USA > New Hampshire > The history of New-Hampshire. Comprehending the events of one complete century and seventy-five years from the discovery of the River Pascataqua to the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety, Vol 2 > Part 4
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MS. of Hugh Ad- ams.
Sept. 5.
The parties of Indians who were abroad, continued to ravage the frontiers. Two men being mifling from Dunftable, a fcout of e- leven went in queft of them ; they were fired upon by thirty of the enemy, and nine of New-E :g- land Cou. them were killed : The other two made their efcape, though one of them was badly woun- ded. Afterward another company fell into Pehallow, their ambuth and engaged them ; but the page 106. enemy being fuperior in number overpower- ed them, killed one and wounded four, the Sept. 7. reft retreated. At Kingfton, Jabez Colman and his fon Jofeph, were killed as they were at work in their field. The fuccefs of the forces at Norridgwog and the large premium offered for fcalps, having induced feveral vol- unteer companies to go out, they vifited one after another of the Indian villages, but found them deferted. The fate of Norridgwog had ftruck fuch a terror into them, that they did not think themfelves fafe at any of their former places of abode, and occupied them
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as refting places only, when they were fcout- 1721. ing or hunting.
One of thefe volunteer companies, under the command of Capt. John Lovewell of Dunftable, was greatly diftinguifhed, firft by page 107. their fuccefs and afterward by their misfor- tunes. This company confitted of thirty ; at their firft excurfion to the northward of Winipifeogee lake, they difcovered an Indian wigwam in which were a man and a boy. Dec. 19. They killed and fcalped the man and brought the boy alive to Bofton, where they received the reward, promifed by law, and a handtome gratuity befides.
By this fuccefs his company was augmen- ted to feventy. They marched again, and vifiting the place where they had killed the Indian, found his body as they had left it two Courant. N. England months before. Their provifion falling fhort, 1725. thirty of them were difiniffed by lot and re- MS of turned. The remaining forty continued Hugh Ad- their march till they difcovered a track, amDs. which they followed till they faw a finoke juft Feb. 20, before funfet, by which they judged that the enemy were encamped for the night. They kept themfelves concealed till after midnight ; when they filently advanced, and difcovered ten Indians afleep, round a fire, by the fide of a frozen pond. Lovewell now determined to make fure work ; and placing his men conveniently, ordered part of them to fire, five at once, as quick after each other as pof- fible, and another part to referve their fire : He gave the fignal, by firing his own gun, which killed two of them ; the men firing according to order, killed five more on the fpot ; the other three ftarting up from their
Penhallow,
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1725. fleep, two of them were immediately fhot dead by the referve ; the other, though wounded, attempted to efcape by croffing the pond, but was feized by a dog and held faft till they killed him. Thus in a few min- utes the whole company was deftroyed, and fome attempt againft the frontiers of New- Hampfhire prevented ; for thefe Indians were marching from Canada, well furnifhed with new guns, and plenty of ammunition ; they had alfo a number of fpare blankets, mocka- feens and fnow-fhoes for the accommodation Penhallow, of the prifoners whom they expected to take, page 110. and were within two days march of the fron- tiers. The pond where this exploit was per- formed is at the head of a branch of Salmon- fall River, in the townfhip of Wakefield, and has ever fince borne the name of Lovewell's pond. The action is fpoken of by elderly people, at this diftance of time, with an air of exultation ; and confidering the extreme difficulty of finding and attacking Indians in the woods, and the judicious manner in which they were fo completely furprifed, it was a capital exploit.
Feb. 24.
The brave company, with the ten fcalps ftretched on hoops, and elevated on poles, entered Dover in triumph, and proceeded thence to Bofton ; where they received the bounty of one hundred pounds for each, out of the public treafury.
March 9.
April 16.
