The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-06-01
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH


which prompts TO learn something OF even an ordinary
acquaintance in whom interest is felt II will indulge
therefore only natural and proper curiosity to intro
ducc the subject OF this notice by short account OF
family whose striking traits survive in him SO remark
General Buffers grandfather, Thomas Butler born
9th April, 1920, in KILKENNY Ireland He married there
and fo%a snV born
Pierce, the father OF General William O. Butler and
Edward, the youngest son. were born in PENNSYLVANIA
1t remarkable that all these and all their imme
date male descendants, with single exception, were
engaged in the military service of this country
The eldest, Richard, was lieutenant colonel OF Nor,
gan's celebrated rifle regiment, Ond to hn 1t owed
much of the high character that gave il fame OF
its OWN apart from the other corps Of the reyolH
and deadly direction to the rifles Of this regiment
derived principally from this officer who devoea
himself to the drill of his He promoted TO inc
and in that capacity commanded Waynes lett IN the al
tack on Stony Point. About the year 100 ne was ar
s1 %ss rea sn On hs h bloody With
Indians. His combat with the ind'ans ai'ef ne was
shot, gave such peculiar interest to his ate that rep
was exhibited throughout the Union IN wax hgures
Notices Of this accomplished solder Will De found IN
In Gen ST. Glars report, in the American Museum vol
ume XII, page ~, appendix
William Butler, the second son, was an officer through
out the revolutionary war, rose TO the rank OF colonel
and was many of the severes battles. He was the Ia
vore of the family, and was boosted OF by this race OF
heroes as the coolest and bodest battle they had
known. When the army was greatly reduced IN
rank and file, and there many superhuous officers
they organized themselves into separate corps and elect
ed him to the command. General Washington declined
receiving this novel corps Of commissioned soldiers but
in proud testimonial did honor to their devoted pa
triotsm.
OF Thomas Butler, the third son. we CLEAN the follow
ing facts from the American Biographical Dictionary In
the year 1885, whilst he was student OF law IN the
Office of the eminent Judge Wilson, of Philadelphia, he
left his pursuit and Joined the army as subatern He
obtained the command OF company, IN which ne
continued to the close Of the revolutionary war HE was
the war AT the battle Of Brandywne he received the
thanks Of Washington on the field OF battle through his
aid-decamP Gen Hamilton. for his intrepid conduct in
ring detachment OF retreatng troops and giving the
enemy severe fire. At the battle of Monmouth he re-
ceived the thanks Of Gen. Wayne for defending dele
Richard Buffers regiment made s good its retfeat 80
AT the close Of The war he retired into private lie
as farmer, and continued in the enjoyment OF rural
and domestic happiness until the year 1871, when he
again took the field to meet the savage foe that
msnaced our western frontier He commanded bat
in which his brother fell Orders given by Gen St
Liair to charge with the bayonet, and MAJOR Butler
though bis ley had been broken by ball, yet on horse
back, led his battalion to the charge 1t was with diff
Guilty his surviving brother. Captain Edward Butler
moved him from the field. In 1892 he was continued in
the establishment major, and in 1894 he promo
ted the rank OF lieutenant colonel commandment of the
4th sub-egon He commanded in this year Fort Fayette,
at Psburg and prevented the deluded insurgents from
had but few troops The close of his life was embttered
with trouble In 1903 he arrested by the commanding
general (WNklnSOn) at Adams, on the NlSslSSpp
and sent to Maryland, where he was tried by court;
martial, and acquitted of all the charges. save that OF
4csaring has hair He then ordered TO New Orleans
where he arrived to take command OF the troops October
10Th. He again arrested next month; but the court
did not sit until Jn Of The mex. snd hs ,sS
Out OF the and persecution of this sturdy veteran
Washington Irving Knickerbockerl has worked up a
fine piece Of burlesque, in which General Wilknsons
pompous General Won Pofenburg.
Percval Butler. the fourth son, father of General VIM
Butler was born at Carlisle Pennsylvania N i3e1 ne
was with Washington at Valley Forge was in the bat
tie of Monmouth, and at the taking OF Yorktown.belng
through the whole series of struggles the middle States
with the troops under the commandments Chief except for
short period when he was attached to light corps
commanded by La Fayette, who presented him sword
Near the close of the he went to the south with the
grated to Kentucky in l1sa is was the last OF the old
stock left when the war of 1912 commenced. He was
made adjutant general when Kentucky became State,
and in that capacity joined one OF the armies sent out by
Kentucky during the
Edward Butler, the youngest of the five brothers, was
too young to enter the army the first stages OF the
oluon but joined it near the close, and had risen to
captaincy when Gen. St. Clair took the command and
led 10 that disastrous defeat in which many Of the
best soldiers OF the country persisted lie there evnced
The highest courage and strongest fratenal affection III
carrying his wounded brother out OF the massacre, which
continued for miles along the route OF the rctreany
army, and from which SO few escaped, even OF those
who fled unencumbered. He subsequently became adju-
tant general in Wayne's army.
OF these five brothers, four had sons-all OF whom,
with one exception, engaged in the military or ma
val service of the country during the last war
lst General Richard Buffers son William died lieu
tenant in the navy early in the last war His son, Cap
tain James Butler, at the head OF the Psburg Blues,
which company he commanded in the campaigns of the
northwest and was particularly distinguished in the bat
Tie OF Mississinnawa
Cd Colonel William Butler also of the revolutionary
army, had two sons died in the navy, the other
subaltern in Wayne's army He was in the battle with
the Indians in 1894.
Sd. Lieut.. Col Thomas Butler, of the old stock had
three sons, the eldest Judge, The second, Col Robert
Butler, at the head OF Gen Jacksons staff through
oo the last The third, William K. Butler, also
served in the army of Gen. jackson.
4lh. Percval Butler, captain in the revolutionary war,
and adjuant general of Kentucky during the last
had four sons first, Thomas, who was captain, and
aid to Gen Jackson at New Orleans; next, Gen. William
u Butler the subject OF this notice; third Richard, who
was assistant adjuant general the campaigns of the
warof 1872: Percval Butler, the youngest son, a
distinguished lawyer, not of age bear
the last VI the second generation of the Buffers,
there nine certainly and probably more, engaged in
the present war
This glance the family shows the character of the
An anecdote, derived from letter OF old Penn
sylvania friend of the parents, who ranspanted it from
Ireland, shows that its military instinct was inherit
'.While the five sons says the letter, "were alb
sent from home the service Of the country, the old
father took in his head go also The neighbos col
lected TO demonstrate against but his wife sad Let
him go can get along without him. and raise something
to feed the army in the bargain; and the country wants
every man who shoulder musket'" 1t was doubt
less this extraordinary zeal of the Butler family which
induced Gen Washington to give the toast-"The But
ers and their hive sons 1t his own table. whilst sur