History of the War with the Indians, Part 4
July 19. Our Army pursued Philip, who fled unto a dismal Swamp for refuge: The English Souldiers followed him, and killed many of his men, also about fifteen of the English were then slain. The Swamp was so Boggy, and thick of Bushes, as that it was judged to proceed further therein would be but to throw away Mens lives. It could not there be discerned who were English, and who the Indians. Our Men when in that hideous place if they did but see a Bush stir would fire presently, whereby 'tis verily feared, that they did sometimes unhappily shoot English Men instead of Indians. Wherefore a Retreat was sounded, and night coming on, the Army withdrew from that place. This was because the desperate Distress which the Enemy was in was unknown to us, for the Indians have since said, that if the English had continued at the Swamp all night, nay, if they had but followed them but one half hour longer, Philip had come and yielded up himself. But God …aw that we were not yet fit for Deliverance, nor could Health be restored unto us except a great deal more Blood be first taken from us: and other places as well as Plimouth stood in need of such a Course to be taken with them. It might rationally be conjectured, that the unsuccessfulness of this Expedition against Philip would embolden the Heathen in other parts to do as he had done, and so it came to pass. For July 14. the Nipnep (or Nipmuck) Indians began their mischief at a Town called Mendam (had we amended our ways as we should have done, this Misery might have been prevented) where they committed Barbarous Murders. This day deserves to have a Remark set upon it, considering that Blood was never shed in Massachusets Colony in a way of Hostility before this day. Moreover the Providence of God herein is the more awful and tremendous, in that this very day the Church in Dorchester was before the Lord, humbling themselves by Fasting and Prayer, on account of the Day of trouble now begun amongst us.
The news of this Blood-shed came to us at Boston the next day in Lecture time, in the midst of the Sermon, the Scripture then improved being that Isai. 42. 24. Who gave Jacob to the spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the Lord, he against whom we have sinned?
As yet Philip kept in the Swamp at Pocasset, but August 1. (being the Lords day) he fled. The English hearing that Philip was upon flight pursued him with a party of Monhegins, i. e, Ʋnkas (who approved himself faithful to the English almost forty years ago in the time of the Peguod Wars, and now also in this present War) his Indians, They overtook Philips Party and killed about thirty of his men, none of ours being at that time cut off. Had the English pursued the Enemy they might easily have overtaken the Women and Children that were with Philip, yea and himself also, and so have put an end to these tumults: but though Deliverance was according to all Humane probability near, God saw it not good for us as yet. Wherefore Philip escaped and went to the Nipmuck Indians, who had newly (as hath been intimated) done Acts of Hostility against the English. In the mean while endeavours were used to keep those Indians from engaging in this War, and that those persons who had committed the Murder at Mendam might be delivered up to Justice. Captain Hutchinson with a small party was sent to Quabaog, where there was a great Rendezvouze of Nipnep Indians. They appointed time and place of Treaty to be attended, August 2. Accordingly Captain Hutchinson rode to the Place fixed on to Treat in. But the Indians came not thither according to their Agreement, whereupon Captain Hutchinson resolved to go further to seek after them elsewhere, and as he was riding along, the Perfidious Indians lying in Ambuscado in a Swamp, shot at him and wounded him, of which Wounds he after dyed, and eight men that were with him were struck down dead upon the place. Captain Wheeler who was in that Company was shot through the Arm, his dutiful Son alighting to relieve his Father, was himself shot and sorely wounded, willingly hazarding his own life to save the life of his Father. The English were not in a capacity to look after their dead, but those dead bodies were left as meat for the Fowls of Heaven, and their Flesh unto the Beasts of the Earth, and there was none to bury them.
Captain Hutchinson and the rest that escaped with their lives, hastened to Quabaog, and the Indians speedily followed, violently set upon the Town, killed divers, burning all the Houses therein down to the ground, except only one unto which the Inhabitants fled for succour, and now also (as since we have understood) did Philip with his broken Party come to Quabaog. Hundreds of Indians beset the House, and took possession of a Barn belonging thereunto, from whence they often shot into the House, and also attempted to fire it six times, but could not prevail, at last they took a Cart full of Flax and other combustible matter, and brought it near the House, intending to set it on fire; and then there was no appearing possibility, but all the English there, Men and Women, and Children must have perished, either by unmerciful flames, or more unmerciful hands of wicked Men, whose tender Mercies are cruelties, so that all hope that they should be saved was then taken away: but behold in this Mount of Difficulty and Extremity (foreign) the Lord is seen.
For in the very nick of opportunity God sent that worthy Major Willard, who with forty and eight men set upon the Indians and caused them to turn their backs, so that poor People who were given up for dead, had their lives given them for a prey. Surely this was a token for good, that however we may be diminished and brought low through Oppression, Affliction, and Sorrow, yet our God will have compassion on us, and this his People shall not utterly perish. And this Salvation is the more remarkable, for that albeit the Indians had ordered Scouts to ly in the way, and to give notice by firing three Guns, if any English came to the relief of the Distressed; yet although the Scouts fired when Major Willard and his Souldiers were past them, the Indians were so busie and made such a noise about the House that they heard not the report of those Guns; which if they had heard, in all probability not only the People then living at Quabaog, but those also that came to succour them had been cut off.
Things being brought to this state, the Tumult of those that are risen up increaseth continually: For August 22. being the Lords Day, the Indians about Lancaster killed a Man and his Wife and two Children in the afternoon Exercise. And we hear that Philip and the Quaboag Indians are gone more Westward, not far from North-hampton, Hadly, Deer-field, &c. Whereupon Forces are sent from hence under the command of Captain Lothrop, Captain Beers, and after that Captain Mosely, to relieve those distressed Towns, and pursue the enemy. Also our Brethren at Connecticut afforded their Assistance, Major Treat being sent to Hadly with a party of English, and some of Ʋnkas his Men. The Indians inhabiting about Connecticut River pretended great fidelity to the English, and that they would fight against Philip, who it seems had been tampering with them in the Spring before the War broke out, endeavouring by money (i. e. Wampampeag which is the Indians Money) to engage them in his bloody design against the English.
At first they were so far credited as to be Armed by the English, hoping they might do good service as the Monhegins and Natick Indians had done. But within a while their Treachery was justly suspected. Whereupon Souldiers were sent (on or about August 25.) to demand their Arms. They were then gone out of their Forts, our Men searching after them, they suddenly shot out of a Swamp, and after that an hot dispute continued for some hours. How many Indians were slain we know not, but nine English fell that day: wherein this Providence is observable, that those nine men which were killed at that time belonged to nine several Towns; as if the Lord should say, that he hath a controversie with every Plantation, and therefore all had need to repent and reform their ways.
Now the English have a multitude of open enemies more than when this trouble began, so that greater desolations are now expected.
Wherefore September 1. the Indians set upon Deerfield (alias Pacomptuck) and killed one man, and laid most of the Houses in that new hopeful Plantation in ruinous heaps. That which addeth solemnity and awfulness to that Desolation, is, that it happened on the very day when one of the Churches in Boston were seeking the face of God by Fasting and Prayer before him. Also that very day the Church in Hadly was before the Lord in the same way, but were driven from the Holy Service they were attending by a most sudden and violent Alarm, which routed them the whole day after. So that we may humbly complain, as sometimes the Church did, how long hast thou smoaked foreign against the Prayers of thy People? Not long after this Captain Beers with a considerable part of his men fell before the Enemy. Concerning the state of those parts at this time until September 15. I received information from a good hand, whilst things were fresh in memory, which I shall here insert, as containing a brief History of the Transactions which happened within the time mentioned; those parts being then the Seat of the War: the Letter which I intend is that which followeth.