Symmes's Memoirs,
Encouragedby thisfuccefs, Lovewell march- ed a third time ; intending to attack the vil- lages of Pigwacket, on the upper part of the river Saco, which had been the refidence of a formidable tribe, and which they flill oc- cafionally inhabited. His company at this
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time confifted of forty-fix, including a chap- lain and furgeon : Two of them proving lame, returned : Another falling fick, they halted and built a ftockade fort on the weft fide of great Offapy pond ; partly for the accommodation of the fick man, and partly for a place of retreat in cafe of any misfortune. Here the furgeon was left with the fick man, and eight of the company for a guard. The number was now reduced to thirty-four. Purfuing their march to the northward, they came to a pond, about twenty-two* miles diftant from the fort, and encamped by the fide of it. Eearly the next morning, while May 8. at their devotions, they heard the report of a gun, and difcovered a fingle Indian, ftanding on a point of land, which runs into the pond, more than a mile diftant. They had been alarmed the preceding night by noites round their camp, which they imagined were made by indians, and this opinion was now ftrength- ened. They fufpected that the Indian was placed there to decoy them, and that a body of the enemy was in their front. A confult- ation being held, they determined to march forward, and by encompaffing the pond, to gain the place where the Indian ftood ; and that they might be ready for action, they difencumbered themfelves of their packs, and left them, without a guard, at the northeaft end of the pond, in a pitch-pine plain, where the trees were thin and the brakes, at that time of the year, fmall. It happened that Lovewell's march had croffed a carrying- place, by which two parties of Indians, con-
" The printed accounts fay FORTY ; it is probable that the march was' circuitone.
-
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1725. fifting of forty one men, commanded by Pau- gus and Wahwa, who had been fcouting down Saco river, were returning to the low- er village of Pigwacket, diftant about a mile and a half from this pond. Having fallen on his track, they followed it till they came to the packs, which they removed ; and counting them, found the number of his men to be lef's than their own : They therefore placed themfelves in ambufh, to attack them on their return. The Indian who had ftood on the point, and was returning to the village, by another path, met them, and received their fire, which he returned, and wounded Love- well and another with fmall fhot. Lieuten- ant Wyman firing again, killed him, and they took his fcalp .* Seeing no other enemy, they returned to the place where they had left their packs, and while they were looking for them, the Indians rofe and ran toward them with a horrid yelling. A fmart firing commenced on both fides, it being now about ten of the clock. Captain Lovewell and eight more were killed on the fpot. Lieu- tenant Farwell and two others were wound- ed : Several of the Indians fell ; but, being fuperior in number, they endeavoured to furround the party, who, perceiving their in-
* This Indian has been celebrated as a hero, and ranked with the Ro- man Curtius, who devoted himfelf to death to fave his country. (See Hutchinfon's hiftory, vol. II, page 315.)
Having been on the fpot where this celebrated action happened, and having converfed with parfons who wore acquainted with the Indiars of Pigwacket, before and after this battle ; I am convinced that there is no foundation for the idea that he was placed there as a decoy ; and that he had no claim to the character of a hero. The point on which he ftood is a noted fifhing place ; the gun which alarmed Lovewell's company was fired at a flock of ducks ; and when they met him he was returning home with his game and two fowling pieces. The village was fituated at the elge of the meadow, on Saco river ; which here formis a large bend. The remains of the ftockades were found by the firft fettlers, forty years after- ward. The pond is in the townthip of Frieburg,
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tention, retreated ; hoping to be fheltered by 1725. a point of rocks which ran into the pond, and a few large pine trees ftanding on a fandy beech. In this forlorn place they took their ftation. On their right was the mouth of a brook, at that time unfordable; on their left was the rocky point; their front was partly covered by a deep bog and partly un- covered, and the pond was in their rear. The enemy galled them in front and flank, and had them fo completely in their power, that had they made a prudent ufe of their advantage, the whole company mutt either have been killed, or obliged to furrender at difcretion ; being deftitute of a mouthful of fuftenance, and an efcape being impractica- ble. Under the conduct of Lieutenant Wy- man they kept up their fire, and thewed a refolute countenance, all the remainder of the day ; during which their chaplain, Jona- than Frie, Enfign Robbins, and one more, were mortally wounded. The Indians in- vited them to furrender, by holding up ropes to them, and endeavored to intimidate them by their hideous yells ; but they determined to die rather than yield ; and by their well directed fire, the number of the favages was thinned, and their cries became fainter, till, juft before night, they quitted their advanta- geous ground, carrying off their killed and wounded, and leaving the dead bodies of Lovewell and his men unfcalped. The fhat- tered remnant of this brave company, col- lecting themfelves together, found three of their number unable to move from the fpot, eleven wounded but able to march, and nine who had received no hurt. It was melan-
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1725. choly to leavetheir dying companions behind, but there was no poffibility of removing them. One of them, enfign Robbins, defired them to lay his gun by him charged, that if the Indians fhould return before his death he might be able to kill one more. After the rifing of the moon, they quitted the fatal fpot, and directed their march toward the fort, where the furgeon and guard had been left. To their great furprife they found it deferted. ,In the beginning of the action, one man, (whofe name has not been thought worthy to be tranfmitted to pofterity) quit- ted the field, and fled to the fort; where, in the ftyle of Job's meffengers, he informed them of Lovewell's death, and the defeat of the whole company ; upon which they made, the beft of their way home ; leaving a quan- tity of bread and pork, which was a feafona- ble relief to the retreating furvivors. From this place they endeavoured to get home. Lieutenant Farwell and the chaplain, who had the journal of the march in his pocket, and one more, perifhed in the woods, for want of dreffing for their wounds. The others, after enduring the moft fevere hardfhips, came in one after another, and were not only received with joy, but were recompenfed for their valor, and fufferings ; and a generous provifion was made for the widows and children of the flain.
