Narrative of the Indian Wars in New England, Letter 1 (2 of 4)

Narrative of the Indian Wars in New England · Letter 1 (2 of 4)

p. 95NOVEMBER 1ſt, 1675, Capt. Henchman marched out of Boſton, inter ding to viſit the Indians about Haſſanemeſit: The third day they ſaw ſome fires of the Indians, yet could not meet with them that made them: p. 96The 4th day they marched to ſome part of the Indian plantations called Haſſanemeſit: The Captain would have taken up his quarters a mile on this ſide, but ſome of his officers over-ruled him, to whoſe importunity he gave way, and marched a mile further toward the enemy, and by that means ſaved the miller's youth, taken the week before from Marlborough; for in the morning very early, as the ſcouts were looking out, they ſpyed a wigwam, where ſome Indians that had carried away the youth, had lodged all night, or in ſome wigwam near by. When the Indians ſaw our ſoldiers, they haſted away, and left the Marlborough youth behind them, who by that means eſcaped their hands. Our men under Capt. Henchman marched on to Poppachuog, and finding the Indians all fled, (although they perceived by a meſſenger accidentally ſent back, that the Indians followed them all that way they marched) they came back to Mendham to ſettle things in that town. Some of the inhabitants informed them of ſome Indian wigwams about ten miles off: The Captain with Philip Curtice, his Lieutenant, reſolved to give them a camiſado in their wigwams that night: To that and they mounted 22 upon horſes, riding up ten miles into the woods, and when they came rear the wigwams, they diſmounted, and intended preſently to march up, and give an aſſau…t upon them, after they had firſt made a ſhout to fright the enemy: They ordered one half to follow the Lieutenant, the other to follow the Captain, when they came within a quarter of a mile of the place, their dogs began to bark, at which they ſtop'd, and by marching again, intended preſently to fire in upon them, but the Captain's foot ſlipping, he could hardly recover himſelf, when ſuddenly looking behind him, he ſay, no man following of him: The Lieutenant had five behind him, who with thoſe five reſolutely filed on that ſide he was appointed to make the aſſault upon; but they were repulſed by the Indians, who firing out of their dens, ſhot down the Lieutenant and another, the reſt preſently ran away to a fence: The Captain with all vehemency urged them to ſtay, they replied, they went p. 97back only to … means, together …, ſo ſad a loſs befel the company, as could not eaſily he repaired: However, the enemy preſently deſerted the wigwam and gave our men the next day an opporunity to fetch off their two dead men, and bury them, and ſo with grief and ſhame were conſtrained to return to their quarters at Mendham, to whoſe inhabitants they gave notice of 200 buſhels of corn belonging to the Indians, that might have been preſerved, which for want of hands was loſt by the fire, that the enemy might not be benefited thereby. It appears by the foregoing paſſage, that the time of our deliverance was not yet come, and that God had further …ials to acquaint us with before he would turn his hand upon our enemies. But it pleaſed the Lord in mercy ſo to order things, that they themſelves fell into that pit they were digging for others, as ſhall appear more fully in what follows.

THE Engliſh plantations about Hadley being for the preſent ſet a little at liberty by the Indians drawing off, like ſeamen after a ſtorm, counted it their beſt courſe to repair their tackling againſt another that may be next coming, wherefore the inhabitants concluded it the ſafer way to make a kind of barricado about their towns, by ſetting up pallizadoes or cleft wood, about eight foot long, as it were to break the force of any ſudden aſſault which the Indians might make upon them; which counſel proved very ſucceſsful; for although it be an inconſiderable defence againſt a warlike enemy, that hath ſtrength enough, and confidence to beſiege a place, yet it is ſufficient to prevent any ſudden aſſault of ſuch a timorous and barbarous enemy as theſe were, for although they did afterwards in the ſpring break through thoſe pallizadoes at North Hampton, yet as ſoon as ever they began to be repulſed, they ſaw themſelves like wolves in a pound, that they could not fly away at their pleaſure, ſo as they never adventured to break through afterward upon any of the towns ſo ſecured.

p. 98AS for thoſe of Springfield they were now and then alarmed with a few ſkulking Indians lurking about in the adjacent woods; as once at the Long Meadow, where half a ſcore of them were ſeen about an houſe remote from the town, who were purſued by a party of the Engliſh toward Windſor, and ſo eſcaped, after the Engliſh had made one ſhot upon them, not knowing certainly how many they killed. So at another time, a ſew of thoſe barbarous wretches killed a poor man belonging to Springfield, as he was going to his houſe to look after his corn, on the other ſide of the river, and after they had killed the man, they burnt down his houſe; yet attempted no further miſchief upon that part of the town that had eſcaped the fury of the flames, October 5. By which it is evident, that all the number of Indians that had aſſaulted them before, had withdrawn themſelves now to their winter quarters, ſome to the Dutch River, but the greateſt number of them to beſure were found in the winter at the Narrhaganſet fort, where we ſhall leave them for the preſent till the forces of the united colonies ſhall fire them out of their neſts.

THE ſoldiers continuing ſome time at Hatfield after this victory, as we may well call it (for it ſeems to have given the firſt check to the rage of the heathen within the juriſdiction of the united colonies, they have been obſerved ever ſince to have been on the looſing hand, ſeldom or ever daring to meet our ſoldiers in the open field, unleſs when they have very great advantage as to their numbers, or covert of the woods and buſhes: Although like ſome ranging beaſts they have done much miſchief ſeveral times ſince, when they were ready to expire, or when the pangs of death were coming upon them) our forces were all called home, ſave ſome left for garriſoning the towns thereabouts.

