New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-12

ANSWERING AND EXPLAINING CHARGES
AGAINST HIS MILITARY RECORD

Detroit Mich. Feb. 1i.-"Thc Ncw-lorl sun OF
This morning contained an editorial discussing the
military career Of General Russell \. Mger, disclosing
the existence among the official records If the War
Department Of recommendation OF General Custer.
dated twentycight years ago. General Alser
has furnished to the press complete
statement Of the whole matter and explicit denial
% the charges made. The text OF The suns edi-
tolal was tclccraphei to General Aleer by Major
George H. Hopkins. who is in Washington, and the
following telegram promptly sent TO him in reply
Detroit Mich Feb. II.
Colonel George II. Hopkins, Arlington Hotel wash
ngton d. G.
Your telegram OF this date giving editorial Of 1.-THE
Ncw.York sun" concerning military record Is received
was honoraby discharged from the service and was not
dismissed as stated On August -. 1861 at shepherds
town. Va. on the Potomac whore we he'd enqaeed the
enemy and were driven the river BY superior force
was ordered 20 the co'ng with ny regiment General
Custer having crossed the head OF the brigade
effected and the last man to ford ne river
For several days had been ill., but duty. went into
camp that night being able % match the next
morning. sent with others who were sick to hospital
| at Annapolis, Md.
After remaining there few days aud recovering sur
nceny u be around the camp detailed ON court
martial az Washington where reported and served Tor
little time resigned, was not able 10 enter the
field and did Ike cOurt-matal service MY ou"a'S
weight 100 pounds but was reduced 10 10 ponSs
. lad never heard single vOd Of General custer :
mot Merru's until during the chicago
Convention 1883 where my friends tIegialheu me
there was question about my military record.
| elegfaphed back that it absolutely raise. hau
never word directly indirectly up to that dat
almost twenty yeas. thai there had been any sch
accommodation, which found aiter"ad To my surprise
true 1 had any more suspicion that was noe
regularly sent to hospital than anything improbable on
earth. There cruel or unjust act COM
| mitted by man.
served three year, participated Ntysiy battles an,
kimishes promoted 70 all the GRADES from copancy
colonel and brcNed brgader and DaGrgcnera without
| my application. / never absent from my command
| moment EXCEPT on account Of wounds sickness
| never received c'nsurc from NY superior
| officer in any way, shape manner during the war.
| Had ! lhown Of the existence OF such document
during the lives Of General Sheridan VINO was sl"ny'
warm personal friend. and General Cu,t'r VINO always
| claimed to b' fIcd and visited no frequently /
| could easily hlNe the record corrected; out when l
nr,t heard OF it General Sheridan his deathbed
and unable to see any one and General Custer dead.
Along in aad July, IsG General Custer requested
me at several times to his brother Thomas appointed
as lieutenant in my regiment, a. he wished to nave
| him serve on his stan. As he did not belong to nv
regiment declined and in no. conversation about it one
day he told L would regret 1t some doy. SAID TO
him would rather resign than to have an
out,d,~ promoted into my regiment when had deserving
| men vet the ranks. lie afterward pr'NIihd upon
| Colonel j. II. KIDD the Gh Michigan cavalry, now oil
| Ioui, Mich to do the he did. and has Away
regretted TO- these facts are known t. General KIDD
| AZ the battle Of Front Royal, on the 10Th day Of
Angus, chair,d and captured large number u prisoners
! with M regiment They we've sent - The rear a.
pressed forward. and ,cnCa! Custer gave the credit u
another command had some hot words over IT, ii
Won viii examine the record, OF the War department
recommendations for my promotion there DF my
superior officers at several different times from General
Custer to General Grant you Will what was toou2ht
| OF me never knew suspected that there was The
slightest question about my being properly sent win
the lar,c numlcr OF sick and wounded men to Annapolis
and a, sald General Clusters accommodation. II ne
knew the facts @, the most cruel outrages that
| was ever peTpetrai,d upon soldier
dislike very much say anything against DEAD SOL
dor and reading Of the rccoIis viii
provo that statement made by General Custer concern
ing IN, self In be true, for he states
tina, tried absent myself during the year and yet but
few weeks tcfore loft the s"ryicn, aud While We were
in the valley, commented me very strongly for lro'
| motor
will thank you this dispatch the publicity that
The Suns odoral has received It. Is great wrong COM
,.t,, upon ms, and my family. Please ascertain who gave
| those records out the War Department
| l. 4. ALGER.