The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-29
FORTY YEARS ARMY sERvn :
Col. Charles ~. Alden Placed on a
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
I continuously in the Army since 1860. Born
/ in Philadelphia April Is 1886. he received
a thorough education at Brown University
and az the Pennsylvania Medical College.
He was first employed in the medical de-
partment under contract in June. 1859 and
was commissioned as assistant surgeon In
June, 1860. Since then he has gone through
various grades Of the department until he
/ reached his present grade OF Assistant
! Surgeon General December T. 1892. In
( March. 1855. 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, he was taken prisoner by the Con-
iederates near Las Cruces New Mexico
win 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
nc IN this city. In 1852 he Organized
I Georgetown College Hospital In this city
I TO receive the wounded from the second
battle Of Bull Run Being released from
parole in October. 1852. 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 10 Aqua Creek.
and to hospitals at Point Lookout and
Washington. In the following year he had
command Of Turner's Lane General Hospt-
tai at Philadelphia Pa. and was also on
duty in that State in connection with the
drafts OF 1863 and 1854. 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 1861 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
dams. After detached service with troops
in the field in various parts Of the West.
he accompanied the Nez Perez expedition
in 1871, 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 a short SER
vice in Dakota and Minnesota. he went
TO the West Point Military Academy.
Having been promoted TO the rank Of
lieutenant colonel in 1883. he was made
medical director Of the Department OF the
Dakota. at that time 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, 1895. 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. 1893
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 Stsrnberg
In 1893. and his lecture on the Duties
Of Medical Officers" is regarded as a stand
ard by the service. Although his Ilans
have not been fully determined. il is prob
able that he will make his future home
in Massachusetts.