The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-05-27

Pelican was always hunting up batteries
for his men to take. Gen. Breckenridge
replied, 'sTake it if you CAM
We then moved forward at a charge,
when we got into the Kelley field in front of
this battery, on the left and in rear Of Gen.
Thomas position, to where Gen. Chalaron
says he marked our most advanced posi-
ton" Gen. Adams, Capt. Outlet, his
Assistant Adjutant- General, and Major
Butler were just in the rear, and little to
the right of our company, when Gen.
Adams, Capt. Outlet and Major Butler, all
three, were shot from their horses. Gen.
Adams seriously, Capt. Outlet mortally
wounded and Major Butler killed instantly.
Their horses rushed madly from the field,
as Gen. ,Chararon says, Through the in
tervals of the Fifth Company Of Washing
ton Artillery
Just at this time some one said: eve
are thanked on the right; fall back" It
has been mooted question ever since who
said it. Some said, Gen. Randall L. Gibson
(your colleague in the United States Sen
ate) and others said not. He was then
senior colonel In command of the brigade.
At all events, we fell back, and the Fifth
Company of Washington Artillery and
Cobb's Battery of Kentucky, under Major
Graves, division chief of artillery, threw
themselves into the breach until we could
reform and drive Gen. Thomas forces from
the field.
While on this subject will quote from
an article of mine in the Times Democrat,
of New Orleans, published March 20, 1898,
entitled; "War With spain," in which
said: "Would that could WELD graphic
pen to tell you how Slocumb and his Fifth
Company of Washington Artillery held in
check on Sunday, at Chickamauga, as
good troops under Gen. Thomas, on the
Chattanooga road, as the world ever saw,
until we could rally and drive them from
the field. But along with Capt. Slocumb's
name on monumental marbel should be
inscribed the names Of Gen. Daniel W..
Adams, Capt. Outlet, Assistant Adujant-
General, and Major Loudon Butler, Nine
teenth Louisiana Regiment, Confederate
Army, as we'll as in the hearts of the
Southern people,
After reforming, about O'Clock, we
again charged and drove Gen. Thomas and
his troops off the field, Until night we
remained in possession Of the battlefield.
Dark coming down upon us, we went
upon the field to bring in our dead. Ihave
told you the rest about Major Buffers
body. can see it now, just as it had
fallen from his horse. Oh! so long ago!
Living on its back: hands elevated above
his head; right foot drawn up under left
leg at knee; coat minus stars and buttons;
sword, sash and spurs all gone.
/ feel, perhaps, ought not to have told
you this, but know, General, it will not
revive any poignancy of grief as his sainted
mother, guess, has long since passed into
better world, where wars are heard Of no
more. And you saw so much of this in the
sixties that you can read this with calm
sadness.
Yes, Major Loudon Butler "sleeps we'll, !"
(unless his body was exhumed after Chick
amauga, and if it was never heard of it, }
in the Kelley field, on the battlefield Of
Chickamauga, near to the place Gas have
said before) Gen. Chalaron marked as the
most advanced position our regiment at
tanned on Sunday, Goth of September, 1863.
Let me say right here that there never
was, in my opinion, a more courtly gentle
man or more gallant plumed knight that
followed the Stars and Bars down to defeat
than Major Loudon Butler, Of the Nine
teenth Louisiana Regiment He command
ed the regiment often, and his last battle
was fought at Chickamauga. He rests
unhonored by requiem or monument. But
such men never die! They live on and on,
and their memory is an inspiration to no
bier and better deeds by those of us left to
remember their lives.
Of course, were with you l could tell
you more Of Major Butler than can in this
imperfectly written and composed letter.
| am sorry | did not write you of him
before | did, but thought you would get
all the data in reference to his life and
death from Col. Turner, or Lieutenant
Colonel Kennedy, as they both lived some
time after the war.
hope some day to see you in this world;
if not, Good be with you till we meet in
Heaven, " is the prayer, my dear General, of
II II