The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-03-24
GENERAL ALGER's MANLY REPLY.
TFe EnGia mainly and Promptly Rexents the
AspereEon of His Military Record

He Indignantly and Promptly Rexents the
Aspersion of His Military Record.
This editorial was telegraphed to General
Alger by Major George H. Hopkins of this
city, who was in Washington on the day of
its publication, and General Alger immedi
ately telegraphed the following reply:
DETROIT, Feb. II. 1s92-Colonel GEORGE
H HOPKINS, Arlington Hotel, Washington D.
c.. Your telegram of this date giving
editorial OF the New York Sun concerning
my military record is received. Twas honor
ably discharged from the service and was.
not dismissed as stated. On Aug %, 1864,
al Shepherdstown, Virginia, on the Potomac,
where we had engaged the enemy and were
driven across the river by superior force. 1
was ordered to cover the crossing with my
regiment, General Custer having crossed at
the head Of the brigade. Ieffected the cross
ing and was the last man to ford the river.
For several days had been i'll but on duty
/ went into camp that night and not being
able TO march the next morning, was sent
with others who were sick to hospital al
Annapolis, Maryland.
After remaining there a few days and re-
covering sufficiently to be around the camp
/ was detailed on courtmartial at Washing
ton. where / reported and served little time
and resigned, az ] was not able to enter the
field and did not like courtmartial service.
My ordinary weight was 80 pounds, but
was reduced to 125 pounds
AIger Never Heard of 1t.
] had never heard single word of General
Clusters mot Merritt'sl recommendation I'M
Iii during the Chicago convention in 1888
when my friends telegraphed me there was
some question about my military record. L
telegraphed back that it was absolutely
false. had never heard a word directly or
indirectly up 10 that date, almost twenty
four years, that there had been any such
recommendation, which / found afterward
TO my surprise was true. / never had any
more suspicion that L was not regularly sent
TO hospital than anything improbable on
earth. There was never more cruel or I'M
just act committed by man
i served three years, particip ated in sixty
six battles and skirmishes; was promoted to
all the grades from captaincy to colonel and
was brevetted brigadicr and jor-general
without my application. / was never absent
from my command a moment except on &C
count Of wounds or sickness. 1 never received
a censurc from my superior officer in any
way, shape or manner during the war Had
known Of the existence of such a document
during the lives of General Sheridan, who
was always warm personal friend, and
General Custer, who always claimed to be a
friend and visited me frequently I could
easily have had the record corrected, but
when / first heard of it General Sheridan was
on his deathbed and unable to see any one
and General Custer was dead.
shows Clusters Anfrnus.
u mi
quested me at several times to have his
brother Thomas appointed as lieutenant in
my regiment, as he wished 10 have him serve
on his staff. AS he did not belong to my
regiment / declined. and in hot converse
tion about IL one day he told me / would re
greet IL some day. L said to him | would
rather resign than TO have an outsider pro-
NOTED into my regiment when / had deserv-
ing men yet in the ranks. He afterward pre-
vailed upon Colonel H. Kidd of the Sixth
Michigan Cavalry, now of Ionia, Mich, to do
the same, which he did, and has always
GREETED it These facts are known to Gen
eral Kidd
AT the battle of Front Royal, on the 18th
day of August, j charged and captured
large number of prisoners with my regiment
They were sent 10 the rear as | pressed for
ward, and General Custer gave the credit to
another command and we had some hot
words over IT, II you will examine the
records of the War Department and the rec
Communications made for my promotion there
by my superior officers at several different
times from General Custer to General Grant,
you will see what was thought of me.
never knew or suspected that there was the
slightest question about my being properly
sent with the large number of sick and