USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Sudbury > The history of Sudbury, Massachusetts, 1638-1889 > Part 21
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Of those who were killed at this time belonging to Con- cord, Shattuck's history gives the following names: James Hosmer, Samuel Potter, John Barnes, Daniel Comy, and Joseph Buttrick. The Middlesex Probate Records have the following concerning James Hosmer, in connection with the settlement of his estate: "being slayne in the engagement with the Indians at Sudbury on the 21st of the second month [April] in the year 1676." In the Middlesex County Probate Records are also the following names of soldiers slain in Sudbury, April 21: David Curry and Josiah Wheeler of Concord, and William Haywood of Sudbury. Says the Old Indian Chronicle: "They were waylaid and eleven of them cut off." Says Hubbard of this affair: "These men at the first hearing of the alarm, who unawares were surprised near a garrison-house, in hope of getting some advantage
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upon a small party of the enemy that presented themselves in a meadow. A great number of the Indians, who lay un- seen in the bushes, suddenly rose up and intercepting the passage to the garrison-house, killed and took them all."
The men thus slain on the meadow were left where they fell until the following day, when the bodies were brought in boats to the foot of the old town bridge and buried. Two of the parties who helped perform the work of burial were Warren and Pierce of the Watertown company. The fol- lowing is their description of the scene, as given in a petition to the General Court: "On the next day in the morning, so soon as it was light, we went to look for the Concord men who were slain in the River meadow, and there we went in water up to our knees, where we found five, and we brought them in canoes and buried them there." The spot men- tioned here as the burial place is, we conjecture, on the northerly side of the town bridge, on the eastern bank of the river. This supposition is based on the fact that it was high water on the meadow at that time, and hence this place was probably the only one suitable for burial. A monument to this brave relief company would be very appropriate, and serve to mark a locality which on that day was full of stirring events.
THE WATERTOWN COMPANY.
The reinforcements from Watertown were more fortunate than those from Concord, and were spared to assist in saving the town. This company was under the command of Capt. Hugh Mason, a bold and gallant commander. Captain Mason was of a committee of four appointed March 15 to provide for the defence of the frontier towns of Middlesex county. At the head of forty Watertown men he had marched pre- viously to the relief of Groton. He was now prompt to meet the foe at Sudbury, and, although seventy-five years old, he came in a timely manner.
These reinforcements probably arrived some time before noon. As the attack began about daybreak, and took the inhabitants of Sudbury somewhat by surprise, it is hardly probable that the news would reach Watertown until the
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morning was well advanced. Watertown was the border town on the east. The part now Weston was called the " Farmers' Precinct." At this locality the sound of guns could without doubt be heard, and the smoke rising over the woods in dark ominous clouds might bespeak what was befalling the neighborhood. Moreover, the intelligence may have reached Watertown by couriers, who carried it to Bos- ton, arriving there about midday.
When Captain Mason reached Sudbury, about two hun- dred Indians were on the east side the river engaged in mis- chievous work. The little company of town's people who could be spared from the stockade was too small to drive them back over the river. The best they could do was to keep them from too close range of their little stronghold, and save a part of their property and dwellings. But when these reinforcements arrived, the united forces compelled the foe to make a general retreat. Whereas, before the arrival of reinforcements, the Indians, as stated in "The Old Peti- tion," "were by few beaten out of houses which they had entered and were plundering, and by a few hands were forced to a running fight," they were now driven beyond the causeway and bridge.
The contest that preceded this retreat of the savages was doubtless severe. Two hundred Indians were a force suffi- cient to offer stubborn resistance. They were near a large force held in reserve by King Philip on the west side of the river, and might at any time receive reinforcement from him; and if they could hold the causeway and bridge, the day might be won. On the other hand, the English had a vast deal at stake ; if the foe was forced over the stream, the east side would for a time be safe. They could defend the narrow causeway and bridge, while the high water would protect their flanks. Such were the circumstances that would cause each to make a hard fight. But the English prevailed. The foe was forced back, and the bridge and causeway were held, so that they could not repass them.
