He joined the Royal Engineers on 21 November 1792 as a first lieutenant. He became a captain on 3 March 1797. He served at the sieges of Toulon, Bastia and Calvi and was favourably mentioned in the despatches of Lord Hood after the surrender of Bastia. At Bastia, de Butts and Royal Artillery Lieutenant John Duncan were asked by Horatio Nelson to help him examine a landing site. On 1 July 1806, De Butts was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He became a colonel in the army on 4 June 1814 and in the Royal Engineers on 20 December. For some years, he commanded the Royal Engineers in Jersey. He was promoted to the rank of major general in 1821 and was appointed colonel commandant of the Royal Engineers in 1827. He lived in London. He was made a Knight Commander of the Royal Guelphic Order in 1837 and made a lieutenant general. De Butts was made a general in 1851. De Butts died on 28 November 1853.