USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Fairfield > The history of Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, from the settlement of the town in 1639 to 1818. Vol. I > Part 24
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Jehu Burr and John Banks were nominated and appointed with the deputy-governor, the assistants, and four other gentlemen, as a standing council, to order the military affairs of the colony. John Banks was also appointed one of a committee to audit the treasurer's account. In conse- quence of the danger to which many planters were exposed from the hostile Indians, while planting their fields, and the destruction of a large amount of grain by the enemy in the frontier towns, the Assembly ordered
* Col. Rec. Conn., II., 268.
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that " no corn, grain, meal, flour or bread should be sent out of the colony, without a special license from the Council, under a penalty of forfeiting three fourths of such shipments to the colony, & one fourth to the informer." A fine or twelve months' imprisonment without bail, was laid upon any one guilty of selling arms or ammunition to the Indians, with a severe whipping upon entering the prison, and once a quarter during the twelve months.
Great caution was recommended in treating with the friendly Indians. The magistrates and commissioners were given power to treat with them in or near the several towns in an amicable manner, and to avoid any appearance of intolerance. In order to distinguish them from the unfriendly Indians, stated times for admitting them into the plantations were suggested.
A strong effort was made to prevent the use of intoxicating liquors among the Indians, as also to oblige them to keep the Sabbath. Cate- chisms were published in the Indian language and circulated among them. These efforts, however, proved of but little avail. The wars which were perpetually kept up among them, their ignorance of reading, writing or spelling in the English language, as well as the ignorance of the ministers of the Indian dialects, were serious obstacles in the accomplishment of this desirable undertaking. A few Indians here and there became Chris- tians, and were baptized and admitted to the communion.
In order to retain a sufficient force for the protection of each town, a law was passed that any male " above fourteen years of age or under the age of seventy," being led by inordinate fear to distrust God's provi- dence to remove out of the colony, without a license from the council or military officer, should be fined one hundred pounds, or in default of such a sum, be corporally punished according to the discretion of the court. A tax of six pence upon the pound was levied to defray the expenses of the colony, to be paid in wheat, peas, Indian corn, beef and pork, in propor- tion of " one half in flesh." Those who could pay in money, were required to pay their full tax in specie.
The council sent a letter of thanks to Major Andros for his timely warning of the combination among the Indians. They wrote that although they had all summer been alarmed, greatly distressed, and charged by hostile appearances from almost every port in the colony, " wherein God had made them to be as a bush burning, yet not consumed in the midst of these flames," yet notwithstanding, they thankfully accepted his friendly lines of intelligence posted so seasonably. Such Christian help- fulness, they suggested, should be encouraged ; and they should feel them-
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selves bound to reciprocate his good will, in sending aid to him should it be required ; feeling themselves " to be naturally obliged in loyalty to their King, to be as neighborly serviceable on these accounts against barbarous natives as any of his majesties subjects, however distinct they might be upon their just patent right."
Major Andros immediately replied, that although his first efforts to assist them were slighted and rejected, he should, nevertheless, not be wanting in duty to his countrymen ; and if the council would send a fit person, he should be ready to serve them in every way in his power. On the 19th Hatfield was attacked. The same day the dragoons from Fair- field county reached Hartford, and were immediately sent forward to reinforce Major Treat at his headquarters at Northampton. His army now numbered about three hundred English, with whom he marched without delay to the defense of Hadley. The Indians numbered several hundred. A severe battle was fought, in which the Indians were defeated and pursued to the banks of the Connecticut, into which many of them plunged, hoping to reach the opposite shore. Several were drowned, and their arms and ammunition were lost. So many of their number were killed in the fight, that they were greatly discouraged. Most of them made their way to the Narragansett country, but enough remained to annoy and distress the planters from time to time.
It now became apparent that the Narragansetts had broken their league with the English, and it was believed that some of their young men, who returned wounded, had been engaged in the war with Philip's men. It was known that they could muster about two thousand warriors, which, joined with the other hostile Indians, who were armed with at least a thousand muskets, formed an army more formidable than the English could collect to protect the towns from general devastation.
