USA > Massachusetts > The history of Massachusetts, the colonial period. 1492-1692 v. I > Part 35
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Sept. 1. A week later, on a fast day, Hatfield was attacked, and in imminent danger of being destroyed ; but in the midst of the contest, while the war-whoop was ringing, and just as the Indians were about to triumph, a venerable figure, of commanding aspect, clad in the fashion of a former generation, with his hair white from age, suddenly ap- peared, and with sword in hand rallied the disordered troops, infused into them fresh courage, and placing himself at their head, the savages were speedily compelled to retire. At the close of the struggle, the visitor vanished as myste- riously as he came ; the belief was long cherished that an angel had relieved the town; and years elapsed before it was known that Col. Goffe, who had been a commander in the army of Cromwell's Invincibles, and who was then con- cealed in Hadley, was the one to whom they were indebted for so timely a deliverance.2 The same day Deerfield was
1 Military Papers, 2. 33; Hub- bard, 36-7; Mather; Drake's Indi- ans, B. 3. 21; Baylies, 3. 66-7, &c. Capt. Moseley, in a letter dated Lancaster, Aug. 16, speaks of spar- ing Capt. Beers and twenty-six men
to go to Springfield, which was prob- ably the party referred to in the text. Military Papers, 1. 239. " IIutchinson, 1. 201 ; Stiles's Judges, 109-10.
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421
PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
attacked, and one man killed ; and two or three days after, CHAT.
XV.
an attack was made upon Northfield. The gallant Capt.
Beers had been sent to the relief of this place ; but at Sept. 3 or 4, some distance from the town he was ambushed, and twenty 1675. of his men, with himself at their head, were slain.1
The commissioners of the United Colonies were by this time convened ; a narrative from Plymouth was presented ; Sept. 9. the rise of the war, on the part of that colony, was declared to be defensive ; and its vigorous prosecution was adjudged to be necessary, and to be carried on jointly by all the colo- nies, according to the Articles of Confederation.2 Yet before troops were levied, further depredations were com- mitted, and a second battle was fought at Deerfield, far Sep. 18. more sanguinary than the first. Capt. Lothrop, of Beverly, had been sent thither with cighty picked men, the " flower of Essex," carefully culled, to serve as a convoy to the teams which were bringing down the harvest of the settle- ments to be deposited at Hadley ; and, while marching easily along, unsuspicious of danger, he was suddenly assailed by the invisible enemy at Sugar Loaf Hill, and, after maintaining for several hours an unequal contest, before Capt. Moseley or Maj. Treat could arrive with succor he was totally defeated, with the loss of the greater part of his own men, and a number from Deerfield. This was the severest loss which the English sustained ; and the mur- muring brook which winds peacefully through the thriving village, bears to this day a name which commemorates the terrible massacre.3
To Springfield the attention of the Indians was next directed. Hitherto, the natives there had resisted the overtures of Philip, and had promised unfaltering fidelity to the English, giving hostages for the fulfillment of their
1 Military Papers 1. 254; 2. 33; Hubbard, 37; Mather ; Baylies, 3. 68, &c.
2 Hubbard, 12; Mather, Post., 6. 3 Military Papers, 1. 264; 2. 33; Hubbard, 38-9; Mather, 12.
36
422
ATTACK ON SPRINGFIELD.
CHAP. pledge, who were sent to Hartford. But now that North- XV. field and Deerfield had fallen into his hands, and their Oct. 4, hostages had escaped, they secretly admitted three hundred 1675. of Philip's warriors into their fort at Long Hill, in the night, and a plan was concerted for the destruction of the village. Happily, the plot was discovered in season to pre- vent its entire accomplishment; and the inhabitants had barely escaped to their garrisons for security, when the whole body of the savages came pouring like a torrent upon the place, and burnt the deserted houses and barns, to the number of upwards of fifty buildings, including that of the minister ; but, by the timely arrival of Maj. Treat, with the Connecticut forces, Maj. Pynchon, who was at Hadley, and Capt. Appleton, they were prevented from doing further mischief, and withdrew.1
Securing what property was left undestroyed, Maj. Pyn- chon remained at Springfield, and Capt. Appleton and the rest Oct. 19. of the troops returned to Hadley ; when the Indians, flushed with success, fell upon Hatfield ; but Capts. Moseley and Pool were quartered there ; Maj. Treat was at Northampton, not far distant ; and Capt. Appleton was at Hadley, which lay nearly opposite ; and with such commanders to contend - with, how could Philip look for victory ? The attack was fatal to his hopes ; and though a few of the English were slain, the invaders, some seven or eight hundred in number, after having burned a few buildings, were signally repulsed.2
This defeat was the greatest which the Indians had sus- tained ; and, as winter was approaching, the savage chief- tains prudently withdrew to the fastnesses of the swamps, until the warmth of spring warranted a renewal of hostil- ities. A few straggling parties skulked about Northampton, Westfield, and Springfield, for several weeks; but their depredations were trifling. The main body retreated to
1 Military Papers, 1. 274, 283,
2 Military Papers, 2. 33; IIub- 285, 287, 289, 291; 2. 33; IIub- bard, 43; Mather, 18. bard, 41-2, 46-7; Mather, 17.
423
FRESH TROOPS LEVIED.
