Biography of

George W. Butt, Co G

Not much is known about George Butt's early life. From the age at the time of his enlistment, it is assumed he was born in 1843 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. His parents were Joseph Butt and Ann McCune. George and his sister, Charity Butt, had a cousin named Edward McCune who also enlisted in the 18th Ohio. On his enlistment papers, George is described as being 5 foot 6 7/8 inches tall with light complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. It is felt that the mood and enthusiasm in the country to take up arms must have been a strong inducement to join Company G.

Moving into Kentucky with the Regiment in early November, the winter of 1861-1862 would prove to be a hard one for many of the young soldiers. At Bacon Creek, Kentucky, the doctors would work around the clock tending to the many cases of measles, mumps, rubella, and smallpox. Another soldier described the conditions of the makeshift hospital which consisted of an old house where one person did the cooking and not much of that was done. Another said it was not much better than a hog shed where the cold wind blew through every time the door was opened. George was given leave to return home on March 18, 1862, but returned to the company in May of 1862.

It is assumed that he was with the unit throughout the summer and fall of 1862 when the Regiment was marching and countermarching all over Tennessee and Alabama. When cold weather arrived in the fall of 1862, the new leader of the Army of the Cumberland, General William Rosecrans, led the offensive against Bragg at the town of Murfreesboro. The Battle of Stones River took place on the icy morning of December 31, 1862. At some point during the battle, George was wounded. His name was recorded by the Regimental Surgeon, Dr. William Parker Johnson in a letter home to be published in the Athens Messenger.

Having several months to recover, George was still with the 18th into the spring and summer of 1863 when Rosecrans' army was again on the march. The fateful battle took place on September 19 and 20. The 20th proved to be particularly bad for the Regiment as they made a desperate charge at the Horseshoe Ridge to push back the numerically superior Confederates. During the engagement, George was wounded and it was believed to be mortal. Sgt. Launcelot Scott and Jack Figgins were sent to the Snodgrass Cabin to lend assistance and to carry the wounded George Butt who was reported to be still lying on the battlefield. Finding him in particular bad shape and requesting coffee, Scott and Figgins set about making it only to have George be unable to drink it. Realizing the Union army was in retreat and about to be captured, Scott made the decision to leave George and the other wounded and try to make it back to the Federal lines. James Chapman, also wounded and from Company B, said he would stay with George. Nothing more is known of the fate of George Butt. He is listed as missing, but was most probably buried in an unmarked grave somewhere on the battlefield. If wounded as severe as Scott believed, he would not have survived with the inadequate care reported by other survivors who suffered the same fate. The search for George Butt's final resting place is an ongoing project and it is hoped that Confederate records or letters may shed some light on what happened to him.