But the English did not stop with this victory; though the day was won here, the contest still waged on the west side. From beyond Green Hill, about two miles westerly, came
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the sound of combat ; and they knew that Captain Wads- worth and his company, who passed through Watertown on their way to Marlboro, were engaged in stern conflict. The scent of battle as it came borne on the April breeze, the dull sound of the distant firing, and the outlying detachments sent to keep reinforcements away, indicated that the contest at the hill was hot. But, undaunted, the English pushed forward. Beyond the bridge and the causeway, up the slope of the hill, perhaps by the Old Lancaster Road, they moved on to the work of rescue ; but they failed in the accomplishment of their object. The Indians were too many for that small company. Notwithstanding their courage, they had but lim- ited strength. The Indians endeavored to surround them, and being forced to retreat they sought refuge in the Good- now Garrison. There they remained until nightfall, when they again sallied forth; but this time it was not to meet the enemy. The conflict was over. The disastrous day was done. Night covered as with a friendly mantle the terrible scene ; its shadows were unbroken by the flash of guns, and its stillness undisturbed by the rude sounds of war. The foe had retired, their victims lay dead where they fell, and a "few surviving comrades " were all they could bear with them to the east side settlement.
Thus noble was the work of that company; and the peril attendant upon the undertaking is indicative of the courage with which they entered upon it. Major Gookin, in his "History of the Christian Indians," states concerning this affair as follows: "Upon April 21, about midday, tidings came by many messengers that a great body of the enemy had assaulted a town called Sudbury that morning. Indeed (through God's favor) some small assistance was already sent from Watertown by Capt. Hugh Mason. These with some of the inhabitants joined and with some others that come in to their help, there was vigorous resistance made, and a check given to the enemy, so that those that were got- ten over the river were forced to retreat, and the body of the enemy were repulsed, that they could not pass the bridge, which pass the English kept."
Says Warren and Pierce, who were of the Watertown
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company : "But we who were with them can more largely inform this Honored Council, that as it is said in the peti- tion that we drove two hundred Indians over the river, we followed the enemy over the river . . . and with some others joined and went to see if we could relieve Capt. Wadsworth upon the hill, and there we had a fight with the Indians, but they being so many of them, and we stayed so long, that we were almost encompassed by them, which caused us to retreat to Capt. Goodnow's Garrison, and there we stayed it being near night till it was dark."
We have found no list of Watertown soldiers with the express statement that they served at Sudbury, but we give the following names of men who were impressed from that town in November, 1675, for the defense of the colony, and who were returned by Captain Mason as "rationally most fit to goe upon the servis ": "Daniell Warrin, Sr., John Bigulah, Sr., Nathaniel Hely, Joseph Tayntor, John Whit- ney, Sr .. George Harrington, William Hagar, Jr., John Park- hurst, Michael Flagg, Jacob Bullard, Isaac Learned, Joseph Waight, George Dill, William Pierce, Nathaniel Sangar, Moses Whitney, John Windam, Joseph Smith, Nathaniel Barsham, John Barnard."
CHAPTER . XIII.
1675-1700.
Philip's War. - The Sudbury Fight. - Number of Men in Captain Wadsworth's Company: The Arrival at Marlboro; The Return to Sudbury. - The Ambuscade: Place of It. - Philip's Plan of Attack. - Number of Indians. - The Battle. - The Forest Fire. - Retreat of the English. - Refuge in Hop Brook Mill. - Number of the English Slain. - Philip's Loss. - Treatment of Captives. - Rescue of the Survivors. - Burial of the Dead. - Place of Burial. - Biographical Sketches: Captain Wadsworth, Captain Brocklebank. - Roxbury Men. - Concord Men. - Marlboro Men. - The Christian Indians. - Movements of the English after the Battle. - Sudbury's Loss.
Fast on the soldier's path Darken the waves of wrath ; Long have they gather'd, and loud shall they fall ; Red glares the musket's flash, Sharp rings the rifle's crash, Blazing and clanging from thicket and wall.
O. W. HOLMES.
WHEN the intelligence reached Boston that the Indians had invaded Marlboro, the Council sent to its relief a com- pany of soldiers under command of Capt. Samuel Wadsworth of Milton. The number in this company has been variously estimated. Mather sets it at seventy ; "The Old Indian Chronicle " says, " Wadsworth being designed of a hundred men, to repair to Marlboro, to strengthen the garrison and remove the goods." Hubbard says, "That resolute, stout hearted soldier, Capt. Wadsworth . . . being sent from Boston with fifty soldiers to relieve Marlboro." It is not remarkable that estimates should differ with regard to the number in this company, since all the men who accompanied Wadsworth from Boston were not in the engagement at
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Sudbury. When Captain Wadsworth reached Marlboro he exchanged a part of his younger men, who were wearied with the march, for some at the garrison, and accompanied by Captain Brocklebank, the garrison commander, started back to Sudbury. Lieutenant Jacobs, who commanded the garrison in the absence of Brocklebank, in reporting to the authorities in regard to the number of men left with him, states as follows: "There is remaining in our company forty- six, several whereof are young soldiers left here by Captain Wadsworth, being unable to march. But though he left a part of his men he took some from the garrison at Marlboro." From what we know of the fate of a large part of this com- pany, and the circumstances attendant upon the expedition, we conclude the number engaged in the Sudbury fight was not much over fifty. If twenty-nine men were found slain after the battle, and fourteen escaped, and about a half dozen were taken captive, the number would not be far from the foregoing estimate.
