1892-93.] MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN WALTER BUTLER. 293 



keeping them in spirits. The place selected for the encampment of the 

 rangers was much more convenient for the supply of provisions from 

 Niagara, and fish abounded in the river. There is yet in existence a 

 laconic note, written by Walter Butler at this place on the 3rd of August, 

 1779, to Francis Goring, at Fort Niagara, in which he says : — 



" I am obliged to you for the hooks, for sure it is that he that will not 

 hunt or fish, must not eat." 



While encamped at the Genesee he learned with great indignation 

 and pain that Lieut. Henry Hare and Sergt. Newberry, of the rangers, 

 had been taken prisoners while scouting and hanged in cold blood 

 by the enemy in front of Hare's own house. In the heat of his 

 resentment he penned a strong remonstrance to General Haldimand, 

 protesting that unless steps were taken by him to restrain the enemy 

 from the commission of such barbarous deeds the rangers themselves must 

 be forced to retaliate in self-defence. 



The advance of General Sullivan's army compelled him to march 

 hastily to the Chemung river to oppose the invaders. On the 15th of 

 August the rangers were encamped at Chuckmet, within fourteen miles 

 of the enemy. On the 29th, he commanded them in the battle near 

 Chemung, or Newton, and when forced to retire by superior numbers 

 brought them out of action with very slight loss, although at one time 

 nearly surrounded. On the loth of September he was at Canadasaga with 

 Rowland Montour and a handful of Indians watching the movements of 

 the Americans, and covering the retreat. 



In November, he again accomplished the fatiguing journey to Montreal 

 to settle the regimental accounts ; and to facilitate the exchange of his 

 father's family, which had at length been arranged. On this occasion he 

 was accompanied by Captain John McDonnell, of the 84th, then serving 

 with the rangers. One of Butler's letters gives a stray glimpse of their 

 life in that town during the winter. '" We do little else but feasting and 

 dancing," he remarked, with heroic disregard of the English grammar 

 " It has nearly turned my head ; I find it as hard as scouting.- In order 

 to change the scene, McDonnell and me intend to make the tour of the 

 mountain every other day on snowshoes." 



McDonnell returned to Niagara early in the spring of 1780, but from 

 some unexplained cause, probably ill-health, Butler was detained at 

 Montreal until the beginning of July. However, on the 24th of that 

 month he was again at Fort Niagara, busied in building quarters for 

 his regiment. Apparently his health was too much impaired to permit 

 him to take the field, and on the 30th of September, on the eve of a most 



