Class of 1872

Vol. IV
p222 [Supplement, Vol. IV: 1890‑1900]

Military History. —

(First Lieutenant of Cavalry, 3d Cavalry, July 24, 1879)​1

Served: On signal duty at Washington, D. C., from Feb. 1, 1889 to May 31, 1892. — On leave, July 31 to Aug. 30, 1889, and Aug. 4 to Sept. 3, 1890.

(Captain, Staff — Signal Corps, Dec. 19, 1890)

— On leave Aug. 4 to Sept. 3, 1891. — Relieved from signal duty, Washington, D. C., and assigned as Signal Officer, Department of the Missouri, Chicago, Ill., June 1, 1892. — Special duty, Washington, D. C., Nov. 1, 1893 to Jan., 1894, and March 28 to May 6, 1894, when he returned to Chicago. — Signal Officer, Department East, Governor's Island, N. Y., Nov. 20, 1894. — Special duty, Washington, D. C., February 5 to 15, 1896, and April 18 to 20, 1897, when he returned to Governor's Island. — Chief Signal Officer, Headquarters of the Army, April 24, 1898. — Special duty, Key West, Fla., April 26 to May 28, 1898. — Reported the  p223 Spanish fleet at Santiago de Cuba, the morning of its arrival, July 19, 1898.

(Lieut.‑Colonel and Chief Signal Officer, U. S. Volunteers,
May 20, 1898)

— On special duty in the field in connection with the rearrangement of cables in Cuban waters, from May 29, 1898. — Reëstablished telegraphic communication between Washington, D. C., and the army and navy at Guantanamo, June 20, and Santiago de Cuba, June 29, 1898. — Sent first report to Washington of destruction of Spanish fleet, July 3.

(Major, Staff — Signal Corps, July 8, 1898)

(Colonel and Chief Signal Officer, U. S. Volunteers,
July 18, 1898)

— Completed duties in Cuban waters and reported to Commanding General, U. S. Army, and sailed for Puerto Rico, July 21, 1898, arrived July 25. — Telegraphic communication established with Washington, July 30. — Chief Signal Officer Headquarters of the Army during Puerto Rican campaign. — Returned to duty in the United States attached to staff of Major-General commanding the army with station at Washington, D. C., Sept. 7, 1898. — Special duty New York City in connection with fitting out cable ship Hooker for Philippine expedition, Dec. 23, 1898 to Feb. 25, 1899. — Relieved from duty on staff of Major-General commanding the army and assigned as assistant to the Chief Signal Officer, with station at Washington, D. C., May 22, 1899; serving as such to –––––

(Honorably discharged from Volunteer Service, May 12, 1899)

(Lieut.‑Colonel, Staff — Signal Corps, Dec. 1, 1899)

Vol. V
p193 [Supplement, Vol. V: 1900‑1910]

Military History. — Relieved from duty on staff of Major-General commanding the army and assigned as assistant to the Chief Signal Officer, with station at Washington, D. C., May 22 to Sept., 1899. — Left Washington for Philippines in Oct., 1899. — Received telegram conveying thanks of the President of the United States, June 30, 1898, for success­ful efforts in establishing communication with army before Santiago de Cuba. — Mentioned in general orders for distinguished and meritorious service from June 2 to 5, 1898. — Work done before Santiago mentioned in annual message of the President of the United States to 55th Congress.

(Honorably discharged from Volunteer Service, May 12, 1899)

(Lieut.‑Colonel, Staff — Signal Corps, Dec. 1, 1899)

— On duty at headquarters, Department of the Pacific and Eighth Army Corps and Division of the Philippines, as chief signal officer, from Dec. 20, 1899 to March 1, 1902.

(Brig.‑General of Volunteers, June 20, 1901)

(Honorably discharged from Volunteer Service, June 30, 1901)

— Returned to United States June 7, 1902. — Chief Signal Officer, Department of California, June 10, 1902 to May 7, 1903. — Ordered to New York City to take charge of duties pertaining to installation of Alaska  p194 cable, May, 1903. Ordered to Alaska in connection with establishing the Washington-Alaska cable system; completed this system in October, 1904.

(Colonel, Staff — Signal Corps, July 6, 1904)

— Assistant to Chief Signal Officer, with station at Washington, D. C., Oct. 24, 1904 to Feb. 10, 1906.

(Brig.‑General, Chief Signal Officer, Feb. 10, 1906)

— On duty at Washington to –––––.

Vol. VI
p173 [Supplement, Vol. VI: 1910‑1920]

(Born Feb. 13, 1849.)

Military History. —

Brigadier-General, Chief Signal Officer, Feb. 10, 1906.

At Washington, D. C., to Feb. 13, 1913 (on special duty in Europe, Delegate to International Congress of Application of Electricity, Sept. 4 to Oct. 24, 1908; in New York City, Nov. 24 to Dec. 4, 1908, attending meeting of American Society of Mechanical Engineers.)

Brigadier-General, U. S. A., Retired, Feb. 13, 1913.
By Operation of Law.

Vol. VII
p111 [Supplement, Vol. VII: 1920‑1930]

Military History: —

Brigadier-General, U. S. A., Retired, Feb. 13, 1913,
By Operation of Law.

Awarded

Distinguished Service Cross.

"For extraordinary heroism in action at the entrance of the harbor of Santiago, Cuba, June 2‑5, 1898. Colonel Allen, by his persistent and untiring efforts on an unarmed transport, the Adria, and under fire of the Spanish batteries, succeeded in raising and severing two submarine cables used by the enemy."

Vol. VIII
p47 [Supplement, Vol. VIII: 1930‑1940]

Military History: —

Brig.‑Gen., Ret., Feb. 13, 1913.

Died, Feb. 19, 1932, at Washington, D. C.: Aged 84.

Portrait and obituary in Annual Report, Association of Graduates, for 1934.