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Richard Butler Autograph Letter Signed...
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Description
Richard Butler Autograph Letter Signed "R. Butler". Two pages (on one leaf) with integral address leaf, 7" x 12", tipped to a large folio sheet, Carlisle, July 3, 1784, to General Edward Hand. Here the ex-Revolutionary War hero, now in charge of Indian affairs, writes of his concerns and movements concerning negotiating the Treaty with the Six Nations. We quote from this important letter, in part: "I have yet no Acct. of my Colleague Mr. Lee re his promise to call this way... to proceed to Philadel. together. Should he not come before necessary next I shall take up my line of March on Thursday. I have wrote Mr. Wolcott Jr am in hopes he will meet me at Philadel. for many good reasons should he not think yrs. sufficient I intend will have to go to N. York which I think being a wrong place... I shall take the liberty to drop you a line... to inform how matters go... in the grand affair - I have some thought it will be lost but still am determined..." The Treaty with the Six Nations (Fort Stanwix), by which the Iroquois Confederacy ceded land in what is now western Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia, and New York, opened vast tracts to white exploration and settlement. It was signed, on behalf of the United States, by Oliver Wolcott, Richard Butler, and Arthur Lee on October 22, 1784.After the war and the negotiation of the Indian Treaty, Butler returned to Pennsylvania; he was a judge in Allegheny County and also served in the state legislature. He married Maria and had four children. When American Indians resisted U.S. occupation of Ohio, Butler, now a major general, was sent north from Fort Hamilton, second-in-command in an expedition led by General Arthur St. Clair. Two of his brothers Thomas and Edward were in the company with him. On the morning of November 4, 1791, Indians led by Chief Little Turtle ambushed the army and killed 600 men and scores of women and children in the Battle of the Wabash, also known as St. Clair's Defeat. Richard, a heavy man, was mortally wounded; his brother, Thomas, was shot in both legs. Richard ordered their younger brother Edward to leave him and save Thomas, which he did. Richard gave his sword to another officer with the admonition never to wipe Butler blood from the blade. That sword, years later, was given to Edward's son Edward George Washington Butler for his father's bravery in attempting to save his brothers. Richard Butler was killed with a tomahawk blow to the head. After his body was identified, Butler was supposedly scalped and his heart was cut out, divided among the tribes, and eaten because they wanted to partake of his bravery. Years later, Chief Little Turtle returned to his widow Richard's Society of the Cincinnati medal which he had been wearing when he was killed. Little Turtle assured the grieving widow that Richard's body had not been mutilated as reported. Accompanied by a full typed transcription. In very fine condition.
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