The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-27
THE BLUES AND MAJ. CUTCHINS.
The Commissioned Officers Of the Two
Companies LAplnin.

Companies Explain.
Editor OF The Times:
Sir.-Ihe Baltimore Herald and Tho Nir-
ginia-Pnot of this date. and perhaps oth-
er newspapers OF the same GATE, contain
communications from Richmond, which
are grossly Inaccurate with reference 20
an Occurreuc at the Blues ArmOry, Ninlh
and Cary streets. about nine oc.ock IN
The evening OF Tuesday. May the -llh.
Both communications severely reflect on
the action of Major Sol Cutlh.As, VINO
was commander of The Blues Battalion
until the TWO companies OF Whlch IL was
composed were mustered into the sel-
vice OF the United States as companies
III and NJ. Fourth Regiment United states
Volunteers from Virginia. MAJOR 1ulch-
ins received the call for volunteers on
April the 2lst and ON the Zd volunteered
with his entire staff and band. company
A volunteered the same day ana company
B two days later The two companies
were mustered in on May -ith, anu inc
reason Major Cutcnins WAS not muster
ed IN was because the TWO compdules
could not be received ass battalion, win
its own officers. AS was the case with tle
regiments. There were only Two Wnlte
State-the Third Battalion. of Ports
mouth, and the Richmond Light Infantry
Blues Battalion. ON the day the Two
companies OF Blues were mustered into
the service of tho United states tnere
was apprehension on the part on mem
beers OF the Association that the blues
Battalion as an organic ton Would Ctase
to exist. Major Cutchins. who had been
i'm the Blues for nearly twenty years,
thought DO would bee advisable TO take
Some action towards organizing Two lem-
porary companies during the absence on
the two that were that DAY mustered llto
tac service of the United states. WIN
this idea in view he requested a CONFER
ence of members of the Association at
the aImOry on the evening OF w, -i.li,
ana submitted the following Whlch was
d. H..H
ITO his Excellency. Hon. j. Hoee Iy-er
Governor of Virginia. ..-..
.slr-The Richmond Lieht Infantry
Blues Association. chartered Dy an .tDt 90
the General Assembly; approNeG mo
airy g. 1871. respectfully represents u..o
Your EXcellency that iu nul-uahe on ti
authority vested iu the ala a--'cltilou ~
its charter. 90 formed tnd equipped q Hl.'iI
tary company known as tne hlcliio'l,n
Iight Infantry Blues. when, ul l'de,'
of its antiquity and uruNDfs, was pti
mitted 90 remain as 400 unattached organic
cation. " ....
"a by the Genera. Assembly. anu apl4 y,f t-
1,, The Governor ON tne 18th day ol fcu-
ruary. 1sg4 the said as ocialoh Wa
authorized 20 form one or more conn Iui's'
and upon the formation OF one OF mo.
companies 10 organic % D4llolion' IA
virtue of authority vested IN me san"
associatiOn bv the amendment 10 us CHAR
ter. another company was formed on lhe
st day of May isA4. ana on tue iD.n on
May tne two companies were gIs'hl1eI
into "a battalion and desi sha,eu as ,.,
Fourth Battalion of Virginia volunteers.
"By General orders No. l0 Adjuianl-
Generals office. April -s. ls9S the Two
conn mics Of the said battalion were as
signed TO the Fourth Regiment or VIZ
"This association IS advised that upon
the mastering into service OF tne Clt',"
states of these two COMPANIES Wy AN-.i,-
mOnd Light Infantry Blues batldH"h M4H
be disbanded. and the commissions OF JUS
Officers thereby revoked; and while the
action of tine companies in EOiuhtt e.iua
for service in support OF The General Low
eminent Us approved ana ap'l. .",u Dt
The association. stiil 81 views WIN .resIe,
The dlsntegraiion OF The battalion i9lH-u
and fostercd by IT, and pc eirh-.tS
quests yOur EXCelloncy to permit d. 20
organize and uniform two new companies
90 be armed ana equipped py ~. 1917
whenever 30 may De convenient. llle aa.u
cOmDqnicq 90 serve until the present coil-
uanies. which are about t0 De mustered
into the service of The United states shJi
be discharged from that service ana re-
organized. at which time inc tMp ,'iti
panies prouorel 90 DIE formed shall be
disbanded or caused tO merge INTO tl'
representatives Of the two ola compt hl -
~ is earnestly hoped chat your hAcel-
lcncy will grant this requl e Nui'n u.
not involve one dollars ouut. 10 '"e
STATE. ana the Only rhN'lA.' ''lt
that borne by the association would pe iAr
arms and equipments. which ere luI-
nished 10 the state by the United states.
"This association has cher he'd the hope
that the services OF the MAJOR coln,ldIi
ing the battalion would DE accepted, ana
that DE would receive such an assignment
as would enable him 90 Doe 3D. me lHlIH,
diate command of the companies Formerly
OF the battalion. ana your EA'il-tli-t
most earnestly and urgently I.lutsteu ~
90 assign him.
II was thought that this paper would
meet with the general approval or r.
two companies. ana the WNQle iDuyi'
grew out o. The Misunderstanding III lnt
purpose in view. Only two OF ne Queer
of the present companies ana nHt -"
OF The men were pres no 1t we conc
ence pom learning what had Trans lftu
the men were dissatisfied. ana before ~.
purport Of tho paper had nceh eHpltlut"
20 Them considerable feeling was mani
Upon learning OF ths dissatisfaction
among the men The PAGER was NOT pIe-
scented TO the Governor and me matter
dropped.
No dlsrespect was intended 70 Major
Cutchins. and he enjoys the Iuiiea, con-
fdence OF both officers and men. Inet
was never a suggestion from any VAei- ~
that he was not ready and anxious 70 ~
with the companies and in every wy
acceptable TO the officers and men, whose
confidence and esteem De enjoys.
Any statement I'm any ncWspaper or
coming from any source. the object OF
effect OF which is 90 C.rate diHeient
impression. is false.
we ro0nesf I'm panors which have pub
iishea different accounts OF the ahair 10
publish this Ia Justice 90 ail parties con-
Ccrned.
CLARENCE WYATT.
Captain Co. IT. ffh Regt, Z. 5. VI
GEORGE p. pEGRhM,
Captain Co VI. ifh Regt., L. 5. W
H. T.. CHEATWOOp.
1st Lieut.. Co IT, 4th Regt.. n. > w.;
WA. LAMB DAUGHERI1, Jk.
LIST Lieut. Co. VI. attn Rcgt., L. 5. v;
w. II. KLEIN. -
81 Lieut.. Co. III. ith Regt., L. ;. W
THOs. A. SpENCER.