Item 7: Letter from J[ames] M[itchell] Varnum to Zebulon Butler (Removed to legal box #1) , 1778 June 10
Item — Box: 10, Folder: 7
Dates
- Created: 1778 June 10
Creator
- Varnum, James Mitchell, 1748-1789 (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:
Fair. Slight discoloration and minor tearing at the folded seams.
Measurements:
13 ⅜ in. x 8 in.
Description:
The following letter dated June 10, 1778, is written by James Mitchell Varnum to Zebulon Butler, a lieutenant Colonel during the American Revolutionary war and political figure from Connecticut. In the letter, Varnum is responding to a letter Butler has previously sent asking after troops that are needed in the settlement. Varnum writes that he has been informed that Congress has taken cognizance of the need and dispatched troops to aid the settlement. However, he also writes that they have had some hesitancy because they do not know how Congress wants to act in the continuing war with indigenous troops in the region. Varnum writes to say that he will check in with them again in this matter and that more will be thought of on the matter.
The Battle of Rhode Island Association’s website has a number of digitized transcriptions of letters and history occurring during this period of time, the Battle for Rhode Island, where slightly after this, July 1778, Butler is referenced.
James Mitchell Varnum and Zebulon Butler were also co-members of the Society of Cincinnati.
Location:
Valley Forge
Transcription:
Camp at Valley Forge 10th June, 1778
Sir–
It gives me great Pain to find that the Indians
and others are so troublesome to your Settlement.
I have applied to his Excellency frequently
upon the subject. He informs me that Congress
have taken the matter into their own hands,
and have ordered Troops for the Purpose of Defense;
and as he is not fully acquainted with
the manner in w/h [which] they intend carrying on the
War in that Quarter, it is out of his Power to
intermeddle. — There are now a Number of
Gentlemen from Congress in camp to whom I
have communica[e]’d the Contents of your Letter.
They inform me that a state of your Settlement
has been laid before them, & that Satisfactory
Relief was ordered; However, they will
have it under further Consideration.
I am sir, your very obdt [obedient]. Servant
J M Varnum
Col[onel] Butler
[Backside of document] Coll [Conelel] Zebulon Butler W att (sic) W Westmoreland and Near W The River WWW WW W W Westmoreland WW Westm[oreland] W WWW WW
Gen[e]r[a]l Varnum 10 June 1778
In Pencil: Gen[era]l Varnum
[Backside of document] Coll [Conelel] Zebulon Butler W att (sic) W Westmoreland and Near W The River WWW WW W W Westmoreland WW Westm[oreland] W WWW WW
Gen[e]r[a]l Varnum 10 June 1778
In Pencil: Gen[era]l Varnum
Creator
- Varnum, James Mitchell, 1748-1789 (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