THE Commiſſioners of the united colonies taking into ſerious conſideration the preſent ſtate of things, viz. that there were before this time ſo many hundreds p. 99gathered together into one body, and that there was great reaſon to fear, if they were let alone till the next ſpring they might all riſe together as one man round about us, and that one town after another might eaſily be deſtroyed, before any help could be diſpatched to them. On the one hand, the ſharpneſs of the winter in theſe parts was well weighed, ſo extream that it might hazard the loſs of a thouſand men in one night, if they were forced to lodge abroad in the open field; as alſo the difficulty, if not impoſſibility of ſending any relief to them at any diſtance, the depth of ſnow uſually making the ways unpaſſable for divers months together.

ON the other hand, it was conſidered, that if the enemy were let alone till the next ſummer, it would be impoſſible to deal with them, or find them any where, but they might waſte one company of ſoldiers after another, as was ſeen by the experience of the former year. Conſidering alſo that the Narrhaganſets, the moſt numerous of all the reſt, and the beſt provided of proviſion of all the other Indians, had now declared themſelves our enemies, who if they were let alone till the winter was over, we ſhould be unable to deal with ſo many enemies at once, that could on a ſudden on any occaſion ſpread themſelves like graſhoppers all over the country.

IT was therefore finally agreed upon by the general conſent of all, to fall upon the winter quarters of our enemies, by a more conſiderable army (if I may ſo call it) gathered out of all the three colonies, and that with all expedition, at fartheſt not to exceed the 10th of December, before they ſhould have a thouſand men in arms, ready for the deſign.

AS for the late league made or rather renewed with the Narrhaghanſets, it was ſufficiently evident and known, that they had all along from the firſt day when it was confirmed, broken every article of it, eſpecially in not delivering up the enemies, which had p. 68duplicate page p. 69duplicate page p. 70duplicate page p. 71duplicate page p. 72duplicate page p. 73duplicate page p. 74duplicate page p. 75duplicate page p. 76duplicate page p. 77duplicate page p. 78duplicate page p. 79duplicate page p. 80duplicate page p. 81duplicate page p. 82duplicate page p. 83duplicate page p. 84duplicate page p. 85duplicate page p. 86duplicate page p. 87duplicate page p. 88duplicate page p. 89duplicate page p. 90duplicate page p. 91duplicate page p. 92duplicate page p. 93duplicate page p. 94duplicate page p. 95duplicate page p. 96duplicate page p. 97duplicate page p. 98duplicate page p. 99duplicate page p. 100ſheltered themſelves with them all this while, which though they did not poſitively deny, yet did nothing but find excuſes, to defer it one week after another, till at the laſt they would be excuſed till the next ſpring, upon pretence that they could not before that time get them together. And beſides, the favouring of thoſe that fled to them, and ſupplying the whole body of the enemy with victuals, upon all occaſions. It was likewiſe ſtrongly ſuſpected that in all the late proceedings of the enemy, many of their young men were known to be actually in arms againſt us, many of whom were found either wounded amongſt them in their wigwams, or elſewhere occaſionally ſeen returning back, after exploits abroad, to be healed of their wounds at home. Alſo ſome of our mens guns that were loſt at Deerfield, were found in the fort when it was fined. Therefore all ſcruples as to the juſtneſs and neceſſity of the war being removed, the only queſtion was, whether it were feaſible and expedient in the winter. The exigent was very great, and the choice very hard: But as David when he was ſtreightened with many difficulties at once, choſe rather to fall into the hands of God whoſe mercies were great, though he might be provoked to cauſe his jealouſy to ſmoak againſt thoſe of his own heritage for a time; ſo in this exigent it was generally conceived to be moſt expedient for the country, to caſt themſelves upon the providence of a merciful and gracious God, rather than by delays to expoſe themſelves to the treachery and cruelty of a perfidious enemy.

A WAR therefore ſpeedily to be carried on in the very depth of winter. being agreed upon, care was taken for ſupplies, as the difficulty of ſuch an affairs ſo circumſtanced did require, though poſſibly not with ſo much neceſſary care, and ſo ſuitable proviſion, as had been deſired, if what came afterward to paſs could have been foreſeen (which peradventure might be the reaſon things went on ſo heavily for want of well oiling the wheels) in the mean time a ſmall army of a a thouſand fighting men, well appointed, were ordered p. 101by the Commiſſioners to be gathered by proportion out of all the colonies, of which number the ſhare of the Maſſachuſets was to be 527, the reſt were to be ſupplied out of Plimouth and Connecticut colonies: All other ſupplies were taken care for, as well as the ſuddenneſs of the expedition, and difficulty of the ſeaſon would allow. The ſaid thouſand men, beſide ſome voluntiers of Indian friends, were by the time and place appointed as near as could be had, called together, and a commiſſion granted to the honorable Joſiah Winſlow, Eſq the preſent Governor of Plimouth colony, a man of known ability and integrity, every way ſo well qualified with courage and reſolution, as well as prudence and diſcretion, as might have preferred him to the conduct of a far greater army than ever is like to be gathered together in this part of the world, in this or in following generations. And indeed as he was the firſt Governor over any of the united colonies in New England, of them that were born in the place, ſo may he well paſs for a pattern of any of the ſucceeding race, that may come after.

