Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1848-01-29


ence on the fortunes Of that day. During the
conflict, the commander Of the regiment 90,
lost in the darkness, when Butler q, senior ofi.
Ger, placed himself at the head Of the men, and
led them to repeated charges He also fought
at the more decisive battle Of the S.h For his
meriforous conduct IN this campaign he was
made major ~ brevet. Soon aftcr General
jackson appointed him his aid de.camp, in
the army.
In 1917. with the rank Of colonel, Butler re.
tired 10 private life. He now resumed the stu.
dy Of the law, married. and settled on his pstri.
hio and Kentucky rivers Here, for twenty
FIVE years, he resided in comparative retire.
ment. a mode Of lie admirably suited to his re.
fined tastes and his fondress for domestic life
b,ion, he had M desire for popular Office. cx.
ccpt 90 far as he believed he could BY holding
public trusts, be conducive to the common veal.
At last. in a political crisis, he was induced by
Twice he was elected. and would have been
third time, perhaps, had he not absolutely decli.
ned Ia 1914 he became the candidate of his
party for Governor Of Kentucky, when he as.
tn diminish the usual majority Of the Whig par.
ty: and this, notwithstanding his opponent was
an estimabe man. Butler belongs 10 the de.
mocrutic side in politics. He has never, how.
ever, been considered violent partizun.
When the war with Mexico broke out, he
was created a Major General. He marched
with the Kentucky and other volunteers to the
aid Of General Taylor. and was with that hero
a, Monterey. In this terrible siege, Butler was
second in command He. like Gen. Taylor,
saw the importance Of sei,ing the SsIiillo road,
and fully favored the movement of Gen. Worth
TO turn the enemy's left. From the narrative
Of M.jr Thomas, one Of the Generals compan.
ions in arms. We quote the following detailed
account OF his heroism on that day:
Worth marched on Sunday. September 20,h,
thus leaving TwiGgs' and Buffers divisions
OF throwing his division across the St. Johns ri.
yer. ard approaching the town from the east.
which was at first determined upon. This was
changed, as it would leave but one, and per.
haps the smallest division. to guard the camp.
and attack in front The Goth the general also
reconnoitered the enemy's position. Early in
! :he morning Of the 2lst the force was ordered
out to create . diversion in tavoI Of Worth, that
he might gain his position; and before our di.
vision came within long range Of the enemy's
| principal battery. the foot Of Twiggs' division
had been ordered down to the northeast side o.
the town, TO make an armed reconnoisance @
the advanced Battery, and to take it if it coulc
be done without great loss. The volunteer di
vision was scarcely formed in rear Of our how
tiger and mortar battery. established the nigh
previous under cover OF a rise Of ground, befor,
the infantry sent down to the northeast side O
The town became closely and hotly engaged. th'
batteries OF that division were sent down. an,
zoe soere then ordered 10 support the attack
Leaving the Kentucky regiment to support tn
mortar and howi'zer battery, :he general rap
idly put in march. by . flank movement. tn
other three regiments, moving for some one an
half or two miles under heavy FIRE Of roun'
shot. As further ordered, the Ohio regimen
was detached from Qui,man's brigade. and le
by the general (at this time accompanied b
Gen. Taylor into the town. Qutman carrie
his brigade directly on the battery first attack
ed, and gallaniiy carried it. Before this, how
ever, a. we entered the suburbe, the chief eng
necr came up and advised US to withdraw, a
the object Of. the attack had failed. and il we me
we'd on we must meet with great loss. TIL
general was loaih to tail hack without consul
ing with General Taylor, which he did doth
general being but 4 short distance of As W
were Withdrawing, news came that Qui,ms
had carried the battery, and General Butler lie
the Ohio regiment back to the town at dlffeI
ent point. In the street we became exposed
line Of batteries on the opposite side Of sms
stream. and also from tete de pont (bridgs
head) which enhaded Us. Our men fell RAPID
ly as we moved up the street TO get Positio
to chsrge the battery scrcss ;he stream. Con
ing 10 cross street, the general reconnoitere
tho position, and determined to charge fror
that point, sent me back . short distance to sto
J tho firing, and advance the regiment with tn
bayonet. had just left him. when he was sirac
J in the leg. being on loot, and was obliged ,
, lesve the helc. -s s.s...s t.r.r
On entering the town, the general and HI
; troops became at once holly engaged st sho,