Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-06-21

King Of Yorktown-being through the
whole series of troubles in the middle
States, with the troops under the comman-
der-in-chief, except for short period
when he was attached to a light corps COM
manded by La Fayette, who presented
him sword. Near the close Of the war
he went to the south with the Pennsylya-
MIA brigade, where peace found him. He
.emigrated to Kentucky in 1854. He was
the last Of the old stock left when the war
of 1872 commenced. He was made adiu-
tant general when Kentucky became a
State, and in that capacity joined one Of
the armies sent out by Kentucky during
the war;. -y3
Edward Butler, the youngest Of the FIVE
brothers, was too young to enter the army
in the first stages of the revolution, but
joined it near the close, and had risen to a
captancy when Gen. St. Clair took the
command and led it to that disastrous de-
feat i'll which SO many of the best soldiers
Of the country persisted. He there evinc-
ed the highest courage and strongest fra
ternal affection, in carrying his wounded
brother out Of the massacre, which was
continued for miles along the route Of the
retreating army. and from which SO few
escaped, even Of those who fled unencum-
bered. He subsequently became adjutant
general in Wayne's army.
Of these FIVE brothers, four had sons
all Of whom, with one exception, were en-
gagged in the military or naval service Of
the country during the last war.
lst. General Richard Buffers son VIII.
liam died lieutenant in the navy early in
the last war. His son Captain james But
Ter, was at the head Of the Pittsburg Blues
which company he commanded in the cam
paigns Of the northwest, and was particu-
larly distinguished in the battle of Missis-
sinnaWa.
I'd. Colonel William Butler, also Of the
revolutionary army, had two sons; one
died in the navy, the other subaltern ir
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
was at the head of Gen. Jackson's stat
during the last war. The third, William
E. Butler, also servedin the army Of Gen
Jackson.
4. Percival Butler, captain in the rev.
dictionary war, and adjutant general Of
Kentucky during the last war, had -four
sons: first, Thomas, who was captain
and aid to Gen. Jackson at New Orleans
next, Gen William o. Butler, the subiec
of this notice; third, Richard, who wa.
assistant adjutant general in the campaign.
Of the war of 1912. Percival Butler, tn,
youngest son, now distinguished law.
yer, was not Of an age to bear arms dur.
ing the last war. Or the second genera
ton of the Buffers, there are nine certain.
ly, and probably more, engaged in the
present war. s...
This glance at the family shows the char.
acter OF the race. An anecdote, derived
from letter of an old Pennsylvania FRIEND
of the parents, who transplanted it from
Ireland, shows that its military instinct
was an Inheritance. awhile the five
sons" says the letter, "were absent from
home in the service of the country, the
old father took it in his head to 60 also.
The neighbors collected to demonstrate
against il; but his wife said, 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 can
shoulder musket.'" 1t was doubtless
this extraordinary zeal of the Buler fami-
ly which induced Gen. Washington to
give the toast--"T The Buffers, and their
five sons,' at his own table, whilst sur
rounded by large party Of officers. This
anecdote rests on the authority of the late
Gen. Findlay, of Cincinnati. A similar
tribute of respect was paid to this devoted
house of soldiers by Gen. Lafayette, in a
letter now extant, and in the possession oil
lady connected with it by marriage. La
fayette says, ssWhea l tranted thing ,csll
done, ordered Butler to do it,
From this retrospect it will be seen that,
in all the wars of the country--in the re-
evolutionary war, in the Indian war, in the
last British war, and the present Mexican
war-the blood of almost every Butler
able to bear arms has been freely SIZED in
the public cause. Maj. Gen. William o.
Butler is now among the highest in the
military service OF his country and he has
attained this grade from the ranks-the
position of private being the only one he
ever sought. At the opening Of the war
of 1917, he had just graduated in the Tran
sylvania University, and was looking to
the law as profession. The surrender
of Detroit, and of the army by Hull, arou-
sed the patriotism and the valor Of Ken
tuckey and young Butler, yet in his mi
nority, was among the first to volunteer.
He gave UP his books, and the enjoyments
Of the gay and polished society Of Lexing-
ton, where he lived among a circle of fond
and partial relations the hope to crafty
their ambition in shining at the bar, or III
the political forum Of the State--to Join
Capt. Harris company Of infantry as pri.
vate soldier.
Before the march to join the northwest
ern army, he was elected corporal. lr
this grade he marched to the relief Of Fort
Wayne, which was invested by hostile In.
dians. These were driven before the
Kentucky volunteers to their towns on the
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