The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-07-02
MEDAL. nR HONOR.

Col. F. G.. Butterfeld, Chief OF the Special
Examiners Division Of the Pension Bureau,
has received q medal Of honor. accompanied by
tho following highly complimentary letter
from Gen. l.. a. Grant, Acting Secretary Of
War:
Col. F. G.. BUrTERFIsLD-
My DEAR SIR; Herewith please find a Medal Of
Honor from the Congress Of the United States
awarded You for gallant conduct at the battle OF
Salem Nights Nav g. SG3. and copy Of the papers
Tie iu thG War Department.
The traUsui,sll, through an official act, j. one OF
unusual interest o. mo because Of the well known
merits Of tue recipient and the "reminiscences % the
oersSiou. "a was while you were on my personal
-faT ,nd acting under my orders-ju-i = ye'r- ago
tO-iay--tLHt you performed the gallant services
referred 20. IL gave me pleasure To mention you
by name ~ my report 81 che engagement, and u
gives pleasure 10 transmit this Medal Of
] remain, very truly yours
J.. A. GRANT, Acting Secretary Of War.
Col Butterfeld had repeatedly earned this
distinction, having been several times men
toned in General Orders and otherwise for
gallant conduct. When called upon to select
which act he would receive the medal for, he
chose one which he performed under the eye
Of Gen. l.. A. Grant, who was then his superior
officer.
lilo entered the service in October, 1861, as
Second Lieutenant Of Co 4, 9Th VT, and in
August Of the next year was promoted 10 First
Lieutenant Of Co e.. AT tho battle Of Lees
tiugui5hed Itself. it was ordered 10 return
across tho creek. over which it had charged,
aud performed this under q severe fire OF artil-
lery and musketry. Lieut. Buttcrfold'5 Cap
tain was struck and fell by his side, but But
teriield picked him up. held him above the
water. ana finally carried him or the field,
only TO find that his labor and risk had been
in vain, since the Captain was dead.
At the battle Of Gpiding's Farm, June %,
1862, his regiment VAS forced back about q
thousand yards leaving It's tents still standing,
and great deal Of ammunition and arms in the
camp. Lieut.. ButteFfield took force OF 100
men, returned 70 tho camp, destroyed the
tents, camp equipage, and some Of the arms
aud ammunition, and brought OF a portion.
This was done under a heavy fire, and the
manner OF doing il excited the admiration Of
his superior officers.
He performed similar exploit at Savage
| Station. At NaTye's flights, May 3, 1863. Lieut..
| Butterield, who then an Aid on the sfaT
/ of Gen. L. A. Grant rallied q regiment which
| had fallen into confusion, owing 10 the ineOu-
peteuce Of It's Colonel, and led il back into bat
I tie. The next day in the same battle his regi-
/ ment gained an advanced position by the i'm
I petuOsity Of It's charge, and the rebels were
/ between 10 and the main body, which they were
\ attacking. Several Aids were sent to recall the
! regiment, but did not succeed IN doing so, and
\ Lieut.. Buttcrfed undertook the task aud per-
IOIieu AZ ~ was Iot 1A'S IAd1 Ho Si'O7S W AZ
\ cept his medal.
/ At the battle Of the Wilderness, May ;, 1864,
| Capt. Butterfeld commanding Go. !, which
/ then had 3 muskets lost Il Of his men killed
ard - wounded. He afterward served credit
ably through the Wilderness campaign and in
the Shenandoah Valley. AtCharlestown. on the
! DIST Of August, no was severely wounded in the
knee. but remained on the field in command Of
his company. At the expiration Of the three
years term Of his regiment be was made
Licutcuaut-C Colonel, although he was the
youngest Of tho original officers Of the regi-
ment. Gen. SehOheid, after examination Of all
papers pronounced his record an exceedingly
brilliant one and that he had several times
| well meritel a medal