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Item 18: Letter From Zebulon Butler to George Washington, 1780 May 15

 Item — Box: 12, Folder: 59

Dates

  • Created: 1780 May 15

Creator

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:

Wyoming

Condition Note:

Okay.

Measurements:

10 ⅜ in. x 8 in.

Description:

This letter provides some updates to George Washington about military actions and the interactions with natives.During the time that this letter was written Zebulon Butler was commanding the garrison of Forty Fort located in the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania.Prior to this Butler was commissioned as Lieutenant Colonel of the 3rd Connecticut Regiment of the continental army in 1777 . In 1778, while home on leave, he participated in the defense of the valley, and was involved in what is known as the Wyoming Valley Massacre. He returned as commander in the valley and remained there during Sullivan's expedition against the Iroquois in 1779.

Transcription:

Wyoming 15 May 1780 May it Please your Excellency, Your order of the 7th april 1780 came safe to Hand I SHall wait your excellencys [sic] further orders nothing materal [sic] has happened since my last only the men mentioned in my last being taking at Fishing Crick & came in with the Indian guns tomhocks [sic] & as the first Party did and actually brought in two Indian scalps, I have heard of later mischief being done on the West Branch of Susqh and on Dilwair [sic] but non im their Quarter I have orders from the Bord [sic] of War to Engage 30 of the melitia [sic] which I have done for the Defence [sic] of this Frontier Capt Selan the Barrer will hand this to you Excellency he is A gentleman of the free Coar that is stationed at this post and has leave of absence to wait on your Excellency as he says on business respecting the Coare he expects to return to this post immedeataly [sic]

Back Coppy Letter to Genl Washington May 15th 1780

Repository Details

Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository

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