Captain Wadsworth arrived at Marlboro some time during the night of the 20th. Upon ascertaining that the Indians had gone in the direction of Sudbury, he did not stop to take needed refreshment, but started upon the enemy's trail. Hubbard says, "Understanding the enemy had gone through the woods towards Sudbury, this unwearied company, before even they had taken any considerable rest, marched immedi- ately back towards Sudbury [East Sudbury], that lies ten miles nearer Boston." Says Gookin (" History of Christian Indians"), "He [Wadsworth] understanding that the enemy had attacked Sudbury, took a ply of his men, about six files, and marched for their relief, with whom Capt. Broklebank, who kept guard at Marlboro went. Taking this opportunity as a good convoy, to speak with the council. Capt. Wads- worth being a valient and active man and being very desir- ous to rescue his friends at Sudbury, marched in the night with all the speed he could." Says Lieutenant Jacobs, in his official letter, of Wadsworth's departure, " Although he had marched all the day and the night before, and his men much wearied, yet he hastened back again, and was accom- panied by Capt. Broklebank, commander of the garrison of
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Marlboro with the small number he durst spare out of his garrison." (Date April 24, 1676. State Archives, Vol. LXVIII., p. 227.)
The English encountered no Indians until they had gone some distance into Sudbury territory, when they came upon a small party, who fled at their approach. Captain Wadsworth with his company pursued until they found themselves in an ambush, where the main body of Philip's force lay concealed.
THE BATTLE-FIELD.
Before considering the battle which followed, we will give some description of the place where it occurred. This place was at what is now South Sudbury, a little northeasterly of the village, and on the westerly side of Green Hill. The ambush was probably laid near the foot of the hill, a few rods east of the place where Wadsworth was buried. At this point there was, until within a very few years, an old path through the woods (see map), which we conjecture once led from the Hop Brook Mill to the Old Lancaster Road, and may have been the way travelled to that mill, and to the westward of it, before the construction of the new road that was built in 1659. This road, in our recollection, extended to the edge of the cleared land on the Joseph Rich- ardson farm (present Newton place), but since the clearing up of the woods in that locality it has almost or quite dis- appeared. We conjecture that at or along this path the battle began. This we think is indicated by several circum- stances.
First, it was very near the spot where the slain soldiers were buried. The burial-place would naturally be not far from the greater number of the slain, or about midway of the battle-field, unless the nature of the ground was such as to make it inexpedient to dig the grave there. From the top of Green Hill to near the spot where the soldiers were buried is hard, rocky ground, while at the place of burial was easy digging; and, moreover, being of sandy soil, it may have been covered with but small, scanty shrubbery, and been a sunny spot in the woods quite suitable for the purpose. It is not therefore unlikely, if the main part or all of the slain were
.
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scattered from about the foot to the summit of the hill, that they were carried to that spot for interment.
Second, it was not far from the foot of the hill, which the English ascended as the battle advanced. The space fought over could not have been great, since every foot of it was hotly contested, and the engagement lasted but a few hours. The distance from the path at the foot of the hill to the summit, where the English made their stand, was about an eighth of a mile. Therefore we judge the battle began on or near the path.
But the one thing which more than any other may indi- cate the place of ambush was the probable plan of King Philip. This plan was to intercept Captain Wadsworth before he could reach the east side, or get into the neigh- borhood of the Goodnow or Haynes Garrisons. To do this, he would naturally allow the English to pass on to Marlboro during the night undisturbed, and then conceal his force to intercept him on his return. The wily chieftain knew that his return was only a matter of time, and he hastened to get his ambush in readiness for him. But, to have the plan a success, it was all-important to choose the spot where Wadsworth would be most likely to pass. To the west- ward of Hop Brook it might be hard to determine what way the English would take. But it was probable they would so direct their course as to cross Hop Brook at the bridge, near Noyes' Mill (South Sudbury), since at that season of the year the stream might be swollen so as to make it difficult to pass it at any other place. At some point easterly of the bridge, then, the ambush would naturally be laid.
