Biography of Lieutenant Colonel Allen Sherrod Cutts

A veteran of the Mexican War, and slightly older than most of the "boy gunners," Cutts served as a distinguished battalion commander in the Third Corps.

Born on December 4, 1826 in Pulaski County, Cutts was a wealthy planter and slaveholder in Americus, Georgia and served from 1856-1857 as sheriff in Sumter County. A veteran of the Mexican War, he began organizing an artillery battery at the outbreak of the Civil War. He became the captain of the Sumter (Georgia) Flying Artillery Battery and was quickly promoted to major on May 22, 1862.

Cutts was noticed early by Jeb Stuart, who noted his bravery and actions -- loading the guns himself -- at the engagement at Dranesville. Cutts was promoted in the spring and then given command of the "Sumter Artillery Battalion." He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on May 26, 1862 and took command of a Third Corps artillery battalion in June 1863. He served the rest of the War with the Third Corps, often commanding his own and Richardson's battalion. Although referred to in orders of battle as a full colonel, there is no record he was ever officially promoted. Cutts's finest moment in the War was probably the repulse of the Union attack at Petersburg on June 20, 1864.

After the War, Cutts served as a state legislator, a mayor, and as a law officer. Cutts died on March 17, 1896 in Americus, Georgia. He was buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Americus.