River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-05-24
LIEUT.. COZ. GUIDO ELGES.
A Sketch Of the Unpleasant Causes OF
His Resign aIiOn and of His Bril-
liant Military Career.

His Resign aIiOn and of His Bril-
liant Military Career.
Washington special The resignation OF
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. InforRla-
ton received at the war department corrob-
crates the statement already made in the
Pioneer Press regarding the reason ior Col.
Ilges' peremptory resignation. 1t is to the
effect that he hypothetical 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-
siderable amounts OF money while here last
year, which he gave notes for, and has
made no efforts to repay, although re-
peatedly urged to do so. He recently ten
dered his resignation, to take effect Jan. ]
next, and asked that leave be grantee him
until that date Secretary Lincoln how
yer, telegraphed Col. Ilges to the effect that
If he rendered bis resignatio1 to take effect
at once, it would be accepted, otherwise he
would be tried by court martial for conduct
unbecomiDg an officer and 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
this country, was appointed q captain in the
Fourteenth Infantry, May IA, 1861, accept
ing bis commission the next month. Dur
ing the rebellion he served with great gel
lantry, commanding the Fourteenth during
most of 1864, and was breveted mejor for
gallantry at the battle of the Wilderness,
and lieutenant colonel for the battle of
Spots lvania, 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
rounding up and bringing in Sitting Bull
and his band of Sioux warriors. Once be-
fore Col. Ilges has been in a similar trouble.
In 1873, while lptain of the Fourteenth in
fantry, Re duplicated his accounts, was
tried by general court martial and sem
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 him
TO be promoted Dec. 10, 1873,
to major of the Seventh infantry, from
which he exchanged to the Fifth, as stated.
While he was commanding in Missouri in
1879 so Lieut.. Gen Sheridan had such con-
fidence in his ability and judgment as a
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 then likely his inability to
believe that two pair will not beat three of
a kind Fort Assiniuboine, where Col
IIges was stationed, is the largest and most
northerly military post in the country, COM
prising eight troops OF cavalry and four of
infantry.