xt7vx05x6x7r https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7vx05x6x7r/data/mets.xml Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. 1904  books b929733348b9822009 English F.J. Heer : Columbus, Ohio Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Clark, George Rogers, 1752-1818. Clark s Expedition to the Illinois, 1778-1779. History of George Rogers Clark s conquest of the Illinois and the Wabash towns 1778 and 1779, by Consul Willshire Butterfield ... Published under the auspices of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society. text History of George Rogers Clark s conquest of the Illinois and the Wabash towns 1778 and 1779, by Consul Willshire Butterfield ... Published under the auspices of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society. 1904 2009 true xt7vx05x6x7r section xt7vx05x6x7r 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
HISTORY
OF

G eorge R ogers C lark's
C o n q u e s t of the Illinois and the W a b a s h T o w n s 1 778 a n d 1779

By CONSUL WILSHIRE
Author of the "History in of the John Nicolet, " H i s t o r y of tions, 1634;"

BUTTERFIELD
of of and the the Northwest Girtys;" by

Discovery "History

Brule's

Discoveries

Explora-

1610-1626;" and

Other

Works.

P ublished Under the A uspices of T h e Ohio State A rchaeological and Historical Society

COLUMBUS, OHIO PRESS OF F. J. HEER Nineteen H u n d r e d and Four

  
  
PREFACE.

T h e heroic band which, under L i e u t e n a n t - C o l o n e l G e o r g e R o g e r s C l a r k , i n 1778 r e d u c e d the I l l i n o i s , a n d e a r l y i n 1779 c a p t u r e d L i e u t e n a n t - G o v e r n o r H e n r y H a m i l t o n a n d h i s f orce a t V i n c e n n e s u p o n the W a b a s h , was the W e s t e r n A d v a n c e - G u a r d of the R e v o l u t i o n . I t s s uccesses w e r e the m o s t i m p o r t a n t of a n y g a i n e d b y the A m e r i c a n s o v e r the B r i t i s h a n d I n d i a n s n o r t h w e s t of the O h i o d u r i n g t he w a r . I t m a y be s a i d that, a l t h o u g h s o m e f eeble a ttempts h a d p r e v i o u s l y been m a d e o n p a r t of the A m e r i c a n b o r d e r e r s t o p u n i s h t he savages of the W e s t f o r t h e i r b l o o d t h i r s t y m a r a u d s i n t o t h e i r settlements, i t was n o t u n t i l a m i l i t a r y f orce, r espectable i n n u m b e r s for that d a y a n d r e g i o n , h a d a s s e m b l e d west of the A l l e g h a n y m o u n t a i n e to m o v e d o w n t he O h i o for the p u r p o s e of c a p t u r i n g K a s k a s k i a , i n the I l l i n o i s , f r o m the e n e m y , t h a t a n y s y s t e m a t i c effort was p u t f o r t h b y A m e r i c a n s , a c t i n g o n the offensive. The undertaking, t herefore, o n p a r t of V i r g i n i a ( w h i c h State was its o n l y p r o m o t o r ) , was an earnest that she d a r e d to m eet t he B r i t i s h a n d , i f need be, h e r I n d i a n a l l i e s u p o n t h e i r o w n g r o u n d     o r at least u p o n the s o i l o v e r w h i c h E n g l a n d e x e r c i s e d b o t h m i l i t a r y a n d , t o a l i m i t e d extent, c i v i l j u r i s d i c t i o n . T h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s a t t e n d i n g the c o m m e n c e m e n t of the c a m p a i g n , t he u n u s u a l secrecy, i n t r e p i d i t y a n d c o u r a g e w i t h w h i c h i t was c o n d u c t e d i n the f ace o f a l m o s t i n s u r m o u n t a b l e o bstacles, are, it is b e l i e v e d , events h a v i n g few p a r a l l e l s i n our history. I t i s c l e a r that, t o g i v e a c o r r e c t r e c i t a l of the c o n quest of the I l l i n o i s a n d of the W a b a s h posts, r e l y i n g s o l e l y u p o n A m e r i c a n a c c o u n t s , even t h o u g h t h e y are c o n t e m p o r a n e o u s , o r n e a r l y so, is i m p o s s i b l e . G r e a t p a i n s have t h e r e fore b een t a k e n t o g a t h e r a l l i n c i d e n t s that are a t t a i n a b l e f i o m B r i t i s h a r c h i v e s a n d k i n d r e d sources, a n d t o secure a l l s u c h m a n u s c r i p t letters a n d statements ( o r c o p i e s o f ( v)

  
vi

Preface.

