The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-05-05
glngtaphies.
[FoRTHE PREss.l
Col. Zebulon Butler.
BY W. D.
[coNTINUED.J

could be undecelVed as TO the OBJECT OF the order
the line broke, and the Indians rushed on with
hideous yells Col Zebulon Butler who had
continued on horseback throughout the day,
finding that the right wing was doing well, rode
towards the left.
When he got little more than half way down
the line, he discovered that his men were retreat
ing, and that ne was between the two fires and
near the advancing line of the enemy. The right
had no notice of the retreat until the firing on
the left had ceased, and the yelling of the sayages
indicated their success
This wing, no longer able to maintain its
ground, was forced to retreat and the rout soon
became general. The officers were principally
killed in their Intellectual attempts to rally the
men.
The defeat was total, and the loss in killed was
variously estimated at from two to three hundred
of the settlers. Of Capt. Hewitt's company but
fifteen escaped. The loss of the enemy was also
considerable. Col Butler and Dension, although
much exposed to the enemy's fire, escaped Col.
Butler collected four or FIVE men together in their
flight, directed them to retain their arms, and
when any of the Indians, who were scattered over
the plain, hunting for their victims, approached
the little party, they fired upon them, and by
this means they secured their retreat to Fort
Forty
Many of the settlers, at the commencement of
their flight, had thrown away their arms, that
they might be better able to escape
But this was of no avail, for the Indians over
took and killed them with their tomahawks.-
The few that escaped, assembled at Fort Forty
but the inhabitants were so much disheartened
by their defeat that they were ready to submit
upon any terms that might be offered The enc
my refused to treat with Col. Butler, or to give
quarter to any continental officer or soldier!
Indeed, it had been determined, that if they
were taken, to deliver them into the hands of the
Indians. Col Butler then left the valley, and
proceeded to a place on the Lehigh, called
Gnadenhutten
On the 4th of July, Col Dension and Col.
John Butler entered into articles of capitulation
for the surrender of the settlement
By these articles it was stipulated among other
things, that the lifes of the inhabitants should
be preserved" and that they should occupy
their farms peaceably /" that " the continental
stores should be given up" and that the pri-
Vate property of the inhabitants should be pre-
served entire and unhurt"
The enemy then marched into the fort but
the conditions of the capitulation were entirely
disregarded on theirpart The Indians plundered
the inhabitants Unfortunately and striped them
even ofsuch of their wearing apparel as they
chose to take Complaint was made to COL
John Butler, who turned his back upon them,
saying he could not control the Indians, and
walked out of the fort.
The people, finding that they were left to the
mercy of the tories and savages fed from the
valley, and made the best of their way about
fifty miles through the wilderness, to the nearest
settlement of their friends leaving their property
a prey to the enemy.
All the houses on the northwest side of the
Susquehanna were plundered and burnt. They
afterwards plundered and burnt the town of
Wilksbarre. Having accomplished the hellish
purpose of destruction and desolation, the main
body of the enemy returned to Niagara, taking
with them all the horses, cattle, and other prop
erty, which they did not think proper to destroy,
leaving behind them nothing but one vast, mel
ancholy scene of universal desolation.
1t may be proper to notice the generally re-
ceiyed opinion, that Col Zebulon Butler and
Col John Butler, the British oficer) were
cousins. This is mistake. Both the parties
denied having any knowledge of any relationship
subsisting between them. From Gnadenhutten
Col. Butler wrote to the board of war, giving
an account of the fatal disaster of the third of
July.
He went to Stroudsburg, in Northampton Co.,
where be found Capt. Spalding's company, and
some fugitives from Wyoming. Col. Butler was
ordered to collect what force he could, and with
Spaldings company return and retake posses
sion of the country. This he did IN the month
of August following.
On bis return to the valley, he found some
struggling Indians, and also small party driving
off cattle. These were soon dispersed, and their
booty taken from them. He Immediately erected
a fort at Wilksbarre, and established a garrison.
BY orders from the board of war, he continued
in the command of the place until the fall of 1880,
during which time the garrison and the inhabi-
tants generally suffered from the incursion of
the Indians. Several lives were lost and they
killed number of the Indians, though no gene
raj battle was fought The principal array of
forces which was at any time made against each
other, was at the defeat of Capt. Plunket, Ian