The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-05-26
LIEUT.. COL. GUIDO ILGES.
A Sketch OF the Unpleasant Causes OF
His Resign alton and OF His Bril-.
liant Military Career.


liant Military Career.
Washington special: The resignation oI
Col. Guido Ilges, Eighteenth infantry, has
beer received at the department As his
unconditional resignstion was called tor tg
the secretary OF war, ii will no doubt be ac-
cepted by the president at once. 1nforna.
ton received at the war department corrob.
crates the statement already made in the
Pioneer Press regarding the reg son :or Col
Ilges' peremptory resignation. 1t is to the
effect that he hypothecated at least eight pay
accounts for periods for which he has since
drawn his pay in person, amounting
to over $500. Besides this he borrowed con.
slider able amounts OF money while here last
year. which he gave notes for, and has
made no efforts to .epay, although re-
peatedy urged to do SO. He recently ten.
dered his resigs alton, to take fleet Jan.
next, and asked that leave be granted him
until that date. Secretary Lincoln how.
yer, telegraphed Col. Ilges to the effect thai
II he rendered his resignation to take effect
at once, it would be accepted, otherwise he
would be tried by court martial for conduct
unbecoming an officer and a gentleman in
duplicating his pay accounts as above
stated.
Col. Ilgos IL native Of Prussia, ex-of-
ficer Of the Prussan army and coming into
this country, was appointed a captain in the
Fourteenth Infantry, May IA, 1851, accept
ing bis commission the next month. Dur
ing the rebellion he served with great gal
lantry, commanding the Fourteenth during
NEST of 1854 and was breveted major for
gallantry at the battle of the Wilderness,
and lieutenant colonel for the hattie Of
Spots lvania, in 1864. Since the war he
was almost continuously on the frontier,
and in $780, when he exchanged from the
Seventh te the Fifth infantry with Major
Brotherton, he distinguished himself by
rounding up and bringing in Sitting Bull
and his band ofSioux warriors. Once be-
fore Col. Ilges has been in similar trouble.
In 1873, while ,ptain Of the Fourteenth in
fantry, he duplicated his accounts, was
tried by general court martial, and sem
lenc to be cashiered, but Gen. Grant. who
was then president, mtigated the sentence
in consideration of his brilliant war history,
and as he was then the senior captain Of in
fantry this action enabled him
to major of the Seventh infantry, from
which he exchanged to the Fifth, as stated
While he was commanding in Missouri in
1879 80 Lieut.. Gen. Sheridan had such con-
fidence in his ability and judgment as .
soldier, as we'll as an executive officer, that
he advised Gen. Terry not to send anybody
who will outrank Ilges. Gen. Terry did
not, and Ilges rounded up Sitting Bull and
his band of renegades Col. Ilges is one OF
the finest looking officers in the army. He
is over six feet in height. broad shoulders,
and in Uniform and mounted is the very
beau ideal of soldier The cause of his
downfall is more than likely his inability "
believe that two pair will not beat three OF
q kind. Fort Assininboine, where Col.
Ilges was stationed, is the largest and most
northerly military post in the country, COM
prising eight troops Of cavalry and four Of
infantry.