Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-04-16

grandfather, Capt. James Butler,
native of Loundon county, virginia,
was the founder Of the family In North
Carolina. In childhood he accompanied
his father to Arkansas, but after the
latter's death returned to South Car
olina in 1851, and made his home with
Senator A P. Butler near Edgeheld.
He was educated at the South Carolina
college, and then reading law was ad-
.mitted to practice in 1857. In the fol-
lowing year he was married to Maria,
Somgbter of Gov. F. w. Pickens. He
was elected to the legislature in 1850,
but before the conclusion Of his term,
entered the military service Of his
state as captain Of a company OF ca
yalry in Hampton's legion. This COM
mand took a distinguished part in the
first battle Of Manassas, and capt.
Butler was promoted to major to date
from July 21, the beginning Of his IA
nous career in the cavalry of the Army
of Northern Virginia. He commanded
the cavalry of the legion under stuart
in the withdrawal Of the troops from
Yorktown, and was warmly commend
ed for gallantry at Williamsburg. In
August, 1862, he was promoted to col
onel Of the Second regiment, South
Carolina cavalry, Hampton's brigade,
and in this rank he participated in the
second Manassas and Maryland cam
paign, winning favorable mention for
gallant leadership in the affair at
Monacacy bridge, and in Stuarts
Chambersburg raid. He commanded
the main part Of his brigade in the
Dumfries expedition Of December, 1852,
and in June, 1868, he was one OF the
most conspicuous leaders in the famous
cavalry battle Of Brandy station. Here
he was severely wounded by shell,
losing his right foot, and promotion 10
brigadier general followed in Septem-
ber. Returning to service before his
wound healed, he was sent home to re-
cover. He succeeded Gen. Hampton
in brigade command, and took part in
the fall campaigns Of the army In 1858,
and throughout the famous struggle
of 1864, at the Wilderness, Spottsyl-
yania. and before Richmond in oppo-
sition to Sheridan, he was one OF the
heroic figures Of this last great cam
paign Of the Confederate armies. the
reports of Sheridan himself attest the
splendid fight of Butler and his brigade
at Hawe's Shop and Cold Harbor. At
Trevilian station he was In command
of Hampton's division, and repulsed
seven distinct and determined assaults
by the largely superior forces under
most important point Of Confederate
line and fighting as infantry. In Sep
tember he was promoted to major gen.
eral and in 1865 he was detached with
a small division for the campaign
against Sheridan in the Carolinas. He
commanded the rear guard or Hardee
army at the evacuation OF Columbia
and Cheraw, and at the last had di-
vision command Of cavalry, his forces
and Gen. Joe Wheeler's forming the
command OF Lieut.. Gen. Wade Hamp-
ton. The close of the war left him in
financial ruin, but he bravely met the
exigencies Of the occasion, and In
short time attained national repute for
the firmness and boldness with which
he handled the political questions
which concerned the essentials OF the
reorganized social life. While he pow
erfully advocated obedience to the re-
construction measures as the law, law
being preferable to chaos, he receded
at no time from a persistent opposi-
ton to infringement on good govern
ment, and was largely Instrumental In
securing the election Of Gov. Wade
Hampton. In 1876 he was elected to
the United States senate, where admis-
sion was met by storm of partisan
protest which is memorable in the his
tory of the nation, but MS career OF
eighteen years in that exalted BODY
vindicated the good Judgment and pa
triotism Of the state, which deputed
him as it's representative. In the
stormy days Of sectional debate In
congress, he was one Of the foremost
champions of the south, but at later
period he was enabled to make
splendid record in constructive states
manship by his staunch advocacy Of
strong navy, Of civil service reform,
and other measures now settled in ma
tional policy. After the expiration Of
his service in the senate in March,
1895, he was engaged in the practice
of law at Washington, D. C.. In 1898
he was appointed a major general in
the volunteer army Of the United
States, for the war with Spain and af-
ter peace was secured he served as
member of the commission for the re-
moval Of the Spanish forces from
Cuba