James M. Cutts: Difference between revisions
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|name = James M. Cutts |
|name = James M. Cutts |
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|image = James Madison Cutts (Medal of Honor Recipient).png |
|image = James Madison Cutts (Medal of Honor Recipient).png |
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|caption = ''The Evening Star'' (Washington, |
|caption = ''The Evening Star'' (Washington, D.C.), February 25, 1903 |
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|birth_date = {{birth date|1837|10|20}} |
|birth_date = {{birth date|1837|10|20}} |
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|death_date = {{death date and age|1903|02|24|1837|10|20}} |
|death_date = {{death date and age|1903|02|24|1837|10|20}} |
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|birth_place = [[Washington, D.C.]] |
|birth_place = [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S. |
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|death_place = [[Washington, D.C.]] |
|death_place = [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S. |
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|placeofburial = Arlington National Cemetery |
|placeofburial = [[Arlington National Cemetery]] |
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|allegiance ={{flag|United States of America|1861}} |
|allegiance ={{flag|United States of America|1861}} |
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|branch ={{army|USA}} [[Infantry]] |
|branch ={{army|USA}} [[Infantry]] |
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|serviceyears = |
|serviceyears = 1861–1868 |
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|rank = [[Captain (United States)|Captain]]<br>[[ |
|rank = [[Captain (United States)|Captain]] (Army)<br>[[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|Lieutenant Colonel]] ([[Brevet (military)|Brevet]]) |
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|unit = 1st Battalion, [[11th Infantry Regiment (United States)|11th Infantry Regiment]] |
|unit = 1st Battalion, [[11th Infantry Regiment (United States)|11th Infantry Regiment]] |
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|battles = [[American Civil War]] |
|battles = [[American Civil War]] |
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|awards = {{Flagicon image|Medal of Honor ribbon.svg}} [[Medal of Honor]] |
|awards = {{Flagicon image|Medal of Honor ribbon.svg}} [[Medal of Honor]] |
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}} |
}} |
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⚫ | '''James Madison Cutts Jr.''' (October 20, 1837 – February 24, 1903) was an American soldier who fought in the [[American Civil War]]. Cutts received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the [[Medal of Honor]], for his actions during the [[Battle of the Wilderness|Battles of the Wilderness]], [[Battle of Spotsylvania|Spotsylvania]] and Petersburg in Virginia in May and June 1864. He was honored with the award on 2 May 1891. |
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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
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Cutts was born in [[Washington D.C.]] on October 20, 1837, the son of James Madison Cutts, an official of the U.S. Treasury Department, and Ellen Elisabeth O'Neal, the sister of [[Rose O'Neal Greenhow]].{{sfn|"Union Veteran Dead: J. Madison Cutts A Victim Of Disease"|page=8}} |
Cutts was born in [[Washington D.C.]] on October 20, 1837, the son of James Madison Cutts, an official of the U.S. Treasury Department, and Ellen Elisabeth O'Neal, the sister of [[Rose O'Neal Greenhow]].{{sfn|"Union Veteran Dead: J. Madison Cutts A Victim Of Disease"|page=8}} Cutts' sister Adèle was the second wife of US Senator [[Stephen A. Douglas]].{{sfn|"Union Veteran Dead: J. Madison Cutts A Victim Of Disease"|page=8}} Cutts was the grandson of congressman [[Richard Cutts]], whose wife Anna was the sister of First Lady [[Dolley Madison]].{{sfn|"Union Veteran Dead: J. Madison Cutts A Victim Of Disease"|page=8}} He attended [[Georgetown Preparatory School]], graduating with the Class of 1852, and went on to earn his [[Master of Arts]] degree from [[Brown University]] in 1856.{{sfn|''Historical Catalogue of Brown University''|page=185}} He then attended [[Harvard Law School]], from which he received his [[Bachelor of Laws|LL.B.]] in 1860.{{sfn|"Union Veteran Dead: J. Madison Cutts A Victim Of Disease"|page=8}} |
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==Civil War service== |
==Civil War service== |
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[[File:James M. Cutts Arlington National Cemetery 2020.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Grave at Arlington National Cemetery]] |
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At the start of the [[American Civil War]], Cutts enlisted with the [[1st Rhode Island Infantry]].{{sfn|"Union Veteran Dead: J. Madison Cutts A Victim Of Disease"|page=8}} Six weeks later, in May 1861, he was appointed as a Captain in the newly created [[11th Infantry Regiment (United States)|11th Infantry Regiment]].{{sfn|"Union Veteran Dead: J. Madison Cutts A Victim Of Disease"|page=8}} Burnside appointed Cutts as a judge advocate where he served as the prosecutor of Clement Vallandigham.{{sfn|''Law in War, Law as War''|pages=105-108}} |
