Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1848-06-27
Biographical 5kctrbcs.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
GEN, W NJ. 0, BUTLER
Compiled from the Original.
rKAHc1s p. BLAIR

General DUTLEN's grandfather. Thomas But
Ter, was born 9th April, 1920, i'll Kilkenny, Ire
land. lie married there in l742- Three OF his
five sons who attained ruanhood--Rchurd Will
liam and Thomas-were born abroad. Pierce
the father OF General WILLIAM o. HUTLEE, and
Edward, lIe youngest sou, were born i'll Pennsyl-
vania. ii Is remarkable that all these mCIi, and
all their immediate male descendants. with "a sim
Gle exception, were engaged i'll the military ser
vice U thIa country.
The eldest, Richard, WAS Lieutenant Colonel OF
Mornans celebrated rifle regiment, and ID him II
owed much of the high character lIal gave it u
fame Of its own apart from the Other corps OF the
revolution The cool, disciplined vaor which
rave steady and deadly direction to the rifles of
This regiment, was derived principally from this
officer who devoted hmsclltO the dr'!l of bis men.
lie was promoted to the full command Of Tegi-
:pcnt sometime during the war, and in that capa-
city commanded Wayne left Ia the attack on
Stony Point. About the year 1890, he WAS APP
pointed Major General. On the .I;h "i November,
1891, he WAS killed i'll General ST. ClaIrs bloody
battle with the Indians. His combat With the ln-
dians, after he shot, gave such Il peculiar in
tereSt to his fate, that representation OF himself
and the group surrounding him, WAS exhibited
throughout the Union in wax figures. Notices OF
this accomplished soldier will be found in Mar
shalls Life of Washington, pages $50, BIZ, AGO.
In Gen. St. Clair s report, i'll the American Mu-
semm, vol. vi, page IA, Appendix,
throughout the revolutionary war; rose to the rank
oE Colonel, and was !" nany Of the scvcrcst bat
Ties He the fsa ate Oi the laH,i!v, and was
boasted OF by his oil heroes tic coolest and
bravcst man in battle they had ever known
When the army was greatly reduced in rank and
file land there were MANI super fuOus officers, they
organized themselves into separate corps, and
elected him TO the command. general Washing
ton declined receiving this novel corps OF commits
stoned soldiers; but in a proud Testimonial did
honor 10 their devoted PATRIOTISM.
OF Thomas Butler, the third son, we CLEAN the
following facts from the American Bi'grA rhical
Dictionary In the year 1916, whilst lie was a
student at law in the Office OF the eminent Judge
Wilson. of Philadelphia, he left his pursuit and
Joined the army as subaltern. lie soon obtain
cd the command Of company, III which he con-
tinued Ia the close of the revolutionary war. lie
was in almost every action fought in the middle
States during the war. At the battle ot Brandy
wine he received the thanks OF Washington ON the
field OF battle, through his aid de. camp, General
Hamilton, for his intrepid conduct i'll rallyirg de-
tachmcnt of rctreating troops and giving the enc
my severe fire. Al the battle Of Monmouth he
received the thanks Of General Wayne for defend
ing dei!e, in the face of severe fire from the
enemy while Colonel Richard Buffers regiment
made good its retreat.
AT the close of the war he retired into private
life, as u farmer and continued in ;hc enjoyment
Of rural and domestic happiness until the year
1891, when he again took the field to meet the
savage foe that menaced our Western frontier
The close of his life was cm5ttc'td with tron-
BILE In 1903 he was arrested by The command
ing general, Wilkinson. at Fort Adams. on :::e
Mississippi, aud sent to Maryland, where he was
tried by court martial, and acquitted OF all
charges, save that Of rearing his h"ir, lie was
then ordered To New Orleans, where hearrived, 10
take command of the troops, Octn5e1 2Oth lie
was again arrested next mouth; but the court did
not sill until July of the next year, and their deci-
sion is moi known. Col Butler died September
s, 1905 Out orthe arrest aud persecution Of this
sturdy veteran, Washington Irving t3> nrke'hock-
cry has worked up fine piece Of hirlcsqHe, IN
which General Wilkinson character IS intimately
delineated IN that Of the vain and Po'npeous Gene
raj Won Pofienbnrg
Percival Butler, the fourth son. father Of Gen.
William q. Butler was born at Carlisle. Pa, in
1863 ieentered the army as lieutenant at
the age of eighteen; was with Washington at
Valley Forge: was in the battle 81 Monmouth,
and at the taking of Yorktown--6eing through
the whole series OF struggles in the middle States
with the troops under the oommauder.sn.chiet,
except for short period when he was attached to
light corps, commanded by Lafayctte, who pre-
scented him with swefd. Neartbe close OF the
war, he went to the South with the pennsylvania
brigade, where peace found him; He emigrated