The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-04-21
VOL. 1, NO. "a.
gt9graphifs.
Col. Zebulon Butler.


state Of Connecticut, in the year 1871
He entered early in life into the service of his
country in the provincial troops of his native
state.
In this service he remained, actively employed
for several years, and rose from the rank Of an
ensign to the command of company. He par
took largely in the transactions of the war be-
tween the English and French, on the frontiers
of Canada, particularly in the campaign of 1853,
at Fort Edward, Lake George, Ticonderoga, and
Crown Point.
In 1851 he was again at Crown Point, and at
that time held the rank of Captain. The history
Of these transactions is well known, Mr.. Editor.
and need not here repeat them
In June, 1852, Capt Butler sailed with his
company and the other provincial troops, and ON
the goth of July the vessel in which he sailed was
smpwrecked on reef of rocks on the coast of
Cuba. They were fortunate enough to escape
to the shore, where they remained nine days, and
were then taken on board a man of war. Five
other ships were discovered also shipwrecked on
the same side of the Island, and after waiting
until these were relieved, they again steered for
Havana. They arrived with the rest of the
aeet on the 9th Of August, and the next day
landed and encamped. The snfferings and the
success of the British at the siege of Havana
are matters of grave history.
Capt. Butler shared in the dangers Of the re-
mainder of the siege, well as in the honors and
profits of the surrender, which took place short
ly after the arrival of the re-inforcements.
On the 21st of October, 1852, Capt. Butler
sailed out of the harbor Of Havana ON his re-
turn on board the Royal DIXIE transport.
On che Tth of Nov, in Lat. IS deg, the ship
sprung leak, and it was by the greatest exer-
tions for three days. that she could be kept aoat,
until the men were transferred to other ships.
When this was accomplished they left the
Royal Duke to sink, and thus furnish ahouse for
Neptune to hold his reyels In!
When the aggressions of the British ministry
compelled their American colonies to take up
arms in defence of their rights, Capt Butler was
among the first totender his services to his coun-
try His offer was readily accepted, and he was
appointed lieutenant Col in the Connecticut
line. In this capacity he was with the army in
the campaign of It'll, IN New jersey, and SER
we'd until March, 1879, when he was appointed
Col of second Connecticut regiment, to rank as
such from the 18th of March, I778. Some time
previous to this, Col Butler had become inter-
ested in lands purchased of the Indians by the
Susquehanna company, lying in the valley Of
Wyoming, and adjacent to the Susquehanna
river. He had visited the valley, and was so
much pleased with it, that he determined to re-
move it. This fourishing settlement had been
established by the people of Connecticut, and
was claimed by them by virtue of their charter
and their purchase from the Indians. It con-
sisted Of several large townships beautifully stu
ated on both sides Of the river; and that part of
it which is included in the valley of Wyoming
was, and still is one of the most delightful spots
in our country. It's situation, soil, and scenery,
cannot be surpassed anywhere. 1t had long been
the favorite abode of the sayages and they viewed
with peculiar animosity, its occupancy by stran-
gers The war in which the colonists were en-
gagged with the Mother Country, and the encouf-s
to the Indians, afforded the latter q good oppor-
tunity for gratifying their wicked designs in the
destruction of this remote settlement. This they,
in conjunction with the British and tories, efec-
tualy accomplished in July, ITS. (See Mas
sacre of Wyoming" for full particulars Of this
bloody affair
This settlement, at an early period of our rev.
oIutionary struggle, had been drained of itsef-
fectiYe force, by furnishing two companies, of
ninety men each, to the continental army.
Soon after the departure of these troops, the
Indians began to assume hostile attitude, and
their conduct together with other suspicious cir
cumstanees, led the inhabitants to suspect that
some mischief was meditating against them,
though they did not apprehend an immediate at
tack For their better security, several stock
ade forts were built in the different townships,
and a company ofrangers was raised, under the
command of Captain Hewitt This company
was destined to remain in the valley for its de-
fence, and to ascertain by its scouts the move
ments Of the Indians, some OF which were Local
ted at their Indian towns, about fifty miles up
the Susouehanna. In the spring Of ITS, the
settlers fearing an attack sent an express to the
board of war, to represent the dangers in which
the settlement at Wyoming was of being DESTROYED
by the Indians and tories, and to request that
the men who had gone from the valley and Joined
the continental army, night be ordered to re-
turn and assist in the defence of their homes
Their request was granted, and company COM
manded by Capt Spalding, composed Of what
remained of the two eomnanies hefora rnant;ansd