the Narraganset country, and there, or at the westward, CHAP. Philip hybernated with his men.1 XV.
1675.
As all the colonies were endangered by the war which had now been raging for four months, all felt the necessity of devising prompt measures to prevent future attacks. The Commissioners, at their annual meeting, issued a decla- Sept. 9. ration of war, and agreed that a thousand troops should be levied, of which Massachusetts was to raise five hundred and twenty-seven, Plymouth, one hundred and fifty-eight, and Connecticut, three hundred and fifteen ; and at a sub- sequent meeting, the Governors and Councils of the several Oct. 2. jurisdictions were recommended to proceed forthwith, not only to raise their quotas, but to see the men suitably fur- nished for a winter campaign ; for the better management of the affairs of the army, it was agreed that each colony should nominate and commission its own Commander-in- chief ; and encouragement was given for the enlistment of volunteers, Indian or English.2
In accordance with these arrangements, Plymouth promptly proceeded to assume her share of the burden, and at a Gen- eral Court, holden for the purpose, Maj. Cudworth, of Oct. 4, Scituate, was chosen Commander-in-Chief ; subordinate offi- cers were appointed ; a Committee was raised to " take an account of the charges of the war ; " a garrison of twenty- five men was ordered to Mount Hope ; the " salaries of the commanders and common soldiers " were fixed ; and during the time of danger, it was ordered that every one should take his arms to meeting on the Lord's day, until further notice, furnished with at least five charges of powder and shot, under penalty of 2s. for every default.3
1 Military Papers, 2. 33; Hub- bard, 44-6.
" Hubbard, 47-9; Mather, 19; Baylics, 3. 80.
2 Baylies, 3. 76. Trumbull, in his McFingal, thus alludes to the cus- tom of taking arms to church :
" So once, for fear of Indian beating. Our grandsires bore their gius to meeting ; Each man equipped on Sunday morn With psalm book, shot, and powder horn, And looked in form as all must grant, Like th' ancient true church militant, Or fierce like modern deep divines,
Who fight with quills like porcupines."
424
NEGOTIATIONS RENEWED.
In Massachusetts and Connecticut, similar diligence was
CHAP. XV. displayed. In the former colony, the forces were divided 1675. into six companies, under Appleton, Moseley, Gardiner, Davenport, Oliver, and Johnson ; and those of Connecticut were divided into five companies, under Major Treat, and Capts. Seeley, Gallop, Mason, Watts, and Marshall. The command of the whole was entrusted to Governor Winslow, of Plymouth, one of the most able and efficient officers in the country, as well as an accomplished gentleman and a delightful companion, whose singular coolness, intrepidity, and prudence, peculiarly qualified him for so important a trust.1
At this stage of their proceedings, another attempt was made to negotiate with the Narragansets ; and several of Oct. 18 the. principal chiefs appearing at Boston, the league of the previous July was renewed, and they agreed to deliver up, within ten days, every hostile Indian in their borders, into the hands of the English.2 Had this agreement been fulfilled, future hostilities would doubtless have been pre- vented ; but the Narragansets, regardless of their promises, continued to procrastinate, and the English were convinced that their real object was to gain time. The power of this - tribe was still formidable ; and the colonists were aware that, if really hostile, by a junction with Philip all detached settlements would fall into their hands, and the existence of the larger towns would also be jeopardized. Con- necticut foresaw this danger, and at once adopted stern and vigorous measures of defense. The military regulations of her General Court arc embodied in terms of anxious solem- nity. Each county was required to raise sixty dragoons, mounted and armed, who were placed under Maj. Treat ; Capt. Avery was appointed to the command of forty men from New London, Stonington, and Lyme, and was autho-
1 Hubbard, 48-9; Mass. Rec's .; TrumbyN ; Baylies, 3. 91.
2 Mather 19; Plym. Col. Rec's .; Baylies, 3. 84.
... .
