USA > Connecticut > The history of Connecticut, from the first settlement of the colony to the adoption of the present constitution, vol. I > Part 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43
"Come, Mosely, come," said the insulting chiefs, "you seek Indians, you want Indians, here is Indians enough for you."
From eleven o'clock until almost night, the old privateer, aided by his daring lieutenants, Savage and Pickering, con- tested this bloody field with them. At last the English were compelled to retreat. With a strange mixture of savage im- providence and rage, the Indians cut open the sacks of wheat and some feather-beds that lay scattered about among the dead bodies, and strewed their contents upon the winds. Then with yells they commenced the pursuit. A woful flight it would have been, as the Indians were acquainted
* Trumbull, i. 331, 332.
+ Hubbard's Narrative, 38; Bancroft, ii. 104; Trumbull, i. 334.
272
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
with all the passes of the woods, and night was setting darkly in to befriend them .*
Just at the moment when the little army seemed hurrying to an inevitable doom, again appeared that good angel, Major Treat, with one hundred Englishmen and seventy Mohegans from Connecticut. A sight of this hero-always so careless of himself, always so solicitous for others- inspired the retreating English with confidence. The tide was turned, and the Indians now sought the double covert of night and shade. They had little occasion to boast at their next war-dance, for they left ninety-six dead warriors upon the field, whose life-blood had mingled with that of their enemies to tinge the waters of the little stream that can not yet lose the name of " Bloody Brook."t
About the middle of September, the congress had ordered one thousand men to be raised for the general defense, half of whom were to be dragoons. Of these, Connecticut was ordered to raise three hundred and fifteen men for her proportion. A large part of this force was placed under the command of Major Treat, and employed in protecting the border towns in Massachusetts.}
The Springfield Indians had for forty years kept their faith with the English, and had long withstood the solicitations of Philip. But when they saw that Northfield and Deerfield had fallen before him, and that he appeared every day to gain , ground, they declared for him. Philip had resolved to attack Springfield and burn it. The Springfield Indians, therefore, on the evening before the contemplated attack upon the town, took him and three hundred of his warriors into their fort. The plot was discovered by Toto, a Windsor Indian, that very evening, and messengers were sent off in haste to inform Major Treat, who lay at Westfield with the Con- necticut troops.§ The people of Springfield, however, would
* See Drake, b. iii. 32 ; I. Mather's Hist. of the War, p. 12.
t In 1835, the anniversary of the sanguinary event above referred to was held at " Bloody Brook," on which occasion an oration was delivered by his excellency Gov. Everett. # Trumbull, i. 334-note. § Drake, iii. 32, 33 ; Trumbull, i. 335.
273
DESTRUCTION OF SPRINGFIELD.
[1675.]
not believe the report, and Lieut. Cooper, who had com- mand at Springfield, early in the morning rode out towards the Indian fort to see for himself what was the state of affairs there. The man who rode by his side was shot dead, and Cooper was mortally wounded. Although shot several times through the body, he still kept his horse, and, riding furiously to the garrison, gave the alarm .*
Philip, with his new allies, now commenced a resolute attack upon the place, and began to set fire to the buildings. Never was a people in a more hopeless condition, and never was a garrison more inadequate to the defense of a place or to protect itself from destruction, than the one that had been thus suddenly deprived of a rash but brave commander. It seemed as if nothing could avert the ruin that hung over the garrison and the town.
Meanwhile the news of Toto's disclosure reached Major Treat, and he made all haste to rescue the besieged. But for want of boats he was delayed so long in crossing the river with his army that before he reached the scene of action, the destruction of Springfield was consummated. Thirty dwelling houses, and many other buildings were al- ready in ashes. With his usual address, Major Treat soon drove the enemy from the place, and saved the inhabitants from promiscuous slaughter. Their property he came too late to save. Major Pyncheon and Mr. Purchas lost each one thousand pounds, and the large and valuable library of Mr. Glover, the clergyman, as well as his house, was destroyed.t
On the 14th of October, the General Assembly of Con- necticut met, and, in consideration of the gallant services rendered by Major Treat, gave him a public expression of thanks for his brave conduct, and appointed him commander of all the troops to be raised against the enemy.į
The Rev. Mr. Fitch, of Norwich, had informed the Assem- bly that a large body of Indians was approaching that town, and had requested that troops might be sent to defend it.
