ID
0
II
Biographical Wet
GEN. WILLIAM 0, B
Thelemorratie Candidate for Vi
BY.FILANCIS P ULM
Is memoirs of i !dividuals of d
usual to look bask to their ancest
ing is universal ishich prompts us
thing of even anordinary acquain
interest is fult. , ,,r, It will indulge, t
a natural and proper curiosity to
subject of this notice by a short
family whose striking traits sury
remarkably. ..) •
General Butler's grandfather, Thomas But
ler, was born Oh April. 1720, in Kilkenny,
Ireland. He niarried there in 1742. Three
of his five sons Who attained manhood, Richard,
William, and thorhas, were born abroad.—
Pereival;the father of General Wit
ler, and Edward, the youngest a
in Pennsylvania. It is remarkalh
men, and all their immediate mal
with a single e*ception, were ei
military service rd this country.
The eldest, Richard, was lieu enant colonel
of Morgan's celebrated rifle reg went, and to
him it owed mach of the high haraeter that
gave it.a fame of its own, apart om the other
corps of the Retolution. The co 1, disciplined
valor which gave steady anti de dly direction
to the rifles of ;his regiment, was derived prin
eipally from that officer, who devo ed himself to
the drill of his then. He was pr meted to thei
full command or a regiment so etime during;
the war, and In that capacit commanded!:
Wayne's left in q the attack oh S ony Point.— I
About the year; 1790, he was ap ointed major
general. On the 4th of Nove ber, 1791, he
was killed il General St. Clair's loodly battle
with the India 4. his combat With the Indi
ans, after he was shot, gave . such a peculiar
fate, that a rep esentation of
i •
interest to his;
himself and the group surroun ing him, wasl
exhibited throughout the Union i
_Notices of this acomplisheci soldic
in Marshall's I.4ife of Washingto
all, 420. Inl General St. Cl
the American Museum, vol. ai.
Peadie. ,
William Butler, the second so
cer, throughon(the revolutionar
the rank of colonel, and was in 4 :
serest battles. Ile was the faro i
ily, and was bqasted by this , 4
the coolest and, boldest man in b
ever known. When the army
duced in rank and file, and Alt
superfluous officers , they organi
into a separat4 corps,-and elec
command. General Washin _
ceiling this ndyel, corps of go
diers: hut in it' proud testimoni
gi l
their devoted
.patriotism.
Of Thomas 43utler, the thi
the following Facts from the
grapical DictiotAry. 'ln the ye
he was a student of law in the o
Meet Judge Wilson of Philadelp
pursuit and joined the army as
lie soon obtained the command
in which he co4tinued to the el
lie was in alaost every action
middle States during the war.
of Brandywine he received the On
ington on the
_field of battle, thi
de-camp, General Hamilton, ft
couduct in rallying a detachmen
troops, and giving the enemy a se
the bat tie of Monmouth he , receii
of General Wanye for defending .
face of a severe, fire from the mom
Richard Butler'a regiment mac
treat. I
.
At the eloseof the war he re
rate life, as a farmer, and cuntin
joyment of rural and domestic h
the year 1791,i - when he again t
meet the savage foe that tuertae
frontier. Ile tcommanded a b
disastrous battle of November 4,
his brother fell: Orders were gi
iii, St. flair to 'it harge with t
Major Butler, though his leg b
by a bill yet,ron horseback,' I
to the charge. ' , lt was with diffic
er, Captain EdWard Butler, rem
the field. In 1792 he was co
establishment as major; and •
promoted to the rank of lieu
mandent of.the4th sub-legion.
ed in this yeariFort Fayette, at
prevented the deluded insurgen
it, more by hit:name than by h'
bad but few troops. The close
imbittered with trouble. Im 18
restedby the 4om m andin g gene
st Fort - Adam4 on the Mississip
Maryland, wheke he „sras tried b
tial, and acquitted of all char: •
wearing his Fair. He was 4
New Orleans,where' he arrived,
mand of the tioops, October
again arrested 3next month ; bu
not sit until 4tily bf the nest
decision is no q known. ' Colo -
September 7,1805. Out of t
gem of this sturdy we
ffir e'
hiring I (Kniekkbocker) , bas w ,
piece of burlesque, in which ' G
sca i s ettallicte is inimitably de
of the vain and pompous Gen
burg.
Percival Stier, the fourth
General With" n 0. Butler, w
lise, Pennsyllsais„ in 176 Q.
army as a lieetenant at the •
was with Watingtorr at Valle
the - battle of onmoutb,- and a
Yorktoini--bding: &TOMO the
druales in thh . middle &atm,
under the .coMmander-in-eltief
short period Alen be was :
eerps;vommanded ‘ by Lafij
* a sword. 111Tear , --theedese--
went to the Snhth viol ow Pen
Pk, ilia* ries found-him. Ili
Kentucky le oat se m l is
- phi stock left Wtien the warof 18
He was .adjutant geuer4 -when Kentucky be
came a State; and in that capacity joined one
of the armies sent out by Kentucky during the
war.
