290 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VOL. IV. 



rangers or Indians, and will leave it to you to name the persons. I 

 have done everything in my power to restrain the fury of the Indians 

 from hurting women or children, or killing the prisoners who fell into our 

 hands, and would have more effectually prevented them but they were 

 so much incensed by the late destruction of their village of Oquaga 

 by your people, and shall always continue to act in that manner, as I 

 look upon it beneath the character of a soldier to wage war upon women 

 and children. 



" I am sure you are conscious that Col. Butler or myself have no desire 

 that your women or children should be hurt. 



" But be assured, sir, that if you persevere in detaining my father's 

 family with you that we shall no longer take the same pains to restrain 

 the Indians from hurting prisoners, women and children, that we have 

 hitherto done." 



In his despatch to Colonel Bolton, he frankly admitted the shocking 

 misconduct of the Indians. " I have much to lament," he stated, "that 

 notwithstanding my utmost precautions and endeavours to save the 

 women and children, I could not prevent some of them falling victims to 

 the fury of the savages. They have carried off many of the inhabitants 

 and killed more, among them Colin Cloyd, a very violent rebel. I could 

 not prevail on the Indians to leave the women and children behind, 

 though the second morning. Captain Johnson (to whose knowledge of 

 the Indians and address in managing them I am much indebted) and I 

 got them to permit twelve who were Loyalists, and whom I had concealed 

 with the humane assistance of Mr. Joseph Brant and Captain Jacobs of 

 Oquaga, to return. The death of the women and children upon this 

 occasion may, I believe, be truly ascribed to the rebels having falsely 

 accused the Indians of cruelty at Wyoming. This has much exasperated 

 them, and they are still more incensed at finding that the colonel and 

 those who had laid down their arms, soon after marching into their 

 country intending to destroy their villages, and they declared they would 

 be no more falsely accused of fighting the enemy twice, meaning they 

 would not in future give quarter." 



Apparently the only reasonable foundation for the odium which has 

 been so long attached to Walter Butler's name, is the charge that he 

 connived at, or it is even said, encouraged the cruelties of the Indians on 

 this occasion. This he indignantly and vehemently denied at every 

 opportunity. When at length a tardy reply was received from General 

 Clinton in February, 1779, to his letter to General Schuyler already 

 cited, levelling a distinct accusation against him and other officers, but 