UNDER him as Commander in Chief, were ordered ſix companies from the Maſſachuſets, under the command of Major Appleton, Capt. Moſely, Capt. Gardener, Capt. Davenport, Capt. Oliver, Capt. Johnſon; five companies from Connecticut under Major Treat, Capt. Siely, Capt. Gallop, Capt. Maſon, Capt. Watts, and Capt. Marſhall; two companies from Plimouth, under Major Bradford, and Capt. Goram.

UNDER the Governor of Plimouth, as Commander in Chief in this expedition, were ſent as Majors of the forces belonging to each colony; Major Robert Treat, for the forces belonging to Connecticut, and Major Bradford, for thoſe of the colony of Plimouth, and Major Samuel Appleton, for thoſe of the Maſſachuſets, to whom by the honorable Major General of the colony, were ſix companies of foot, delivered at Dedham, December the 9th, 1675, containing in number p. 102465 fighting men, beſides a troop of horſe, under the command of Capt. Thomas Prentice, attending upon them. That night they marched to Woodcock's, about 27 miles from Dedham. The next night they arrived at Seaconck, Capt. Moſely and his company went from thence with Mr. Smith by water, the reſt ferſied over the water to Providence.

THE next day, December the 12th, they paſſed over Patuxet river, and then marching through Pomham's country; at night they met with Capt. Moſely and his company, at Mr. Smith's in Wickford, the place intended for their head-quarters. Capt. Moſely in his way thither had happily ſurpriſed 36 Indians, one of whom he took along with him as a guide, Peter by name, that was at that time under ſome diſguſt with his country-men, or his Sachem, which made him prove the more real friend to our forces in that ſervice, wherein he faithfully performed what he promiſed, and without his aſſiſtance our men would have been much at a loſs to have found the enemy, until it had been too late to have fought them.

Two days after, December 14th, five files of men ſent out under ſerjeant Bonnet, and another, upon the ſcout, killed one man and one woman, and brought in four more by one of the clock: The whole company marched after into ſome of the Sachem's country, where they burnt an 150 wigwams, killed 7 of the enemy, and brought in 8 priſoners when they returned at night.

THE next day an Indian called Stone wall John, pretended to come from the Sachems, intimating their willingneſs to have peace with the Engliſh, yet could the meſſenger hardly for bear threatning, vapouring of their numbers and ſtrength, adding wichal that the Engliſh durſt not fight them: Whatever were pretend by this treacherous fellow, ſome of his crew as he want home met with ſome of Capt. Gardner's men, that were ſtragling about their own buſineſs, contrary p. 103to order, and ſlew his ſerjeant with one or two more. Two alſo of Capt. Oliver's men were killed in like manner; a ſolemn warning for ſoldiers not to be too venterous in an enemy's country. For preventing the like miſchief upon other companies, more care was taken as they paſſed to the head-quarters, ſome of the companies being lodged three miles therefrom. Capt. Moſely's, Capt. Dapenport's, and Capt. Oliver's Companies being alſo ſent about that time to bring Major. Appleton's to the general quarters, a few deſperate Indians creeping under a ſtone wall near the place, fired twenty or thirty guns at Moſely in particular, a commander well known amongſt them, but the reſt of the company running down upon them, killed one of them, and ſcattered the reſt.

THE next day Capt. Prentice with his troop, being ſent to Pettyquamſcot, returned with the ſad news of burning Jerry Bull's garriſon houſe, and killing 10 Engliſh men and five women and children, but two eſcaped in all. This is the chance of war which they who undertake, muſt prepare to undergo.

THE next day brought from the ſame place a little better news, though not enough to balance the ſorrow of the former, viz. that Connecticut forces were come thither with three hundred Engliſh, and an hundred and fifty Mohegins, ready fixed to war on the behalf of the Engliſh againſt the Narrhaganſets, their mortal enemies; and by the way meeting a party of the enemy, they ſlew 5 or 6 of them and took as many priſoners. The whole number of all our forces being now come, the want of proviſion with the ſharpneſs of the cold, minded them of expedition, wherefore the very next day, the whole body of the Maſſachuſets and Plimouth forces marched away to Pettyquamſcot intending to engage the enemy upon the firſt opportunity that next offered itſelf: To the which reſolution thoſe of Connecticut preſently conſented, as ſoon as they met together, which was about five o'clock in the afternoon: Bull's houſe intended for their general rendezvous, being unhappily burnt down two or three days before, p. 104there was no ſhelter left either for officers or private ſoldiers, ſo as they were neceſſitated to march on toward the enemy through the ſnow, in a cold ſtormy evening, finding no other defence all that night, ſave the open air, nor any other covering than a cold and moiſt fleece of ſnow. Through all theſe difficulties they marched from the break of the next day, December 19th, till one of the clock in the afternoon, without either fire to warm them, or reſpite to take any food, ſave what they could chew in their march. Thus having waded fourteen or fifteen miles through the country of the old Queen, or Sunke Squaw of Narrhaganſet, they came at one o'clock upon the edge of the ſwamp where their guide aſſured them they ſhould find Indians enough before night.

OUR forces chopping thus upon the ſeat of the enemy, upon the ſudden, they had no time either to draw up in any order or form of battle, nor yet opportunity to conſult where or how to aſſault. As they marched Capt. Moſely and Capt. Davenport led the van, Major Appleton and Capt. Oliver brought up the rear of the Maſſachuſets forces; General Winſlow with the Plimouth forces marched in the centre; thoſe of Connecticut came up in the rear of the whole body: But the frontiers diſcerning Indians in the edge of the ſwamp, fired immediately upon them, who anſwering our men in the ſame language, retired preſently into the ſwamp, our men followed them in amain, without ſtaying for the word of command, as if every one were ambitious who ſhould go firſt, never making any ſtand till they came to the ſides of the fort, into which the Indians that firſt fired upon them betook themſelves.

IT ſeems that there was but one enterance into the fort, tho' the enemy found many ways to come out, but neither the Engliſh or their guide well knew on which ſide the enterance lay; nor was it eaſy to have made another; wherefore the good providence of Almighty God is the more to be acknowledged, who as he led p. 105Iſrael ſometimes by the pillar of fire, and the cloud of his preſence, a right way thro' the wilderneſs, ſo did he now direct our forces upon that ſide of the fort, where they might only enter through not without utmoſt danger and hazard. The fort was raiſed upon a kind of iſland of five or ſix acres of riſing land in the midſt of a ſwamp; the ſides of it were made of palizadoes, ſet upright, the which was compaſſed about with an hedge of almoſt a rod thickneſs, through which there was no paſſing, unleſs they could have fired a way through, which then they had no time to do. The place where the Indians uſed ordinarily to enter themſelves, was upon a long tree over a place of water, where but one man could enter at a time, and which was ſo way-laid that they would have been cut off that had ventured there: But at one corner there was a cap made up only with a long tree, about four or five foot from the ground, over which men might eaſily paſs: But they had placed a kind of a block-houſe right over againſt the ſaid tree, from whence they ſorely galled our men that firſt entered, ſome being ſhot dead upon the tree, as Capt. Johnſon; and ſome as ſoon as they entered, as was Capt. Davenport; ſo as they that firſt entered were forced preſently to retire, and fall upon their bellies till the fury of the enemy's ſhot was pretty well ſpent, which ſome companies that did not diſcern the danger, not obſerving, loſt ſundry of their men, but at the laſt two companies being brought up, beſides the four that firſt marched up, they animated one another, to make another aſſault, one of the commanders crying out, they run, they run, which did ſo encourage the ſoldiers that they preſently entered amain. After a conſiderable number were well entered, they preſently beat the enemy out of a flanker on the left hand, which did a little ſhelter our men from the enemy's ſhot, till more company came up, and ſo by degrees made up higher, firſt into the middle, and then into the upper end of the fort, till at laſt they made the enemy all retire from their ſconces, and fortified places, leaving multitudes of their dead bodies upon the place. Connecticut ſoldiers marching up in the rear, being not p. 106aware of the dangerous paſſage over the tree, in command of the enemy's block-houſe, were at their firſt enterance many of them ſhot down, although they came on with as gallant reſolution as any of the reſt, under the conduct of their wiſe and valiant leader, Major Treat.

THE brunt of the battle, or danger that day lay moſt upon the commanders whoſe part it was to lead on their ſeveral companies in the very face of death, or elſe all had been loſt; ſo as all of them with great valour and reſolution of mind, as not at all afraid to die in ſo good a cauſe, bravely …ed on their men in that deſperate aſſault; leaving their lives in the place as the beſt teſtimony of their valour, and of love to the cauſe of God and their country: No leſs than fix brave Captains fell that day in the aſſault, viz. Capt. Davenport, Capt. Gardner, Capt. Johnſon, of the Maſſachuſets, beſides Lieutenant Upham, who died ſome months after of his wounds received at that time. Capt. Gallop alſo, and Capt. Siely, and Capt. Marſhall were ſlain of thoſe belonging to Connecticut colony. It is uſually ſeen that the valour of the ſoldiers is much wrapped up in the lives of their Commanders, yet was it found here, that the ſoldiers were rather enraged than diſcouraged by the loſs of their Commanders, which made them redouble their courage, and not give back after they were entered the ſecond time, till they had driven out their enemies: So after much blood and many wounds dealt on both ſides; the Engliſh ſeeing their advantage, began to fire the wigwams, where was ſuppoſed to be many of the enemies women and children deſtroyed, by the firing of at leaſt five or ſix hundred of their ſmoaky cells.

IT is reported by them that firſt entered the Indians fort, that our ſoldiers came upon them when they were ready to dreſs their dinner, but our ſudden and unexpected aſſault put them beſide that work, making their cook-rooms too hot for them at that time, when they and their mitchin fried together: And probably ſome of them eat their ſuppers in a colder place that p. 107night: Moſt of their proviſion as well as their huts being then conſumed with fire, and thoſe that were left alive forced to hide themſelves in a cedar ſwamp, not far off, where they had nothing to defend them from the cold but bought of ſpruce and pine trees: For after two or three hours fight, the Engliſh became makers of the place, but not judging it tenable, after they had burned all they could ſet fire upon, they were forced to retreat, after the day light was almoſt quite ſpent, and were neceſſitated to retire to their quarters, full fifteen or ſixteen miles off, ſome ſay more, whither with their dead and wounded men they were to march, a difficulty ſcarce to be believed, as not to be paralleld almoſt in any former age.

IT is hard to ſay who acquitted themſelves beſt in that day's ſervice, either the ſoldiers for their manlike valour in fighting, or the Commanders for their wiſdom and courage, leading on in the very face of death. There might one have ſeen the whole body of that little regimental army, as buſy as bees in a hive, ſome bravely fighting with the enemy, others hauling off, and carrying away the dead and wounded men (which I rather note) that none may want the due teſtimony of their valour and faithfulneſs, though all ought to ſay, not unto us, but unto thy name, O Lord, &c.