t hem) as are extant, w r i t t e n at o r near the t i m e of the e x p e d i t i o n , w h i c h are elsewhere to be f o u n d , a n d w h i c h have a b e a r i n g d i r e c t l y or r e m o t e l y u p o n the m o v e m e n t . It is t hus t hat b o t h sides, i n this n a r r a t i v e , have, w h a t is of v i t a l i m p o r t a n c e     an i m p a r t i a l h e a r i n g , a n d that the a u t h o r is e nabled to b r i n g f o r w a r d not o n l y m a n y events h i t h e r t o u n k n o w n , b ut to correct n u m e r o u s e r r o r s w h i c h h a v e f o u n d a f o o t h o l d i n W e s t e r n annals. I n e x p l a n a t i o n of the v a l u e to be attached t o m o s t of t he B r i t i s h d ocuments b e a r i n g u p o n the p r i n c i p a l subject u nder d i s c u s s i o n , it m a y be said that, i n J u n e , 1778, G e n e r a l F r e d e r i c k H a l d i m a n d s ucceeded S i r H e n r y C a r l e t o n as g o v e r n o r and c o m m a n d e r - i n - c h i e f of the P r o v i n c e of Q u e b e c , w h i c h t hen i n c l u d e d not o n l y C a n a d a , as u n d e r s t o o d b y the A m e r i c a n s , b ut the w h o l e of the W e s t to the O h i o R i v e r a nd t he M i s s i s s i p p i ; i n brief, a l l of what is n o w k n o w n as the " H i s t o r i c N o r t h w e s t ; "     t h a t is, w h a t after the R e v o l u t i o n , w as g e n e r a l l y s p o k e n of as the " N o r t h w e s t T e r r i t o r y . " G e n . H a l d i m a n d h e l d the p o s i t i o n u n t i l N o v e m b e r , 1784. E v e r y e vent of i m p o r t a n c e w h i c h c ame t o the k n o w l e d g e o f his subordinates was r e p o r t e d b y t h e m a n d c a m e s o o n e r o r later to h i m at his headquarters. These reports were s ent m o s t l y f r o m D e t r o i t , M i c h i l i m a c k i n a c , K a s k a s k i a a n d V i n c e n n e s , or f r o m d ependences o f these posts, so that the G e n e r a l w as always i n receipt of c u r r e n t n e w s f r o m the " U p p e r C o u n t r y , " as the W e s t was then t e r m e d b y r e s i d e n t s u p o n the St. L a w r e n c e . T h e w h o l e of this c o r r e s p o n d e n c e h as been preserved and is n o w i n the B r i t i s h M u s e u m ( copies o f w h i c h are to be found i n the p u b l i c a r c h i v e s i n O t t a w a , C anada). A s it c overs t he p e r i o d of the e x p e d i t i o n s u n d e r t a k e n a n d c a r r i e d f o r w a r d to c o m p l e t i o n b y C l a r k i n 1778 a nd 1779, the i n f o r m a t i o n w h i c h it i m p a r t s is i n d i s p e n s a b l e t o o u r narrative. I t m a y be added that the H a l d i m a n d c o l l e c t i o n a l s o i n cludes the correspondence of C a r l e t o n , w h i c h was t u r n e d o v e r t o h i s successor u p o n the l a t t e r a s s u m i n g the duties a nd r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s of the o ffice p r e v i o u s l y h e l d b y S i r G u y . V a l u a b l e m a n u s c r i p t s were l i k e w i s e added w h i c h w o u l d n ot have been obtained but for the fact that B r i t i s h a n d I n d i a n s uccesses i n the W e s t sometimes resulted i n t h e c a p t u r i n g o f letters and d o c u m e n t s w r i t t e n b y A m e r i c a n s

  
Preface.
r elative t o the w a r . O f these, s o m e a re of especial w o r t h i n e l u c i d a t i o n of events t r a n s p i r i n g d u r i n g the c o n q u e s t o f t he I l l i n o i s a n d of the W a b a s h t o w n s . B u t o f m o r e c o n s e q u e n c e t o the subjects treated of i n the f o l l o w i n g p ages i s the k n o w l e d g e to be d e r i v e d e x c l u s i v e l y f r o m A m e r i c a n sources. T h e accounts believed reliable, w h e t h e r i n m a n u s c r i p t o r p r i n t , h ave been c o l l e c t e d , m a n y of t h e m , o n l y after patient r e s e a r c h , as t h e y were w i d e l y s c a t tered. T h e e x t e n t of i n v e s t i g a t i o n s made w i l l b e r e a d i l y c o m p r e h e n d e d b y o b s e r v i n g the b o o k s a n d p a m p h l e t s , the m a n u s c r i p t letters a n d d o c u m e n t s , that are c i t e d u p o n n u m e r o u s p ages o f the w o r k . T o n a m e , i n p a r t i c u l a r , i n t h i s c o n n e c t i o n , s u c h as are of p a r a m o u n t s i g n i f i c a n c e is b e l i e v e d t o be u n n e c e s s a r y , as t h e i r i m p o r t a n c e is sufficiently d i s c l o s e d i n the references m a d e to t h e m . South Omaha, "'' Neb., , 189...

