John Butler (general)
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John Butler (c.1728 – 1786) was a military officer in the
Hillsborough District Brigade The Hillsborough District Brigade of militia was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia established on May 4, 1776. Thomas Person, Brigadier General Thomas Person was the first commander. Companies from the eight regiments of t ...
of the North Carolina militia during the
American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...
from 1775 to 1784, and served as its commanding general between 1779 and the end of the conflict. He was a member of the
North Carolina House of Commons The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, Speaker of the House, who holds powers si ...
for several terms simultaneously with his military service. Butler commanded soldiers in several major engagements throughout
North North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating Direction (geometry), direction or geography. Etymology T ...
and
South Carolina South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...
, but is perhaps best remembered for his role in the
Patriot A patriot is a person with the quality of patriotism. Patriot(s) or The Patriot(s) may also refer to: Political and military groups United States * Patriot (American Revolution), those who supported the cause of independence in the American R ...
defeat at the
Battle of Lindley's Mill The Battle of Lindley's Mill (also known as the Battle of Cane Creek) took place in Orange County, North Carolina (now in Alamance County, North Carolina, Alamance County), on September 13, 1781, during the American Revolutionary War. The battle ...
. Butler died shortly after the end of the war, and his career as a military commander has received mixed reviews by historians.


Early life and War of the Regulation

Details of Butler's early life are not readily available, although it is known that he married a woman named Anne, and that upon his death, his wife was his sole living heir. At some point prior to May 1763, Butler settled on the
Haw River The Haw River is a tributary of the Cape Fear River, approximately 110 mi (177 km) long, which is entirely contained in north central North Carolina in the United States. It was first documented as the "Hau River" by John Lawson, a ...
in North Carolina near the settlement at Hawfields in what was then Orange County. Butler became
sheriff A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland, the , which is common ...
of Orange County by 1770, and during the
War of the Regulation The Regulator Movement in North Carolina, also known as the Regulator Insurrection, War of Regulation, and War of the Regulation, was an uprising in Provincial North Carolina from 1766 to 1771 in which citizens took up arms against colonial offi ...
, was acclaimed by the Regulators as an example of a public official who charged fair fees. Butler's brother, William, was a leading Regulator, and in the aftermath of the
Battle of Alamance The Battle of Alamance, which took place on May 16, 1771, was the final confrontation of the Regulator Movement, a rebellion in colonial North Carolina over various issues with the Colonial Government. The Regulators primarily wanted reforms ...
, Butler attempted to secure a pardon for him.


American Revolutionary War

With the onset of the American Revolutionary War, Butler was appointed to the Hillsborough Committee of Safety, which included Caswell, Chatham, Granville,
Orange Orange most often refers to: *Orange (fruit), the fruit of the tree species '' Citrus'' × ''sinensis'' ** Orange blossom, its fragrant flower ** Orange juice *Orange (colour), the color of an orange fruit, occurs between red and yellow in the vi ...
, Randolph, and Wake Counties. On September 9, 1775, Butler was commissioned as a lieutenant colonel of the
Orange County Regiment The Orange County Regiment was authorized on September 9, 1775 by the Province of North Carolina Congress. On April 22, 1776, the unit was split into the Northern Orange County Regiment and the Southern Orange County Regiment, which retained most ...
of the North Carolina militia. Prior to the
Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge The Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge was a minor conflict of the American Revolutionary War fought near Wilmington, North Carolina, Wilmington (present-day Pender County, North Carolina, Pender County), North Carolina, on February 27, 1776. The v ...
, Butler played a supporting role by occupying the Cross Creek settlement for the Patriots.


