Benjamnin F. Butler, Butler's Book: Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benjamin Butler

[42] Portsmouth in a privateer fitted out by himself and his friends. He did some harm to the enemy, and in return therefor he received a commission from the government to be the bearer of despatches to General Jackson at New Orleans. He carried out his mission and was thus enabled to make the acquaintance of General Jackson, for whom he entertained the highest respect and admiration. Hence, having a son born on the 13th of February, 1815, he named him Andrew Jackson.

Capt. John Butler, War of 1812, father of Benj. Butler. Engraved from an oil Painting.

The war being practically ended, as the battle of New Orleans was fought after the treaty of peace had been agreed upon, my father turned his attention to mercantile voyages going several trips to the West Indies and Spanish Islands on the coast of South America. While Copyrighted. so engaged he took letters of marque under Bolivar, and with his vessel formed a part of Bolivar's expedition. When Bolivar crossed the Cordilleras, my father returned to the West India Islands and, in order to refit, landed at the Island of St. Christopher (St. Kitts), one of the British Islands. While there he died of the yellow fever, el vomito. So did some portion of his crew and one of his officers, I believe his first officer. That pestilence and its terrible results was among the first diseases of which I remember ever to have learned from my suffering mother. I mention this