Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-21

The career of Lieut.. Col. J. Madison Cults.
late of the regular army, in the language of a
report of Congress, lin the line, field and staff
of the army was of great distinction and his
services were of high order OF merit and
usefulness and were eminent, brilliant and
worthy of the highest consideration"
After serving as private soldier in tho frs,
Rhode Island volunteers (three months ser.
vice. he commissioned by President Lin
coin, at the request of Hon. Stephen A. Doug
lass. made shortly before his DEATH as captain
OF the eleventh United States infantry.
After organizing as mastering and disburs-
Ing officer OF Rhode Island troops, cavalry, ar
hilery and infantry he was ordered 10 report
for duty on the staff OF Maj. Gen Burnside. and
served on that generals staff as aid-dc-camp.
Judge advocate and in other staff capacities in
his successive commands of the Department
of North Carolina, the ninth army CORPS the
right wing of the Army of the Potomac the
Army OF the Potomac and the Department OF
the Ohio During that period he was present
III the battles Of South Mountain Antieta
and Fredericksburg, III which his services were
OF very high order of distinction. He there
after served with his regiment in the Mine Run
campaign OF Gen. Meade and in the MANY bat
ties OF Gen. Grants campaign of the Wilder
ness, and was acting field officer, and there
after commanded has regiment at Gen. Grant 8
headquarters, City Point. Va, aud at Gen.
Meide's headquarters and in the battle of Fort
Steadman, Va. His final service was in Louisi-
ana, as commander of the post of Shreveport,
La, with subposts at Marshall and Jefferson,
Tex.
The colonel was a brother-in-la law Of Stephen
A. Douglass. The medal OF honor awarded Col.
Cults Is u triple" medal inscribed as follows:
For ga!!antry at Wilderness, Spottsylyania
and Petersburg. 1864" In the engagement in
front OF Petersburg, Va, on the 18th OF June,
1864, spherical case shot burst Ill front OF Col
Cuts regiment. killing seven and woundng
twcnty-three. OF course confusion in the regi-
mcnt followed. Col. Cuts stepped to the front
and straig htened out the line. While doing SO
he was severely wounded and carried from the
field Col. Cults was twice brevetted for gal
liant and distinguished services and recon-
meEdcd Tor The coionelcy OF one of the reCi-
ments OF Gen. Hancock's veteran corps. The
colonel distinguished himself in battles all
through the war, but space will not permit of
his record beng given III detail. He was found
by The STAR man in the branch OF the record
and pension office located IN the old Ford's
lheatcr building.
Matthew S. Q lay, colonel OF the one hundred
and thirty-fourth Pennsylvania infantry for
distinguished services at Fredericksburg. De-
cember 10, 1862 Senator Matthew Stanley Oray
OF Pennsylvania was colonel of the one hun
dred and thirty-fourth PENNSYLVANIA. He con-
tracted typhoid fever at Falmouth Va oppo-
site Fredericksburg, in the latter part of 1862
friends urged him to resign his commission and
go home to recuperate. Finally Col Quay did So
When his discharge papers were handed to him
by Ges. Tyler the latter said he regretted the
colonel was leaving just at that time, As they
expected a battle very soon. On hearing this
Col. Quay refused to accept the discharge
papers, and declared his intention of waiting
for the battle Gen. Tyler told him he would
be foolish to do this in view of his broken
health; besides. the papers were there and he
was a private citizen If he went into the bat
tie he would be sure to be killed. and had bet
ter go home and get we'll. We'll" Col. Quay
answered. I'D rather be killed in the battle
and called fool than go home and be called a
coward" so he declared he would take mus
ket and fight as a private il he couldn't 60 in
AS all officer. Gen. Tyler. seeing the young
man SO determined, made him an aid on his
staff. and in this capacity Col! Quay fought all
day and far into the night in the famous battle
of Fredericksburg, rendering important scr
vice.