Reverend and dear Brother
I received yours, wherein among other things you desire an account of the passages of …ur War with the Indians: I shall in answer to your desire relate the most remarkable passages: The people here having many causes of jealousie, of the unfaithfulness of our Indians presented the same before the Committees of the Militia, whereupon it was thought meet to desire of them the surrendry of their Arms, and by perswasion obtained about nine and twenty: But about three days after they being desirous to go forth with some Forces from Harford, both Indians and English, and some from the Bay in pursuit of Philip, their Arms were delivered to them again: but a while after their return▪ jealousies still increasing, there was a general desire in the People of these three Towns, that they should be again disarmed, and such things as these were presented to the Council here, as inducing thereunto: 1. That when they heard of the Massacre at Quabaog, they made in the Fort eleven Acclamations of joy, according to the number of our men that were slain. 2. A Frenchman that was going to Boston gave Testimony that he met three Indians that told him they were coming to perswade North-Hampton Indians to fight with Philip, and that at his return he askt our Indians whether they would fight, they said they could not tell. 3. One of their Sachims owned that there were several among them false to the English, but would not tell who thy were. 4. A Woman of ours was warned by a Squaw to remove with her Children into the middle of the Town: told her withal, she durst not tell News, for if she did the Indians would cut off her head. 5. Some of theirs gave out very suspicious Expressions; one upbraided the English, that Coy was dead already, and Eyer and Pritchet were dead already; said further that the Indians went out to find Philip with the English, that when Philip was fighting with them in the front, they might fall on them in the rear: another said the reason why he went not out with the Army was that he might help to destroy the English at home: another threatned a Maid of our Town to knock her on the head. 6. When they were out with our Army, they shewed much unwillingness to fight, alledging they must not fight against their Mothers and Brothers and Cousins (for Quabaog Indians are related unto them.) 7. Ʋnkas his son, who went out the same time, complained that our Indians had almost spoiled his, and that the English were blind and could not see the falshood of these Indians. 8. They shot bullets five several times at our men in diverse places. Other things too many to numerate were presented, and the Council saw cause to demand their Arms, Aug. 24. They made some Objections, but were fully answered: The Sachem left the Council to try whether he could perswade the Indians, promising however to bring in his own. In the afternoon the Council sent to the Fort for their answer: they told the Messenger that some Indians were abroad in the Meadows, and they were not willing to deliver up their Arms without their consent: but in the morning they should have their answer. The Messenger was desired to go again to them in the evening, to confer with them, to try whether he could perswade them, and coming to the other side of the River, wisht some of them to come over: they bid him come over to them, and bid him kiss—Whereupon Captain Lothrop and Beers, with whom the thing was left, intended to take their Arms by force, and at midnight sent over to our officers, to draw as night the Fort as they could without being perceived, and they would do the like on Hatfield side, and so at break of day come upon them: but before they came the Indians were fled, having killed an old Sachem that was not willing to go with them. The Captains resolved to follow them, and pursued a great pace after them, with about an hundred men, having sent back a part of ours for a Guard of the Town. A little before they overtook the Indians, they heard two strange claps of Thunder, like two volleys of shot; at length they saw a single Indian, but shot not at him, though they might have killed him, because they intended to parly with them: but on a sudden the Indians let fly about forty Guns at them, and was soon answered by a volley from our men; about forty ran down into the Swamp after them, poured in shot upon them, made them throw down much of their luggage, and after a while our Men after the Indian manner got behind trees, and watcht their opportunities to make shots at them; the Fight continued about three hours, we lost six men upon the ground, though one was shot in the back by our own men, a seventh died of his wound coming home, and two died the next night, nine in all, of nine several Towns, every one of these Towns lost a man: Of the Indians as we hear since by a Squaw that was taken, and by three Children that came to our Town from them the day after, there were slain twenty six: the same day there was an Indian that lodged in our Town the night before, taken by our men, and a Squaw that belonged to our Fort that was coming from Spring-field; they both own that our Indians received Wompam from Philip in the Spring, to ingage them in the War. The fellow also owns that there were seven of our Indians that went to Quabaog, where they heard that they intended to fight. After this fight we heard no more of them till the first of September, when they shot down a Garrison Souldier of Pacomptuck that was looking after his horse, and ran violently up into the Town, many people having scarcely time enough to get into the Garrisons. That day they burnt most of their houses and barns, the Garrisons not being strong enough to sally out upon them, but killed two of their men from the Forts. The next day they set upon several men that were gone out of the Fort at Squakheag, they slew eight of our men, not above one of them being slain that we know of, but made no attempt upon the Fort. The next day (this Onset being unknown) Capt. Beers set forth with about thirty six men and some Carts to fetch off the Garrison at Squakheag, It seems Capt. Beers and those 36 men that were with him, fought couragiously till their powder and shot was spent, then the Indians prevailed over them so as to kill above 20 of them, only 13 escaped with their lives, at which time a Cart with some Ammunition fell into the hands of the enemy.and coming within three miles of the Place, the next morning were set upon by a great number of Indians from the side of a Swamp, where was an hot Dispute for some time: They having lost their Captain and some others, resolved at last to fly, and going to take horse lost several men more, I think about twelve: the most that escaped got to Hadly that evening: next morning another came in, and at night another that had been taken by the Indians, and loosed from his bonds by a Natick Indian, he tells the Indians were all drunk that night, that they mourned much for the loss of a great Captain, that the English had killed twenty five of their men. Six days after another Souldier came in, who had been lost ever since the fight, and was almost famished, and so lost his understanding that he knew not what day the fight was on.
