Item 80: Letter from Elisha Blackman to “the National Gazette”, 1820 December

Item — Box: 12, Folder: 120

Staff Only

Letter from Elisha Blackman to “the National Gazette,” 1820 December

Dates

Created: 1820 December

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

Additional Description

Type of Material:

Letter

Condition Note:

Good. Vinegar smell on interior.

Measurements:

10 in. x 8 in. (Closed) 16 in. x 10 in. (Open)

Description:

This letter consists of a critique by Elisha Blackman of an account of the memorable Battle of Wyoming published in the National Gazette.This paper is not to be confused with the National Gazette which was a Democratic-Republican partisan newspaper that was first published on October 31, 1791. The National Gazette unofficially stopped publishing in October 1793, two years after its establishment, it is believed that the outbreak of yellow fever in Philadelphia, combined with dwindling subscriptions contributed to the paper's demise.A newspaper under the name of Napoleon National Gazette Literary Register began being published in 1820 by William fry, and stopped publication in 1841.This is the newspaper in which published the account of the Battle of Wyoming. Though not written in this letter, the author can be traced back to Elisha Blackman (1760-1845). As this exact writing was published in the 1821 Newspaper Battle of Wyoming PA Napoleon National Gazette Literary Register Vol 53. on January 2nd. The author of the manuscript mentions Botta’s History of the War of American Independence. He is speaking of History of the War of the Independence of the United States of America by Charles Botta, full name Carlo Giuseppe Guglielmo Botta, an Italian born-French historian.

Location:

Wilkes-Barre, PA

Transcription:

Wilkes Barre Dec[ember] 1820 To the Editor of the National Gazette In reading your useful paper of the 9th inst[ant], I observed, under the head of “Wyoming Massacre,” an account of the memorable Battle at Wyoming in July 1778, purporting to be an “Extract from the second volume of Otis’s translation of Botta’s History of the War of American Independence.” I presume you were not acquainted with the character of this account, or it never would have met the public eye in the columns of the Gazette. But in publishing the Extract you have, however unintentionally, given a wide circulation to a very erroneous piece of History, which gives a false relation of the events of that melancholy day, and which vilely libels the character of the late Col[onel]. Zebulon Butler. Believing you, however, to be more ready & willing to correct error, than to propagate it, I readily embrace the present opportunity of contradicting the statement made, and promising, as soon as the facts can be collected from correct sources, to furnish a full and ample refutation. The account, as given in the Extract, is perhaps the most incorrect narration of events, that ever found its way into the history of any transaction, particularly of one so highly interesting. Indeed it is a relation of there is scarcely a solitary truth in the whole extract. Most of the circumstances related, are fabrications, and others are so misrepresented & perverted as handly to be recognized. I will mention a few of the numerous instances of deviation from truth & fact.--- In the first place, Col[onel]. Zebulon Butler never had ^not the command of the “whole colony.” ^ at the time spoken of. He was a Colonel in Washington’s army, but, happening to ^ be at home on in this ^ part of the country on a furlough, he was requested to give his assistance and to take command of the men in case it should be necessary to fight. It is not true that Zebulon Butler was a “cousin of John.” There was no relationship subsisting between them. It is not true that Col[onel]. Butler was drawn out of the Fort by the “lavish promises” of his enemy, “that if he ^ would consent to a parley in the open field, the siege would be raised, and every thing accommodated.” Nor is it true that he marched out for that purpose and “from motives of caution took with him four hundred men well armed.” The fact is the only conference he marched out to, was a battle, & then with only about 200 men the only parley he expected was at the point of the bayonet. The battle was fought certain to his ^sooner than he hie dedvised [devised] ^ he was of the opinion, that delay would enable them to meet the enemy to more advantage and probably ascertain their force ^ but as he had no right to the submission of either the officers, or their men, except what they voluntarily paid him, he was obliged to forego his own opinion, & consent to lead them ^on to the fight Battle. It is not true than Col[onel]. Butler & his men were enticed into the “dismal solitude,” & “thick forests (sic),” by a “flag,” and it is equally untrue that the enemy ^ There “completely surrounded him ^by the enemy” x In short the whole Extract is a issue of falsehoods, which it ^ would occupy more time & space to point out particularly, than I am willing to allow myself in this communication. If however, it be deemed of sufficient interest To perpetuate truth is, or ought to be the object of History: or at least all events History should never be made the vehicle of falsehood. That a true account of the Battle of Wyoming may be incorporated into history, is one reason why I have noticed the Extract. If it be deemed of sufficient interest, & importance to the public, that any account of it should be registered, it certainly is of importance that that account should be correct & authentic. But it is also due to the memory of Col[onel]. Butler, and to the feeling of his numerous descendants, to remove the odium which this account has so unjustly heaped upon his character. The fact-that he entered the Brittish (sic) service while young, & served as an Ensign in the French war,--- that he was promoted to a Captaincy, & served in that rank at the taking of the Havanna,--- that upon the breaking out of the war with Great Brittain (sic) he entered the Revolutionary army in which he rose to the rank of Colonel,--- sufficiently answers the imputation of treachery and want of capacity.--- There are a few survivors of the battle yet remaining, who are well acquainted with transactions of that day, as well as of somedays both precious & subsequent, and who are willing to testify their knowledge of them.--- And I repeat, should you be willing to publish the facts they shall be furnished you. As one account has gone to the public, in your paper, it is but just ^ that an accurate statement should be as widely circulated. I am Your &c [etcetera]

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