The commissioners of the united colonies met at Boston on the 2d of November, and declared war against the Narragansetts. They resolved to raise a standing army of one thousand men for a winter campaign, to attack the enemy in their own country. Massachusetts was to furnish five hund- red and seventy-two men, consisting of six companies of foot and a troop of horse, under the command of Major Appleton ; Plymouth two com- panies of one hundred and fifty-eight men, commanded by Major Bradford and Captain Goram ; Connecticut three hundred and fifteen men, under the command of Major Robert Treat. But Connecticut raised five com- panies, consisting of three hundred Englishmen and one hundred and fifty Mohegans and Pequots. Major Josiah Winslow was made commander-in- chief of the united forces, and Major Robert Treat second in command.
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Upon his forming a junction with the Massachusetts and Plymouth forces, Captain Benjamin Newbery was appointed the eldest captain, to succeed Major Treat, in case anything should prevent his fulfilling his appoint- ment ; Captain John Mason, third in command ; Captain Watts (or Wait), fourth ; Captain Avery, fifth; Lieutenant Nathaniel Seely, of Fairfield, sixth ; and Lieutenant John Miles, seventh. The Connecticut soldiers were to rendezvous at Norwich, Stonington, and New London ; those of Massachusetts at Rehoboleth, Providence, and Warwick, by the 10th of December.
The 2d of December was appointed a day of fasting and prayer through- out all New England, for the success of the enterprise, " in repelling the rage & insolence of the enemie." Major Treat was ordered by the council to continue at Northampton until he received further orders, and not to march to Meadham without Captain Appleton marched with him with his full three hundred men. If the enemy assaulted any of the plantations, he was to post to their relief with his whole strength.
.Major Gold was instructed that the soldiers who had returned to Fair- field county, from the late expedition under the command of Captain Robert Seely, of Stratford, be forthwith prepared with accommodations of clothing, arms, and horse, and made ready to march in an hour's warn- ing ; and to furnish ten hatchets for ten of the soldiers, " to be worn by their sides instead of swords." Major Gold's name was added to the council at this time. Three hundred bushels of wheat was ordered to supply the army, out of which Fairfield county was to send one hundred bushels to New London. Major Gold, John Green, and. Joseph Hawley were appointed quarter-masters to collect wheat, and send it to New Lon- don before the first of December, and they were also to impress men, corn, or vessels for the expedition, if occasion required. The greatest excite- ment prevailed at Fairfield this time. Dragoons and footmen, with their officers from all parts of the country, daily arrived, and were quartered in the town, and exercised on the Meeting-house green. Horses, carts, and wagons were constantly arriving with provisions, to be shipped from Black Rock for the army. The women of the town were busily employed in fitting out their husbands and sons for the expedition. Every commis- sioned officer was granted a horse for his use, and every three soldiers the use of one horse.
Upon receiving information that Mr. Jeremiah Ball's house in the Nar- ragansett country had been attacked by the Indians, and eighteen men, women, and children slain, the war council, on the 29th, ordered Major Treat to move with all possible haste, by land or by water, to the relief of
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Major John Winthrop, who was in command of the militia of New London county, and to make an immediate attack upon the Narragansetts. He was also instructed to engage the Pequots and Mohegans to join in the expedition. The chaplains of the army, Gershom and Buckley and Nicho- las Noyse, were recommended to his special care. The captains and lieu- tenants were commended to be tender and careful of Major Treat, and to guard his person at all times with a strong guard; "to avoid all that might be provoking to God, & that they behave themselves valiantly & courageously."
