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

My family had no coat of arms, and I have been taunted with the fact by my political foes, some of whom pride themselves upon an ancestry which won distinction by amassing wealth from the sale of codfish and New England rum,--with which, in early colonial times, Africa was supposed to be Christianized. At such times I have been tempted to reply, since I had before me the swords of four generations, each actually worn in the military service of the country, “'Tis true my family has no coat of arms, but we have the arms.”

I planned that my son should become my partner in the profession of the law. I had seen that nearly all the generals in the I War of the Rebellion who had been at West Point and had achieved success, had quitted the profession of arms at an early age, and I was desirous of giving my boy, who had been a soldier, every chance as a civilian. He studied his profession at the Columbia Law School in New York, and, after two years, was admitted to practice upon examination before the term of study , was closed. I had hoped to lean upon him in my declining years, to take my place in that profession which I love and honor. “Man proposes, but God disposes.”

Swords of four generations in glass case, at home of Gen. Butler at Lowell.

My daughter married Major-General Adelbert Ames, who made his mark during the War of the Rebellion and in the reconstruction of the country, so that I have no need here to remark upon his history. They have six children. The eldest, Butler Ames, is now a student at West Point. So, God willing, one of the race will be in the next war to do honor to the blood of his father and the race of his mother.

My son, Paul, chose business pursuits after he was graduated at Harvard. I sent him to Harvard, not because I deemed it the best