New-York tribune., 1907-01-25
GENERAL AIGER's CAREER

Russell Alexander Alger was born in Lafayette
township. Medina County. Ohio. on February o.
1900, MS great-grandfather. John Alger. was
soldier in the War Of tho Revolution and his.
aller was one OF the early settlers OF the Western
reserve. moving there from Connecticut in 1920
SeheraI A4gers mother. Caroline Moul;oa was
descended from Robert Moulton who came 20
Massachusetts from England in 1927 Al the time
OF the birth OF the future Secretary of War and
United States Senator the Alger family was still
hVlAg IN typical frontier log cabin in a small
clearing in the woods
Lett an orphan when only twelve years Old, with
younger brother and sister care for. young
AIger found homes for them, and himself arranged
10 Work for his board and clothes with pernis-
sion &c attend the district school three months n
eeoh year BY the time he was fourteen ne began
working by the month e farm leborer. earning
- a month in the beginning. and receiving $50
month at the end of The seventh year the highest
wages then paid farm hands. He contrived
not only 70 help his brother and sister, but 10 at
tend the fall and winter terms of the Richheld
Academy. 10 teach school himself for years,
and to take up the study Of law with woIcott &
Epson. in Akron. Ohio. in 1887. In 1853 he
admitted to practice, and entered the law office OF
Otis, Cofhnbury & Wyman. in Cleveland. His
health however, becoming impaired through hard
work and the confinement Of indoor life, he was
compelled 10 seek more active employment.
He engaged IN the lumber business in Grand
Rapids, Mich, but he not successful. and
shortly after the breaking of the Civil War
soon given the command OF Troop c. Philip II.
Sheridan was also a captain in the regiment.
When the colonel. Gordon Granger, was promoted
he desired that Sheridan should succeed him, and
sent Captain Alger 10 PitIsburg Landing to pre-
sent the request TO Governor Blair. Alger rode
sixty miles and accomplished the mission, carry
ing sheridans appointment, written half
sheet OF note paper. 10 General HAlleck in the
morning
General Alger's career as a soldier was an active
he in rfaD hiatt
ana skirmishes. At Bonneville, Miss. July u.
1854 Major Algsr. with ninety troopers. attacked
the rear Of General Chalmers's column OF three
thousand Confederates and threw u into oonfu-
sion. This charge General Alger considered the
best thing I ever did in the service" He
wounded and taken prisoner in the engaEsment but
escaped the same day. The following October he
was commissioned lieutenant colonel Of the 9Th
Michigan Cavalry. and IN February 1853. he was
made colonel of the 5th Michigan cavalry His
command the first Union regiment to arrive
at Gettysburg. and rendered gallant service dur
Ing the battle In the pursuit OF the retreatng
army he was in Clusters brigade. and COM
mended by It's commander for bravery in acton.
he wss severely wounded at Boonesboro, Nd in
July. 1863 but returned to the front IN less than
two months and served with distinction during the
ensuing fall and winter. In 1854 he accompanied
General Sheridan TO the Shenandoah Valley. At
TreVellian Station June Il. he led a charge that
has become historic capturing eight hundred Con-
fedsrates with the three hundred men Of his own
regiment, and highly commended by General
Sheridan in his official reporta He was at various
times IN command Of brigade, and acted as a
special commissioner from tho War Department In
carrying out the provisions OF President Linoolns
amnesty proclamation.
In the summer OF the year he went to
Washington, where he assigned general
court martial duty He was. however charged by
General Custer with abseDting himself without
leave from his command. and both Generals Tor
bert and Sheridan through whose headquarters
Clusters report passed indorsed the recommenda-
ton that Colonel Alger be dismissed from the
vice for his infraction OF regulations General Shsr
idan qualifying his Endorsement with the wordsi
Il have always considered Colonel Alger good
soldier" Colonel Agsr then presented has resigna-
ton directly 10 the Secretary OF War. II was ap-
proved by tho President and accepted on Septem-
Der 10. 1884. and the next day Colonel Aiger was
honorably discharged from the army. These ap-
parent irregularities did not, however dim the
Iustre Of his personal bravery. and he was later
renstatsd receive the bTevets Of brigadisr gen
eral and major general OF volunteers for gallant
service General Alger said that he believed
himself 70 be sick leave when he was in Wash
ington. in 1864, and produced affidavit on file
at the War Cfice. signed by DR.. Wooster the sur
geon Of Gensral Clusters brigade TO substantiate
on receipt Of his discharge, General Alger re-
lumber business. removing In 1856 to Detroit He
OF two large lumber compan! !es, as We'll presi-
ing and railroad corporations He was of the
nrst lumoernen 70 employ railroads 10 get the
ing the mill into the forest.
4 Republican from the time of the organization
OF that party, ana taking an active interest in its
successes he was never q candidate for office until
1854 and defeated Uncle Josiah BeEoe' the
fusion candidate. polling ten thousand more votes
made an excellent record executive. but
onal oave1on IN 1888 eneTa Aee4s &
ity was SO great as 70 give him l42 votes on one
was caused by General Harrison's nomination. one
hundred Of his supporters stayed by him to the
end and he was made the first Presidential elector
OF his party In the state. He was always
PupaIIS ll3 al le'' a.
commander In chief Of the order. He also a
member Of the Loyal Legion and other patriotic
In March 1871 General AIger was appointed Sec
retary Of War by President Mckinley, and held
lie s,iffered storm Of criticism and abuse for his
administration Of the department. The blunders of
volunteer camps, the typhoid fever the ''embalned
army all laid az his door. Much of this criti
cism undoubtedly Justified by the facts but
General Alger doubtless aimed so 10 administer
the War Department TO satisfy the President
strengthen his party and 10 make the
an the blame for defects OF military admniatra-
He was without question TO a great extent the
sostered until II had become deeply intrenched and
capable Of enormous mischief
The Dodge commission appointed 10 investigate
eral Alger OF any Intentional neglect of duty OF
any attempt 20 serve ms personal interests It's
conclusion given in these words: Tn tire
Judgment OF the commission there lacking
IN the general administration Of the war with
Snain that complete grasp OF the situation which
was essential to the highest efficiency and disci-
pline OF the army.
his resignation taking effect on August L In 1902
ne was APPOINTED United States Senator from Mich
igan by Governor Bliss 70 I'LL the vacancy caused
bv the death Of Senator James Mcmillan. and in
the January following he elected to I'LL the
unexpire6 term, which extended 10 March g. 1907
General Alger married in April 1861. TO Miss
Annette Henry OF Grand Rapids. They had nine
chiidren Ave Of whom living. two and
three daughters ......, - -..,.u, ....,- -