On the 12th of December, the counties of Hartford, New Haven, and Fairfield were ordered to send a detachment of twenty-six men, to join a detachment at Saybrook, to assist the garrison of Norwich, in the protec- tion of that town. On the 17th, by a letter of advice from Major Gold and the assistants of New Haven, the war council appointed a convention of ministers from the counties of Fairfield and New Haven, to meet the Rev. Messrs. Woodbridge and Buckingham the next week at New Haven, and " in the fear of God, to make dilligent search for those evils amongst us, which have stirred up the Lord's anger against us, that they being discovered, may, by repentance and reformation, be thrown out of our camp & hearts." The Rev. Samuel Wakeman of Fairfield, and the Rev. Joseph Elliot of New London, were appointed to make a report of their proceedings to the council the following week .*
Major Treat with the Connecticut troops arrived at Pettyquamscot, on the 17th of December, and on the following day formed a junction with the Massachusetts and Plymouth forces. A hard snow storm came on, and before morning the ground was covered over between two and three feet in depth. The cold was so intense that some of the men had their hands and feet frozen, and were disabled for service. As day dawned the march was resumed towards the enemy's quarters. The Indians had retired into a swamp, in the centre of which they had erected a fort on a rise of ground of about three or four acres, and surrounded it with pali- sades protected with felled trees, a rod wide on the outside. The interior was lined with a clay wall, with the exception of a small space in the rear, which they had not quite completed when the English army came upon them. The entrance to the fort was covered by a large log or tree five or six feet in height. In front of this was a log-house, defended on the left by a flanker.
Immediately upon entering the swamp, the English were attacked by a body of Indians, who quickly retired to the fort as they fired upon them.
* Col. Rec. Conn., II., 389.
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Captains Mosely and Davenport with their companies, were the first to mount the log before the entrance of the fort. Captain Davenport fell mortally wounded by three bullet-shots, and committing his men to the charge of one Lieutenant Edward Ting, expired on the spot. Captain Mosely, who was well known to the Indians, was shot at by many, but was miraculously saved. Such was the well directed fire of the Indians, that those who had so precipitately entered the fort, were obliged to retire to the outside, with the loss of many brave men. The obstructions of the swamp and the snow were serious barriers in drawing the army up for action ; but the men pressed forward as rapidly as possible to the encoun- ter. The Connecticut troops, who formed the rear of the army upon com- ing up, were led by the spirited Captains Seely and Gallop to dash over the felled trees at the entrance. The fire of the Indians was terrible, and both Seely and Gallop fell mortally wounded; and many of their men were slain and wounded. Meanwhile Captain Benjamin Church, with sev- eral others passed quickly round to the rear, where, finding the narrow uncompleted spot, covered only with a hedge of trees and brush, they climbed over unobserved by the Indians, who were directing all their fire to the front, and running down between the wigwams, standing closely together, they poured a well directed fire from their large muskets, loaded with pistol bullets, into the backs of the enemy. Attacked in the most spirited manner both in front and, rear the Indians were driven from the log-house and flanker into the centre of the fort, where, after a long and bloody action, they were totally routed, and fled under cover of the for- ests into a cedar swamp, where they remained all night without food or shelter. Their wigwams numbering about six hundred, were immediately fired ; and many of their old men, women and children perished in the flames, as well as their corn, stores, utensils, and other effects. About three hundred of their number were slain. Many were mortally wounded, and others died from their wounds, or perished with the extreme cold. About the same number were taken prisoners, and as many women and children.
As the signal for retreat was given, the army marched some distance by the light of the burning fort and wigwams. Their loss had been severe and the victory dearly bought. Eighty of their number had been killed or mor- tally wounded. As the evening approached they left the swamp, bearing with them about two hundred dead and wounded. Captains Davenport, Johnson, Gardner, Marshall and Gallop had been slain. Captain Robert Seely of Stratford was wounded, and died a few days after. Captain Nathaniel Seely of Fairfield, while animating his men to enter the fort, was mortally
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wounded by a renegade Englishman named Tift. Tift had been justly pun- ished for some crime, and had deserted the colonial army, and fled to the enemy, by whom he was well received, and led some of their forces in the swamp fight .* Lieutenants Savage, Ting, Swain, and Upham were wounded.
Massachusetts had one hundred killed and wounded. Plymouth twenty killed and wounded. The Connecticut troops suffered more than any of the others. Major Treat had twenty killed or wounded ; Captain Seely twenty ; Captain Gallop twenty ; Captain Waite seventeen ; Captain Mason nine ; and Captain Marshall fourteen ; } numbering in all one hundred, which was about half the loss of the slain and wounded in the expedition.
