Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-06-28
Biographical Sketch Of
GEN. VIM. @. BUTLER

GEN. VIM. O. BUTLER
By FRANCIS p. BLAIR.
CONCLUDED
General Jackson's sense of the services
of Butter in this memorable campaign,
was strongly expressed in the following
letter to member Of the Kentucky legis-
lature:
!. HEamIrAsE, Feb. 20, 1874.
MY DEAR Sir: You ask me to give
you my opinion of the military services of
the then Capt. (now Colonel) WIN. 0.
Butler Of Kentucky, during the investment
Of New Orleans by the British forces in
1914 and 1915. / wish l had sufficient
strength to speak fully of the merit and
the services of Col. Butler on that occa-
sion; this strength l have not. Suffice it
to say, that on all occasions he displayed
that heroic chivalry, and calmness ofjudg-
ment in the midst Of danger, which dis
tinguish the valuable officer in the hour of
battle. In conspicuous manner were
those noble qualities displayed by him on
the night of the 23d December, 1914, and
on the 9th of January, 1915, as well as
at all times during the presence of the Brit
ish army at New Orleans. In short, he
was to be found at all points where duty
called. l hazard nothing in saying, that
should our country again be engaged in
war during the active age of Col. Butler,
he would be one of the very best selec-
tons that could be made to command our
army and lead the eagles Of our country to
victory and renown. He has sufficient
energy to assume all responsibility neces-
sary to success, and for his country's
good.
ANDREW JACKSON.
General Jackson gave earlier proof of
the high estimation in which he held the
young soldier who had identified himself
with his own glory at New Orleans. He
made him aidde-camp in 1916, which sta
ton he retained on the peace establish
ment, with rank of colonel. But, like his
illustrious patron, he soon felt that militia
ry station and distinction had no charms
for him when unattended with the dangers,
duties, and patriotic achievements of war.
He esigned, therefore, even the associa-
ton with his veteran chief, of which he
was so proud, and retired in 1917 to pri-
vate life. He resumed his study of the
profession that was interrupted BY the
war, married, and settled down on his pa
trimonial possession at the confluence of
the Kentucky and Ohio rivers, in the
noiseless but arduous vocations of civillife.
The abode which he had chosen made it
peculiarly SO with him. The region around
him was wild and romantic, sparsely set
tied, and by pastoral people. There are
no populous towns. The high, rolling,
and yet rich landslide precipitous cliffs
of the Kentucky, of Eagle, Severn, and
other tributaries which pour into it near
the mouth, make this section of the State
still, to some extent, a wilderness ofthickets
of the tangled pea-vine, the grape vine,
and the nut-bearing trees, which render
ed all Kentucky, until the intrusion of the
whites, one great Indian park. The whole
luxuriant domain was preserved by the
Indians as a pasture for buffalo, deer, elk,
and other animals-their enjoyment alike
as chase and satisfactorily exclu-
ding every tribe from fixing habitation
III it. Its name consecrated it as the dark
and bloody ground; and war pursued ev-
cry foot that trod it. In the midst of this
region, in April 1871, VIM. o. Butler
was born, in Jessamine county, on the
Kentucky river. His father had married
in Lexington, soon after his arrival in
Kentucky, 1882, Miss Howkins, sister
in-law of Col. Todd. who commanded and
persisted in the battle of the Blue Licks.
Following the instincts of family which
seemed ever to court danger, Gen. Pierce
Butler,as neighborhood encroached around
him, removed, not long after the birth of
his son William, to the mouth of the Ken
lucky river. Through this section, the
Indian war-path into the heart of Ken
lucky passed. Until the peace of 1894,
there was scarcely day that some hos
tile savage did not prowl through the
tangled forests, and the labyrinths Of hills,
streams, and cliffs, which adapted this re-
gion to their lurking warfare. From it
they emerged when they made the last
formidable incursion, and pushed their
foray to the envrons Of Frankfort, the
capital of the State. Gen. Pierce Butler
had on one side of him the Ohio, OIL the
farther shore Of which the savage hordes
still held the mastery; and on the other,
the romantic region through which they
hunted and pressed their war enterprises.
And here, amid the scenes Of border war
fare, his son William had that spirit which
has animated him through life, educated by
the legends Of the Indiau-fghting hunters
of Kentucky.
To the feelings and taste inspired by the
of the place and circumstan-
ces adverted to, must be attributed the re-
turn of Col. Butler to his fathers home,
to enter on his profession as lawyer
There were no great causes or rich clients
to attract him-no dense population to lift
him to the political honors Of the State
The eloquence and learning, the industry
and integrity which he gave to adjust the
controversies Of Gallatin and the surround
ing counties, would have crowned him
with wealth and professional distinction, if
exhibited at Louisville or lexington