Butler's 5

Butler’s5 Earl Plato
Fort Erie’s historian Cruikshank had much to say about the so-called Wyoming Valley Massacre of northeastern Pennsylvania. I say ‘so-called’ because a true historical perspective from our viewpoint and respected Americian historian, Howard Swiggett says otherwise. Located on the Upper Susquehanna River that flows southwards from the New York Colony this fertile valley was a valuable source of grain for Washington’s army. Two of my Fort Erie rangers ancestors, Christian Plato and Cornelius Bowen were present at Wyoming serving under Lieutenant John Hare. Ironic is the fact that the Wintemutes a Tory (our side) family, held the fort there known as Fort Wintermoot (Wintemute). My wife, Elaine, is a descendant of the Wintemute clan Butler Ranger Philip Wintemute. Again he and his brothers were with the first soldier/settlers of Fort Erie. Cruikshank and more recently American historians said the following: “ The Wyoming Valley Massacre” was a military battle in the American Revolutionary War that took place on July 3, 1778. American Patriots called it a “massacre” but historians (2005) generally believe that it was primarily a battle. This is what Colonel Briggs U.E. maintained back in the 1970’s. Joseph Brant was called a “monster” because he was supposedly there at Wyoming. Not so. Brant was not present and facts back it up. What about Walter Butler? Again he claimed the following after the Wyoming Valley Battle: “ We deny any cruelties to have been committed at Wyoming either by whites or Indians, ... Though should you call it inhumanity the killing of men in arms in the field in that case (we) plead guilty.” War is war and terrible things happen.
Writer’s Note: Cruikshank in his book gives us some attributes of Colonel John Butler - “... Decision, firmness, courage were undoubtedly characteristics of the man.” We descendants of members of Butler’s Rangers are proud to be part of a U.E.L. Branch that bears his name. What happened to his son Walter?
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