The Rev. Thomas Ruggles left a manuscript bearing the following eulogy to their memory :
" In that signal service, the fort fight in Narragansett, as we have our full number in proportion with the other confederates, so all say they did their full proportion of service. Three noble soldiers, Seely, courageous Marshall & bold Gallup died in the bed of honor, & valiant Mason, a fourth captain, had his death wound. There died many brave officers, & sentinels, whose memory is blessed, & whose death redeems their lives. The bitter cold, the tarled swamp, the tedious march, the strong fort, the numerous & stubborn enemy they contended with, for their God, king & country, be their trophies over death. He that commanded our forces then, & now us, made no less than seventeen fair shots at the enemy, & was thereby as a mark for them. Our mourners, all over the colony, witness for our men, that they were not unfaithful in that day. A tradition exists that Major Treat received a ball through the brim of his hat, & that he was the last man who left the fort in the dusk of the evening, commanding the rear of the army. The burning wigwams, the shrieks & cries of the women & children, & the yelling of the warriors, exhibited a most horrible & affecting scene ; so that it greatly moved some of the soldiers. They were in much doubt then, & afterwards, often seriously inquired, whether burning their enemies alive could be consistent with humanity & the benevolent principles of the gospel." }
Through the freezing cold and falling snow the brave army, conveying their dead and wounded, marched back about eighteen miles, and reached headquarters at one Mr. Smith's house about midnight. From extreme
* Tift was soon after taken prisoner. His gun was found to be loaded with slugstones. He was tried before a council of war, and condemned to be hanged and quartered .- Drake's Old Indian Chronicle, p. 197.
+ Both Captains Robert and Nathaniel Seely were sons or grandsons of the renowned Captain Robert Seely, who distinguished himself in the Pequot war.
# Trum bull's Hist. of Conn., I., 353-358 ; Bryant's Hist. Conn., II., 401-418. " The night before the fight, & all that Day, & the Night after, there fell such an extraordinary snow, that the like had not been known for many years, -no post come for our army for four or five days."- Drake's Old Indian Chronicle, 185.
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cold many of the soldiers were frozen, and their limbs badly swollen. About four hundred were unfit for service. The Connecticut troops suffered greatly from their hard march from Stonington to Pettyquamscot, and their exposure in the open fields, before they came up with the Massachusetts and Plymouth forces.
The hospitality and kind treatment which the army received at the hospital of Rhode Island, and at the hands of the Rhode Island planters and their families, in whose homes some of them died of their wounds, and others remained until fit for service, are noticeable features of the cam- paign.
The Connecticut troops were in such a disabled condition, that Major Treat resolved to return home with the remnant of his army. Between Pettyquamscot his men killed six and captured seven of the enemy ; and on their march home they killed about thirty more .*
The Massachusetts and Plymouth forces kept the field all winter. They scoured the country, captured many of the enemy, burned about two hundred wigwams, and secured a large amount of corn and beans. The loss of at least nine hundred wigwams, and almost the whole of their provisions, caused great distress among the Indians. It was in vain that the English made overtures of peace. King Philip was yet alive, and while he lived he had resolved to yield only with his life, or the annihi- lation of the white man, who had taken from his race the princely inherit- ance of their freedom and lands.
* In a petition of Samuel Hall of Fairfield to the General Assembly of May, 1678, for a suitable compensation for the loss of his clothes, etc., at the great Narragansett swamp fight, he thus describes his sufferings : " I was not in the rear when Captain Mason was shot. I was just before him when he fell down, & shook him by the hand, I being shot down before in that very place, so that he fell very near me. But Captain Mason got up again & went forth, & I lay bleeding there in the snow ; & hearing the word commanded to set fire in the wigwams, I considered I should be burned, if I did not crawl away. It pleased God to give me strength to get up & get out, with my cutlass in my hand, notwithstanding, I received at that four bullets, two in each thigh as was manifest after- wards." His great coat and knapsack with all his clothing were lost, and he was compelled to lie bleeding upon the straw, " having not else to drink but water & ice with it, for several days after the fight." He was then carted to the water side and carried on board a vessel to be conveyed to Rhode Island, where he remained until able to go on crutches, suffering greatly in the extreme cold for want of suitable clothing. The Assembly awarded him fifty shillings, besides releas- ing him from paying his taxes .- Col. Rec. Conn., III., 5, 6.
