Lovewell Lamented, Half title – Preface
Historical Memoirs OF THE BATTLE AT Piggwacket.
Lovewell Lamented. OR, A SERMON Occasion'd by the Fall Of the Brave Capt. John Lovewell And Several of his Valiant COMPANY, In the late Heroic Action at Piggwacket.
Pronounc'd at Bradford, May 16 1725
By Thomas Symmes, V.D.M.
Isa. 3.25.
Thy Men shall fall by the Sword, and thy Mighty in the War.
BOSTON in New-England: Printed by B. Green Junr. for S. Gerrish, near the Brick Meeting House in Cornhill. 1725.
AN Historical PREFACE, OR Memoirs of the BATTLE, at Piggwacket.
WHEN Ioshua with his chosen Soldiers, had Discomfited Amalek, and his People, with the Edge of the Sword; (while Moses with the Rod of GOD in his up-lifted hands, supported by Aaron … Hur, made Intercession to the GOD of Arm…es, on the Top of the Hill) the Lord said to Moses, Write THIS for a Memorial in a Book, and rehearse it in the Ears of Ioshua, Exod. XVII.14. For this would be an unspeakable Encouragement to that Renowned General, in his Wars with the Aborigines of Canaan.
NOW from this Story we learn, not only, That if Israel would prevail against their Enemies, they should all, but their Magistrates and Ministers especially, lift up and keep up, the hand of Prayer: But also, That the Remarkable Preservation and Success of Soldiers in Fighting the Lords Battles, are very proper to be Commemorated, for the Honour of GOD, and Encouragement of his Servants, in future Expeditions, and Military Actions.
IN Consideration hereof, I've the more easily comply'd with the Request of some of the Publishers of the Ensuing Sermon▪ that it might be accompany'd with a Narrative of the Memorable Occasion of it.
AND tho' I at first propos'd only to Reprint the Relation of this Action, given us in the Public News Papers; yet having been favour'd with a more particular account from the Valorous Capt. Wyman, and some others of good Credit, that were in the Engagement; I hope it will not be unacceptable to any, and am sure it will be very grateful to some; to have the Story Publish'd with some Enlargments. And particularly to make a Public Record of the Names of those Couragious Soldiers, who have so nobly play'd the man for their Country; several of whom have been grievously Wounded, & others have Died in the Field of Battle, or of the Wounds they there Receiv'd: All of whose Names I am perswaded the greatest part of the Country will allow, deserve to be Transmitted unenvi'd to Posterity, with very bright Encomiums.
'TWAS then, about the 16th of April, 1725, that the Brave LOVEWELL began his March from Dunstable for Piggwacket, with Forty-Six Men under his Command.
WHEN they'd Travell'd a little way, Toby, an Indian falling Lame, was oblig'd to return, with great Reluctancy.
WHEN they came as far as Contoocook, one Wm. Cummins of Dunstable was so disabl'd by a Wound he'd Receiv'd from the Enemy some time before, that the Capt. dismiss'd him, with a Kinsman of his to accompany him.
THEN they Travell'd as far as Ossipy, and there one Benjamin Kidder of Nutfield falling Sick; the Capt. made a Halt, and tarried while they built a small Fortification, for a place of Refuge to repair too, if there should be Occasion. Here he left his Doctor, a Serjent and Seven other Men, to take care of Kidder, and of a Considerable Quantity of Provision, here left to lighten the Men, and facilitate their March; and for a Recruit upon their Return.
WITH his Company now reduc'd to Thirty-Four Men with himself, the Capt. Travell'd to Pigwacket, which is about Forty Miles from said Fort.
THEIR Names that made up this Company (excepting his that started from them in the beginning of the Battle, and ran back to the Fort, which I'd be excus'd from mentioning) were as follow.
Capt. Iohn Lovewell, of Dunstable.
Lieut. Iosiah Farwell, of Dunstable.
Lieut. Ionathan Robbins, of Dunstable.
Ensign Iohn Harwood, of Dunstable.
Serjent Noah Iohnson, of Dunstable.
Robert Usher, of Dunstable.
Samuel Whiting ▪ of Dunstable.
Ensign Seth Wyman, of Woborn.
Corpo. Thomas Richardson, of Woborn.
Timothy Richardson, of Woborn.
Ichabod Iohnson, of Woborn.
