The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-28

cheering sSriyrs and No sosna & 4 sss
MP the Blackiand road and vas advancing
souarciy upon Chalmcrs's rear. the first thing
quarters, the officers and ordcrlies about which
he captured and sent back some distance TO a
s ss5n .,psst e., SSn .de%p. in in. 81 81 " s ssllSD' this rs
he went ut ptil-melI with n cheer. exactly &C
cording to orders. The enemy were struck
ro". enough kept their heads 20 repel Ayers
ATTACK. He was unable TO get through. nor
DID he get rear enough for Sheridan TO hear
his cheering. III the melee that eususd Acler
10 nearly half his force in hardly more than
nve minutes: the remainder wheeled and made
good their retreat along the route by which
they had come.
Meanwhile Sheridan. confident. as he says.
OF Ayers determination To accomplish the
purpose for which he set out.as sJon as the
hou- was up, ordered forward his whole line.
the second Mishisen In front, the second lows
morning Sheridan had cent for aid bh. * to Rienzi
where n division Of infantry were encamped.
Fortunately just at the m"ment OF his advance
o locomotive and two cars loaded with forage
anil grain FOR the omman ran Int" Boone
Vile 6 from Corinth; The t,oopers: now think
rived by rail wee greatly ilspirited: wildly
cheering they rushed TO the charge. Sheridan
neer to continue the whlstling loudly. so that
the: enemy might also learn that n train had
arrived: presumably with more troops. Soon.
legan to give ground; presently they broke In
the greatest disorder. running In every direc-
ton. Sheridan says: His prectpitous retreat
was due to the pressure upon his left from tho
Second Iowa. In concert with the front attack
o. o. the second Mishiran. and the dymorsliza.
most entirely accomplished the purpose Of his
expedition. though he had failed 10 get through
or 90 near that | could hear the signal agreed
upon before leaving Bonneville"
Senarate dctachments. acting In. concerted
Toss" are delays lagoon ON the part Of ONE one't column IurpD' or
the other by getting upon wrong roads. by n
Misrepresentation OF orders. or from .obstruc-
lions interposed by the enemy. But here vas
one. protected on the spur OF the moment.
which was executed with beautiful precision
sS" de Wennn,I' ' snefs:. AIxeern had g made f the
distance he was 10 travel IN the allotted timeol
one hour. and delivered his attack with the
nerve and Judgment expected by his command
er In precisely the form II was to be delivered.
sheridan on his part. with his whole 'orce IN
for ward To the attack. The result was that
Aleer upon their rear. and Sheridan. In front
and upon their LETT Hank. struck the enemy co,
charges, delivered with such energy. Chal-
me:s's whole force fed back toward Blackland.
in.;hcir Wild race to the rear almost running
over Alg.r's frazzle of a command. whom they
mi;ht easily have captured u they had not
.he branches uf trees and other Obstacles:
these were fairly run over by the enemy in
their flight. Alc.r himself and the re Ainder
OF his COMMAND SION rejoined their comrades
at Bonneville. Minus many hats and some
lOrses. There IS no oDcinl report OF his losses.
Compared with the greater battles Of the war
that OF Booaevillo was. Of curse. an uninpor-
tant AFFAIR: the losses on both sides we're com
under such circumstances aud against such
odds. was very gratifying TO Sheridan and
supsriors. rR Snu i nHH late fecs SD
him for promotion. TO the grade OF BIiga-
der General. And about two month. later
the battle Of bonneville, His praises were
ruag through the whole army. He YVES
Qualities iS Se had p GS.oi q, 2 s cn lSIs f nSp, d.n The
ed him ms one fitted 20 lead any where. Sberi-
dan Afterward made a great name: he won
some OF the most brilliant victories Of the
whole war. but In none OF them did he display
more nerve. signal ability. or cool Judgment
IA this little affair at Bonneville. II
he vas proud OF il himself. and justlr so. Il at
tested by the fact that in his memoirs, printed
votes several pIses to a minute description OF
his ecfcat OF Chalmers at Bonneville.
did not overlook his chief in strument II
the achievement Of this victory. His praises
OF Alger were hearty and un-tinted. He rec
oinmenced him Tor promo :ion: be was almost
Immediately commissioned Major of the Sec
ond Michigan cavalry. On the :4th OF Octo-
Of Tie sixth Michigan cavalry. and Thereafter
Sas with the great Army, OF he Potomac. in
mand OF the redoubtable Custer. His services
n this new held were 50 commendable that on
II. 1868. Oh the recommendation OF zen.
q ANANoNlph. IA AIt must q the 'Hts1ys DQrE
campaicn. he wa. transferred to the Fifth Mich
igan. in the same brigade. as Colonel He
gnlla.t service In he important
opcr. tons ut Gettysburg AMI in the
Of Los army to the Potomac. In the
near Boonsborough. or tinckstown, on
the Sth 81 july. 1858. he was severely wounded
and carried from the field.
In 1864 his old commander. Sheridan. was
east and placed In command OF The
cavalry Of the Army OF The Potomac. and under
hun Alger continued TO serve until Sept. 70
lsU4. He had previously been recommended |
for promotion TO the rank of Brigadier-,ieneral |
by Gen. Custer. June II. 1855. he was bre-
Brigadier and MEaior-,ieneral for gai-
and merltorious services in the field. 4
careful examination OF the records show that
Gen. .Aleer. rom he moment he came 10 the
Army OF the Potomac, was conspicuous for his
personal sslinntry in action, and was con-
leading With his Fifth Michigan IN the
most desperate charges aud ipon the most
services. The oficiai reports and
of the period teen with rraise-
Iul references to this brilliant officer from all
superiors from Sheridan down. Some of
his performances were far more brilliant and
deserving than even the Bonneville episode.
record In the field was enc or which any
soldier might well he proud. and the hrevets
2onferret upon him NJ the close OF the war
only his tust deserts.
WAsnISGroN. FEB. 10. LESLIE ]. Penny.