To George Washington from Brigadier General John Stark, 18 October 1778
From Brigadier General John Stark
Albany 18th October 1778
Dear General
Last Night Came to hand a Letter from Colonel Butler Informing me that he has Destroyd Unadilla and Achquago—A Copy I inclose with Journal1 I am in hopes it will Convince Those Villians that it is not out of fear that we have Spared them So Long.
I Set out this morning for Schoharie in order to See if their Can any Further Attempts be Made against the Enemy at this Season When I Return I will Give you the Earliest Inteligance.2 I am Sir Your Most Obediant Humble Servant
John Stark
LS, DLC:GW.
1. This letter, which Lt. Col. William Butler wrote to Stark on 16 Oct. from Schoharie, N.Y., consists almost entirely of a long extract from his journal giving a detailed account of his expedition against the Iroquois towns of Unadilla and Oquaga on the East Branch of the Susquehanna, beginning with his sending out of advanced guards from Schoharie on 1 Oct., and ending with his return to that place on 16 October. Butler’s force, which was composed of the 4th Pennsylvania Regiment, Morgan’s rifle corps, and twenty rangers, burned the Indian settlements in that area between 9 and 12 Oct. (DLC:GW; see also Butler to George Clinton, 28 Oct., and the somewhat different extracts from his journal for 1–16 Oct. in Hastings and Holden, Clinton Papers, 4:222–28).
2. See Stark to GW, 23 October.