my retired before
him. Seeing them retreat, he halted his guard, and
advanced himself, accompanied by two or three men
only, for the purpose of burning the house. It was
an old frame building, weather-boarded, without
ceiling or plaster in the inside, with a single
door opening to the British camp. On entering the
house he found a soldier of the enemy concealed in
one corner, whom he captured, and sent to the rear
with his men, remaining alone in the house. While
he was in the act of kindling a fire, a detachment
of the enemy, unperceived, occupied the only door.
The first impulse was to force, with his single
arm, a passage through them, but he was instantly
seized in a violent manner by two or three stout
fellows, who pushed him back against the wall with
such force as to burst off the weather-boarding
from the wall, and he fell through the opening thus
made. In an instant he recovered himself, and under
a heavy fire from the enemy, he retreated until
supported by the guard, which he immediately led on
to the attack, drove the British light troops from
their strong position, and burnt the house in the
presence of the two armies.

"I witnessed on that field many deeds of daring
courage, but none of which more excited my
admiration than this.

"Capt. Butler was soon after in the battle of the
8th of January, where he sustained his previously
high and well earned reputation for bravery and
usefulness. But that battle, which, from its
important results, has eclipsed those which
preceded it, was but a slaughter of the enemy, with
trivial loss on our part, and presenting few
instances of individual distinction.

"Capt. Butler received the brevet rank of major for
his gallant services during that eventful campaign,
and the reward of merit was never more worthily
bestowed. Soon after the close of the war, he was
appointed aid-de-camp to Gen. Jackson, in which
station he remained until he retired from the army.
Since that period I have seldom had the pleasure of
meeting with my valued friend and companion in
arms, and I know but little of