USA > Connecticut > A complete history of Connecticut, civil and ecclesiastical, from the emigration of its first planters, from England, in the year 1630, to the year 1764; and to the close of the Indian wars > Part 7
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The neighboring Indians, especially the old men among the Norridgewocks, were opposed to the war; the Pe- nobscots were still more so ; and even after it commenced, expressed their desires of an accommodation. But, as has been observed, Ralle and the French urged them to it, and with difficulty persuaded them to engage. The In- dians at St. Francois, on the borders of Canada, the St. Johns and the Cape Sable Indians, being at a greater dis- tance, did not fear the destruction of their villages. They therefore, under the influence of the French, were fierce for war; and joining with the Norridgewocks and Penob- scots, made the war general.
In July they surprised Canso, and other harbors in the July. vicinity, and took about seventeen fishing vessels, belong- ing to Massachusetts. Governor Phillips, who was occa- sionally there, caused two sloops to be manned, partly with volunteer sailors, from merchant vessels which were there loading with fish, and sent them, under the command of John Elliot of Boston, and John Robinson of Cape Ann, in quest of the enemy. As Elliot was ranging the I
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Book II. coast, he discovered seven vessels in the harbor called Winnepang; on which, he concealed all his men except 1729. four or five and made towards them. When he came near one of the vessels, which had about forty Indians on board, they, in full expectation of another prize, roared out, strike, English dogs, and come aboard, for you are all prisoners. Elliot answered, I will make all the haste I can. The Indians perceiving that they made no attempts . to escape, soon began to suspect a surprise, and cut their cable with a design to run ashore and make their escape. Elliot immediately boarding them prevented their pur- pose, and after a brave resistance, for about half an hour, they began to leap into the hold for safety. Here the hand grenades which Elliot threw among them, made such des- truction, that those who were not killed, leaped into the water, where they were a fair mark for the English. Five only of the whole number made their escape. Seven ves- sels, with several hundred quintals of fish, and fifteen cap- tives, were recovered from the enemy. They had sent many of the prisoners away, and had killed nine in cold blood. The Nova-Scotia Indians had the character of being more savage and cruel than the other tribes.
Elliot was badly wounded in the action, one of his men . was killed and several wounded.
Robinson did not return unsuccessful. He retook two vessels, and killed a number of the enemy. The other vessels the Indians had carried far up the bay above the harbor of Malagash, so that they were out of his reach. The enemy were so numerous, that he had not a sufficient number of men to land and drive them off.
This was an unfortunate affair to the Indians. The loss of so many men filled them with the utmost rage; and they determined to revenge themselves on the poor fisher- men whom they had made prisoners. About twenty of these were yet in their hands. These they destined to be sacrificed to the manes of their slaughtered fellows. The fires it seems were kindling, the powowing and other cerc- monies of destruction were performing at Malagash, when Captain Blin appeared in a sloop, off the harbor, and made a signal, or sent in a token, which had been agreed upon, between him and the Indians, when he was their prisoner, to be his protection. Three Indians camc on board his vessel, and an agreement was made for the ransom both of the captives and vessels. The ransom was paid, and the vessels and captives delivered to him. This was a most providential and signal deliverance of the captives from an untimely and barbarous death.
CHAP. V.
CONNECTICUT.
Captain Blin, on his return to Boston, took three or four Book II. of the Indians. Captain Southack, about the same time, took two canoes with three in each. One was killed and 1722. five were made prisoners.
Sept. 10th.
Meanwhile the enemy were not idle. In September, Attack on four or five hundred of them, made an attack on the inhabi- Arowsick, tants and fort upon Arowsick Island. They were discov- ered by the soldiers of the garrison at some distance, so that the inhabitants had time to secure part of their effects and to make their escape to the fort. The enemy began their attack immediately upon the fort. This was defended by forty soldiers under Captains Temple and Penhallow. They made so gallant a defence, that the enemy after kill- ing one man drew off from the fort, and falling upon the cattle killed about fifty head. They then plundered and burnt the houses, about twenty six in number. The in- habitants saw with great distress, from the fort, the burn- ing of their habitations, and bewailed their insufficiency of numbers, to prevent the mischief.
