The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1901-06-12

| proach of the willy foe. Ihe band OF
marauders we're quickly reinforced
and, three hundred strong, with Gun
nipgham ct their head, were quickly
on the trail.
At dawn on the following day Tur-
ner's daughter aroused young Butler
and gave the dread intelligence that
the little band was surrounded and
at the mercy of the enemy. Gun
nineham demanded an unconditional
surrender, but consented after some
parleying, to receive communication
from Captain James Butler, with
whom he had served in the Indian
wars and whom he admired for his
courage and gentlemanly conduct.
Smallwood Smith, who bad mar
ried Buffers sister. was chosen to
bear the message and conduct the
negotiations. Cunningham, learning
on inquiry, that young Jim Butler
was of the party, declined to con-
slider any proposition that exempted
him from the death penalty, as be
had been connected with a party,
which the tories held responsible fer
the death of one of their comrades
named Radcllff, and who, according
to their claim, had been murdered.
Capt. Butler unsel6shly offered him
self as hostage for his SOD, but
without avail.
Young Butler learning of the bitter
animcsity against himself and real
izing that be or his father or both
would be sacrificed bravely resolved
to sell his life as dearly as possible.
Seizing his rife he shot down lead
ing tory named Stewart. The only
protection afforded the brave little
band was the shelter of a newly con-
structed log house without doors or
windows.
Young Butler was mortally wound
ed while preparing to fire a second
time and the dying boy called his
father to bis side and gave him his
arms and ammunition bravely urging
him to use them.
The wings were largely out num-
bered and their ammunition exhaust
ed and surrender quickly followed
the death of young Butler. The
party was then lined up and heard
from the lips of Cunningham the or
der to exterminate them. Captain
Butler seized pitchfork and used it
effectuslly until his right hand was
severed by sabre stroke, when he,
with the other helpless and unarmed
men, was brutally murdered. Of the
the thirty patriots engaged, twenty
eight were killed. Oae man, Bartly
Bledsoe, was spared in consideration
of the fact that Henry Etheredge
had been released by party of wings
short time previously.
It is told that one other man con-
cealed himself among the cattle and
gained the cover of a fallen tree and
succeeded in escaping. Mrs. Smith,
the sister of Captain Butler, with
other women, relatives of the fallen,
buried the bodies, aided by their ser
wants. Lot, negro belonging to
Smallwood Smith, told long after
wards that, while buryipg his master,
be saw tory struttiDg around the
grave wearing the dead mans clothes
The men were buried where they fell
and modest stone still marks the
spot where were placed the remains
of the Buffers, father and son. The
scene of the conflict is one mile from
the thriving town of Leesville, on
the lands formerly belonging to Capt.
Philip Spann and now the property
of Capt. U. X Gunter of Batesburg.
Capt. VIM. Butler survived and
from him are descended the distin-
guished members of the family who
in subsequent years contributed So
materially to the splendid history Of
their State-civil and military.
Michael Watson commanded the
company in which VIM. Butler was
for time Lieutenant. John Corley
was an officer in the same company
and with him were three brothers,
Joseph, Sherwood and Abner. The
last named, while scouting with
Thomas Butler, approached the
house Of Joesph Cunningham in the
night time, and, by mimicing the
voice of a well-known tory, learned
the whereabouts of the tory leader,
Bloody Bill Cunningham" Capt.
Butler attacked him at Bouknight's
Ferry with thirty men. Lieut.. Cor
ley surrounded the camp and the
attack was suddenly made from tvJ