The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-04-20
MATTHEW CALBRAITE BUTLER

Butler was one OF the conspicuous
figures in the military ana political
activities Of his native Stale and Of
the Southland it was with dist:n-
guished honor to himself and to Lis
constituency that for nearly two de-
cades he represented the Palmetto
State in the national congress.
Gen. Butler was born near Green
vile, South Carolina, on the 9Th Of
March, 1886. He came from 4 line
of distinguished ances33>,s and Of a
family of which the nt;l)a has reason
to be proud.
His father was DR.. William Butler
an assistant surgeon in the United
States navy, and congressman in
1S41. His mother, Jane T. Butler,
was daughter of Capt. Perry, Of the
United States navy, Of Newport,
Rhode Island, and was a sister OF
Commodore Oliver 81. Perry and Mat
thew Calbraith Perry.
Judge A. P. Butler, United States
senator, and Gov. Pierce NJ. Butler,
colonel Of the Palmetto regiment and
killed at Cherubusco, were his uncles );
his grandfather, Gen. William Butler,
was a gallant officer in the American
army in the Revolutionary war, and
his great-grandfather, Capt. James
Butler, a native Of Loudon county,
Virginia, was the founder Of the fam
lily in South Carolina.
When yet. a young boy, NJ. c. But
Ter went with his father to Arkansas.
After the death Of his father he re-
turned to this, his native State, in
1851, and made his home with Sena-
tor A. P. Butler, his uncle, near Ed
gefeld. A home was offered to him
by others Of his uncles and had he
accepted their proffer, doubtless his
energies would have found activity
to distinguish him in the naval arm
of the government. It is interesting
to speculate upon what might have
been.
AS the ward of his uncle, Senator
A. P. Butler, he matriculated as a
student and was educated at the
Sorih Carolina Co''age. Afterwards
he read law, and was admitted to
practice in 1857. A year later he
married Maria, daughter Of Gov. F.
". Picksns. In 1860 he was elected
to the legislature Of South Carolina,
but before the conclusion Of his term
he entered the military service Of his
State as captain Of a company OF
cavalry in Hampton legion.
His Career in War.
This command distinguished itself
in the first battle of Manassas, and
Capt. Butler was promoted major, his
promotion to this rank dating from
july 2l. This was the beginning OF
his famous career in the cavalry OF
the Army of Northern Virginia.
He commanded the cavalry OF the
legion under Stuart in the withdraw
al Of the troops from Yorktown, and
was warmly commended for gallantry
at Williamsburg.
In August, 1862, he was promoted
to colonel Of the Second regiment,
South Carolina cavalry, Hampton s
brigade, and in this rank he particl-
pated in the second Manassas and
Maryland campaigns, winning favor
able mention for gallant leadership
in Stuart's Chambersburg raid.
He commanded the main part OF
his brigade in the Dumfries expedl-
ton in December, 1862, and in June,
1863 he was one Of the most con-
spicuous leaders in the famous caval-
ry battle of Brandy Sitton. Here he
was severely wounded by shell, los
ing his right foot, and promotion to
brigadier general followed in Septem-
ber.
Having returned to service before
his wound healed, he was sent home
to recover. He succeeded Gen. Hamp-
ton in brigade command, and took
part in the fall campaigns Of the army
in 1868, and throughout the famous
struggle of 1864, at the Wilderness,
Spottsylvania, and before Richmond
in opposition to Sheridan he was one
of the heroic figures in this last great
campaign Of the Confederate armies:
The reports of Sheridan himself
attest the splendid fighting Of Butler
and his brigades at Hawes' Shop and
Cold Harbor.
At Trevilian Station he was IN COM
mand of Hampton division, and re-
pulsed seven distinct and determined
assaults by the largely superior TOR