USA > Connecticut > The history of Connecticut, from the first settlement to the present time > Part 13
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The difficulties of the case, however, did not de- ter the assailants. They had reason to presume that they must be either victorious or destroyed ; and the first of the Massachusetts soldiers mount- ed the log and entered the fort as fast as possible. It proved, however, that the Indians were not un-
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182
THE NARRAGANSET FORT TAKEN. [1675.
prepared nor afraid : for the defences were well manned and furnished with muskets and ammuni- tion. A destructive fire opened upon the sol- diers, and was kept up with such energy that they could not endure it, and most of them retreated, leaving Captains Johnson and Davenport, with some of their men, who were cut off. A pause occurred while the main body was coming up, being much retarded by the difficult ground and the snow. The Connecticut troops were led by spirited officers, who brought them up with all possible speed, and led them across the log bridge into the fort in con- siderable numbers. Captain Marshall, however, was killed while upon the log. There they main. tained a resolute contest with the whole force of the savages for three hours, although Captains Gal- lup and Seely were among the killed, until a small party of them, who had their muskets loaded with pistol bullets, having gone round to the opposite side of the fort, found a spot where the palisade had not been placed; and, forcing their way through the thick hedge, fired on the backs of the Indians. This soon threw them into confusion, so that they left the blockhouse and flanker, were driven from one part of the fort to another, and then fled into the forest. Fire was set to the wigwams, which soon destroyed them all, and (painful to relate !) a considerable number of old men, women, and chil- dren in them. It was supposed that the whole number found in the fort was nearly 4000; that 300 men were killed in the fight, and many others wounded mortally ; and nearly an equal number were taken prisoners, besides 300 more women and children. The fugitives had to spend the following
183
1675.]
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
night in a cedar swamp, without shelter, food, or fire.
The loss of the colonists was very great : six captains were killed, and eighty soldiers killed or mortally wounded. They had now undergone se- vere fatigue : but no shelter was offered them nearer than the quarters they had occupied the night before ; and they were compelled to set off immediately on their return. Just as the sun was setting they had taken up their wounded and dead companions, who amounted to about 200, and be- gun their march, Major Treat, it is said, being the last in the fort. The air was very cold, and the snow fell fast, so that, before they reached their quarters, about midnight, many had their limbs frozen. Four hundred were now disabled. The Connecticut troops suffered most in proportion to their numbers, bearing nearly half of the entire loss. Of their five captains, three were dead. and Mason so wounded that he died nine months after- ward. Eighty of the three hundred Connecticut troops were among the killed and wounded : viz., twenty in Seely's company, twenty in Gallup's, four- teen in Marshall's, and nine in Mason's. About forty of the wounded recovered. The destruction of so many women and children made the most sad impression even on some of the soldiers, who were loud in their remonstrances.
Major Treat took his troops immediately away, sending the wounded by water to Rhode Island. The Massachusetts and Plymouth troops remain- ed in the field most of the winter, pursuing Indians, and endeavouring to make peace with them. The destruction of the fort was the principal cause of
184
VOLUNTEER COMPANIES.
[1676.
their overthrow. The Indians would listen to no proposals for peace : but set off for the Nipmuck country, which was in the present county of Wor- cester, Massachusetts, to join with that powerful tribe in new depredations. On the way they rob- bed some of the settlers ; and, in company with the Nipmucks, they plundered and burned the chief part of Lancaster on the 10th of February, killing and taking 40 persons. A few days after, they attack. ed Medfield, Massachusetts, burned half the houses, and killed 20 men. They continued their course of destruction in March. with ruinous effect in Massa- chusetts and Rhode Island : but, happily, did not invade Connecticut. The following towns were partly or wholly destroyed, and lost many of their inhabitants by death or captivity : Northampton, Springfield, Chelmsford, Groton, Sudbury, and Marlborough, Massachusetts ; Warwick and Prov- idence, Rhode Island ; and Reboboth and Swanzey, in Plymouth colony. The particulars of this de- structive campaign will be found in Church's His- tory of Philip's War.
