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


lag b, ia short distance off As we were
news came that Quitman had
carried the first battery, and General But.
ler led the Ohio regiment back to the town
at a different point. In the street we be.
came exposed TO a line Of batteries on the
opposite side of a small stream. and also
from tets de pont (bridge-head) which
entiladed US. Our men fell rapidly as we
moved up the street to get a position 10
charge the battery across the stream
Coming to cross street, the General re.
connotered the position, and determining
to charge from that point, sent me back n
short distance 10 stop the firing,ond advance
the regiment with the bayonet. had
just left him when he was struck in the
leg being on foot and was obliged to leave
the field
"On entering the town, the General and
his troops became at once hotly engaged
at short musket range. fle had to make
his rcconnoisances under heavy fire.
This he did unAinchingly and by exposing
his person-on one occasion passing thro'
large gateway into yard which was
entirely open to the enemy. When he
was wounded at the intersection OF the
two streets, he was exposed to cross-iire OF
musketry and grape.
'ln battle the Generals bearing was tru-
ly that of soldier; and those under him
felt the influence Of his presence. lie had
the entire confidence of his men"
The narrative Of Major Thomas con-
tinues:
"W hen Ger. Taylor went on his expe-
dilion to V Victoria, in December. he placed
General Butler in command of the troops
left on the 10 Grande and at the stations
from the river on to Saltillo-Worth S
small division of regulars being at the Int
ter place. General Wool's column had
by this time reached Parras, one hundred
or more miles west of Sallillo. General
Butler had so far recovered from his wound
as to walk little, and take exercise on
horseback; though with pain to biz limb
One night, (about the 10Th Decenber,) an
expire 8. came from General Worth nj Sal
iilIo, stating that the Mexican forces were
advancing in large numbers from San
Luis de Polosi, and that he expected to be
attacked in two days. His division, all
told, did not exceed fifteen hundred men,
if so many, and he asked reinlorcements.
The General remained up during the bal
ance Of the night, sent off the necessary
couriers to the rear for reinlorcemen:s,
and had the lst Kentucky and the lst
Ohio foot then encamped three miles from
town in the place by daylight; and these
two regiments with Webster's battery, were
encampej that night ten miles on the road
to Saltillo. This promptness enabled the
General to make his second days march
of twenty twomi!es in god sc lso,, and to
hold the celebrated pass Of Los Muertos,
and check the enc ny should he have attack.
ed Gen W orth on that day, and obliged
him to evacuate the town. Whilst on the
next and las. days march, The General re-
ceived notice that the reported advance Of
the enemy was untrue. Arriving ut the
camp ground, the General suffered intense
pain from his wound, AMI slept not during
the night. This journey, over n rugged
mountainous road, and the exercise he took
in examining the country for twenty miles
| in advance oil 'Saltillo, caused the great in
crease of pain now experonced.'
The Maj II S account tlen COOS. on to re.
late General Butle.'s Pr ceilings while in
command Of all the forces, after the juno.
ton of Generals Worth and Wool--his
dispositions to meet tho threatened attack
of Santa Anna-the detences created by
him at Satillo, and used during the attack
at Buena Vista in dispensing Minion's for,
ce~-his just treatment of the people of Sal
tillo, with the prudent AMI elfoctu1l pre
cautions taken to make them passive in the
event of Santa Annals approach. 1t con-
cludes by stating that all apprehensions oil
Santa Anna advance suhsijng General
| Butler returned to meet General Taylor at
Monterey, 10 report the condition Of fairs;
and the latter, having taken the command
at Salillo, transmitted lowe Of absence
to General Butler, to afford opportunity
| for the cure of his wound
This paper af1',rds evidence Of the kind
feeling which subsis:ed between the two
Generals during the campaign, an this
sentiment was strongly evinced by General
Butler,on his arrival in Washington, where
he spoke in the most exalted terms Of the
leader under whom he served.
In person General Butler is tai, straight,
and handsomely formed, exceeding y active
and alert. His mien is inviting, lis man.
ners graceful, his gait and air military, his
countenance frank and pleasing, the out
line ofhis features Of the nqnline cast
thin and pointed in expression, the gen.
eral contour ofh his head is Roman.
The character of General Butler in pri.
vate life is in fine keeping with that exhib-
tied in his public career. In the domes
tic circle, care, kindness, assiduous activity
in anticipating the wants Of all around him
Readiness to forego his own qualifications
to crafty others, have become habits grow
ing out of his affections. His love makes
perpetual sunshine Mt his home. Among
his neighbors, liberalty, aff;,bility, and ac-
tive sympathy, mark his social intercourse,
and unbending integrity and justice in all
bis dealings. His home is one Of unpre-
tending simplicity. 1t is too much the hab-
it in K kentucky, with stern and fierce men,
to carry their personal and political ends
with high hand. General Butler, with
all his masculine strength, courage, and
reputation to give success to attempts of
this sort never evinced the slightest dispo-
silion TO indulge the power,whist his we'll
known irmness always forbade such at.
tempts on him. His life has been one of
peace with all men except the enemies OF