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Created page with "'''Roderick Randum Butler''' (April 9, 1827 – August 18, 1902), also known as '''R. R. Butler''', was a Tennessee Unionist and Republican who served in the state legisla..."
'''Roderick Randum Butler''' (April 9, 1827 – August 18, 1902), also known as '''R. R. Butler''', was a [[Tennessee]] Unionist and Republican who served in the state legislature as well as the [[United States House of Representatives]]. Staunchly opposing secession, he led crucial efforts in Eastern Tennessee to assist the Union during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]].
==State legislature, secession, Civil War==
Butler was elected to the Tennessee legislature in 1959, running as a Unionist in a Democrat-dominated state.<ref name=johnsoncitypress>Paykamian, Brandon (November 2, 2019). [https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/living/features/rep-roderick-butler-a-leader-to-local-civil-war-unionists/article_acadf748-55f9-5087-a621-a966dbfff2e7.html Rep. Roderick Butler, a leader to local Civil War Unionists]. ''Johnson City Press''. Retrieved November 6, 2021.</ref>
As a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, Butler was among the state legislators who voted against seceding from the Union.<ref>Temple, Oliver Perry. [https://books.google.com/books?id=g8xYAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA352#v=onepage&q=butler&f=false East Tennessee and the Civil War], p. 223. ''Google Books''. Retrieved November 6, 2021.</ref> After the measure passed, he was among several state representatives, along with future House colleague Horace Maynard, to oppose resistance methods deemed revolutionary or extreme.<ref>''East Tennessee and the Civil War'', p. 352.</ref>
State law required legislators to take an oath swearing allegiance to the [[Confederacy]], and refusal would often result in being sent to prison in [[Alabama]].<ref name=johnsoncitypress/> Butler took the oath on the grounds that he could then work to aid the Union cause effectively, though was nonetheless criticized for the decision.
In 1861, several bridges in Eastern Tennessee were burned down in an effort to derail Confederate military strategies, and Unionists in the region were subsequently arrested and brought to [[Nashville]] on treason charges.<ref name=johnsoncitypress/> Butler, who himself was also arrested twice by Confederates, represented the Unionists brought to court due to his lawyer background and made efforts to return them to their homes.
Butler played a role in organizing the 13th Tennessee Union Cavalry, which he joined in 1862 as a Lieutenant Colonel.<ref name=johnsoncitypress/>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Butler, Roderick R.}}
[[Category:Tennessee]]
[[Category:Virginia]]
[[Category:American Civil War]]
[[Category:Republicans]]
[[Category:Former United States Representatives]]
[[Category:Patriots]]
[[Category:United State Veterans]]
==State legislature, secession, Civil War==
Butler was elected to the Tennessee legislature in 1959, running as a Unionist in a Democrat-dominated state.<ref name=johnsoncitypress>Paykamian, Brandon (November 2, 2019). [https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/living/features/rep-roderick-butler-a-leader-to-local-civil-war-unionists/article_acadf748-55f9-5087-a621-a966dbfff2e7.html Rep. Roderick Butler, a leader to local Civil War Unionists]. ''Johnson City Press''. Retrieved November 6, 2021.</ref>
As a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, Butler was among the state legislators who voted against seceding from the Union.<ref>Temple, Oliver Perry. [https://books.google.com/books?id=g8xYAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA352#v=onepage&q=butler&f=false East Tennessee and the Civil War], p. 223. ''Google Books''. Retrieved November 6, 2021.</ref> After the measure passed, he was among several state representatives, along with future House colleague Horace Maynard, to oppose resistance methods deemed revolutionary or extreme.<ref>''East Tennessee and the Civil War'', p. 352.</ref>
State law required legislators to take an oath swearing allegiance to the [[Confederacy]], and refusal would often result in being sent to prison in [[Alabama]].<ref name=johnsoncitypress/> Butler took the oath on the grounds that he could then work to aid the Union cause effectively, though was nonetheless criticized for the decision.
In 1861, several bridges in Eastern Tennessee were burned down in an effort to derail Confederate military strategies, and Unionists in the region were subsequently arrested and brought to [[Nashville]] on treason charges.<ref name=johnsoncitypress/> Butler, who himself was also arrested twice by Confederates, represented the Unionists brought to court due to his lawyer background and made efforts to return them to their homes.
Butler played a role in organizing the 13th Tennessee Union Cavalry, which he joined in 1862 as a Lieutenant Colonel.<ref name=johnsoncitypress/>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Butler, Roderick R.}}
[[Category:Tennessee]]
[[Category:Virginia]]
[[Category:American Civil War]]
[[Category:Republicans]]
[[Category:Former United States Representatives]]
[[Category:Patriots]]
[[Category:United State Veterans]]