  
  
Preface.

ix

CONSUL
BY W.

WILSHIRE BUTTERFIELD HISTORIAN.
H. HUNTER, C HILLICOTHE, O HIO. 1 902.

   

C o n s u l W i l s h i r e B u t t e r f i e l d , the f a m o u s H i s t o r i a n , w a s b o r n near the v i l l a g e of Colosse, O s w e g o C o u n t y , N e w Y o r k , J u l y 2 8, 1824. H e was of K n i c k e r b o c k e r stock, his father's p eople c o m i n g to A m e r i c a i n 1634. H i s parents, A m r o y B u t terfield a n d M a r y L a m b B u t t e r f i e l d , i m m i g r a t e d f r o m B r a t t l e boro, V e r m o n t , to the State of N e w Y o r k . C o n s u l W i l s h i r e B u t t e r f i e l d died at his h o m e i n S o u t h O m a h a , N e b r a s k a , on M o n d a y , September 25, 1899. A t n o o n M r . B u t t e r f i e l d appeared to be i n u s u a l e x u b e r a n t s p i r i t s a n d w as apparently i n g o o d h e a l t h . S h o r t l y after t w o o 'clock h e d ecided to v i s i t his near neighbor, M r . O ' C o n n o r , a n d w h i l e h e w a s a s c e n d i n g the steps to the O ' C o n n o r residence w a s s t r i c k e n w i t h a s i n k i n g spell, f r o m w h i c h he never r a l l i e d . W h e n it w a s k n o w n that M r . B u t t e r f i e l d w a s s e r i o u s l y i l l , n eighbors conveyed h i m to his h o m e a n d s u m m o n e d a p h y sician, w h o p r o n o u n c e d l i f e e x t i n c t on his a r r i v a l . R i p e i n years he passed to his r e w a r d ; a n d t h u s ended the e a r t h l y c areer of a m a n w h o s e a chievements m a r k e d h i m as a g enius a n d his m e m o r y w i l l b e c h e r i s h e d as l o n g as letters are a f actor of progress. W h e n he d i e d a noble s p i r i t t o o k i ts " earthless f l i g h t ; " a lovable h u s b a n d was t a k e n f r o m a happy h o m e ; a k i n d f ather was separated f r o m a d a u g h t e r w h o c h e r ished every fiber of his b e i n g . M r . B u t t e r f i e l d l i v e d a l o n g a n d busy l i f e . H e was even a t w o r k w h e n c ame t he s u m m o n s that c a l l e d h i s s p i r i t hence. W h i l e M r . B u t t e r f i e l d stood alone as w r i t e r o f A m e r i c a n h i s t o r y t hat has r e l a t i o n to the A m e r i c a n I n d i a n a n d the P i o neer, he was the most m odest o f m e n . H e never sought r e n o w n . H e l o v e d his f e l l o w s , a n d his w o r k w a s his pleasure. I n a l etter to the w r i t e r he s a i d his w h o l e a m b i t i o n w a s to r e c o r d the t r u t h : t o this e n d his l i f e was consecrated, a n d h is m a n y h i s t o r i c a l w o r k s , a l l r e c o g n i z e d as a u t h o r i t i e s a n d t o w h i c h a l l other w r i t e r s m u s t go f o r i n f o r m a t i o n , attest the s i n c e r i t y o f his statement.

