Item 6: Letter from Zebulon Butler to General [Eliphalet] Dyer (Removed to Legal Box #1) , 1777 June 23.
Item — Box: 10, Folder: 6
Dates
- Created: 1777 June 23.
Creator
- Butler, Zebulon, 1731-1795 (Person)
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Letter
Condition Note:
Poor. Large stains, tears at folds, browning of paper, and general damage present. Some tears make areas of the letter difficult to read.
Measurements:
13 in. x 8 ⅛ in.
Description:
The following letter dated June 23, 1777 is written by Zebulon Butler, a Colonel during the American Revolutionary war and political figure from Connecticut, to General Eliphalet Dyer. In the letter, Butler writes to Dyer concerning a matter of payment due to him from Congress. Butler explains that the men had previously bought a bulk of their supplies, namely some cattle and enough flour to sustain them for three to four months, before they were requested to move camp. Butler explains that he had to sell them quickly, at a great loss to himself, and requests that Congress pay the men and himself back for their sustained losses. Butler believes that Dyer can help him due to his connections with Congress, for all of his letters and appeals have been unanswered. This connection is likely born from Dyer’s history in politics, serving as a delegate for Connecticut to many sessions of the Continental Congress, jurist, and statesman.
Location:
Morristown
Transcription:
Camp at Morris Town [Morristown] 23 June, 1777
Honoured sir,
I'm sorry I had not the opportunity of waiting
on you as you went through Morristown
and I’ve some an Account Courent in which there is
some money due to me ^from Congress which I very much want
I suppose it would have been settled last winter had
Not the Congress moved to Baltimore and since
they have been Returned I have been in Camp and
have had no opportunity of setling (sic) [settling] it Mr. Webbster did
Undertake to get the Acct [account] settelled (sic) [settled] and Let me know when
the money was Ready I have wrote him twice since
I was in Camp and have had no answer I've lately
heard to it from home and met with A Misfortune
I’ve lately wrote to Mr Sherman and have had no
opportunity news from him should be much obliged
to you if you will let me know What is Done
about it or Wheather (sic) [whether] it is Nessesary (sic) [necessary] for me to come
to Congress to settel (sic) it the Acct [account] is made up Right
the Commission I have charged I Submitt (sic) [submit] to
Congress shall be content with what they do. I believe
they will find after allowing that that the two Comanies
Companys (sic) [companies] from Westmoreland have ben supplyd (sic) [supplied] the
Cheapest of Any Troops on the Continent and I not made
more than good as I purchased some Cattel (sic) [cattle] and a Quantity
of flower (sic) [flour] T Situat(e) them 3 or 4 months by Directions
I took of Mr. Sherman at N[ew] Haven and they was (sic) [were] ordered
away suddenly and I was obliged to Dispose of the Provisions
At a considerabel (sic) [considerable] Loss and I advanced what money
I
Back:
I had of my own to help them away Expecting to have my Acct [account] settled soon. the money belongs Part to me and part to the souldiers (sic) [soldiers] and part to Inhabitants for Provisions if your Honnour (sic) [Honour] will be so kind as to Let me know by Maj[o]r Backus what is done or what I must do to settel (sic) it or if it is setteled (sic) to let Maj[o]r Backus Receive the money for me. youll [you will] greatly oblige him that has the Honour to be your Honnours (sic) [Honour’s] Most Ob[edian]t Humble Serv[an]t Zeb Butler
Gen[era]l Dyer Letter to Congress Independent Congr[ess] NB. [nota bene] I have sent to Congress twice the Bill of the First time I have not it with me it was only Part the Expenses of a Mans journey it was ￡5.00 the Inclosed bills 16.4.6 ￡21.4.6 Pennsl[vani]a money
Z
I had of my own to help them away Expecting to have my Acct [account] settled soon. the money belongs Part to me and part to the souldiers (sic) [soldiers] and part to Inhabitants for Provisions if your Honnour (sic) [Honour] will be so kind as to Let me know by Maj[o]r Backus what is done or what I must do to settel (sic) it or if it is setteled (sic) to let Maj[o]r Backus Receive the money for me. youll [you will] greatly oblige him that has the Honour to be your Honnours (sic) [Honour’s] Most Ob[edian]t Humble Serv[an]t Zeb Butler
Gen[era]l Dyer Letter to Congress Independent Congr[ess] NB. [nota bene] I have sent to Congress twice the Bill of the First time I have not it with me it was only Part the Expenses of a Mans journey it was ￡5.00 the Inclosed bills 16.4.6 ￡21.4.6 Pennsl[vani]a money
Z
Creator
- Butler, Zebulon, 1731-1795 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu