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Thursday, January 27, 2011

150 Years......

One hundred fifty years ago this year the tearing apart started. Before it ended in 1865, over 600,000 would fall. This is more than any other conflict in United States history. What makes us think that war is glorious? There's nothing glorious in it or about it. " Those who live by the sword, will die by the sword" Jesus Christ

In researching our family history, I found that the generation that was born and came of age in the second half of the 1800's paid a terrible price for living by the sword. That sword cut a gaping hole in almost every family including ours. Brothers fought against brothers, children became orphans, and mothers wept.

What did we learn? Was it worth it all? People were freed, the union was preserved, the living rebuilt their lives.

Now we remember the fallen and contemplate the consequences of  war. We can look back and learn. There must be a little glory in that.

Friday, January 14, 2011

The Alabama Yankees.....1862

Nathan Butler b 1769 and his wife Mary Ann left Elbert Co Ga and settled in Walton Co. sometime after 1820. Patrick Butler b 1799 and Jane Hansard Butler are there also and I believe from my evidence so far that Patrick was Nathans son. Continually moving west in 1850 we find Nathan and Mary Ann in Paulding Co with son Daniel Butler b 1794. From records of the history of Ark. Daniel is described as a wagon maker, a worker in wood, born in SC and dying in Ga. Patrick is a carpenter according to the 1850 census, adding to my list of circumstantial facts that lead me to conclude that they were brothers.
Nathan H. Butler b 1818 m Francis R. Hogue son of Daniel along with his sons Napoleon B Butler and James Marion Butler b 1838 are found in Alabama at the time of the Civil War.
As the Southern States voted to leave the union, many upland citizens of Tenn, Ga and Al did not agree. They were not plantation owners with slaves. Farming in the hills of Alabama they were independent unionists who remembered the loyalty of their fathers and grandfathers for the Stars & Stripes.
"We agree with President Jackson that no state can legally get out of the Union"

                                                   Some members of  1st Alabama USA

William was from Shelby Co Al

Read if you want to know more

As conscription of troops took hold, the Hill farmers of Alabama hid, avoided, and refused to be forced to fight against the United States. Finally in 1862 they formed their own regiment and joined the Union Army. In the ranks of the 1st Alabama USA, Nathan H Butler and son Napoleon enlisted as privates and joined the cavalry regiment. They enlisted June 24, 1863 and then went home to get their families in order and returned Jan 23,1864. Constantly harassed and sometimes violently mistreated by their Confederate kin and neighbors the Alabama Yankees kept their convictions and assisted Sherman at the end of the conflict.
James Marion Butler b 1838 served in the Confederate Army, thus confirming the "Brother against Brother" description of the war.
Southerners if anything are a people with deep and loyal values. No matter which side of any issue, the love of country is a part of every Southern born American. Lets not forget these brave ones in this 150th Anniversary Year, lets remember and be proud.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Civil war veteran soldier footage, captured between 1913 and 1938

The 150th Anniversary of the Civil War, 2011 A war that changed the Butler family forever.

James Patrick Butler..A brother that survived

James Patrick Muster Roll

Robert Butler,Ellen Butler,Eddie Thornhill(sister),Henry Butler

Ealer Butler Crawley,Nancy Elizabeth Butler Ogletree,Wilma & Wilda Butler, Ma Betty, John Patrick & daughters

James P Butler was 10 years younger than his brother Will. In 1862 he became a member of the 42nd Georgia and left to join the fray. He married Ellander (Ellen)Austin  in Walton Co Ga, May 5, 1838 and they had 8 children. Ellander Jane b 1860, Nancy Elizabeth (Ma Betty) b 1862, Talulla b 1865, Martha (Mattie) Susan b 1868, James Robert b 1871, John Patrick b 1874, Henry Thomas b 1877, Ealer Frances b 1880.
They are all in Walton Co in the 1880 census. Later the family would be found in Oconee Co Ga. After coming home from the war, James drowned while trying to cross the river near his home. Almost a year later he was recovered and buried in the cemetery at Rays Methodist Church.