LER,
e President.
.'Edward' Butler, the youngest of the five
brothers,was too young tti enter the army in the
fiat stages of the Bev lotion, but joined it
near the close, and ha risen to a captaincy
when General St. Clair took the command, and
led it to that disastrous Quit in which 'so many.
of the 'best soldiers of thh country perished.—
* therci evinced the 'highest courage and
strongest fraternal affeetion,, in carrying his
wounded brother out of the massacre, which
was continued for miles along the route of the
retreating army, and fro* which so few escap
ed, even of those who lied unencumbered. He
subsequently became adjutant general in
Wayne's army.
Of these five broOera, four had sons all of
whom, with , one exceptioe, were engaged in the
military or' naval service' of the country during
the last war.
tidetion it is
I t .. The feel
o learn some
- nee in whom
, erefore., only
ntrodueo the
accoubt of a
ye in him so
,liain 0. nut
ria were hoorn
I that all these
deeendants,
I I gaged in the
Ist. General Richard IButlees son, William,
lied a lieutenant in the navy, early in the last
• ar. His son, Captain James Butler, was at
the bead of the Pittsburg Blues, which compa
ny he commanded in the campaigns of the
northwest, and Was particularly distinguished
in the battle of Massissinnawa.
2d. Colonel William Bleier, also of the rev
olutionary army, had two sons : one died in
the navy, the other a subaltern in Wayne's ar
my He was in the battle with the Indians in
1794.
3d. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Butler, of
the old stock, had three sons, the eldest a judge.;
The second, Colonel Robert Butler, was at the'
head of General Jackson's steffthroughout the,
last war. The third, William E. Butler, also'
served in the wimp of General Jackson.
Percival Butler, captain in the revolutione-
Ty war, and adjutant general of Kentucky du
ring the last war, had.four sons: first, Thomas,
Who was a captain, and aid to General Jackson I
at New 'Orleans ; next General William 0. ;
Butler, the subject of this notice; third Rich
ard, who was assistant adjutant general in the!
cainpaig,ns of the war of 1812 ; Percival But
ler, the youngest son, now a:distinguished law-
Yer, was not of an age to bear arms in the last
war. Of the second generation of the Butlers.,
I there are nine certainly, and probably more,'
engaged in the present war. •
This glance at the family shows the charac
ter of the race. An anecdote, derived from a
letter from an old Pennsylvania friend of the'
parents, who transplanted it from Ireland,
,shows that this military instinct was an inher-
Inenee. ",While the five sons" says the letter, l
1 " were absent from home in the service of the,
country, the old father took in his head to
go also. The neighbors collected to remon
strate against it ; but J;lis' wife said; ' let him I,
go ! I can get along Without him, and raise I
something to feed the army in the bargain ;
I and the country wants every man who can I
shoulder a musket.'" It was doubtless tbisj
extraordinary zeal of the Butler family which'
. I induced Gen. Washington to give the toast—
f'l The Butlers and their five sons," at his own
table, whilst surrounded by a large party of of
lficers. This anecdote rests, on the authority
of the late Gen. Findlay, of Cincinnati. A sim
ilar tribute of respect was paid to this devoted
house of soldiers by Gen. Lafayette, in a letter;
now extant, and iu the possession of a lady
1 connected with it by marriage. Lafayette
says, " When I ranted a thing well done, I
ordered a Butler to do it."
From this retrospect, it will be, seen that in
'Oll the wars of the country-in the revolution
ary
war, in the „Indian war, and the present
Mexican war—the blood of almost every But
ler able to bear arms has been fYecly shed in the
pnblic cause.
Major General William 0. Butler is now a
mong the highest in the military service of his
eonetry ; and he has attained this,grade from
tbe ranks—the position of the private being
tbe only one he ever sought. At the opening
Of the war of 1812. be bad just graduated in
the Transylvania University and was looking
to the law as a profession. The surrender of
Detroit, and of the army, by Hull, aroused the
patriotism and the valor of Kentucky ; and
young Butler, yet in his minority, was among
the first to volunteer. He gave up his books,
And the enjoyments of the gay apd polished so
ciety.of Lexington, where be lived among a
circle of fond and partial relations—the hope
to gratify their ambition in shining at the bar,
of m the political forum of the State—to join
Capt.. Hart's company of infantry as a private
soldier.
wax figures.
