Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-04-22
LAST ONE GONE
Con. N. C. Butler Died In CoIum-
bIa Wednesday Night
WAS SICK LONG Time
Was n Major General I'm the Con.
federate Army and Was Appoint
ed to the Same Grade In the Army
OF the United States by President
Mckinley.

o ChVcu otateS Dy PRESIDENT
Mckinley.
Gen. M. c. Butler. the last of the
brilliant general officers South Car
olina contributed to the Confederate
cause. died at the Knowlton Infirma-
ry In Columbia about IL O'Clock
wednesday night, after an illness
which extended through many weeks
His wife and son were present when
the soul of this splendid old warrior
passed over the river to "rest under
the shade of the trees
General Butler was in the 74th
year OF his age. On his last birth
day, the Sth of March. he embraced
the Catholic faith, being confirmed
by Bishop Northrop. He was taken
to the infirmary to be treated for
6ciatica.
Gen. Buffers Career.
Matthew Calbraith Butler was
born In Greenville, Of illustrious par
entage. His ancestors on the Butler
side are race of heroes. They
were among the pioneers of South
Carolina, and settled In the northern
part OF Tdgefield county. His great
grandfather, Capt. James Butler, was
killed fighting for his country in the
war OF the American Revolution
He was a descendant OF the Duke
OF Ormand, the great royalist leader
in England.
General Buffers grandfather, VIII
liam Butler, was very prominent in
the Legislative department of the
State, and also served thirteen years
In Congress. His father, DR.. Will
liam Butler, was surgeon in the
United States navy. and was a broth
er of Governor Pierce M. Butler, OF
South Carolina, who fell at the bat
tie of Churobusco, while leading the
famous Palmetto regiment" and
DR.. Buffers other brother was the
distinguished Senator, Andrew Pick
ems Butler.
While stationed at Newport, r
l., DIR. William Butler married Miss
Jane Tweedy Perry. the sister OF
Commodore Oliver Perry, OF Lake
Erie fame, and of Commo odore Mat.
thew Calbraith Perry, who was tne
first to open our commercial rela-
tions with Japan. All readers OF
American history are familiar with
these distinguished naval heroes.
After his marriage DR.. Butler re
signed from the navy and returned
to his native home in Edgefield
The mother of General Butler was
a woman of many sterling quail
ties and was much beloved and ad-
mired for her grandeur of character
and her great beauty. sincere even
to brusqueness and truthful always
After the civil war friend present.
ed to. her General Sickles, of the
United States army, saying. Gen.
eral. Mrs. Butler is a sister of Com.
modore Perry" Very emphatically
Mrs. Butler exclaimed: 81 had rather
be known as the mother of Calbraith
Butler!" Here spoke the mother
the heart-the "Cormelia' of the
nineteenth century. The mother Of
the "Gracchi' could not have beer
prouder of her Jewels than wa:
sons, of whom there were five who
wore the grey"
General Butler was a lawyer BY
profession, and soon after his ad
mission to the Bar married Miss
Maria Calhoun Pickens, one of thu
handsome daughters of South Caro-
lina's grand old war governors
Francis w. Pickens.
When the war broke out Genera
Butler organized a cavalry force and
entered the field as a captain. Grade
by grade he was promoted, until
attained the rank OF major general
at the desperate battle OF Brand,
Station, and the most dashing, gal
liant and debonaire figure seen tha'
day was this youthful, knightly
"Paladin" of the Army OF Northern
Virginia, who possessed all the bril-
liancy and valor of BOLD Henry OF
Navarro" In that terrible fight at
Brandy Station General Butler com
manded a regiment under Gen J.
Il. b. Stuart and lost leg, while
General Davis, who commanded the
FeueIdiSs was WHll6 CIOSSiHe
the Rappahannock river.
1t was here, at Reams's Station,
that he was promoted major general
One of General Buffers gallant cour-
iers, who was then only a youth of
II. and by the way. was a relative
of the general. has said, Had Gen
eral Butler no other war record his
victory at the battle OF Trevilian
Station will forever immortalize
him"
After the din and smoke of the
battle had died away, and white
robed peace" crowned our once des-
olate land of the Sunny South"
General Butler returned to his home
in Edgefield and resumed the prac-
tice of law. Gifted with brilliant
intellect and wit. he was regarded
as one of the most effective speakers
In South Carolina, a State which
has always been noted for her able
fogicians and orators.
In tha autuun NJ 1879 Gapara'