Taylor County was given parts of Macon, Marion and Talbot counties at its creation in 1852. It is named for Zachary Taylor whose victory in the Battle of Buena Vista during the Mexican War boosted him toward the presidency of the United States. Butler, the county seat, is named for another figure in that conflict, General William Orlando Butler. One of the county's most prominent citizens was John B. Gordon. He had raised a company of mountaineers at the start of the Civil War and served as their captain. Despite lack of formal military training, he proved to be a brilliant strategist. By 1865 he wore the stars of a lieu­tenant general and was one of General Lee's most dogged fighters.