On the 5th of September Major Treat set forth for Squakheag with above an hundred men, next day coming nigh Squakheag, his men were much daunted to see the heads of Captain Beers's Souldiers upon Poles by the way side; but after they were come to Squakheag, some partyes of them went into the Meadow, but hearing some Guns about the Fort, they ran up to see what the matter was, but by the way were fired upon by about fourteen Indians as they judge out of the Bushes: one or two Indians were slain; Major Treat was struck upon the thigh, the bullet pierced his cloaths, but had lost its force, and did him no harm: coming to the Fort, he called his Council together, and concluded forthwith to bring off the Garrison: so they came away the same night, leaving the Cattel there, and the dead bodies unburied: since which, seventeen of their Cattel came a great part of the way themselves, and have since been fetcht into Hadly.
Upon the 12th of this month the Indians made an assault upon twenty two men of Pocomptuck, that were going from one Garrison to the other to Meeting in the afternoon; made a great volley of shot at them, but killed not one man, they escaped to the Garrison whether they were going, only one man running to the other Garrison was taken alive: The Indians took up their Rendezvouze on an hill in the meadow burnt two more houses, killed many horses, carried away horse-loads of beef and pork to the hill: they sent the same night for more aid, but partly through the strictness of the Commission of our Garrison Souldiers, or at least their interpretation of it, and partly through the wetness of the weather, there was nothing done that night: the next day we perswaded some of our Inhabitants to go Volunteers, and sent to Hadly to do the like, who going up with some of Captain Louthrops souldiers, joyned themselves to the Garrison at Pocomptuck, and on Tuesday very early went out to assault the Indians, but they were all fled. Last night Captain Mosely with his men came into Hadly, and this night we expect more Forces from Hartford.
If the Lord give not some sudden check to these Iudians, it is to be feared that most of the Indians in the Country will rise.
I desire you would speak to the Governour, that there may be some thorough Care for a Reformation, I am sensible there are many difficulties therein: many sins are grown so in fashion, that it becomes a question whether they be sins or no. I desire you would especially mention, Oppression, that intolerable Pride in cloaths and hair: the toleration of so many Taverns, especially in Boston, and suffering home-dwellers to lye tipling in them. Let me hear soon from you: the Lord bless you and your Labours; forget us not at the Throne of Grace. It would be a dreadful Token of the Displeasure of God, if these afflictions pass away without much spiritual advantage. I thought to have written somewhat more large with respect to Reformation, but I hope I need not, you will I presume be forward of your self therein.