FOR though there might not be above three or four hundred at any time within the fort at once, yet the reſt in their turns came up to do what the exigence of the ſervice required in bringing off the dead and wounded men: Maſſachuſetts regiment, together with Captain Moſely, was very ſerviceable, for by that means the fort being clear of the dead bodies, it ſtruck a greater terror into the enemy, to ſee but eight or ten dead bodies of the Engliſh left, than to meet with ſo many hundreds of their own ſlain and wounded carcaſes. The number of the ſlain was not then known on the enemy's ſide, becauſe our men were forced to leave them on the ground: But our victory was found afterwards to be much more conſiderable than at the firſt p. 108was apprehended; for although our loſs was very great, not only becauſe of the deſperateneſs of the attempt itſelf (in ſuch a ſeaſon of the year, and at ſuch a diſtance from our quarters, whereby many of our wounded men periſhed, which might otherwiſe have been preſerved, if they had not been forced to march ſo many miles in a cold ſnowy night, before they could be dreſſed) yet the enemy loſt ſo many of their principal fighting men, their proviſion alſo was by the burning of their wigwams, ſo much of it ſpoiled, at the taking of their fort, and by ſurprizing ſo much of their corn about that time alſo; that it was the occaſion of their total ruin afterwards: They being at that time driven away from their habitations, and put by from planting for the next year, as well as deprived of what they had in ſtore for the preſent winter. What numbers of the enemy were ſlain is uncertain, it was confeſſed by one Poteck, a great Councellor amongſt them, afterwards taken at Rhode-Iſland, and put to death at Boſton, that the Indians loſt 700 fighting men that day, beſides 300 that died of their wounds, the moſt of them: The number of old men, women and childen, that periſhed either by fire, or that were ſtarved with hunger and cold, none of them could tell. There was above 80 of the Engliſh ſlain, and and 150 wounded, that recovered afterwards.

THERE were ſeveral circumſtances in this victory very remarkable.

Firſt, The meeting with one Peter a fugitive Indian, that upon ſome diſcontent, flying from the Narrhaganſets, offered himſelf to the ſervice of the Engliſh, and did faithfully perform what he promiſed, viz. to lead them to the ſwamp where the Indians had ſeated themſelves within a fort raiſed upon an iſland of firm earth, in the midſt of a ſwamp, whither none of the Engliſh could have piloted them without his aſſiſtance, the place being near eighteen miles from the place where they were quartered.

Secondly, Their being by a ſpecial providence directed juſt to a place where they found ſo eaſy enterance, p. 109which if they had miſſed they could never have made a way through the hedge, with which they had ſurrounded the pallizadoes of the fort in half a day's time.

AND Thirdly, If they had entered by the way left by the Indians for paſſage, they might have been cut off, before they could have come near their fortification.

Laſtly, In directing their motion to begin the aſſault juſt at the day they did, for if they had deferred but a day longer, there fell ſuch a ſtorm of ſnow the next day, that they could not have paſſed through it in divers weeks after: And on a ſudden there fell ſuch a thaw, that melted away both ice and ſnow, ſo that if they had deferred till that time, they could have found no paſſage into their fortified place.

ALL which conſiderations put together, make it a ſignal favour of God to carry them through ſo many difficulties to accompliſh their deſired end. For after they were retired to their quarters, but ſixteen miles from that place, there was ſo great want of proviſion, the veſſels being frozen in at the harbour about Cape-Cod, that ſhould have brought them relief, and the froſt and ſnow ſet in ſo violently, that it was not poſſible for them, with all the force they could make (ſo many of their ableſt ſoldiers being ſlain and wounded) to have made another onſet: But the goodneſs of Almighty God was moſt of all to be admired, that notwithſtanding all the hardſhips they endured that winter, in very cold lodgings, hard marches, ſcarcity of proviſion, yet not one man was known to die by any diſeaſe or bodily diſtemper, ſave them that periſhed of their wounds.

OUR forces being compelled by the aforeſaid occaſions, to lie ſtill ſome weeks after, hoped alſo that the enemy ſo ſorely broken, would gladly have ſued for peace: But as was ſaid of old, God hardened their p. 110hearts to their own ruin and deſtruction afterwards. For us ſoon as our ſoldiers were able to march, finding that all the enemy's overtures of peace, and prolonging of treaties, was only to gain time, that they might get away into the woods; they purſued after them, and ſometimes came upon their rear, but then they would immediately fly an hundred ways at once into ſwamp…, ſo as our men could not follow them, or if they did, could not ſee two of them together; ſo that now there was little good like to be done, unleſs they could take them at ſome advantage. At length having ſpent all their proviſion, and tiring themſelves in purſuing of them ſixty or ſeventy miles, up through the woods towards Marlborough and Lancaſter, towns that lye on the road to Connecticut, having killed and taken near 70 of them, our ſoldiers were ordered to return towards Boſton, to recruit themſelves, ſuppoſing that the Narrbaganſets, and thoſe with them were ſo enfeebled that they would have no mind ſuddenly to aſſault any of the Engliſh towns.

IF any deſire a more particular account of the loſs which we ſuſtained at the taking of the Narrhaganſet fort, December 19th, 1675, they may take it as here it follows:

BESIDES the ſix Captains mentioned before, that either were ſlain in the aſſault, or died afterwards of their wounds, to whom may be reckoned Lieutenant Upham, that died lately at Boſton, of the wounds he then received:

THERE were out of the company belonging to

p. 111THERE were ſlain and wounded of

IF there had not been ſo great a diſtance between the place of the fight and their quarters, and ſo much cold attending them in their retiring thereunto, ſome better account might have been given of that expedition, than now they were able to do. For a march of ſixteen or eighteen miles is too much to breathe a freſh ſoldier, unleſs he were well mounted; but enough to kill the heart of them that have been wearied with a long and tedious fight. As for the coldneſs of the weather, although it be a good beſom to ſweep the chamber of the air (which might be the reaſon there was no more diſeaſes amongſt them) yet it is an unwelcome companion to wearied, eſpecially to wounded men, in ſo long a retreat.