Captains Walton and Harman, who were posted on the frontiers, on the first alarm, made all possible dispatch to reinforce the garrison, and before night arrived with thirty men, in two whale boats. With this joint force, consist- ing of seventy men, they made an attempt to repel the en- emy ; but their numbers were so unequal, that in a bush fight behind trees, they found there was no chance of suc- cess, and they retreated to the fort. The enemy drew off in the night ; and passing up Kennebeck river, they met the province sloop, and firing upon her, killed the master, Bartholomew Stretton. They proceeded to Richmond, and made an attack on the fort there, and thence went to Norridgewock, their head quarters.
The enemy concluded the mischief of this first year of the war, by killing a man at Berwick.
Before this, Colonel Walton had selected three hundred men for the expedition against Penobscot, and they had actually marched for the place of their destination : but on the appearance of such a formidable body of the enemy on the frontiers, he countermanded the troops, and sent immediately to the governor, acquainting him with what he had done. The council advised to keep the force on the frontiers for the defence of the inhabitants, and to sus- pend the expedition to Penobscot until winter. They judg- ed that the winter would be a more seasonable opportunity for the enterprise. The expedition was therefore suspended.
As war had been proclaimed against the eastern In- dians, and they had done so much mischief in the war,
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Book II. Governor Shute, of Massachusetts, and Governor Burnet, of New-York, wrote letters to Governor Salstonstall, de- 1722. manding supplies of ammunition and men, or the command of a certain part of the militia, to assist in the war against the common enemy.
act. 11th.
When the letters were laid before the assembly in the October session, it was resolved, That the insults of the. eastern Indians, who were comparatively few in number, were not such an invasion of the frontiers as was under- stood by his majesty, to call for the assistance of all his majesty's subjects, in North America, from New-Hamp- shire to Virginia, and that on that account the colony ex- cused itself from affording assistance in the war. At the same time, the assembly gave assurance to their excellen- cies, Shute and Burnet, that in time of general war and danger, they would be as ready as any of his majesty's subjects to comply with his requisitions. This was not the only objection of the assembly to engage in the war ; they were not satisfied that it was lawful.
7
Nevertheless, the legislature, not knowing how far the mischief might spread, sent a detachment of about fifty men to keep garrison and scout in the county of Hamp- shire, and to cover that part of the country. Some sol- diers were also posted in the frontier towns of this colony.
General court of
In November, the general court of Massachusetts came Massachu- together. The court immediately entered on the affairs of setts, Nov. the war. Among other measures, they appointed commis- 15th, 1722. sioners to treat with the six nations of Indians, who were in friendship with the English, and to engage them to use their influence with the eastern Indians, to persuade them to make satisfaction for the damages they had done, and to be at peace for the future. They were also to offer them certain premiums for all the scalps and captives of the enemy which they should bring in.
But they soon renewed their controversy with the go- vernor ; censured him for not carrying into execution the expedition against Penobscot, insisted that Colonel Wal- ton should be recalled, because he had kept the whole of the troops on the frontiers, though he had done it by the express orders of the governor, by advice of his council. The house took it upon them to examine Colonel Walton, independently of the governor and council, and refused to vote any pay to Walton and other officers, and in short, to support the war, unless some of the officers in chief command were displaced and others appointed to com- mand. They encroached on the prerogative of the go- vernor as commander in chief. They so entirely coun.
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CHAP V.
teracted him in all his measures, and manifested such to- Book II. tal disaffection to his person and government, that he left the court while it was in session, and embarked for En- 1723. gland .*
The weight of government now fell on the deputy go- vernor, Dummer. The house in various respects en- croached on his prerogative, but for the good of the pro- vince, and, that proper provision might be made for a vi- gorous prosecution of the war, he for the present yielded to the necessity of the times. Colonel Westbrook was appointed to the chief command, in the room of Walton, who resigned. Two winter expeditions were determined on ; one under the command of Colonel Westbrook, and the other under Captain Harman.
The expedition under Captain Harman was first in rea- Expedition diness. On the 6th of February, he set out with about an against hundred and twenty men for Norridgewock ; but the rivers wock, Feb. Norridge- were so open and the grounds so full of water, that they 6th, 1723. could not proceed. Having advanced with much difficulty as far as the upper falls of Amascoggin, they divided into scouting parties and returned. In their whole route they discovered not an enemy.
Five days. after Captain Harman began his march, Co- Feb. 11th. lonel Westbrook set out, with two hundred and thirty men, Colonel in small vessels and whale boats, and ranged the coast as brook's West- far as Mount Desart. Upon his return, he proceeded up expedi- Penobscot river, where, about thirty two miles above the tion. anchoring ground for transports, he discovered the Indian village and castle. The castle was fortified with stock- ades, seventy feet in length, and fifty in breadth, encom- passing twenty three well finished wigwams. Without the fort was a church sixty feet long and thirty wide, decently finished within and without. There was also a very con- venient house for the minister ; but all were deserted. Nothing more was effected than the burning of this little village. On the 20th of March the troops returned to St. George's.