will be found
, pages 290,
ir's report, iu
Ipage 44, Ap-
I t W 39 an offi
war; rose to
any of the se
iteof the fam
,e of h%-oes as
ttle they had
as greatly re
!re were many
ed themselves
d to the
declined re
,issioned RA
: did honor to
son, we glean
.
merman Bio
r 1776, whilst
ce of the em
ia, he left his
subaltern.—
•f.a company,
se of the war.
foueht in the
At the battle
nks,of Wash
ough his aid
r his intrepid
of retreating
•ere fire. At
ed the thanks
defile, in the
..y, while Col.
good its re-
!tired into pri
!,ed in the en
ppiness until j
k the field tol
Id our western;
ttalion in the I
1791, in which
en by Gener-,
bayonet, and
;
been broken
1 1; his battalion
ty his broth- l
red him frcim!
, tinned in the
1794 he was
t colonel com-
He command-
I' ittsburg, and
1 s from takin l '
forces, for be!
lof his life wail
13 he was sr- .
al, Wilkinson,
and sent to
• &court-mar
-1!: save that of
en ordered to .
Ito take coin
lth. He was'
Ithe court did
vear, and their
Butler died
o arrest and.
Waihingion
ked op a fine
anal ;Wilkin-'
rneated in that
I „ I Von Poffen-
Before the march to join , the northwestern
army, he was elected aco oral In this grade
be marched to the relief of Fort Wayne, which
Wm:invested by hostile Indians. These were
firivet before the Kentucky volunteers to their
lowan :en the Wabash, which, were destroyed,
and th e:troops then, returned to the Miami of
the lakes. where they made a winter encamp.
went. Here an ensign's commission in the 2cl
regiment - of United States infantry was tender.
ed to this volunteer corporal;: which he declined,
unless permitted to remain with the northwest
ern, army, which be hadontered to share in the
effort of the Kenticky militia to wipe out the
disgrace of Hull's surrender by the recapture
Of Detroit. His proposition was, assented to,
end be received an ensagn'e appointment in the
17tti , infantry, then a part of the northwestern
army, under the comniad of Gen. Winchester.
After enduring emy privation in a winter en
campment, in the viadeniesi and'frozen marsh
es of lake countiy,4l7,4,A7g iayam the ex
pected support of additional forces, the Ken
tucky volunteers, led by. Lewis, Allen and
Madison, with Well's regiment, (17th U. 8.,)
advanced to encounter the force of British. and
Indians which defended Detroit. On. leaving
•lentneky.:olo , valauteers had pledged them
selves to Ore a#1.1)1'414 invader, from our
, s ot: The4piti And their leaders iVero held
tp sti3Oli-est4ition at borne, that the expects:
Zion famed ter thew ekeeeied their , promises;
and tbeseleillimtaink :tkoegli disappointed ie
!lot, secion- !tali tivimialeason to.sutioi.
JD . ?Iwamoto& olotbes,
,ossmoo,
esesoluns--resolved, ra th ez Gait lose rape-
an% father til
born at Car- 1
• enttirefl thel
e of eighteen;
Forge,;, Was in
the taking Of
hole series 00 . ,
ith the: : troops
except tor e:
hed to a light'
who presented'
-9/e war, het
'prat& brig',-
tnnignitei 401
. A /Ist of the
2 conmenea
=I
tatOn, to press on to the enterprise, and en
delOor to draw on after them, by entering into
act bn, the troops behind. It is not proper
bet o
to enter into explanations of the causes of
the isaster at the river Raisin, the cense.
queime of this movement, nor to give the pa:-
Limiters of the battle. The incidents which
sigiiitlized the character of the subject, of this I
me - oir alone are proper here.
. ere were two battles at the river Raisin—
on'f,,, n the 18th, the other on the 22d ofJanti
ar i . In the first, the whole body of Indian
waiti
ors, - drawn together from all the lake
trilits,, for the defence of Upper Canada against
theiapproaching Kentuckians, were encounter- 1
ed.'s' In-moving to the attack of this formida
ble °roe of fiercest, and bravest, and most ex-
per warriors on the - continent, a strong party!
