USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Deerfield > History of Deerfield, Massachusetts: the times when the people by whom it was settled, unsettled and resettled, vol 1 > Part 12
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they were now only waiting for the most effective moment for a revolt. The orders of the Commissioners were well known and the coveted opportunity was now close at hand. The soldiers would soon be too far away to be recalled ; the defenseless town could be surprised, and these treacherous cowards could ply the incendiary torch and murderous tom- ahawk among their life-long neighbors in safety. The at- tack was to be made the next morning. On the evening of Oct. 4th, Toto, a friendly Indian, revealed the plot at Wind- sor. Swift messengers were instantly posted to Maj. Treat at Westfield, and to the doomed town .. Aroused by the mid- night courier, the frightened people fled to the shelter of their palisaded houses, prepared as they could for defense, and dispatched a post to Pynchon at Hadley. The night passed in quiet, and many believed the alarm to be a false one. Early the next morning Lieut. Thomas Cooper, a resi- dent of Springfield, taking Thomas Miller, rode out towards the Indian fort to find out the facts. About forty rods be- yond the village they were fired upon from the bushes. Miller was killed, and Cooper mortally wounded, but able to regain the town. The Indians, who had probably been wait- ing for the men to disperse about their work in the field, when the women and children would be an easy prey, now raised the hideous war-whoop and rushed to attack the town. Had no warning been given it would doubtless have been utterly destroyed and most of the inhabitants butchered. As it was, the stockades were easily defended, but the Spring- field people had the same mortifying experience endured by
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THE BURNING OF SPRINGFIELD.
those of Brookfield, Northfield and Deerfield in helplessly seeing the devastation in every direction beyond the range of their guns. Besides Cooper and Miller, Pentecost, wife of John Mathews, was killed. Edward Pringrydays, Nathaniel Brown, Richard Waite and one or two others were wounded -the two former mortally.
About 11 o'clock Treat with his forces reached the west bank of the Connecticut. Five daring men, at great risk, took a boat over to them, but Treat could not cross in the face of the enemy who held the river bank until succor came from the north. The post sent to Hadley from Spring- field repeated Toto's story, that five hundred Indians lay in wait at their fort at Long Hill to destroy Springfield. Pyn- chon, Appleton and Sill, at once marched with one hundred and ninety men for her relief. The Indians, "about 2 or 3 of the clock, signified their sense of their approach by their whoops and watchwords, and were presently gone." The condition of affairs on the arrival of the English is best told in the following letter to Rev. John Russell, at Hadley : .-
Springfield Oct. 5-75
Reverend Sr
The Ld will haue vs ly in ye dust before him: we yt were full are emptyed. But it is ye L,d & blessed be his holy name: we came to a Lamentable & woefull sight. The Towne in flames, not a house or barne standing except old Good" Branches, till we came to my house & then Mr Glovers, John Hitchcock's & Good" Stewart, burnt downe wth Barns corn and all they had: a few standing abt ye meeting house & then fr" Merricks downward, all burnt to 2 Gar- rison houses at ye Lower end of ye Towne. My Grist Mill & Corn mill Burnt downe: wth some other houses & Barns I had let out to Tenants; all Mr Glovers library Burnt, wth all his Corne, so yt he none to live on, as well as myself, & Many more: y' haue not for subsistance they tell me: 32 houses & ye Barns belonging to y™, are Burnt & all ye Livelyhood of ye owners, & what more may meete wth ye same stroaks, ye Ld only knows.
Many more had there estates Burnt in these houses: So yt I be- leeve 40 famylys are utterly destitute of Subsistence: ye Ld shew mercy to vs. I see not how it is Possible for vs to live here this winter, & If so the sooner we were holpen off, ye Better. Sr I Pray acquaint our Honored Govr wth this dispensation of God. I know not how to write, neither can I be able to attend any Publike service. The Ld in mercy speake to my heart, & to all our hearts is ye Reall desire of
yors to serve you, JONH PYNCHON.
P. S. I pray send down by ye Post my doblet cote linnen &c I left there & Paprs.
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PHILIP'S WAR.
This letter Russell sent to Governor Leverett, who wrote a letter of consolation to Pynchon, Oct. 9. This is in cipher and some of it illegible :-
Major Pinchon, by yours to Mr Russell from Springfield 5 in- stant. We [heard ] the Lord [answering] the prayers of his people by terrible things [indeed ]. To receive the intelligences thereof with a still spirit is very difficult: Yet the great undertaker and teacher of his people knows [ how ] to teach [us] to [profit by evil ] and we shall find it matter of acknowledgement to his praise when he will take any course to do us good who is faithful that hath said all things shall worke together for good to them that love and fear him of which number I hope through grace we will be found.