  
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W h i l e n ot so g r a p h i c i n style as P a r k m a n , he was a l w a y s a ccurate. H e never p r i n t e d as a fact i n h i s t o r y a n y i n c i d e n t o r statement u ntil h e had e x a m i n e d every a u t h o r i t y to ascertain the t ruth. H i s style was d i r e c t ; he never e m p l o y e d a s uperfluous w o r d and his w o r k was a l w a y s comprehensive. A p rofound h i s t o r i c a l scholar, an indefatigable w o r k e r , he l eft as his monument n u m e r o u s b ooks i n v a l u a b l e to the s t u dent and the reader. M r . B u t t e r f i e l d was a g e n i u s ; he never w o r k e d for money. T h e w o r d m o n e y s e l d o m c ame t o h i s m i n d : h is achievement was not the a c c u m u l a t i o n o f w e a l t h . H i s m asterful efforts d i r e c t e d a l o n g other lines of h u m a n e n deavor w o u l d have p r o c u r e d a fortune, as the w o r l d u n d e r stands fortune. B u t he w r o t e h i s t o r y as a p a t r i o t p e r f o r m s a s ervice for his country, w i t h o u t pay, as the w o r l d u n d e r stands pay. H e devoted his life to w o r k that few m e n c o u l d p erform. W o r k i n g night a n d day, he a c c o m p l i s h e d m u c h , a n d t he w o r l d of letters is r i c h e r b ecause h e l i v e d . H e was one o f those s weet s ouls w hose d e v o t i o n to p a t r i o t i c d u t y was a s acrifice of pleasure, as the w o r l d k n o w s pleasure. H e never m ade money, for his w o r k s were not of the p o p u l a r - n o v e l c haracter demanded by the mass of those w h o r e a d h i s t o r y . I ndeed it t ook m uch of his time to correct the e r r o r s set f orth b y men who wrote h i s t o r y for the m o n e y results. W r i t e r s o f Buttcrfield's bent a n d attainments are so r a r e t hat, w hen discovered, the state s h o u l d p ossess t h e i r talents a nd t hus give the p eople t he benefit of a l l their t i m e , f o r it i s t oo valuable to be given up to b r e a d - w i n n i n g ; a n d m e n w h o w rite h istory, as M r . B u t t e r f i e l d w r o t e h i s t o r y , cannot m a k e m oney selling books. T h e production of one of h i s w o r k s is an achievement g reater than c o i n i n g w e a l t h ; w h i l e thousands c a n c o i n money, o nly one could do the w o r k B u t t e r f i e l d d i d . B u t B u t t e r f i e l d n ever received the one-thousandth part of the w e a l t h that other m en receive for l ike e xpenditure of nerve-force i n other lines o f labor. W h i l e r i c h m en spend m i l l i o n s to establish l i b r a r i e s w h i c h r educe the sale of b ooks s uch as he w r o t e , there are m en w r i t i n g b ooks a t their o w n expense, w e m i g h t say, to fill t he shelves of these libraries, w h o scarcely a f f o r d a r o o f they c an c all t heir own. T h e r e should be equity i n p h i l a n t h r o p y : I t i s easier for an i r o n k i n g t o put up l i b r a r y b u i l d i n g s t h a n i t i s for men l ike B utterfield to fill t heir shelves.