of
. em were described from the line with
whiith Ensign Butler advanced, runningforward
toach a fence, as a cover from which to ply
their rifles. Butler instantly proposed, and
wasipermitted, to anticipate them. Calling up-
on tiome of the most alert and active men of the
co any, ho ran directly to meet the Indians
at, the fence. He and his comrades outstripped
Oil enemy ; and, getting possession of the
fenite, kept the advantage of the position for
th 4 advancing friends. This incident of how
ever little importance as to results, is worth
,•.,
remembrance in giving the traits of a young;
sol:dicr's character. It is said that the hardi-1
ests•eteran, at the opening of the fire, in bat- I
tleigfeels, for the moment, somewhat appalled ;
anf Gen. Wolfe, ono of the bravest of men, de
claind that the " horrid yell of the Indian
sties the boldest heart with affright." The
Ail
I I
ling student, who, for the first time, be
he ' a field of battle on the snows of the river
Raisin, presenting in bold relief long files of
th4se terrible enemies, whose massacres had
Fill P his native State with tales of horror,
1
mit have felt some stirring-sensations. But ;
the]crack of the Indian rifle, and his savage
yet awoke in him the chivalric instincts of his
n a
t,
; i
ms re
na
h;r
around,
c a ua n nt d de
, I
a h hn e i promptitudee
rushingenthusiasmforw with at rod
tao
inf
e which ewe t canorn h u he
d
On its most appalling form, risking himself
are others, and to secure a triumph which;
ould scarcely hope to share, gave earnest;
he military talent, the self-sacrificin tour
and the spldicrly sympathies whic hhave
•n to him the nation's esteem. The close I
`he battle of the 18th gave another instance
' • hich these latter traits of Gen. Butler's
'meter were still more strikingly illustrated.
Indians, driven from the defences around
i town on the river Raisin, retired fighting
the thick woods beyond it. The contest
harp-shooting from tree to tree was bete
'tinned—the Kentuckians pressing, forwara,
the Indians retreating—until night closed
when the,Kentuckians were recallcd'to the
' ampment in the village. The Indians ad
; eed as their opposers_ withdrew, and kept
he'fire until the Kentue;cians emergectfrom
theiwoods into the open ground.' Just as the
1 mn to which Ensign Butler belonged reach
l veige of the dark forest, the voice of a
finded man, who had been left some distance
find, was beard calling out most piteously
help. Butler induced three of his company
o back in the woods 'with him, to bring him
He was found, and they fought their way
qk—one of the men, Jeremiah Walker, re
x-ing a shot, of which he subsequently died.
n.the second sanguinary battle of the river
isin, on the 22d of January, with the British
Indians, another act of self-devotion was
'formed by Butler. After the rout and
sacre of the right wing, belonging to Well'sl
mand, the whole force of the British and i
ians was concentrated against the small
yof troops under Major Madison, that
ntained their - ground within the picketed
dens. A double barn, commanding the
t of ground on which the Kentuckians stood,
approached on one side by the Indians,
.er the cover of an orchard and fence; the
tish op the other side, being so posted as to
inland the space between it and the pickets.
,arty in the rear of the barn Was discovered
Zincing to take possession of it. All saw
fatal consequences of the secure lodgement
he enemy at a place which would present ev
man within the pickettiat close rifle shot
, he aim of their marksmen., Major Madi- _
inquired if there was no one whn would
steer to run the gauntlet' of
_the fire of
' British and Indian lines, and put
_a torch
he combustibles within the barn,- to -save
remnant of the little army from sacrifice.
tler, without a moment's delay, took some
.
ng sticks'from a fire at hand, leaped the
ts, and running at his utmost speed, thrust
fire into the straw within the bard. Ole
was an anxious spectator of the event we
te,•says, " that although volley upon vol
was fired at him, Butler, after making some
a on his way back, turned to see if the fire_
taken, and; not being satisfied, returned to
barn, and set it in a blaze, As the con
tion grew, the enemy was seen retreating
the rear of the building, which they had
red at one end as the flame was ascepding
he other. Boon after reaching the pickets
fety, amid the shouts of his friends, be was
lick by a balkin his breast. Believing from
pain he felt, that it had penetrated his chest,
mg to Adjutant (now General) M'Oilla, 1
of-his Lexington comrades, and pressing his
1 dto the spot, he said, " I fear this shot is
al; but while I am able to move, I will do
duty." To the- anxious inquiries of his
[,
rid, who met him soon afterward again, be
ned his .yest p with a smile, and showed him
the ball !punt itself on the thick wadding
is coat'ana on his breastbone. He suffer
however, for many weeks.
be little hand within the pickets, which
Incheater bad surrendered,after being carried
self a prisoner into Proctor's camp, denied
poweril They continued to bold the enemy
ay until they were enabled to capitulate on
()Table terms ;which, nevertheless, Proctor
fully violated, by leaving the sick' and
04e&who were unable to milt to the tont,- ,
*of hia . a4bes. Butler, who was amOrif
few of the wounded who, escsOd the was
e; was Mitrehed through Ca*di to Fort
d , .
b v i l
fo
.1
at I
ER I
Niagara—suffering under his wound, a d every
privation--Oppressed with grief, htinge fatigue
and the inclement cold oft hat .deaola region.
Even here be forgot himself; and his M nd wan
dered back to the last night scene , bleb he
surveyed on the shores of the river -Raisin.