A party from the frontiers of New-Hamp- fhire, were ordered out to bury the dead ; but by foine miftake did not reach the place of action. Colonel Tyng, with a company from Dunftable, went to the fpot, and having found the bodies of twelve, buried them, and carv-
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ed their names on the trees where the battle 1725. was fought. At a little diftance he found three Indian graves, which he opened ; one of the bodies was known to be their warrior Paugus. He alfo obferved tracks of blood, on the ground, to a great diftance from the fcene of action. It was remarked that a week before this engagement happened, it Penhal- had been reported in Portfmouth, at the dift- dian wars. lows's In- ance of eighty mile, with but little variation from the truth. Such incidents were not uncommon, and could fcarcely deferve no- tice, if they did not indicate that a tafte for the marvellous was not extinguithed in the minds of the moft fober and rational.
This was one of the moft fierce and obftinate battles which had been fought with the In- dians. They had not only the advantage of numbers, but of placing themfelves in am- bufh, and waiting with deliberation the mo- mentof attack. Thefe circumftances gavethem a degree of ardor and impetuofity. Lovewell and his men, though difappointed of meeting the enemy in their front, expected and deter- mined to fight. The fall of their command- er, and more than one quarter of their num- ber, in the firft onfet, was greatly difcourage- ing ; but they knew that the fituation to which they were reduced, and their diftance from the frontiers, cut off all hope of fafety from flight. In thefe circumftances, pru- dence as well as valor dictated a continuance of the engagement, and a refufal to furren- der; until the enemy, awed by their brave re- fiftance, and weakened by their own lofs, yielded them the honor of the field. After
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this encounter the Indians refided no more at Pigwacket, till the peace .*
The conduct of the Marquis de Vaudreuil, Governor of Canada, was fo flagrant a breach of the treaty of peace, fubfifting between the Crowns of England and France, that it was thought, a fpirited remonftrance might make him afhamed, and produce fome beneficial effects. With this view, the General Court of Maffachufetts propofed to the Colonies of New-York, Connecticut, Rhodeifland and New-Hampfhire, to join in fending Commif- fioners to Canada on this errand. New- Hampfhire was the only one which confent- ed ; and Theodore Atkinfon was appointed on their part, to join with William Dudley and famuel Thaxter on the part of Maffachu- fets. §
Maffachu- fetts and N. Hamp. fhire Rec.
The inftructions which they received from the Lieutenant Governors, Dummer and Wentworth, by advice of the Council and Affembly of each Province, were nearly fimi- lar. They were to demand of the French Governor, reftitution of the captives who had been carried into Canada ; to remonftrate to him on his injuftice and breach of friendfhip, in countenancing the Indians in their hofti- lities againft the people of New England ; to infift on his withdrawing his affiftance for the future ; and to obferve to him, that if in the farther profecution of the war, our Indian
This account of Lovewell's battle is collected from the authoritics cited in the margin, and from the verbal information of aged and intelli- gent perfons. The names of the dead, on the trees, and the holes where balls had entered and been cut out. were plainly vifible, when I was on the fpot iu 1784. The trees had the appearance of being very old, and one of them was fallen.
§ Mr. Hutchinfon in his hiftory, has not faid a word refpedting this embaffy .
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allies, fhould in their purfuit of the enemy 1725. commit hoftilities againft the French, the blame would be entirely chargable to himfelf. If the French Governor or the Indians, fhould make any overtures for peace, they were empowered to give them paffports, to come either to Bofton or Portsmouth, for that purpofe, and to return ; but they were not to enter into any treaty with them. The commiffoners were alfo furnifhed with the original letters of Vaudreuil to the Gov- ernors of New-England, and to the Jefuit Rallè, and with copies of the feveral treaties which had been made with the Indians, The Jan. 20. gentlemen went by the way of Albany, and over the lakes, on the ice, to Montreal, where they arrived after a tedious and dan- March 2. gerous journey.
