The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-03-24
DIR. yyoGsgEa-s AFFIDAVIT.
1t Shows That tnc Charge OF Absence
Without EeaYe VI rs False.

In complete substantiaticn of all that Gen
eral Alger says in his dispatch to Major Hop
kins THE TRIBUNE printed on February 10 the
following afldavit by Dr.. Samuel r. Wooster,
who was General Clusters brigade surgeon at
the time covered by the charge made by the
New York Sun. Dr.. Wooster is well-kn
in Michigan as an honorable citizen and
highly esteemed for his services during the
war. His AFFIDAVIT is in these words:
DETROIT, Mich Feb IL, 1892
General: I enlisted as assistant surgeon
OF the Eighth Michigan Infantry, Aug. 10,
1861, was promoted TO surgeon of the First
Michigan Cavalry, Feb. 20, 1863, and was
mustered out Oct IS. 1864. The First Cav
airy was one of Clusters Michigan Cavalry
Brigade During the campaign OF 1868 and
1864 and u2 to the time of my discharge from
the service was acting brigade surgeon on
General Clusters staff.
at the battle of Shepherdstown. Virginia,
at which l was present and where we were
forced to retire across the Potomac on &C
count of the great strength of the enemy, ]
knew that General Alger, then Colonel Alger
of the Fifth Michigan Cavalry, commanding
his own and Sixth Michigan Cavalry, was de-
tailed to protect the crossing of the balance
of the command with the artillery and train,
which he accomplished.
During the campaign General Ayers health
was very much impaired, and the night after
our crossing into Maryland from Shepherds
town he was very i'll. The following morning
as we were gathering the sick and wounded
together to send to the hospital. !
informed Colonel Alger that he was not able
to march and must go to the hospital. This
was customary for surgeons in the field to
do when the command was on the move, and
I accordingly directed Colonel Alger sent to
Annapolis with others, and / distinctly re
mem Der that told him would forward the
proper papers to him there, as we wished to
get the sick and wounded away at once.
Wooster Made she application.
made application for his leave to General
Custer, reporting the facts, ard supposed it
was granted, and never heard TO the contrary
until yesterday. In my opinion there never
was more unjust act committed against a
soldier than that which is reported to have
been committed by General Custer in re-
porting him as absent without leave and rec
ommending his dismissal.
All who knew General Alger in the war
knew he was very prompt and punctual in
his duties. and he would have been one Of the
last men in the world to disobey an order or
fail to perform his duties.
If there is any person responsible for his
being sent to hospital without proper order
accompanying him, am that person VIII
you do General Alger ard me the Justice to
file this sworn statement with his war record
in your Office?
l have the honor to be, general,
Very respectfully, your obedieut servant,
(Signed) SAMUEL K. WOOSTER
Late Surgeon 1st Michigan Cav,
Actg. Brigade Surgeon.
GENERAL j. c. KELToy,
Adjutant-GeEeral Z. 6. Army,
Washington, d. c.
STATE OF MICHIGAN,
County of Wayne
Samuel r. Wooster, being duly sworn de-
poses and says that the above statement is
true in substance ard fact.
tSigned) SAMUEL r. WOOSTER.
Sworn and subscribed before me.
(Signcd) - WILLIAM T. DEGRAFF,
Notary Public,
County of Wayne.
State Of Michigan.