The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-05-25
LIEUT.. COL. GUIDO ILGEs.
A Sketch of the Unpleasant Causes OF
His Resign ation and of His Bril-.
liant Military Career.

A Sketch of the Unpleasant Causes OF
His Resignat and of His Bril-
liant Military Career.
Washington special: The resignation OF
Col Guido Ilges, Eighteenth infantry, has
been received at the department. AS his
unconditional resignation was called for by
the secretary of war, it will no doubt be &C.
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 reeson FOR Col.
Ilges peremptory resignation. It 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-
sidera amounts of money while here last
year, which he gave notes for, and has
made no efforts to repay. although re-
dered his resignation, to take effect Jan.
next, and asked that leave be granted hin
until that date. Secretary Lincoln how
yer. telegraphed Col. Ilges to the effect tina
If 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. Ilges is native of Prussia, an ex-of.
ficer of the Prussian army and coming into
Fourteenth Infantry, May IA, 1861, accept
ing his commission the next month. Dur
| ing the rebellion he served with great gal
| lantry, commanding the Fourteenth during
NEST of 1864, and was breveted major for
gallantry at the battle of the Wilderness,
| and lieutenant colonel for the battle OF
Spotts1lvania, in 1864. Since the war he
was almost continuously on the frontier,
and in 1880, when he exchanged from the
Seventh to the Fifth infantry with Major
Brotherton, he distinguished himself by
| and his band ofSioux warriors. Once be.
fore Col. 1lges has been in similar trouble
In 1878, while iptain of the Fourteenth in.
fantry, he duplicated his accounts, was
| tried by general court martial, and sen.
tenc to be cashiered, but Gen. Grant, who
was then president, mitigated the sentence
in consideration of his brilliant war history,
and as he was then the senior captain of in
! fantry this action enabled hin
to be nromoted Dec. 10, 1873
to major of the Seventh infantry, from
| While he was commanding in Missouri ir
1879 80 Lieut. Gen. Sheridan had such con
fdence in his ability and judgment as 6
soldier, as we'll as an executive officer, that
he advised Gen. Terry not to send anybody
| who will outrank Ilges. Gen. Terry die
not, and Ilges rounded up Sitting Bull ant
his band of renegades. Col. Iges is one O
the finest looking officers in the army. HI
is over six feet in height. broad shoulders
| and in Uniform and mounted is the yer,
beau ideal of soldier. The cause of hi
downfall is more than likely his inability Il
| kind. Fort Assininboine, where Col
| Ilges was stationed, is the largest and mos
northerly military post in the country, com
prising eight troops of cavalry and four o
infantry.