Trumbull. t Trumbull, i. 335.
# Colonial Records, ii. 266.
18
--- --
274
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
Major Treat was therefore directed to repair to Norwich at once .* This order was soon countermanded, and he was sent to the relief of Northampton. For this place he imme- diately set off.
Philip was now in the midst of a series of brilliant suc- cesses, that elated his spirits to a high degree, and inspired his warriors and large body of adherents with great confi- dence. With a body of about eight hundred warriors, he made a sudden attack upon Hadley.t So well had he con- trived the assault, that every part of the place felt the shock at the same moment. But Hadley was defended by some brave officers and soldiers, who made a stand against the enemy, until the arrival of several small detachments from the neighboring garrisons. Major Treat, with his little army, hastened from Northampton and reached Hadley while the battle was yet doubtful. He opened such a deadly fire upon the Indians that they soon fled. Philip in this action sustained a severe loss, and his warriors were so disheartened by the blow that the main body of them retired to the Narragansett country. Still, little depredating parties prowled around the scattered dwellings of the frontier settle- ments, and did whatever harm they could to the English.}
The intelligence given by Mr. Fitch, and coming from other sources, that the eastern border towns of Connecticut were in danger of being attacked, induced the General As- sembly to take active measures for the protection of all the border towns in this colony. To this end, at the October session before alluded to, it was ordered that every county should raise sixty dragoons, well mounted, equipped and provisioned, to be ready when called to aid in the de- fense of the colony. Captain Avery was also placed at the head of forty Englishmen from New London, Stonington and Lyme, with as many Pequots as he should deem neces- sary to protect that part of the country, and to annoy the enemy at his own discretion.§
Colonial Records, ii. 265. + Drake ; Trumbull. # Trumbull, i. 336. § Colonial Records, ii. 268.
275
SUFFERINGS OF OUR TROOPS.
[1675.]
Captain John Mason, worthy to bear the honored name of the hero of the Pequot war, was appointed to command another party of twenty Englishmen and the Mohegan In- dians, to act with Avery, or separately from him, as was found most advisable. A company of one hundred and twenty dragoons was raised to act under the immediate command of Major Treat. It was ordered that all the towns should be fortified, and various other measures were taken to protect the weak and remote settlements .*
The persuasive arts of Philip to bring over Canonchet to his views, had by this time prevailed so far that the Narra- gansett chief was induced to take into his protection the Wampanoags and other tribes who sought shelter in his country. Whether Canonchet invited them, is not certainly known, but he gave them a friendly reception, and that was regarded by the colonies as a breach of the treaty that the presence of an army in his country had compelled him to sign. Besides, the congress had by this time become well satisfied that the young Narragansett warriors had violated the neutrality by actually engaging in the war, as some of them were reported to have returned home wounded. It was feared that the old Narragansett heroism was at length beginning to be roused. Of course, such a prospect could not do less than alarm the English, when they remembered that the tribe was reputed to have at least two thousand good fighting men, and one thousand muskets.t I do not believe that the Narragansetts had so many warriors, nor is it probable that they could produce a fourth part that num- ber of fire-arms. That the English, however, believed the story, is quite certain.
Winter was fast pressing on. If these warriors should be added to those already engaged in the cause of Philip, and should be allowed to betake themselves to the woods the next summer, where they could hide themselves and waylay the English, it was feared that the horrors of war, already so bloody and devastating, would be fearfully increased. The
* Colonial Records, ii. 268. + Trumbull, i. 337.
8
276
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
fate of Hutchinson, Beers and Lathrop, with their parties, the desolation of villages, horrible murders, mutilations of dead bodies, unparalleled in barbarity, painful captivities, and famine worse than all, bore witness of the beginning of the struggle. What was to be its horrid end ?
