The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-08-17
NUMBER %.
4 VETERAN AND MS CUE.

The order in 1901 to cut off their hair.
issued by Brigadier General James Wilkin-
son, then geueral>in chief caused great in
dlgnation among thev eterau officers who
looked upon it as a French innovation ;,
l. was as follows 'For the accommnia.
ton, comfort aud health cf the troops. the
hair is to be cropped without exception.
and the general viii give the example. :
This was followed by another. which said.
''Whiskels and short hair lily accord they
will not, therefore be permitted to extend
lower than the bottom of the ear The
less hair about a soldiers head. the neater
aud cleaner will he be-; OF these orders.
the first. as to cropping the hair, is still in
force. The second as to wearing wbiskers
in any { Der manner than thrs prescribed.
WAS not reScinded until 1853: and then IL
was prescribed and still is the regulation
that ''the beard may be worn at the pleas
ure of the individual, but must be kent
short and neatly trimmed For the corn
of cadets there is still the regulation VIII
Is strictly enforced, that, ''the hair is to be
short, or what is generally termed cropped.
whiskers and mu>taches shall not be worn
In 1891 there was an old and distinguished
officer, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Butler.
commanding the Second regular infau ~.
who had entei ed the Second Pennsylvanis
infantry as a first lieutenant ia I116 st.
{ IRIS regiment, January 81. served
tl ough thai war with honor been wound
ed, and again twice wounded in st Clait's
defeat in lG9i. lie s0ler,nly dec ai-nI he
would not cur of his much prized enc.
General Wilkinson did not Ihen pge the
matter, bat issued the following order
Lieut.. Colonel Commandant Butler az
his particular request. and i'm considera-
ton of his inlirm health, has permission To
wear his hair. On the subject of this
measure the general will briefly observe
that 1t has been sanctioned in America by
the first military characters of the British
and American armies: that il has b,.cy,
recommended by the ablest generals Who
have lived, and bas been adopted hy the
best troops IN the wo ID, and that the cut
of the haIr Is ass essential "A part of military
uniform as the cut of the coat or color of
the facing. Afterward Wilkinson with
drew the indulgence, and as Col. Butler
persisted in a cue, he sent HIM i'm 1902
before a general court mart ial of h:s own
appointment, on this. for diSohedience of
lders and other matters. He was acanit-
ted of the other charges, but sentenced to
be renrlmanded -hiCh gave Wilkinson an
opportunity to indulge in inveciiye and
sarcasm. ahd TO again o.der Col. Bnile to
cut of his hair. Tie latter IL a personal
interview, refused Wilkinson 20 secretary
of war. Washington. October 25 1904 var
department iiles) and having gone to New
Orleans and assumed command. committed
anew the breach OF orders. At this time.
an artillery officer, writing HUME. zsaid
Colonel Butler wears Isis hair and is de
termimed not to cut it uif. " New Orleans.
November 10. lS0t, Lieutenant Colonel
Constant Freenian-) For This Wilkinson
sent him before another general court mar
u for 'wlliul, obstinate, and continued
disuhed nee of o-deis. and for mntinous
conduct The cou-s sentenced him io
suspension for one year. but before the or
der was ued the veteran had been gath
cred - his fathers, and was buried with
his cue Magazine cf -3nrrfcayt Hfstory.