Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-10-15
THE LATE COLONEL BUTLER.

HE La
A friend has furnished The Charleston mercury
with a copy OF the following interesting CORES !.
pondence, with permission 10 place IL before 'ne
public. Ii will be read, we are sure, wan oeeP
emotion. and does honor both 10 The living anu 'he
dead:
BuENA VISTA, PINE MOUNTAIN,
Meriwe,her County, Ga, Sept. IL, l047 J
NV DEAR BUTLER | know no death al all
comparable 10 that OF a soldier in The helo lai'ns
in the service of his country. Your gallant
brother has met This tale. Y
Among The friends who loved him, and VINO !
know had his esteem, | come 10 offer you my
sympa,hy. and to mingle my sorrows with your
own if The glorious termination oil his career uu
no, almost forbid their indulgence.
You know iull we'll whilst | was Governor OF
Soulh Carolina, al a most Trying cIisis, ne was
nv first and senior Aide.de-camp. When had
10 look on; on what many persons supposed a
troubled sky, il was something 10 have near me a
man of his hereditary courage and tried nerve.
II, therefore. any one knew him well, ! dio. Inc
| brilliant flash of glory in which the lapero MS
life has been extineuished. has not therefore sur
prised me. When | was in New orleans iasl
| Sprins, and heard of The embaIka,ion of his Re
| eiment for Vera Cruz, | said 10 a friend II But
Ter and these lads &c, fairly engaged with The ene-
nv. against whatever odds, they will make their
marx. and, if need be, leave halt their number IN
! killed and wounded on The field.
What was prophecy has ripened into tacl.
| knew The stuff they were made Of.
This time last year your brother and myself
met in Washington. He was stretched on a SICK
bed.
In the confidence of a friendship, the iervor OF
which had never been interrupted Tor one instant,
he informed me that as soon as he was sufficient
IL recovered he was 10 meet in mortal combat,
| Colonel Mason OF The United States Army, in
consequence of a quarrel OF some standing, which
| had been greatly aggravated perhaps BY mutual
misconceptions. He asked my friendly coun-
sells in The progress oil the unhappy affair. !
need not speak Of his composuIe 10 you, but
will speak Of his sensibility; OF The tenderness oil
his noble nature when he spoke Of meeliDs ION
lerms which scarcely permilted the hope OF the
escape OF either parry a man with a family as
numerous and dependant upon him as his own.
From policy, | rather seemed 10 enter into his
| feelings as an antagonist, and So prepare him for
the deadly strife.
Without saying one word 10 him, however, |
left Washington The next morning, and proceed
| ed 10 Virginia 10 see Col. Mccarthy, The friend
of Col. Mason. On reaching Alexandra | heard
that Col. Mccarthy was not al his residence IN
Loudoun. On my.return 10 Carolina | wrote 10
| him, and proposed an armistice and reference
Ii was met BY the brave man with a benevolence
| and chivalry worthy of his exalted courage
Col. Mason's departure before your brothers re-
coyery, Tor California, under orders which pre-
| cIuded a moments delay, suspended our work OF
cancellation. Your brother knew nothing OF ny
pacific inte!posi,ion until Col. Mason's departure.
His life was preserved for a noble destiny. He
persisted where he would have like 10 have died
best. Before embarking for Vera Cruz he wrote
me, enirealing me TO apply for an appointment
as general officer in the army oil the United
States; and As the most powerful inducement he
could offer, he informed Inc, that he and his com
mand would rather serve under ne than any
man in The United States. ! state this tact al
the hazard Of having imputed 10 me a ridiculous,
il not a censurable, selt-loye.
But those, my dear Butler, who know our
which nHfe one SouIh CaroTinian 10 another. As
little deserved as the compliment may be, why
should | not cherish it next TO my own heart, al
least, for secret pride and solitary enjoyment. In
the burning interest Of the progress Of events in
Mexico, | found il impossible 10 resist The invo-
cation. | rendered my services 10 The President
in a post not inconsistent with the rank | had
held in my own State he preferred, as he had a
right, another 10 myself. | hope | am The last
man in The world To take exception 10 a prefer
encc which the subsequent distinction OF this
gentleman has so entirely justified.
If | had been appointed, however, think
hazard not much in saying that our Palmetto
standard, which has never "paled is hires" on any
field, would have been borne alotl wherever my
command may have been. Ii | could not have
restrained The impeluosily Of the daring yalor Of
your galian, brother, and our brave South Caro-
l%inians, | should, al least, have claimed the me.
lancholy privilege that ne should have died in nc
other arms bu! my own.
NV dear Butler, arrest the current OF your own
grief. Let his widow and his children cease to
She'd a tear; there is but one transition from The
dealh-bed Of a Christian soldier, who died for his
country, 10 that realm where tears Of care ant
sorrow are unknown.
Believe me, in sympathy and esteem, you, de
voted friend, J. HAMILTON.
Hop. A. 2. BUTLER, Edge6eld, South Carolina
SroNgLAND, Edgefield, Oct. 2, lS47.
My Dear General: For The last ten days have
been absent from home, on a visit 10 my friends
in Greenviile, and did not receive your expires
sive and aflectionaie letter ill yesterday.
You had The very qualities 10 inspire my broth
er with The strong and enthusiastic feelings OF al
tachment which he entertained for you. There
was no man on earth Certainly, out oil his owl
family, no one) in whose friendship he had a high
eI confidence than in yours; and upon real occa
sions Of difficulty and trial his reliance woulc
have been on you. He knew very well thai 20,
WtIc luG udH w Oil hAI a6a ~ ~
sibili,y.
MY brother knew nothing Of your correspon
dence with Col Mccarthy, nor did !, until | re
ceived your letter.
His difficulty with Col. Mason was a source
OF painful anxiety TO his friends, who were mad'
acquainted with lis particulars. lie had mad
up his mind, and was prepared Tor the worst
Poor fellow he has By an honorable sacrifice 81
his life, escaped Nhal | shall always regard as
very great misfortune; The neccssiiy-or, possibly
under some aspects, in The exienualion Of some
the duiy-oi meeting another in single combat
| am era'iied To hear Of The manner in which
Col. Mccarthy received your suggestions.
uues honor 10 his heart, and might possibly have
led 10 an honorable understanding.
Gen. Shields has behaved so well, and in hi.
official repor, has paid such a touching tribute Il
The memory of my dear brother, that | am PROUD
he was under his immediate command. ] shall
esteem The man and respect the General all IN,
life. But if my brother could have had his choice
you would have been The man that he woulc
have selected for his superior officer.
In your notice OF his death you have taken q
high conception of The subject. Ii is difficult
however, for the heart OF his family 10 feel. as
you do, under The shock of first intelligence.
Time is The medicine for the wounded heart
God gran, that it may bring with il its healing in.
~fnence to the feelings of his bereaved and aflicl
ed family.
With truth and sincerity, | am your friend,
A. p. BUTLER.
GEN. JAS. HAMILTON,
Buena Vista, Meriwether Co. Ga.
LETTER FROM CAPT. BRAGG.
The Hamburg Is. CO. Journal publishes the
/ fnllNp,nc la,,a, f.c> Cart Dr,-x