The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-05-24
LIEUT.. COL. GUIDO ILGES.
A Sketch of the Unpleasant Causes Of
His Resign alton and of His Bril-
liant Military Career.

A Sketch of the UnpleaSa Mt Causes OF
His Resign alton 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 p: esident at once 1nforna.
ton received at the war department corrob-
crates the statement already made in the
Pioneer Press regarding the reason ;or Col.
1lges' peremptory resignation: 1t is to tho
effect that hehypothecateda at least eight pay
accounts for periods for which he has since
drawn his pay in person, amounting
slider able 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. 1
next, and asked that leave be granted him
until that date. Secretary Lincoln how
yer, telegraphed Col. Ilges to the effect that
if he rendered bis resignation to take effect
at once, it would be accepted, otherwise he
would be tried by court martial for conduct
unbecoming an officer and gentleman, in
duplicating his pay accounts as above
stated.
Col. Ilges is native of Prussia, an ex-of-
fcer of the Prussian army and coming into
this country, was appointed q captain in the
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
Spots slvania, in 1864. Since the war he
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 OfSiOux warriors. Once be-
fore Col. Ilges has been in a similar trouble
In 1873, while c,ptain of the Fourteenth in
fantry, he duplicated his accounts, was
tried by general court martial, and SEN
tenc d to be cashiered, but Gen. Grant. who
was then president, mitigated the sentence
in consideration of his brilliant war history,
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 80 Lieut.. Gen. Sheridan had such con-
fdence in his ability and judgment as q
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 to
believe that two pair will not beat three of
a 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.