The Marquis, who happened to be at Mont- real, received and entertained them with much politenefs. Having delivered their letters, and produced their commiffions, they prefented their remonftrance in writing, and made the feveral demands agreeably to their in- ftructions; ufing this among other arguments, ' Thofe Indians dwell either in the dominions ' of the King of Great-Britain, or in the ter- ' ritories of the French King: If in the French ' King's dominions, the violation of the peace Atkinfon's
'is very flagrant, they then being his fub- al. ' jects ; but if they are fubjects of the British ' Crown, then much more is it a breach of ' the peace, to excite a rebellion among the ' fubjects of his Majefty of Great-Britain.'
The Governor gave them no written an- fwer ; but denied that the Abenaquis were under his government, and that he had either
MS. Journ-
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1725. encouraged or fupplied them for the purpofe of War. He faid that he confidered them as an independent nation, and that the war was undertaken by them, in defence of their lands, which had been invaded by the people of New-England. The commiffioners in reply, informed him, that the lands for which the Indians had quarrelled, were fairly purchafed of their anceltors, and had been for many years inhabited by the Englith. They pro- duced his own letters to the Governors of New-England, in which he had (inconfiftent- ly, and perhaps inadvertently) ftyled thefe Indians 'fubjects of the King of France.' They alfo alleged the feveral treaties held with them as evidence that they had ac- knowledged themfelves fubjects of the Britifh Crown ; and, to his great mortification, they alfo produced his own original letters to the Jefuit Rallè, which had been taken at Nor- ridgwog, in which the evidence of his aflift- ing and encouraging them in the war was too flagrant to admit of palliation. Farther to ftrengthen this part of their argument, they prefented to the Governor, a Mohawk whom they had met with at Montreal, who, according to his own voluntary acknowledg- ment, had been fupplied by the Governor with arms, ammunition and provifion to en- gage in the war, and had killed one man and taken another whom he had fold in Canada.
In addition to what was urged by the Con- miffioners in general ; Mr. Atkinfon, on the part of New-Hampfhire, entered into a par- ticular remonftrance ; alleging that the In- dians had no caufe of controverfy with that Province, the lands in queftion being out of
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their claim. To this the Governor anfwered, 1725. that New-Hampshire was a part of the fame nation, and the Indians could make no dif- tinction. Atkinfon afked him why they did not for the fame reafon make war on the peo- ple of Albany ? The Governor anfwercd, ' The people of Albany have fent a meffage ' to pray me to reftrain the favages from mo- ' lefting them ; in a manner very different 'from your demands :' To which Atkinfon with equal fpirit replied, ' Your Lordfhip ' then is the right perfon, for our Govern- ' ments to apply to, if the Indians are fubject 'to your orders.'
Finding himfelf thus clofely preffed, he promifed to do what lay in his power to bring them to an accommodation, and to reftore thofe captives who were in the hands of the French, on the payment of what they had coft ; and he engaged to fee that no unrea- fonable demands fhould be made by the per- fons who held them in fervitude ; as to thofe who ftill remained in the hands of the In- dians, he faid, he had no power over them, and could not engage for their redemption. He complained in his turn, of the Governor of New-York, for building a fort on the riv- er Onondago, and faid, that he fhould look upon that proceeding as a breach of the trea- ty of peace ; and he boafted that he had the five nations of the Iroquois fo much under his influence, that he could at any time, caufe them to make war upon the fubjects of Great- Britain.
The Commiffioners employed themfelves very diligently in their inquiries refpecting the captives, and in fettling the terms of their
antil
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1725. redemption. They fucceeded in effecting the ranfom of fixteen, and engaging for ten others. The Governor obliged the French, who held them, to abate of their demands ; but after all, they were paid for at an exor- bitant rate. He was extremely defirous, that the gentlemen fhould have an interview with the Indians, who were at war ; and for this purpofe, fent for a number of them from the village of St. Francis, and kept them conceal- ed in Montreal. The Commiffioners had re- peatedly told him, that they had no power to treat with them, and that they would not fpeak to them unlefs they fhould defire peace. At his requeft, the chiefs of the Nipiffins vif- ited the Commiffioners, and faid that they difapproved the war which their children the Abenaquis had made, and would perfuade them to afk for peace. After a variety of manœuvres, the Governor at length promif- ed the Commiffioners, that if they would con- fent to meet the Indians at his houfe, they should fpeak firft. This affurance produced an interview ; and the Indians afked the commiffioners whether they would make propofals of peace ? they anfwered, No. The Indians then propofed, that ' if the Englifh ' would demolifh all their forts, and remove 'one mile weftward of Saco river ; if they ' would rebuild their church at Norridgwog, 'and reftore to them their prieft, they would be ' brothers again.' The Commiflioners told them that they had no warrant to treat with them ; but if they were difpofed for peace, they fhould have fafe conduct to and from Bofton or Portfinouth ; and the Governor promifed to fend his fon with them to fee juf-
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tice done. They anfwered, that 'this was 1725. " the only place to conclude peace, as the na- 'tions were near and could readily attend.' The Governor would have had them recede from their propofals, which he faid were un- reafonable, and make others ; but father Le Chafe, a Jefuit, being prefent, and acting as interpreter for the Indians, embarraffed the matter fo much that nothing more was pro- pofed. It was obferved by the commiffion- ers, that when they converfed with the Gov- ernor alone, they found him more candid and open to conviction, than when Le Chafe, or any other Jefuit was prefent ; and, through the whole of their negociation, it evidently appeared, that the Governor himfelf, as well as the Indians, were fubject to the powerful influence of thefe ecclefiaftics ; of whom there was a feminary in Canada, under the direc- tion of the Abbe de Belmont.
