The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-01-22
The Last Resting Place Of Distin-
guished Family.

| . NIX EDllOR: flSlIlus III Iue easleIL
section of Edgefeld County, a few weeks
ago, I Unexpectedly stumbled upon 6
spot Of more than ordinary historic TO-
terest. I refer to the old homestead ant
family burying plot Of Major Genera
William Butler, who in his youth had
been gallant soldier in the patriot army
in the war of the Revolution. I regret
that know nothing of his ancestry and
so little of his personal history. l am
told, however, that he did not marry till
after the close of the war, and that he
moved to and settled on the spot indica.
ted, and there spent the remainder of bis
life. How and where he acquired his
title of General, is also matter of con-
lecture. Most likely it was in the war Of
1912. But while I, in common with the
present generation, know so little of him,
it is safe to assume that he was decided.
ly prominent man.in his day.
Two of his sons, Andrew Pickens and
Pierce Mason, greatly distinguished
themselves in public life, the former as
Judge of one of the Judicial Circuits Of
this State, and also as a member of the
United States Senate. Here his great
abilities gave him high rank, and he is
prominently mentioned by Alexander
b. Stephens in his: history of the United
States, recently published. -
He diedlin 1857 in his 6lst year, and
rests in the family graveyard.
Pierce Mason was Lieutenant. Colonel
of mounted regiment from this State,
which did service in the Florida war OF
1886. He became more popular with
the men than the Colonel, and two old
men living near here say that he. was the
idol of the men that 8 braver man
never lived. Some years later he became
Governor, of his native State, and subse-
quently while Governor of one of the
Territories, by appointment of the Pres
ident, he was called to the Colonelcy OF
the Palmetto Regiment, which had been
raised for service in the war with Mexico.
That regiment was recruited from the
flower of Carolina chiyalry, and to be
chosen to its command was very high
honor. Colonel Butler became at once
the Commander and father" Of the Pal.
mettoes, sharing their privations and glo'
rious achievements from the moment
they entered service till the day of his
fall, which occurred on the evening ol
August 20, 1S47, as he led his gallant
and devoted followers to victory on the
bloody field of Churubusco, within sight
of the Mexican Capital. Said Gen.
Shields in his official report: "The
noble and gallant Colonel of the Palmet-
to Regiment, P. NJ. Butler, had risen
from his sick. bed to share the hardships
of the field and the dangers of the com,
bat with his devoted regiment. he sur
vived the conflict of the morning to lead
his command when victory again awaited
it. Although wounded himself and hav.
ing lost his horse-shot under him, he
still continued to press or, near the col
ors of his regiment, until the fatal ball
terminated bis life. A gallant soldier in
his youth, he has won in his death upon
the field of battle, fame for himself and
his regiment and added another name
to the roll of Carolina's departed heroes y
With reference to the fall Of Colonel
Butler, Gen. Worth wrote as follows to
Hon. A. P. Butler, his brother, (dated
Tacubaya, Mexico, Aug. 26, 1S47):
SIR: I trust a cordial intimacy and
friendship of twenty-five years with your
late brother, the gallant Colonel Butler
will excuse the trespass of a stranger
Your brother fell most gloriously in the
great battle Of the Goth, before the gate
of Mexico. In that bloody conflict nc
man gave higher evidence Of valor and
patriotism, M or exhibited brighter ex.
ample. He fell when it was Gods will
precisely as he would have desired to
die. His body rests here, his memory,
in the hearts of his countrymeD, his
spirit, bright and pure as his blade, with
his God.
"The enclosed letter written the day
before the battle, I did not receive until
the day after through the hands of Dick.
inson, and it is not because of the kind
things said by friends partiality, but
because it is probably the last letter he
penned that ] send it to you; begging
that at some future day, it may be
returned to me to be preserved and cher.
ished. The gallant Palmettoes who
showed themselves worthy of their State
and country, lost nearly one.hay. This
victory will carry joy and sorrow into
half the families of South Carolina:
Col. Dickinson is getting on well, and
will, it is hoped, save his leg. AN arm
lStlCc 10 COuS!ooSSj CIV ooAAAA1AAS'O :
meet tomorrow to treat of peace. God
speed them.'"
Following is the letter of Colonel But
ler alluded to by Gen. Worth:
"SAN AUaUsrTN, Aug. 10, 1S47.
"Dear General: We are here in tribula-
ton; can but hope, however. it is but
temporary It is ordered that this divis.
ion remain as protection to the train.
There is gloom on us all while ] am
one who believes there 'oiW be fighting
enough for all. The moral effect is
witbering. The regiment, though weak
in numbers, is up to the full point, and l
trust South Carolina may have place in
the picture. We have been watching
you and your division, for the last two
days with fraternal affection, but the en-
tire voice of the army where I have been
or heard, is unbounded considerence in
Worth 80 mote it be- But l have
strayed from the principal point or pur,
pose of my note, which is to say our
friend, Colonel Dickinson, more impatient