After some deliberation, the Congress decided to raise an army of one thousand men, to attack the Narragansetts in their principal fort in the winter. Massachusetts furnished five hundred and twenty-seven men, made up of six compa- nies of foot and a troop of horse under command of Major Appleton. Plymouth provided one hundred and fifty-eight men, in two companies, led by Bradford and Gorham. Con- necticut was to have brought into the field, as her quota, three hundred and fifteen men, but she sent three hundred Englishmen and one hundred and fifty Mohegan and Pequot Indians, in five companies, under the charge of Captains Seeley, Gallup, Mason, Watts and Marshall. This brave corps of soldiers was under the command of Major Treat. Josiah Winslow, governor of Plymouth Colony, was the commander-in-chief of the expedition .*
The utmost care was taken to provide for the wants of the troops, and after doing all that could be done to guard against the extremes of hunger, snow, cold, disease and wounds, the 2d of December was appointed to be observed as a day of fasting and prayer. Major Treat arrived with his forces at Pattyquamscot on the 17th of December, in- tending to have encamped in the houses that he expected to find there for his reception. But the Indians, only a day or two before, had burned all the houses and barns, and killed ten men and five women and children. He was obliged to pass the night without a roof to shelter his troops.
The next day he formed a junction with the forces from Massachusetts and Plymouth. The night of the 18th was cold and stormy, but the army was obliged to spend it in the open field, unprotected as before. On the morning of the 19th, at dawn, they began their march towards the fort
* Trumbull, i. 337.
-
277
ATTACK UPON THE NARRAGANSETT FORT.
[1675.]
or principal residence of the Narragansetts, that was about fifteen miles from the place where they had encamped. Mosely and Davenport, with the troops from Massachusetts, led the van, followed by Major Appleton and Captain Oliver. General Winslow, with the two Plymouth companies, marched in the center, and Major Treat brought up the rear with the Connecticut forces .*
The army marched on resolutely through the deep snow, without so much as taking any refreshment except what they snatched on the way, until about one o'clock, when they reached the fortified town of the enemy. It stood upon an eminence in the center of a vast swamp. Philip with his allies had erected palisades, and added as much as his means would permit to the natural strength of the place. But by the treachery of an Indian named Peter, who was a prisoner in the hands of the English, the fort was discovered. It is not likely that any one of the English could have found it in the immense area, half marsh, half moor, weary as they were with their march, and suffering as they did from hunger and cold. It was already one o'clock, and they had no time to lose, for night would soon overtake them, and the Indians would soon be upon them. So adroitly was the fort con- structed, that it could be approached only at a single point with any chance of success, and even that avenue to it was guarded by a block-house in front, with flankers to cover a cross-fire. The island occupied by the fortification con- tained about four acres of ground, and is believed to have been covered, as well as the swamp that surrounded it, by primitive pine and cedar trees. This area was not only surrounded with high, strong palisades, but it was made still more formidable by a huge irregular hedge of fallen trees, about a rod in thickness. The sole entrance that appeared at all assailable was near a large tree, that had been felled in such a position as to form a bridge across a body of water that lay between the fort and the main swamp, that extended around it. This log was four or five feet above the ground.
* Hubbard's Narrative, 104.
278
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
As soon as the English army entered the swamp, they dis- covered an advance guard of the Indians, and immediately fired upon them. The enemy returned the fire and then retreated toward the block-house. Without waiting to form themselves, or reconnoitre the fort, the Massachusetts forces followed their officers, mounted the tree, and one by one, as many as could pass upon it, entered the fort, but were sub- jected to a raking fire of musketry from Philip's marksmen, who were stationed in the block-house, as well as at the points most favorable to repel them.
They were totally unable to contend against such fearful odds, and such as were not instantly killed, were driven back out of the fort. Yet the soldiers followed their gallant captains again and again over this exposed crossing-place, to make good the places of the slain, and as often the fire from the block-house and flankers, and other points of entrance, swept them away .*
As it turned out, there was a good deal more courage than prudence in this hasty attack upon the fort, for before the main body of the army could wade through the deep snow, and come up in aid of those who had attempted to force the entrance, Captains Johnson and Davenport, with many of the Massachusetts men, were beyond human help.t Major Treat, as he had brought up the rear of the whole army, was the last to reach the fatal pass. Regardless of danger, the Connecticut captains, one after another, led up their men, inspiring them with encouraging words, the last still supply- ing the places of those who went before them, and keeping good the numbers of undaunted hearts who fell before the increasing and murderous fire of the Indians. Three of the five Connecticut captains were killed .¿ Marshall fell dead from the fatal tree. The English had not looked for such an obstinate defence.
