History of the War with Indian Savages, Article 9
ARTICLE. IX. Caſco Loſt.
WHen the Indians at laſt perceived that the New Englanders were upon a Likely Deſign to Swallow up the French Territories, the Proſpect of it began to have the ſame Operation upon them, that the Succeſs of the Deſign, would have made Perpetual; that is, to Diſpirit them, for giving the New Englanders any further Moleſtations. Nevertheleſs, Before and Until, they were thoroughly Adviſed of what was a doing, and likely to be done, they did moleſt the Country with ſome Tragical Efforts of their Fury. Captain James Convers was Marching through the vaſt Wilderneſs, to Albany, with ſome Forces, which the Maſſachuſets Colony were willing to ſend by Land (beſides what they did ſend by Sea unto Quebeck,) for the Aſſiſtence of the Army, in the West, that was to go from thence over the Lake, and there fall upon Mount Real: but unhappy Tidings out of the Eaſt required the Diverſion of thoſe Forces thither. About the Beginning of May, the French and Indians, between Four and Five Hundred, were ſeen at Caſco, in a great Fleet of Canoo's paſſing over the Bay: but not Seeing or Hearing any more of them, for Two or Three Weeks together, the Caſconians flattered themſelves with Hopes, That they were gone another way. But about May 16 thoſe Hopes were over; For one Greſſon, a Scotchman, then going out Early, ſell into the mouths of theſe Hungry Salvages. It proved no kindneſs to Caſco, tho' it proved a great one to himſelf, that a Commander ſo qualified, as Captain Willard, was called off, Two or Three Dayes before. But, The Officers of the place, now concluding, that the whole Army of the Enemy, were watching for an Advantage to Surprize the Town, Reſolved that they would keep a Strict watch, for Two or Three dayes, to make ſome further Diſcovery, before they Salley'd forth. Notwithſtanding this, one Lieut. Clark, with near Thirty of their Stouteſt young men, would venture out, as far as the Top of an Hill, in the Entrance of the Wood, half a mile diſtant from the Town. The out-let from the Town to the Wood, was thro' a Lane, that had a Fence on each ſide, which had a certain Block-houſe at one End of it: and the Engliſh were Suſpicious, when they came to Enter the Lane, that the Indians were lying behind the Fence, becauſe the Cattel ſtood ſtaring that way, and would not paſs into the Wood as they uſe to do. This mettleſome Company, then ran up to the Fence, with an, Huzzab! thinking thereby to diſcourage the Enemy, if they ſhould be lurking there: but the Enemy were ſo well prepared for them, that they anſwered them with an horrible Vengeance, which kill'd the Lieutenant, with Thirteen more upon the Spot, and the reſt eſcaped with much ado unto one of the Garriſons. The Enemy then coming into Town, beſet all the Garriſons at once, Except the Fort; which were manfully Defended, ſo long as their Ammunition laſted; but That being ſpent, without a proſpect of a Recruit, they quitted all the Four Garriſons, and by the Advantage of the Night, got into the Fort. Upon this, the Enemy Setting the Town on Fire, bent their whole Force againſt the Fort, which had hard by it, a deep Gully, that contributed not a little unto the Ruin of it: For, the Beſiegers getting into that Gully, lay below the Danger of our Guns. Here the Enemy began their Mine, which was carried ſo near the Walls, that the Engliſh, who by Fighting Five Dayes and Four Nights, had the greateſt part of their men killed and wounded, (Captain Lawrence mortally, among the reſt,) began a parley with them. Articles were Agreed, That they ſhould have liberty to March unto the Next Engliſh Town, and have a Guard for their Safety in their March; and the French Commander, lifting up his Hand, Swore by the Everlaſting God, for the performance of theſe Articles. But the Agreement was kept, as thoſe that are made with Hugonots uſe to be: The Engliſh being firſt Admoniſhed, by the French, that they were all Rebels, for proclaming the Prince of Orange their King, were Captived, and many of them cruelly Murdered by the Indians: Only ſome of them (and particularly, Major Davis,) were Carried unto Canada, where the Gentry, very civilly Treated them. The Garriſons at Papoodack, Spurwink, Black Point, and Blue Point, were ſo diſanimated at theſe Diſaſters, that, without Orders they drew off immediately, to Saco, Twenty miles, within Caſco, and from Saco in a few Dayes alſo they drew off to Wells, Twenty miles within the ſaid Saco; and about Half Wells drew off as far as Lieut. Storers. But the Arrival of Orders and Souldiers from the Government, ſtopt them from Retiring any further, and Hope Hood, with a party that ſtaid for further miſchief, meeting with ſome Reſiſtence here, turn'd about, and having firſt had a skirmiſh with Captain Sherborn, they appear'd the Next Lords day at Newichawannick, or, Barwick, where they Burnt ſome Houſes, and Slew a man. Three Dayes alter, they came upon a Small Hamlet, on the South ſide of Piſcataqua River, called, Fox Point, and beſides the Burning of ſeveral Houſes, they Took Half a Dozen, and kill'd more than a Dozen, of the too Securely Ungar…iſoned People: which it was as eaſy to do, as to have Spoiled an ordinary Hen Rooſt. But Captain Floyd, and Capt. Greenleaf, coming upon thoſe Indians, made ſome Slaugh…er among them, Recovered ſome Captives, with much Plunder, and beſtow'd a Good wound upon Hope-Hood, who left his Gun, [Villian! Thou ſhalt not eſcape ſo: There muſt quickly be another ſtroke upon thee!](which was next his Life) in this Action.
All that ſhall further belong to this Paragraph of our Story, is, That when the Indians were got into the Woods, they made one Goody Stockford their meſſenger, to her Neighbours, whoſe Charity ſhe ſo well Sollicited, that ſhe got a Shalop full of it unto Caſco, where the Indians permitted us to Redeem ſeveral of the Priſoners.