The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-11-10
From the South Carolinian.
B O a p Ii G a 1 etch o +
COLONEL. PIERCE MASON B(JTLER


relate TO the past career Of this gallan, hero,
who fell so gloriously leading his cherished
Palmettos to victory before the walls Of
Mexico, is a feeling worthy of his name.
We feel it duty we owe to his memory,
to publish the following biographical Sketch,
the facts of which, we have derived, from
the most authentic and reliable sources.
There was such rare combination of cir
cunlstances in his conduct and dcath-clr.
cumstances and events calculated 10 excite
the pride of every South Carolinian, that
we feel the general curiosity to know all
abou, his family and previous life, should
be gratificd.
He was the son Of the late General Wan.
Butler, of Edgcfield, 8. c., distinguished
officer of the Revolution, and ior many
years u member Of the Congress of the u.
came originally from Ireland, and settled in
Pennsylvania. Thence the branch Of the
family, from which General Butler, descen-
ded, removed to Louloun County, in Virgil
MIA. The father OF General Butler, Capt.
James Butler, settled in Edgc6eld District,
in this State, where he resided a, the COM
mcncement Of the war Of the Revolution,
in which he, together with all his SONS, who
Were over fourteen years old, bore an ac-
tive part from the commencement, until
near its close, when he was killed with his
second son, at Turner's Station. He was
confined in prison and OH board the prison
ship for eighteen months, during all which
time, the most urgent opportunities were
used, and the most Aa,tering offers made to
induce him TO abondon the cause of his
country. With the suflerings Of the heroic
men: confined in that prison ship, I'll! arc
familiar. General VIM. Butler, his eldest
son, entered the army of the Revolution, as
Lieu tenant, at the age Of le, and a, its close,
when not more than 2l, he was Captain.
Immediately after the close of the war,
General Pickens, resigned his commission
as Brigadicr General, and upon his warm
recommendation General, then Captain
Butler, was elected in his place, by the
Legislature Of the State He was soon af-
ter elected Major General, which commits
sion he held, until he died, in ls2l-anG as
such commanded the people during the
last war, attached to The defence of Charles
ton In the language Of the General Or
der OF the Governor, announcing his death,
Is full of years and high i'll the affections OF
his countrymen." The vencrated, and
universally venerated mother of Colonel
Butler, who is still alive, at the advanced age
OF elghty-three years, Is the daughter Of
Captain Frank Moore, of Virginia, who
was Lieutenant of Il Company at Brad
docks defeat. Colonel Butler, was thus q
patrio, and hero, by inheritance. Noby
has he vindicated his title to both characters,
and added new lusre to a name always dis
tingushed for patriotism and valor. Colo
mel Butler was born in EdgefieId District,
on the lth of April, 1898. After receiving
good English Education, he,was sent will,
his brother, Senator Butler, to the school
of the celebrated Doctor WaddcI. Ho
abandoned his purpose Of regular classi.
tered the army Of the United States as a
Lieutenant, and remained in the regular
service until he resigned his appointment
as Captain in 1928. He was then elected
Cashier, and afterwards President of the
Branch of the Bank of the State, at Colum-
bia. On the breaking out taof the Florida
war, Regiment of Volunteers was raised
in South Carolina, of which Colonel But
Ter was elected Lieutenant-C Colonel. In
that campaign, he gave such striking evi-
dence of all high and generous qualities,
that without the slightest agency of his own,
he was elected Governor OF the State, by
the unanimous vote of the Legislature
Shortly after the expiration of his Guberna-
ttorial term, the Office of Agent Of the Che
rokee Indians, was rendered him by Presi-
dent Tyler, which he accepted. At the
period Of bis agency the Cherokee people
were unfortunately divided into three fac
tons, Of the most embi,tered character So
high was the conduct, and so pure and dis
interested all the purposes of,he Agent, that
on tho election of Mr.. Polk, TO the Presden-
cy, the leading men of all three of these
parties earnestly requested that Colonel
Butler might be retained in office. But it
was not done. He was afterwards employ.
ed by the Government, tomake a Treaty with
the Camanche, and other Indian tribes Of
Texas, in which he entirely succeeded. 1t
may with truth be said, that filling as he
has done, so many Offices, civil and military,
the duties of no one Of them has ever been
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