But from Hop Brook to the east side, as before noticed, there were two ways : one, a part of the Old Lancaster Road north of Green Hill, connected with Hop Brook Mill by the wood-path before mentioned ; the other, the "new road," which went south of Green Hill. As it was uncertain which of these roads Wadsworth would take, Philip would natu- rally lay his ambuscade upon the path which we have con- jectured connected these two highways (see map); so that if Wadsworth went by way of the Lancaster Road he would fall into the ambush, and if he went by the south road Philip
Map of SUDBURY @ 1676~ Drawn by . A. S . Hudson
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A
F
C
P
H
K
K
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G
B
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A ROCKY PLAIN.
(Sudbury Center.)
B NOYES'S MILL
(So. Sudbury.)
C WIGWAM HILL (Goodman's Hill.)
D GREEN HILL.
E WADSWORTH BURIAL PLACE,
F HAYNES GARRISON HOUSE.
G EDMUND GOODNOW GARRISON.
H TOWN BRIDGE.
- FIRST MEETING HOUSE.
J ROAD TO HOP BROOK MILL. Constructed 1659.
( OLD LANCASTER ROAD. Constructed 165:
L HOP BROOK.
M LANHAM BROOK.
N LOWANCE BROOK.
O OLD WOOD ROAD OR CART PATH.
P .CAUSEWAY.
Q GRAVEL PIT:
R MARLBORO' ROAD.
S SUPPOSED PART OF CART PATH
K
K
1
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HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
would lead him into the fatal path by decoys. This is what we suppose Philip did. He allowed Wadsworth to pass to Marlboro at night, then selected a place by this path in which to conceal his men. Wadsworth, all unsuspicious of his plan, had probably passed the Hop Brook Bridge, and was passing by the south road to East Sudbury, when the Indian decoys turned him from his course, and led him to the place of ambush.
The following statements from several well-known authori- ties favor the foregoing suppositions. Says "The Old Indian Chronicle," " When they arrived within a mile and a half of Sudbury, the enemy having hid themselves behind the hills, sent forth two or three to cross the march of our forces, and being seen to counterfeit themselves affrighted and fly, whereby to trepan our men into their ambuscade, which mis- chievous plan succeeded according their to wishes." Hub- bard says, "Being come within a mile of the town, we espied a party of Indians not far from them, about a hundred, not more as they conceived. These they might easily deal with, who turning back awhile drew Capt. Wadsworth and his company above a mile into the woods." Says Gookin, " Be- ing spent and weary with travel and want of rest Capt. Wadsworth fell into the enemy's ambushment on the morn- ing, and the enemy being numerous encompassed him round."
It is noticeable by these statements, that the distance that these men were decoyed is variously estimated at from a mile to a mile and a half. This does not exactly correspond with the distance between the supposed place of ambush and the aforesaid roads. But they may have been allured by a cir- cuitous course, or the distance mentioned by these authors may have been a loose estimate. It would not be strange if authors should be somewhat inexact on a point like this. It was an unfamiliar locality to them. If they received infor- mation from survivors of the fight, the place also was strange to them, and they might think the distance over which they were led by decoy to be greater than it in reality was; and as in the case of the date of the fight, one historian might trans- mit another's mistake. If our conjectures, then, are correct, we think these soldiers were allured from some point on
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the road from Hop Brook to East Sudbury to a spot near the place of their burial.
THE AMBUSCADE.
The force that lay in ambush is supposed to have been quite strong. Gookin speaks of " the enemy being numer- ous." "The Old Indian Chronicle " speaks of it as about a thousand. The latter estimate is probably not far from right. If two hundred Indians were engaged about the old town bridge, and if Philip entered Sudbury with towards fifteen hundred, about one thousand may have been in an- bush. As the foe appeared, the English pursued, and fol- lowed hard as they withdrew. That they should do this unsuspicious of peril may be a matter of some surprise. Captain Wadsworth was not inexperienced in Indian war- fare ; before this he had been on their trail. When Lan- caster was assailed, he had gone to its relief. It might seem strange, then, that he should be led into ambush, when aware of Indian strategy, and accompanied by Cap- tain Brocklebank, who could advise him of King Philip's strength.
