The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-25
4 coUxrRr,s DUFF 10 Irs HERoEs.
Tho base Attempts TO Deprive soldiers Of
the Honor Due 60 Their G~ailnntry.

~ aNa A1bAAth vi ANH bbN- ~ Z n 1hH
glad to see that a military paper OF the high
and unquestioned standing OF the Army and
Nary journal has been Just and intelligent
enough to publish the facts OF the brilliant
record Of Con. Alger in the civil war. l am con-
stantly encounterinR an ignorance concerning
that greatest war OF modern times which aston
ishes me. Many people ! meet, including some
Republicans even. and, of course. including all
M~ugwumps. proceed on the assumption that
this war record OF Gen. AlRer was absolutely dis
credltable. yet the official records Of tho civil
war, accessible to everybody. TO which all his
torians OF the conflict must turn for positive
facts. and which ought to be we'll known to
every editor of this country as a necessity to
correct statements about IL. show conclusiyely
that Gen. AlRer's military service. extending
through the war, was distinguished for its gal
lantry and intrepid courage. The Army and
Nary Journal, from which you quote the OIL
cial facts, Is n paper without any political bias,
but strictly professional. and no suspicion OF
any purpose other than to present the actual
record for exactly what it is worth can rise in
the mind OF any military man who is familiar
with that paper.
Few officers of the Union Army commanded
higher praise from their superiors than was
received repeatedly and almost continuously
by Gen. Alger from the time when he rose from
the ranks. in which he had enlisted as a private
soldier. and received a commission. and there
was no blot on his escutcheon. as 10 proved by
the recital by the Army and Nduv Journal OF
the circumstance OF his merely technical Of
fence of absence without leave. His two bre-
vets OF Brigadier-General and Major-General
at the close OF the war indicate the cleanliness
OF his record. and the instances OF conspicuous
g~allantry specified In official reports which the
impartial military organ gives are not the
whole by any means.
do not say this with any intention OF serv-
ing any political purpose. / have nothing to
do with the political record Of the Secretary OF
War, and really know nothing about it, for 1
have not followed his course in civil life; but 1
do know his military record. and that 1t is one
OF which every American has reason to be
proud. To my mind 1t is the hasest spirit pos
sible to men which seeks to take from a brave
soldier the credit due him for gallant con-
duct in war and to spread abroad the impress
sion that instead he was q coward, unfaithfuI
to his country and his uniform. 1t is Infamous.
for to the soldier his honor is priceless. To
deny to a brave soldier the tribute due to four
years OF faithful service in the civil war is sim
ply criminal. and 1 have only contempt for the
nature which is capable Of doing 1t.
Since the Santiago campaign. one OF the
most brilliant in military records. and by far
the most successful ever conducted in Cuba.
with the least cost in life. Gen. Shafter has
been pursued with ridicule and censure by
.nese ikhople ana ignorant critics as II he had
p.H"s"' uieEiaee On hiheFicau mlilCary lane.
no nov W. II oaV'ie TX eouiu NOT nave
80 y, "esaieu' seC inc honor ana the re-
1ponsiuhi'S VI .he VICTORY peiohR 10 MIN as
nNn 9 40 Woulu IL uissrace OF oeieat nave
~ t-ennn ~ a ~ nau oeen oesVen.
the year when it is most destructive to health
and energy. Gen. Shafter led a force Of northern
o oJop. ''IIory aieer d campaign OF
Il .niee MeeAs' no ios' some men' the
w L m'u eame uaoA U such
sai..i-aII y OIL sAeepo d eniei pat0
-" Wv s'ione'
,ro,,Id -. - ~ H~u 80 Al Hnenenlnah no
- y u ~ iecipiene
ooun'y iloLn arielnen1. den.
pohehe i" III tne eie-
Gnnn"- 49, vi var 90 oompareu WIN den.
~ ~ . 9 mole anu Iercer nEhe-
M = eaeta 9".e III ~ HuIope.
pnrons an.t - 10 ea'u VI . = ~ mania
Lutopo .on.ains NJ soluier VINO mas naa the
Us ~ '"iNu eApefiehco VI war "nich mas
o- -" g ~ ne rao'orS al Alaniia'
."9 y - niii'aF' preparation
81 ~ ~ y uuetiViee Vi seheralship' 'nere
~a W "ppeo. u he"spape[s Fenec-
" sono ~ .I' soiuieil' aoilities aiso. zen. otls
40 az no heVe, POSES. never ooasts'
t,nwann.aa y. - ono 10 W
.nun,.' possutins oeioLe ~ camera out wnen
" u iaiehiul soiuier Is REQUIRED oy his
ooun.ty he Iurhs QUITO DC tne man. II ne were
an rhEl'shnah. me- 100. would now De IN the
peerage. and he would adorn any peerage in
the world.
am no ioVer OF the English. but have rather
an inherited enmity against them. I cannotfo for
c,vi, mor and ~ eonu usaI ,oMasu US curing inc
ci'ii war. ana the whoie social system OF Eng
land is obnoxious to me: but I cannot but ad- |
accord to them that only prize whic can give
hitting reward to the g%allantry OF the man who