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⚫ | While serving on the staff of [[Ambrose Burnside]] in 1863, Cutts was charged with conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman after he allegedly committed several offenses, including criticizing Burnside in letters to the president, constantly arguing with his fellow officers, and attempting to view a married woman dressing in the hotel room next to his by peering over the transom.{{sfn|"James Madison Cutts of Washington, DC"}} His appeal reached President [[Abraham Lincoln|Lincoln]], who approved the convictions, but reduced the punishment to a written reprimand.{{sfn|"James Madison Cutts of Washington, DC"}} Lincoln then wrote Cutts a letter, likely presented in person, indicating that he was sure the "peeping" offense would not be repeated, and urging Cutts to attain his full potential by demonstrating the self-control necessary to avoid pointless quarrels with his peers and superiors.{{sfn|"James Madison Cutts of Washington, DC"}} Cutts is reported to have been so chastened that he resolved to reclaim his reputation through battlefield heroism.{{sfn|"James Madison Cutts of Washington, DC"}} |
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⚫ | Cutts displayed gallantry at the [[Battle of the Wilderness]], the [[Battle of Spotsylvania Court House|Battle of Spotsylvania]] and the [[Battle of Petersburg]] between May 5 and June 18, 1864. He received the Medal of Honor for these actions on May 2, 1891. Claims that Cutts received a "triple" Medal of Honor are not accurate; he received a single award that cited his combined heroism in three separate battles. |
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⚫ | Cutts displayed gallantry at the [[Battle of the Wilderness]], the [[Battle of Spotsylvania Court House|Battle of Spotsylvania]] and the [[Second Battle of Petersburg]] between May 5 and June 18, 1864.{{sfn|''Medal of Honor, 1863–1968''|page=70}} He received the Medal of Honor for these actions on May 2, 1891.{{sfn|''Medal of Honor, 1863–1968''|page=70}} Claims that Cutts received a "triple" Medal of Honor are not accurate; he received a single award that cited his combined heroism in three separate battles.{{sfn|''Medal of Honor, 1863–1968''|page=70}}{{efn|As verification, page 70 of ''Medal of Honor, 1863–1968'' indicates that Cutts received one medal in one presentation but on page 69, the details of [[Thomas Custer]]'s two Medals of Honor include two dates for heroism and two dates for presentations.{{sfn|''Medal of Honor, 1863–1968''|page=69}}}} |
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==Medal of Honor citation== |
==Medal of Honor citation== |
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==Continued Army career== |
==Continued Army career== |
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After the war, Cutts was transferred to the [[20th Infantry Regiment (United States)|20th Infantry Regiment]].{{sfn|"James Madison Cutts of Washington, DC"}} |
After the war, Cutts was transferred to the [[20th Infantry Regiment (United States)|20th Infantry Regiment]].{{sfn|"James Madison Cutts of Washington, DC"}} While serving in Louisiana in 1868, Cutts was accused of being intoxicated while on duty, being indecently dressed, and being abusive to the soldiers under his command.{{sfn|"James Madison Cutts of Washington, DC"}} Informed that the convening authority for his subsequent court-martial intended to recommend his dismissal from the service, Cutts resigned his commission on June 19, 1868.{{sfn|"James Madison Cutts of Washington, DC"}} |
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==Later life== |
==Later life== |
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After leaving the Army, Cutts taught rhetoric and oratory at [[Seton Hall University]].{{sfn|"Union Veteran Dead: J. Madison Cutts A Victim Of Disease"|page=8}} |
After leaving the Army, Cutts taught rhetoric and oratory at [[Seton Hall University]].{{sfn|"Union Veteran Dead: J. Madison Cutts A Victim Of Disease"|page=8}} In 1882, he moved to Washington to take a position in the War Department, first serving in the surgeon general's office, and later in the office of the Army's adjutant general.{{sfn|"Union Veteran Dead: J. Madison Cutts A Victim Of Disease"|page=8}} |
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==Death and burial== |
==Death and burial== |
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On February 19, 1903, Cutts became ill from [[uremia]] on a [[Washington, D.C.]] |
On February 19, 1903, Cutts became ill from [[uremia]] on a [[Washington, D.C.]] street car while returning to work after his lunch break.{{sfn|"Union Veteran Dead: J. Madison Cutts A Victim Of Disease"|page=8}} He remained at [[MedStar Washington Hospital Center|Emergency Hospital]] until he died in Washington on February 24, 1903.{{sfn|"Union Veteran Dead: J. Madison Cutts A Victim Of Disease"|page=8}} Cutts was buried at [[Arlington National Cemetery]], Section 3, Site 1371-SS.{{sfn|"Union Veteran Dead: J. Madison Cutts A Victim Of Disease"|page=8}} |
