The letter of Captain Butler to General Schuyler, written the day after the affair at Cherry Valley, was delivered by the gentleman who, of all others, felt the greatest interest in facilitating the arrangement proposed—Colonel Campbell himself. It was not answered by General Schuyler, for the reason that he was not then in command of the district; and for the still farther reason that, from the circumstances of the case, it took a different direction. On the 1st of January, however, the following letter upon the subject was addressed to Captain Butler by Brigadier-General James Clinton:—
"General Clinton to Captain Butler.
Albany, January 1st, 1779.
"Sir,
"A letter, dated the 12th of November last, signed by you, and directed to General Schuyler, and which was delivered by John Campbell, is come to hand. As its contents related to persons who were citizens of the State, with which the military do not interfere, the letter was not delivered to Brigadier-General Hand, who commanded in this department, but transmitted to his Excellency Governor Clinton, that his pleasure might be known on its contents. He has authorized me to make the exchange you request. I am at a loss to know not only where to direct to you, but also in what part of the country the unhappy prisoners taken from this State have been carried. I therefore send the bearers, A. B. and C. D. with a flag, to carry this letter to any place where they may learn you are, or any other officer who can accomplish the exchange in your absence. Should the prisoners be in any of the Indian villages, and in a condition to be moved, you will please to send them to the nearest of our settlements; or, if you do not choose to do that, I will send proper persons to meet and receive them at any place you may appoint. I am not informed if Mrs. Butler, her family, and such others as will be given in exchange for those you have in captivity, and those you have suffered to return as mentioned in your letter, would choose to move at this inclement season. If they do, they shall be sent. If not, they may remain until Spring; and then they may either go to Oswego or Canada, at their option. Should the prisoners taken at Cherry Valley, or any others belonging to the State of New-York, be at Niagara, it will be impossible for them to re-turn until Spring; and then I request that they may be sent to Oswego or Fort Schuyler, and that you will send notice of your determination, that provision may be made accordingly. Do not flatter yourself, sir, that your father's family have been detained on account of any consequence they were supposed to be of, or that it is determined they should be exchanged in consideration of the threat contained in your letter. I should hope, for the sake of human nature and the honor of civilized nations, that the British officers had exerted themselves in restraining the barbarity of the savages. But it is difficult even for the most disinterested mind to believe it, as numerous instances of barbarity have been perpetrated where savages were not present—or, if they were, the British force was not sufficient to restrain them, had there been a real desire so to do. The enormous murders committed at Wyoming and Cherry Valley would clearly have justified a retaliation; and that your mother did not fall a sacrifice to the resentment of the survivors of those families who were so barbarously massacred, is owing to the humane principles which the conduct of their enemies evinces a belief that they are utterly strangers to. The flag will carry their arms with them, that they may furnish themselves with provisions, should what they set out with be expended before they reach any places where they can be supplied. As Captain Butler may be absent, I enclose a copy of this letter to General Schuyler.
"I am, &c, James Clinton,
"To Captain Walter Butler, or any officer in the British service to whom this may be handed." [FN]
[FN] This letter has been copied from the original draft, among the papers of General Clinton.
This letter reached its destination in due season, and called forth the following reply from Captain Butler, written in behalf of his father and himself:—
"Captain Butler to General Clinton.
Niagara, 18th Feb. 1779.