John Hubbell of Stratford, a son of Richard Hubbell of Fairfield, lost one of his fingers, and on account of this misfortune was granted one hundred acres of land, at Stratford .- Col. Rec. Conn., III., 6.
Joseph James of Fairfield was so severely wounded, that on account of his disabled condition the General Assembly, in 1679, granted him a pension of fifty shillings per annum. - Col. Rec. Conn., III., 37.
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After the destruction of their wigwams and stores, Philip and his con- federates left the Narragansetts, and moving northward, took up their abode in the Nipmuck country. On the 6th of January, Governor Andros sent a messenger to Hartford notifying the governor and council of war, that Philip, with four or five hundred fighting men, was encamped within forty or fifty miles of Albany. The council ordered that fresh troops should be raised and sent to the posts of danger as speedily as possible. The severity of the weather, and the suffering which the sol- diers endured in their late expedition from want of proper shelter and clothing, had caused loud murmurings among them, in consequence of which, on the Ioth a body of laws was drawn and adopted by the coun- cil " for regulating the forces, keeping the soldiers to their duty, & to pre- vent profaneness." By these laws a blasphemer against the Holy Trinity, suffered the pain of having his tongue bored through with a red-hot iron. Execrations, oaths, and neglect of Sabbath duties, were punished with loss of pay and other penalties. Murder, sedition, mutiny, raising or drawing a weapon against a superior officer, were punished with death or great severity. Drunkenness, thefts, and other vices caused the loss of pay or severe punishment. If any officer or private, through carelessness, or by playing at cards or dice, lost their arms, they were to be kept as pioneers or scavengers, until they furnished themselves with good arms.
On the IIth, instructions were sent to Major Gold and such assistants as were near Fairfield, to fill the vacancies of the deceased officers of the county ; to raise privates, and fit them for the expedition ; to supply sur- geons, gunsmiths, and blacksmiths; to increase the county tax to 12d., " & to return to his charge by way of Hartford, & within eight days to New London." Owing to the severity of the winter, fearing that timely stores and other necessaries could not be sent from Boston without delay or loss, the council also instructed Major Gold to forward to New London beef, pork, wheat, meal or bread, clothing and shoes in the safest and most expeditious way. It was agreed that Massachusetts and Plymouth should pay toward the proportion of these supplies .*
On the 13th, Major Treat was instructed to give orders to forward the forces of Fairfield and New Haven, with provisions and clothing, without delay to New London. Sergeant William Ward of Fairfield was appointed surgeon of the forces stationed at New London. Jonathan Selleck of
* Col. Rec. Conn., II., 394-397. The mills in Massachusetts were frozen up, in consequence of which the council of war urged the commissioners at the seaside to forward provisions as speed- ily as possible.
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Stamford was appointed captain of the Fairfield county troops, and Stephen Burrett of Stratford, lieutenant. The Mohegan and Pequot Indians still remaining friendly, were recommended to the kindness and special encouragement of the commanding officers of the companies ; and that care should be taken to give them " a signal mark," so as to distin- guish them from other Indians. Great sufferings were endured by the Massachusetts forces sent to re-enforce the English troops at Narragan- sett. Eleven of their men were frozen to death, and others became sick and disheartened through the effects of hardship and extreme cold. Their spirits were raised, however, by a junction with the Connecticut forces, the latter having reached New London on the 22d of the month.
Although a tax of 12d. had been laid upon the planters at the seaside, by the advice and consent of Jehu Burr and John Banks of Fairfield, Captain Curtis of Stratford and the deputies of Hartford county, the council on the 24th further ordered that the rate of 12d. should be levied throughout the colony of Connecticut. During the latter part of the month, the council received information that a body of Indians was seated about eight or ten miles north of Providence, that others were scattered in small bodies to the Nipmucks to prey upon English plantations, intercept the army, and to notify the sachems in case of fresh danger in time to escape farther northward. They murdered two men and boys at Norwich, seized upon sixteen horses, fifty neat cattle, and two hundred sheep at Warwick.
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