Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-15
GEN. ALeER.s WAR KEcoRp.
All the Papers Relating to Hts Leaving the
Army Published


| Army Published
The Detroit Tribune yesterday morning
printed two pages Of Gen. Alger's reply to the
critics of his war record. His reply takes the
form Of the publication Of the record itself and
purports to give all the papers new
on file in the War Department relative to the
absences and promotions and final discharge Of
the general Ii includes favorable indorse-
ments from time to time. The portion that
answers the charges made by the New York
Sun is the most interesting. The report and
| recommendations OF Gen Custer are given in
full with the Endorsements.
Gen. Custer on September l6. 1864 reported
to Capt. A. Z. Dana, A. A. G.. frst division
cavalry. in compliance with instructions Of the
general commanding that Col. Alger left his
command on August % without leave and after
being refused leave Of absence the matter was
| referred to the general commanding the diyis-
ion. then to chief OF cavalry, then TO Gen. Sher-
idan and the latter forwarded It, approving the
recommendation that Col. Aiger be dismissed.
On the sd the report was returned with the
Endorsement that the officer had been honor
ably discharged from the service on September
20.
aEN. ALaER's REPLY,
Gen. Ager's reply is to this effect
On August G, 1864, a month and ten DAYS
before Gen. Clusters report, Col Alger wrote a
letter to Secretary Stanton rendering his res
ignation. In that letter he said:
81 have been in the military service OF the
United States nearly three years, having en-
listed in August, 1861, and have been of dpty
| but eight days. except on account of wounds.
six Of those eight days being on account Of sick
ness.
''2 NY private business at home has become
such and in such condition that my presence
there to attend to IT is necessary in order to
enable me to save anything from it
President Lincoln Endorsed this letter as fol-
lows:
tsigned) A. LINCOLN. August s, 1854.
1t will be seen that this acceptance by the
President was dated a month and eight days
earlier than the date of Gen. Clusters letter re-
garding him. After leaving the President with
ms accepted resignation in his possession Col.
Alger learned that there was prospect of an active
| campaign In the Shenandoah valley. He did
| not present his resignation at the War Depart
| ment. but hastily rearran.ed his business as
well as possible and started for the scene Of
| operations arriving. on account of misinforma-
tlon as to the time OF the departure Of the
train. one day later.
1t viii be seen that Col. Alger did not have to
| report to his brigade commander at all if he had
| desired to quit the service at that time He did
not present his resignation, but went TO the
front Six weeks later, on September 16,
1904, the date of Gen. Clusters re-
port and seven days before it had received
| It's mai Endorsements, he rendered his resisna-
uon anew. The same day it was accepted by
| the Pre- sident. The acceptance was Endorsed
by the Secretary of War on September IL, and
/ by special order of September 20, 1864, signed
by Adjutant General L. d. Townsend, he was
honorably discharged from the service Of the
United States.
PAPERS ACCOMPANYING THE RECORD.
The papers which accompany Gen. Ayers
Ia La a.
| Secretary of War. dated October Is, 1863, in
which Custer recommends him for brigadier
generalship, saying: 'As an officer and gen.
tieman Col. Aiger justly enjoys the highest es-
| TEEN OF both his command and his commanding
officers. Ever ready to perform his duty at
any and all times and jealous in the cause for
which we are fighting. he has proved himself
worthy OF the highest confidence of all L there
fore earnestly and cordially recommended him
| to your consideration, fully believing that any
trust reposed in hum will be skillfully and
faithfully performed by him. with honor to
himself and credit to our army and 10 the noble
cause in which engaged.
This application renewed by Custer I'M
der date Of June 26. 1864. Endorsed by Gen
Sheridan June 30, forwarded without comment
by Gen. Meade July 5. sent by Gen. Sheridan
to the adjutant general of the army of Poto-
mac on July II and approved by Meade July
70. 1864 On the same day Gen. Grant wrote
| letter approving all the Recommendation
| IN the list IN which Algers name appeared.
| letter from Gen. Sheridan to Hon. +. W. Kel-
| logg. member of Congress from Michigan,
under date of July Is. 1864, says: when /
| recommended Col Alger, fifth Michigan cav
| airy. for promotion il was with the expecta-
| ton that he would be ordered to report to me.
have a brigade to give him
Gen. Alger was aIterward brevetted q briga-
der general of volunteers, and on February "a
1867, by order of Secretary Stanton was or
dered appointed brevet major general of vol
unteers. These brevet commissions were
signed by President johnson, to whom Gen.
Alger was politically opposed.
The reply is declared by Gen. Ayers friends
| to be eminently satisfactory.