The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1848-06-06

to give the ioast--"The Buffers, and their fiv
sons,"a at his own table, whilst surrounded b
alarge party of officers. This anecdote rest
on the Authority of The late Gen. FIndlay, o
Cincinnati. A similar tribute Of respect wa
paid TO this devoted house of soldiers by Gen
La Fayette, in letter now extant, and in III
possession of lady connected with them b.
marriage. La Fayette says, ..When 1 ,cant
ed a Thing reH done, 1 ordered a Butler 4
do it." st.aa3.s sai " 1s. ~
From this retrospect il will be seen tha
in all the wars of the country, in The revolu
tionary war, in the Indian war, in the las
British war, and the present Mexican war
the blood of almost every Butler able to bea
arms has been freely she'd in the public cause
Ma. Gen. William o. Butler is now among
the highest in the military service Of hi
country; and he has attained his grade from
the fanks--the position of private beini
the only one he ever sought. AT the open
ing Of the war OF 1912, he had just gradua
ted in the Pennsylvania University, and wa.
looking 10 the law as profession. The sur
render of Detroit, and the army by Hull
aroused the patriotism and the valor of Ken
tucky-and young Butler, yet in his minorl-
ty, was among the first to volunteer. He
gave up his books, and the enjoyment of the
gay and polished society of Lexington, where
he lived among circle Of fond and partial
relations: The hope TO crafty their ambition
in shining at the bar, or at the political forum
of the state--to join Capt. Harris company
of infantry as private soldier.
Before the march to Join the northwestern
army, he was elected corporal. In this grade
he marched to the relief Of Fort Wayne,
which was invested by hostile Indians
These were driven before the Kentucky vol
unteers to their towns on the Wabash, which
were destroyed, and the troops then returned
to the Miami of the lakes, where they made
a winter encampment. Here an ensign's
commission in the second regiment of United
States infantry was rendered to the volunteer
corporal, which he declined, unless permitted
to remain with the northwestern army, which
he had entered to share in the effort of the
Kentucky militia TO wipe out the disgrace of
Hull's surrender by the recapture of Detroit.
His proposition was assented to, and he re-
ceived an ensign's appointment in The seven
teenth infantry, then part of the northwest
ern army, under the command Of Gen. Win
chester. After enduring every privation in
a winter encampment, in the wildernesses
and frozen marshes of the lake county,
awaited in vain the expected support Of ad-
ditional forces, the Kentucky volunteers, led
by Lewis, Allen, and Madison, with Wells
regiment, 9Th U. s y advanced to encoun-
ter the force Of British and Indians which
defended Detroit. On leaving Kentucky
the volunteers had pledged themselves to
drive the British invaders from our soil.--
These men and their leaders we're held in
such estimation at home, that the expectation
formed of them exceeded their promises:
and these volunteers, though disappointed in
every succor which they had reason TO antic-
pate-wanting in provision, clothes, cannon,
n every thing resolved, rather than to lose
equation, 10 press on TO the enterprise, and
10 endeavor to draw on to them, by entering
nto action, the troops behind. II is not pro-
per here 10 enter into explanations Of the
causes of the disaster at the River Raisn,
he consequence of this movement, nor to
give the particulars Of the battle. The Incl
ients which signalized the character Of the
subject of this memoir alone are proper here.
There were two battles at the River Rails
N ,one on the 18th, The other on the 22d Of Jan.
In the first, the whole body of Indian war
-iors, drawn together from all the lake tribes,
or the defence of Upper Canada against the
approaching Kcntuckiaus, were encountered.
In moving TO the attack of this formidable
orce of the fercest, and bravest, and most
export warriors ON the continent, stlong
,ar,y of them were deserted from The line
with which Ensign Butler advanced, running
onward TO reach fence, and hold it as COW
n from which to ply their rifles. Butler in
tantly proposed, and was permitted TO antic-
pate them. Calling on some of the most
llert and active men Of the company, he ran
lirectly to meet the Indians at the fence. lie
md his comrades outstripped the enemy, and
Eetting possession of the fence, kept The ad-
'antage of the position for their advancing
riends. This Incl ent, of however little i'm
,ortance as 10 results, is worth remembrance
n giving the traits of a young soldiers char.
cter. 1t is said that the hardest veteran, at
he opening of the fire in battle, feels, for
he moment somewha, appalled,. And Gen.
Nolfe, one of the bravest of men, declared
hat the s'horrid yell of the Indian strikes the
,oldest heart with alright" The STRIPPING
student, who, for the first time, beheld field
If battle ON the SHOWS of the River Raisin,
presenting N bold relief long flies of those
errble enemies, whose massacres have filled
lis native State with tales of horror, must
rave felt some stirring sensations. But the
rack of the Indian rife, and his savage yell,
twoke in him the chivalric instincts of his
nature; and the prompttude with which he
his enthusiasm to few com