Item 18: Letter from Zebulon Butler to “the War Board,”, 1780 July 11.
Item — Box: 10, Folder: 18
Dates
- Created: 1780 July 11.
Creator
- Butler, Zebulon, 1731-1795 (Person)
Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities
Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.
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. The letter is separated into four pieces due to tears at folds in the paper, leading to some words to be missing/illegible. The paper itself is browning, and contains tattered edges and staining.
Measurements:
13 ⅛ in. x 8 ⅜ in.
Description:
The letter dated July 11, 1780, is written by Zebulon Butler, a lieutenant colonel in the American Revolutionary War, to the Board of War. In the letter, Butler is explaining that he has previously written to their committee regarding needs and provisions of the people now residing at the Wyoming post. He explains that they are going beyond their means, with the majority of their numbers being women and children amongst their soldiers, and requests that the Commissary and Board send instructions of how Butler should go about getting more resources. He writes that he would be happy to write a return of the provisions and rations being used now, and mentions in the conclusion of a recent encounter with neighboring indigenous tribes. He states that his scouting party met with some Tories on the road, two suffering injuries and one that had been taken previously. He says that one is not well enough to travel on.
Location:
Wyoming, PA
Transcription:
Garrison Wyoming 11. July 1780
Sir
yours ^of the 6 April last by order of the Board I Received had at that
time Engaged 64 of the Militia kept them in pay
one month (as it appeared ^that the Enemy were in Different
Quarters around us) after that I Engaged thirty one of
the militia as you will se (sic) [see] by the Inclosed (sic) [enclosed] Return
you Mention. the Post Must be Maintained
with seconamy(?) I very much approve of that
and my favour Conduct while Commanding at
this post will Prove it. The article of Wood for
the Garrison two winters there is no Expense for
only the Publick (sic) [Public] Waggon (sic) [Wagon], to Draw it it was in
order for Every office to Send [Illegible; torn] [Illegible; torn] [Illegible; torn]
own Wood and Every mess to Cut their own wood
which was complyed [complied] with there is no bill for wood
for this Garrison and A number of other things to the
amount of some thousands of pounds if the publick (sic) [Public] had to pay
for them hear (sic) [here] as they have at some other Posts I should
be happy to be called to account Respecting my ouonency (?)
at this Post with Respect to Women and Children.
Drawing Rations at this Post then is none but Souldiers (sic) [soldiers]
Wifes (sic) [wives] and Children draw Rations and their number
are very Large for the number of men if the bord (sic) [board] Desire
it I will make A Return of this number and what
Souldiers (sic) [Soldiers] draw for their Families and they may order
it stoped (sic) [stopped] or Reduct (sic) [Deduct] it out of their wages if I Receive
no further order Respecting them I shall suppose I must
continue their Rations as Usual I was very sorry to
Back:
to hear that after any Letter of 2nd and 5th of April being Read in the Board of War that one Gentleman turned to the others and Asked them if they believed it was true However I shall only say that Gentelman (sic) [Gentleman] must be suspicious of his own Honnour (sic) [Honor] or he would not have Suspected mine as to News from this Quarter we have none offered now Since April, one of my scouting parties about 70 miles up the River came across four Torys (sic) [Tories] on their way from New York to Niagaria(sic) [Niagra] as appears by their Journal no other papers found with them one badly wounded one slitely (sic) [slightly] wounded one other taken the fourth mad(e) his Expayer(?) I have sent two that are abel (sic) [able] to go to head Quarters this Day the other Not like to live.
I am with all attention to Order from the Bo(a)rd of War your Most Ob[edien]t Humbl[e] Serv[an]t Zebulon Butler Colo[nel] Com[man]d[e]r
Back:
to hear that after any Letter of 2nd and 5th of April being Read in the Board of War that one Gentleman turned to the others and Asked them if they believed it was true However I shall only say that Gentelman (sic) [Gentleman] must be suspicious of his own Honnour (sic) [Honor] or he would not have Suspected mine as to News from this Quarter we have none offered now Since April, one of my scouting parties about 70 miles up the River came across four Torys (sic) [Tories] on their way from New York to Niagaria(sic) [Niagra] as appears by their Journal no other papers found with them one badly wounded one slitely (sic) [slightly] wounded one other taken the fourth mad(e) his Expayer(?) I have sent two that are abel (sic) [able] to go to head Quarters this Day the other Not like to live.
I am with all attention to Order from the Bo(a)rd of War your Most Ob[edien]t Humbl[e] Serv[an]t Zebulon Butler Colo[nel] Com[man]d[e]r
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