Item 16: Letter from Zebulon Butler to “the War Board,”, 1780 July 11.

Item — Box: 10, Folder: 17

Staff Only

Item 16: Letter from Zebulon Butler to “the War Board,”, 1780 July 11

Dates

Created: 1780 July 11.

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

Additional Description

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:

Zebulon Butler is writing to the Board of War about the situation at the Wyoming Garrison. He notes that they require more supplies due to the rapid usage of things by the people situated there. Butler also notes an encounter with enemy scouts.

Transcription:

Garrison Wyoming 11. July 1780 Sir Yours of the 6 April left by order of the Board I Received had at that time Engaged Gen 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 milita as you will se [sic] by the Included Return you mention. the post must be maintained with ouonency [sic] I very much approve of that and my Conduct while commanding at this part will prove it. The article of Wood for the garrison two winters there is no expense for only the publick waggon, to draw it it sic was in order for every office to bend [Illegible due to damage] own wood and every mess to get their own wood which was complyed 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 publish had to pay for them hear as they have at some other Postss I should be happy to be called to amount Respecting my ouonency [sic] A this post with Respect to Women and Children. Drawing Rations at this post then is none but souldiers Wifes and Children drawn Rations and their number are very Large for the number of men if the bord Desire it I will make A Return of this number and what souldiers draw for their families and they may order it stopped or Deduct it out of their wages if Receive no further order Respecting them I shall suppose I must continue their Rations as ---- (I was very sorry to to hear that after any Letter of 2nd and 5th of April ---- Read in the Board of War that one gentleman turned to the others and Asked them if they delivered it was true However I shall only say that Gentelman must be suspicious of his own Honnour or he would not have supported 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 for Toress on their way from New York to Niagaria(sic) as -- can by their formal no other papers found with them one badly wounded one slitely [sic] wounded one other taken the fourth neads [sic] his e----- I have sent two that are abel [sic] to go to head Quarater this Day the other not like to live.

I am with all attention to Order from the Bord of War your Most Humb’l Servant Zebulon Butler Col’o Commander