Item 28: Letter from Zebulon Butler to [Horatio Gates],“the President of the Board of War", 1780 December 18.
Item — Box: 10, Folder: 28
Dates
- Created: 1780 December 18.
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:
Good. The paper is lightly browning, the edges are slightly tattered, the ink is fading, and there are very minor folds and stains present.
Measurements:
12 ½ in. x 8 in.
Description:
This letter, dated December 18, 1780, is written by Zebulon Butler, a lieutenant colonel during the American Revolutionary War, to Horatio Gates, the President of the Board of War. In the letter, Butler is writing about a recent assist from another passing troop, commanded by John Jenkins, after their party was attacked by another passing by them on the 6th, who took seven of their men, and robbed their women and children of only the necessary provisions, by Butler’s words. He continues on to state that this occurred without a single shot being fired. Butler also mentions that they are in need of further provisions, requesting the right to forage in the region if granted by Congress. He explains that they could not yet forage except for a few Continental horses, which the people had to purchase for themselves.
Location:
Wyoming, PA
Transcription:
Wyoming 18 Dec[ember] 1780
Sir
this Comes by Mr. Jinkins (sic) [Jenkins] who is after Money
Clothing &c [etcetera] for the Troops at this Post by which
youll be inform[e]d the Enemy have Made us a Slite (sic) [slight]
[(a)Sisst] on the Evening of the Sixth Inst[ant]. A Party came
on some Familys (sic) [Families] that had Moved out about four Miles from
the garrison took seven men Left the Women and
Children Unhurt Rob[be]’d (sic) them only of Necessary Provisions
and Clothing to take them along this was Done without
the Fiering (sic) [Firing] of A Gun one of their party deserted and came in whose account I send Inclosed(sic) [enclosed] and I did not hear of it till [untill] next morning and in about Six Hours I Sent
A Party after them who Persued (sic) [Pursued] them two Days and
Could not Pursue any Further for want of Provision as we have not had any flower at this Post this two months but I suppose ways are taken to Procure the
articel (sic) of provisions but you’ll se (sic) by Col
Antes’s Letter which is as Follows
that we can get no forage for the few continental Horses that are hear (sic) [here] which is all the expense that the Publick (sic) has to pay for Wood & for the Garrison if the Bord (sic) should think proper to send money and orders to me or some Parson (sic) [person] that they believed would give them A proper amount of it I should advise to that Measure as Forrage (sic) [forage] can be Purchased at
Back:
as cheep (sic) [cheap] a rate as any Place and much larger quantyties (sic) [quantities] than what is wanted as we have only twelve or fourteen continental Horses hear (sic) [here] expecting officer horses and I observe the Resolv[e] of Congress Respecting Forrage (sic) [forage] if given Forage &c [etcetera] Capt Schott Commands A Corps Capt[ain] Selan (sic) [Selin] is Paymaster to it Capt[ain] Spaulding is Paymaster to his Company Doctor Smith is surgeon to the Garrison Lt [Lieutenant] Myers is adjutant to the Garrison I have as yet Refused giving them Forrage (sic) [Forage] but shall be obliged to do it agreeabel (sic) [agreeable] to the Resolves of Congress without I Receiv’d [received] order from the Bo[a]rd (sic) other ways or A Di[f]ferent (sic) Explanation as the Resolves. I have dismissed the militia and give the soldiers wifes (sic) [wives] only half allowance Rations of Provision I have sent Inclosed (sic)[Enclosed] the Return of the Garrison and A Return of Ammunition wanting and need not only add that I have the Honnour (sic) [Honor] to be the Bo[a]rd[‘s] (sic) most Ob[edien]t Humbl[e] Serv[an]t Zeb Butler Colonel Commd
President of Bord War
Back:
as cheep (sic) [cheap] a rate as any Place and much larger quantyties (sic) [quantities] than what is wanted as we have only twelve or fourteen continental Horses hear (sic) [here] expecting officer horses and I observe the Resolv[e] of Congress Respecting Forrage (sic) [forage] if given Forage &c [etcetera] Capt Schott Commands A Corps Capt[ain] Selan (sic) [Selin] is Paymaster to it Capt[ain] Spaulding is Paymaster to his Company Doctor Smith is surgeon to the Garrison Lt [Lieutenant] Myers is adjutant to the Garrison I have as yet Refused giving them Forrage (sic) [Forage] but shall be obliged to do it agreeabel (sic) [agreeable] to the Resolves of Congress without I Receiv’d [received] order from the Bo[a]rd (sic) other ways or A Di[f]ferent (sic) Explanation as the Resolves. I have dismissed the militia and give the soldiers wifes (sic) [wives] only half allowance Rations of Provision I have sent Inclosed (sic)[Enclosed] the Return of the Garrison and A Return of Ammunition wanting and need not only add that I have the Honnour (sic) [Honor] to be the Bo[a]rd[‘s] (sic) most Ob[edien]t Humbl[e] Serv[an]t Zeb Butler Colonel Commd
President of Bord War
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