Samuel Kutz, 91st Illinois: Drummer Boy, Cupid

John Hartwell

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Sam Kutz was just 66 years of age when he passed in March, 1913, young for a Civil War veteran. Indeed, he had been only 15 years old when he enlisted as drummer boy in Company D, 91st Illinois Infantry on the day after Christmas, 1863. Born in Reading, Pa., on February 13, 1847, his family had moved to Morris, Illinois before 1855.

At the time of Sam’s enlistment, the 91st was in Texas, and the young drummer joined them there in February 1864. They remained there on frontier duty at Brownsville until July when they went into garrison at Brazos de Santiago. He drummed Co. D into ranks on September 11th, when they had a stiff fight with the rebels near Baghdad (it was said at the time a squadron of French troops forded the Rio Grande to help the rebels).

The 91st moved to New Orleans at the end of December, 1864, remaining there until embarking for the Mobile Expedition in March. Sam Kutz saw action during the 14-day siege of Spanish Fort and at Fort Blakely (both surrendered on April 9, 1865), and a few days later in a skirmish at Whistler, Ala. They remained in occupation at Mobile through July. At that time, Sam, as a late recruit, was transferred to Co. K, 28th Illinois, and was finally mustered out March 1, 1866.

Sam Kutz returned to Morris, Ill. after the war, but didn’t remain long. By 1874, we find him working as a carpenter in Los Angeles, Ca. He had married and started a family, and in 1876, he was appointed “Overseer of City Prisoners,” by the L.A. City Council. For more than 30 years thereafter, he would serve the city and county as a public servant. For 9 years he was clerk of the Juvenile Court (“he performed his work superbly and took the deepest interest in the welfare of children brought into court.”) And over 20 years as assistant County Clerk. (“Kutz had charge of the marriage license bureau, and was known by the popular sobriquet of ‘Cupid’.” L.A. Times, 8 April 1913) He was kept busy in the Marriage bureau, and there are literally hundreds of news stories, usually short and humorous, about "Cupid Kutz.:

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[L.A. Herald, Sept. 3, 1899]
An active member and officer of Frank Bartlett Post, No. 6, G. A. R., and (drummer to the end) "Sammy" Kutz marched with the Veteran Fife & Drum Corps every Memorial Day and other patriotic holidays.

Samuel Kutz passed away peacefully at his Los Angeles home on March 7, 1913. His brief obituary is headed: “Cupid Sleeps.”



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