Sir if it be true what is sayd, that the old Sachem Wequogan, in whom so much confidence was put was an actor and incourager in this burning, I doubt not but you see how [failing ] confidences are in such who cannot be truer than whom they serve and whether there hath been all that done to have secured those Indians that might have been is to some a [question]: But the will of the Lord is done and therefore to reflect upon anything that might have been before is but for caution for hereafter and not to add affliction by blaming you or any for what was not done. May we be [ sincerely ] humbled and refined and [abhor ] ourselves in dust and ashes. The same almighty God that hath bereved can restore the like we are bereaved of and will [ ] give that that is better.
Sir, by the Councils order to Capt Appleton sent by Leftenant Upham you will see [theyr] readiness to gratify you and give in what as they can to you yet not doubting that by Counsell and otherways you will be assisting to the utmost unto him and the whole service in those parts: Hadley wants some countenance and encouragement and direction for theyr fortification which I think they have in a good forwardness for theyr security. I desire [you ] as you have opportunity to be assisting them therein. You intimate as if Springfield were not like to be tenable if so it will be a more awful stroke that hath such a consequence as to breake up a [church ] and town which we must leave to the Lord directing you upon the place."
He says Lieut. Upham with thirty men, and Corporal Poole with thirty-five at Quabang, are ordered to reinforce the army in the Valley, and that it is left to him and Capt. Appleton, to decide whether to keep a garrison at Quabaug, or to desert the place. He concludes :-
"If you could [attain] to be with the General Court this session, it may be of great use to the publique and not disservice to your- selfe. ** * I commend you to the Lord and with mine [and ¥ wives] kinde respects sympathizing with you and your dear wife in your affliction and remain Sir
Your humble ser[vant] J. L.
Boston 9. 5. 75.
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APPLETON APPOINTED COMMANDER.
Oct. 8, Pynchon wrote Gov. Leverett repeating the story of the disaster. He says he had "Called off all the Soldiers that were in Springfield leaving none to secure the Town ye Commissioners order was so strict." That night "word was sent to me that 500 Indians were about Springfield intending to destroy it."-Early in the morning he marched down with about two hundred soldiers, when he arrived he found "All in flames about 30 dwelling houses burnt & 24 or 25 barns- My Corn Mill, Sawmill & other Buildings * * Gener- ally Mens hay & Corne is burnt & many men whose houses stand, had their goods burnt in other houses wh they had caryed y" too *
* * Leift Cooper & 2 more slayne & 4 persons wounded 2 of weh are Doubtful of their Recovery." He sent out scouts, but "couldnt find which way they are gon, their Tracts being many ways * A considerable Tract upwards"-He says he cannot take the field with the army. His presence is necessary at home as the people are discouraged and threatened to "Leave ye Place "-he " needs Orders about it." Desertion, he says, would encourage "o" Insolent Enemy *
* % & make way for giving up all ye Towns above." To hold it needs many soldiers and " how to have bread for want of a mill is difficult * *
* Solders complaining already ** although we have flesh
enough * % No Mills will drive many Inhab away *
% For my owne particular it were far better for me to goe away than bee here where I have not anything lift I mean noe corn neither Indian or English & noe meanes to keep one beaste here, nor can I have Relief in this Toune because soe many are destitute."
"Sir I am not capable of holding any Comand being more & more unfit & almost confounded in my understanding, the Ld direct y' Pitch on a meeter person than ever I was: According to Liberty from ye Councill I shall devolve all up- on Capt Appleton unless Maj Treat return againe * * *
All these Touns ought to be Garrisoned." He reminds the governor that he had advised this before, and that, had he been left to act for himself, this disaster might have been prevented.
The news of his discharge and the appointment of Capt. Appleton to succeed him was received by the anxious Pyn- chon on the 10th. On the 12th he wrote Leverett " I am very
iis
PHILIP'S WAR.
thankful for my dismission & discharge from y' trust weh I had noe ability to manage," that he will " cast in his mite & help Appleton & the cause and interest of God & the peo- ple." He again remonstrates against the orders for exclusive field work, leaving the towns defenseless ; and hopes the or- ders will be less "strict" and more be left to the discretion of Capt. Appleton. He once more reminds the governor that "Springfield was destroyed for this reason " but "it is ye Lds owne doeing & oh yt we may bless his name." Having final- ly exonerated the Commissioners at the expense of the Lord, he continues : "Many are Plucking up. I dont know what will be the Issue * *
* Mr. Glover, if he can, will goe to the Bay before winter." Although deserted by the minister, Pynchon says he shall stay "to encourage the People" for if he should go to Court "all would fale here."