Not many days after this Letter was written, the English received a sadder rebuke of Providence, than any thing that hitherto had been. For September 18. Captain Lothrop (a godly and couragious Commander) with above seventy men were sent to be as a Guard to some that were coming from Deerfield with Carts loaden with Goods and Provision, to be removed to Hadly▪ for security: But as they were coming, the Indians, whose cruel Habitations are the dark corners of the Earth, lurked in the Swamps, and multitudes of them made a sudden and frigh…ful assault. They seized upon the Carts and Goods (many of the Souldiers having been so foolish and secure, as to put their Arms in the Carts, and step aside to gather Grapes, which proved dear and deadly Grapes to them) killed Captain Lothrop, and above threescore of his men, stripped them of their Cloths, and so left them to lye weltring in their own Blood. Captain Mosely who was gone out to range the Woods, hearing the Guns, hastened to their help, but before he could come, the other Captain and his men were slain, as hath been expressed. Nevertheless he gave the Indians Battle, they were in such numbers, as that he and his company were in extreme danger, the Indians indeavouring (according to their mode of fighting) to encompass the English round, and then to press in upon them with great numbers, so to knock them down with their Hatchets. In the nick of time Major Treat, with above an hundred men, and threescore of Ʋnkas his Indians came in to succour those that were so beset with the Enemy, whereupon the Enemy presently retreated, and night coming on, there was no pursuing of them. In this fight but few of Captain Mosely's men were slain. How many Indians were killed is uncertain, it being their manner to draw away their dead men, as fast as they are killed, if possibly they can do it; yea they will venture their own lives for that end, which they do out of policy, that so their enemies may think, that few or none of them are killed, when nevertheless they have lost many. I am informed that some of the Indians have reported that they lost ninety six men that day, and that they had above forty wounded, many of which dyed afterwards. However, this was a black and fatal day, wherein there were eight persons made Widows, and six and twenty Children made Fatherless: all in one little Plantation, and in one day; and above sixty Persons buried in one dreadful Grave. And this was the state of the Western parts in respect of the War with the Heathen.
We must now take a step backwards, and a little consider the Eastern Plantations. For in the Month of September did the flame break out there. Some who had their hearts exercised in discerning things of that nature, were from the beginning of the War, not without sad apprehensions concerning the Inhabitants in those parts of the Country, in that they were a scattered People, and such as had many of them scandalized the Heathen, and lived themselves too like unto the Heathen, without any Instituted Ordinances, also the Indians thereabouts were more numerous than in some other places. They began their outrages, at the House of one Mr. Purchase, who had been a great Trader with the Indians. After that they came to the House of an old Man in Casco-Bay▪ whose name was Wakely. Him with his Wife, Son, and Daughter in law (who was great with Child) and two Grandchildren, they cruelly Murdered, and took three Children alive, and led them into Captivity.
This old Wakely was esteemed a godly Man. He would somet…mes say with tears, that he believed God was angry with him, because although he came into New-England for the Gospels sake, yet he had left another place in this Country, where there was a Church of Christ, which he once was in Communion with, and had lived many Years in a Plantation, where was no Church, nor Instituted Worship. If a Faithful Minister of Christ happened to Preach in Casco▪ he would with much affection entertain him, saying, Blessed is he that com…th in the Name of the Lord. After this good man was murdered by the Indians▪ they quickly did more mischief: So that in Falmouth there were five Houses burnt, four Men, two Women, and two Children killed, and three Children carried away Captive. After this, they set upon Sacoe, where they slew thirteen Men, and at last burnt the Town. A p…incipal Actor in the destruction of Sacoe was a strange Enthusiastical Sagam…re, called Squando, who some years before, pretended that God appeared to him, in the form of a tall Man, in black Clothes, declaring to him that he was God, and commanded him to leave his Drinking of strong Liquors, and to pray, and to keep Sabbaths, and to go to hear the Word Preached; all which things the Indian did for some years, with great seeming Devotion and Conscience observe. But the God which appeared to him, said nothing to him about Jesus Christ; and therefore it is not to be marvelled at, that at last he discovered himself to be no otherwise than a Child of him, that was a Murderer and a Lyar from the beginning. Also these inraged Barbarians, being animated with their success at Falmouth and Sacoe, they went to Black-Point. and there killed six Men and a Woman, and burnt two and twenty dwelling Houses. In the mean time, the English at Kenebeck, endeaveured that the Indians in those parts might be kept from joyning in this Insurrection whereto they were tempted and solicited by their N…ighbours. The prudent endeavours of the English proved happily successful, insomuch as the Sachems there, brought Presents with great Protestations of Amity and Fidelity, and desired that no more Liquors might be so…d to the Indians, professing that that was a principal cause of the mischiefs that had been done, and that they were not able to keep their Men in subjection, when once they were become mad with Drink.
