The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-05-05

live in New York province must choose between
King and their native land he casts his lot with
the Loyalists (who were decidedly in the ma
jority in that province). But the Patriot forces
under General Schuyler gain temporary ascend
ancy and Guy Johnson and Sir John Johnson,
nephew and son of Sir William and his success
ors in charge of Indian affairs, Col. John Butler
and Walter Butler and Joseph Brant Of the No
hawks go to Oswego.
Next we find Walter Butler as an ensign in
the Eighth regiment, the Kings Own, In the
fighting around Montreal and Quebec. From
there he goes to Fort Niagara, which is to be
his principal headquarters as leader of the But
Ter Rangers from that time on. In 1777 he &C
companies st. Leger in the expedition which,
with Burgoyne coming down from the north
and Howe coming up from the south. is to end
the war in one campaign. At old Fort Stanwix
(renamed Fort Schuyler) the stubborn defense
of Colonies Gansevoort and Marinus Willett hold
up st. Legerls advance and the bloody Battle Of
Oriskany results finally in its defeat
Soon afterwards Walter Butler starts down
the Mohawk river toward German Flats to raise
recruits for the British army. He is captured,
tried as spy before court martial, over which
Colonel Willett sits as judge advocate. and Is
sentenced TO be hanged. But General Schuyler
intercedes for him and he is taken to the Al
bany Jail from which he soon escapes to Quebec.
The next year he goes again to Niagara and
leads the expedition against Cherry Valley, from
which he is to return with 1.-The most hated
name In New York for hundred and fifty
years"
Most of the historians who have written Of
this affair, making Butler the villain and Brant
the protector of the captured women and chill
dren, lay emphasis upon the 81 people who were
killed in the massacre. But Swiggett brings out
the fact that it was Butler who protected seven
eighths of the inhabitants, the 173 survivors,
and offers strong evidence that 1t was Brant
who melted the Indians to the killing of at least
q part of the 81.
The next two years find Walter Butler as cap
tain of the corps of rangers fighting in the bat
ties against General Sullivan whom Washing
ton has sent to smash the power of the Long
House, going on mission to Detroit and "main-
tanning the post of Miamis" a cold and lonely
outpost in the wilderness far west of Detroit
But in 1850 he is back in Montreal and again
at Niagara and from there the next year he sets
out upon his last expedition. As second In COM
mand under Major Ross, the raiding force Of
about 700 is within II miles of Schenectady on
October Is. 1871. They have left a trail of burn
ing farmhouses. mills and granaries behind them
as they turn to retreat toward Johnstown.
But Marinus Willett and his Continentals are
hot on their trail and in the Battle of Johns
town, Ross and Butler are defeated The disor-
ness toward the north. They reach Canada creek
and at ford there Walter Butler is covering
the retreat when he is shot down and Oneida
scout In Willetts command takes his scalp.
This was the end of it ALL the bright sol
dierly hopes of the little boy who had seen the
red-coat riders coming home twenty years be
fore from Niagara. the cool effrontery Of the
young man who had walked into the enemy lines
with flag to get recruits: all the hopes for Eng
hsh leave and promotion"
Visit the city of Schenectady today and they
win take you to historic old st. Georges church
and tell you that the dust Of Walter Butler lies
under its foor-even pointing out the very pew
under which his body. brought secretly by the
Tories from the ford at Canada creek is sup
posed to have been buried But Swiggett doubts
this 1t seems unlikely" he says, wolves
were closing In on the army" And on that
grisiy note the tragedy and the mystery Of Wal
ter Butler ends.
&c by Western Newspaper Onion,