Captain Pierce, of Plymouth, with fifty English and twenty Indians, was cut off by an ambush ; and Captain Wadsworth, while marching to relieve Sud- bury with fifty men, met the same fate. The con- dition and prospects of the colonies were now most gloomy : bat the spirit of some of the people was not depressed. Indeed, the sufferings and dangers of their neighbours were such as to excite the sym- pathy of the people of Connecticut ; and in Febru- ary, 1676, four companies of volunteers were form- ed in Stonington, Norwich, and New-London, who were very active for several months, and did great
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1676.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
service, under the command of their efficient lead- ers, Major Palms, and Captains George Denison, James Avery, and John Stanton. They were ac- companied by some Mohegans, under Onecho, the son of Uncas ; some Pequods, led by their chief Cas- · sasinamon ; and about twenty of Ninigrate's Narra- gansets, under Catapazet. These companies took turns in traversing the Narraganset country, keep- ing them in constant fear until they were driven out of it and went to the north.
Captain Denison performed most important ser- vice on one of these excursions. He left Sto. nington on the 27th of March, having learned that the chief sachem of all the Narragansets had come from the northern boundaries of Massachu- setts for seed-corn, to plant the towns which had been laid waste and deserted, was lurking in the neighbourhood. This was Nanuntteenoo, the son of Miantonimoh, a man of large size, athletic frame, and a proud spirit. Captain Denison hunted him in vain for several days. Having reached Black- stone's river, some distance north of Providence, they found the tracks of Indians ; and, having ta- ken a squaw prisoner, she told them that Nanunt- teenoo, or Canonchet as he was also called, was in a wigwam at no great distance. The chief was engaged in giving an account of the ambush in which Captain Pierce had been killed : for he was fresh from that dreadful scene of slaughter. As volunteers were pressing on to seize him, they were seen by several of his men, who ran away, except one, who gave Canonchet the alarm in sea- son to allow him to get some distance before his pursuers.
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186
DEATH OF CANONCHET. [1676.
Catapazet, the friendly Narraganset chief, thought he recogniesd Canonchet by his manner of run- ning, and immediately gave him chase; and the swiftest of the Indians coming rapidly on, he first threw off his blanket, and then a laced coat that he had received as a present at Boston, by which it was known who he was. He soon reached a stream, through which he attempted to dash his way : but, his foot slipping, he fell and wet his gun ; and the foremost of his pursuers, Monopoide, a Pequod, in an instant rushed through the water and seized him. The sachem seems to have at once lost all hope of escape. Ile made no resistance ; and, when the first Englishman came up, a young man, named Robert Stanton. he refused to answer any of his questions, looking with disdain upon his youthful countenance, and said, in broken Eng- lish, "you too much child ; no understand matters of war; let your captain come; him will I an- swer."
Several of Canonchet's chief counsellors also were taken; and the English endeavoured to in- duce them all to become their friends, and abstain from war. The sachem, however, rejected their offers, and chose to be treated as an irreconcilable and dangerous enemy. They thought they had no other course to take but to put him to death ; and his execution was committed to the friendly Indians. When infomed that he must die, he re- plied that he "liked it well ; that he should die be- fore his heart was soft, or he had spoken anything unworthy of himself." He was taken to Stoning- ton, and there Oneco, with his counsellors and the principal Pequods, shot him with their guns.
187
1676.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
Another Narraganset sachem, a grandson of Pomham, was captured also by the volunteers, who, in the autumn, had made ten or twelve excursions, and killed and taken 230 of the enemy, got 50 muskets, and 160 bushels of corn, yet did not lose a single man. The enemy were now again driven out of the Narraganset country.
CHAPTER XXIII. 1676.
Death and Character of Governor Winthrop .- Governor Leet chosen in his Place .- The Indians pursued and destroyed in different parts of Connecticut and Massachusetts .- Battle of Northfield. - Captain Church. - Philip killed at Mount Hope, in Rhode Island .- The War terminated. .
GOVERNOR WINTHROP died on the 5th of April, 1676. He was born in 1605, at Groton, in England, and was the eldest son of the first governor of Mas- sachusetts. He was educated in his native country at Cambridge, and travelled for improvement in France, Holland, Germany, Italy, and Turkey. " While he collected the literature and excellences of the various countries through which he passed," says Trumbull, " he cautiously avoided their er- rors and vices." His example we may therefore warmly recommend to every young man. who, in later times, may, like him, become a traveller. IIe was a pious and learned man ; and, being a Puri- tan, like his father, he accompanied his family to America in 1631. On a visit to England he re-
188
MAJ. TALCOTT RELIEVES HADLEY. [1676.
ceived a commission to build Saybrook fort, and to be governor under the patent of Lord Say-and- Seal, Lord Brook, and others. He was chosen a magistrate of Connecticut in 1651, and governor in 1657; and from 1659 till his death he was an- nually re-elected to that office. He was one of the most distinguished men of New-England, and regarded as one of the best physicians and chem- ists of the time. He was a member of the Royal Society for Philosophical Transactions, and com- municated some of the carliest information con- cerning this country to that institution.