Having completed their bufinefs, and the rivers and lakes being clear of ice, the Com- miffioners took their leave of the Governor, and fet out on their return, with the redeem- ed captives, and a guard of foldiers, which the Governor ordered to attend them, as far as Crown-point. They went down the river St. Lawrence to the mouth of the Sorel, then up that river to Chamblee, and through the lakes to fort Nicholfon. After a pleafant paffage, of feven days, they arrived at Albany. May I.
Here they found Commiffioners of Indian affairs for the Province of New-York, to whom they communicated the obfervations which they had made in Canada, and what the Mar- quis de Vaudreuil had faid refpecting the five nations, and the fort at Onandago. There
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1725. being a deputation from thefe nations at Al- bany, they held a conference with them, and gave them belts ; requefting their afliftance in eftablithing a peace with the Abenaquis. From this place Mr. Atkinfon wrote to M. Cavanielle, fon of the Marquis, acknowledg- ing the polite reception the Commiffioners had met with from the family ; fubjoining a copy of the information which they had giv- en to the Commiffioners of New-York ; and promifing, that a due reprefentation fhould be made, to the Kings of England and France, on the fubject of their negociation.
Affembly Records.
The report of the Commiffioners being laid before the Affemblies of Maffachufetts and New-Hampfhire, it was determined to profecute the war with vigor. Orders were iffued for the defence and fupply of the fron- tiers, and for the encouragement of ranging parties, both volunteers and militia. A pe- tition was fent to the King, complaining of the French Governor, and defiring that or- ders might be given to the other Colonies of New-England, and to New-York, to furnifh their quotas of affiftance, in the further pro- fecution of the war ; and letters were written to the Governor of New-York, requefting that fuch of the hoftile Indians as fhould re- fort to Albany, might be feized and fecured.
The good effects of this miffion to Canada were foon vifible. One of the Indian hofta- ges who had been detained at Bofton through the whole war, together with one who had been taken, were allowed on their parole, to vifit their countrymen ; and they returned with a requeft for peace. Commiffioners from both Provinces went to St. George's ; where
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a conference was held, which ended in a pro- pofal for a farther treaty at Bofton. In the mean time, fome of the enemy were difpofed for further mifchief. Thofe who had been concerned in taking Hanfon's family at Dover, in a fhort time after their redemption and return, came down with a defign to take them again, as they had threatened them before they left Canada. When they had come near Sept. 15. the houfe, they obferved fome people at work in a neighbouring field, by which it was ne- ceffary for them to pafs, both in going and returning. This obliged them to alter their purpofe, and conceal themfelves in a barn, till they were ready to attack them. Two women paffed by the barn, while they were in it, and had juft reached the garrifon as the guns were fired. They thot Benjamin Evans dead on the fpot; wounded William Evans and cut his throat ; John Evans received a flight wound in the breaft, which bleeding plentifully, deceived them, and thinking him dead, they ftripped and fcalped him: He bore the painful operation without difcovering a- ny figns of life, though all the time in his perfect fenfes, and continued in the feigned appearance of death, till they had turned him over, and ftruck him feveral blows with their guns, and left him for dead. After they were gone off he rofeand walked, naked and bloody, toward the garrifon ; but on meeting his friends by the way dropped, fainting on the ground, and being covered with a blanket was conveyed to the houfe. He recovered and lived fifty years. A purfuit was made after the enemy, but they got off undifcovered, carrying with them Benjamin Evans, junior,
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