The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-12-04
OBITUARY.

rev men OF our PARISH, dying so young,
have lett a more numerous circle of friends
than john j. BUTLER, Assessor and Collec.
tor Of State and Parish Taxes for St. Ian.
dry, whose death, at the early age of 81,
was announced last week.
A Planter on Bayou Bnuf, he was bat
little known hey nd the lImi.ed circle ofhis
neighborhood, until he was elected a lien.
tenant in Capt. B. F. Whites afterwards
McCrory's) company Of heavy artillery,
organized in this Parish in the b~eyinnin.
Of 1862. The company Vas ably Off cered,
and was composed of the very best material
of our Parish. 1t reached New Orleans in
time to participate in the defence of the
city, when captured by the Federal feet in
1852. Though the company lost its guns,
it maintained its organization in the gene
raj wreck and panic, and retreated to
Donaldsonvillc, whence, by way of Port
Hudson and Clinton, early in the month of
May, it reached Camp Moore, the then
rendezvous of the Confederate troops.
Soon afterwards Major Oyden's battalion
of Louisiana heavy artillery, into which the
company had teen incorporated, was order
cd to Vicksburg. When tn. battalion
arrived at that place. the concentration OF
troops was just beginning. RedoubtS, at
first hastily thrown up, were daily strength
ened, and mounted with the heaviest guns
the Confedcracy could furnish; until at
len 5th the frowning batteries, browning the
hills, so eftectually closed the river, that all
communication between the upper and
lower Mississippi was entirely cut off. This
at once made Nicksburg a point of the first
strategic importance to both bclli gerents.
And soon the struggle of -iants Tor the
mastery OF the great river, began, and
nIver ceased until the fall of this vital
stronghold of the Confederacy, on the 4th
of July 1863, more than a year after its
occupation.
During all this time the company did
the s~everest duty. 1t was ever at the post
of danger, and no comm and stood bv its
guns more CALAMITY. 1t had charge of one
of the water batteries, mounting the heav-
lest guns of the garrison, whose vel! direc-
ted shots were attested by more than one
disabled Federal gunboat. Butler was
constantly or duty during the entire seige,
and won the applause of all with home he
came in contact; by his bearing as a soldier,
and his department as a gentleman. In
action he was conspicuous for his gallantry.
and no off err of his rank possessed a more
thorough knowledge of his duties as an
artillerist. In camp his kindness to his
men, and his attention to their every want,
doubly cndeared him to them; and at the
close of the seige, no officer had won a
more enduring reputation. When the
Vicksburg prisoners were exchanged. he
Immediately reported for duty, and during
The remainder of the war, was stationed
with his company in one of the forts near
After the surrender of the
forces he resumed planting,
soon after was appointed notary public
justice of the peace; which offices he
neld until 1867, when finding they inter-
too much with his business as a
he resigned.
At the general election in 1868, he was
! candidate for the office Of Assessor, and
elected by a handsome majority; and
the act of 1869 went into effect, he
became by virtue of his Office Collector Of
State and Parish Taxes. Of the able and
manner in which he discharged the
responsible duties of this office, ii is need
less to speak. Though the collection was
probably the largest of any country parish
IN Louisiana, and a commencement was not
made to collect until about the first of Anril
a. the Tune OF his death all the one per
cent tax had been collected. paid over and
recelpted for, and only a pi.tance Of tho
State tax and licences remained to he onl
lected. Had he lived three weeks ioneer
his whole account would have been settjed
and his quietus obtained.
The death of such a man at tais. time, is
an irreparable loss. But it is at home in
the family circle, by the helpless orphans, !
he widow, aud the aged mother left chilli
less, that the blow falls most c%rusiln4iv.
they have the sympathies of numerous
who condelo with them in their
heavy bereavement. A FRIEND. !