BUT the want of proviſion falling in, in conjunction with the unſeaſonableneſs of the weather, and length of the way, hindred our forces from any new attempt upon the enemy, which if they could have attended, it was thought it might have put an end to our troubles; but he that holdeth the ſcales of victory in his hand, turpeth them to which ſide; and by what degrees pleaſeth him beſt.

THE reſt of the winter was ſpent in fruitleſs treaties about a peace; both ſides being well wearied with the late deſperate fight, were willing to refreſh themſelves the remaining part of the winter, with the ſhort ſlumber of a pretended peace, at leaſt with a talk or dream thereof: Our Commaſiders aim therein was chriſtian and good, if it had proceeded, ſc. to have p. 112prevented the ſhedding of more blood: And poſſibly ſome of the elder and wiſer of the enemy, did really deſire what was pretended by them all (for they had now full proof of the valour and reſolution of the Engliſh, which ſome of them upon former ſucceſſes might be ready to queſtion) and they could not but ſee their deſtruction already begun, in the loſs of their dwellings, and all their proviſions, as well as the ſlaughter of the beſt part of their fighting men; but through conſciouſneſs of their barbarous treachery and falſehood, they could not truſt others, and ſo were willing to run the utmoſt hazard, as people hardened to their own deſtruction. The particular paſſages of the treaty being carried on by the enemy only in pretence, and by our men (that ſoon diſcerned their fraud) rather out of neceſſity, to conceal their incapacity of engaging them anew, than any real expectation of a good effect, are not worthy the relating. However, though the foot were unable to do any ſervice in the depth of the ſnow, and ſharpneſs of the cold, the troop was ſent out upon all occaſions to ſcout about the country, who brought in daily much of the enemy's corn and beans, which they had hid in barns under the ground, or at leaſt kept them from making uſe of their own proviſion, or ſpoiling the Engliſh cattle; now and then alſo bringing in priſoners from their quarters, as they were ſtragling about to get victuals.

ON the 27th of December, Capt. Prentice was ſent into Pomham's country, where he burnt near an hundred wigwams, but found never an Indian in any of them.

ON the 28th of December, a ſquaw was ſent to them, who had been taken in the fight, with a proffer of peace, if they would ſubmit to ſuch terms as were propounded; the principal of which was, the delivering up all Philip's Indians that were with them; the ſquaw returned, not pretending that ſhe was lame and unable to come again; but the 30th of December, an Indian came from the Sachems, with ſeeming thanks for the p. 113peace proffered, yet complained we made war upon them, and gave them no notice; but his mouth was ſoon ſtopped, by the anſwer they made him: He owned, as the ſquaw had ſaid before, that they loſt 300 of their beſt fighting men, and ſo did two priſoners of theirs, taken January the 4th, whereof one being of Philip's company, was put to death. The meſſenger that was ſent was fairly diſmiſſed, with the expreſs mention of what terms they muſt expect, if they deſired a peace.

January 4th, there came two meſſengers from them, as they ſaid to make way for a treaty of peace; who laid the blame upon Canouchet, that came to Boſton in October laſt, to confirm the peace with the Commiſſioners of the united colonies, as if he had miſinformed them, viz. that they were not by the former treaty to have delivered up the Wompanoogs, or Philip's Indians, until the ſaid Canonchet's brother, one of the hoſtages at Hartford, was releaſed. This was but a mere pretence, for he and they too, better underſtood the particulars of the agreement: For by chance the articles which they had of the peace concluded with them, were found open (whether purpoſely or accidentally was not known) in a wigwam in the fort, when it was taken, ſo as they could not be ignorant of the articles of the agreement.

January 5th, an Engliſh child of about three or four years old, taken from Warwick, was ſent in to put the better pretence upon the treaty mentioned.

January 8th, the meſſengers were ſent back, and told what they muſt truſt to. In the afternoon a meſſenger came from Ninigret, the old Sachem of Narrbaganſet, who brought a letter from Mr. Stanton, the interpreter, ſignifying the reality of the ſaid Ninigret, his friendſhip to the Engliſh, and the ſtreights of the enemy, that corn was two ſhillings a pint with them. Yet notwithſtanding all their difficulties, they rather delayed the time till they could get away, than p. 114really endeavoured the making a peace, as was ſoon manifeſt: For that young inſolent Sachem, Canonchet, and Panoquin, ſaid they would fight it out to the laſt man, rather than they would become ſervants to the Engliſh.

January 10th, freſh ſupplies of ſoldiers came up from Boſton, wading through a ſharp ſtorm of ſnow, that bit ſome of them by the heels with the froſt. The next day one that came with them, going out with the ſcouts, fell amongſt the Indians barns, in one of which, as he was groping to find corn for the relief of his horſe, he catched hold of an Indian's hair, under the leaves, who preſently held up his hands, when the ſoldier was drawing his ſword, to ſpare his life, which was granted, but after he was brought to the headquarters, he would own nothing but what was forced out of his mouth, by the woolding of his head with a cord, wherefore he was preſently judged to die as a Wompanoog.

