The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1909-04-17
GEN. BUTLER DEAD.
The Dashing Confederate
Cavalry Leader, States
man and Patriot Passed
Away at a Late Hour
wv ednesday Night.
trhe Columbia State, April I5.)


Butler is dead. The dashinp
sabreur who courted death on
many battlefields, last night at
11.40 was received into the sover-
eighty of no suffering. For him
death had never had terrors.
Last night it was but falling
asleep. To him death was an
enemy, for he loved life, he loved
his friends, and he wished to live.
But the love of life could not sus-
tain him, and Butler has gone to
be mustered in with Lee and
Jackson and Albert Sidney John
ston and Hampton and all those
patriots and Southrons whom he
knew, men who loved the South
and feared naught but the frown
of the Great Commander.
Gen. M. G. Butler died last
night at knowlton's hospital.
For fortnight he has been kept
alive by his supreme willpower.
Death came as gently as the
slu Der of a babe. He was con-
scious up to 4 O'clock yesterday
afternoon and in the morning his
mind had appeared to be quite
clear.
de was conscious of his condI-
tion-and was ready to meet
death. For him death had never
had terrors, and Butler bad too
often faced the merciless fire of
the enemy to feel any uneasi-
ness when he knew the hour of
his surrender was at hand.
BY his side when his great sou
huttered away in the moment of
gentle dissolution were his wife,
his only daughter, Mrs. Robert
mcNeely, his son, DIR. F. w. p.
Butler, Rev. b. w. Fleming and
Maj. II. w. Richardson. The
watchers scarcely knew that he
was dead so gently did sleep come
upon Butler. His other son.
Capt. M. q. Butler, Jr., of the
United States army, had been
here, but was recalled to his post
several days ago. Lieut.. McNeely.
his son-in-law, is an officer of the
navy, and he, too, was unable to
be here.
The funeral arrangements will
be announced later, but it is
known that In accordance with
Gen. Buffers wishes his body will
be buried at Edgefeld.
About SIX weeks ago Gen. But
ler came to Columbus to be treat
ed for lnt1ammatory rheumatism.
due to his wounds received In
battle. de had lost leg at
Brandy Station, but after recoy-
erlng from his wound went back
INTO battle. His manned limb
had not bothered him until about
six months ago. He suffered in
creasingly until he came to Co
lum bia to be treated and since
the middle of January has been.
an inmate OF the Knowlton hos
pital.
His ! G:idden condition has
caused his kidneys to become af-
tected and tins was the cause of
his death. The poison spread so
gradually through his system that
III passing away he but fell asleep.
Gen. Butler was soldier who
would have been a nations idol.
perhaps, had he gone with the
winning side. He chose the cause
of the South, and the true men of
the South regret his passing.
just across the street from the
house In which Gen. Butler died
is the hall In which the Secession
convention met, out of which as.
semblage grew the war in which
Butler became great.
There are few South Carolini-
ans living wko enjoyed the rank
and distinction of general and
none who at 27 were major gen
erals of cavalry. Among the sur
viving generals are S. w. Fergn-
son, T. M. Logan and K. M. Law.
Gen. Butler died in full com
munion of the church. On his
73rd birthday he received su-
preme JUNCTION from the Catholic
church, into the communioss ,a;e ae
which he was receilnen pLooDiNE Q
fou instant relief ar<
N, BOc n hoy male