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==Family== |
==Family== |
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In 1871, Cutts married Mary E. Wheeler of Baltimore.{{sfn|"Union Veteran Dead: J. Madison Cutts A Victim Of Disease"|page=8}} |
In 1871, Cutts married Mary E. Wheeler of Baltimore.{{sfn|"Union Veteran Dead: J. Madison Cutts A Victim Of Disease"|page=8}} They were the parents of six children, including Leo, Mary, Arthur, Horace, James and Harold.{{sfn|"Union Veteran Dead: J. Madison Cutts A Victim Of Disease"|page=8}} |
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==See also== |
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==Notes== |
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{{notelist}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==Sources== |
==Sources== |
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===Newspapers=== |
===Newspapers=== |
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*{{cite news |date=February 25, 1903 |title=Union Veteran Dead: J. Madison Cutts A Victim Of Disease |url=https://www.newspapers.com/ |
*{{cite news |date=February 25, 1903 |title=Union Veteran Dead: J. Madison Cutts A Victim Of Disease |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star-cutts/148393742/ |work=[[The Washington Star|The Evening Star]] |location=Washington, DC |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |ref={{sfnRef|"Union Veteran Dead: J. Madison Cutts A Victim Of Disease"}}}} |
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===Internet=== |
===Internet=== |
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*{{cite web |url=http://behind.aotw.org/2006/11/17/james-madison-cutts-of-washington-dc/ |title=James Madison Cutts of Washington, DC |date=November 17, 2006 |website= Behind Antietam on the Web |publisher=Brian Downey |access-date=January 8, 2019 |ref={{sfnRef|"James Madison Cutts of Washington, DC"}}}} |
*{{cite web |url=http://behind.aotw.org/2006/11/17/james-madison-cutts-of-washington-dc/ |title=James Madison Cutts of Washington, DC |date=November 17, 2006 |website= Behind Antietam on the Web |publisher=Brian Downey |access-date=January 8, 2019 |ref={{sfnRef|"James Madison Cutts of Washington, DC"}}}} |
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===Books=== |
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*{{cite book|author=Brown University |date=1895 |title=Historical Catalogue of Brown University, 1764–1894 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jzMbAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA185 |location=Providence, RI |publisher=P. S. Remington & Co. |via=[[Google Books]] |ref={{sfnRef|''Historical Catalogue of Brown University''}}}} |
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*{{cite book |last=Kastenberg |first=Joshua E. |date=2011 |title=Law in War, Law as War: Brigadier General Joseph Holt and the Judge Advocate General’s Department in the Civil War and Early Reconstruction, 1861–1865 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v2_oTgEACAAJ |location=Durham, NC |publisher=Carolina Academic Press |isbn=978-1-5946-0864-3 |via=[[Google Books]] |ref={{sfnRef|''Law in War, Law as War''}}}} |
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*{{cite book |author=Subcommittee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare |date=1968 |title=Medal of Honor, 1863–1968 |url=https://archive.org/details/medalofhonor186300unit/page/70/mode/2up |location=Washington, DC |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |via=[[Internet Archive]] |ref={{sfnRef|''Medal of Honor, 1863–1968''}}}} |
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==External links== |
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*{{Findagrave|6166113}} |
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*[http://arlingtoncemetery.net/jmcutts.htm James Madison Cutts] at Arlington Cemetery.net |
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{{Authority control}} |
{{Authority control}} |
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[[Category:Brown University alumni]] |
[[Category:Brown University alumni]] |
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[[Category:Harvard Law School alumni]] |
[[Category:Harvard Law School alumni]] |
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[[Category:Seton Hall University faculty]] |
Latest revision as of 16:17, 2 June 2024
James M. Cutts | |
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![]() The Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), February 25, 1903 | |
Born | Washington, D.C., U.S. | October 20, 1837
Died | February 24, 1903 Washington, D.C., U.S. | (aged 65)
Buried | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() |
Years of service | 1861–1868 |
Rank | Captain (Army) Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet) |
Unit | 1st Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment |
Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Awards | ![]() |
James Madison Cutts Jr. (October 20, 1837 – February 24, 1903) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Cutts received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Petersburg in Virginia in May and June 1864. He was honored with the award on 2 May 1891.
