Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-02-13
HE MAKES TT PLAIN
General Alger Promptly Re-
flutes the New York Sun.
rs STORY A BASTARD ONE



IN editorial d;scusslnG the military
sreer Of Gen. 2ussell A. AIger. dis
loslng the existence. among the oficisl
'eccrds Of the var department, Of .
accommodation VI General Custer.
lated twsnsy-eighs years ago. which Is
Without question IN outrage upon Gen.
ral Alger aud altogether 90 unjust .
election upon the record Of gallant
nd faithful soldier that its publication
sow 10 not less than the acme Of brutal
ensationAlism. General Alger. how
sver, has furnished 70 the press 20 CON-
pIete . statement Of the whole matter
Ind 20 explicit denial Of the Vicious
charge made by the New York Sun.
hat this partisan attack upon the mill
AIRY record cannot possibly harm him
" diminish the measure Of the high re-
ard in which be 10 held by the Ameri-
AN people. The text of the Suns edi-
sorial WAS teiegrsphed to General Alxer
by Major Geo. II. Hopkins. who is in
Washington, aud the following extract
4Sto - ekfS"S 40 ttA PSAs-
what the san Charges.
General AIger was major in the
Second Michigan Cavalry, General
Sheridan's old regiment. On October
l6, le62. he was promoted TO be heu1
tenant-coionei of TIE Sixth Michigan
Cavalry. Subsequently re was trans
ferred 20 the Fifth Michigan Cavalry
and became its colonel. In September.
1864, Colonel Alger and hls regiment
were IN the Shenandoah Valley taking
part in Sheridan's great campaign
against Jubal Early. About the first
Of that month Colonel Aiger applied
for ten days leave of absence. The
application was Gisapproved and re-
burned by his DIVISION commander,
General Wesley Merritt. because of the
Upon the return of his application for
leave disapproved, Colonel Alger left
his re- z ment and went to Washington
without leave. There he procured .
1etail on coart martial duty In that
city. This fact WAS reported to Gen.
sral Merritt. who reported in turn to
General Sheridan, who brought the
matter to the attention of the war de-
,artment, recommending that Colonel
llger be dishonorsbIy discharged from
he service fer being absent without
cave. In consequences Of that recon-
mendation from Philip H. Sheridan,
Colonel Russell A. Alger wasdischarged
rom the service on Sept 20, 1864. The
record does not read that he was "dis-
honorably' discharged. The punish-
nent recommended by General Sheri-
San was softened and he was dis
,harged.
Gensral AIssss statement.
In reply to the editorial from which
above is quoted General Alger
fomptly sent ~ Major Hopkins the
following telegram:
"DErRoIT, Feb. IL. 1s92.-Colonel
George III. Hopkins, Arlington hotel.
Washington. b. c.: Your telegram Of
this date giving editorial of the New
York sun concerning my military re-
cord is received. l was honorably dis
charged from the service ana was not
dismissed as stated. On August %.
1864. at Shepherdstown, Va. on the
Potomac, where we had engaged the
enemy and were driven across the river
by superior force, ! Was ordered to
cover the crossing with my regiment,
General Custer having crossed at the
bead Of the brigade. l effected the
crossing and Was the last man TO ford
he river. For several days bad been
III but OH duty. went into camp that
night and not being able TO march the
next morning, Was sent with others
who were sick TO the hospital at Anna
,oIls. Md.
After remaining there . few days
Ind recovering sufficiently to be
around the camp, l WAS detailed on
soursmsrtial NJ Washington where l
reported and served little time and
resigned. ~ was not able to enter the
held and did not ike courtmartial SER
rice. My ordinary weight was 160
pounds. but was reduced TO 125
,ounds.
never Heard 81 ThIs.
never heard . single word Of Gen.
lrsl Clusters mot Merritgsl recon-
nendatlon until during the Chicago
sonventlon in 1883. when my friends
,elegra phed me there was some ques.
ION about my military record. tel
s1raphed back that il WAS absolutely
false. I had never heard . word d..
rectly or indirectly up TO that date, Al
most twenty-four years, that there had
,eep any such recommendation, which
{ found afterward TO my surprise was
rue. never had anv more suspicion
hat was not regularly sent TO hospi-
~ than anything improbable on EARTH
There WAS never . more croei or un-
Iust oct committed BY msn.
served three years; participated IN
fsty-six battles and sklrmIsnes; Was
uomosed TO ell The grades from cap
.Afucy to colonel. and wAs brevetted
rigadisr and major general without
ny application. i Was never absent
from my command . moment, escept
IN account Of wounds OF slckness. !
sever receivet 4 censure from my st1-
perior officer in any way. shape or
manner during the var. Had known
VI the existence Of such q document
turing the ives of General Sheridan,
vho vas . warm personal friend. and
senpral Custer. who Always claimed 10
es friend and visited me frequently.
could easily have the record cor
~eted bnt when ! fret heard OF il
fsaerai sheridan vas on bis desthbed
nabis to see any one, and General
ueser VAS deAd.
sssssv wss sesds Asgry
Along IN Iune and July. 1854. Gen.
rai Custer requested me several times
hare he brother Thomas sppsinted
esssnant in MY regsmcat. - =
sishea % have bsyD serve On ne stan
e ne I'D not b>inuz 10 my regiment
eciined. asd IN > hos eonsefssuon
boos Il oae DAY he iosd me wsuid re-
ret Il soms day I sssd 70 hm
scuid rather reelrn than - nave as
tnts.der promoted int ny feX Aea'
xh>n ( fsd deeervfnk uee8 yes ~ tne