No sooner was the spring well opened than the enemy commenced their operations. Small parties kept the fron- tiers in constant alarm and terror. Notwithstanding all the vigilance and exertions of the troops, they sometimes were successful.
In April they killed and captivated eight persons at Scar-
The extraordinary conduct of the house towards Governor Shute, may be found faithfully represented, and the difficulty and danger in which it involved the Province, in Governor Hutchinson's History, Vol. II. from page 216 to page 300.
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Book II. borough and Falmouth. Among the dead was one Chubb, a sergeant of the fort, whom the Indians supposing to be 1723. Captain Harman, fifteen of them took aim at him at the same time, and lodged eleven bullets in his body. This was a means of the preservation of the lives of others, though fatal to him, as more made their escape to the fort, than otherwise would have done. The next month they killed two men near Berwick, one at Wells, and two be- tween York and Wells.
In June they made an attack on Roger Dearing's garri- son at Scarborough, killed his wife, and two other persons, and made captives of three of his children. Soon after July. they visited Saco. Five of them attacked one Dominicus Jordan, one of the principal proprietors of the town, in his field ; but as he kept his gun constantly presented at them without firing, they were afraid to come very near him, and he made his escape to the fort, after having re- ceived three wounds by them. On the 14th they surprised Captain Watkins on Durel's Island, and killed him, and Aug. 13th. three or four of his family. In August, a party of about a dozen of the Indians, killed two men at Northfield, and the next day they surprised a father with four of his sons, as they were making hay in a meadow at Rutland. The fa- ther made his escape, but the sons fell a prey to the ene- my. At the same time, Mr. Willard, the minister of the town, fell in with the party and was killed. He was arm- ed, and before he fell, killed one and wounded another. 'Towards the end of the month, they killed a man at Co- checo, and killed or captivated another at Arundel. While these misfortunes were happening on the frontiers, the General Court of Massachusetts came together, and in con- sequence of the measures which had been adopted, in send- ing commissioners to the Six Nations, sixty-three Indians Aug. 21st. went to Boston, while the court were in session. A formal Treaty with the Indians of the Six Nations. treaty was held with them, and a large sum was drawn from the government in valuable presents ; but it was all to no purpose. The delegates were too cautious to involve their principals in the war. All that they would do rela- tive to it, was to give liberty to any of their young men who should desire it, to go out with any parties of English who should be engaged in the military service. Two young Mohawks only offered their service, and were sent on to the eastward, to join the troops on the frontiers. Having arrived at the fort at Richmond, on Kennebeck river, Captain Heath, who commanded, ordered his ensign, Coleby, and three of the garrison, to go out with them on a scouting party up the river. After they had travelled
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CHAP. V. CONNECTICUT.
about three miles, they judged, from the smell of fire, that Book II. a party of the enemy must be near. The Mohawks refu- sed to proceed any further, until they were reinforced. They sent back their boat for as many men as she could carry. Thirteen were sent. Soon after they had formed a junction with the other party, about thirty of the enemy appeared. A smart skirmish commenced, but the enemy were beaten and fled to their canoes, leaving their packs behind them. They carried off two of their number, either dead, or so wounded as to be unable to talk. Coleby, who commanded the party, was killed, and two others wounded. The two Mohawks appeared to have had enough of the service, and as they could not be prevailed on to tarry longer, were sent back to Boston.
Meanwhile the enemy continued their depredations. In October, seventy of the enemy attacked the block-house at Northfield, and killed or wounded four or five of the Eng- lish. Fifty Connecticut soldiers, who had kept garrison there through the summer, had been drawn off the day be- fore. It is not improbable that the enemy had obtained the knowledge of this circumstance, and that it embolden- ed them to make the attack. Colonel Stoddard marched immediately from Northampton, with fifty men, to reinforce the garrison. The same month one Cogswell, with a boat's crew, was surprised by the enemy.
At the beginning of winter, about sixty of them laid siege Dec. 25tlz. to the fort at Muscungus, or St. Georges. They surprised 17234 two of the garrison, from whom they obtained information, that the fort was in a weak and miserable condition, which encouraged them to commence and press the siege. But the chief officer, Kennedy, was a bold and resolute man, and he kept his ground until Colonel Westbrook arrived with a sufficient force to put the besiegers to flight.