. 425
A WINTER CAMPAIGN PROPOSED.
rized to enlist the Pequots as allies; Capt. Mason was CHAP. appointed to take charge of another company of twenty
XV. English, besides Mohegans ; all the towns capable of de-
1675. fense were ordered to be fortified ; martial law was estab- lished ; and it was recommended to the inhabitants of the frontier towns to withdraw to the more populous villages for safety.1
A few days later, another meeting of the Commissioners Nov. 2. was held at Boston. It was a time of the deepest gloom and anxiety. The perils of a winter campaign were clearly foreseen ; but the perils of delay were conceived to be greater. No alternative was left therefore but to act ; and the decision of the Commissioners was prompt and carnest. It was resolved to anticipate the intentions of the Narra- gansets, by attacking them in their own lairs ; a declaration of the causes of the war was drawn up and signed ; and the necessary measures to ensure success were adopted. The forces from Connecticut were directed to rendezvous at Norwich, Stonington, and New London ; those from Massachusetts and Plymouth, at Rehoboth, Providence, and Warwick; General Winslow was to assume his command on the 10th of December ; and a " meet number of able ministers and chirurgeons " were provided for the army.2
One more step remained to be taken ; and it was recom- mended to the several courts to appoint the 2d of Decem- ber " to be observed and kept as a solemn day of prayer and humiliation, to supplicate the Lord's pardoning mercy and compassion towards his poor people, and for success in the endeavors for the repelling the rage of the enemy." This recommendation was adopted ; the day of humiliation was observed ; fervent prayers were offered at every shrine ; and the people of the colonies, committing them-
1 Military Papers, 1. 298; Trum- bull, 1. 336; Baylies, 3. 85; Ilist. N. London, 182.
" Military Papers, 2. 39, 53, 67- 71; 3 M. II. Coll., 1. 66-8; Trum- bull, 1. 337; Baylies, 3. 88.
36*
426
MARCH TO NARRAGANSET.
CHAP. solves to God, were strengthened for the trials which were XV. soon to be encountered. 1
1675. On the 8th of December, the Massachusetts troops, under
Dec. 8, Maj. Appleton, numbering four hundred and sixty-five foot, and a company of seventy-five horse, under Capt. Prentice, Dec. 9. set out from Boston ;2 the next day they marched from Dec. 10. Dedham to Woodcock's ; on the following day they arrived at Seekonk ; and from thence they set out for the Narragan- Dec. 12 set country. Two days after, they were joined by the Plym- outh forces, under Maj. Bradford ; and crossing the Pa- tuxet, and marching through " Pumham's country," at night they rendezvoused at Mr. Smith's, in Warwick, which was made their head quarters. The skirmishes on the route, and those of the four following days, were a prelude to the general attack. The taking of Bull's garrison by the Dec. 16. Indians, was an event of great importance, as it deprived the English of their contemplated shelter.
The Connecticut forces, under Maj. Treat, consisting of three hundred English, and one hundred and fifty Mohe- Dec. 17. gans, arrived at Pettyquamscot the day after this garrison Dec. 18. was taken ; and the next day they were joined by those of Massachusetts and Plymouth. The whole army was now to- gether ; and, notwithstanding the severity of the weather,- for the evening was cold and stormy, and the troops were obliged to remain in the open field, " with no other cov- ering than a cold and moist fleece of snow,"-it was Dec. 19. resolved on the morrow, at day-dawn, to commence the march towards the enemy's quarter, about fifteen miles dis- tant. The troops from Massachusetts, headed by Moseley and Davenport, led the van, and their rear was brought up by Maj. Appleton, and Capt. Oliver; Gen. Winslow, with the Plymouth forces, formed in the centre ; and in the rear of the whole were the Connecticut troops, under Maj. Treat.
1 Baylies, 3. 89. 8, 241-3' and the original rolls are 2 A list of a portion of these in the Mil tary Papers, 1. 294, 299, soldiers is given in N. E. Gen. Reg., and 2. 72-100.
427
ARRIVAL AT THE SWAMP-SIDE.
The gallant Church was already on the ground, performing, CHIAP. with his " brisk blades," marvellous exploits, and preparing XV. 1675. for the reception of the Commander-in-chief.
The march of the army was toilsome indeed. The Dec. ground was covered with snow, in which, at every step, the soldiers sunk to their ankles; and they were literally com- pelled to " wade " through the country of the "Sunk Squaw of Narraganset," before reaching their destination ; but, notwithstanding these obstacles, about one o'clock they " came upon the edge of the swamp, where their guide assured them they should find Indians enough before night." Before the columns deployed, the firing commenced ; and the Indians upon the edge of the swamp retreating to their fort, which was built upon a small island, covering five or six acres of ground, strengthened with palisades, and com- passed with a hedge nearly a rod thick, thither the troops resolutely followed them, eager for action.