Early life
[edit]Cutts was born in Washington D.C. on October 20, 1837, the son of James Madison Cutts, an official of the U.S. Treasury Department, and Ellen Elisabeth O'Neal, the sister of Rose O'Neal Greenhow.[1] Cutts' sister Adèle was the second wife of US Senator Stephen A. Douglas.[1] Cutts was the grandson of congressman Richard Cutts, whose wife Anna was the sister of First Lady Dolley Madison.[1] He attended Georgetown Preparatory School, graduating with the Class of 1852, and went on to earn his Master of Arts degree from Brown University in 1856.[2] He then attended Harvard Law School, from which he received his LL.B. in 1860.[1]
Civil War service
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/James_M._Cutts_Arlington_National_Cemetery_2020.jpg/310px-James_M._Cutts_Arlington_National_Cemetery_2020.jpg)
At the start of the American Civil War, Cutts enlisted with the 1st Rhode Island Infantry.[1] Six weeks later, in May 1861, he was appointed as a Captain in the newly created 11th Infantry Regiment.[1] Burnside appointed Cutts as a judge advocate where he served as the prosecutor of Clement Vallandigham.[3]
While serving on the staff of Ambrose Burnside in 1863, Cutts was charged with conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman after he allegedly committed several offenses, including criticizing Burnside in letters to the president, constantly arguing with his fellow officers, and attempting to view a married woman dressing in the hotel room next to his by peering over the transom.[4] His appeal reached President Lincoln, who approved the convictions, but reduced the punishment to a written reprimand.[4] Lincoln then wrote Cutts a letter, likely presented in person, indicating that he was sure the "peeping" offense would not be repeated, and urging Cutts to attain his full potential by demonstrating the self-control necessary to avoid pointless quarrels with his peers and superiors.[4] Cutts is reported to have been so chastened that he resolved to reclaim his reputation through battlefield heroism.[4]
Cutts displayed gallantry at the Battle of the Wilderness, the Battle of Spotsylvania and the Second Battle of Petersburg between May 5 and June 18, 1864.[5] He received the Medal of Honor for these actions on May 2, 1891.[5] Claims that Cutts received a "triple" Medal of Honor are not accurate; he received a single award that cited his combined heroism in three separate battles.[5][a]
Medal of Honor citation
[edit]"For gallantry at Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Petersburg, 1864."[1]
Continued Army career
[edit]After the war, Cutts was transferred to the 20th Infantry Regiment.[4] While serving in Louisiana in 1868, Cutts was accused of being intoxicated while on duty, being indecently dressed, and being abusive to the soldiers under his command.[4] Informed that the convening authority for his subsequent court-martial intended to recommend his dismissal from the service, Cutts resigned his commission on June 19, 1868.[4]
Later life
[edit]After leaving the Army, Cutts taught rhetoric and oratory at Seton Hall University.[1] In 1882, he moved to Washington to take a position in the War Department, first serving in the surgeon general's office, and later in the office of the Army's adjutant general.[1]
Death and burial
[edit]On February 19, 1903, Cutts became ill from uremia on a Washington, D.C. street car while returning to work after his lunch break.[1] He remained at Emergency Hospital until he died in Washington on February 24, 1903.[1] Cutts was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 3, Site 1371-SS.[1]
Family
[edit]In 1871, Cutts married Mary E. Wheeler of Baltimore.[1] They were the parents of six children, including Leo, Mary, Arthur, Horace, James and Harold.[1]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ As verification, page 70 of Medal of Honor, 1863–1968 indicates that Cutts received one medal in one presentation but on page 69, the details of Thomas Custer's two Medals of Honor include two dates for heroism and two dates for presentations.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Union Veteran Dead: J. Madison Cutts A Victim Of Disease", p. 8.
- ^ Historical Catalogue of Brown University, p. 185.
- ^ Law in War, Law as War, pp. 105–108.
- ^ a b c d e f g "James Madison Cutts of Washington, DC".
- ^ a b c Medal of Honor, 1863–1968, p. 70.
- ^ Medal of Honor, 1863–1968, p. 69.
Sources
[edit]Newspapers
[edit]- "Union Veteran Dead: J. Madison Cutts A Victim Of Disease". The Evening Star. Washington, DC. February 25, 1903 – via Newspapers.com.
Internet
[edit]- "James Madison Cutts of Washington, DC". Behind Antietam on the Web. Brian Downey. November 17, 2006. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
Books
[edit]- Brown University (1895). Historical Catalogue of Brown University, 1764–1894. Providence, RI: P. S. Remington & Co. – via Google Books.
- Kastenberg, Joshua E. (2011). Law in War, Law as War: Brigadier General Joseph Holt and the Judge Advocate General’s Department in the Civil War and Early Reconstruction, 1861–1865. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-5946-0864-3 – via Google Books.
- Subcommittee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare (1968). Medal of Honor, 1863–1968. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office – via Internet Archive.