Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1922-11-15

lWlth thunder was a likeness oii:$5ltitte i:$5elititt'
riders mettle. Horse and horsena1l
ride before us as the beau idealHof
what the mind represents itself as as
chivalry, as knighthood. Not often
have the heavens bestowed a face
and form of more natural fascina-
tion, the more fascinating that one
saw therein natural grace beyond
The reach of art The grace was an
added fascination to the prowess that
SO dauntlessly leaped FORTH"
Buffers last battle, the raid on
Kilpatrick's camp, just month be
fore the Confederacy collapsed, is
panegyrized by Edward L. Wells as
one Of the finest actions in history.
His appearance at the battle OF
Brandy Station is thus described:
"Moulded like an Apollo, with a
face as sweet and handsome as that
of any god of old, he sat on his horse
like a typical South Carolinion, a YER
liable cavalier, gentle as any woman
when comrades were assembled in
social converse or around the camp
fires; fierce as any grenadier when
the foe was to be met face to face.
He lost with his leg none of that I'M
conquerable dash and suirit that
made him very Paladin in the cav
airy corps of the Army of Northern
Virginia"
In the storm of battle, as well as
in the storm of Reconstruction, Gen
eral Butler was in his element. He
was a man of deathless bravery. l
have heard him say, and know it to
be true in my time, that he never
carried weapon in his life, except
when on duty. At times in 1876,
knowing strife to be imminent, he
he would put a pistol in the buggy,
but he carried none on his person.
After the war, when the provision
al government had failed and things
went from bad to worse, General
Butler, like Gen. James Conner and
others, thought the best course was
compromise with the better ele-
ments of the Republicans in order to
save the state. Later, however, when
it was determined to make straight
out fight, there was conference at
the home of Gen. James Conner in
Charleston, at which it was agreed
that General Butler would write a
letter to General Hampton in Missis-
sippi, offering him the nomination
for governor. This he did. The let
ter brought General Hampton to
South Carolina.
When the convention met, one of
the most momentous in South Caro-
lima history, General Butler placed
General Hampton in nomination in
one of the most vivid and eloquent
orations ever uttered. The nomina-
ton was seconded by Col. Robert AL
drich of Barnwell, in his harpiest
vein, and seconded again, in short
speech by General NJ. W. Gary.
How the fight gathered force, with
Hampton's firm hand curbing the
fiery spirits under him, who wanted
nothing better than fight, and how
it swept the state for white supre-
macy, has been told over and over
again.
When the Democrats had gained
control of the state the legislature
elected General Butler to the United
States senate. He was placed in NOM
ination by Joseph Brevard Kershaw.
It may we'll be doubted if any other
man could have gained the seat after
being elected; nor could General
Butler have gained it but for pc
culiar incident. Old Simon Cameron
of Pennsylvania had known and ad-
mired Judge A. P. Butler, General
NJ C. Buffers uncle, under whom he
read law, before the war. So when he
noticed young and handsome man
about the capitol, he inquired who
was it, and was told that it was
"yourg Butler. just elected senator
by the South Carolina legislature and
trying to get seated"
Cameron was a power in the Re-
publican party with numerous hench-
men scattered over many states. He
took hand in the fray and sent out
orders all along the line that Butler
must be seated, and he was seated.
Ir41 L.