He gave up the heroic- part, and betiame the
school boy again, and commemoratedibis sor
rowator his lost friends, in verse, like Rime pas
sionate, heart broken lover. These; elegiac
strains were. never intended for any but the eye
of mutual fiends, whose sympathies,j like his'
own, poured out tears with their plaints over
the dead. We give:mam of those lil t s of his
boyhood,' to show that the heroic gou t had a
bosom not less kind and brave. 1
• , .
THE FIELD OF RAISIN.I
The battle's o'er ! the din is past,
Night's mantle on the field is - testi;
The Indian yell is heard no more,
And silence brO,oclsjo'er Erie's sh(ire.
At tbis lone horir II go,to tread
The field wherer vainly bled= —
To raise the wa ded warrior's crest,
Or warm with tears his icy breast ;
To treasure up, his last connnandl,
And bear it to his native lank
It may one,pulse of joy itursitz, I
To a fond mother's bleeding heali ;
Or for a moment it may dryi ,
The tear-drop in the widow's eye,.
Vain hope, away! , Tlie widow ne'er
He warrior's dying wish shall hear.
The passing zephyr hears no sigh,
No wounded warrior meets the er— •
Death is his sleep by Erie's wavel,
Of Raisin's snow we heap his grave !
How many hOpes lie murdered here—
The mother a joy, the father's :dide,
The country's boast, the foeman'S fear,
In wilder'd havoc, side by side.i
Lend me, thou silent queen of n'ht,
Lend me awhile thy warning li gb ,
That I may see each well loved orm,
That sunk beneath the morning Storm.
These lines are introdudtory to what may
be considered a succession, of epitaphs on the
personal friends whose bodies he found upon
the field. It would extend the extract too
fauto insert them. We can only add he close
of the poem, where he takes leave of a group'
of his young comrades, in Hart's Company,
who had fallen together: 1
And here I see that youthful band I
That loved to move at ?art's comand ;
I saw them for the battle dressed, I
And still where danger thickest pressed,
I marked their crimson plumage wSve,
-How many fill-this bloody gravel
The plllow and their windingshee I
The virgin snow—s Amami mist-us:eel
But wherefore do I linger here?l
Why drop this unavailing tear ? I
Where'er I turn, some youthful foem,
Like flowret broken by the storm, I
Appeals to me in sad array,
' And bid me yet a moment stay,
Till I could fondly lay me down,
And sleep with him on the cold grPund,
For thee, thou dread and solemn' plain,
I ne'er shall look on thee again ; . 1
And Spring, with, her effacing shoal
Shall come, and summer's mantlinh,
And each succeeding winter throw I
° On thy red breast new robes of snow;
Yet I will wear thee in my heart, 1
All dark and gory alf thou art.
Shortly after his return from Can da, En-
I sign BUTLER was promoted to a eaptaincy in
the regiment to which he' heionged. But as
this promotion was irregular, being made over
the heads of senior officers in that regiment, a.
captaincy was 'given him in the 44th, a new
raised regiment. When free from parole, by
exchange, in 1814, he instantly entered on ac
tive duty, with &company which he had recruit-
ell at Nashville; f Terineasee. His regiment'
was ordered to join Genera Jacks n in the
South; but Captain llitortza, ding its
movements too tardy, pushed on, an effected
that junction-with his company alone Gener
al Call, at that time an, o ffi cer in Cap ain But
ler's company, (since governor of Florida,) in
a letter addressed to-Mr. Tanner, ofeatueky
presents, as an eye witness, so graph tally the
share which Captain Butler hid in the cam
paign which followed, that it may well super
sede any narrative at second hand : 1
.. "Tsia,iiessais, April :a 1844.
" Sin : I avail myself of the earlie t leisure
I have had since the receipt of yo letter of
the 18th of February, to give you a ply.
" A difference of political sentients will
not induce me to withhold, the b. aye you
have requested 9f the military servi of Wil
liam 0. Butler, during the late war ith Great
Britain, while attached to the a y of the
South. My intimate associations wi h him, iu
camp, on the march, and in the field, has per
haps made me as-well acquainted wit his mer- ,
its, as a gentleman and a soldier, as ay other
man living. And although we are n w stand
login opposite ranks, I cannot forgethe days
and eights we have stood side by et e, facing
4 1,
the commonenemy of our country, s **ring the
same fatigues, dangers andpriv- ' god
ticipating in the same pier
meats. The feelings and
ing from such- associations .
youth can never be removed
difference of opinion with rev
sures, when, each may well -•
qually sincere as himself,-
ardent desire,of both is to
the happiness and prosperil
",Soon after isy appoint
the United Spates, as alio
1814, I was ,ordered to j 4
Captain Butler; of the 44t1
ry,, then at. Naehville, Tem,
and reported. myself,. I foum
der orders. 40 join ourrqiMl
The maxoh, mOstly tbrourP
,
&moss, was eosdueted 1... y, I
his uOusl prociePtitude and
cad and rapid movenleati4i
liontgemery, tkia head.qui,
son. a bo rt diafancgi 111 1 1 3 7 1
just in p 1& to 404a. 11 o ur
drive
i
his bol . entiirpt4
0 to'
strong position.* a . antral territory ; iTliii.vati
guard of the army d ' 'ned for the trivasion of
Louisiana, bad made P , ascola its hiadt-quar
t\t,
ters, and the British na : • "ti the ;Gulf oiMet
ico had rendezvoused in tha ' beantifid bay.
