History of the War with Indian Savages, Article 2
ARTICLE. II. The firſt Acts of Hoſtility, between the Indians, and the Engliſh.
WHen one Capt. Sargeant had Seized ſome of the principal Indians about Saco, by order of Juſtice Blackman, preſently the Indians fell to Seizing as many of the Engliſh, as they could catch. Capt. Rowden, with many more, in one place, and Capt. Gendal, with ſundry more, in another place, particularly fell into the Hands of theſe deſperate Man catchers. Rowden, with many of his Folks, never got out of their Cruel Hands: but Gendal with his, got a Releaſe, one can ſcarce tell, How, upon the Return of thoſe which had been detain'd in Boston. Hitherto there was no Spilling of Blood! But ſome Time in September following, this Capt. Gendal, went up, with Souldiers and others, to a place above Caſco, called, North Yarmouth; having Orders to build Stockado's, on both ſides the River, for Defence of the place, in caſe of any Sudden Invaſion. While they were at work, an Engliſh Captive came to 'em, with Information, that Seventy or Eighty of the Enemy were juſt coming upon 'em: and he adviſed 'em, To yeeld quietly, that they might Save their Lives. The Souldiers that went thither from the Southward, being terrifyed at this Report, Ran with an Haſty Terror to get over the River; but with more Haſt, than Good Speed; for they ran directly into the Hands of the Indians. The Indians dragging along theſe their Priſoners with 'em, came up towards the Caſconians; who, having but a very Little Time to Conſult, yet in this Time Reſolved; Firſt, That they would not be Seized by the Salvages; Next, That they would free their Friends out of the Hands of the Salvages, if it were poſſible; Thirdly, That if it were poſſible, they would uſe all other Force upon the Salvages, without coming to down right Fight. Accordingly, They laid hold on their Neighbours, whom the Salvages had Seized, and this with ſo much Dexterity, that they cleared them all, Except one or Two; whereof the whole Number was about a Dozen. But in the Scuffle, one Sturdy and Surly Indian, held his prey ſo faſt, that one Benedict Pulcifer, gave the Mastiff a Blow, with the Edge of his Broad Ax upon the Shoulder, upon which they fell to't with a Vengeance, and Fired their Guns, on both ſides, till ſome on both ſides were Slain. Theſe were, as one may call them, The Scower-pit, of a long War to follow. At laſt, the Engliſh, Victoriouſly chaſed away the Salvage… and Returned ſafely unto the other ſide of the River. And Thus was the Vein of New England firſt opened, that afterwards Bled for Ten years together! The Skirmiſh being over, Capt. Gendal, in the Evening, paſſed over the River, in a Canoo, with none but a Servant; but Landing where the Enemy lay hid in the Buſhes, they were both Slain immediately. And the ſame Evening, one Ryal, with another man, fell unawares into the Hands of the Enemy; Ryal was afterwards Ranſomed, by Monſieur St. Caſteen, but the other man, was barbarouſly Butchered. Soon after this, the Enemy went Eaſtward, unto a place call'd, Merry-Meeting, (from the Concourſe of diverſe Rivers there,) where ſeveral Engliſh had a Sad Meeting with them; for they were killed, ſeveral of them even in Cold Blood, after the Indians had Seized upon their Houſes & their Perſons. And about this Time, the Town call'd Sheepſcote, was entred by theſe Rapacious Wolves; who burnt all the Houſes of the Town, ſave Two or Three. The People ſaved themſelves by getting into the Fort, all but one Man, who going out of the Fort, for to Treat with 'em, was Treacherouſly Aſſaſſinated. Thus the place, which was counted, The Garden of the East, was infeſted by Serpents; and a Sword Expell'd the poor Inhabitants. Little more Spoil was done by the Salvages before Winter, Except only, that at a place called Kennebunk, near Winter harbour, they cut off Two Families, to wit, Barrows, and Buſſies; but Winter coming on, the Serpents retired into their Holes. When Summer comes, Reader, look for Tornadoes enough to over-ſet a greater Veſſel, than little New-England.