ments and Butler's disaffection, was physical ailment. The touch of gout experienced on the journey over the Alleghenies did not leave him. In his meager Journal he records on October 24: "So ill this day that I had much difficulty in keeping with the army."[1] November dawned wet and cold but on the first his "friendly fit of gout" was growing better.
On the third of November the army made its last day's march—little dreaming that it was the last or that just ahead lay the bloodiest battlefield in American pioneer history. The Thomas Irwin manuscript, previously quoted,[2] gives us a glimpse of the day that is of singularly pathetic interest. "In the afternoon of the 3d Something Broke which Caused a general halt Nearly one hour the Day was Cold us waggoners in front had a very handy way of making fire we made up a Large fire Several of the officers Collected around to warm themselves Genl St Clair was Brought and took a Seat he not Being able to walk they Discoursed on Different Subjects one was
