The North-Carolina standard., 1848-01-26
GEN. WILLIAM q. BUThER,

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80 GEN. WILLIAM %. BUTLER,
Who has just left Vera Cruz for hecity of Mexi
co. in command of 5000 or 5000 fresh men, belongs
to one of the most noble families that our country
ever contained His grandfather was an Irishman by
birth and emigrated to America in his young days.
settling himself in the backwoods Of Kentucky He
had five sons, every of whom fought in the rev.
olutionary war, and they all gained some distinction
After all his had Joined the army, the old father
took it into his head to go also The neghbors col
lected demonstrate against it but his wife said
Let him go! can get along without him. and raise
something to feed the army in the bargain! 1t was
doubtless this extraordinary zeal of the Butler family
which induced Washington to give the toast-'' The
Buffers, and their five sons, at his table, the
presence of large party of officers. similar trb-
ute of respect paid the devoted family of sol
diers by General Lafayette, who said" When
a0ared thing soeH done, ordered Butler to do d!''
Of these five sons, one was killed In battle. The
other four together with ten sons, were engaged in
the military and naval service of the country during
the last Of this second generation of the But
lers nine are engaged in the present war with Mexi
co: Gen. William o. Butler Joined company OF
Kentucky infantry in 1912 private, though he
was soon promoted. He was engaged in two fights
with the British and Indians on the banks of the
Raising and performed many deeds of daring courage.
He once the gauntlet of 1000 British and Indian
rifles to set fire to barn the enemy taking pos
session Of He thrust the fire into the straw within
the barn, and although voley after volley fred
at him. young Butler after making some steps on his
being satisfied returned to the barn and set it
blaze One spent ball struck him just as he return
ed to his comrades. He was taken prisoner soon
after and marched through Canada to Fort Niagara,
suffering greatly from cold, hunger, and other hard
ships to which he subjected.
When exchanged and released in 1914 he raised
company at Nashville, Tennessee, and Joined Gen.
Jackson at the south. He fought at Pensacola and
then repaired to New Orleans A short time before
the battle of New Orleans, Capt. Butler detail
ed to command the guard in front of the encampment.
house standing the little bridge, in advance
of his position, had been taken possession of by the
light troops of the enemy, from whence they annoyed
our guard Capt. Butler determined to dislodge
them and burn up the house. He accordingly march
ed to the attack at the head of his command but the
enemy retired before him. Seeing them retreat, he
halted his guard, and advanced himself, accompanied
by three men only, for the purpose of burning
the house. 1t was an old frame building, weather
boarded without ceiling plaster in the inside-a
single door opening to the British camp. On enter
ing the house he found soldier of the enemy con-
cealed In corner, whom he captured and sent to
the rear with his men, remaining alone in the
house. While he was in the act of kindling fire,
detachment of the enemy, unperceived, occupied
the only door. The first impulse was to force, with
his single arm, passage through them, but he was
instantly seized in a violent manner by two three
stout fellows, who pushed him back against the wall
with such force to burst off the Notwithstanding
from the wall, and he fell through the opening thus
made. In instant he recovered HIMSELF and under
heavy fire from the enemy, he retreated until sup
ported by the guard which he Immediately led on to
the attack drove the British from their strong posi-
ton and burnt the house in the presence of the two
armies.
Capt. Butler was soon after in the battle of the
9th of January, where he sustained his previously
high and we'll earned reputation for bravery and
fulness. Soon after the close of the war; he ap-
pointed aid General Jackson, in which station he
remained until he retired from the army. Old Hicko-
ry spoke of him in the highest terms.
After the Mexican war broke out, General Butler
was appointed Major General, and his conduct
since then is known to all. At Monterey, he was in
the thickest of the battle fighting his way from one
street another, with the Mexican devils firing
him from all quarters, and never left the scene of
strife until severely wounded
In politics. Gen. Butler is a staunch and unwaver-
ing democrat. He repeatedly elected to Congress
in very strong whig district and came very near
redeeming Kentucky in 1874, when he was the demo-
cratic candidate for governor. He is at present very
generally spoken of the democratic candidate for
Vice President in 1S49.
In person, Gen. B. is tall straight and handsome
said to be the very picture of General Jackson. He
is also fine poet, and has produced many verses of
touching sweetness. Easton Argus.