Class ___J1B:414l 
 
 Book 
 
 A^ 
 
 R<?7 
 
LETTER 
 
 GEN. BYRON M. CUTCHEON 
 
 RELATING TO 
 
 H. R. 8989, 
 
 TO CREATE A SPECIAL ROLL, TO BE KNOWN AS THE 
 " VOLUNTEER RETIRED LIST," 
 
 BEFORE THE 
 
 COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS, 
 
 y ^. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 
 
 WASHINGTON: 
 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OJ^J^ICE 
 1907. 
 
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 ]^N 7, 1907 
 D. ofD. 
 
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 611 Pearl Street, 
 YpsUanti^ Mich.^ Decemher 31^ 1906. 
 Hon. H, Olin Young, 
 
 House of Representatives^Washijigton., D. C. 
 
 Dear Sir: I have this morning received and read the statement of 
 Gen. S. L. Glasgow before your committee in regard to the " Volunteer 
 retired list" bill, now pending in committee, and I want to add a few 
 words thereto. 
 
 I First, in regard to pensions: General Glasgow's statement is not 
 clear, and I must think, in speaking, his words were not fully taken 
 down. 
 
 You are, of course, aware that in the pension laws no specific pen- 
 sions are provided for otticers above the rank of lieutenant-colonel. 
 Above that general officers and general officers by brevet are ranked 
 with lieutenant-colonels unless Congress sees fit to pass special bills 
 for their benefit, as they have done in many cases. Under the present 
 rule for age pensions they may get $12 per month. 
 
 If the question is asked why a brigadier-general should get a larger 
 pension than a captain or major, 1 return by asking why should a 
 brigadier-general get more pay than a captain or major. Yet they 
 always have in our army and in every army in the world. It is a uni- 
 versally recognized fact, and is based on greater age, greater knowl- 
 edge, and ability, greater expense in maintaining the position, and 
 the vastly greater responsibility and importance of the command. 
 
 At Cedar Creek 1 general turned the tide of the day from dis- 
 aster to victory when 20,000 men were falling back in disorder; at 
 Chickamauga 1 Thomas was worth 10,000 men. 
 
 At the "Bloody Angle," at Spottsylvania, General Lee saved the 
 day to his army by his presence and personal exposure and daring. 
 
 Chairman Hull can doubtless recall instances in his own knowledge 
 where a colonel saved his regiment from disaster, or a brigade com- 
 mander was equal to a fresh regiment. 
 
 Next, in regard to age: I take \\\j own regiment — the Twentieth 
 Michigan — as a fair illustration. The average age of the enlisted men 
 was under 22 years. The age of the captains and lieutenants was 
 about the same as the men. In the company which I raised in this 
 town for that regiment, the captain (Allen) was 21 and the two lieu- 
 tenants (Van Cleve and Row) were each 22. Looking through the 
 roster, I find they run about the same throughout the regiment, with 
 two exceptions, and they were promptly mustered, out when we got 
 into the field. 
 
 But the field officers (from whom the higher ranks were mostly 
 filled) were in my regiment aged as follows: 
 
 Colonel ( Williams) 35 
 
 Lieutenant-colonel (Smith) 39 
 
 Major (Cutcheon ) 26 
 
 100 
 3 
 
4 LETTER OF GEN. BYRON M. CUTCHEON. 
 
 Average age, 33^. A difference in the average of more than ten 
 years. The men and compan}^ officers were mostly boys from the 
 farms and schools, many of them not more than if or 18 3^ears old. 
 One adjutant of the regiment (Berry) enlisted at 18 and was adjutant 
 at 19. C. A. Lounsberry entered the regiment as sergeant at 19 and 
 was captain at 20, and came home with the regiment in 1865 as 
 lieutenant-colonel at 22. 
 
 I think General Glasgow understates rather than overstates the facts 
 in regard to age. I believe the 5^oungest officer that reached the grade 
 of brigadier-general b}^ brevet from Michigan was James H. Kidd, of 
 Ionia. He entered the service as captain at 22, and by gallantry rose 
 to be colonel and brevet brigadier-general; but he is the exception that 
 proves the rule. 
 
 I Avish that all who served in the civil war two and one-half years, 
 at least one j^ear at the front, and who have attained the age of 70, 
 could be put on half pa3\ But I fear that to attempt it now would 
 defeat the whole measure. 
 
 To recapitulate: 
 
 1. The class is a small one and a meritorious one. 
 
 2. This measure is a tentative one; the facts are fully investigated 
 and known. 
 
 3. The cost is a mere nothing to the country. 
 
 4. B}^ another Congress the facts in regard to the number and rank 
 of survivors of lower grades can be fully investigated and known, and 
 the scope of the act should be broadened to meet their cases. 
 
 5. This is not a baseless discrimination in favor of officers who 
 attained the rank of general officers, but is simply applying principles 
 already well established by precedent. The recognition is based upon 
 greater age, greater and more important service, and the greater 
 responsibility involved. 
 
 6. With most of the eligibles it is now or never; they are passing 
 away rapidly. 
 
 Amend the bill if the committee thinks it must, but let us have a 
 report. If it is to be killed let the House take the responsibility, and 
 let it die in the open with a roll call of the House. 
 
 This may be the last chance you will ever have to render so great a 
 service to these men who offered all to their country in their strong 
 youth. 
 
 I will be glad if you will bring these considerations to the attention 
 of other members of the committee. 
 I have the honor to be 
 
 Yours, most respectfully, 
 
 Byron M. Cutcheon, 
 Once Colonel Twentieth and Twenty -seventh Michigan^ 
 
 and Brevet Brigadier- General^ V. S. Volunteers. 
 
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