History of the War with the Indians, Part 49 – Part 55
July 22. Some of our Companies returned from Mount-hope to Boston, And albeit they have not attained that which was the main end proposed in their going forth, sc. the Apprehension of Philip, nevertheless God was in a gratious measure present with them; for they killed and took about an hundred and fifty Indians in this expedition, with the loss of but one English man. One night they lodged very near unto Philip, but he kept himself private and still in a Swamp, ours not imagining that he had been so neer, as afterwards (by Indian Captives) they perceived he was: after this an Indian that was taken Prisoner engaged that if they would spare his life, he would forthwith bring them to Philip, but our Souldiers were not able to go the nearest way towards him, yet in about two hours space, they came whither the Indian conducted them, and found that a great many Indians were newly fled, having for hast left their Kettles boyling over their fires, and their Belts, and Baskets of Wampampeag, yea and their dead unburied. At that time did the English take and kill about feventy persons: since an Indian that came into Rhode-Island, informeth, that Philip is gone to a Swamp near Dartmouth: and that when our Forces were pursuing of him, he with a few hid himself in Squanakunk Swamp, till our Souldiers were past, and then with one Indian in a Canoo crost the river to Pocasset. It seems the body of the Indians belonging to him, went over on two Rafts, in which passage they lost severall Guns, and wet much of their Ammunition. The reason why Philip fled to this place, was because if he went Northward, the Mohawks would be upon him, if Southward he was in danger of the Monbegins, and he durst not hide himself any longer about Metapoisit, because the Woods thereabouts were filled with Souldiers. This week also, Captain Church of Plimouth, with a finall party consisting of about eighteen English, and two and twenty Indians, had four severall engagements with the Enemy, and killed and took Captive seventy nine Indians, without the loss of so much as one of ours; it having been his manner, when he taketh any Indians by a promise of favour to them, in case they acquit themselves well, to set them an hunting after more of these Wolves, whereby the worst of them, sometimes do singular good service in finding out the rest of their bloody fellows. In one of these Skirmishes, Tiashq, Philips chief Captain, ran away leaving his Gun behind him, and his Squaw, who was taken. They came within two miles of the place where Philip hideth himself, and discerned at a distance about fifty Indians with Guns, thought to be Philips Hunters for provision, and were desirous to have engaged with them, but being loaden with Captives and plunder, they could not thenattend it. Also a Sachim of Pocasset hath submitted himself with fourty Indians more, to the Governour of Plymouth, So that there is of late such a strange turn of providence (especially in Plimouth Colony, since the Churches in that Colony (being thereunto provoked by the godly advice and Recommendation of the civil Authority in that Jurisdiction) did solemnly renew their covenant with God and one another) as the like hath rarely been heard of in any age. Whereas formerly almost every week did conclude with sad tidings, now the Lord sends us good news weekly. Without doubt, there are in the World who have been praying for us, and God hath heard them. If our poor prayers may be a means to obtain mercy for them also, who have prayed for us, how shall we rejoyce, when we meet together before Jesus Christ at the last and great day?
July 25. Thirty and six English-men who went out of Medfield and Dedham, having nine of the Praying Indians with them, pursued and overtook a party of the Enemy, killed and took alive fifty of them, without the loss of any of ours. The nine Indians stored themselves with plunder when this exploit was done: For besides Kettles, there was about half a bushel of Wampampeag, which the Enemy lost, and twelve pound of Powder, which the Captives say they had received from Albany but two days before. At this time another of the Narraganset Sachims was killed, whose name was Pomham, and his Son was taken alive, and brought Prisoner to Boston. This Pomham after he was wounded so as that he could not stand upon his legs, and was thought to have been dead, made a shift (as the Souldiers were pursuing others) to crawl a little out of the way, but was found again; and when an English-man drew near to him, though he could not stand, he did (like a dying Beast) in rage and revenge, get hold on that Souldiers head, and had like to have killed him, had not another came in to his help, and rescued him out of the enraged dying hands of that bloody Barbarian, who had been a great promoter of the Narraganset War.
July 27. One of the Nipmuck Sachims (called Sagamore John) came to Boston, and submitted himself to the mercy of the English, bringing in about an hundred and fourscore Indians with him. And that so he might ingratiate himself with the English, he apprehended Matoonas and his Son, and brought them with him to Boston, which Matoonas was the beginner of the War in this Colony of Massachusets; for it was he that committed the murders which were done at Mendam, July 14. 1675. Being thus taken and examined before the Council, he had little to plead for himself, and therefore was condemned to immediate death. Sagamore John was desirous that he and his men might be the Executioners; wherefore Matoonas was carried out into the Common at Boston, and there being tied to a Tree, the Sachim who had now submitted himself, with several of his men, shot him to death. Thus did the Lord (a year after) retaliate upon him the innocent blood which he had shed, as he had done so God hath requited him: And inasmuch as Matoonas, who began the War and Mischiefs which have followed thereon in this Colony of Massachusets is taken, and Justice glorified upon him, it seems to be a good Omen, that ere long Philip who began the War in the other Colony, shall likewise be delivered up unto Justice. In due time his foot shall slide, and the things which shall come upon him seem to make haste.