Pynchon was a wise magistrate, a prudent counselor, an enterprising, honorable and successful man of business. He was influential and useful in Connecticut as well as Massa- chusetts. But he had no genius for war. He failed in the essential faculty of prompt decision in emergency, and he was too easily discouraged by adversity.
The Commission to Appleton ran as follows: It was dis- patched to Pynchon by Lieut. Upham, Oct. 8th :-
Capt Appleton. The Council have seriously considered the earnest desires of Maj. Pinchon & the great affliction upon him and his family* & have at last consented to his request to dismiss him from the Chiefe command over the army in those parts, and have thought meete upon mature thoughts, to commit the chiefe Com- mand unto yourselfe being parsuaded that God hath endowed you with a spirit and ability to manage that affayre: & for the Better in- abling you to yor employ we have sent the Council's orders enclosed to Maj Pinchon to bee given you; & we refer you to the Instruc- tions given him for yor direction, ordering you from time to time to give us advice of all occurances & if you need any further orders & instructions they shall be given you as ye matter shall require. So Committing you to the Lord, desiring his presence with you and blessing upon you, wee remain :
Boston 4th of October 1675. Your friends and Servants
Capt Samuel Appleton Commander in Chiefe at the head quarters at Hadley.
Oct. 9, Gov. Leverett wrote Appleton referring to the action of the Council,-
* What "affliction " was upon Pynchon at this date is not known. As the Commission was not sent until Oct. 8, when the fate of Springfield was known, this clause may have been inserted in the official draft.
119
A SUGGESTION OF GUN BOATS.
"Whereby they commit the care and conduct of all the military forces from us and Connecticut unto yourselfe * *
* You are to take notis that while the [seat] of the war is kept in the Colony you are to have the chiefe command and [neither] you nor Major Treat with Connecticut forces are to be drawn off but by the Com- missioners or the concurence of counsels there. If you both draw into another Colony Major Treat is to have the command in chiefe and if there should be any orders [inferior ] to the Colony of Connecti- cut men you are [fairly] to entreat them and let them see that it is a breach of the agreement by the Commissioners a copy whereof I herewith remit unto you. I doubt not but the Lord will direct you with that wisdom [how? ] to carry it towards Major Treat * * * I desire you will be careful of giving advice and incouragment to Hadley respecting theyr fortifications for theyr better security and so of the whole there was [former] order to Leftenant Upham to march with 30 men and Corporal Poole from Quabaug with 35 men to fill up your companies and to send off any that may be [disen- abled] by sickness:"
It had been a question whether or not to desert Brookfield, Pynchon thought a garrison there necessary to keep up a line of communication with Boston. The authorities at Bos- ton took a different view, but the governor, in this letter, leaves the matter discretionary with Pynchon and Appleton, only stipulating that supplies to support the people there must be sent from the Connecticut valley, Brookfield being about a " 3d of the way from you. * * If there should be a necessity of deserting Springfield as Major Pinchon in- timates it will be very awful but the conclusion thereof must be left with you on the place." The fact of the forces being so much scattered still troubles Leverett, although he has now put the whole matter into the hand of the local officers. In a marginal note, he says, "one thing more I leave to your con- sideration that your forces lying on both sides the river that provision be made for transport one to the other [with] se- curitie from the enemy['s] shot. They have horse boats built as stanchions and with planke they may secure the men." I do not know that this shrewd suggestion ever bore fruit.
By the same post as the above Leverett writes Mr. Rus- sell at Hadley :-
"Reverend Sir
By yours of the 4 and 5 with your other of the day after together by the enclosed from Major Pinchon namely of the dread- ful and terrible stroke of God upon us at Springfield and that in a [nswer ] to prayers and [ ] solemn humiliation of Churches and people of God as it shows the greatness of our provocations * * for the Lord carries it as being angry with our prayers."
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PHILIP'S WAR.
After speculating upon the cause and the effect of God's anger, and the remedy, he comes down to tangible affairs to consider a complaint of Mr. Russell in regard to "those in- tricacies" in the orders "respecting several in command." He says " By the ultimate conclusion that comes by Leftenant Upham you will find the knot tyed: and the command placed upon Captain Appleton which must be without excep- tion being according to the conclusion of the Commission- ers. Nor is Major Treat to be commanded of but by the Commissioners or the concurrence of the counsels there on the place and should ther be motion contrary upon any pre- tence it may be of sadder consequence than the present stroke." He says he has written to Pynchon and Apple- ton about "your fortifications," and concludes-"thus with kind respects to you and all friends with you .* I commend you to the Lord and remain sir your ser[vant.]"