The English kept parties constantly marching back- wards and forwards on the frontiers, but they discovered no enemy. They were careful to avoid them. Captain. Moulton, with a party of men, marched to Norridgewock, and brought off some books and papers of the jesuit Ralle, by which they discovered that the French were the insti- gators of the Indians to the war. The enemy had all made their escape, so that not one was to be seen. He came off without destroying the houses or the church. He was no only a brave, but discreet man, and probably judged that such an instance of moderation, might induce the enemy to treat the English in the same manner.
The continuance of the war with Massachusetts, and the attack of so large a body of the Indians upon Northfield,
Oct. 11. 1723.
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Book II. seems to liave called the attention of the legislature of Con-
necticut. to a more particular enquiry into the state of the
Assembly of Con- necticut relative to the war,
Resolu- war. When the assembly came together, in October, they tions of the General passed a number of resolves to the following effect : That the governor should correspond with the governor of Mas- sachusetts Bay, and endeavour to know how said war com- menced ; what were the real, or pretended causes of it ; and particularly, what was the result of the late treaty with Oct. 1723. the Maquas, or western Indians, and what effects might be expected from it ?- What plans they had formed for the prosecution of the war? That a proper regard might be had to them by the scouting parties, which should be em- ployed for the security of the frontiers. It was further re- solved, as the opinion of the assembly, That if there was danger of the enemies' falling in a body upon any of the western frontier towns in this colony, or in the county of Hampshire, in Massachusetts province, the most proper method of covering them, would be to support the advanced posts of Deerfield and Northfield with such a garrison, that good marching parties might be kept out, both west- ward to Ousatunnuck, and eastward to Manandunck. That the scouts employed by this colony, shall, if it may be con- sistent, be partly of our friendly Indians, who shall have encouragement to enter into the service.
Provision was made, that during the time of danger, there should be a committee of war, in and about Hart- ford, which might be easily convened, and afford assist- ance on the most sudden attack of the enemy : and they were furnished with such commissions and instructions, by the governor, as enabled them, on any emergency, to send out such a number of troops, immediately, as should be necessary to repel the enemy attacking any of the towns on the frontiers of this colony, or in the county of Hamp- shire, in the province of Massachusetts.
Directions were also given, that if the governor and council, on acquainting themselves with the state of the war, and on corresponding with the Governor of Massa- chusetts, should judge that the safety of the frontiers re- quired it, they might join with Massachusetts in keeping the posts at Deerfield and Northfield, or either of them, and in keeping out scouts and good marching parties, north, east, and west, to cover the frontiers, and to make discoveries. They were empowered to impress sixty men, and no more, unless an extraordinary attack should be made, by a large body of the enemy. They might also add the same number of Indians.
The province of Massachusetts sustained a considerable
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loss of lives and property in this second year of the war ; Book II. but they were more unfortunate the next, especially in the former part of it. In March the enemy killed sergeant March Smith, at the fort of Cape Porpoise. In April one Mitch- 23d, 1724: ell was killed at Black Point, and two of his sons were ta- ken. About the same time, three men were killed at a sawmill, on Kennebeck river. The next month the ene- May. my killed one Thompson at Berwick ; one of his children they captivated, another they scalped and left for dead ; but it soon revived and was carried home alive. They killed elder Knock, at Lamprey river, and George Chap- ley and a young woman at Oyster river, as they were go- ing home from public worship. At Kingston they capti- vated one man and three boys.
In the beginning of June, a scout of thirty men from Oyster river, were attacked before they left the houses. Two of them were instantly shot down. The rest ran so furiously upon the Indians, that they fled, leaving their packs and one of their number, who was killed in the skir- mish. At Hatfield one Englishman was killed and two ta- ken prisoners. Another, with a friendly Indian and their horses, was killed between Northfield and Deerfield.
About the same time an unfortunate affair took place with respect to captain Josiah Winslow, and part of the garrison belonging to the fort at St. Georges river. There went seventeen men from the fort in two whale boats. The Indians, it seems, discovered them, and waited the most convenient time and place to attack them : as they were returning, the day after they went out, they found them- selves suddenly surrounded with thirty canoes, whose com- plement must have been an hundred Indians. They at- June 1st. tempted to land, but were intercepted, and nothing re- mained but to sell their lives as dearly as possible. They made a gallant defence, but every Englishman was killed. Three Indians who were of the number only returned to the fort to relate the melancholy news. This was a heavy loss. Captain Winslow was a fine young officer, of hon- orable descent, and had but just finished his studies at col- lege. His father was one of the council. His grand- father and great-grandfather had been governors of Plym- outh colony. He had a mind formed for usefulness, and his death was much lamented.
