Brig. Gen. Lysander Cutler

[jkBluesman]

Brig. Gen. Lysander Cutler (b. 1807, d. 1866). A successful businessman, politician and Indian fighter Cutler proved to be a valuable volunteer officer. Born in Worcester County, Massachusetts, he grew up on his parent's farm in Maine. His education included learning the clothier’s trade, survey and the teaching profession. Serving in the state militia he fought in the wars against the Aroostook of 1838 and 1839. He made a fortune with his woollen mill in the 1840's, but lost it when the mill burned down in 1853. Although he rebuilt it and bought other mills, he was financially ruined by the panic of 1856. Despite his social success as member of the Maine senate and director of a railroad company, he decided during the depression of 1857 to start all over again and moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There he at first worked as claims investigator for a mine company and later entered the grain business. At the beginning of the Civil War, he volunteered his service and was commissioned colonel of the 6th Wisconsin on July 16, 1861. The regiment was part of an all-Western brigade in the East – soon to be known as the "Iron Brigade". Cutler got temporarily in command of the brigade when Rufus King elevated to division command in March 1862. But two months later, Gen. John Gibbon was given the brigade and Cutler was back with his regiment. His first battle was at Brawner Farm on August 28, 1862 just before Second Bull Run. The brigade was attacked by Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's men and defended its line although outnumbered three to one. While the engagement convinced the Union Gen. John Pope to attack Jackson the next day at Manassas (where the Federals would suffer one of their greatest defeats), Cutler was wounded in the fight and had to leave the field. He did not return to service until November, when he became again temporary commander of the "Iron Brigade". However, Solomon Meredith was promoted to brigadier general shortly after and got the brigade. But when he disobeyed orders from his division commander Gen. Abner Doubleday at Fredericksburg in December, Cutler led the men for the rest of the battle. Although a Union defeat, Fredericksburg got Cutler the promotion to brigadier general dating from November 29, 1862. As Meredith was restored to command after the battle, Cutler got the 2nd brigade, 1st division, I corps. He led it at Chancellorsville the next year and at Gettysburg. There on July 1 it suffered high casualties and Cutler had two horses shot under him during the retreat through the town. For the remaining two days of the battle, the brigade was part of the force that successfully defended Cemetery Hill. When the Army of the Potomac was reorganized for the Overland Campaign of 1864, Cutler finally got command of what was left of the "Iron Brigade" plus the New York Sharpshooters and the 7th Indiana. The newly formed brigade was the first in the 4th division of the V corps. Cutler fought with it in the Wilderness in May, in which the division commander Gen. James Wadsworth was killed. Cutler rose to division command on May 6. But his performance dropped: "The old man has not been at any time during this campaign what he was last year", wrote Col. Charles Wainwright by then the corps’ chief of artillery in his diary after the battle of Jericho Mills on May 23, where the attack of Cutler’s division broke fast. But Cutler remained in the field until the battle of Globe Tavern of August 21, in which the Union secured control of the important Weldon Railroad near Petersburg. Cutler was severely wounded. He spent the rest of the war on recruiting business before resigning in June, 1865. His health declined further and he died from a stroke a year later. He was buried in Milwaukee’s Forrest Home Cemetery.

Ldr: 4
Tact: 3
Init: 3
Cmd: 3
Cav: 0

Teaches: Disciplined, Bulldogs

[jkBluesman]

The additional remarks on battles enlarge the bios to over 3500 characters. I will add Brawner Farm to the list.

[Gil R.]

Copied, thanks.