He considered it a defect in his sons not to ride well, and was in the habit of making them break his colts until, upon one occasion when a "Dare Devil" filly was to be mounted and two of the boys, Pickens and Pierce, were drawing lots to see who should do it. Mrs. Butler could stand it no longer. She interposed, telling her husband that they were her children as well as his, and if the horses were to be broken, put the servants at it. He yielded, carelessly remarking, "it would not hurt them to get thrown, the ground was plowed." At one time he was engaged upon the Turf and ran his horses generally with success; but upon one occasion a demand was made upon him for a stake which he was unable to put up. Under the demand, however, he put up his family servant, Will. He won the race and it was his last. Returning home he told his wife what he had done and gave her a positive pledge, which he kept, never to run another race or to play another card. General Butler was a man of strong impressions and of great self-reliance. Though his connection with most of the events narrated was a subordinate one, he always had his own and decided opinions. He had not literary attainments, but in the school of experience he was a scholar that stood high. One strong peculiarity marked his character - an aversion to long letters and long speeches.
