GDG- RE: Daniel Butterfield

[Tom Ryan]

<<I suppose I come at Dan Butterfield from a different angle, i.e., - how
did he get into the Union army in the first place?  In fact, he left a
successful position as an executive in his "father's business" -
American Express.  To be sure, other successful men left "cushy"
positions and joined as well, but they were often looking for a
commission straight away.  If I'm not mistaken, although Butterfield was
active in his local militia, he entered the army "through the ranks" as
a sergeant.  He obtained a commission soon thereafter, but I get the
sense that his primary motives were patriotic.  Who knows if he would
have been satisfied to serve in the ranks...perhaps he was promoted
beyond his capabilities...it's worth additional study.

To that end, I agree heartily with your comment that Dan Butterfield is
due a modern, fair, and comprehensive biography.>>

Hi Jim,

Thanks for your thoughts on this subject.  Taking a look at "Generals in
Blue," it mentions Butterfield's "acrimonious debate" with Meade over "the
famous order of July 1st,' but beyond that has pretty positive things to say
about him.  It seems he was a friend of Grant, and stayed in the army until
1870.  He apparently was successful in private life following his army days.
He was also buried at West Point under a special dispensation, since he did
not graduate from there.  That sounds pretty impressive.

It would be interesting to see what is said about Butterfield in Allan
Nevins, ed., "A Diary of Battle: The Personal Journals of Colonel Charles S.
Wainwright, 1861-1865" (1962), and Oliver Willcox Norton, "War Letters,
1861-1865" (1903).  Also Russell Booth's "Butterfield and 'Taps'," in Civil
War Times Illustrated 16 (Dec. 1977): 35-39.

These are some of the other sources in Longacre's bio that Fred Johanson
passed along earlier.  Anyone have copies of these handy that would care to
share what they reveal about Butterfield as a soldier and person?

Tom