The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-27
WAR RECORD OF ALGER.

v.
We have had inquiries from time to
time concerning the military record of
Russell A. Alger, now secretary of war
which appear to be based upon the sup
position that there is something to be
discovered to his discredit. An exam
nation of the 112 volumes of the rec
ords of the rebellion shows a large num-
Der of references to the service of Gen.
Alger all of which are complimentary.
The nearest approach to censure is in a
report stating that "Col. Alger'' was so
eager in the pursuit of a routed enemy
that with pardonable zeal" he went
mile beyond the limits fixed for him.
Gen. Alger entered the service as an
enlisted man in a regiment of Michigan
volunteers, and was in June, 1865, brevet-
ted a major general of volunteers. His
gallant service on particular occasion
at Bonneville, KY, is described by Gen.
Sheridan in his Personal Memoirs"
Vol. l., PIP. 160-164 1t was, as Gen.
Sheridan says, 1.-The quick and desperate
work that is usually imposed on a for
lorn hope" and materially assisted in
making success of one of the most
brilliant actions Of the war, where
Sheridan, by taking desperate chances,
triumphed over a force estimated at s.
600 men, Sheridan's force being only
81. A1ger made a fierce attack on the
rear of this force with only 80 mounted
men, and by prompt action helped to
throw them into such confusion that
they fed in disorder before Sheridan's
front attack This, in brief, is the story
port, July l, 1862, Gen. Sheridan calls
attention to Ayers great gallantry,'
and says: II directed Capt. Alger, with
two companies of the Second Iowa and
two companies of my own regiment, to
charge them in the rear. This was
handsomely done"
Gen Alger subsequently commanded
the Fifth Michigan cavalry, and was
wounded in the Gettysburg campaign.
His regiment participated in the several
charges made at Gettysburg July 4. In
March, 1864, he was a special commits
Sioner from the war department in con-
nection with the presidents amnesty
proclamation, Sept. 10, 1868, Gen. Kill
patrick reports that the enemy was re-
pulsed by Col Alger OF the F1fth MICH
igan, he leading the advance Oct %,
1861 Gen. Custer reports Alger as
conducting a charge daring in the ex-
treme.' Sheridan reported, June 16,
1864; that Alger took part in the cav
airy enga cement of June II, which he
describes as by far the most brilliant
one of the present campaign. He de-
scribes Col. Ayers regiment as gal
lantIy charging down the Gordonsville
road, capturing 1900 horses and about
800 men, but they were finally surround
ed and had to give them up. This, as
Gen. Torbert explains in his report,
was due to the embarrassment the reg
iment suffered in taking care of so
much captured property. Though they
were surrounded most of the regiment
came in. ttCol. Alger and few men
CALAMITY cut their way through a col
umn of the enemy to our lines that at
ternoon."
Col. Alger was also in the famous
fight in which Gen. ]. z. B. Stuart was
killed. OF this fight Gen. Custer says
in his official report of the operations
of May IL, 1864: 1.-The edge of the wood
nearest to my front was held by the
enemy's dismounted men, who poured
a heavy fire into my lines until the
Fifth and Sixth Michigan were ordered
to dismount and drive the enemy from
his position, which they did in the most
gallant manner, led by Col. Alger of
the Fifth and Major Kidd of the Sixth.
In his report Col. Alger says: Although
this campaign has been severe and
fatiguing one, the regiment has not
lost the service of a man from disease"
In the roster of the Army of the Po-
tomac, Jan. 81, 1854, Col. Alger is re-
ported in command of the Second bril-
gade, Ki1patrick's division, Sheridan's
cavalry corps. He subsequently COM
manded the First brigade on duty pick
citing the left of Grants army. He is
mentioned as taking part in the opera
lions in northwestern Virginia in the
fall.
Gen. Alger while in the service was
charged on one occasion with absenting
himself from his command in Wash
ington without obtaining proper leave of
absence from his superior officer. The
facts were that, while very i'll, Gen. AL
ger was sent to the hospital at
Annapolis from Harper's Ferry, by
order of DR.. Wooster, the surgeon of
Gen. Clusters brigade, and he never
knew that there was any intimation
that he was reported absent without
leave until 1883. The affidavit of DR..
Wooster that Gen. Algar was sent by
him is on file in the war department.
In this affidavit DR.. Wooster says that
if any one is to blame he himself is that
person. The large number of officers
coming from Santiago sent by the
surgeons could just properly be
charged with absence without leave in
the same manner. Gen. Wheeler, call
ing the attention of the secretary of
war to that fact. cited it as a case ex-
actly like Gen. Ayers case, and an or
der was issued by the war department
legalizing such leaves of absence This
was always a custom during the late
war, and is being constantly done
through this war.