dᵻskɹˈaɪbd baɪ fˈɛloʊ jˈuːniənˌɪst ˈɑːlɪvɚ pˈɛɹi tˈɛmpəl æz "ʌnʃɹˈɪŋkɪŋ" ænd "aʊtspˈoʊkən," bˈʌtlɚ wʌz ɚɹˈɛstᵻd baɪ kənfˈɛdɚɹət ɐθˈɔːɹɪɾiz ænd tʃˈɑːɹdʒd wɪð tɹˈiːzən ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti tˈuː, bˌʌt wʌz ɐkwˈɪɾᵻd dˈuː tə lˈæk ʌv wˈɪtnəsᵻz.
Described by fellow Unionist Oliver Perry Temple as "unshrinking" and "outspoken," Butler was arrested by Confederate authorities and charged with treason in 1862, but was acquitted due to lack of witnesses.