William Leet, Esq., was chosen governor, and Captain Mason magistrate in his place. A stand. ing army of 350 men and the friendly Indians was ordered to be raised, to harass the enemy, under the command of Major John Talcott.
Early in June the army marched from Norwich northward, through Wabaquasset (or the Mohe- gan conquered country), and found only the de- serted Indian fortresses, which they demolished, and 50 acres of corn, which they destroyed. Pass- ing into Massachusetts, at Chanagongum they kill- ed 19 Indians and took 33, and went to Brookfield, whence, not meeting the Massachusetts troops as they had expected, they proceeded to Northamp- ton. They suffered much from want of food, so that the expedition was called "the Long and Hungry March."
The arrival of this force at Northampton was very opportune : for, four days after, their assist- ance was demanded at Hadley, where 700 Indians suddenly attacked the town, and would probably have destroyed it, with several others, but for the
189
1676.]
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
appearance of Major Talcott, at whose approach they fled, and afterward attempted nothing farther. The Massachusetts troops at length arrived, and joined with those from Connecticut for three weeks in scouring both sides of the river up to Deerfield falls. They found quantities of fish and other pro- visions, which they destroyed, and also recovered some stolen property. The battle of Northfield, Massachusetts, gave the final blow to the Indians, as many were destroyed and all dispersed.
Major Talcott then marched his troops back to the Narraganset country, where, on the 3d of July, they surprised the main army of the enemy in a cedar swamp. They surrounded it, and fought them for two or three hours, killing and taking 171. Among the captives was Magnus, the Sunk or Snuke Squaw, an old Queen of Narraganset. According to the barbarous custom of the times, 90 of the captives were killed : only 40 or 50, be- ing women and children, were saved. The troops then moved the same day to Providence Neck, and afterward to Warwick Neck, killing 18 and taking 49 prisoners. Among the whole 238, they found about 30 muskets. They then returned home. The volunteers, in the mean time, had killed and taken 182 Indians.
The Indians appear to have begun to despair from this time, being reduced to great distress by the loss of numbers, habitation, food, and secure retreats, as well as by the close pursuit of their en- emies. The flesh of horses and other unwhole- some fare had caused much sickness among them : so that, as some of them declared, more died of dis- ease than in battle. They were now scattered about
190
DEATH OF KING PHILIP. [1676.
the country in small parties, seeking food and ex- posed to destruction ; and numbers of them soon began to come in to the settlements, and ask for that mercy which the colonists were glad to grant them.
Major Talcott was despatched to Westfield, whence he made a hasty march in pursuit of a large body of Indians, on their flight to the westward, no doubt to join the Mohawks, fifty-five of whom were soon killed and taken. Among the former was the sachem of Winnimisset or Brookfield, in Massachusetts.
One of the most active and successful of the of- ficers of that period was Captain Church ; and the reader of Church's Narrative of Philip's War, written by his son, will find in it many interesting particulars, chiefly relating to the expeditions in the Narraganset country. Philip, still showing himself to be utterly opposed to peace, although deserted by most of his forces, had returned to Pocanoket (a place near Bristol, Rhode Island) to procure seed-corn, was pursued thither, and closely pressed by Captain Church, and several times but barely escaped capture. He was at length traced to a swamp at the foot of Mount Hope or Montaup, his former residence, and there surrounded and am- bushed through the night. In the gray of the morn- ing, while attempting to steal away through a mist, he was shot by a soldier, and killed on the spot.
His surviving chief captains were soon after taken prisoners or killed by Church and his men, and were all pardoned except a few of the most obnoxious; and thus the war was brought to a conclusion. The Assembly of Connecticut offered
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1676.]
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
to the Indians life, liberty, protection, and ground to cultivate (the terms which they had given to the Pequods), excepting only the chief instigators. Many of them, however, chose to reject them, and left the country. The immediate result of their emigration was the deliverance of the colonies from numerous enemies : but it probably increased the evils of invasion which they suffered many years afterward. Several large tribes fled to Canada, and joined the Indians there, thus placing them- selves under the protection of the French, who were long the most implacable enemies of the English colonies. This was done by the Nipmucks from Brookfield and its vicinity, the Nashawas, the Pocomtocks from Windsor, the Hadley and Spring- field Indians.
