Butler then taunted him: “Boyd, life is sweet, you had better answer me.”
The brave lieutenant replied: “Duty forbids, and I would not if life depended on the word—but Colonel Butler, I know the issue, my doom is fixed.”
That a prisoner should be taken before Colonel John Butler for examination is quite probable.
Sergeant Michael Parker was the rifleman who was murdered with Lieutenant Boyd.
The remains of Lieutenant Boyd and Sergeant Parker were found on the outskirts of the town and were interred with the honors of war. In August, 1842, the remains of these two soldiers were exhumed and removed to Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester, N. Y., where they were re-interred.
The unfortunate Lieutenant Boyd had shared all the hardships of the ill-fated expedition to Quebec under General Arnold, and had experienced many campaigns prior to the one in which he made the supreme sacrifice.
Major Grant Meets Defeat at Fort
Duquesne, September 14, 1758
The destruction of the Indian town at Kittanning September 8, 1755, was a severe blow to the Indians. The English had never before that time assailed them in their own towns, and they were led to believe they would not venture to approach them. While they desired to retaliate the blow, they feared another such attack upon their home, when they were absent on war parties. Such of them as had belonged to Kittanning and made their escape, refused to settle again east of Fort Duquesne.