Difference between revisions of "Roderick R. Butler"
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'''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]]. | '''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]]. | ||
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| + | His middle name Randum<ref>[https://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/butler7.html#884.57.28 Butler, O to R]. ''The Political Graveyard''. Retrieved November 6, 2021.</ref> is sometimes misspelled as "Random."<ref name=findagrave>[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8036959/roderick-random-butler Roderick Random Butler]. ''Find a Grave''. Retrieved November 6, 2021.</ref> | ||
==State legislature, secession, Civil War== | ==State legislature, secession, Civil War== | ||
Revision as of 00:18, November 7, 2021
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 Civil War.
His middle name Randum[1] is sometimes misspelled as "Random."[2]
State legislature, secession, Civil War
Butler was elected to the Tennessee legislature in 1959, running as a Unionist in a Democrat-dominated state.[3]
As a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, Butler was among the state legislators who voted against seceding from the Union.[4] 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.[5]
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.[3] 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.[3] 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.[3]
References
- ↑ Butler, O to R. The Political Graveyard. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
- ↑ Roderick Random Butler. Find a Grave. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Paykamian, Brandon (November 2, 2019). Rep. Roderick Butler, a leader to local Civil War Unionists. Johnson City Press. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
- ↑ Temple, Oliver Perry. East Tennessee and the Civil War, p. 223. Google Books. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
- ↑ East Tennessee and the Civil War, p. 352.