Item 8a: A Letter From Zebulon Butler to the “Board of War,” (removed to legal box #1), 1778 July 10.
Item — Box: 10, Folder: 8a
Dates
- Created: 1778 July 10.
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:
This letter which was written by Butler reports to the Board of War, a committee which oversaw the Continental Army’s administration during the Revolutionary War, the current situation surrounding the local Native Americans, as well as a battle which occured, which based off the date is most likely the Battle of Wyoming, also known as the Wyoming Massacre, as more than 300 of Butler’s troops were killed in a major loss.
Condition Note:
Poor. Item is torn in multiple sections with minor tearing in each. Slight discoloration.
Measurements:
12 ½ in. x 7 ⅞ in.; 15 ¾ in. x 12 ½ in.
Description:
The following letter, dated July 10, 1778, is written by Zebulon Butler, a lieutenant Colonel during the American Revolutionary war and political figure from Connecticut, to the Board of War. In the Letter, Butler is recounting a recent conflict between the inhabitants of the counties and the neighboring indigenous communities in the region. He writes that there was a standoff between the two, where upon mishearing a command to retreat, their militia was split. He explains that, though they had the higher ground before the confusion, their numbers suffered greatly following the action. He writes that the inhabitants settled on terms of surrender that Butler had rejected and Captain Denison negotiated those terms, included in Butler’s letter, with the indigenous parties upon their request. In concluding his letter, Butler mentions that many of the remaining inhabitants were required to move their families and belongings up river after the attack reduced many of their buildings to ruins. He asks for their financial support from the Board of War.
The battle that Butler is writing about is the Battle of Wyoming, a violent conflict that happened during the Second Yankee-Pennamite War of the Susquehanna Controversy where Pennsylvania and Connecticut disputed the other’s claim to the land. On July 3rd of 1778, Pennsylvanian loyalists teamed up with the British and Iroquois to lay siege to the Connecticut settlement Fort Wyoming, viewing the siege as an opportunity to drive out the opposing settlers who they saw as bargaining pieces to placate the crown in their victory. Colonel John Butler, a British major and loyalist, led a troop of nearly one thousand composed of loyalists and Iroquois allies who killed and captured over three-hundred men, women, and children of the valley. Zebulon Butler attempted to defend the settlers within the Valley, but was wholly overwhelmed by the loyalist numbers.
Location:
Gnadenhutten, Lehigh
Transcription:
Khenoddenhed (sic) [Gnadenhutten] Penn[sylvania] Township 10th July 1778
Honour Sir
on my arvil (sic) [arrival] at Westmoreland (which was only four
Days after I Left York Town) I found there was A
Large Boddy (sic) [body] of Enemy advancing on this Settlement
1St Day July we Mustered the Militia and March[e]’d
Toward, then by the River above the settlement found and killed Two
Indians ^when they had murdered nine men the Day before that was found Some Cannoe &c [etcetera] but found we were
Above their Boddy (sic) [body] it was Judged Prudent to Return
and as Every man had to go to his own House for
his Provision we Could not Muster again till (sic) [untill] ye 3d
July in which time the Enemy had got Possesion (sic) [Possession]
of two Forts one of Which we have Reason to
believe was Designed for them tho’ [though] they Burnt
them Both. the Inhabitants had Seven Forts for
the Security of their Women and Children ^ which extended about ten miles on the River and
too many men would stay ^in them to take Care of them
but after collecting about three hundred of the most
Spirited Militia ^including Capt[ain] Hewetts Company I held A Counsel with the Militia
officers Who were all agreed it was Best to
Attack them before they got any further
we Accordingly march[e]’d found their situation form[e]’d
A Front of the same Extension of the Enemies and
Attent [Attacked] Right to Left the same time and our
Men Stood Fier (sic) [fire] ^well for three or four Shots till some
Part of the Enemy gave Way but unfortunately for
us through some Mistake the word Retreet (sic) [Retreat] was
Understood from some officers on the Left which took
so Quick that it was not in the Power of Officers
to Form there again but ^ though I believe if they had stood three minutes longer the ^enemy would [*] have been broke and Run as we Did
[*The rest of the sentence moves up the right side of the page]
The Utmost Pain was
taken
Page 2:
