Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-02-06
ALGER
Michigan Senator'S Exciting Ex-
perience On the Battlefield.
EHIs BRAVERY UNDER FIRE.


Marrow Escape While Eapnsed TO the
Shots Of the confede How He
Assisted an Old Benefactor BY Pay-ss
Ing Big Price For Cow HE Tended
In His Young Days.
Some years ago q group OF veterans
of the civil war including fheilate Geu
eral Russell "A. Alger, United States
senator from Michigan, and a few otli-
sers, sat In the corridor Of the Palace
hotel In San Francisco and exchanged,
experiences, says the San Francisco
Gall. s e. IL
+ 1.-THE question OF personal bravery Is
always one Of peculiar interest said
General Alger, shut many man wb1
bore the reputation Of having a charm
ed life owed it to the admiratlnn OF his
opponents. AS rule q soldier never
fires at a man who displays unusual
courage know this from experience.
4.It was in the fall Of 1863 that / was
transferred from the army OF the west
to the command of q regiment On the
Army OF the Potomac. About that
time the Confederates moved across
the Rapidan, and r was sent to drive
them back. It turned out that 1t was
a reconnaissance, but at the same time
we believed they were seeking to
make a Judgment on the north OF the
river. We drove them back to the
bank of the stream, but there they
made savage stand, and re-enf force
ments were thrown over to aid them.
Their position, owing to the formation
Of the ground, was a very strong one
and ours greatly exposed. While pre-
pairing for the struggle my command
was attracted by courier approach
ing. He was on foot and availed him
self OF the numerous gulleys worn by
the rains to protect himself from the
enemy's fire. Volley after volley was
fred at him, but he reached me unin-
3ured. He bore orders for me to re.
port at once to General Kilpat trick.
'sIn order to reach the latter would
be compelled to pass over an almost
open plain for fully three-Quarters Of q
mile and exposed to the fire Of the Con-
! federates. It flashed upon me that the
attempt would result In certain death,
and Twas on the point Of refusing to
obey when 1t occurred to me that I
dared not display any indication Of
cowardice In the presence Of my COM
mand. Leaving my horse and COM
mand, which were stationed behind a
small rise In the ground, / started on
foot. The moment appeared was
greeted with a yolley, and the dirt flew
around, but was unhurt. At this the
! Confederates cheered, ana In a moment
/ the shot few thick about me for sec
.ond time, but not one touched me.
There was another cheer from the Con-
federates, but kept going. / was go
badly frightened that I dared not even
| look to the right or left. livery mo-
ment I looked for another volley and
felt that could not escape again. Not
4 another shot was fired, and during the
fifteen minutes that elapsed while !
was In range Of their guns round after
round Of cheers greeted me, but not q
bullet was sent after me. I reached
General Fitzpatrick In safety and from
that day to this have sought unsuc-
4 cessfully the name of the Confederate
officer whose men spared my life. ]" s
Senator Alger Is said to have paid
the record price for q COW. and that .
4 dead one, says Success. Over fifty
years ago he was an orphan In Rich