The daily union., 1846-06-30
THE DAILY UNION
For the Union
FOR the Union.
COL. VIM. O. BUTLER OF KENTUCKY.
(yva.o major general ef Lhs pOLunLsa amyl


announced in the "Unionp of last evening
The appointment of Colonel Butler to this com
msnd will carry with it the prestige Of military
career unsurpassed, if equalled in brancy, by the
fame of any soldier in this country. IL is to be
GREETED that the crowded columns of the Union for
bid more than very brief remniscence Of the SER
vices and exploits of this noble son Of Kentucky,
since such assurances Of the courage and capacity
Of those who are TO command our forces in time of
war; tend 10 give confidence in the efficiency Of our
arms and the security of the national honor.
Colonel Butler the son of General Perciyal
Butler, one of five brothers who were valuable
officers in the army Of the revolution, and once
public occasion distinguished by General Washing
ton in a toast as "The fye Butlers-a distinguished
band of worthy brothers" One Of these brothers was
killed, and another had his thigh broken in ST.
| Clair's defeat. From such a stock Colonel Butler
received the inheritance Of heroism, which he has
nobly improved and illustrated. While but yet
youth he vas among the first 10 rush TO the field
when the war Of 1912 summoned the chiyalry of
| Kentucky to the defence Of the northwestern from
tier Entering the army under General Winchester
a corporal from which he was soon promoted to
the place of ensign he served through all the incred
ible hardships, priyations, and disasters which
mark that campaign as the darkest epoch in our mil
nary annals. He wus in the two sanguinsry bat
ties Of the 18th and 22d Of January, 1913, on the
River Raisin, on which occasions he sgnslized him
self by many feats Of personal herosm, Of which
the following are brilliant examples In the action
of the 18Th, after the British and Indians had
been driven from Frenchown, they halted IN a
thick wood and awaited the advance OF the American
| forces. IA close fence that crossed the open
| ground, about two hundred yards from the
road, offered TO the party that should oc-
cupy il, almost fatal advantage over their ad-
versary. The American line had advanced within
about the same distance as the enemy, when large
detachment Of Indians were about being despatched
| from the edge Of the wood to secure the fence.
Young Butler discovering this movement, and know.
ing the advantage OF preoccupying this position, in
stantly took ten fifteen men and started for the
fence simultaneously with the Indians. IL u
desperate struggle each party running at full speed,
and directly towards the other. Butler succeeded in
reaching the point first, and galan1y repusing the
Indians secured the invaluable position for the
American column.
During the bloody action which followed on the
22d, it was discovered that the British and Indians
were about occupying large double barn. about
one hundred and fifty yards in advance Of the
American lines, from which they could securely
pour tho most destructive fire upon already de-
cimated ranks. liz was object o. vital necessi-
ty that this building should be destroyed without
moments delay, and at all hazards; and Major Mad
ison, who commanded, hopelessy challenged the
courage Of some Of his to undertake the per-
ilous task The desperate nature Of the enterprise
may be estimated from the fact that the British lines
commanded the whole passage from the American
position TO the barn. and large body Of Indians
which 1t was necessary to pass nearly all the way.
Notwithstanding all these dangers, from which
escape could be but miracle, the brave Butler
promptly undertook the adventure. Selling brand
of hre, he eaped over the pickets, ran forward
through perfect tempest of the enemy's musketry
reaching the barn just as the British and Indians
were entering 1t on the opposite side, thrust the fire.
brand into the sraws saw it kindle into blaze and
then retreated in the same gallant style, miracu.
ously regaining the camp without injury, although
his clothes were literally riddled with bullets.
The event ofthe battle Of the River Rsisin, of the
22d January, 1913, is we'll known. Col. Butler was
among the prisoners taken by the enemy, and re-
served from the to suffer a living death Of
cruel hardships and barbartes which he underwent
during long march through Upper Canada in the
dead of winter destitute Of every comfort of life to
Fort Niagara, whence he was dismissed on parole
and returned to Kentucky in the spring. He was
made a captain in the United States infantry upon
his return, and employed in recruiting until sx-
changed,in 1914.
Immediately after this event he Joined the southern
army under General Jackson and accompanied that
great chieftain throughout the brilliant campaign
which terminated with the glorious victory Of New
Orleans emulatng his in the north with like
deeds Of romantic heroism. His personal daring,
promptness energy, skill, and efficiency, emnently
displayed on every occasion, won him the highest
esteem and confidence Of General Jackson. The
writer may be lndulged IN single instance Of his
solderly conduct as 30 frequently sgnalzed in this
campaign. 1t occurred in the preliminary action of
| the 23d December 1915, at New Orleans. IL was
late in the evening when news reached General Jack
son that the British had landed on the left bank of
| the Mississippi The general decided at once upon
an attack. Accordingly, about dark the 44th infan-
try, (the regiment to which Colonel then Capt. B.
belonged,) commanded by Capt Baker colonel,
and Capt. Butler as major, with another regiment,
and the Tennessee and Louisiana militia, Tin all
| about twenty-three hundred men, marched down to
attack the British who were IN force about four
thousand. furious onset was made. Captain
Baker having been thrown from his horse, and
severely injured in the commencement Of the
| action, the command Of the 44th regiment devolved
on Captain Butler, who led his force on in the thick
of the fight drove the British before him for half
mile cutting them down at every step, until his inn
peuous charge had carried him far in advance of
the other portions of the assaing party that they
were as much surprised rejoiced at his return,
supposng, from the perllous extremity in which his
| bold pursuit had involved him, that he must have
| been cut off. For this gallant and most important
| achievement, he was breveted by the President at
the special request of General Jackson. In the great
battle of the 9Th of January, he bore a conspicuous
part; and after that event, until the enemy retired
| from New Orleans his emulous vaor did not cease
TO display itself in those exploits of personal daring
and prowess, of which, perhaps, the history of no
living soldier can boast so numerous and so brilliant
a series. He was appointed aid to General Jack
son in 1916; and, having been retained in the
vice upon the reduction of the army, resigned in
1917, to lead less honorable career in civil
| life.
But this imperfect memoir of one of the most gal
liant gentlemen and finished soldiers in this nation
has, perhaps, already been expanded to an incon-
venent length, and shall Close at the hazard of do
| ing injury to his fame, with the following testi-
monial Of the services and military capacity of Co.
lionel Butler, received by distinguished citizen of
Kentucky, from the hand of General Jackson him
SELF which, considering the exalted source from
which it comes s at once conclusive proof Of the
fitness Of Colonel Butler for the emergency which is
now pending and impending in the foreign relations
| Of our country:
| "HERMTAGR, Feb. 90, 1874
"MY DEAR SIR. Your letter of the 9th instant
reached me by due course of mail | seize the first
,ment to aok iowcd its receipt that my debilitaed
state of body would admit, and now am scarcely
| able to WELD my pen.
"You ask me to give my opinion Of the mill
tary services Of the then captain, now colonel, Will
liam 0. Rniler Of kentucky during the inyeatment