The correspondence given above discloses the facts, else- where hinted at, that there had been considerable friction between the officers of the Massachusetts and those of the Connecticut forces, and that it became necessary for the Commissioners of the United Colonies to take the matter in hand. The Connecticut soldiers were made a part of the army of the confederacy, and so put beyond the control of the Connecticut authorities.
Oct. 12, Appleton marched from Springfield and "came that night to Hadley near 30 mile." On his arrival he wrote the governor in regard to his appointment to the command which is against his own wish and judgment; wishing an abler man may be put in his place. He begs for orders which will leave the matter of garrisoning the towns with the commanders ; reminds him that the loss at Springfield was for lack of such discretionary power. He says there were "33 houses and 25 barns burnt and about 15 houses left unburnt on the Town Platt ; that on the west side of the river and the outskirts of the east side are about 60 houses standing and much corn in & about them."
In the attack of Oct. 5, Wequogan, the Springfield Sachem, " was ring-leader in word and deed," and Puckquahow, the Nipmuck, who was with the Naunawtuks when they revolt-
*Probably an obscure allusion to the Regicides, Goffe and Whalley, whom Leverett knew were then harbored at Mr. Russell's.
121
APPLETON IN A STRAIT.
ed, and with them in the swamp fight, was doubtless the one who shouted that he "was one y' burnt Quaboag, & now would make them like to it." The assailants were about forty Springfield Indians and two or three hundred of the allies. Their retreat was so skillfully ordered as to leave no clue to their movements, so that Pynchon, who "sent out scouts yt night & ye next day, discovered none, nor satisfie ourselues wch way they are gon." This outbreak, and the re- treat, were doubtless planned by Philip. The treacherous professions of friendship, renewed to lull suspicion only the day before the attack, and the tactics of the retreat, were in ac- cordance with his character and methods.
From Springfield Philip led his clan and a part of the Po- cumtucks to the Narragansets, full of a plan for involving that tribe in the war.
On the 7th a party of Indians were discovered at Glaston- bury. An alarm was raised and Maj. Treat was ordered home with sixty men. Provision was made in the towns for the security of the women and children. Large parties of men were ordered to go out together to harvest the corn, and remove all grain to safe places. To stimulate the Mohegans, a liberal bounty was offered them for hostile scalps or pris- oners.
On the same day the Connecticut Council of War wrote to the Massachusetts Council "That it is high time for New England to stir up all their strength, and make war their trade * %
to suppress the enemy before they grow too much for us." They are earnest for an army to take and keep the field, and want five hundred more soldiers sent from the Bay to the valley, where they should be joined by the forces from Connecticut. Unless this is done, they shall be obliged to withdraw their men to secure the towns at home ; and in particular Hartford, where the Councilors are, and where the General Court is to meet on the 14th.
Appleton's Commission was received Oct. Ioth. The new commander at once found himself in a strait between his duty to obey the strict orders of the Commissioners, to keep his army in the field; and the moral certainty that if he did the defenseless towns would be destroyed. This he could not permit, and on the 12th, when he marched to Hadley, he left Capt. Sill, with sixty men, to protect Springfield, " choos-
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PHILIP'S WAR.
ing," he says in a letter to Gov. Leverett of that date, " rather to adventure hazeard to myselfe than to the publike." Here speaks the man of decision and the true patriot.
On reaching headquarters at Hadley, Appleton began at once sending out scouting parties, which continued for sev- eral days to seek out the hiding places of the enemy. At this time Capt. Moseley was at Hatfield; Capt. Seely, with sixty Connecticut men, at Northampton ; Capt. Jonathan Poole, with Lieut. Upham and sixty men, who had arrived from Boston and Brookfield about the 10th, were at Hadley. There was no further attempt to resettle Brookfield. On the 15th, Appleton, with his whole force-except Seely from Con- necticut, who refused to obey orders-marched out towards Northfield, where, it was believed, the main body of the In- dians were collected. He had gone but about two miles when a post reached him with news that a scout of four men, sent by Moseley to Pocumtuck, had returned and reported great numbers of the enemy there: that they found "the rails weadged up and made very fast about two miles from the town," either to "trapan the skoutes *
* or else to faight us there if wee goe in pursuith of them." Moseley, writ- ing Oct. 16th, to the Governor, tells the same story, and adds "but I intend to bourne all their railes up, please God to grant me life and health." This fence was at the Bars, the entrance to the common field by the Hatfield road.