Iosiah Iohnson, of Woborn.
Eleazar Davis, of Concord.
Iosiah Davis, of Concord.
Iosiah Iones, of Concord.
David Melvin, of Concord.
Eleazar Melvin, of Concord.
Iacob Farrah, of Concord.
Ioseph Farrah, of Concord.
Mr. Ionathan Frie, Chaplin, of Andover.
Serjent Iacob Fullam, of Weston,
Corporal Edward Lingfield, of Nutfield,
Ionathan Kittridge, of Billerica.
Solomon Kies, of Billerica.
Iohn Iefts, of Groton.
Daniel Woods, of Groton.
Thomas Woods, of Groton.
Iohn Chamberlain, of Groton.
Elias Barron, of Groton.
Iohn Gilson, of Groton.
Ioseph Gilson, of Groton.
Ebenezer Ayer, of Haverhill.
Abiel Astin of Haverhill.
FROM the Thursday before the Battle, the Company were apprehensive they were Discover'd and Dog'd by the Enemy: And on Friday Night, the Watch heard the Indians about the Camp and Alarm'd the Company, but it being very Dark, they could make no further Discovery.
SATURDAY the Eighth of May, while they were at Prayers, very Early in the Morning, they heard a Gun; and somtime after spy'd an Indian on a Point, that ran into Saco Pond.
THEY now concluded that the design of the Gu…, & of the Indian's Discovering himself, was to draw them that way: And expecting without fail to be Attack'd; It was now proposed, whether it were Prudent to venture an Engagement with the Enemy, (who they perceiv'd were now sufficiently Alarm'd▪) or, endeavour a speedy Retreat. The Men Generally and Boldly Answered, We came out to meet the Enemy; we have all along Pray'd GOD we might find 'em; and we had rather trust Providence with our Lives, yea Dy for our Country, than try to Return without seeing them, if we may, and be called Cowards for our Pains.
THE Captain readily comply'd to lead them on, though not without Manifesting some Apprehensions; — And (supposing the Enemy were a Head of 'em, when as it prov'd, they were in the Rear) Ordered the Men to lay down their Packs, & March with greatest Caution, and in utmost readiness.
WHEN they'd March'd about a Mile and Half, or two Miles, Ensign Wyman spy'd an Indian coming toward them, whereupon he gave a Sign, and they all squat, and let him come on: presently several Guns were Fir'd at him; upon which the Indian Fir'd upon Captain Lovewell with Bever-Shot and Wounded him Mortally (as is supposed) tho' he made little Complaint, and was still able to Travel, and at the same time Wounded Mr. Samuel Whiting: Immediately Wyman Fir'd at the Indian and Kill'd him; and Mr. Frie and another Scalp'd him.
THEY then March'd back toward their Packs, (which the Enemy in the mean while had seiz'd) and about Ten a Clock, when they came pretty near where they'd laid 'em, on the North East and of Saco Pond, in a plain Place, where there were few Trees and scarce any Brush; The Indians rose up in Front and Rear, in two Parties, and ran toward the English Three or Four Deep, with their Guns Presented: And the English also Presented in a Moment and ran to meet them; and when they came within a few Yards, they Fir'd on both sides, and the Indians fell amain, but the English (most, if not all) 'scap'd the first Shot, and drove the Indians several Rods, both sides Firing three or four Rounds. But the Indians being more than double in Number to our Men, & having soon Kill'd Captain Lovewell, Mr. Fullam, (only Son of Major Fullam of Weston,) Ensign Harwood, Iohn Iefts, Ionathan Kittridge, Daniel Woods, Ichabod Iohnson, Thomas Woods and Iosiah Davis; and wounded Lieutenant Farwell, Lieutenant Robbins and Robert Usher, in the place where the Fight began, and striving to Surround the rest; The Word was given, to Retreat to the Pond, which was done with a great deal of good Conduct, and prov'd a vast service to the English (in Covering their Rear,) tho' the Indians got the Ground where our Dead lay.
THE Fight continu'd very Furious & Obstinate, till towards Night. The Indians Roaring and Yelling and Howling like Wolves, Barking like Dogs, and making all Sorts of Hideous Noises: The English Frequently Shouting and Huzza'ing, as they did after the first Round. At one time, Captain Wyman is Confident, they were got to Powawing, by their striking on the Ground, and other odd Motions, but at length Wyman crept up toward 'em and Firing among 'em, shot the Chief Powaw and brake up their Meeting.
