Item 12: Letter from Zebulon Butler to George Washington (Found in Subseries II: Susquehanna Controversy, Box 14), 1780 April 2
Item — Box: 10, Folder: 13
Dates
- Created: 1780 April 2
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:
Bad. Vinegar smell. The paper is separated into four separate pieces due to tears at folds, however the tears do not affect legibility. The condition of the paper is relatively poor however, with it showing extreme signs of age, as well as containing severe staining, some folds, as well as tears.
Measurements:
13 ½ in. x 8 ½ in.
Description:
This letter is about a group of soldiers who were captured by Native Americans and what they saw while captive.
Transcription:
Wyoming 2d April 1780
May it Please your excellency
I arrived at this Post the 22d inst after A Tedious Journey and Obliged to Travel about forty miles of the laft (sic)of it on Foot the snow being so Deep and yet too Deep to get A Horse through the wood on marching preparation to Joyn (sic) as soon as Possabel (sic)
I think it my Deuty (sic) to inform your Excellency with the Late Transaction of the Enemy near this Post on the 27 March on Three men were at work about three miles above the Garrison by the River they were taken on the 28 early in the morning as two men were marching shugar (sic) about Eight miles down the River one was killed and the other Taken on the 29 Early in the Morning about twenty miles further Down on Fishing Creek three men were killed and three Taken on the same Day in the afternoon on their Return they came Across A Party that went out to give notice to some men that were out making shugar (sic) wounded two of them but they all saved themselves by taking to A House and all with the two wounded are come the two wounded like to Recover on the 30th as they were still Returning they took one man his wife and child who were out making shugar (sic) they dismissed the woman and child who say they were above thirty in numbers and confirm the account of above mention prisoner and on the Evening of the same Day the three men Mentioned of being taken the 27 March came in with indian guns tomhacks & and say that they were taken as above mentioned and carried about forty miles up the River and that on the 28th March afternoon they Met A Party of about thirty Indians one White man and one of the Indians they knowd (sic) and they met two small Parts afterward Pushing down the River those Partys told our men that there were five hundred out and A Large Party coming on after them Brant with A Party Was gone to the Mohawk River A Party to Manifinct (?) and A Party to the West Branch of Sussq.h
those three men Early in the morning of the 29 March those on their Master killed three Wounded the fourth and two ran which is confirmed by their bringing in five Indian guns one silver mounted Hanger some Tomhacks and other Indian affairs. The Party they met on the 28 March afternoon have not Done any Mischief hear yet as it was impossabel (sic) for them to be Down so low as when the Room Mentioned was Done we are Looking for them. Every Hour the three men further say that by the Appearance of Snow Shac Tracks as far up as they went that then had Our Numbers of Indians there for some months from the above Representation Which I have Carefully take and have No Reason to Doubt the Truth of them your Excellency Will be abel (sic) to judge what is Necessary for the Defence of the Frontiers in these parts and can only say I am with all attention your Excellency most obt Humble servt
Zebn Butler Col
His Excellency Genl Washington
{side note} Coppy (sic) Letter to Genl Washington 2d April 1780
No. 19
His Excellency Genl Washington
{side note} Coppy (sic) Letter to Genl Washington 2d April 1780
No. 19
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