  
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M r . B u t t e r f i e l d was a d m i r e d not o n l y f o r h i s great a b i l i t y m anifest i n his l i t e r a r y achievements, but f o r h i s generous, k i n d l y s pirit a n d h i s s i n c e r i t y as a f r i e n d . H i s was an u n selfish l i f e ; h i s t i m e w a s - g i v e n f o r the benefit of others. I t w as a l w a y s a pleasure to h i m to a i d the student of h i s t o r y , a n d i n response to a mere suggestion he w r o t e a chapter o n F o r t L a u r e n s f o r the P a t h f i n d e r s of Jefferson county, a l t h o u g h a t the t i m e he was i l l a n d was engaged on i m p o r t a n t w o r k of h is o w n ; a n d t h i s chapter w a s the l a b o r o f several days. H e l o v e d h i s f r i e n d s of w h o m he m u s t have h a d m a n y , f o r n o o ne of his great a b i l i t y a n d k i n d l y n a t u r e c o u l d pass i n a n d o ut a m o n g the activities of l i f e w i t h o u t g a i n i n g the a p p r e c i a t i o n o f h i s f e l l o w m e n . H e a l w a y s spoke k i n d l y o f f r i e n d s . T h e w r i t e r of this cherishes m o r e t h a n a l l else the k i n d w o r d s w r i t t e n o f h i m to a m u t u a l f r i e n d , a n d ever w i l l b e green the w r i t e r ' s m e m o r y of t h i s m a n w h o is at rest. M r . B u t t e r f i e l d was a l w a y s p a r t i c u l a r l y f o n d of m u s i c a n d p oetry, of c h i l d r e n a n d of a l l k i n d s of pets. H e c o n s i d e r e d S hakespeare the one great genius, but the p oets h e s t u d i e d a n d m ost a d m i r e d w e r e M i l t o n , a n d o u r o w n B r y a n t . I n a l etter t o the w r i t e r after his death, A l i c e B u t t e r f i e l d s a i d of h er f a t h e r : " T h o u g h not a c h u r c h m e m b e r , h i s f a i t h i n the i m m o r t a l i t y o f the s o u l w a s s t r o n g , as e v i d e n c e d by a great m a n y l ittle t h i n g s easy to perceive, but h a r d to w r i t e a b o u t . " H i s h o m e - l i f e w a s quiet a n d u n e v e n t f u l . H e l o v e d h i s f a m i l y , a n d h i s w i f e a n d d a u g h t e r w e r e devoted to h i m , a n d a l l w ere happy i n t h e i r l ittle c i r c l e . O r d e r w a s the keynote o f his m e t h o d of labor. H e d i d n ot await the m o v i n g influence of the s p i r i t , b ut w r o t e r e g u l a r l y a c e r t a i n l e n g t h of t i m e , ( p r e f e r a b l y the m o r n i n g h o u r s ) e ach day, m u c h as a n y one w o u l d go about a business enterprise. A t times, t h o u g h , w h e n rjecoming m u c h engrossed i n h is s ubject he w o u l d keep r i g h t o n u n t i l c o m p e l l e d to q u i t f r o m sheer e x h a u s t i o n . M r . B u t t e r f i e l d ' s w r i t i n g w a s a l w a y s d one a t h i s home. H i s d esk was i n the s i t t i n g - r o o m , a n d he was not easily d i s t u r b e d . H i s d a u g h t e r , i n a n s w e r to i n q u i r y , w r o t e : " A s to h o w father w o u l d c ome t o select a c e r t a i n subject u p o n w h i c h t o w r i t e a b ook, I d o not k n o w ; b u t i m a g i n e he w o u l d become i nterested i n a p a r t i c u l a r h i s t o r i c a l c h a r a c t e r o r event f r o m general r e a d i n g a n d then i f he c o n s i d e r e d it inadequately

  
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r epresented he w o u l d determine to elaborate upon the s ubject himself." A c orrespondent w r i t i n g t o M r . B u t t e r f i e l d , expressed s u r prise t hat any one l i v i n g i n S o u t h O m a h a , i n f a r a w a y N e braska, c ould write a b ook s h o w i n g so m u c h research as B r u l e ; b ut a ccepted i t as a p o s s i b i l i t y i f M r . B u t t e r f i e l d h a d an e xtensive private l i b r a r y . M r . B u t t e r f i e l d , i n s p e a k i n g of t h i s , q uoted "extensive private l i b r a r y " a s a j e s t ; f o r it is a fact, fifty to one hundred b ooks w o u l d be the size of h i s l i b r a r y a t a ny one time, though he w a s constantly c h a n g i n g it a n d a l arge number of b ooks p assed t h r o u g h his hands. I n speaki n g o f this incident M i s s B u t t e r f i e l d s a i d : " I r e m e m b e r h a v i n g r emarked at the time that there was not so m u c h i n h a v i n g a l ot of i n f o r m a t i o n at o ne's e l b o w a s there was i n k n o w i n g h ow to get what one w a n t e d , a n d father responded, ' That's j ust it e x a c t l y ; ' a n d it s eems t o me that to t h i s a b i l i t y t o get the i n f o r m a t i o n he w a n t e d his m e r i t as a h i s t o r i a n i s l argely d ue." M r s . B u t t e r f i e l d was h i s p r o o f - r e a d e r , she bei n g a p erson of l i t e r a r y attainments. I n 1834 M r . Butterfield's father's f a m i l y r e m o v e d f r o m N e w Y o r k to M e l m o r e , Seneca C o u n t y , O h i o . A t the age of e ighteen Butterfield c ommenced t e a c h i n g a d i s t r i c t school i n O m a r , C hautauqua C o u n t y , N . Y . H e a f t e r w a r d attended t he N o r m a l School i n A l b a n y for t w o t e r m s , but h i s h e a l t h f a i l i n g , h e left the school to take a t r i p t o E u r o p e . H e r e turned i n 1840 c o m i n g to Seneca C o u n t y , O h i o , w h e r e h i s p arents had located in 1834. T h e next year he wrote a h i s t o r y of Seneca C o u n t y w h i c h w as published i n 1848. I n 1847 he w a s elected S u p e r i n t e n d ent of the Seneca C o u n t y schools. E a r l y i n 1849 he r e s i g n e d t his p osition to make an o v e r l a n d t r i p t o C a l i f o r n i a . T h e n e x t y ear he was an independent candidate i n that state f o r S u p e r intendent of P u b l i c I n s t r u c t i o n , but was defeated by a - f e w v otes. H e returned to O h i o i n 1851 a n d finished a c ourse i n l a w w h i c h he had c ommenced i n S a n F r a n c i s c o , a n d i n 1855 h e entered upon the practice of his p r o f e s s i o n i n B u c y r u s , C r a w f o r d C o u n t y , r e l i n q u i s h i n g it i n 1875. I n 1854 he served as Secretary of the O h i o a n d I n d i a n a R a i l r o a d C ompany, and w h i l e e ngaged i n t h i s o c c u p a t i o n f ound time to w r i t e " A Comprehensive S y s t e m of G r a m m a t ical a nd R h e t o r i c a l P u n c t u a t i o n , " w h i c h was p r i n t e d , b u t

