Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-08-16


the battle, lost his position in tie darkness
md confusion, and was unable 10 reg lin il
until the action was over In This manner
for short time, the regiment WIS without
q commander, and its movements were reg
ulated by the platoon officers, which in.
creased The confusion and irregularity OF
the. advance. In this critical situation, aid
IN the heat of the battle, Captain Butler, rs
the senior officer present, assumed COM
mand Of the regiment, and led it on most
gallantly to repeated and successful charges,
until'the fight ended inFthe complete route
of the enemy. We " ere still pressing or
lhefr rear, when an ot1i:ef &the,ssgen erar:
s:af-roi up and orderei the po1sailz dis
continued Gaptain Butler urged lis can,
tinuance, and expressed the ceh6dept be-
lief Of his ability to lakes,nany prisoners, il
| permitted to advance bat the order was
promptly repeated, undM tho we'll founded
apprehension that our troops might come
in collision with cacIE other-an event
which had unhappuy occurred at q previ-
Gus hour Of the fight. No corps on that
field was more braveIy led to battle than
the regiment commanded by Capt Butler;
and no officer of any rank, save the com:
mander in-chie(: was enlilledto higher cred
lit for the achievement OF that glorious
night.
A short time before The battle of The sth
OF January, Captain BCTLER was de-
tailed 10 command the guard in from!
Of the encampment. A house standing near
the bridge, in advance of his position, had
been taken possession Of by the light troops
OF the enemy, from whence they annoyed
our guard. Captain BUTLER determined
10 dislodge them and burn the house. He
accordingly marched to the attack at the
head Of his command, bat the enemy relir-
ed before him. Seeing them retreat, he
halted his guard, and advanced himself, ac-
companied by two or three men only, for
the purpose of burning the house. 1t was
an old frame bulding, wealher-b boarded,
without ceiling or plaster in the inside, with
n single door opening to the British camp.
On entering the house. he found n soldier
whom he captured nnl sent TO the rear
with his men, remaining alone in the house.
While he was in the act of kindlng n fire,
a detachment Of the enemy unperceited,
occupied the only door. The first impulse
was to force. withlris single nrn,,n posso ge
through them. but he was Instantly seized
in violent manner By Two or three stout
! fellows, who pushed hrm back against the
wall with such a force as 10 burst { IF The
weather-boarding Of the wall, and lie iel
through the opening thus made. In an IN.
| cto ha nd
heavy fire from the enemy, he retreated
until supported by the guard, which he i'm.
mediately led on to the attack, drove the
British light troops from their strong posi-
ton, and burnt the house in the presence
of the two armies.
witnessed on that field many deeds of
daring courage, but none Of which more
excited my admiration than this.
Captain Butler was soon after in the bat
tie of the 9th Of January, where he sustain.
ed his previously high and well earned
reputation for bravery and usefulness. But
that battle, which, from its important re-
sults, has eclipsed those which preceded it,
was but slaughter of the enemy, with
but trivial loss on our part, and presenting
few instances of individual distinction.
Captain Butler received the brevet rank
of major for his gallant services during that
eventful cagmpaign, and the reward Of
was never more worthily bestowed. Soon
after the close of the war he was appoint.
ed aid-de-camp to General Jackson,in which
station he remained until he retired from
the army. Since that period have seldom
had the pleasure Of meeting with my val.
ued friend and companion in arms, and
know but little of his career in civil life.
But in camp, his elevated principles, his in
Ilelligence, and generous feelings, won for
him the respect and confidence of all who
knew him; and where he is best known, |
will venture to say, he is still most highly
appreciated for every attribute which con-
stitutes the gentleman and the soldier.
am, sir, very respectfully,
R. X. CALL.
Mr.. WILLIAM TANNER.
General Jackson's sense of the services
Of Butler, in this memorable campaign, was
strongly expressed in the following letter
to member of the Kentucky Legislature:
HERMITAGE, February 20, 1914.
My DEAR SIR: You ask me to give you
my opinion Of the military services Of the
then Captain. now Colonel WILLIAM O..
BUTLER, of Kentucky, during the invest
ment of New Orleans by the British forces
in 1914 and 1915. wish had strength
to speak fully of the meri: and the services
of Colonel BUTLER on that occasion; this
strength have not. Suffice it to say, that
on all occasions he displayed that heroic
chivalry and calmness of judgment in the
midst of danger, which distinguish the val
liable officer in the hour of battle. In q
conspicuous manner were thpse noble quail
tiles displayed by him on the night of the
23d December 1914, and on the 9Th Janu-
ary, 1915, as well as at all times during
the presence of the British Army at New
Orleans. In short he was to be found at all
points where duty called. hazard no.
thing in saying, that should our country a
gain be engaged in war during the active
age of Colonel Butler, he would be one of
the very best selections that could be made
to command our army and lead the Eagles
of our country on to victory and renown.
He has sufficient energy to assume all re-
sponsibility necessary 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
l. S1o,,, Nan Hrloon. l.