Gutzon Borglum’s bronze masterpiece stands tall. This is the General Daniel Butterfield Statue. It’s a striking figure in Sakura Park a testament to a complicated legacy.
General Daniel Butterfield a New York businessman served during the Civil War. He rose through the ranks becoming a major general. He wasn’t just an administrator though. Butterfield is credited with modifying an old bugle call. It’s the melody we all know as “Taps”. A somber yet beautiful sound. It’s a legacy that transcends his controversial military career.
His military career had its ups and downs. He made mistakes at Second Manassas and Fredericksburg. These battles resulted in thousands of casualties. His superiors wisely moved him to desk duties. He was at Chancellorsville but his true contribution lay in administration. His family business American Express prepared him well for that.
Butterfield’s post-war life was even more controversial. He served as the Assistant Treasurer of the United States. He displayed questionable judgment. Perhaps even dishonesty. He leaked information to Jay Gould about a government gold sale. Gould and his partners were cornering the gold market. Butterfield’s warning allowed them to sell before the price crashed. This led to Wall Street’s first “Black Friday”. He was removed from office but never prosecuted. His wife commissioned the statue to honor him as a soldier. Not a bureaucrat.
Despite the complexities of his life General Butterfield’s statue remains. It stands as a silent observer in Sakura Park. A reminder of a complex figure. A man whose impact resonates even today. Look closely. You might even imagine the bugle calls echoing softly through the trees.
The statue is over ten feet tall. The granite pedestal is nearly eight feet high. It was erected in 1917. It was never formally dedicated. It stands as a monument to a complicated past a reminder that even flawed individuals can leave lasting marks. And that some legacies are more enduring than others. The somber melody of “Taps” serves as a fitting testament to his complicated legacy. The General Daniel Butterfield statue stands proudly in Sakura Park a symbol of both triumph and controversy.