The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-29
FORTY YEARS ARMY sERvn 5
Col. Charles II. Alden Placed on n
Retired List.

The active service of Col. Charles II. A.
den. Assistant Surgeon General OF the
Army. terminated yesterday when he
reached the legal retiring age Of sixty
four years. Colonel Alden has performed
long and creditable service, having served
continuously in the Army since 1850. Born
in Philadelphia April rs. 1886 he received
thorough education at Brown University
and at the Pennsylvania Medical College
He was first employed in the medical de-
partment under contract in June 1889 and
was commissioned as assistant surgeon in
June. 1850. Since then he has gone through
various grades OF the department until he
reached his present grade OF Assistant
Surgeon General December 4. 1892 In
March. 1865. he was brevetted major and
lieutenant colonel for faithful and meri-
torious services in the war"
In July 1853. he accompanied troops from
Carlisle Barracks. Pa, to Fort Defiance,
New Mexico, and served in the Navajo
campaign in the fall OF that year. In July.
1901. ne was taken prisoner by the Con-
iederates near Las Cruces. New Mexico.
with Major Lyndes' command. after an
engagement near that place. but was sub
sequently released on parole and was or
dered to duty in the surgeon generals Of
f1c in this city. In 1852 he organized
TO receive the wounded from the second
battle Of Bull Run Being released from
parole In October. 1862, he Joined the Army
OF the Potomac. and took part In the bat
tie or Fredericksburg. where he was In
charge OF the transportation OF wounded
soldiers from Falmouth to Aqua Creek.
and to hospitals at Point Lookout and
Washington. In the following year he had
command Of Turner's Lane General Hospi-
tai at Philadelphia, Pa, and was also on
duty In that State in connection with the
drafts OF 1868 aud 1864. While assistant to
the medical purveyor at Philadelphia In
1855 he was responsible for all the medical
property at that depot. and had charge
Of the closing of nineteen general hospitals
in the State of Pennsylvania.
In 1867 he was in the field in Wyoming
with the Thirtieth Infantry. which regi-
ment was protecting the building of the
Union Pacific Railroad against hostile In
dians. After detached service with troops
In the field in various parts Of the West.
he accompanied the NeZ Perez expedition
in 1877, and was present at the battles OF
Clearwater and Kamiah. Coming East in
November. 1877, he was on duty with the
Army medical board in New York until
the spring OF 1882, and, after short SER
vice in Dakota and Minnesota, he went
TO the West Point Military Academy.
Having been promoted to he rank of
lieutenant colonel in 1888, h was made
medical director of the Department OF the
Dakota. at thai tine one of the largest
and most important frontier departments.
He was a delegate to the tenth internal
tional congress at Berlin in August 1890.
and in November. 1896, he was delegate
to the Pan-American medical congress in
Mexico. He was elected President of the
Association of Military Surgeons of the
United States in Kansas City, Mo-, in
September. 1899.
Since August. 1898, he has been sta
toned in Washington as principal assist
ant to the Surgeon General OF the Army.
and was in charge of the hospital corps
and supply division of that bureau. He
was the first President of the Army Medi
cal School, founded by General Sternberg
in 1893. and his lecture on the Duties
of Medical Officers" is regarded as stand
ard by the service. Although his llans
have not been fully determined. it is prob
able that he will make his future home
in Massachusetts