Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-27
MAJOR oUTcmNs VOLUNTEERED.
officers of the battalion Sign n
Statement I'm His Defence.
Richmond, Va. NJ

statement In HIS Defence.
Richmond Va. May 26, 1898.
~ the Editor Of the Dispatch:
The Baltimore Herald and the Norfolk
Nirginian-Pilot Of this date and per.
haps other newspapers Of the same date
contain communications from Richmond
which are grossly Inaccurate with refer
Cnce 10 an occurrence at the Blues
Armo~y, Ninth and Cary streets, about
o'clock in the evening Of Tuesday. May
the 2ith. Both communica tons severely
reflect on the action Of Major Sol. Clutch
FMS. who was commander of the Blues
Battalion until the two companies OF
which il was composed were mustered
into the service of the United States as
companies II and Nj. Fourth Regiment.
United States Volunteers. from Virginia
Major Cutchins received the call for
volunteers on April 21st, and on the 23d
volunteered with his entire staff and
band Company a volunteered the same
day and Company b two days later.
The two companies were mustered in on
May 24th. end the reason Major Cutchins
was not mustered in was because the two
companies could not be received as bat
talon. with it's own officers. as was the
case with the regiments There were
infantry in the State-the Third battalion.
o. Portsmouth, and the Richmond Light
Infantry Blues Battalion. On the day
the two companies of Blues were mustered
into the service Of the United States there
was apprehension on the part of the MEM
tsrs Of the association that the Blues Bat
flIon as an organization would cease
20 exist.
PETITION TO THE GOVERNOR.
Major Cutchins, who had been in the
Blues for nearly twenty years, thought
1t would be advisable to take action to-
wards organizing two temporary COM
panies during the absence Of the two
that We're that day mustered into the SER
vice OF the United States. With this
idea in view, he requested a conference
Of members of the association at the
Armory on the evening of the oath, and
submitted the following, which was adopt
cd by the conference:
To His Excellency, Hon. ]. Hoge Tyler,
Governor OF Virginia:
Sir.-The Richmond Light Infantry
Blues Association, chartered by an act
OF the General Assembly, approved Feb
rlary G. 1877, respectfully represents unto
YOUR Excellency that in pursuance OF
the authority vested in the said assocla-
ton by its charter. it formed and EQUIP
ped q military company known as lne
Ir reason OF its antiquity and proWess,
was permitted TO remain as an unattach-
ed organization. BY an amendment 10
ls charter granted by the General As
sembly ana approved by the Governor on
the 18TH day of February, 1891, the salo
Association was authorized TO form one
Ur more companies, and upon formation
of one or more companies, 10 organize d
battalion. BY virtue OF authority vested
fr the said association by the amend
uent 10 its charter, another company |
vas formed on the lst day OF May, iS9i' |
and on the 10th OF May the Two COM
rrnles were organized into a battalion |
and designated as the Fourth Battalon |
or Virginia Volunteers. BY General Or |
lers No 10. Adjutant-GeneraFs once, |
April %. 1885 the two companies OF the
said battalion were assigned 10 the tourth
Regiment of Virginia volunteers.
A PROVISIONAL BATTALION.
This association is advised that upon
the mastering into service Of the United |
States Of these two companies, the klch-
m1ud Light Infantry Blues Battalion
VIII be disbandod. and the COMMISSIONS
NJ It's officers thereby revokesi ana WIlle
The action of the companies III volunteer
l1g for service in support OF the General
Government IS approved ana appsd1ued
by the association. still II views with re-
Eet the disintegration or the battahon'
formed and fostered by it, and II ear
ue,tly requests your EXcellency 10 permit
i. 20 organize and uniform two new COM
Tanies. 10 be armed and equipped by the
Fate whenever II may be convenient,
Il- said companies 10 serve until the
present companies which are about TO
r- mustered into the service Of the United
States Shall be discharged from tndt ser
Woo and reOrganiZed at which time the
iW1 companies proposed 10 DC IoInIeu
shall be disbanded or caused 10 iheIsS
into the representatives OF the two old
IL is earnestly hoped that
your Excellency will grant this request
which does not involve one dollar out
ay 70 the State. and the only expense
Their than that borne by the association
would be the arms and equipments, when
pro furnished TO the State by the United
'iates This association mas cheTlsheu
ne hope that the services OF the MAJOR
'0mmandng the battalion would be ac-
-eyted and that he would receive such
a1 assignment as would enable him 10 DE
n the immediate command or the TWO
'ompanies formerly of the battalion, ana
your Excellency Is most earnestly ana
urgently requested so TO assign him.
INCIDENT AT THE ARMORY.
II was thought that this paper would
meet with the general approval OF the
40 companies. and the whole trouble
rev cut Of the misunderstanding OF
% purpose In View. Only two OF inc
tie-rs OF the present companies and but
ew Of the men were present al the con-
cfsnce. Upon learning what nad tfah- ,
p.red the men were dissatisfied, and be-
ore the purpOrt OF the paper had been
explained 10 them considerable feeiing
Vas manifested. Upon learning OF the dis !
ausfactlOn among the men the paper
vas not presented 10 the Governor, and
ne matter dropped.
No disrespect was intended to Major :
'uichins, and he enjoys the fullest con-
qence Of both officers and men. There
.as never a suggestion from any quar- !
.r that he was not ready and anxious 70 ,
with the companies. and in every way
cceptable 10 the officers and the men '
hose confidence and esteem he enjoys.
NY statement In any newspaper or COM
- from any source the object or enect 5
: which IL 10 create different I'M >
fesslon Is false II