There were two entrances to this fort, one " over a long tree upon a place of water," and the other " at a corner," over a huge tree, which rested upon its branches just as it had fallen, so that the trunk was raised five or six feet from the ground. The opening to which this led was commanded in front by a log house, and on the left by a flanker ; but as it was the only part of the enclosure accessible, and as the log could be surmounted without much difficulty, the attempt was made by a part of the Massachusetts troops, led by Capt. Johnson. This officer, unfortunately, was killed at the first fire from the enemy ; Capt. Davenport, who followed him, met with a similar fate ; and a large number of soldiers being wounded or slain by the galling shot of the enemy, the rest retreated from the enclosure, and throwing themselves upon their faces, the bullets passed over them like a shower of hail.
At length the engagement became general. Church was everywhere, skirmishing with the savages. The com-
ยท
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428
THE ATTACK.
CHAP. manders rallied their forces, and led them in person, XV. braving the fiercest of the battle with undaunted courage.
1675.
Dec. The Indians on guard were assaulted in front and rear, and driven from the flanker and block-house into the interior of the fort. The soldiers without immediately took pos- session of these places ; and others rushing to their aid, the enemy were driven from one building to another, until the middle of the fort was reached, where the whole mass agglomerated in deadliest strifc. The action was bloody and long ; but the Indians were routed, and fled into the wilderness. Their wigwams, at least five hundred in num- ber, were immediately fired ; and their corn, stores, and utensils, with many of their men, women, and children, per- ished in the flames. Three hundred warriors are supposed to have been slain; a large number were wounded; and three hundred male prisoners, and as many women and children were taken. The whole number of Indians in the fort is estimated at four thousand ; more than one third of these perished or were captured. It was the greatest defcat the natives ever sustained. The English lost six captains ; and of the Massachusetts troops, upwards of a hundred were wounded or killed ; of the Connecticut forces over seventy ; and of those from Plymouth about twenty. It was observed as a remarkable providence, in directing the troops " to begin the assault just at the day they did, for if they had deferred but a day longer, there fell such a storm of snow the next day, that they could not have forced through it for divers weeks after ; and then on a sudden there fell such a thaw, that melted away both ice and snow ; so that if they had deferred till that time, they could have found no passage into their fortified place."1
1 Military Papers, 2. 103-4 ; Hub- Gen. Reg., 7. 343; Hutchinson, 1. bard, 50-6; Mather, Mag., b. vii. c. 272-4; Trumbull, 1. 338-41 ; Bay- vi .; Life of Church, 25-30; N. E. lies, 3.
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CHAPTER XVI.
PHILIP'S WAR-1676.
THE Narraganset fight was an era in the history of CHAP. Philip's War, and its consequences were greater than were
XVI. at first anticipated. The enmity of that tribe was now 1675. implacable; their alliance with Philip was certain ; and, as many had escaped, it was evident that at the opening of spring hostilities would be renewed, and that the war, on the part of the Indians, would be one of extermination. In some respects, the Indians had the advantage of the English. War, with them, was a hereditary pursuit. Living in proximity to the whites, they were intimately acquainted with the location of their dwellings, their places of resort, and their manners and customs. . They knew every river, brook, swamp, road, or other peculiarity in the configuration of the country. They were constantly at hand to watch the movements of their opponents, and to attack them at difficult passes, and in unguarded moments. At the outskirts of the settlements was an unbroken wilder ness. This enabled them, in bodies or parties, to make their approach undiscovered ; and, secret as beasts of prey, skilful as marksmen, and animated with the deadliest feel- ings of hate, by day and by night they crept into barns, or concealed themselves behind fences, or crouched by the roadside, or even before the doors, so that no sooner did a white man, woman or child appear, than they were instantly shot, or mortally wounded. By the rapidity of their move-
430
RELATIVE CONDITION OF THE ENGLISH AND THE INDIANS.
. CHAP. ments, they seemed omnipresent. At midnight or at noon- XVI. day, they were ready for an attack. There was no safety
1675. to any one. Asleep or awake, journeying, laboring, wor- shipping, or resting, all were in jeopardy. The exploring party was waylaid and cut off, and mangled bodies and dis- jointed limbs were exposed to strike terror into the hearts of pursuers. No mercy was shown to the mother or her babe. The tomahawk and the scalping knife were seldom at rest. The stillness of the Sabbath was broken by the war-whoop; and in passing to or returning from the house of God, or even within its walls, engaged in prayer, the demoniac yell announced their presence ; the quick flash and sharp report of their well-aimed muskets dealt indis- criminate slaughter among the flock; and the groans of the wounded, the shrieks of the helpless, and the gasp of the dying, added to the horrors of the frightful scene.