Thus the people of New. England were for a time delivered from the fear of their savage and terrible enemies, and were at liberty to rebuild their ruined habitations and cultivate their neglected fields. But they had a sad reckoning to make of their losses and sufferings. About 600 men of the flower of the colonies had been slain in war ; twelve or thirteen towns in Massachusetts, Ply- mouth, and Rhode Island had been partly or wholly destroyed ; many cattle had been killed; and the country was burdened with a debt of immense amount compared with its resources.
The war with the Eastern Indians we shall not stop to speak of particularly, as it did not imme- diately affect Connecticut. It cost Massachusetts a great deal; and, although it began about the same time, was not closed until 1678. Most of the eastern and northern settlements of that colo-
192
CLOSE OF THE WAR.
[1676.
ny, extending into the present states of Maine and New-Hampshire, were broken up; about twenty fishing vessels, with their crews, were captured ; and numerous lives were lost. An account of that war may be found in " Hubbard's Indian Wars."
Although Connecticut had not suffered in Philip's war as severely as her neighbours, her taxes had been for three years as high as eleven pence on the pound on the grand list, besides town and par- ish taxes, and yet a considerable debt remained unpaid. The people were greatly favoured by. Providence, by having few but friendly Indians in their territory, and not a single party of men cut off by surprise in their numerous enterprises in aid of their neighbours. In this, as in many other cases of difficulty and danger, they had reason to confide and rejoice in the protection of that Al- mighty Being, to whom they paid such becoming regard in their public acts, as well as in their social institutions ; and who had given them so much reason for inscribing on the arms of the colony that noble motto :
" Qui transtulit sustinet." [He who brought over sustains.]
The population of the country, checked by war and many untoward circumstances, was still but small. Trumbull estimates the inhabitants of New. England in 1675 at only 35,750 persons, in 7150 families. If the same rule be applied to Connecti- cut, it will give an amount of population only a lit- tle exceeding that of Hartford or New-Haven at the present day.
The Assembly met in October, laid a tax of
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1678.]
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT. 193
eight pence on the pound upon the whole list for two years, gave permission to the Mohegans, Pe- quods, and Ninigrate's Narragansets to hunt on the conquered territory, and kill any remaining en- cmies, and appointed a committee to hear their com- plaints, and to settle them all in peace.
In 1677, Captain John Mason having died of the wounds received at the Narraganset fort, Mr. An- drew Leet was chosen a magistrate in his place. A committee was appointed to arrange affairs about the Narraganset country, and to report places fit for settlements : for Rhode Island had done nothing there in the war. Colonel Nichol's proceedings, they considered, had nullified the act of his majes- ty's commissioners making it the King's Colony ; while the agreement with Mr. Clark was of no force, on several considerations. The Assembly granted protection to Elisha Hutchinson, William Hudson, and others, in resettling a large tract of land in the Pequod and Narraganset country.
While the Assembly were in session in October, they were requested, by the upper towns in Con- necticut River, to send Major Treat to confer with a large number of Indians in that region, who seem- ed desirous of peace. He was despatched accord- ingly, to offer them the usual terms, and with di- rections to ransom all the captives if possible. In the latter part of his duty he was in part success- ful : but very few of the Indians were willing to re- main in the country.
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[1678.
194 RHODE ISLAND RENEWS HER CLAIM.
CHAPTER XXIV. 1678.
Edward Randolph misrepresents the Colonies to the King .- Death of Governor Leet .- His History and Character .--- Claims of the Duke of York and Duke of Hamilton .- Sick- ness in the Colony .- Colonel Dugan Governor of New-York. -Accession of King James II .- Randolph arrives from Eng- land to examine the Charters of the Colonies .- Sir Edmund Andross made Governor of New-England .- He marches to Hartford with a Body-guard, and demands the Charter of Connecticut .- It is concealed in the Charter Oak, and pre- served.
IN 1678 the colonies suffered some of the ill ef- fects of a bad government in England. James the Second, being an enemy to liberty, civil and reli- gious, and, of course, being inimical to the principles of New-England, was ready to listen to their de- famers ; and Edward Randolph became very of- ficious in spying out their liberty, in order to de- prive them of it. He made an annual visit to Bos- ton from 1676, and usually returned in autumn to England, to make complaints and undermine the interests of the country at court, particularly by representing them as unreasonably opposed to the acts of trade and navigation. The commissioners, well knowing to whom men should always apply in times of difficulty and danger, recommended a general fast, with humble prayer to God for the preservation of their rights. This was complied with, as usual, by the Assembly of Connecticut, as well as the other confederates.