After these things, the Indians killed two men at Kittery, and stripped them. Lieutenant Playster, with twenty two English, went out to fetch off the dead Bodies, and to bury them; as they were putting one of them into the Cart, suddenly a small party of Indians shot out of a Swamp. And the greatest part of the English did unworthily forsake their Leader in that hazard, only seven remained with him. He thinking his Men had been near at hand, faced the Enemy, killed and wounded many of them; but the Indians perceiving that all but seven of the English were fled, took courage and killed Mr. Playster (who was a good and useful man) and one of his Sons, and another man: The other four seeing that, ran for their lives, and so escaped until they came safe into a Garrison, which was not far off.
Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth. This fire which in June was but a little Spark, in three Monthis time is become a great Flame, that from East to West, the whole Country is involved in great trouble; and the Lord himself seemeth to be against us, to cast us off, and to put us to shame, and goeth not forth with our Armies. Wherefore the Magistrates of this Jurisdiction, earnestly called upon the Inhabitants thereof, to humble themselves before the Lord, and to confess and turn from transgression. Inasmuch as the expressions contained in that Paper, which was at this time published by the Councils Order, for a day of Publick Humil…ation, to be observed through this Jurisdiction, are most serious, and gracious, and greatly expressive of the sinful Degenerate Estate of the present Generation in New-England, and that Declaration will turn for a Testimony to our faithful Rulers, both now and hereafter; considering also, that it is in but few hands, I shall therefore here insert, and republish it. 'Tis that which followeth.
SIGILLVM: GVB: ET: SOCIET: DE: MATTACHVSETS: BAY: IN: NOVA: ANGLIA
COME OVER AND HELP US
AT A COUNCIL Held at Boston, Sept. 17. 1675.
IT having pleased the Holy God (all whose Works are Truth, and his Ways Judgment) for our sins, whereby he hath been provoked, in special by the undervaluation of our pleasant things, great unthank fulness for, and manifold abuses of our wonderful Peace, and the blessings of it in this good Land which the Lord hath given us: Ill entertainment of the Ministry of the precious Gospel of Peace: Leaving our first love, dealing falsly in the Covenant of the Lord our God: The Apostacy of many from the Truth unto Heresies, and pernicious Errors: Great Formality inordinate Affection, and sinful Conformity to this present evil vain World: And (beside many horrid and scandalous sins breaking forth among us, for which we have cause to be greatly humbled before the Lord) our great unsensibleness of the Displeasure of the Lord, in suffering these Abominations to be perpetuated; together with our carnal Security, and unquietness under the judgments of God upon us, our abiding very much unreformed, notwithstanding all Warnings, and Chastisements, whereby the Lord hath been, and is still debating with us, we having greatly incensed him to stir up many Adversaries against us, not only abroad, but also at our own Doors (causing the Heathen in this Wilderness to be as Thorns in our sides, who have formerly been, and might still be a wall unto us therein; and others also to become a Scourge unto us) the Lord himself also more immediately afflicting us by Diseases, whereof so many Children in some of our Towns have died this Summer. His not going forth with our Armies as in former times, but giving up many of our Brethren to the mouth of the devouring Sword, yea, shewing himself angry with the Prayers of his People: Threatning us also with scarcity of Provision, and other Calamities, especially if this present War with the Barbarous Heathen should continue; and that the Lord of Hosts withdraw not the Commission he hath given to the Sword, and other Judgments to prevail against us.
The Governour and Council of this Jurisdiction therefore (being under the sense of these evils, and also of the distressed state of the rest of the Colonies confederate with our selves, and of the Churches of Christ in other parts of the Christian World, in this day of Trouble Rebukes, and Blasphemy; And fearing the sad issue thereof, unless the Lord help us with our whole heart, and not feignedly, to turn unto himself) Do Appoint and Order the seventh day of the next Month, to be a Day of Publick Humiliation, with Fasting and Prayer, throughout this whole Colony; that we may set our selves sincerely to seek the Lord, rending our hearts, and not our Garments before him, and pursue the same with a through Reformation of what ever hath been, or is an Image of Jealousie before the Lord to offend the Eyes of his Glory; if so be, the Lord may turn from his fierce anger, that we perish not: We do therefore require all the Inhabitants of this Jurisdiction, to forbear servile Labour upon that day, and that they apply themselves respectively to observe the same, as is appointed.
By the Council, Edward Rawson Secret.