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



four years Butler " had exhibited more instances of enterprise, had done 

 more injury, and committed more murders than any man on the fron- 

 tiers. Such was the terror in which he was held by the inhabitants of 

 the frontiers, so cruel an enemy had he been to them that although 

 Cornwallis's surrender took place about this time, yet the inhabitants ex- 

 pressed more joy at the death of Butler than at the capture of Corn- 

 wallis." Local traditions were long associated with his memory, and 

 fifty years later the scene of his death was still known as Butler's ford. 

 Still, with the single exception of the attack on Cherry Valley, he had 

 had no share in the numerous incursions of the rangers. Caldwell, 

 McDonnell, and others were much more active. But there was some- 

 thing in this man's personality that riveted the attention of friend and 

 foe, 



Haldimand, reporting his death to Lord George Germaine, spoke of 

 him as " a very zealous, enterprising, and promising officer," and in 

 another letter he expressed the hope that " Colonel Butler's good under- 

 standing, and the honourable cause in which his son fell, will console him 

 in this heavy bereavement." 



That he was not squeamish about bloodshed in fair fight is evident, 

 but the other charges of cruelty laid against him appear to rest on the 

 flimsiest of evidence. Quite recently he has been condemned for per- 

 mitting himself to be employed in conjunction with the Indians at all. 

 The same censure must rest upon Montcalm and Frontenac, on Sir 

 William Johnson and Washington, on Brock and Drummond, and a 

 host of others. 



