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Butler, Richard. 1743-1791. Commissioned July 20, 1776, Richard Butler served as a major in the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel less than a year later and his regiment served in Daniel Morgan's command of riflemen. As part of this unit, Butler fought at the Battles of Saratoga and Monmouth. Later promoted to colonel of the 2d Pennsylvania Battalion, he fought at the Battles of Stoney Point and Yorktown. Upon leaving the army, he moved to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and began to practice law. His time out of the army was short lived. He rejoined the army in 1790 with the rank of major general and was second in command to General Arthur St. Clair, commander-in-chief of the American army. In November 1791, he was among a force of 2000 men sent to Ohio to quell an indian uprising. This force met with disaster at the "Battle of Miami", suffering 913 killed, wounded or missing. Butler was severely wounded in the battle and left on the field where he was killed by the victorious indians. |
Last updated: February 26, 2015