SOME of the Indians holding up Ropes, ask'd the English if they'd take Quarter, but were Answer'd Briskly, they'd have none but at the Muzzle of their Guns.
ABOUT the middle of the Afternoon, the Ingenious Mr. Ionathan …rie, only Son of Captain Iames Frie of Andover, a Young Gentleman of a Liberal Education▪ and who was Chaplain to the Company, and greatly Belov'd by them, for his Excellent Performances and good Behaviour, and who fought with Undaunted Courage till that time o' Day, was Mortally Wounded. But when he could Fight no longer, He Pray'd Audibly several times, for the Preservation and Success of the Residue of the Company.
'TWAS after Sun set when the Enemy drew off, and left our Men the Field▪ And its suppos'd not above Twenty of the Enemy went off well. About Midnight the English got together, and found Iacob Farrah, just expiring by the Pond, and Lieutenant Robbins and Usher unable to travel. Lieutenant Robbins desir'd they'd Charge his Gun and leave it with him, (which they did) for says he, The Indians will come in the Morning to Scalp me, and I'll kill one more of 'em if I can. Eleven more that were Wounded, who were Lieut. Farwell, Mr. Frie, Serjent Iohnson, Timothy Richardson, Iosiah Iohnson, Samuel Whiting, Elias Barron, Iohn Chamberlain, Iohn Gilson, Eleazar Davis, & Iosiah Iones, March'd off the Ground, with the Nine that received no considerable Wound, who were Ensign Wyman, Edward Lingfield, Thomas Richardson, Two Melvins, Ebenezar Ayer, Abiel Astin, Ioseph Farrah, and Ioseph Gilson, who did not perceive they were way-laid, or pursued by the Enemy, tho' they knew our Men had no Provision, and must needs be very faint. Four of the Wounded Men, viz. Farwell, Frie, Davis and Iones, after they'd Travell'd about a Mile and Half, found themselves unable to go any further, and with their free Consent, the rest, hoping for a Recruit at the Fort, and to come back with Fresh Hands to relieve them, kept on their March. But one Morning as they were passing a thick Wood, they Divided into Three Companies for fear of making a Track, by which the Enemy might follow them. One of the Companies came upon Three Indians, who pursu'd 'em sometime; And Elias Barron one of that Party stray'd from the rest, and got over Ossipy River, by the side of which, his Gun Case was found, & he has ne'r been heard … since.
ELEVEN in another Party recover'd the Fort, and to their great surprize, found it Deserted. For in the beginning of the Battle, the man that I Promised not to Name, ran directly to the Fort, and gave the Men Posted there, such an account of what had happen'd, that they all made the best of their way Home. There came in also to the Fort, One Solomon Kies, who having fought till he'd receiv'd three Wounds, & lost so much Blood he cou'd not stand, He crawl'd to Ensign Wyman in the heat of the Battle, & told him He was a Dead Man; But (says he) if it be possible, I'll get out of the way of the Indians, that they mayn't get my Scalp. This Kies Providentially found a Canoe in the Pond, & roll'd himself into it, & was driven by the Wind some Miles toward the Fort; when being Wonderfully Strengthen'd, he got to the Fort, as soon as the Eleven aforesaid: & they all came in to Dunstable, May 13th. at Night. O … at Men would Praise the Lord for His Goodness, and for His Wonderful Works toward the Children of Men.
May 15th. came in at Dunstable four more of our Soldiers, whereof Ensign Wyman was one; who says, He'd no sort of Food from Saturday Morning till Wednesday following, and yet scarce felt at all Hunger bitten. They then caught two Mouse-Squirrels, which they roasted whole, & found them a sweet Morsel. Afterward they Kill'd some Partridges and other Game, & were Comfortably Supply'd, till they got home.
