Butler was commissioned an ensign in the
9th Pennsylvania Regiment on July 1, 1778, at the age of 16. He was promoted to lieutenant on January 28, 1779, and transferred to the
5th Pennsylvania Regiment on January 17, 1781. He was again transferred to the
3rd Pennsylvania Regiment on January 1, 1783, and was discharged on November 3, 1783, when the Continental Army was disbanded. He was on original member of the
Society of the Cincinnati along with three of his brothers. He was a captain in the levies under Major General
Arthur St. Clair and saw action at
St. Clair's Defeat in which his brother
Richard was killed and his brother
Thomas was wounded. He was commissioned a captain in the
United States Army on March 5, 1792, and transferred to the
4th Sub-Legion on September 4, 1792. On July 18, 1793, he was appointed Adjutant and Inspector of the United States Army and served until May 13, 1794. He was assigned as a captain in the
4th Infantry Regiment on November 1, 1796. He was transferred to the
2nd Infantry Regiment on April 1, 1802. He died on May 6, 1803. == See also ==