Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-01-12

Gen. Butler was born in Deerfield, n. II.
on the 9TH of November. 1918. He was III,
son of Captain John Butler, who served
under Gen. Jackson at New Orleans. II,
was graduated at Watervillc College (now
Colby University, Maine, in lS3s, was al
mitted to the bar in 1910, began practice al
Lowell in 1871, and has since had high
reputation as a lawyer, especially in Grim
inal cases. lie early took a prominent pari
in politics on the Democratic side, and was
elected member of the Massachuseti.
House of Representatives in 1858, where he
was prominent in forwarding the bill to re-
duce the hours of labor in factories from II
to II. He was member of the Constitti-
tional convention in the same year, and in
1859 was a member of the state Senate.
In the las, national Democratic convcn-
ton held prior to the War of the Rebellion.
Gen. Butler took part as a delegate from
Massachusetts, the session being held at
Charleston. When portion of the dele
gates renssembled at Baltimore, MIR. Butler.
after taking part in the opening debates
and votes, announced that n ma jorty OF the
delegates would not further participate in
the deliberations of the convention on the
ground that there had been withdrawal in
part of the ma jority of the states and fur
iher, he added, upon the ground that |
would not sit in a convention where the
African slave trade, which is piracy bysthe
laws of my country, is approvingly advo-
Gated"
When the war broke out and the first
call for troops was issued he was com
lnan,ler of a brigade of the state militia
and at once issued orders for the mastering
of his command. The call was made April
10, 1861. and on the next day the Sixth
Regiment left Boston, Gen. Butler starting.
on the 18th with the Eighth Regiment IN
der orders to proceed to Washington by
way of Baltimore. Two regiments of the
brigade were sent by another route TO Fort
rcss Monroe, which they garrisOncd BY
the burning of bridges Gen. Butler was
rendered unable to reach Washington by
way of Baltimore, and, therefore, seized
annapolis, repaired the railroad between
that point and Washington, and reached
the capital in time to prevent its falling into
the hands of the hostile forces.
On MAY IL he entered Baltimore nj the
mead of 300 men. meeting with no opposi-
iion. and May 90, having been commits
stoned major general in the United States
service, he was assigned the command OF
Fortress Monroe. 1t was while nj that fosi
that he made his famous point in regard Ia
runaway slaves. refusing to send such
slaves back TO their owners, on the ground
that were property contrahand of war
Having taken part with Admiral Farragui
in the movement on New Orleans, he
entered that city May /, 1859 and remained
there until Dec. IL of the same year, when
he was relieved by General Banks. Ili-
government of the city was vigorous and
successful.
In November, 1863, he was placed in
command of the Department of Virginia
and North Carolina, and in the winter con-
ceived the project of attacking Richmond
from City Point AMI Bermuda Hundred, Il
plan whirh he entered upon occupying that
peninsula in May 1864. Here he aided ,l,t.
movement of Gen. Grant upon Petersburg.
lie as ordered to New York during tie.
Presidential election of 1864. and in De
ceniher of that year he was sent against
Fort Fisher, bis expedition proving unsuc-
cessful. He was subs quently relieved of
his command. and at the close of the war
was mustered out of the United States ser
vice. He served in the state militia sonr
years after the war. holding at one time the
position of major general, an office which
which was abolished on the reorganization
of the militia in 1873
Gen. Butler was elected to Congress from
the fifth Massachusetts, district, in 1866 as
Republican receiving reelection for
three successive terms and serving from
March 4. sf7 to March 3. 1876. In thu
4 = L I L
T. Thompson, but two years later was
again chosen. He ran as Independent and
Democratic candidate for Governor in lS1s
and was ,lefeatd by Hon Tbos. Talbot,
Running the next year on a Democratic
aud independent ticket be was defeated By
Hon. John u. Long.
In 1ss2 the Democrats united upon him
as their cani date and he was ciecteti.
though the rest Of the state ticket WAS i,
feated During his administration he mad.
Il charge of gross mismansgemen against
the authorities OF the fewksbury aims
house, hut, after long investigation u
cominttet. of tie Legislature decided that il
was not sustained In 1888 he was renoni-
mated, bat was defeated.
In lssi he was The candidate of the
Greenbsek and Anti MonopoIist parties for
the Presidency. and received I3S .S25 votes.
Sine. bis retirement from the Governor
ship the general had evoted himself with
his accustomed assriuity to his Law prsc;icr.
fitting between boston. New York anil
Washington with the activity of man
far younger. Iii. last case--fhat is isi-
last appearance in public--was in the Saw
yer viii ease, which occupied the last two
weeks of 1892 at Salem
Gen. ButIer's wife WAS the daughter ei
Dr Israel lIilIretb Of LOWELL, anil she died
April =, 1876 Their daughter married
Gen Adcihcrt Ames. T.. s. A., and sur-
vtves hpr oareuts