But if the Indians, in these respects, had the advantage of the English, in other respects the advantage was on the side of the latter. Abundantly supplied with arms and ammunition ; having towns for their shelter, and garrisons for retreat ; united into one body for the common defense ; and possessing that recuperative energy which the savage can never enjoy, the contest was unequal, and could not but terminate fatally to the aborigines. Whatever forebodings, therefore, the ravages of the past summer may have excited, the feeling was now that the result was no longer doubtful, and though the struggle might be protracted, the final suc- cess of the English was sure.
The retreat from the Narraganset country was attended with incredible hardships and sufferings. Many of the wounded died on the way ; and those who were unharmed, were exhausted by fatigue, and famishing from hunger. At length Gen. Winslow reached his head quarters at Wick- ford. Four hundred of his soldiers, beside the wounded, were unfit for duty. The vessels, which were to have
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431
THE WAR RENEWED.
brought them supplies, were ice bound at Cape Cod.1 The CHAP. depth of the snow, which commenced falling afresh, made XVI. travelling toilsome, and diminished the prospect of relief 1675.
overland. Almost perishing, few were the comforts and miserable was the condition of the frost bitten troops. Yet they bore all with patience, trusting in God.
But if the condition of the English was deplorably wretched, how much more appalling must have been that of the Indians! Driven from their wigwams, the shades of the forest were their only shelter. All their stores, " their curiously-wrought baskets, full of corn, their famous strings of wampum," and their nicely lined dwellings, were consumed ; and the survivors were exposed to the horrors of famine, or left to escape to the more distant tribes.
After so fierce an encounter, there was a temporary lull in the storm of war. Exhausted by the fight, both parties were willing to pause for a breathing spell ; and the In- dians, who had suffered most, were in the least fit condition to renew the struggle. Yet it was not the policy of the English to give them long to rally ; the vigorous prosecu- Dec. 25. tion of the war was decreed by the Commissioners of the United Colonies, 2 and troops of horsemen scoured the country, and " brought in daily much of their corn and beans, which they had hid under the ground." Stragglers, wandering in quest of food, were frequently captured ; and Capt. Prentice, in " Pomham's country," despoiled a hun- Dec. 27. dred wigwams, but "found never an Indian " in any of the huts. Proffers of peace were made in vain. Ninigret only inclined to submit. Canonchet sullenly refused to yield. His proud spirit could brook no alliance with the
1 Church, 29, says one vessel ar- rived at Smith's the night of the Narraganset fight, laden with pro- visions; and with this agrees the London Tract of Oct. 13, p. 2 ; but a MS. Lett. of Richard Smith to Gov. Winslow, dated Dec. 25, seems to
speak of this as a Connecticut sloop, upon which an embargo was laid. See Winslow MSS., deposited with Charles Deane, Esq.
2 Military Papers, Mass. Ar., 2. 105.
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432
PHILIP FLEES TO THE NIPMUCKS. N
CHAP. whites, and the blood of his tribe cried for vengeance. XVI. " We will fight to the last man, rather than become ser- 1675. vants to the English," was his haughty reply returned by the messengers.1
About the middle of January, it was reported that the Indians were fleeing to the Nipmucks. The Commissioners Dec. 28. had previously ordered three hundred fresh troops to be Jan. 10, raised and sent to the camp, and in the depth of winter they 1675-6. waded through the snow to join their companions.2 But neither the vigilance of the officers, nor the daring of the soldiers, could entirely prevent the depredations of the ene- Jan. 27. my ; and, as they fled into the interior, they " despoiled Mr. Carpenter of two hundred sheep, and fifty head of neat cat- tle, and fifteen horses." This was a timely supply. It atoned in a measure for the loss of their own stores. And, as they passed on their way, by the number of horse's heads which they left in their path, it was perceived, by their pur- suers, that they " dealt much in horse-flesh." 3
The army of the English was soon on their track, though the forces from Connecticut had mostly returned ; and, as the troops pressed on in hot pursuit, they captured a few of the enemy, but were unable to come to a general Feb. 5. engagement ; and on reaching Marlborough, their provisions failing, they turned down to Boston, leaving the field to the ravages of the Indians.4
The Narragansets, the Nipmucks, the Quaboag, and River Indians, and the remnant of Philip's tribe were not long in
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