The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-25
IN PRAISE OF ALekR. !,


fence than AIeer HAS made Himself
To TIE EpIroR OF THE suN-&r: Wild
apart as we are in politics. have been so loni
accustomed TO accept your judgment OF TIT
men and events connected with the war Of tn
| rebellion as anal that Il seems rebollious t
| differ with your conclusions concerning Gov
Ayers military history. Allthat have heart
or known OF his valuable services and OF hi
distinction among his fellow soldiers opposo'
your anmadversions.
In your recent articles. passing lightly ove
the fine record OF Col Alger during the frs
three years OF tho war and his career In thu
ned you assert. In spite Of his denial ana ex
PLANTATION. that his resignation was hastily OF
fered to prevent his threatened dismissal FOL
an unauthorized absence from his command
You reject his statement that he first learned
OF the unfavorable recommendations OF his
superior officers while Gen. Sheridan was or
his deathbed. and long after Gen. Clusters un.
timely death. when 1t was too lato to secure
their retraction. Pardon me for thinking you
aro unnecessarily harsh and unjust. for want
always to regard you as the impartial histo-
rlnn OF the time.
You we'll know that often officers were rec.
commended for dishonorable discharge for
absence without leave" 1t afterwnrd tran.
spring that they wero sick in hospital and the
field surgeons had failed to report to their
commanders the act OF scndlng them thore.
No authorization appearing on the regimental
reports Of present and absent" the com
manding officers had no recourse but to rec
ommend dismissal from the service. An officer
as conspicuous rs Col. Alger could not escape
this condemnation were he so reported.
In an affidavit from tho brigade surgeon
that officer swcars that early in tho Valley
,r,t ~ 1,uf is, of
ardstown. finding Col. Alger incapacltntcd for
duty. he ordered him to hospital. promising
to attend to the necessary iormalitics Of tho
transfer. Had the surgeon fulfilled his prom
ise thero would have boon no occasion for
tho confidential recommendations OF tho
brigade commander, endorsed By the division
commander and the General commanding. as
a matter OF course. recomm endations which
the War Department never acted on. for Col
Alger. In low state OF health. rendered his
resignation. and 1t wns accepted. which was
an honorable discharge.
Those who knew the proud young Colonel
will not doubt that he would have made Wig
orous effort for vindication had he received
the least intimation OF the unfavorable action
would seem. BY tho omission OF the medical
had been sent to hSsspitsl; Certainly i would
You remark that brevets of Brigadier and
Alger long after he had left the army. to wit, in
June. 1855. At that time tho troops had Just be-
snE The Var
Ger without protestS II Ayers power was $50 SO
Heads. would not the same power have been
sfS ILLS n
tending 70 show that Gen. Ager we'll earned
Previous to the Wilderness campaign. in
M 1S34. Gen Juds3n kilpatriek commanded the
Third Cavalry Division then consisting of
ade. in which was Col. AISer s regiment dn was
then but the youthful acting Adiutant OF Kill
NssM York e. aa5fs in fh f
brigade, BY compact with the Hon. Henry c.
Kelsey of New Jersey and others. Gen. Kllpat-
heard Con. Fitzpatrick speak Of Col. Afgcr. and
Of ks best officers. and that onnion he a Nv
after the war. know that in our
regime eF snd IN all the division the
General With the Golden Locks" whom hon we We
b jsaIousy to color our admiration Of ~ these
gallant cssyairyme11. We r..ioiced at their
sfter Fitzpatrick was spceeedad by Gen.. j. IL
snd ha
he brave deeds OF Custer and OF Aiger with
equal pride and boosted that they had been
9ad out Isy "a thSs astssF
v, everybody talked of Col. Ayers spien.
A few weeks after this event Gen. Wilson
xaS promoted d. to o. higher command elsewhere
nder Of the Third Division. ut T." tho e head OF
which his greatest laurels were won. But for
q Sav CO.. Ase5F
nand Of the Michigan brigade. vacated by
,ustnr's promotion.
i is = not at all consistent that Gen. Sheridan
friendly associations with Gen. Aiger after
ward had they not changed their opinion that
or duty. They had no use for sick men. and
There was another General. a sterner disci-
,linarian. who. after the war. held Gen. Alger |
2 high Oh, est ZEN That was Gen, sherman.
ssume! tho iiTeetIon q the funeral T" obser
!uies , OF , Gen. kipatTic'k isl! when the, remains
POINT. I assisted Con. sherman. who, in his !
way. told me he wanted Gen. Alger |
pr sS one V o. the Pail bearers The latter was in
ring him to, his room in the Filth Avenue
he frst time introduced to the soldier whom,
long time ago. had known so well by sight
8, G Witch SP DID not @ n FL
he airectionate familiarity Which the I rreat
General displayed toward Gen. Alper
throughout tho pilgrimage to West Point. tile
ecertion by the commandant and HIS officers
he escort 81 the corps Of cadets and the bat
Fry Of artillery; the honors paid to the dead
ighest military chieftnin Of the nation Gem
1ger received q full share OF attention. not
My from Gen. sherman but from many other
distinguished men. o'''9'
Gen. Alger is a generous and charitable
an ian :, HIS reputation as true and loyal SOL
Ghtly ,aspersed. In ATTEMPTING to disormo
our criticisms have no other purpose than
} he Just to q former brother officer, To WHOM
alton Tor any personal iavor whutever
NEW YORK, Feb ~ ", r. MATrIsoy |