  
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a f t e r w a r d suppressed. A n a b r i d g e m e n t o f the b o o k w as p u b l i s h e d i n 1878, this p u b l i c a t i o n b e c o m i n g a v e r y p o p u l a r w o r k a n d was i n t r o d u c e d into m a n y s chools. A f t e r q u i t t i n g the practice o f l a w he d e v o t e d h i s t i m e to literary pursuits, having, however, previously written " A n H i s t o r i c a l A c c o u n t of the E x p e d i t i o n A g a i n s t S a n d u s k y , under C o l . W i l l i a m C r a w f o r d , i n 1782." T h i s b o o k w r i t t e n i n B u c y rus, O h i o , w a s issued f r o m the press of R o b e r t C l a r k e & C o . , Cincinnati. T h e w o r k g ave t he s t o r y o f one o f the m o s t t h r i l l i n g e x p e d i t i o n s of the R e v o l u t i o n a r y W a r , the death of C o l . C r a w f o r d at the stake b e i n g perhaps the m ost t ragic of a l l t he incidents of b o r d e r w a r f a r e d u r i n g the struggle for A m e r i c a n I ndependence. T h e s t o r y is t o l d i n M r . B u t t e r field's d i r e c t style a n d is so t h r i l l i n g o f itself that the n a r r a t i v e n eeds n o e l a b o r a t i o n to interest the reader. I n 1 875 he w r o t e , at M a d i s o n , W i s . , w h e r e he h a d m o v e d , i n t hat year, a w o r k j o i n t l y w i t h L y m a n C . D r a p e r , a g e n t l e m a n w h o h a d gathered m a n y m a n u s c r i p t s a n d i n f o r m a t i o n o f pioneer h i s t o r y , w h i c h he a f t e r w a r d presented to the L i b r a r y o f the W i s c o n s i n H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y , on " B o r d e r F o r a y s , C o n f l i c t s a n d I n c i d e n t s ; " but this b ook w a s never p r i n t e d o n a ccount o f s ome d isagreement b etween t he t w o a u t h o r s ; a n d t he e vidence a s to this d oes n ot lay the least blame u p o n M r . B u t t e r f i e l d . I n the s p r i n g of 1877 w a s p u b l i s h e d " T h e W a s h i n g t o n - C r a w f o r d L e t t e r s " edited by M r . B u t t e r f i e l d , a n d issued f r o m the press o f R o b e r t C l a r k e & Co., w h i c h is i n v a l u a b l e t o the h i s t o r i c a l w r i t e r , f o r it contains i n f o r m a t i o n not to be f o u n d elsewhere, a n d l i k e a l l o f B u t t e r f i e l d ' s w o r k s m u s t be r ead to find a u t h o r i t y f o r m a n y h i s t o r i c a l statements o f fact. I n i t is g i v e n an idea of W a s h i n g t o n ' s interest i n the W e s t a n d the immense tracts o f l a n d he secured f o r h i s m i l i t a r y s ervices as a V i r g i n i a o fficer d u r i n g the F r e n c h a n d I n d i a n wars. I n t he f a l l o f 1875 M r . B u t t e r f i e l d completed f o r an " H i s t o r i c a l A t l a s of W i s c o n s i n , " ( w h i c h w a s p u b l i s h e d the n e x t y e a r ) a " H i s t o r y of W i s c o n s i n , " a s s i s t i n g also i n the p r e p a r a t i o n o f the county histories a n d b i o g r a p h i c a l sketches f o u n d i n t hat atlas. T h e " H i s t o r y o f the U n i v e r s i t y of W i s c o n s i n " w a s w r i t ten by h i m a n d p u b l i s h e d i n 1879. H i s n e x t w o r k w a s one o f the m ost i m p o r t a n t of a l l h i s b o o k s , b e i n g " D i s c o v e r y o f