Promotion and early southern campaign

On April 22, 1776, Butler was promoted to
colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...
of the Southern Orange County Regiment, commanding troops from the southern portion of that county. On May 9, 1777, the
North Carolina General Assembly The North Carolina General Assembly is the Bicameralism, bicameral legislature of the Government of North Carolina, state government of North Carolina. The legislature consists of two chambers: the North Carolina Senate, Senate and the North Ca ...
promoted Butler to brigadier general, and gave him command of the
Hillsborough District Brigade The Hillsborough District Brigade of militia was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia established on May 4, 1776. Thomas Person, Brigadier General Thomas Person was the first commander. Companies from the eight regiments of t ...
of militia. In this role, Butler was often placed under the command of
Continental Army The Continental Army was the army of the United Colonies representing the Thirteen Colonies and later the United States during the American Revolutionary War. It was formed on June 14, 1775, by a resolution passed by the Second Continental Co ...
generals, including his first campaign as a general in South Carolina, during which Butler and his unit of approximately 700 militiamen were placed under the immediate command of Continental brigadier general
Jethro Sumner Jethro Exum Sumner ( – c. March 18, 1785) was a senior officer of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Born in Virginia, Sumner's military service began in the French and Indian War as a member of the state's Prov ...
at the
Battle of Stono Ferry The Battle of Stono Ferry was an American Revolutionary War battle, fought on June 20, 1779, near Charleston, South Carolina. The rear guard from a British expedition retreating from an aborted attempt to take Charleston held off an assault by po ...
. In that engagement on June 20, 1779, Butler's unit, on the right flank of the Patriot lines, was restrained from engaging in a bayonet charge by commanding general
Benjamin Lincoln Benjamin Lincoln (January 24, 1733 ( O.S. January 13, 1733) – May 9, 1810) was an American army officer. He served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Lincoln was involved in three major surrender ...
, who believed they were too inexperienced to engage in hand-to-hand combat. The North Carolina militia commanded by Butler, as well as several of the Continental regiments from that state at Stono Ferry, were nearing the end of their enlistment terms. Butler subsequently commanded a force of North Carolina militia at the
Battle of Camden The Battle of Camden (August 16, 1780), also known as the Battle of Camden Court House, was a major victory for the Kingdom of Great Britain, British in the Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War. On August 16, 1780, British forces ...
on August 16, 1780, which ended in a major defeat for the Patriots.


Guilford Courthouse

During the latter part of 1780, Butler and his command were stationed in the
Piedmont Piedmont ( ; ; ) is one of the 20 regions of Italy, located in the northwest Italy, Northwest of the country. It borders the Liguria region to the south, the Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna regions to the east, and the Aosta Valley region to the ...
region of North Carolina, defending that region against the British forces of General
Charles Cornwallis Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis (31 December 1738 – 5 October 1805) was a British Army officer, Whig politician and colonial administrator. In the United States and United Kingdom, he is best known as one of the leading Britis ...
. In 1781, General
Nathanael Greene Major general (United States), Major General Nathanael Greene (August 7, 1742 – June 19, 1786) was an American military officer and planter who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, Revolutionary War. He emerge ...
ordered Butler and his militia to join him in
Guilford County Guilford County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 541,299, making it the third-most populous county in North Carolina. The county seat and largest community is Greensboro. Since ...
. After the rendezvous with Greene's main army, Butler commanded his brigade of approximately 500 men at the
Battle of Guilford Courthouse The Battle of Guilford Court House was fought on 15 March 1781 during the American Revolutionary War, near Greensboro, North Carolina. A 2,100-man British force under the command of Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis defeated Major General Na ...
on March 15, 1781, where they were stationed on the front line along with Brigadier General Thomas Eaton's
Halifax District Brigade The Halifax District Brigade was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War (1776–1783). This unit was established by the North Carolina Provincial Congress on May 4, 1776, and disbanded at the ...
of the North Carolina militia. Butler and Eaton's units at Guilford Courthouse were placed along a split-rail fence facing the road on which the British were expected to advance, but former militia commander
William Richardson Davie William Richardson Davie (June 20, 1756 – November 29, 1820) was an American statesman, politician, military general, Founding Father of the United States who served as the 10th Governor of North Carolina from 1798 to 1799. A member of the F ...
, who was present at the battle, noted that the fence provided virtually no cover, and his home state's militia were left perilously exposed. Greene rode along the split-rail fence and asked the militia to fire two volleys at the British, after which Greene informed them they could withdraw from action. The North Carolina militia retreated early in the battle, although Butler attempted to prevent their withdrawal. Greene complained after the engagement that many North Carolina militiamen (though not specifically identified as members of Butler's brigade) fled without firing a shot at the British. After dealing a
Pyrrhic victory A Pyrrhic victory ( ) is a victory that inflicts such a devastating toll on the victor that it is tantamount to defeat. Such a victory negates any true sense of achievement or damages long-term progress. The phrase originates from a quote from ...
to Cornwallis at Guilford Courthouse, Greene moved his Army south in April 1781, but Butler remained in the Hillsborough District to recruit men for Patriot units. During this time, Butler even recruited more than 240 of the militiamen who had fled at Guilford Courthouse to fight in Continental Army units under Greene's overall command. Many of the men recruited, however, refused to leave the district, claiming that they were not bound by the terms of their service to leave that area.