Taken by the officers who mostly fell ^ Lt [Lieutenant[ & Maj[o]r of Militia and five Militia Capt[ain]s who were in Commissin (sic) [Commission] in all in Militia all fell ^Col Durkee and Capt[ain] Hewit & Ranson Likewise were killed in the Whole about two hundred men Lost their Lives in that action on our side what number of the enemy is yet uncertain though I believe A [*] a very considerable number [*The rest of the sentence moves up the right side of the page] Whether ^The loss of men So intimidated the Inhabitants, that they gave up the Matter of fighting Great Numbers Ran off and others Would Comply with Terms that I had Refused the Enemy Sent flags frequently the Terms you’ll [you will] se[e] in the Inclosed (sic) [Enclosed] Letter the[y] Repatedly (sic) [Repeatedly] said they had Nothing to do with any but the Inhabitants and Did Not want to treat with me Colo[nel]. Denison by Desire of the Inhabitants Went and Complyed (sic) [Complied] which made it Nessessary (sic) [Necessary] for me and the [the little remains of Capt[ain] Hewitt’s company to] [quit(?)] the place I ordered it was Determined by the Enemy to Spair (sic) [spare] the inhabitants after their agreement and that my say with the few Continental souldiers (sic) [soldiers] should be Delivered to the Savages upon which I Left Place and Came to this Place Scarcely abel (sic) [able] to move on as Ive [I have] had No Rest since I left York Town but am well at Present but it has not been in my power to find horse or man to Wait on the Board till now. [Illegible] Must submitt (sic) [submit] to the Board What Must be the Next Step the Litel (sic) [Little] Remain of Hewetts Company which are about 15 are gone to Shamookin (sic) [Shamokin] & Capt[ain] Spaulding’s Company I have heard one on Delwair (sic) [Delaware] several Hundred of inhabitants Strolling out in the Country Destitute of Provisions and Who have large field of grain and other Nessessaries (sic) [Necessaries] of supportat Westmoreland In short if the inhabitants Can go back there may yet be saved Double the Quantity of Provision to support
Page 3:
the inhabitants other ways (sic) [otherwise], they Must be beggars and and A Burthen [burden] to the world I have heard by men that come from the place Since the Peopel (sic) [people] give up the Indian have killed no Person since but have Burnt the most of the Building and are Collecting all the Horses they can and are Moving Up the River they likewise say that there (sic) [their] Enemy were Eight Hundred one half white man Should be glad if possabel (sic) [possible] that their might be A sufficient Guard sent for the Defense of that Place which will be A Means or saving Thousands from Poverty but must submit it to the Wisdom of Congress I desire further order from the Bord (sic) [Board] Houn[orab]l[e] [Honorable] Bord (sic) [Board] of War with Respect to myself and the Souldiers (sic) [soldiers] Under my Directions. I have the Honnour (sic) [honor] to be your Honnors (sic) [Honors’] Most Ob[edien]t humble Serv[an]t Zeb[ulo]n Butler
Back: [In another hand]
Coppy Letter to Bort (sic) [Board] of War 10 July from F Allen
Taken by the officers who mostly fell ^ Lt [Lieutenant[ & Maj[o]r of Militia and five Militia Capt[ain]s who were in Commissin (sic) [Commission] in all in Militia all fell ^Col Durkee and Capt[ain] Hewit & Ranson Likewise were killed in the Whole about two hundred men Lost their Lives in that action on our side what number of the enemy is yet uncertain though I believe A [*] a very considerable number [*The rest of the sentence moves up the right side of the page] Whether ^The loss of men So intimidated the Inhabitants, that they gave up the Matter of fighting Great Numbers Ran off and others Would Comply with Terms that I had Refused the Enemy Sent flags frequently the Terms you’ll [you will] se[e] in the Inclosed (sic) [Enclosed] Letter the[y] Repatedly (sic) [Repeatedly] said they had Nothing to do with any but the Inhabitants and Did Not want to treat with me Colo[nel]. Denison by Desire of the Inhabitants Went and Complyed (sic) [Complied] which made it Nessessary (sic) [Necessary] for me and the [the little remains of Capt[ain] Hewitt’s company to] [quit(?)] the place I ordered it was Determined by the Enemy to Spair (sic) [spare] the inhabitants after their agreement and that my say with the few Continental souldiers (sic) [soldiers] should be Delivered to the Savages upon which I Left Place and Came to this Place Scarcely abel (sic) [able] to move on as Ive [I have] had No Rest since I left York Town but am well at Present but it has not been in my power to find horse or man to Wait on the Board till now. [Illegible] Must submitt (sic) [submit] to the Board What Must be the Next Step the Litel (sic) [Little] Remain of Hewetts Company which are about 15 are gone to Shamookin (sic) [Shamokin] & Capt[ain] Spaulding’s Company I have heard one on Delwair (sic) [Delaware] several Hundred of inhabitants Strolling out in the Country Destitute of Provisions and Who have large field of grain and other Nessessaries (sic) [Necessaries] of supportat Westmoreland In short if the inhabitants Can go back there may yet be saved Double the Quantity of Provision to support
Page 3:
the inhabitants other ways (sic) [otherwise], they Must be beggars and and A Burthen [burden] to the world I have heard by men that come from the place Since the Peopel (sic) [people] give up the Indian have killed no Person since but have Burnt the most of the Building and are Collecting all the Horses they can and are Moving Up the River they likewise say that there (sic) [their] Enemy were Eight Hundred one half white man Should be glad if possabel (sic) [possible] that their might be A sufficient Guard sent for the Defense of that Place which will be A Means or saving Thousands from Poverty but must submit it to the Wisdom of Congress I desire further order from the Bord (sic) [Board] Houn[orab]l[e] [Honorable] Bord (sic) [Board] of War with Respect to myself and the Souldiers (sic) [soldiers] Under my Directions. I have the Honnour (sic) [honor] to be your Honnors (sic) [Honors’] Most Ob[edien]t humble Serv[an]t Zeb[ulo]n Butler
Back: [In another hand]
Coppy Letter to Bort (sic) [Board] of War 10 July from F Allen
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