James Butler

He enlisted as Private, Company B, 4th United States Infantry on 30 November 1848 and served to November 1851. He enlisted again, in New York on 11 March 1854 and rose from Private to Sergeant in Company C, 2nd US Infantry, then reenlisted (at Ft. Abercrombie, Indian Territory) in January 1859. He was First Sergeant of his Company by 1862.

He was noted by Lieutenant Poland among "[t]hose who most distinguished themselves for excellent behavior" in action near the Middle Bridge at Antietam on 17 September 1862.

He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 26 November 1862 at Falmouth, VA and promoted to First Lieutenant on 16 November 1863. He and Lieutenants Byrne and Lacey were dismissed from the Army on 21 April 1864 but reinstated on 22 July. He was honored by brevets to First Lieutenant for service at Chancellorsville and to Captain for Gettysburg.

He continued in the Regular Army until being discharged at his own request on 20 November 1870.

Service information from Heitman1 and the Register.2 The Lieutenant Poland quote above is from his after-action Report. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

See more about the 3 dismissed Lieutenants in a post over on behind AotW.

03/10/1830; Douglas, Isle of Man, ENGLAND

12/11/1897; Prescott, AZ; burial in Citizens Cemetery, Prescott, AZ