True Democrat

GENERAL BUTLER.—The correspondent of the United States Gazette says:

It appears that the imputations cast on the conduct of Gen. Butler, by the letters which appeared in the Union from some persons on the spot, have caused great excitement here. Some of his friends are indignant because they view the statements as impugning his courage; while the true ground of the reported rebuke which he is said to have received from General Taylor, is his rashness which induced him to place his men in a position of unnecessary peril, by which the life of Col. Watson was lost. How the matter stands will be determined by the official details of the battle which cannot long be delayed.

We copy the following article from the New York True Sun:

Vindication of Gen. Butler—Several of our city papers having, through their Washington correspondence and otherwise, impeached the courage and conduct of Gen. Butler, at the siege of Monterey, the following refutation of those reports, by one we all know and place implicit reliance on, will be read with satisfaction.

Gentlemen—
As it may so happen that Gen. Butler is not known to another individual in this city, I deem it proper to request the public to wait farther accounts of Gen. Taylor before passing upon the conduct of Gen. Butler. I have long known him personally, and it is due to candor to say that Gen. Butler was regarded as one of our most gallant officers in the late war. He served under Gen. Jackson, and was by him mentioned in his official reports for the highest gallantry in the field of battle on several occasions. That Gen. Butler may have been rash or imprudent in sacrificing his men is possible, and if so, he was no doubt censured by Gen. Taylor—but not for lack of courage. Though Gen. Butler and myself differ politically, I nevertheless deem it no more than justice to a gallant soldier to make this statement.
I am, gentlemen, yours, very respectfully,
JAS. MONROE.