JOHN WHITMILL BUTLER
The above Confederate Veteran is the most honored ancestor of John D. Butler, a member of Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp # 469 in Rome, GA.
John Whitmill Butler was born on December 17, 1839 in Beech Island, SC. He joined the Confederate Service on August 27, 1861 and was mustered in on September 18, 1861 at Hamburg, SC. He was then assigned to Co C, 1st SC Cavalry, formerly 1st battalion, SC Cavalry, where he became Sergeant. Then, on April 23, 1863, under commanding officer J.D. Twiggs of Co C, he was discharged due to wounds received when his horse was shot out from under him on June 7, 1862 on John's Island (Wardmalow Island), SC (see detail of letter below). John Whitmill Butler died on November 1, 1896 in Shannon, GA. and is buried at Pleasant Valley North Baptist Church, Rome, GA.
John Whitmill Butler married Martha Hardwick McCall on November 22, 1859 in Beech Island, SC. The marriage was witnessed by Leonard Butler, his father. His grandfather was Andrew Butler, born in 1799. John and Martha then had the following children:
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John F Butler - born 1861, married Connie Dempsey on December 16, 1900, died 1949
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Edgar McCall Butler - born 1864, died 1927
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Oscar E.M. Butler - born 1867, died ?
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Clarence I Butler - born 1870, died 1941
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Matty B Butler - born 1873, died ?
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Lillian Butler - born 1876, died 1899
John F and Connie then begat John Doyal Butler, Sr on October 4, 1917, who begat John Doyal Butler, Jr on May 1, 1947, who begat John David Fitz-Walter Butler on March 20, 1970.
Following are three letters written on behalf of Sgt John Whitmill Butler in reference to the injuries received during the war and his subsequent death. All spelling is as it was in the original letters.
Regnant Ga Dec 4th, 1896
This is to certify that I have been intimately acquainted with John W. Butler before, during, and for many years after the Civil War myself and Sergt Butler volunteered on the same day and in the same company - John D. Twiggs, Captain, and served together untill Sergeant Butlers horse was shot under him while going at full speed in a battle on Wardmalaw Island, SC. The horse fell on Sergt John W. Butler and the fall and dieing struggles of the horse so mashed and mangled the bowels, hips and privates of Sergt John W. Butler untill we feared he would die at once. I was his nurse and nursed him tenderly for several months before he recovered sufficiently to be carried home. He never was a well man again as long as I and (unreadable) were together. But was always ailing in his hips and bowels. I hear he is dead and I fully believe his death was caused by the wounds he received.
Respectfully, J.B. Howard
Aiken, So Ca
Dec 19th, 1896
This is to certify that John W Butler was a regularly enlisted soldier in the Confederate Service, that he was a member of Co C, 1st Regt, S. C. V. (South Carolina Volunteer) and that he was badly injured in a skirmish on Johns Island, So Ca, his horse being shot and falling upon him, from the effects of which he was so badly injured that a discharge was granted him all of which occured in the spring of 1862. I will also state that up to the time of his being injured he was gallant and faithful soldier.
T W Whatley
Capt - Co C, 1st Regt S.C.V.
J M Ham(unreadable)son
2d Lieut Co C, 1st Regt S.C.V.
Thos G Miller 1st Lieut
Comp C 1st Regt S.C.V.
Aug 28, 1897
To Richard Johnson Atlanta, GA
Commis Pensions -----
For whome it may concern. I cannot positively swear that the wounds John W Butler received during the war caused his death. But I have known him since the days of our boyhood, up to the time that he was wounded, he was strong and healthy. Since that time he has never been a well and strong man always complaines of his bowells hips kidney. and said the wounds (unreadable) would kill him. I was detailed to nurse him in the Hospital when he was first hurt. Dr E. Tool our Camp Surgeon said all the time he might get up, but would never get well. His injuries will eventually kill him. There is only 37 days difference in my age and Butlers and I am strong and healthy able to carry the fo(unreadable) now on my farm. Up to the time he was wounded he was the strongest and healthiest of the two could out run and throw me down. It is not according to the laws of nature for a man of his constitution of temperate habbits and of his avocation to die so soon. Then what killed him. Why the wounds of course.
Sworn to & subscribed to before me this Aug. 28, 1897 J. B. Howard
J.W. Page Ordinary J.C.
A Memoriam
Just as the hands of the clock pointed to the hour of eight on that beautiful Sabbath morning of November 1, the patient spirit of J. W. Butler took its flight to its everlasting home in the Paradise of God.
For two long years he had been a sufferer with a disease of the bowels, and for several weeks before he died he was confined to his bed. In all of his sufferings, and at times they were intense, he was meekly resigned to the will of God, and many times expressed himself as "anxious to depart and be with Christ."
The day before he died he called his family around his bedside and exhorted them to live Christian lives, to be temperate and Godly, to be zealous in church and Sabbath school work and to always be ready to attend every service of the church and carry their children and train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
He was 57 years old, and for 42 years he has been a consistent member of the Missionary Baptist church, always possessing that zeal which is characteristic of a devoted Christian.
The funeral services were conducted by his pastor, Rev. C. L. Conn, assisted by Rev. W. M McKenzie, after which the remains were interred in the cemetery at Pleasant Valley.