  
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t he N o r t h w e s t i n 1034 by J o h n N i c o l e t , " w h i c h also contained a s ketch of N i c o l e t ' s life. T h i s is a remarkable b ook, b ut M r B utterfield, a fter his w o r k on B r u l e was published, insisted t hat the latter s h o u l d be read first by the student of the F r e n c h d iscoveries i n A m e r i c a . T h e production of N i c o l e t g ave e v i dence o f Butterfield's c omplete k nowledge of F r e n c h , of his p a i n s t a k i n g a n d w i d e research as w e l l as his m a r k e d l i t e r a r y a bility. I t is a record of the indomitable p erseverance a n d h eroic b r a v e r y of J o h n N i c o l e t i n an e x p l o r a t i o n w h i c h r e sulted i n his being the first of c i v i l i z e d men to set f oot u p o n a ny p o r t i o n of the N o r t h w e s t , w h i c h is to say, any part o f the t e r r i t o r y n o w constituting, the States of O h i o , I n d i a n a , I l l i nois, M i c h i g a n a n d W i s c o n s i n . It is also s h o w n h o w he b rought to the knowledge of the w o r l d the existence of a f resh-water sea     L a k e M i c h i g a n . It was a l w a y s M r . B u t terfield's intention to rewrite this v e r y r e m a r k a b l e w o r k a n d m ake it m ore p opular by e l i m i n a t i n g the m a n y F r e n c h passages w h i c h w ere i ntroduced for the p urpose o f a d d i n g to its i nterest by e m p l o y i n g the language of the early F r e n c h w r i t e r s a nd explorers, but this he never f o u n d time to a c c o m p l i s h . I n 1882 he edited a n d published the " W a s h i n g t o n - I r v i n e C orrespondence," the w o r k to w h i c h a l l h i s t o r i a n s must go f o r a uthority on the W e s t i n the R e v o l u t i o n . T h i s w o r k was p u b lished t h r o u g h the generosity of G e o r g e P l u m e r S m i t h of P h i l a d e l p h i a w ho not only subscribed for n u m e r o u s c opies b efore i t was printed, but f u r n i s h e d the maps i n the b ook. T h i s w o r k , as its title indicates, consists of the official letters w h i c h passed b etween W a s h i n g t o n a n d B r i g . - G e n . W m . I r vine and b etween I r v i n e a n d others c o n c e r n i n g military a ffairs i n the W e s t f r o m 1781 to 1783; t hese l etters b e i n g a r ranged and annotated w i t h an i n t r o d u c t i o n c o n t a i n i n g an o u t line o f e vents o c c u r r i n g previously i n the T r a n s - A l l e g h e n y c ountry. N o other w o r k has e ver b een p ublished c o n t a i n i n g so m u c h i n f o r m a t i o n of value to the student of W e s t e r n h i s tory, and today no A m e r i c a n l i b r a r y is considered c omplete w ithout it. I n speaking of M r . S m i t h ' s part i n the p u b l i c a tion o f this b ook, M r . B u t t e r f i e l d wrote the w r i t e r of this i n J u n e , 1898, the w r i t e r h a v i n g c onveyed t o h i m i n f o r m a t i o n of M r . Smith's death: " I was pained to hear that G e o r g e P l u m e r S m i t h was no more. I saw h i m last i n O m a h a s ome t hree or f o u r years ago. H e a n d I c o r r e s p o n d e d f or a l o n g