The commander at once changed his course and crossed the river to Hatfield. Leaving there after sunset, he attempt- ed a night expedition to Pocumtuck. After marching a few miles he saw the flash and heard the report of a gun, and the vanguard heard the shouts of Indians. It was evident that their march had been discovered. A council of officers was held, most of whom, especially Capt. Moseley, advised return- ing to secure the defenseless towns. This was rather against the will of Appleton, but the army finally returned to their quarters in the night.
On the evening of the 16th an urgent call for help came from Northampton, "and while these messengers are speak- ing," writes Appleton,-
"Capt. Mosely informs, ytye enemy is this evening discovered wthin a mile of Hatfield, and that he verily expects to be assaulted too morrow; wch I am so sensible of yt I account it my duty presently to
123
ROGER WILLIAMS ON PHILIP'S PLANS.
repair thither, now, at Io or II of the clock in the night. Some of the forces having already crossed the river."
About twenty men were left to guard Hadley. Appleton writes, the next morning, " We have wearied o's wth a tedious night and morning's march, without making any discovery of the enemy." Moseley writes, the same day,-
"Wee are tould by an Indian, that was taken att Springfield, yt they intend to sett upon these 3 townes in one Day. The Body of them yt waits this exploite to Doe, is about 600 Indians, and fur- ther wee are informed, that they are makinge a forte some sixty miles above this place, up in the woods * ** * I make no ques- tion that the Enemys will make an tempt within a shorte space of time upon these towns * * I expect them every hour, at night as well as day, for they have fired upon my sentinels at night."
Maj. Appleton is cramped for want of men, and laments the absence of Maj. Treat and the Connecticut forces, which prevents his taking the field with any effect. At this very time, however, Connecticut is having a great scare, and mes- sengers are even now on their way to Appleton for help. A plot has been reported for a general rising of all the Connec- ticut Indians. Gov. Andros has written that "five or six thousand Indyans engaged together * * designed this light moone, to attack Hartford itself and some other places this way, as farre as Greenwich." Active measures were at once taken to "remove their best goods, and their corn, what they can of it, with their wives and children," to the larger towns which were to be fortified, and troops were raised for their defense. There is good reason to believe this report was founded on fact, and that only seasonable notice and prompt action saved the Connecticut towns from the fate of Spring- field.
Roger Williams, in a letter from Providence to Gov. Lever- ett, dated Oct. 11, 1675, says that "since ye dolefull Newes from Springfield, here it is said yt Phillip with a strong Body of many hundreth cut throats steeres this way." He gives an account of an interview with "the young Prince," Canonchet, in which he tries to neutralize the influence of Philip, and told him if he were false to his engagements he would be pursued with a winter's war. He writes, " I am requested by our Capt. Fennor to give you notice y' at his farme in ye woods he had it from a Native, yt Phillip's great Designe is (among all other possible advantages and Treacheries) to
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PHILIP'S WAR.
drawe C. Mosely & other your forces (by training & drilling & seeming flights) into such places as are full of long grasse, flags Sedge &c, & then inviron them round with Fire, Smoke, & Bullets. Some say No wise Souldjer will be so catcht."
ATTACK ON HATFIELD.
The blow predicted by Moseley now falls upon Hatfield, and some of the tactics indicated in Williams's letter are to be employed. Oct. 19th, about noon, fires were discovered in the woods towards Wequamps, and Moseley sent a mounted scout of ten men to reconnoiter and find out what it meant. Two miles from the town the party fell into a trap set by the Indians, and baited with the fires above. Six were killed, three taken prisoners, and one, an Indian, escaped back to Hatfield. The garrison of the town consisted of the compa- nies of Moseley and Poole; the latter, with Lieut. Upham and sixty men having arrived at Hadley from the Bay about the roth. On the alarm Maj. Appleton with his company crossed the river from Hadley and took post at the south end of the town. Moseley was placed in the center and Poole at the north end. About four o'clock, "seven or eight hundred of the enemy came upon the town in all quarters but they were so well entertained on all hands where they at- tempted to break in upon the town that they found it too hot for them," and after a contest of two hours were driven off with considerable loss. Maj. Treat, who had a genius for ap- pearing in the right place at the right time, came up from Northampton with sixty men, in season to give the finishing blow. The loss of the English was, Thomas Meekins and Nathaniel Collins of Hatfield, Richard Stone, John Pocock, Samuel Clark, Abraham Quidington, John Petts, William Olverton and Thomas Warner, of Moseley's scouts-Warner and two others being taken prisoners.
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