420 GEORGE W. CULLUM. 



and History," which was presented in a most attractive form at the 

 time of the Civil War, was eminently useful to the officers of the 

 volunteer army. 



His historical writings embodied the results of original and ex- 

 haustive research in the military history of several campaigns of the 

 Revolution and of the War of 1812. He not only collected all 

 documentary evidence on the subject, but devoted much time to a per- 

 sonal examination of battle fields and sites of ancient defences, and 

 brought the light of his own military study and experience to bear 

 upon the situation. These writings are accordingly of great value to 

 historical and military readers, from the fact that these very fields are 

 more likely than any others to become the theatre of future military 

 operations. 



Of all General Cullum's works, his Biographical Register is the 

 most important. General Wright in his obituary notice says : " This 

 work, which in its third edition is extended to include the class which 

 graduated in 1890, is indeed a fitting monument to his memory. While 

 so universally appreciated by the graduates of the Academy, it may 

 be confidently asserted that no other of their number could be found 

 to undertake so herculeau a labor, which nothing but his will and un- 

 tiring energy, combined with his love for the school to which he owes 

 so much, could have carried to a successful conclusion." Every source 

 of information, official and private, was exhausted to make the work 

 accurate and complete; archives were ransacked, tons of manuscript 

 were examined, letters by thousands were written, and almost count- 

 less interrogatories were put whenever there was a hope of gleaning 

 any information at all reliable. Although General Cullum was an 

 exceedingly frugal man, he not only defrayed the cost of publishing 

 this work from his private funds, but made in his will a bequest of 

 twenty thousand dollars for its continuance. All future American 

 historians will depend upon it for important data. The Military 

 Academy numbers among its graduates many who have been dis- 

 tinguished in all branches of civil life. The number who have made 

 their impress upon the history of the country, and occupied high posi- 

 tions of trust in political life, or become distinguished as civil engineers 

 or scientists, is hardly realized outside of their own circle. Accordingly, 

 in reading the Register in its final form we follow the thread of Ameri- 

 can history throughout the nineteenth century. 



From his economical habits, General Cullum had amassed a large 

 fortune, which was still further increased by his marriage late in life 

 with the widow of General Halleck, granddaughter of General Alex- 



