Joseph Butler (abt. 1834 - 1864)

Born about 1834 in Sampson, North Carolina, United States [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Isabella (Reynolds) Butler — married about 1857 (to 1863) in Sampson County, North Carolina, United States

Died 9 May 1864 at about age 30 in Spotsylvania Courthouse, Spotsylvania, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Private Joseph Butler served in the United States Civil War.
Mustered out: 1864
Side: CSA
Regiment(s): Co. A, 30th Regiment North Carolina Infantry

Private Joseph "Rebel" BUTLER was born in North Carolina, United States (USA), about 1834.^[1]

He married Isabella, whose sister, Rebecca, also married a Butler.^[1]

He passed away 09 May 1864 in Spotsylvania Courthouse, Spotsylvania, Virginia, United States. BURIAL Spotsylvania Confederate Cemetery Spotsylvania Courthouse, Spotsylvania County, Virginia, USA.^[1]

Company A, 30th North Carolina Infantry,^[1] Ramseur's Brigade, Rodes' Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, C.S.A.

• Residence Sampson County NC; 27 years old.^[1]
• Enlisted on 6/1/1861 at Sampson County, NC, on 6/18/1861 he was mustered into "A" Co. NC 30th Infantry as a Private.^[1]
• Fatally wounded 5/8/1864 Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia.^[1]

In 1865, after the war, "a Union doctor found a skull (Butler's) on the battlefield. Historians surmise the body was hastily buried in a shallow grave and the soil eventually eroded away. The doctor labeled the skull 'Rebel Butler', apparently taking the name from bits of uniform found with it, and took it home. The skull was donated to the Henry County Historical Society Museum in New Castle, Ind., in 1923, and remained on display there for 70 years", when the U.S. Government decreed all human remains on display be returned for proper burial [Anne Gearan, Associated Press writer: “Confederate soldier’s skull buried,” The Standard Times, 26 Aug 1996]. On 8/24/1996 Pvt. Butler's skull was buried with military honors by the Dabney Maury Camp SCV.^[1]

The 30th NC Infantry Regiment completed its organization at Camp Mangum, near Raleigh, North Carolina, in October, 1861. The men were raised in the following counties: Sampson, Warren, Brunswick, Wake, Nash, Granville, Duplin, Edgecombe, Moore, and Mecklenburg.^[2]

Research Notes

• His mother's birth year estimate may need adjustment, given that we can estimate Joseph's birth year from his age at enlistment as about 1834, and that Mary Jane (Royal) Butler is presently shown as having been born about 1822.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7} Warren, Ted; Molter, Cheri Todd & Brown, Kobe M, eds. Our Latest News. My Great-Great-Grandfather’s Military Service and Death at Spotsylvania Courthouse. 19 Jul 2024. North Carolina History Center on the Civil War, Emancipation & Reconstruction. Accessed 20 Jul 2024.
2. ↑ BigFrench - FIND A GRAVE ID 46554304

See also:

• Find A Grave: Memorial #14944817

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Greg Rose for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Greg and others.