Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-10-30

on Private Hammond, who was dragged
by the heels by order Of Captain Lowering
at Fort Sheridan recently, have not been
uncommon in the army.
OF late years, however, unusual modes
Of punishmcnt have been very rare. The
Law on tho subject of punishment in the
army Is plain and explicit. Imprisonment
and fines are the only methods recognized.
Not many years ago brutality often was
found in the army. An effort was made
In many cases to make ths offending sol
der suffer in mind as well as body. Fa-
nous officers were not exempt from this
predilection. Even General Custer, whose
melancholy death is still incurred in the
army, was prone to this method of pun
ishment.
Custer was in command of q post in
Kansas shortly before his massacre by Sit
ting Bull and his braves. George Wilson,
private in one of his favorite troops, had
been guilty Of some minor offense. In
those days tho commanding officer Of q
post vas as much Of an autocfat a. the
captain Of . ship. No court martial wa
considered necessary. Custer ordefed WI:
son TO carry the log.
This punishment consisted in attachina
ono end Of . chain to the offenders leg and
the other end to log weighing about 20
pounds. Then the private was forced to
shoulder tho log and march a beat about
900 yards At the end Of the four hours
sentence the log would have increased in
weight SO that It was a heavy burden.
Then tho ignominy Of the position would
add to the trials Of the offender. His dis
comfiture was increased by the gibes Of his
fellow soldiers.
The day was hot. Sweat rolled down
Private Wilson's face in rivulets. The log
wore away the skin on his shoulder. He
could have no water.
When the bugle blew the signal for 70
view, Wilson's punishment was at On end.
my Godl" said he as the chain was
taken from his leg. I'm thirsty. could
drink like horse.''
"You could?" said Custer, who had
overheard the remark. "Then you viii.
I'll mako you drink like horse"
With a hearty laugh the commands
then ordered a saddle placed upon Wilson'S
shoulders. 1t was one of those cumbrous
cavalry saddles used in tho old days, and
was fastened around hS ctc with the
regular bellyband. IT, liz of bits
was placed in his mouth ami .he reins let
out behind.
"Drive him to the creek, {" said Custer
to Corporal McGinniss.
Tho corporal and attendant guard
thought the matter q good joke. with a
"Cluck, cluck!' and q "Get up!' they
drove Wilson to the creek. A bugler blew
the "dismount"
"Driak!' ordered Custer as the bugle
sounded
Wilson knelt down.
"That isn't the way. You don't look
like horse. Lie down."
The private stretched himself at full
length upon his stomach and Tapped UT
tho not oyerclean water as well as the BIZ
in his mouth would permit.
Wilson was good soldier and had rec.
ord for bravery in Indian campaigns Yet
q few weeks after this episode he deserted,
and all trace of him was lost.
While on active campaign Custer wal
the idol Of his soldiers. When in post In
times Of pence, however, he was perhaps
too strict disciplinarian. F1ogging wal
at one time pcrmittc.' - the English army,
and many privstcs .::c. - the result Of the
whippings they recei, cd. Il was never in
vogue in the United States army
Yet at Fort Ellis, Kansas. today an
shown some old cannon to which insubor
dinAte pri1tes Were tied and dashed By
Clusters orders. This il an unusual Incl
dent in the career Of the famous fighter
and showed what he considered necessary
to preserve discipline In the absence q
specific regulations.
Many unusual punishmcnts were used
during the civil war to enforce discipline
among the soldiers. An account Of some Of
tho punishmcnts common in the Army d
the Potomac in the winter Of 1884 4
given BY Frank Wilkeson in his 'Recollec
lions of = Priva1e Soldier" He m0s:
Tho punishments indicted On the enlist
ID men were various, and some Of then
wsro horribly brutal and needle0ly severe
but they apparently served their purpose
and the times were cruel, and men had
been hardened to bear the suffering Of 9th
- men without wincing. One punishmen,
much affected in the light artillery va,
eaued Tying on the spare wheel Spring
Ing upward and reafward from the center
~ a SSWy ca&1Doa was . nth ay3e, and
@Ax9 > DPMlel. \ sol1ss VII