" The penetrating sagacity Gei4 Jackson
discovered the advantage of the osition assum
ed by the British forces, and with a decision
and energy which never faltertfitfe*ii ved tor`
land his enemy, evel under 'the flag of it neti
txal Power. This was done by a pfempt and
rapid march, surprising and cutting Off ill the
advanced pickets, until we arrived with* gun
shot of the fort at Pensacola. Thii army . of
Gen. Jackson was then so inconsideridde as to ,
render a reinforcement of a single ;company,
commanded by such a man as Captaib Butler,
an important acquisition. And althciugh there
Were several 'companies of the segnlar troops
ordered to march from Tennessee al the same
time, Captain' Butlei's, by his extOtordinary
energy and promptitude, was the lonl . f one that
arrived in time to join this expedition. Elia
company formed a part of the centrelcolumn of
attack at Pensacola.. The street wb entered
ii
was defended by a battery in fro t, which fired
l on us incessantly ; while several trofig block-.
houses on our , flanks discharged po4 na small
arms and artillery. But a gallant and rapid
charge soon carried the guns in front, and the
town immediately surrendered.. 1 1
....
I rln this fight - Capt. Butler led oni his com
pany with his usual intrepidity. Ue had one
officer, lieutenant Flourney, severely4wounded,
and several non-commissioned office and pri
vates killed and-wounded.
" From Pensacola, after the obj4ct of the
expedition was completed, by anothir prompt
and rapid movement; we arrived ati New Or
leans a few weeks before the ap, • arnnce of the
enemy.
" On the 23d -of December t
announced the approach of the
previous night they had surpriie
one of our pickets;-had ascende
embarked, and bad taken posses
bank of the Mississippi, within s'
Orleans. The energy of every
in requisition to concentrate our
to meet the enemy. Captain B
of the first to arrive ot.the Gene
and ask instructions. They we
promptly executed. ' Our regim
on the opposite side, was- trans
the river. All the available for
I not much exceeding fifteen hund
concentrated in the city; and
went.down the lino of battle wa armed, and
every o ffi cer took the station sidned him in
i t
the fight. The infanfry Jenne o d the open
square; • in front of the Oath nill waiting in.
finxiiiitunikpeetiatott - for - thec ci et: th move.
During this momentary pause, w He the enemy
was expected to/enter the city, seine of deep
and thrilling , interest Was presennid. - Every i
gallery, porch; and window around Ithe square
were filled with the fair forms oflicarity, in si
lent anxiety and alarm, waving their handker-'
chiefs to the gallant and devoted band which
stood before them, prepared to }lief or defend
them from the rude intrusion of i a Foreign sol
diery. It was silicone calculated t.,0 awaken'
emotions never to be forgotten! it appealed
to the chivalry and patriotism ot every officer
and soldier—rit inspired every heart, and nerv
ed every arm for battle. ' From 414 impressive
scene the army marched - to meet, - ihe enemy,
and about eight o'clock at nikliti they were
surprised in their encampment, immediately on
the banks of the Mississippi. rfhiliscovered,
our line was formed in silence within a short
distadce of the enemy. A rapid charge was
made into their camp, ando ilesperpte conflict
, ensued. A ft er a determined resistance the
enemy gave way, but &minting every itch of
ground we gained. In adiancing Over ditches
and fences in the night, .rendered, still more
dark by the smoke of theliattld, Oucili confu
sion necessarily ensued, and many loffieers be
came separated from their commXnd4k It more
than once occurred daring, the fih that some
of our O ffi cers, through mistake tntered the
:
enemy's lines, and the British o fficers in like
manner entered ours.!- The meritooons officer
in command of our regiment at tiliegeommence,
ment of the battle lost his positin in the dark
ness and confusion, and was n able to regain
it until the action was over. 1 this manner,
for a short time, the regiment ae without a
commander, and its movements eie regulated
by the platoon officera, which inc caiied the con
fusion and irregularity of the a WOW°.
