Revolutionary War Veteran. The son of Irish immigrant, Thomas Butler, gunsmith and Chief Armorer of the First Continental Congress. Butler was a law student in the office of Judge James Wilson, an eventual signer of the Declaration of Independence. At the outbreak of the American Revolution, he enlisted and was commissioned 1st lieutenant in 1776 in Col. Arthur St. Clair's Pennsylvania regiment, receiving his commission as captain in the Third Pennsylvania the same year. He would participate in almost every major action in the middle states during the Revolution. He was commended by General Washington at the Battle of Brandywine "…for his intrepid conduct in rallying retreating troops, and checking the enemy by a severe fire.…" At the Battle of Monmouth, General Anthony Wayne thanked him for defending a defile, in the face of a severe fire from the enemy. In 1791 was promoted to major and commanded a battalion in Gibson's regiment, under General St. Clair. At the Battle of Miami in Ohio Territory, he was twice wounded. His leg was broken by a ball; but he kept his horse and led a charge. His brother, General Richard Butler, was killed in the battle. In 1794, he was a lieutenant colonel, commandant of the Fourth Sub-Legion, at Fort Lafayette, Pittsburgh. Not long after, he was ordered to the South to protect Indian treaty lands from the settlers who were trying to take them. Then Senator Andrew Jackson, wrote a letter to the President complaining about Thomas Butler protecting the Indians. On 30 April 1801, a General Order issued by Major General James Wilkinson, Commanding General of the Army abolished the queue as an acceptable military hairstyle, ending the custom of a century. Butler applied for and was granted an exemption from the order. Within two years, however, the exemption was revoked and Butler stood before a court martial which ended in a recommendation of reprimand. Butler was assigned to New Orleans, and was again ordered to cut his hair. He again refused and was again before a court marital. He was found guilty of mutinous conduct with a recommendation for a year's suspension. Within days of the verdict, Butler fell ill with yellow fever. He died at his nephew's plantation a short time later leaving instructions in his will: "Bore a hole through the bottom of my coffin, right under my head, and let my queue hang through it, that the damned old rascal will see that, even when dead, I refuse to obey his orders." His last wishes were obeyed. He was buried at the Ormond Plantation. His obituary in the Carlisle Herald Nov. 1, 1805 read: "Now sleep the brave! who sink to rest; With all their country's wishes blest."
Revolutionary War Veteran. The son of Irish immigrant, Thomas Butler, gunsmith and Chief Armorer of the First Continental Congress. Butler was a law student in the office of Judge James Wilson, an eventual signer of the Declaration of Independence. At the outbreak of the American Revolution, he enlisted and was commissioned 1st lieutenant in 1776 in Col. Arthur St. Clair's Pennsylvania regiment, receiving his commission as captain in the Third Pennsylvania the same year. He would participate in almost every major action in the middle states during the Revolution. He was commended by General Washington at the Battle of Brandywine "…for his intrepid conduct in rallying retreating troops, and checking the enemy by a severe fire.…" At the Battle of Monmouth, General Anthony Wayne thanked him for defending a defile, in the face of a severe fire from the enemy. In 1791 was promoted to major and commanded a battalion in Gibson's regiment, under General St. Clair. At the Battle of Miami in Ohio Territory, he was twice wounded. His leg was broken by a ball; but he kept his horse and led a charge. His brother, General Richard Butler, was killed in the battle. In 1794, he was a lieutenant colonel, commandant of the Fourth Sub-Legion, at Fort Lafayette, Pittsburgh. Not long after, he was ordered to the South to protect Indian treaty lands from the settlers who were trying to take them. Then Senator Andrew Jackson, wrote a letter to the President complaining about Thomas Butler protecting the Indians. On 30 April 1801, a General Order issued by Major General James Wilkinson, Commanding General of the Army abolished the queue as an acceptable military hairstyle, ending the custom of a century. Butler applied for and was granted an exemption from the order. Within two years, however, the exemption was revoked and Butler stood before a court martial which ended in a recommendation of reprimand. Butler was assigned to New Orleans, and was again ordered to cut his hair. He again refused and was again before a court marital. He was found guilty of mutinous conduct with a recommendation for a year's suspension. Within days of the verdict, Butler fell ill with yellow fever. He died at his nephew's plantation a short time later leaving instructions in his will: "Bore a hole through the bottom of my coffin, right under my head, and let my queue hang through it, that the damned old rascal will see that, even when dead, I refuse to obey his orders." His last wishes were obeyed. He was buried at the Ormond Plantation. His obituary in the Carlisle Herald Nov. 1, 1805 read: "Now sleep the brave! who sink to rest; With all their country's wishes blest."
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