While this terrible slaughter of the Connecticut troops
* Holmes, ii. 376 ; Hutchinson, i. 271 ; Drake, b. iii. 34, 35 ; Trumbull, i. 338, 339.
t Hutchinson, i. 271. # Holmes, ii. 376.
279
THE FORT TAKEN AND DESTROYED.
[1675.]
was going on, Captain Mosely forced an entrance through or over the hedge where it was weakest, and attacked the Indians in the rear-opening a fire upon their backs as they stood crowded closely together, with large muskets loaded with pistol bullets. The Indians now fled from their first position, and took refuge in their wigwams, and in every nook that afforded them a screen behind which to discharge their shot.
" They run, they run," shouted the English captains, as they cheered on their men. *
At this critical moment fell Captains Gallup and Seeley, both shot dead in front of their respective companies. About this time Mason received a wound that proved to be mortal. At last the English gained the center of the fort, and after a long and bloody conflict, put the Indians to flight. With frightful yells, they flew into the surrounding thickets, leaving the fort in the hands of the English, who, at a dear rate, had bought the victory. There were six hundred wigwams within the fort, containing ample shelter for four thousand human beings. There were also large stores of corn and immense quantities of wampum, and of those utensils that were wrought in such abundance and with such skill by the Narragansetts.t
There had been three hundred Indian warriors slain,¿ and others who were wounded died in the cold cedar swamp, whither they had taken refuge. About the same number were taken prisoners, besides three hundred women and children, who afterwards drank to the bitter dregs the cup of captivity and sorrow. Captain Church, who was present as a volunteer, begged that the fort and provisions might be spared for the shelter and supply of the enemy, and especially for the protection of the wounded. But other counsels pre-
* See Drake, b. iii. 35.
+ Hutchinson, i. 272, 273 ; Trumbull, i. 339 ; Bancroft, ii. 105.
# Some authorities place the number as high as seven hundred. The number given above, however, is that contained in a letter in Hutchinson (i. 233,) attribu- ted to Major Bradford, who was a participant in the fight.
---
280
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
vailed. The village was burned to ashes, and all the valu- able stores that it contained, with the old men, women, and children, whose number history has never recorded, and whose agony, though brief, was only heard in its full signifi- cance by the ear of a mercy that is infinite.
What a commentary did that winter scene-the crackling flames melting the snow from the cedars and pines, and scorching their green leaves, the blackened bodies half con- sumed, the shivering English soldier whose blood was staunched more by the numbing touch of cold than by the surgeon who was himself paralyzed, the poor Indian fugi- tives, none the less miserable that they were savages, cower- ing unprotected beneath the bushes or to the leeward of the snow-drift, to shun the wrath of such a sky as belongs to New England in the dead months of the year-what a com- mentary upon the cruelty, the misery of war !
Six of the English captains had been killed, one had re- ceived his death-blow, and eighty of the soldiers had been either killed or mortally wounded. One hundred and fifty others, who had been injured in the action, recovered .* But the sufferings of the army might be said only to have just begun. Night was closing around them; the only screen that could have been afforded them in that desolate waste, was the comfortable fort, with its six hundred houses, that they had burned in spite of the wise admonitions of Church. They had marched fifteen miles since day-break, and fought a battle that had lasted for three full hours. It would be destructive to them were they to encamp upon the upland or upon the moor. There was then no alternative. Weary as they were, they must again take up their line of march, and spend the night as they had spent the morning, in wading through the snow.
Just as the sun was going down, they gathered up their two hundred dead and wounded men, and set out on their return-march to head quarters, a distance of about eighteen miles. It was a night never to be forgotten by those who
* Trumbull, i. 340.
281
THE CONNECTICUT TROOPS.
[1675.]
survived it; a cold, stormy night. The blinding snow pur- sued them all the way, falling in vast quantities over the undistinguishable woods and swamps, obeying the impulses of the howling blast that ranged over the wide, desolate scene.
It was past midnight when the troops reached their des- tination. It would be idle for me to attempt to delineate the sufferings of the wounded soldiers. A part of them, as the night and storm advanced, became insensible. The pulses grew feebler, the cheek grew paler, and the frame, so languid and pliable at first to the grasp of those who bore it, stiffened into its final repose.