January 12th, another meſſenger came from Canonicus, deſiring the ſpace of a month longer, wherein to iſſue the treaty, which ſo provoked the Commander of our forces, that they reſolved to have no more treaties with the enemy, but prepare to aſſault them, with God's aſſiſtance, as ſoon as ever the ſeaſon would permit, and it was high time to take up that reſolution, for within a few day's after, they underſtood by ſome that were taken priſoners, that the enemy were gone, or going into the Nipmuck country.

WITHIN a few days after, about the 16th of January, the ſcouts brought in one Joſhua Tift, a renegado Engliſhman, of Providence, that upon ſome diſcontent amongſt his neighbours, had turned Indian, married one of the Indian ſquaws, renounced his religion, nation, and natural parents, all at once, fighting … them. He was taken by Capt. Fenner, of Providence, who with ſome of his neighbours were purſuing ſome Indians that had driven away their cattle. p. 115This Tift being one of the company, was wounded in the knee, and ſo was ſeized by the Engliſh; he had in his habit conformed himſelf to them amongſt whom he lived. After examination, he was condemned to die the death of a traitor. As to his religion he was found as ignorant as an heathen, which no doubt cauſed the fewer tears to be ſhed at his funeral, ſtanders-by being unwilling to laviſh pity upon him that had diveſted himſelf of nature itſelf, as well as religion, in a time when ſo much pity was needed elſewhere, and nothing left beſides wherewith to relieve the ſufferers.

January 21ſt. Capt. Prentice's troop being abroad, met with a party of the enemy, of whom they took two priſoners, and killed nine; in which exploit, ſomething happened very remarkable, for one W. Dodge, of Salem, riding in company with another friend, they happened to meet with two Indians, the ſaid Dodge being better horſed than his friend, made after the foremoſt, leaving his friend to deal with the hindmoſt, but his piſtol miſſed firing, whereupon the Indian taking him by the leg, turned him off his horſe, and getting upon him, was about killing him with his knife, which W. Dodge by chance eſpied, and came time enough to reſcue his friend, and diſpatch the Indian lying upon him, and yet overtook the firſt Indian he was purſuing, time enough to do his buſineſs alſo: By that means he did three good offices at once, ſaved the life of one friend, and ſlew two of his enemies. But within two or three days after, the weather much altering from what it was, induced our forces to take the firſt opportunity to purſue the enemy, who as they underſtood by meſſengers from Providence, were now upon their flight into the Nipmuck country: But ſo many difficulties were caſt in their way, that they could not be ready time enough to prevent the miſchief they did at Warwick, as they took their farewell of their country. For,

January 27th they … Mr. Carpenter of two p. 116hundred ſheep, and fifty head of neat cattle, and fifteen horſes; all which they drove along with them, and were gone too far to be reſcued before our forces ſet out. Two that belonged to the ſaid Carpenter were wounded, and one of the enemy's ſlain. As they marched after the enemy, they found a good houſe burned, with a barn belonging to it. They perceived alſo that the enemy dealt much in horſe-fleſh, meeting with no leſs than ſixty horſes heads in one place, which they had left behind them. Our ſoldiers in their purſuit, came upon their rear, killed and took about ſeventy of them, yet never could come to charge them, for they would preſently betake themſelves into ſwamps, and not two of them run together, ſo as they ſaw it was an endleſs work to proceed further in the chace of ſuch an enemy; but our forces having purſued them into the woods, between Marlborough and Brookfield, in the road toward Connecticut, were conſtrained to turn down to Boſton, in the beginning of February, for want of proviſion, both for themſelves and their horſes, which gave an occaſion to the loſs of thoſe leſſer towns that were deſtroyed by the Nipnet Indians, who preſently joined with the Narrhaganſets, upon their firſt approach, as ſhall be related afterwards.

ABOUT the 10th of February after, ſome hundreds of the Indians, whether Nipnets or Naſhaway men (is uncertain) belonging to him they call Sagamore Sam, and poſſibly ſome of the ſtouteſt of the Narrhaganſets that had eſcaped the winter brunt, fell upon Lancaſter, a ſmall village, of about fifty or ſixty families, and did much miſchief, burning moſt of the houſes that were not garriſoned: And which is moſt ſad and awful to conſider, the houſe of Mr. Rowlandſon, miniſter of the ſaid Lancaſter, which was garriſoned with a competent number of the inhabitants; yet the fortification of the houſe being on the back ſide, cloſed up with fire-wood, the Indians got ſo near as to fire a leanter, which burning the houſe immediately to the ground, all the perſons therein were put to the hard choice, either to periſh by the flames, with the houſe, or to p. 117yield themſelves into the hands of thoſe cruel ſavages, which laſt (conſidering that a living dog is better than a dead lion) they choſe, and ſo were forty-two perſons ſurprized by the Indians, above twenty of the women and children they carried away captive, a rueful ſpectacle to behold; the reſt being men, they killed in the place, or reſerved for further miſery: And many that were not ſlain in fighting, were killed in attempting to eſcape. The miniſter himſelf was occaſionally abſent, to ſeek help from the Governor and Council to defend that place, who returning, was entertained with the tragical news of his wife and children ſurprized, and being carried away by the enemy, and his houſe turned into aſhes, yet it pleaſed God ſo to uphold his heart, comforting himſelf in his God, as David at Ziklag, that he would always ſay, he believed he ſhould ſee his wife and children again, which did in like manner ſoon come to paſs within five or ſix months after; all, ſave the youngeſt, which being wounded at the firſt, died ſoon after among the Indians.¶¶A particular account of the ſufferings and captivity of Mrs. Rowlandſon, written by herſelf, may be had of the publiſher hereof. Price 6s.

