
commander. True, Gen. Hancock
did ccnsurc DR.. Castlcman on ac-
count Of the sword-prcscntation
affair; because it was notorious in
the brigade that the sword was pro-
cured by means prejudicial TO good
discipline, and not redounding "a
70 the honor Of the Doctor.
AS to the Generals profanity, *
will be conceded that he knew the
power Of certain words, that, in
fact, he did not swear upon occa.
casions which might have pro.
yokcd more sanity men than he,
when the obtundity Of stupid olIi-
Gers was astounding. Still, since
our army III Flanders earned its
reputation, profanity has not been
unknown TO soldiers Of both high
and low degree. Indeed, If ] may
own the soft impeachment, in very
truth there are occasions when only