I
In this ended situation, and in < the heat of
the battle, Captain Butler, as th i spnior officer
present, assumed command of the regiment.
and led it on most gallantly toj rOpeated and
successful charges„ until the fight 'nded in the
1
complete rout - of the enemy. W were still
pressing on their .rear, trim, ani• eer of the i
general's staff Lode up . and order d Ithe pursuit
discontinued. ' Captain Butler ried its con
tinuance,- and eipreseed the codOit belief of
his ability td take many prisone s t
f permitted
r
to advance.- But the order was omptly re
peated, under the well-founded a: prehension
that our troops might. come - inoption with
etch other, an event which had nhappily• cc
, ctured 'at a previous hour of the gilt .; No corps
1,,
on that field was more bravely lild 'to battle
than the regiment commanded b Craptain,But
ler, and no officer of anzianki aa4e the Com
mander-in-thief, was entitledle b)gher credit
for the achieveMent of tliat-gloril night.
," A short time before the battle f the Bth
of January, Captain BunEa was t detailed to
command the, guard in front of 11)iencame
mato. A limas standing near h : bridge, in
advance of his positton,-Ilkii been In passes-
'ion of by the light troops of th . , emy, froay
*bowie . they annoyed our gu . Captairi
Butler determined toidislodgf t e ,and 'burn
the house. 14 seeeidiegY m. b !to the *C...
tack at the head,of his nommen 1:14 the ene
my retired befog hitii. geeing t ' retreat,
I l ie hilt e d his guard, irnd iSdian , . itesitlf,, ac
, cempsthied by- re or tOrge,ineti O y, . for, the
Wren of irkriiniibesbOtme! .it au , old
(mine building IY!eitthiiirainirdo.t W:tit erli
ing or plaster **lin, . with i
4E. lolig
opening to tie') :Wail Stipp. 04 flitfeript the
heueei be fegnil S*liiiirse 4 the Min? o*tet -;
.0
iers,
flowers
ed is one'. 9 011 18; who" he 43 441114- end, sinS
t o the rear with his men, - rinuainfet alei*Lip
the, bons* While he was in the acCtiirliinir
• _
ling.s, fire, a detachment of theietuni, , apPerr
ceived, occupied the only door: O tt
pulse to force,iwith his single ern; a:, put .
aage through themi babe mu instanily
in a violent manner byf4vo..nr„th*Otooklati, , ,
lotirOiliii - inshcd hi*hie, 14441
with sucli a force.is bunt,oft the*s4iii;%'
boarding frOm the Well,,a4ho felltirsill tl
opening ;thus made. pit in instant
ed himself, and-undiir i hoisyy_irefrcia the en.
emy, he 'retreated until C o t o rtesi liylbegent*
which hi immediately, on:to. the aidncl4,
drove the British light.tavopefrosithoirlymit
'position, and burnt the hoesijut4i!!"*OF
the two armies:'
" 1 witnessed on, that field mut a l i ri of
daring enursge, but none. of
ted my admiration than; this. ,
" Captain Butler was, soon 'nark its-bath
of the Bth of January; wlere hesaatiaget
previouSly high and well-eorned.ripsfatini4
bravery, and usefulnesi. But dot
im =
which, from' its important results, hag
those which preceded it, waklint
the enebsy, with trivial , loss on our pFt, an
presenting few instances of individusl fdistiair
tion.
"Captain Butler received the larevistrank of
major for his gallant services during that irons.
ful campaign, and the reward' of.merit was
never more worthily bestowed. Sootiefter the
close of the war he was appointed/sit/4..4=p
to Geneiel Jackson, in which station be re
mained Until ha retired froil the szmy Since
that period I have seldom had-4e pismire of
meeting with my valued friend and epinpamon
in arms; and I knoW bat little.of his career. in
civil lira. But in camp,
ples, hie intelligence, and generous!
won forilim the respect ant: Conlitlince . iftdl
who knew him; and where - he is tiestlnowi4
venture to say, he is Still most highly ip.:
preciated for every attribute which citmititiiteS
1 the gentleman and the soldier.
"I am, sir, very respectfully,
• ult. K. CALL.
" Mr. WlLLiax TAIINZIL"
e signal-gun
lene!imy. The
iand captured
a fi ayou, dia.
loft of the left
inVes of New
ffiepr was put
caries,. in time
;Lithir was one
al'h quarter's
rUeeived and
; nt,i stationed
oiled; across
s of our army,
Ired men, were
'vhgc the sun
ePi
,
General Jackson's sense of the , usrviees of
Butler,.. in this memorable eanspaign, was
strongly expressed in the following letter to a
member of the Kentucky Legislatnre : ._
" HatairrA.Ox, February 20,.1844.
" Mir DEAR SIR il You ask me to'.-giro y on
my opinion of the military' services of the then
CaptaM, now Colonel, , WILL,Lut b. Bustin,
of Kentucky, during the investment of New .