A little reflection, however, may diminish surprise. If one hundred Indians, as is stated by Hubbard, at once hove in sight, the English may have considered it King Philip's main force. These by their flight may have acted surprised. They were in the vicinity of the place whither, it is said, the Indians had gone. Wadsworth was not far from two of Sudbury's garrisons, and not far from the outskirts of the east side settlement. He may have heard the sound of guns in different directions, and especially the firing at the old town bridge ; this, perhaps, led him to suppose Philip's forces much scattered about, and that what he saw was the nucleus of his powerful host. It is not, then, very remark- able if he was thrown off his guard, and that he considered that but little caution was required.
But the pursuit was fatal. The Indians retreated until the place of ambush was reached. Then suddenly the foe opened his fire from a chosen place of concealment, where each man had the opportunity of working to advantage. By
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these means the trap was sprung. Simultaneous with this sudden onslaught of the ambushed foe an attempt was made to surround the English. Mather says that, "a great body of the Indians surrounded them." Hubbard states, " On a sudden a great body of the enemy appeared. About five hundred as was thought compassed them around." This was shrewd on the part of Philip. The first move of the English would naturally be to regain the main path, and make for the highway so near at hand. A short run to the northerly would lead Wadsworth to the Old Lancaster Road, or a quick retreat southerly would soon bring him to the road from Hop Brook to East Sudbury ; while one of these ways would bring him to the town bridge and the old Haynes Garrison, and the other to the Goodnow Garrison. It might, then, be expected that Philip would cut off the retreat.
But, though suddenly surrounded and beset on all sides, they maintained a most manly defense. It may be doubtful if there is its equal in the annals of the early Indian wars. From five hundred to one thousand savages, with Philip him- self to direct their manœuvres, pouring their fire from every direction, and this against about four-score of English, hard marched, in an unfamiliar locality, could do deadly work. Yet there is no evidence of undue confusion among the ranks of the English.
The sudden onslaught of the savages was attended, as usual, with shoutings and a horrible noise, which but in- creased the threatening aspect, and tended to indicate that things were worse than they were. In spite of all this, the brave company maintained their position, and more than held their own. Says Mather, " They fought like men and more than so." Says "The Old Indian Chronicle," " Not at all dismayed by their numbers, nor dismal shouts and horrid yellings, ours made a most courageous resistance." Not only was the foe kept at bay, and the English force mainly kept compact, but a movement was made to obtain a better posi- tion ; hard by was the summit of Green Hill, and thither- ward, fighting, Wadsworth directed his course. This he reached, and for hours he fought that furious host, with such
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success that, it is said, he lost but five men. Says "The Old Indian Chronicle," " Having gained the top of the hill, they from thence gallantly defended themselves, with a loss of five men, near four hours." Hubbard informs us that " the Indians forced them to the top of an hill, where they made very stout resistance considerable while." Thus successfully was the battle waged by the English, despite circumstances and the strength of the foe.
THE FOREST FIRE.
But a new element was to be introduced. The fight had doubtless been prolonged far beyond what Philip had at first supposed it would be. Desperate in his disappointment that the English had not surrendered, they again resort to strat- egy to accomplish their work. The day was almost done. Philip's force had been deeimated by Wadsworth's stubborn defense. Darkness was soon to set in, and under its friendly concealment the English might make their escape. New means were to be employed, or the battle to the Indians was lost, and the fate of Philip's slain warriors would be un- avenged. Wadsworth might form a junction with the sol- diers at the east side of the town, or make his way to the Goodnow Garrison just beyond Green Hill. A crisis was at . hand. Philip knew it, and made haste to meet it. The fight began with strategy, and he sought to close it with strategy. He set fire to the woods, the leaves of which at that season are sometimes exceedingly dry ; and the flames, fiercely fanned in the April breeze, drove Wadsworth from his advantageous position. The English were forced to fly before the devouring element. Says "The Old Indian Chronicle," " The cowardly enemy disheartened by so many of their fellows slain in the first attack, not daring to ven- ture close upon them, yet that we may not think these bar- barians altogether unacquainted with strategem, nor so silly as to neglect any advantages, at last they set the woods on fire to the windward of our men, which by reason of the wind blowing very hard, and the grass being exceedingly dry, burnt with a terrible fierceness, and with the smoke and heat it was like to choke them, so that being no longer able
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