The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-11-21
Literary Lights and Shadohs
BY s. MAYS BALL


 Secession. 1881 -1S65, by |. R. Brooks
 lrhe State Publishing O., Columbia
 s. O
 MT. U. R. Brooks, clerk of the supreme court of South Carolina had the honor 10 belong to Buffers cavalry. The cav alrymen were proud of their leader ana he was equally proud of them.
 'It has been A years since the Con federate sun sank behind the horizon at .Appomattox never, never 10 rise agalh . and those of us who have survived the waste of time should write something says MT Brooks, "to cherish the memor- les of our heroes who fell in battle py our side and 10 recall the gallant deeds That were displayed on the bloody helds in the war Of secession. Whether the deeds were crowned with success or con secrated in defeat, is to idealize principle and strengthen character. intensltyng love of country and convert defeat and disaster Into pillars of support for fu- lure manhood and noble womanhood
 MT. Brooks correctly believes that we should not permit the heroic deeds or the followers of Butler or any of our Confederate leaders to sink into oblivion I've are a people with memories of heroic suffering and sacrifices, so let us pre- serve our history and let it be written by eye-witnesses as the story of Butler and his cavalry is now told
 In speaking of some oi the events Of fhe great war which are in the highest degree typical of what the war demanded pf cavalrymen, Mir Brooks asks a few nuestions of his surviving comrades:
 Survivors of the First, Second, Fourth. Eifth and Sixth cavalry, who rode by Buffers side, have you forgotten the pth. 10th. 11th and 12th of October 1862. when you forded the Potomac on the morning of the 10th at early dawn and proceeded to Mercersburg and thence to Chambersburg, and how you housed your Selves in the quiet and quaint old town, Rell up in the boundaries of the Quaker state? Twenty hours and S1 miles! No eleep, no rest, galloping. fighting, scout Ing and ready to assail any enemy, with human endurance tested to the greatest possible limit.
 Have you forgotten the 9th of June, 1463, at Brandy Station, where the gal lant Col. Frank Hampton Killed and Butler lost his leg? Have you 1or- gotten Gettysburg on the 2d of July, when General Hampton was so badly wounded by sabres of the nemy? Have you for gotten the 18th of May, 1884, at Hawe's shop; 30th May 1864. at Cold Harbor ana the Sd of June, 1884 at Second Cold Har bor. where Grant last 1900 men in one hour? Have you forgotten the hard fight Ing at Trevillan on the 11th and 18th of June, 1864 where Buffers division. con sisting of 2224 men, fought and routed Sheridan with 10O00 of the best equipped cavalry that ever drew sabre and the 18th of June at Sappony church, where But der took, 100 men and surprised and routed Wilson with 30 0fresh troops; and how you were in the saddle for q days and nights and how you fought at Lees mill? Have you forgotten the 23d of August at Monck Neck bridge and Reams Station, 25th of August where the sa Rnd bayonet shook hands on the eneu breastworks and Butler won his spurs us major general and the 18th of September at City Point you helped to capture all of Grants cattle: and the battle of the first day of October, McDowells farm. where Gen. John Dunnovant was killed beading the charge; and the battle of Burgesse's mill, 27th day of October. 1864; and Warrens raid to Stony creek and from thence to Columbia In January, 1865, and how we harassed Sherman's army; and the surprise on Kilpatrick's camp. 10th of March near Fayetteville; and the battle of Averysboro and Bentonville. N. C.? Fate denied us victory, but it crowned us with a glorious immortal ity.'"
 Of course, Mir. Brooks knew that none Of his comrades now living had forgot ten any of the great events, a synopsis
 
 wished to keep, as he says-the record straight my companies and regiments, he undertook the compilation of the his tory. records. anecdotes and correlated happenings of Gen. Matthew Calbraith Butler and his great Confederate cavalry command
 Matthew Calbraith Butler, gentleman. Statesman, soldier was born near Green vile, s. C.. on the Sth of March, 1S36 On the Butler side of the house he was descended from a distinguished family of heroes. soldiers, and statesmen. The Butlers were among the pioneers of South Carolina, settling in the northern portion of Edgeheld county, South Carolina They came from Prince William county, Vir- ginia. His great grandfather, Capt. James Butler died fighting for his coun- try in the incipiency of the American revolution. This Butler family can trace their lienage back to the Duke of Or mand, the great royalist leader in Eng land. Gen. NJ c. Buffers grandfather, Gen. William Butler, rose from a lieu tenant to major general and was also prominent in the legislative department of his state and served 13 years in Con- gress, resigning his seat in Congress to give way to John c. Calhoun. who after ward became one of the greatest states men America ever produced. Dr. Will liam Butler was an assistant surgeon in
 
 tioned at Newport. R. l., he met Jane Tweedy Perry, sister of Commodore M C. Perry, who first opened up our com mercial relations with Japan and Com modore O. H. Perry of Lake Erie fame Dr. Butler fell in love with Miss Perry. married her, resigned from the navy came south and settled on his fathers estate on the Saluda river in Edgefed county; later, finding the location un- healthy Dr. Butler bought place near Greenville. in the foothills of the Blue Matthew calbraith Butler was born and named in honor of his illustrious uncle, Eommodore M. c. Perry.
 Young M. c. Butler entered the South Earolina college in 1854 but left after his junior year He studied law, was ad- mitted to the bar and began his pro- fessional career in Edgefeld, S. c. Soon after beginning the practice of law, M C. Butler was married to Miss Marie Cal houn Pickens. fourth child of Col. F. W Pickens, afterward governor of South Carolina. Young Butler served one term in the South Carolina legislature and before he could be reelected the tocsin o1 the bloody war between the states was sounded. He was promptly elected cap tain of the Edgeheld Husars and at once left home for the battlefields in Virginis with his company.
 Few men ever served their country with more distinguished gallantry than did General Butler He rose from to major general of cavalry on the 25tt day of August. 1864, at the age of 2 years
 After the war General Butler cam' home to the desolation and poverty tha Inflicted his country and people, he be