  
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t ime. B u t for h i m , the ' W a s h i n g t o n - I r v i n e C o r r e s p o n d e n c e , ' w o u l d , probably, not have b een p u b l i s h e d . H e s u b s c r i b e d for fifty c opies a n d a f t e r w a r d p u r c h a s e d as m a n y m o r e , a l w a y s i n s i s t i n g o n p a y i n g f o r each c opy, c atalogue p r i c e . H e alsc p a i d f or the maps w h i c h y o u w i l l n otice i n the b ook. I r eturn y o u the letters w r i t t e n by h i m . H o w f a m i l i a r is his h a n d w r i t i n g to o u r w h o l e h o u s e h o l d ! " The "Washington-Irvine C o r r e s p o n d e n c e " was r e v i s e d b y M r . B u t t e r f i e l d a n d after his d eath the M S . was sent to the C h i c a g o H i s t o r i c a l Society L i b r a r y i n a ccordance w i t h h i s desire. I n 1883 he edited a " S h o r t B i o g r a p h y o f J o h n L e e t h , " f o l l o w e d by the " J o u r n a l of Capt. J o n a t h a n H e a r t , " p u b l i s h e d i n 1 885; this w o r k b e i n g an account of the m a r c h to the W e s t o f the first t roops u n d e r the g o v e r n m e n t of the N e w R e p u b l i c . M e a n w h i l e h e w r o t e w i t h F r a n k A . F o w l e r a series of b i o g r a p h i c a l sketches e n t i t l e d " T h e G i a n t s o f the W e s t ; " but t he b ook w as never g i v e n to the p u b l i c . W h i l e r e s i d i n g i n W i s c o n s i n he w r o t e , i n chief, histories o f the C o u n t i e s o f R o c k , F o n d - d u - L a c , C o l u m b i a , D a n e , V e r non, C r a w f o r d a n d Greene o f that state. F o r the last three m e n t i o n e d he f u r n i s h e d a " G e n e r a l H i s t o r y , of W i s c o n s i n , " w h i c h w as p u b l i s h e d as a n i n t r o d u c t i o n to t hose w o r k s ; his p r e v i o u s " H i s t o r y of W i s c o n s i n , " p u b l i s h e d i n the " H i s t o r i c a l A t l a s " a l r e a d y m e n t i o n e d , a p p e a r i n g as i n t r o d u c t o r y to a l l t he other W i s c o n s i n C o u n t y H i s t o r i e s . H e w as on the e d i t o r i a l staff of the " N o r t h w e s t R e v i e w " f o r M a r c h a n d A p r i l , 1883, assistant e d i t o r o f " D e s c r i p t i v e A m e r i c a " f r o m D e c e m b e r , 1884, to F e b r u a r y , 1885, i n c l u s i v e ; a nd o n the first day of J a n u a r y , 1886, he began e d i t o r i a l w o r k o n the " M a g a z i n e o f W e s t e r n H i s t o r y , " a f t e r w a r d w r i t i n g a l arge n u m b e r o f special articles f o r that m a g a z i n e , p r i n c i p a l l y h i s t o r i c a l a n d b i o g r a p h i c a l . H e severed h i s c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t hat p e r i o d i c a l i n 1889. H a v i n g r e m o v e d to S o u t h O m a h a , N e b r a s k a , i n 1888, he t here finished the " H i s t o r y o f the G i r t y s , " f o r w h i c h he had g athered m u c h m a t e r i a l w h i l e a resident o f W i s c o n s i n . T h i s w o r k w a s p u b l i s h e d by R o b e r t C l a r k e & C o . i n 1891, a n d is, p erhaps, the most i m p o r t a n t of M r . B u t t e r f i e l d ' s later w o r k s . I t c o n t a i n s a v a s t . a m o u n t of i n f o r m a t i o n as to the b o r d e r w a r f a r e o f the T r a n s - A l l e g h e n y c o u n t r y w i t h the three G i r t y s     S i m o n , J a m e s a n d G e o r g e     a s the c e n t r a l figures. The

  
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w o r k , as M r . B u t t e r f i e l d has w r i t t e n to the w r i t e r of this a n d a s w e l l has p r i n t e d i n the p reface o f the b ook, w as undertaken b ecause o f the notoriety they had obtained, and l i k e w i s e because t here was an apparent necessity for o u r W e s t e r n a n nals t o be freed, as near as possible, f r o m e r r o r , everywhere p ermeating as to the part actually taken by these brothers     p a r t i c u l a r l y S i m o n     i n many of the important events w h i c h m ake up the history of the region i m m e d i a t e l y west of the Alleghenies. I t had b ecome t he r u l e to g i v e S i m o n G i r t y a ll t he o d i u m that c ame o f d i a b o l i s m practiced by A m e r i c a n r enegades e mployed by the B r i t i s h f or this purpose, a n d w h i l e M r . B u t t e r f i e l d d oes n ot relieve S i m o n of his proper place, h e s hows t hat he was not always responsible     not even a lways present, w h e n atrocious acts credited to h i m by most o f the w r i t e r s of romance c a l l e d h i s t o r y , were c o m m i t t e d . I n t his w o r k , as i n a l l of h i s productions, M r . B u t t e r f i e l d k ept constantly i n m i n d one o bject p aramount to a l l others     t he statement of facts, as he understood them, a n d the t r u t h w as reached after research that e ncompassed e v e r y t h i n g beari n g o n the subject. . T h e reader must be impressed w i t h t he l arge numbers of documents a n d authorities quoted i n the H i s tory of the G i r t y s ; i n fact n o t h i n g s eems t o be o m i t t e d that w o u l d a i d in c l e a r i n g up m