The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-07-17

DlCdtiL SOhAuCd ldl!ttll ONti thS " :"
tiers, she formed pleasing feature
in a landscape which had been hith-
erto made up exclusively of natural
objects.
svt ,tm q si"ucr oC 5Sc'Iuci,.
-s.rei. # Hs rt.ii,-, oeag)
as rs. events # 'hc day, Is ,he
Coz tal t,,h. c,on,-si,n Of
800 e..gnIe. t.e amy e,,t lun'rors. Il wa
..ae.ifa tl, Dulra' oh. evening,
The appointment of Colonel But
Ter TO thi' command will carry with
it the pres ige Of military career
unsurpassed, if equaled in brillian-
cy, by the fame of any soldier in this
country. 1t is to he regretted that
the crowded columns of the Union
forbid more than a very brief remin-
iscense of the services and exploits
of this noble son of Kentucky, since
Such assurances Of the courage and
capacity of those who are to com
mand our forces in the time Of war,
tend to give confidence in the Elf
cheney Of our arms and the security
of the national honor.
Colonel Butler was the son Of
General Perciyal Butler, one of the
five brothers who were valuable off
GERS in the army of the revolution,
and once on public occasion dis
tinguished by General Washington
in toast as 'The five Butlcrs-a
distinguished band Of worthy broth
ers." One Of these brothers was
killed, and another had his thigh
broken in St. Clair's defeat. From
such a stock Colonel Butler receiv-
ed the inheritance Of heroism, which
lie has nobly improved and illustra-
ted. While but yet a youth lie was
among the first to rush to the field
when the war Of 1912 summoned the
chivalry of Kentucky to The defence
of the northwestern frontier. En-
tering the army under General Win
chester as a corporal, from which
he was soon promoted to the place
of ensign, he served through all the
incredible hardships, privations, and
disasters which mark that campaign
as the darkest epoch in our military
annals. He was in the two sangui-
nary battles Of the 18th and 22d Of
January, 1918, on the River Raisin
: on which occasion he signalizcd him
self by many feats OF personal hero,
ism, Of which the following are bril-
liant examples. In the action Of the
18th, after the British and Indians
had been driven from Frenchtown
they halted in a thick wood ant
awaited the advance Of the Ameri.
can forces. A close fence that cross
ed the open ground, about two hun,
bred yards from the road, offered tt
t.r party that should occupy it, al
almost fatal advantage over their ad.
ycrSary. The American line Lac
advanced within about the same dis.
t1n'c as the enemy, when q large
detachment Of Indians were abou
i"g despatched from the edge o
tie wood TO secure the fence. Youn!
Butler discovering this movement
and knowing the advantage Of pre-.
occupying this position, Instant,
took ten or fifteen men and starte,
for the fence simultaneously will
the Indians. 1t was desperate
struggle, each party running at ful
speed, and directly towards the 9th
or. Butler succeeded in reaching
the point first, and gallantly re2ul,
sing the Indians secured the invul
nerabIe position for the American
column.
During the bloody action Which
followed on the 22d, it was discov
cred that the British and Indian,
were about occupying a large dou
bic barn, about one hundred and ff
I ty yards in advance Of the Ameri
can lines, from which they could Sc
currly pour the most dcstructiy,
fire upon our already decimatct
ranks. 1t was an object Of vital ne
ceSsity that this building should be
destroyed without moments delay
and at all hazards; and Major Mad,
ison, who commanded, hopelcssly
challenged the courage Of some one
of his men TO undertake the pcrilou.
task. The desperate nature of The
enterprise may be estimated from
the fact, that the British lines com.
manded the whole passage from tn,
American position to the barn; an,
large body Of Indians were postet
; in peach orchard behind a renc,
along which it was necessary TO pas
all the way. Notwithstanding al
these dangers FROM which escap,
could be but miracle, the bray,
Butler promptly undertook the ad
venture. Selling brand of fire
he lcaped over the pickets, ran for
ward through perfect tempest O
the enemy's musketry, reaching tn
barn just as the British and Indian
, were entering it on the opposite side