The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-07-18

4 uFt, IHC up'H -out uiItduN uS'i""HSu
:, ranks. Il was an object Of vitulneces
4 sity that this building should be des
troyed without d moments delay, and
at all hazards; and Major Madison
who commanded. hopeessly chaIlene.
ed the courage IF some one of his men
to undertake the perilous task. The
desperate nature of the enterprise may
he estimated from the fact, that the
British lines commanded the whole
passage from the American position to
the brn; and a large body Of Indians
were posted in Il peach.orchard behind
a fence along which it was necessary
to pass nearly all the way. Notwilh-
standing all these dangers, from which
escape could he but miracle, the brave
Butler promptly undertook the adven.
ture. Selling brand of fire, he leap
ed over the pickets, ran forward through
n perfect tempest OF the enemy's mus
kerry. reaching the barn just as the
British anI lndipns We're entering il on
the opposite side, thrust the iire.hrand
into the straws. saw it kindle into Il
blaze, and then retreated in the same
gallant style. miraculousIy regainng
the camp without injury. although hi,
clothes were literally riddled with bull
lets.
The event OF the battle of the River
Ralsin. of the god January, 1873. is
well known. Col. Butler was among
the prisoners taken by the enemy. and
reserved from the measure to suffer Il
living death of cruel hardships and bar
bariieS, which he underw ent during Il
long march through Upper Canada in
the dead of winter, destitute of every
comfort OF lie, to Fort Niagara, whence
he was dismissed on parole and return
ed to kentucky in the spring. He
was made Il captain in The United States
infantry upon his return, and employ
ed in recruiting until exchanged in
1914.
lmmediatel y after this event he JOIN
ed the southern army under General
jackson, and accompanied that great
chieIlain throughout the brilliant cam
palgn which ternin lted with the gln-
rnus victory of New Orleans, emuIar.
ing his career IN the north with like
deeds Of romantic heroiSm. His per.
sonll darlnI. prompineSs, energy. skill.
and efficiency, cmlnenlly displayed on
every occasion, won him the highest
ia # ( -, I,,
son. The writer may be INDUCED in II
single instance OF his sodierly Y conduct
as so frequently signalIzed in this cam
paign. 1t occurred in the preliminary
action of the 23d December. 1915, at
New Orleans. 1t was late in the even.
ing when news reached General Jack
son that the British had landed on the
left bank Of the Mississippi. The gen.
eraI decided at once upon IN attack.
Accordingly. about dark the 44th in
iantry, (the regiment to which Colonel,
then Capt. B. belonged) commanded
by Capt. Baker rs colonel and Capt.
Butler as major. with another regiment.
and the Tennessee and Louisiana mill.
tia, (in nj, about twenty-three hundred
menu marched 1own to attack the
British who were in force about four
thousand. a furious onset was m"de.
Captain Baker having been thrown
from his horse, and severely injured in
the commencement of the action, The
command Of the a. h regiment devoIv-
ed on Captain Butler, who led his force
IN in the thick of the fight. drove the
British before him Tor half a mile. cuI-
ing them down at every step. until his
mpetuous charge mad carried him so
ar in advance of the uther portions #
he assailng party that they were rs
much surprised as SO ioiced at his re-
urn, supposing, from the perIlous ex-
remity in which his bold pursuit had
involved him, that he must have been !
ut off. For this gallant and most i'm
'ortan, achievement, ne was lreve,ed ;
" the President at the special requesr 5
# General Jackson. In the great bat r
|e OF the 9th of January, he bore IL con- +
plcuouS part; anu al'er thateVent. I'M Il
i the enemy retired from New Or C
cans, his emulous valor did not cease $,
, display Iselfn those exploits of per- d
Dnal daring and proves. Of which. "
erhaps, the history of M living soldier I,
nm boast so numerous and SD brilliant L
series. lie was appointed aid t" b
eneraI Jackson in 1916; and. having -
cen retained in the service upon the e
ofthe army. resigned in 1917 G
} lead Il NJ less honorable career in "a "a
vii life. S
But this imperfect memoir of one OF TT
e most gallant gentlemen and finished H' u
ldltrs in this nation has, perhaps, al m
ady been expanded to an Inconve- Il!
ent length, and shall close, at the haz- e =
d nf nfdning an injury to his fame, with fir