Fanning's Hillsborough raid and Butler's pursuit

On September 12, 1781,
Loyalist Loyalism, in the United Kingdom, its overseas territories and its former colonies, refers to the allegiance to the British crown or the United Kingdom. In North America, the most common usage of the term refers to loyalty to the British Cr ...
commander David Fanning struck Hillsborough in a raid and captured
Governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...
Thomas Burke. Fanning withdrew from Hillsborough, and attempted to take Burke to the safety of British-controlled Wilmington. Butler, whose home was near Hillsborough, quickly rallied a portion of his militia to pursue Fanning. On September 13, 1781, Butler surprised Fanning at a mill site on the Cane Creek, a tributary of the Haw River, in the
Battle of Lindley's Mill The Battle of Lindley's Mill (also known as the Battle of Cane Creek) took place in Orange County, North Carolina (now in Alamance County, North Carolina, Alamance County), on September 13, 1781, during the American Revolutionary War. The battle ...
. Butler's forces in that engagement consisted of approximately 400 militiamen, while Fanning's force of loyalists included more than 900 men. The Patriot militia, though outnumbered, had a strong defensive position at the crest of a hill on the south shore of the stream, facing the direction from which the Loyalists would be advancing. The battle lasted for more than four hours, but Butler was eventually outflanked and outnumbered, and was forced to withdraw without rescuing the governor. Despite his order to retreat, a contingent of Patriot militia attempted to take a stand, but that tactic was ultimately unsuccessful. The Patriots suffered approximately 124 casualties, including ten men made
prisoners of war A prisoner of war (POW) is a person held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of war for a ...
, while the Loyalists suffered approximately 117 casualties. Although Butler followed Fanning intently towards Wilmington after Lindley's Mill with an increased number of volunteers, the superior strength of the Loyalists, with support from the British on the lower
Cape Fear River The Cape Fear River is a blackwater river in east-central North Carolina. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear, from which it takes its name. The river is formed at the confluence of the Haw River and the Deep River in the town of ...
prevented another rescue attempt, and stymied Butler's advance in a confrontation near Elizabethtown. By May 1782, though, Britain's fortunes in the war had waned, and Butler accepted Fanning's surrender. Butler resigned his commission on June 2, 1784, several months after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the war.


Political activity during the Revolution

Butler was active in state politics throughout the American Revolutionary War. Indeed, one historian who analyzed Butler's performance at Guilford Courthouse has noted that he was a "politician" in nature, albeit with more military experience with other such politicians like fellow militia general Thomas Eaton. In 1777, Butler was elected to the North Carolina House of Commons, and was re-elected to serve in 1778 and 1784. In 1781, he served one term in the
North Carolina Senate The North Carolina Senate is the Upper house, upper chamber of the North Carolina General Assembly, which along with the North Carolina House of Representatives—the lower chamber—comprises the state legislature of North Carolina. The Senate ...
concurrently with his military duties, and between June 26, 1781, and May 3, 1782, served on the
North Carolina Council of State The North Carolina Council of State is the collective body of ten elective executive offices in the government of North Carolina, state government of North Carolina, all of which are established by the Constitution of North Carolina, state co ...
. Butler was elected again for a term in the House of Commons in 1786, but died before taking office.


Death and legacy

Butler died in the Fall of 1786, leaving his estate to his wife, Anne. Eli Caruthers, an early North Carolina historian, asserted in 1854 that Butler's performances at Lindley's Mill and Elizabethtown were lackluster. Caruthers made the claim that officers under Butler's command, particularly Colonel Robert Mebane, were justified in several incidents of insubordination in which they defied Butler's orders to retreat. Scholars in the 20th century have shed further light on Butler's actions during the war, going so far as to praise Butler's conduct and tactical planning at Lindley's Mill. In 1939, the State of North Carolina designed and erected a
historical marker A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, or in other places referred to as a historical marker, historic marker, or historic plaque, is a plate of metal, ceramic, stone, wood, or other material, bearing text or an image in relief, or both, ...
commemorating Butler's failed rescue attempt of Governor Burke at Lindley's Mill. In 2012, the
North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is a cabinet-level department within the state government of North Carolina dedicated to overseeing projects in the arts, culture, and history within the borders of the state. The cur ...
announced that Butler's life and individual service would be commemorated by the erection of a highway historical marker in Swepsonville, North Carolina.


References


Notes


Bibliography

* * *, also online on
NCpedia
* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Butler, John 1786 deaths Members of the North Carolina House of Representatives North Carolina militiamen in the American Revolution Militia generals in the American Revolution Year of birth unknown People from Alamance County, North Carolina