July 31. A small party of Souldiers, whose hearts God had touched, marched out of Bridgwater, in order to pursuing the Enemy. And (about 3 h. p. m.) not far from Tetignot River, they unexpectedly to themselves, and undiscerned by the Enemy, came upon a company of Indians, amongst whom Philip himself was, though his being there was not known to our men, until the engagement was over. They shot down ten Indians, they were well armed, and at first snapped their Guns at the English, but not one of them took fire; wherefore the terrour of God fell upon the Indians, that fifteen of them threw down their Guns, and submitted themselves to the English, the rest fled; Philip himself escaped very narrowly with his life. He threw away his stock of Powder into Bushes, that he might hasten his escape, albeit some of his men the next day found it again. Our Souldiers took above twenty pound of Bullets and Lead, and seven Guns, five of which were loaden and primed: yea they took the chief of Philips Treasure, not being able to carry away all their Plunder that day, for they found much English goods which Philip had stolen. Philip made his escape with three men, one of which was killed. And although he himself got clear, yet his Uncle, whose name was Ʋncompoen, being one of his chief Counsellors, was slain, and Philips own Sister was taken Prisoner: not so much as one English-man received any hurt at this time. Thus did God own Bridgewater, after the People therein had subscribed with their hands, and solemnly renewed their holy Covenant with God, and one another, that they would reform those evils which were amongst them, and endeavour for the future to walk more according to the will of God in Jesus Christ.
August 1. Captain Church with thirty English-men, and twenty Indians following Philip and those with him, by their track took twenty and three Indians. The next morning they came upon Philips head Quarters, killed and took about and hundred and thirty Indians, with the loss of but one English-man. In probability many of the English Souldiers had been cut off at this time, but that an Indian called Matthias, who fought for the English, when they were come very near the Enemy, called to them in their own Language with much vehemency, telling them they were all dead men if they did but fire a Gun, which did so amuse and amaze the Indians, that they lost a great advantage against the English. Philip hardly escaped with his life this day also. He fled and left his Peag behind him, also his Squaw and his Son were taken Captives, and are now Prisoners in Plymouth. Thus hath God brought that grand Enemy into great misery before he quite destory him. It must needs be bitter as death to him, to lose his Wife and only Son (for the Indians are marvelous fond and affectionate towards their Children) besides other Relations, and almost all his Subjects and Country too.
August. 3. This day the Lord smiled upon this Land by signal favour, in another respect which concerns not the present War. For whereas in the Month of July, there had been a sore Drought, which did greatly threaten the Indian Harvest, God opened the bottles of Heaven, and caused it to rain all this night, and the day after, so as that the Indian corn is recovered to admiration, the English Harvest being already gathered in, and more plentifull than in some former years, insomuch that this which was expected to be a year of Famine, is turned to be a year of plenty as to provision.
Whilst I am writing this, good information is brought to me, that in some parts of Connecticut Colony, the Drought was sorer than in this Colony, inasmuch as the Trecs began to languish, and the Indians to despair of an Harvest; wherefore Ʋncas (for although he be a friend to the English, yet he and all his men continue Pagans still) set his Powaws on work to see if they could by powawing (i. e. conjuring) procure rain, but all in vain; He therefore sent Westward to a noted Powaw, to try his skill, but neither could that Wizzard by all his hideous and diabolical howlings obtain showers. Whereupon he (i. e. Ʋncas) applyed himself to Mr. Fitch (the Faithful and able Teacher of the Church in Norwich) desiring that he would pray to God for rain. Mr. Fitch replyed to him, that if he should do so, and God should do so, and God should hear him, as long as their Powaws were at work, they would ascribe the rain to them, and think that the Devil whom the Indians worship, and not God, had sent that rain, and therefore he would not set himself to pray for it, until they had done with their vanities and witcheries. Ʋncas and his Son Oweneco declared that they had left off Powawing, despairing to obtain what they desired. Mr. Fitch therefore called his Church together, and they set themselves by Fasting and Prayer, to ask of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain, and behold! that very night, and the next day, He that saith to the small rain, and to the great rain of his Strength, be thou upon the earth, gave most Plentiful Showers, in as much as the Heathen were affected therewith, acknowledging that the God whom we serve is a great God, and there is none like unto him.
August 6. An Indian that deserted his fellows, informed the Inhabitants of Taunton that a party of Indians who might be easily surprised, were not very far off, and promised to conduct any that had a mind to apprehend those Indians in the right way towards them, whereupon about twenty Souldiers marched out of Taunton, and they took all those Indians, being in number thirty and six, only the Squaw-Sachem of Pocasset, who was next unto Philip in respect of the mischief that hath been done, and the blood that hath been shed in this Warr, escaped alone; but not long after some of Taunton finding an Indian Squaw in Metapoiset newly dead, cut off her head, and it hapned to be Weetamoo, i. e. Squaw-Sachem her head. When it was set upon a pole in Taunton, the Indians who were prisoners there, knew it presently, and made a most horrid and diabolical Lamentation, crying out it was their Queens head. Now here it is to be observed, that God himself by his own hand, brought this enemy to destruction. For in that place, where the last year, she furnished Philip with Canooes for his men, she her self could not meet with a Canoo, but venturing over the River upon a Raft, that brake under her, so that she was drowned, just before the English found her. Surely Philips turn will be next.
August. 10. Whereas Potock a chief Counsellor to the old Squaw-Sachem of Narraganset, was by some of Road-Island brought into Boston, and found guilty of promoting the War against the English, he was this day shot to death in the Common at Boston. As he was going to his execution, some told him that now he must dy, he had as good speak the truth, and say how many Indians were killed at the Fort-Fight last winter. He replyed, that the English did that day kill above seven hundred fighting men, and that three hundred who were wounded, dyed quickly after, and that as to old men, women and Children, they had lost no body could tell how many; and that there were above three thousand Indians in the Fort, when our Forces assaulted them, and made that notable slaughter amongst them.