massacre massacre attack british forces fort village eastern new_york november american revolutionary war described horrific frontier war mixed force loyalists british soldiers descended defenders despite warnings unprepared attack raid particular targeted non combatants reports state individuals slain addition number armed defenders raiders overall command exercised little authority indians expedition describes butler command expedition incompetent angered accusations committed atrocities battle wyoming colonists recent destruction forward bases operation butler authority indians undermined poor treatment leader butler repeatedly maintained accusations permitted atrocities place powerless campaigns achieved reputation brutality present wyoming thought actively sought minimize atrocities took place massacre contributed calls leading drove western new_york background failure british general campaign hudson october american revolutionary war upstate new_york frontier war valley especially targeted fertile soil large supply crops farmers supplying patriot troops british leaders supported loyalist native american partisan fighters supplies armaments winter british allied indians developed plans attack frontier settlements new_york pennsylvania february established base operations present day windsor new_york recruited mix loyalists estimated number time began campaign objectives acquire provisions forces planning operations valley began campaign late raid raided frontier communities summer local militia continental_army units defending area ineffective raiders typically escaped scene raid defenders arrived force attacked german september americans organized expedition destroyed villages early october active valley butler descended large mixed force raided northern pennsylvania early july action complicated affairs butler force accused number patriot militia violated parole long afterward participating expedition propaganda associated accusations particular angered destruction attack present fueled opponents view particularly brutal opponent joined forces captain son leading companies commanded attack major settlement butler forces included probably led british_army soldiers 8th regiment foot force moved butler recruitment loyalists butler unhappy successes sphere threatened provisions loyalist volunteers ninety ended leaving expedition verge indian supporters convinced stay dispute sit indian forces undermined butler authority massacre fort constructed raid surrounded village meeting house garrisoned soldiers 7th massachusetts regiment continental_army commanded colonel command staff alerted november spies butler force moving failed elementary precautions continuing occupy headquarters house named wells yards fort butler force arrived near late november established cold camp avoid detection reconnaissance town identified weaknesses arrangements raiders decided send force headquarters fort butler extracted promises indians party harm council held night attack began early morning november indians surprise firing settlers cutting wood nearby escaped raising alarm little beard led surround wells house main body surrounded fort attackers killed sixteen officers troops quarters guards including cut running wells house fort accounts reach gates stop try shoot wet pistol repeatedly killed thrown hitting forehead col second command wells house taken prisoner son benjamin cousin ran hail bullets reach fort house brother law day killed attacking wells house eventually gained entry leading hand hand combat inside killing soldiers stationed slaughtered entire wells household raiders attack fort unsuccessful lacking heavy weapons unable significant impressions walls fort guarded loyalists indians rest settlement single house left standing seeking revenge reported slaughtered encountered butler attempted actions unsuccessful particular dismayed learn number families known counted friends borne including wells campbell clyde families colonel regiment described attack journal immediately came indians nations command col butler attacked headquarters killed col took col prisoner attacked fort hours retreated success taking fort identified fatalities massacre colonel thirteen soldiers thirty civilian inhabitants slain soldiers wells house accounts surrounding capture col report killed intervened saved life col prisoner col killed said appeal spared aftermath morning butler sent rangers village complete destruction raiders took captives women children butler managed released rest distributed captors villages exchanged col taken fort prisoner british chief action wrote american officer burned houses makes brothers indians destroyed men women children declared falsely accused fight enemy twice indication refuse quarter future butler reported notwithstanding precaution save prevent falling unhappy victims fury spent time guarding fort raid quebec governor upset butler inability control forces refused writing vengeance taken cruel enemy engaged useless contrary king cause fighting butler continued insist later writings fault events day violent frontier war brought calls continental_army action accusations murder non combatants wyoming helped way launch commissioned commander chief major general george_washington led major general expedition destroyed villages central western new_york drove women children refugee camps fort failed stop frontier war continued renewed severity legacy monument dedicated august centennial anniversary massacre new_york governor delivered dedication address monument audience persons saying today reverence dead patriots offer respects heartfelt gratitude living descendants persons early settlements erected memorial stone hoped example copied report commemorative exercises like acts pious duty let son soil uncover monument unveiled reverence patriotism strong grand faith trials blood innocent children wives sisters mothers brave men shed vain let world years added value noble sacrifice shall leave sacred spot better men women higher purpose life animated entered domain dead years massacre home village massachusetts celebrated annual old home day holiday honoring escape
Cherry Valley massacre