Item 15: Letter from William Stuart to [Zebulon Butler], 1780 May 9

Item — Box: 10, Folder: 15

Staff Only

Letter from William Stuart to [Zebulon Butler], 1780 May 9

Dates

Created: 1780 May 9

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

Additional Description

Type of Material:

Letter.

Condition Note:

Fair. Vinegar smell. The paper is browning, has some minor stains, some fading ing, and some minor tears at seams which do not affect legibility.

Measurements:

13 ¼ in. x 8 ¼ in.

Description:

The following letter, dated May 9, 1780, is written by William Stuart to Zebulon Butler, a lieutenant colonel in the American Revolutionary War. In the letter, Stewart is writing to Butler regarding recent supplies he requested through the Board of War for his post currently at Wyoming. Stuart writes that he has written an additional order by Colonel Ephraim Blain, asking him to send supplies through Mr. William McClay, but that he is currently awaiting them. Someone has shared some of their provisions after a recent request, including 4 barrels of beef, 3 of flour, and one of whiskey, all of which he sent by Lieutenant Beech, but they are not enough to sustain him. It appears that congress refused his initial request for supplies, so he is dependent upon Butler and these other men to supply him with the necessary provisions. Though Butler is never mentioned directly, he has been ascertained as the letter’s recipient due to his concluding sentiments to Butler’s wife.

Transcription:

Northumberland May 9th 1780 Dear sir Agreeable to your orders I have applied to Commissarys (sic) [Commissaries] of Cumberland & Lancaster County But cou[l]’d not be supply’d (sic) [supplied] with any Provisions for the Post of Wyoming without Express orders from Col’o [Colonel] Blain Commiss[ione]’r General upon which Immediately wrote to him for an order to Supply me By— Mr. William McClay which I intend to wait at Harriss [Harris’s] Ferry for a Return I should be glad to have your Express orders to the Commissarys (sic) to supply me with Nessasary (sic) [Necessary] Provisions for your Post upon their Refusal for me to apply to Congress or the Board of War. to have the Post supply’d (sic) [supplied]--- There is some Provisions forwarded to the post which I made aplycation (sic) [application] for some & got what he cou[l]’d share which is only 4 Barrels Beef 3 Barrels Flower (sic) [flour] one of whisky which I have sent by Lt [Lieutenant] Beech which I hope will come safe to Hand. I think it will be very difficult to supply your post. Yet I mian (sic) [mean] to do every thing in my power to Provide every thing Possible I can I should think it Nessary (sic) [Necessary] to send down two or three men with Lt [Lieutenant] Beech to help up with any provisions that may come to Hand

Back:

as I think it will not [be] nessary (sic) [necessary] to unload any Provisions By the way but go Directly on to wyoming, I wou[l]’d Be oblig[e]’d to you to order to the Qr Mr [Quarter Master] to send me a Good Horse as I shall have to Ride a Considera[torn off] after Provisions, if their is none at the Post to Send me orders to here on as I cannot be supply’d (sic) [supplied] down here on acct [account] of the Southern Expedition. N.B. [nota bene] my Comp[limen]t to Mrs Butler & all friends

I remain with Due Respect, Your sincere Hum[b]le Servant William Stewart &c [etcetera]/ Ss [Sheriff Station]

Upside down:

W[illia]m Stewart