Of this army of one thousand men, at least four hundred were unfit for duty. The Connecticut troops were more disabled than the others,* partly because they had entered the fort when the fire was deadliest, and partly from their previous fatigue in marching from Stonington to Pattyquam- scot, and then passing the night in the open air. Some of the soldiers were frozen to death. Of the three hundred Englishmen from our little republic, eighty were killed and wounded-twenty men in Seeley's company, an equal num- ber in Gallup's, fourteen under the command of Watts, nine of Mason's, and fourteen of Marshall's men. Of these, about forty were either killed on the field or died of their wounds. Thus half of the loss of the fatal day, that broke the pride of Philip and laid waste the city of the Narragansetts, fell upon Connecticut.t Major Treat, who had been in the hottest part of the battle, narrowly escaped death from a bullet that passed through the rim of his hat. The thanksgivings that went up to heaven from the lips of our people, were mingled, as they always have been when our State has partici- pated in deeds of valor, with the wailings of widowhood and the cries of orphan children. In the eloquent words em- ployed by the General Assembly to commemorate the event,
* See Gov. Dudley's letter in Hutchinson, i. 274.
t Note in Trumbull, i. 341.
-
282
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
"Our mourners, over all the colony, witness for our men, that they were not unfaithful in that day."*
.
Under these circumstances, Major Treat thought it neces- sary to return home and recruit his troops.t Indeed, this was the only course that he could have adopted, unless he had intended to sacrifice one half of the remainder of his men.
The English now thought the opportunity would be favor- able to establish peace with Philip, and various proposals were made. These overtures were answered by the burning of Lancaster and Medfield, and by the killing of Captains Pierce and Wadsworth. Į
In February 1676, a large number of Connecticut volun- teers, belonging for the most part to New London, Norwich, and Stonington, were formed into companies under Major Palmes, Captain George Denison, Captain James Avery, and Captain John Stanton, further to prosecute the war against the Indians. With them were associated some Mohegans under Onecho, a son of Uncas, some Pequots under their chief, and about twenty Narragansetts belonging to Nini- gret, who, by keeping his neutrality, doubtless saved his life. These companies ranged the Narragansett country from one end to the other in quest of the enemy. Nor did they work in vain. Canonchet, or, as he is now commonly known in history, Nanuntenoo, the son of Miantinomoh, and the chief sachem of the Narragansetts, had escaped the destruction of his principal town, and had still many brave fighting men with him. Some time in March, he had ventured down from the north to Seekonk, near the seat of Philip, to get seed-corn with which to plant the towns upon Connecticut river that had been deserted by the English. Denison, who had been ranging the woods with his party for several days in search of the enemy, came suddenly upon a trail near Blackstone river, and soon learned from a squaw whom he took captive, that Nanuntenoo was in his wigwam near the
* See note in Trumbull, i. 341. + See Hubbard's Ind. Wars, 135, 144.
# Holmes, ii. 378, 379.
283
CAPTURE OF NANUNTENOO.
[1676.]
river. Denison lost no time in taking measures to secure him. The chief was apprised of his danger, as the English approached, and ran for his life towards the river, which Catapazet, the chief who commanded Ninigret's men, him- self a Narragansett, and who thought he recognized the fugitive, pursued him with all speed. Other Indians and English, who were swift-footed, followed close behind. Finding himself hard pressed, the sachem threw off first his blanket and then his silver-laced coat that had been pre- sented to him at Boston. This garment was well known, and as there could now be no doubt of his personal identity, the pursuers took courage and ran with still greater eagerness. In the company was a Pequot who outran all his compan- ions, and who gained so fast upon Nanuntenoo, as he was flying along the bank of the river, that the chief was com- pelled to plunge into the current before he had reached the ford. Even as it was, he would probably have escaped, had not his foot slipped from the smooth surface of a stone, and in falling brought his gun under water. So much time was lost by this accident, that also took away the power of de- fending himself, that the Pequot came upon him and seized him without difficulty.
Like his father, whose fate he must have remembered, Nanuntenoo made no resistance, and like him scorned to ask for a life that he knew was forfeit.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.