Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-10-01
From the Marion American.
rgE pALMETToEs IN MEXICO.

From the Marion American.
THE PALMETToEs IN MEXICO.
By ONE OF THE TWO HUNDRED.
NEW sERlEs-No. III.
The regiment of December accepted the
field officers who had been elected by the
regiment of June. They were Col. Pierce
NJ. Butler, Lieut. Col. James P. Dickenson'
and Mai. A. H. GLADDEN.. The last is the
only one who survived the battles.
Pierce NJ. Butler was elected Colonel by
acclamation, without his knowledge, and
while he was in the wildernesses of the West.
It was tribute worthy of the man. While
he was in the West, among the Indians, on
public service, when leader for the Pal
mettoes was to be chosen, although there
were hundreds Of men in South Carolina
who would have led them into the very jaws
of death, all eyes were turned to him, anda
message was sent to him to come home, and
lead them. He was one of the most chlv-
alrous men in the State-a soldier BY pro-
fession. If there was a man in South Car
olipa whom would have followed with equal
confidence, it was Gen. James Jones, OF
Edgefeld.
Colonel Butler was nearly fifty years of
age, slightly gray, but which was more the
result of disease and hardship than of age.
In figure he was tall and commanding, more
than six feet high, and Of elegant soldierly
stature and carriage. He had an eye an ca
gle might have euvied. In every aspect he
was every inch man, and as he walked be-
fore his regiment, in the attitude of com.
mand, or with his clarion voice addressed
them in his frequent and fervid appeal to
their pride and chivalry, he impressed every
bcholder with an admiration approaching
veneration.
A noble spirit calm and high
That cannot fear, that will not bow,
Was written in his manly eye
Aud on his manly brow"
am no man-worshipper, yet have seen
men who gave me faith in human perfectl-
bility. Col. Butler was one of them. l
studied him closely, and while his character
displayed every virtue, it was unblemished
by single fault or infrmity. What virtue
did he lack? He was as brave as lion,
and as tender and compassionate as woman.
He was just, generous and magnanimous.
AS remarkable instance of his mercy and
maguanimity, I will give an example,
George Griffin, my mess-mate, gallant and
, brilliant young man, but hasty and passion
ate, disobeyed an order of Col. Butler, and
being reprimanded by him, Griffin retorted
very sharply, insulting Col. Butler in the
presence of his regiment. I saw the flash
of Buffers eye, the flush Of his cheek, and
the culver of his compressed lip, and trem-
bled for the fate of my imprudcnt friend.
But the gathering storm passed from the
features of Butler, and benignant smile
followed. It was a momentary struggle be-
tween pride and discipline, against the sweet
ness and mildness of his nature. He came
up to Griffin, and excused him with mild
and pater' ! remonstrance. From any other
man but Butler the imprudeuce of Griffin,
who was private in the ranks, would have
cost him his life, or the extreme rlgor OF
military law. Butler was frank, and manly,
ingenious and candid, as child.
"True to his word, in every thought sincere
He knew no wish, but what the world might hear"
He was unselfsh, and self-sacri6ciug, pa
tieut, uncomplaining, and modest. The af-
fections and relations between him and his
men, were on his part kind, solicitous, and
paternal, and on their part, affectionate, flial
and obedient. They were proud of Butler,
and he was proud of them.
He was a sad, and profoundly melancholy
man. The hot sirocco had passed over, and
blasted the green pastures of his youth, and
but one impulse, one sentiment, one pleasure
remained, and that was duty. Hewas deep
ly distracted and thoughtful. With his
head bowed as if with suffering and his good
sword hugged under his arm, | have seen
him walk for four hours, sad, solitary, and
distracted, in selfcommuniou. l slept by
his side on the last night before he died,
when only 600 of us were threatened by H.
900 Me1icans, who only waited the coming
of the morning to plunge down upon u.s.
At the dawn of day he vas up, surveying
the field of death. 1 was up with him, and
he talked to me in tone of unusual sadness.
He felt that his hour was about to come
The presentiment was fulfilled, and the sun
set that evening, blushing upon field stain
ed with the blood of five thousand men, and
among them was Butler, aud with him near
ly one half of his Palmettoes.
James P. Dickinson was Lieut.. Colonel.
He was man of striking and imposing ap.
pearauce--tall, powerful and Of perfect fg-