Animated with this success, the enemy made a still greater attempt by water. They took two shallops at the Isles of Shoals, and afterwards they took several other fishing vessels, in different harbors. Among the rest, , they took possession of a large schooner, with two swivel K
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Book II. guns. They manned her and cruised along shore. It was judged that a small force would be sufficient to conquer 1724. these raw sailors. The lient. governor commissioned doctor Jackson of the Province of Maine, in a small schooner, with twenty men, and Sylvanus Lakeman of Ipswich, in a shallop with sixteen men, to go in quest of them. They soon came up with them ; but the enemy were too strong for them. They returned with their rig- ing much damaged with the swivel guns, and Jackson and several of his men were wounded. The only account they could give of the enemy was, that they were gone in- to Penobscot. Other attempts were made to recover the vessels and bring them in; but all were unsuccessful. The enemy took eleven vessels, with forty five men, twen- ty two of whom they killed, and carried twenty three into captivity.
Aug. Sd.
6th.
They killed a man at Groton, and lost one of their own number. In August they killed three men, woundedt another, and took one prisoner at Rutland. About the same time four of them attacked a small house at Oxford. which had been erected under a hill. The house was de- fended only by one courageous woman. She loaded two muskets and two pistols ; one for each of them. They finally made a breach in the roof, and as one of them was. entering, she put a charge through his belly. This finish- ed the attack ; the others took their dead companion, and retreated. About ten days after, they killed a man at Berwick, wounded another, and carried a third into cap- tivity. On the 26th, they killed one and wounded another at Northampton. The next day they surprised the house- of one John Hanson, a quaker, at Dover, and carried off' his wife, maid and six children. Hanson was absent, at a meeting of the friends.
16th.
Discouraged with the ineffectual attempts to intercept the enemy, by scouting parties marching on the back of the frontiers, another expedition was resolved upon, to surprise them at their head quarters, or principal village, Norridgewock.
Four companies, consisting in the whole of two hundred and eight men, under the command of captains Harman. Moulton and Bourne, were ordered up the river Kenne- beck for that purpose. Three Mohawks were engaged to go out on the expedition.
The troops left Richmond fort, on the Kennebeck river. the 19th of August ; the 20th, they arrived at Taconick. where they left their whale boats, under a guard of forty men, out of the two hundred and eight. On the 21st, they.
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commenced their march, by land, for Norridgewock. Book Il. The same evening they discovered, and fired on two wo- men, the wife and daughter of the famous and well known 1724, warrior Bomazeen. His daughter was killed, and his wife was made prisoner. By her they obtained a full account of the state of Norridgewock. On the 23d, a little after noon, they came near the village. As it was supposed that part of the Indians might be in their corn fields, which were at some distance from the village, it was judged best to divide the army. Captain Harman, who was comman- der in chief, took eighty four men and marched to the corn- fields, and Captain Moulton with the same number march- ed directly to the village. This, about three of the clock, opened suddenly upon them. There was not an Indian to be seen ; they were all in their wigwams. The English were ordered to advance as softly as possible, and to keep a profound silence. At length an Indian came out from The des- one of the wigwams, and looking round, discovered the truction of English close upon him. He gave the war whoop and ran wock, in for his gun. The whole village took the alarm ; and Aug. 23d, Norridge- about sixty warriors ran to meet the English, while the 1724. old men, women and children fled for their lives. Moul- ton, instead of suffering his men to fire at random through the wigwams, charged them, on pain of death, not to fire a gun till they had received the fire of the Indians. He judged they would fire in a panick and overshoot them. So it happened ; not a man was hurt. The English dis- charged in their turn and made great slaughter. The Eng- lish kept their ranks ; the Indians fired a second time, and fled towards the river. Some jumped into their canoes, but as their paddles had been left in the wigwams, they made their escape but slowly ; others jumped into the river and swam; some of the tallest were able to ford it. Some of the English furnished themselves with paddles, and took to the canoes which the Indians had left; others waded in- to the river, and so pressed upon them, that they were soon driven from all their canoes and from the river. They were shot in the water, and on the opposite shore, as they were making their escape into the woods. It was imagined by the English, that not more than fifty of the whole village made their escape.
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