The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-02-18

His Indignant Denial Of Charges Affecting His
Military Record

~ - Ns II " 80 X l. H. ~ ~ IL Re
His Indignant Denial Of Charges Affecting His
Military Record.
The following telegram WIS sent by Gen.
Russell A. Alger, x-C0mmau lcr-in- Chief Of
the Grand Army Of tac Beput lie, O. Col. George
H. Hopkins, 40 Washington, in answer TO a tele-
gram sent him by the Colonel, regarding an
editorial article which appeared in the New
York san on Thursday, Feb. IL:
DETROIT lIrcu, Feb. n.
Col GEoHGE H. IioFSiSs, Abingdon Hotel, Wash
Your telegram n ti. date .,ivin.. editorial Of the
New York Sult concrruiJ., my military record is
received I was hoUaglhIy I.scaarLcd from the
service. and was not d-ts,-sni "a stated On Aug.
=. lcbl, at ~ucpHeres,uWu, va. ou the Potomac,
where we hUd engaged The enemy and wcrc driven
across The river by superior force. was ordered 10
cover the crossing with my regiment Gen. Gus
ter having crossed at the bead 81 the brigade ef-
fectcd the crossing and was the last man 10 tOrd the
river. For severn days hld been III but on duty.
went into camp shat night, and HOt being able To
march the next morning wHs sent with others
Who sick TO the husp..J at Annapolis, Nd.
Alter remaining there u .ey days, and recovering
sufficiently TO be around tuc cuup, was detained
on Court MARTIAL az Washington, where reported
and served % little time and resi- gued, i was not
able to enter lhe field and did like the Court
martial service. Ny ordinary weight was 100
pounds, bat reduced Co. i25 pounds. had
never heard single word o. cen. Clusters mot Msr-
ri,tS} recommendation until daring the Chicago Con-
veutOuIn ISIS where uly friends teIegraphed me
there was some question about my military record.
1 teieguphed thut ia absolutely false. / had
never heard q word directly or indirectly up TO
that date almost year tuns there had been any
/ such recOmmen datIOn, which found aiterward,
/ To my surprise was true. j never had any more
suspicion that was not regularly sent 10 hOsptal
/ than anything improbable upou earth. There was
never more cruel or unjust act committed by
man.
/ served three years. participated in 66 battles
and -kIrmItasS; WAS promoted 10 all the grades,
\ from u Caplaiacy to Colonel. and was Orevetted
Brigadier- General aud Naior General without my
I nm frf.Ff I
/ mand a moment except on account OF wounds or
i sickness i never received cen5ure rom my
/ superior officer iu ANY way, shape, or manner
/ during the war. Had known Of the existence oil
such document during tire lives of Gen. sheridan,
| who was always warm personal friend, and zen.
Custer, who always claimed TO be friend ana
visited me frequenily could easily have had the
record corrected but when first heard OF lt. Gen.
Sheridan on his death bed aud unable TO see
anyone and Gen. Custer was dead.
/ Along Coz june aud July, 1854, Gen. Custer re-
[ quested me At several times 90 have his brother
Thomas appointed as Lieutenant in my regl-
/ ment as he wished % have him serve on ms stan
/ As he did not belong 10 my regiment declined
and ia hot conversation about 10 one day ne told
me would regret IL some day. i said 70 him
| I would rather resign than % have an outsider
| promoted into my regiment, when had deserving
men yet In the ranks lie afterward prevailed
upon Col. j. II. Kidd Of the 6th Mich. Cav, now
Of IOnia, Mich, 20 90 Che same which ne dld, anc
has always regretted u. These iacts are known <
Gen. Kidd.
~ the battle Of Front Royal on the 18th day o
prisoners with my regiment. They were sent u
the rear as i pressed forward, and Gen. Custe
/ gave the credit 20 another command, and we had
[ some hot words over g.. 10 you will examine TN
records Of the War Department and the recon-
meudatiOHs made for my promotion there by M
| superior officers at several different times, from
I Gen. Custer 10 Gen. Grant, you will see what wa
thought u me. 1 never knew or suspected Their
was tire slightest question about my beng prop
[ eriy sent with the large number OF sick AM
/ wounded men 20 Annapolis on, as i 5aidt Gen
Clusters recommendation. II he knew the fdcts
it was one Of tile most cruel outraEes that was eve
. [ perpetrated upon u soldier. i dislike very niue
10 say anything agIins. a dead soldier, but thes
are facts and the reading Of tuc records viii prov
that one statement made By Cen Custer concernin
, myself in that document cannot be true, FOR
states that tried to absent myself during the year
and yet but q few weeks before / LETT the service
and while we were in the Valley, he recommends
me very strongly for promotion. -.
Twill thank you 10 give this ul5patch the puDilct
that the SUNS editorial has resolved lt Il grea
wrong committed upon me and my family. Pleas
, ascertain who gave those records out from the wa
I Department T. a. ALGEG.