Orleani by the British'forces in 1614 andlB26.
I wish; -bad -sufficient strength' to Speak fully
of Merit and the services of Colonel Diger
on that ;Occasion ; this strength I 'have not.
Suffictkit to say, that bn all occasions he die--
played`that heroic 'chivalry and calmness of
Judgmiint - in the midst of dingex t wiali, dis- -
tinguish. the valuable Officer in tieheur a bat
tle. In a conspicuous manner **these no
ble qualities displayed by bim : on the night of
the 23d December, 'lBl4, and on the Bth of
Janinty, ) lBl6, as well as at all ' tiniei'during
the presence of the 'Wash army, at Yew .Or
leans. i, In short, he was to be foiled at at
points Where duty called. flaxen! plating in
sayinethat should onr country win 'be en
gaged in war during the active age of Colima: .
, Butler; he would be one of the 'very best se--
Ilectioni that could be made to . tiotateamiour
army, and lead the Eagles of our mantel on to,
victory; and renown, ,He has sufficient energy
to nun& all responsibility necessary to suc
cess, and for his'couitry's good:
" ANDREW JACKSON."
General Jackson gave earlier proof of the- •
high estimation in wiiich he- held the young
soldier,who bad ideritciedlitoselfwith Ins-pwn•
glory it New Orleans He-made him hie-aid
de-cainp in 1816 ; which station hi retained:
on the, peace establishment, with the rank of
colonel. But, like his illustrious Eutrok be ,
I soon felt that militaryi station-and distinction,
had no charms for hits , when unattended . with
the dangers, duties, c u d patriotie achievements
wart Ile ruigued therefere; : even:the as
sociation with: his Ivateran chief, of ' which be
wait stirouti, and ; retina in 18 4 to; n"
life. H e resumed hit stunt or 00 . -Tirtaiimo
that was interrupted y the war. iiiiirritaand! •
I settled doiin on his patrimonial , lioliessioa sti
the confluence of the Kentuckyand,: Ohineir
eis, in the noiselem but arduous vocations of
civil life. 'The abode which be had anemia
made it peculiarly . 4, 11& with bite. .. The . region:
around him was w i ld, and romantic's,' _ 'spars ely
settled, and by pastoral people. There liana.
populous towns. The high, rolling: and tsti . .
rich hinds—the precipitous clifft. of - ail les"
tueltyl: the Nagle, Powell, and' othar iiiilit*
' ries which pour into it near the iiiiiiiiinde,
'this section of the Ste still, . some ftt l ark
wilderness of thiekets—of the' wood R*:
vine, ;the gicpc-4 ri*
a, and beantig 'ties*
whichrendered all KintuckY;tintW the
shin of the whites, one gr . cat Indian ' - iiari6=
The 'Whole luxuriant denim i4:relierred: 'bY
the. Indians'
,as a pistil" for buff4N7.,...4ittt elk.
and other animals= their
,enjo,*4. - 11314,0 tiS !I
chase " and 'a subeisience—bT : "" :. every
tribe lioin fixing a habitatiniiiiiti' ' i#le
riebul ad
.conselriteil it as darkinaldoildi' '.;
acid rrarliursied every ' foot ` it"..',``,'#.
.ttliAtdst of this regibii, ii•Aprit 1791. ~
44* 0. B %.i.0.0 waif I!oric !facials' Dino , motif
w oiv'tio Itentunki!,liver. His father 'iia
mixiiid in Lexington,' Kiwi: after' his - tOff.kOlt
Kentucky, 1782, Mils Ila*lti* t - sistorllY.,
law of colonell'odd,Who snail* ` 'ltliar ,
4
isbudliliAti battle 4: tliS 'BM!'
lowing, instnicti of bialfaMil',' ~ _
4
ed, - isr. _ to court danger, : . -?
0.. uelibiiiitioad a ' 'tibiuiti"'W '
Ther;s ts
iiiiiviktoflong a ft er; 1,1 0 11 1f1 1 0, 01 kr4
iiim - ,* -- AO' mouth let the Ir4iti
~atqlfiiirt
ThOgh*iii section ' 0 1 , I!?#i** .' ''.l ll .Whitto .
the 1h Kinit,tehituiok
,:t ~! phour tb.
o**l
_...0f 1794, *to' ni -051060 f /41 ';# 1,3144
saki Aosta. !aviigo' did* WO,:euoia the
4041 fit 'fore * 104 , 'tke loW6tho - tirbtrim,
sirtspiiiiutt.,lll4. iioi*atitilifiti*AlPo!
4 ''AII4' 1 100 1 , 3 ; 41 ,"ar*: - lis*i It-MOO,
lain
ID
LI