Eleazar Davis came in at Berwick, & reports, (as I'm Inform'd) that He & the other Three left with him, when they'd waited some Days for the Return of the Men from the Fort, & at length despair'd of their coming, tho' their Wounds Stank & were Corrupt, & they were ready to Dy with Famine; yet they all Travell'd several Miles together, till Mr. Frie desired Davis & Farwell not to hinder themselves any longer for his sake, for that he found himself Dying, & so lay down, telling them He should never rise more: Charging Davis, if it should Please GOD to bring him home, to go to his Father, & tell him, that he expected in a few Hours to be in Eternity; and that He was not afraid to Dy. Whereupon they left him; and this Hopeful Gentleman Mr. Frie, who had the Journal of the March in his Pocket, has not been heard of since.
Lieutenant Farwell, who has been very much & no doubt Deservedly Applauded, was also left by Davis at a few Miles distance from the Fort & not heard of since. But Davis getting to the Fort and finding Provision there, tarried and Refresh'd himself and recover'd strength to Travel to the place mention'd. Iosiah Iones another of the Four, came in at Saco.
Since the Action, Col Tyng with a Company, have been on the spot, and found and Buried Twelve of our Men. They also found where the Indians had Buried Three of their Men, and when they were dug up, One of them was known to be the Bold Paugus ▪ who has been such a Scourge to Dunstable; but if he be gone to his own place, He'll cease from Troubling.
HIS Honour, Our Excellent Lieutenant Governour has been Pleas'd to give Ensign Seth Wyman, a Captains Commission, since his Return, as a Reward of His Valour. And it's much to be Desired, that He, and all that are Return'd from Piggwacket, to their own Houses, will consider and show what Great Things GOD has done for them. And that they and all our Brave Soldiers, will still take for their Motto, when going forth to War, the Inscription made by Moses on his Altar of Gratitude, after the Defeat of Amelek, JEHOVAH-NISSI, The Lord is my Banner.
BUT thus I've related the Story of the Action at Piggwacket, according to the best Information I cou'd obtain; and hope there are no Material, I'm sure, there are no Willing or Careless Mistakes in it.
AND I've only to add,
THAT whoever Considers the Distance our People were at from any English Settlement, in a Howling Wilderness, and very far in the Enemies Country, who were at Home, & more than double the Number of our Men; Their Fighting from Morning to Night in a Long, Hot Day, without any Refreshment; The Number Kill'd and Wounded, amongst whom were some, that were Persons of Distinction on both sides; will doubtless grant that this Action Merits a Room in the History of our New-English Wars, whenever a Continuance of it shall be Publish'd If any judge, I've observ'd some Circumstances in this Action too Minute, I've only to say, if some such Persons or their Relations had been in the Action, it's possible they would not have been of this Opinion. However, those who I am firstly Oblig'd to Gratify, wont easily come into their Sentiments in this matter. And I must beg of the others to forgive me this Wrong, and that they'd only consider, the Different Taste of Readers, & consequently the extreme Difficulty, if not Impossibility of pleasing every Body, in a Performance of this Nature. And yet none would be more willing to do it, than the Unworthy Author, who is a Hearty Lover of His Country, and of all Good Men of every Denomination.
T. SYMMES.
An ATTESTATION.
WE whose Names are hereunto Subscrib'd, having had the Preceeding Narrative carefully Read to us (tho' we can't each of us, indeed, Attest to every particular Article & Circumstance in it,) yet we can and do Aver that the Substance of it is True; and are well Satisfy'd in the Truth of the whole.
SETH WYMAN. EBENEZER AYER. ABIEL ASTEN.
The Names of the Men Kill'd at the Fight at Piggwacket, and of the Wounded Lost by the way Returning Homewards.
I. Kill'd and left on the Spot.
These 12 found & Buried by Col. Tyng in the Field of Battle.
1. Capt. Iohn Lovewell, of Dunstable.
2. Ensign Ionathan Robbins, Ditto
3. Ensign Iohn Harwood, Ditto
4. Mr. Robert Usher, Ditto
5. Mr. Iacob Fullam, Weston.
6. Mr. Iacob Farrah, Concord.
7. Mr. Iosiah Davis, Ditto
8. Mr. Thomas Woods, Groton.
9. Mr. Daniel Woods, Ditto
10. Mr. Iohn Iefts, Ditto
11. Mr. Ichabod Iohnson, Woborn.
12. Mr. Ionathan Kitteridge, Billerica.
II. Wounded, and Lost by the way.
1. Lieut. Iosiah Farwell, of Dunstable·
2. Mr. Ionathan Frie, Chaplain, Andover.
3. Mr. Elias Barron, Groton.