Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-06-06


lie, los, his position in the darkness and contu.
sion, and was unable 10 regain il until the action
was over In this manner, for short time, the
regimen, was without a commander, and lis
movements were regulated By the platoon off.
Gers which increased the confusion and irrcgu-
Iarity OF The advance. 10 This critical situation.
and o The heat OF The battle, Capt Butler. as The
| senior officer present, assumed commanded the
regiment, and led il on most CALAMITY 10 repeated
and successful charges, until The fight ended in
The complete roul OF the enemy. We were still
pressing on their rear, when an officer OF The ge-
neras staff rode up and ordered The pursuit dis.
| continued. Captain Bnller urged its continuance
and expressed The confident belief OF his ability 10
take many prisoners, il prImiued 10 ADVANCE
Blu, the order was promptly repeated under The
well.iuunded apprehension tina! our troops might
come in collision with each olher-an event
which had unhapply occurred at previous hour
Of the fshl. No corps or that field was more
braveiy led 10 battle than the regiment command
ed by Captain Butler; and no officer Of any rank,
save the ommander-inchiet, was entitled 10
higher credit tor The achieve.-nt Of that glorious
night
A short time before the battle of the 9th Of
January, Captain Butler was detailed TO COM
mand the guard in front 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 deter
mined 10 disIodge them, and burn the house.
He accordingly marched TO the attack at the
head Of his command, but the Enemy retired be-
fore him. Seeing them retreat, he halted his
guard, and advanced himself, accompanied by
two or three men only, for the purpose Of burn
ing the house. Ii was an old frame building
h,,rJoJ without linz or MI cfori IN
the inside, with single door opening to the
British camp. On entering the house, he found
a soldier Of the enemy concealed in one corner,
whom he captured and sent TO lie 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 &c force, with his
single arm, passage through them; but he was
| instantly seized in violent manner BY two or
three stout fellows, who pushed him back
| against the wall with such force as to burst Oft
| the Notwithstanding from the wall, and he
fell through the opening thus made. In an in
J slant he recovered himself, and, under heavy
! ere from the enemy, he retreated, until sup
ported by the guard which he Immediately led
on 10 the attack drove the British light troops
from their strong position, 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 battle of
the 9th Of January, where he sustained his pre-
yiously high and well earned reputation for
| bravery and usefulness. But that battle which,
| from lis important results has eclipsed those
which preceded it, was but slaughter Of the
enemy with trivial loss on our part, and pre-
senting few instances Of individual distinction.
CAPTAIN Butler received the breyet rank of
Major for his gallant services during that event
| full campaign, and the reward of merit was
never more worlhily bestowed. Soon after the
close of the war, he was appointed aid de camp
| 10 General Jackson, in which station he re.
| NAMED until he retired from the army. Since
that period | have seldom had the pleasure Of
meeting with my valued friend and companion in
arms, and | know but little of his career in
civil life. But in camp his elevated principles,
/ his intelligence and generous feelings, won for
him the respect and confidence Of al. who knew
| him; and where he is best known, will venture
TO say he is still most highly appreciated for
every attribute which constitutes the gentleman
| and the soldier.
am, sir very respectfully,
Mr. WILLIAM TANNER. +. h. CALL.
General Jackson's sense Of The services OF But
| Ter in This memorable campaign, "as strongly ex-
pressed in the following letter 10 member OF The
Kentucky legislature:
HERMITAGE, Feb. D, 1874.
! My DEAR Sir You ask me 10 gisc you my
opinion OF The military services Of the then Capt.
[now COLONEL William o. Butler, OF Kentucky,
| during the investment Of New Orleans by he
| British forces in 1914 and 1915. wish had
sutfcen, strength TO speak fully OF The msrl! and
The services Of Col. Butler on that OCCASION; this
strength have not. Suffice j, 10 say, that on all
occasions he displayed that heroic en- valry, and
calmncss OF judgment 10 the midst OF Danger,
which distinguish The valuable ofli:er in the
| hour OF battle. In a conspicuous m:nnef were
those noble qualities displayed by lin on the
night Of The 23i December, 1914 and on the oih
OF January, 1918, as well as a, all lines during
Inc presence oil the British army al New Orleans.
In short, he was 10 be found al all p.lnis where
duly called | hazard no'hing in siying, lhat
should our country again be engaged II war dur
ing the active age OF Col. Butler h; would be
one OF the very best selections that cout be made
to command our army, and lead the eagles oil our
country on 10 victory and renown. He has suffl-
cicnl energy TO assume all responsibility neces.
sary 10 success, and Tor his counIry's god.
ANDREW JACKSON.
General Jackson gave earlier MOT OF The
high estimation in which he held the Dung sol
der who had identified himself with HI, own gio-
~ al New Orleans. He made him .is aId-de'
camp in 1916, which station he relain'd on Inc
peace establishment, with the rank OF Colonel
But like his illusirous patron, ne soon iel that
military station and distinction had nc charms
for him when unattended with The dangers duties
and patriotic achievements Of war. lie resign
ed, therefore. even the association with his veteran
CHIEF, OF which he was so proud, and IstiTea ID
1917 10 private life. He resumed his study OF
the profession that was Interrupted bY me Wal,
married and settled down on his patrimonlai pos.
session al The confluence OF the Kentucky ana
Ohio rivers, in the noiseess but arduous voca,
lions OF civil life. The abode which he had
chosen made il peculiarly so with him. Inc
region around him was wild and romantic,
sparsely settled, and by pastoral people. Therc
are no oopuous towns. The high, rolling, ana
vel rich Landslide precipiious cliffs OF The Ken
tncky, the Eagle Severn and other tributaries
which pour into il near the mouth, make ms Sec
lion of The Stale STILL TO some extent, a wilderness
ofthickets-oi the tangled pca.vne, the grape vino,
and nu, bearing trees, which rendered all hehluc-
XIV, until The intrusion OF the whites, one great
dian park. The whole lu1ufiant domain was
preserved by the Indians pasture for buffalo,
deer. elk and other animals-lheir enjoyment
alike as chase and satisfactorily e1cludins
every tribe from fixing habilalon in it. Us
name consecracd il as The dark and bloody ground
and war pursued every foo; that irod u. IN
The mids, of this region, in April, 1871, WIN. -.
Bntler WAS horn, in Jessamine county, on Inc
Kentucky river. His father had married III
Lexington, soon alter his arrival in Kentucky,
1882 Miss Howkins, sister-in.law OF Coiohei
Todd, who commanded and persisted in the os, u;
ofthe Blue LicEs. Following the instincts ol ms
family, which seemed ever . court danse ,e Gsn
Pierce Butler, neighborhood encroaehed aiounn
him. removed not long after The birth oil his son
William, to the mouth OF the Kentucky t ;n'a he
Though this section he Indian war path into 'ne
heart of kentucky passed. Until The peace ,. o.
1894, there scarcely day that some hUs.
savage did not p,o~ !nropgn ,ne 'ans and cliffs
which adapted This region 10 their lurking wa !.