The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-27
Sheridan on Alger.

L
We confess that we are sohawant sensi-
tive to the charge Of our friend Major MAT
TYSON, who has chivalrously undertaken the
defence OF Gen. RUSSELL ABSENT ALGER
that The Sun is disposed to pass Lightly
over the fine record OF Col. ALGER during
the first three years OF the war. and his
career In the field" While Gen. ALGER's
record up to the day when he was In Wash
tngton signing his resignation. and Gen.
SHERIDAN was in the valley fighting the
battle OF Winchester. has nothing to do
with the question OF fact that is at issue,
we desire to give Gen. ALaER full credit for
every achievement OF military genius and
every deed OF personal va'or.
The trouble Is to get at the exact facts.
The current biographies OF Gen. ALGER
differ in one respect from those OF every
important figure In the civil war. There Is
Q peculiarly evasive quality about them
They vaguely suggest great things. and
commit themselves distinctly to very little.
They omit some important dates and facts
altogether. as for instance the date OF tho
Generals retirement from the army. and
the circumstances under which his resigna-
ton was accepted. at the critical stage OF,
EHERIDAN's operations in the valley OF the
Shenandoah, when every hero was needed
ct the front. We have found no biographi-
cal sketch Of ALaER's career which gives
the slightest intimation that he did not
retain his command until the end OF
the war. receiving his brevet commissions
In July. 1855. as the crown OF continuous
service and cumulative glory in the field
Even the record OF Gen. ALGER. as it stands
In the Military History of Michigan. con-
ceals the now generally acknowledged fact
that ALaER left the service on Sept. 20.
1864. after his dishonorable discharge had
been recommended to tho War Department
by Gen. PULP H. SHERIDAN and Gen.
WESLEY MERRITT. The Michigan State
record juggles with dates so as to make it
appear that ALaER served to the end. re-
ceiving his brevet as Brigadier-General on
June II. 1854. for gallant and meritorious
service at Trevillian Station. and his brevet
as Major-General year later. on June II.
1865. for gallant and meritorious service
during the whole war. As matter OF fact.
both brevets were simultaneously granted
after the war was over. nearly year after
ALaKR's retirement from the army. and at
. time when such honorary commissions
were made as thick as huckleberries.
Who're the statements Of the biographical
sketches and the boom eulogies are specific
With regard to particular deed OF valor. we
are sorry to find that investigation reveals
this same evanescent quality. The student
Of Gen. ALoKRs military exploits Is at a loss
to know just how much Is real glory. and
how much is campaign puffery. Take for
example the battle OF Bonneville in Mis-
sissippi. on July /, 1852. when Capt. ALaER
charged the enemys rear by SHERIDAN's or
ders. The biographer OF ALaER In Apple
toms Cyclopedls Of American Biography"
refers to this incident In these terms:
AZ Bonneville. Miss. 1 July. 1852. Capt ALorR
va sent by PHLIr II. SHERIDAN. then Colonel of tho
ssUment to attack the enemys rear with ninety
Doksd mon. Tho Confsderatss routed. but Capt.
AIGrs was routed and taken prisoner. lilo escaped
the same day. and on 10 Oct was made Lieutenant
Colonel Of she Sixth Michigan Cavalry"
One Of the most recent Of the boom bog
'raphles OF Gen. ALaER. published In his
interest as q volunteer candidate for tho
Republican nomination for President.
dwells little longer upon the Bonneville
exploit:
"rhsn follows the battle OF Bonneville, when sHyHr
DAH. with his new command and the Second Iowa
Cavalry attacked and defeated Confederate force
from 5000 1000 battle in which ALGER. with but
nipsty.two men, ordered to get into the rear OF
the enemy and charge him. which he did. and told
by ssEsipAS that he never expected to see him again
sErapAx has himself written the story of that battle
and says he reckons II Of the fnest exploits of the
war"
1t was indeed one OF the finest exploits
Of the war. and one of the finest exploits
Of any war. II we accept rs authentic mill
tary history the glowing and thrilling
picture OF the affair painted in words OF
eloquence at the recent Michigan banquet
by the Hon. JOHN NJ. THURsToN OF Ne
braska. Mr.. THURsToN, as We understand.
10 an active boomer of ALGEn for the Re-
publican nomination. and his description OF
the cavalry charge at Bonneville WIS de-
uvered In the presence of the General him
self. How the modest hero OF sixty battles
must have blushed behind his dinner napkin
as he listened TO this epic:
"kinety.two rode calmly out knowing that the
supreme moment OF their lives had come. What was
IN thoir hearts during that silent ride What lights
and shadows flashed the OF their souls
Before them was brigade OF cavalry. 5000 strong
fhss way lay death Behind them the open nelds
The shsltering woods safety. anddishonor just for
Q nopent every cheek was blAnched. robin sang
uAAssdsd. from nsiEhborpg umb; clusters OF purple