Rhode Island began again to claim jurisdiction
195
-
1680.] HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
in the Narraganset country ; which the Assembly forbade the settlers to acknowledge.
At the session in May, 1680, Governor Leet, of Connecticut, took the oath respecting trade and navigation required by the king, although Massa- chusetts refused to obey it, and the governor of that colony declined taking the oath.
This year a statement of the condition of Con- necticut was made, at the request of the commit- tee of trade and the colonies, from which we learn that it contained 26 small towns, with 21 churches, all of which had settled ministers except two new ones. Its exports were about £9000 in value an- nually ; and it owned 24 small vessels, some of which traded with Boston, and others with the West Indies. The vessels were 4 ships, 3 pinks, 8 sloops, and 12 smaller vessels, with a tonnage of 5080 tons. There were but few servants, and not more than 30 slaves. The militia numbered 2507. There was one troop of mounted soldiers, and two others were raising. The forces were called train- bands, commanded by a major in each county, and a general for the colony. In Hartford county were 835 militia, New-Haven 623, New-London 509, and Fairfield 540. These trainbands contained all the men between 16 and 60 years of age.
The Indians were computed at 500 fighting men. At that time the Assembly, in giving in these and the following particulars to the lords of the com- mittee of the colonies, said, " We are strangers to the French in Canada, and know nothing of their strength or commerce." It was suggested that it would be very favourable to commerce " if so be New-London, New-Haven, and Fairfield might be made free ports for 15 or 20 years."
196 ANDROSS CLAIMS FISHER'S ISLAND. [1680.
There came " sometimes three or four blacks from Barbadoes," who were sold for £22 each.
The number of men in 1671 was 2050 ; in 1676, 2303 ; in 1677, 2362 ; in 1678, 2490 ; and in 1679, 2507. The commodities were lumber, provisions, and horses. The whole property did not exceed £110,788 sterling. The only export or import duties on goods were on wines and liquors, and these were appropriated to maintain free schools.
" The people," said the report, "are strict Con- gregationalists, a few more large Congregational- ists, and some moderate Presbyterians. There are about four or five Seven-day men, and about as many Quakers. Great care is taken of the instruction of the people in the Christian religion, by minis- ters catechizing and preaching twice every Sab- bath, and sometimes on lecture-days ; and also by masters of families instructing their children and servants, which the law commands them to do.
"Every town maintains its own poor : but there is seldom any want, because labour is dear, being from 2s. to 2s. 6d. a day for a labourer; because provisions are cheap : wheat is 4s. a bushel Win- chester, pease 3s., Indian corn 2s. 6d., pork 3d. a pound, beef 24d. a pound, butter 6d., and so other matters in proportion. Beggars and vagabonds are not suffered ; but, when discovered, they are bound out to service ; vagabonds, who pass up and down, are punished by law."
Sir Edmund Andross now began again to trouble the colony, by claiming the jurisdiction of Fisher's Island. It was impossible to foretel what difficulty he might not cause if allowed to hold that impor- tant place ; and the Assembly protested against him.
197
1683.]
HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT.
In 1683 the governor's office was vacant, in con- sequence of the death of William Leet, Esq. His history is interesting, as, in fact, is that of most of his associates, as far as it is known. He was a lawyer in England, and joined the Puritans in con- sequence of witnessing the injustice and severity practised upon them by the English bishops early in the seventeenth century. From his acquaint- ance with their " pure" principles, for which they were first persecuted, he had honesty enough to acknowledge that the bishops were in the wrong in punishing them for attending good sermons and solemn meetings in neighbouring parishes when they had none at home; and, preferring the sin- cere and defenceless victims to those who claimed the right of ruling their consciences, he came to America with Mr. Whitfield in 1638, settled at Guilford, and became one of the seven pillars of his church. He was a magistrate of New-Haven colony from 1643 until 1658, then deputy-governor till 1661, when he was elected governor. He held that office till the union with Connecticut in 1665, and then was chosen a magistrate. In 1669 he became deputy-governor, and governor in 1669. These offices he held without intermission during forty years of the greatest difficulty, and never failed to act with honour and integrity. The last few years of his life were spent in Hartford, where he died, says Trumbull, " full of years and good works."
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