Colonel Zebulon Butler to George Washington, 8 May 1781
From Colonel Zebulon Butler
New Bourrough [Newburgh, N.Y.] 8 May 1781
May it Please your Excellency
I came to this Place the Night before Last, On my way to Camp I met your Excellencies Orders of the 19th Ult.1 I had all the men with me Excepting two that were so Lame that they were not Abel to March but on Reciet of your Excellencies orders Respecting those that had Families that their Circumstances were Distressing I Sent back Eight men whose Particular Circumsta[n]ces I Shall make A Return of soon after my Arivel in Camp.2 I would wish to be Questioned by your Excellency the Reasons for my absence to this time. I have the Honnour to be your Excellencies Most Obt Humbe Servt
Zebn Butler
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. See GW to Butler, 19 April, found at John Hurlbutt to GW, 12 April, n.3. Capt. Alexander Mitchell became commander at Wyoming, Pa., after Butler had been ordered to join the main army (see GW to Mitchell, 30 Dec. 1780, n.2; see also Butler to GW, 24 Feb. 1781).
2. Butler subsequently wrote GW from camp in the New York Highlands on 10 May: “Agreeabel to your Request I Send Inclosed A Return of the men of Capt. Spauldings Company Left at Wyoming with the Number of Weomen and Children belonging to their Families as to their Circumstances I can only Say they Live in Hutts nigh the Fort and No Dependance for Subsistance only the Man’s Labour the men have ben in Service near five years and would wish to be Discharged” (ALS, DLC:GW). Butler enclosed a “Return of Souldiers Left at Wyoming Belonging to Capt. Spauldings Co[m]p[an]y and their Familys,” dated 10 May, with names of eleven soldiers—three sergeants, one corporal, and seven privates—and the number of women and children associated with each. The return omitted the names of the eleven women and thirty-eight children (DLC:GW).
According to a “Return of Rations Drawn Pr. day By the Troops” under Butler’s command, which Mitchell prepared on or after 22 Feb., Capt. Simon Spalding’s company had drawn approximately 116 rations daily, with 52 rations going to women and children. The return noted that women and children “draw but half Rations” (, 1st ser., 9:166).