AND ſuch was the goodneſs of God to thoſe poor captive women and children, that they found ſo much favor in the fight of their enemies, that they offered no wrong to any of their perſons, ſave what they could not help, being in many wants themſelves. Neither did they offer any uncivil carriage to any of the females, nor ever attempted the chaſtity of any of them, either being reſtrained of God, as was Abimeleck of old, or by ſome other accidental cauſe which withheld them from doing any wrong in that kind.

UPON the report of this diſaſter, Capt. Wadſworth, then at Marlborough, with about forty reſolute men, adventuring the reſcuing of the town that was remaining: And having recovered a bridge, they got over ſafe, though the planks were pulled off by the enemy, and p. 118being led up in a way, not diſcovered by them, they forced the Indians for the preſent to quit the place, after hey had burnt and deſtroyed the better half of it. Yet afterwards it not being judged tenable, it was abandoned to the pleaſure of the inſulting foe.

Ten days after they were ſo fluſhed with this ſucceſs, that two or three hundred of them came wheeling down to Medfield, a town twenty miles from Boſton, weſtward from Dedham, which they ſurprized very earl in the morning (and though there were one hundred and ſixty ſoldiers in it, or more, beſides the inhabitants) they burnt near one half of the town, killing about twenty perſons, but by the reſiſtance of the ſoldiers, as ſoon as they could be rallied together (it being at or before break of day, none in the leaſt ſuſpecting ſuch an aſſault ſo early) they were quickly forced to forſake the place, and ſo (not without ſome loſs) took their way to Plimouth colony.

THE weſtern towns above Connecticut were the chief ſeat of the war, and felt moſt of the miſchiefs thereof, in the end of the year 1675; but the ſcene is now to be changed; and the other towns and villages that lye eaſtward, nearer Boſton, muſt bear their part in the like tragedies: For as was ſaid before, the Narrhaganſets having been driven out of the country, fled through Nipnet plantations, towards Watchuſet hills, meeting with all the Indians that had harboured all winter in thoſe woods about Naſhaway, they all cambined againſt the Engliſh, yet divided their numbers, and one half of them were obſerved to bend their courſe toward Plimouth, taking Medfield in their way, which they endeavoured to burn and ſpoil, February 21ſt, 1675, as their fellows had done Lancaſter ten days before.

THE ſurpriſal of this Medfield, in regard of ſome remarkable circumſtances it was attended with, is not unworthy a more particular relating as to the manner thereof: The loſs of Lancaſter had ſufficiently awakened and alarmed the neighbouring villages, all to ſtand upon their guard; and ſome had obtained garriſoned ſoldiers for their greater ſecurity, as was the p. 119…ſe with the town of Medfield, within twenty-two miles of Boſton. And at that time were lodged therein ſeveral garriſon ſoldiers, beſides the inhabitants; yet being billeted up and down in all quarters of the town, could not be gathered together till a great part of the town was ſet on fire, and many of the inhabitants ſlain, which how it could be effected is ſtrange to believe: But moſt of thoſe inland plantations being overrun with young wood (the inhabitants being very apt to engroſs more land into their hands than they were able to ſubdue) as if they were ſeated in the midſt of a heap of buſhes: Their enemies took the advantage thereof, and ſecretly over night, conveyed themſelves round about the town, ſome getting under the ſides of their barns, and fences of their orchards, as is ſuppoſed, where they lay hid under that covert, till break of day, when they ſuddenly ſet upon ſundry houſes, ſhooting them that came firſt out of their doors, and then fired their houſes, eſpecially thoſe houſes where the inhabitants were repaired to garriſons, were fit for the purpoſe: Some were killed as they attempted to fly to their neighbours for ſhelter: Some were only wounded, and ſome taken alive and carried captive: In ſome houſes the huſband running away with one child, the wife with another, of whom the one was killed, the other eſcaped. They began at the eaſt end of the town, where they fired the houſe of one Samuel Morſe, that ſeems …o have been a ſignal to the reſt, to fall in on other parts: Mo… of the houſes in the weſt, or ſouthweſt and of the town, were ſoon burnt down: And generally when they burnt any out-houſes, the cattle in them were burnt alſo. Two mills belonging to the town, were burnt alſo: A poor old man of near an hundred years old, was burnt in one of the houſes that were conſumed by fire. The Lieutenant of the town, Adams by name, was ſhot down by … own door, and his wife normally wounded by a gun fired afterwards accidentally into the houſe. After the burning of forty or fifty nouſes and barns, the Cannibals were frighted away out of the town. over a bridge that lies upon Charles-River, by the ſh…ing off a …ece of ordnance p. 120two or three times: When they had paſſed over the bridge, they fired one end thereof, to hinder our men from purſuing them, they were thought to be above five hundred; there were ſlain and mortally wounded, ſeventeen or eighteen perſons, beſides others dangerouſly hurt. The loſs ſuſtained by the inhabitants amounted to above two thouſand pounds. This mercy was obſerved in this ſad providence, that never a garriſon houſe was loſt in this ſurpriſal; nor any of the principal dwellings, ſo as the chiefeſt and beſt of their buildings eſcaped the fury of the enemy, who as they paſſed the bridge, left a writing behind them, expreſſing ſomething to this purpoſe. that we had provoked them to wrath, and that they would fight with us theſe twenty years (but they fell ſhort of their expectation by nineteen) adding alſo, that they had nothing to looſe, whereas we had houſes, barns, and corn: Theſe were ſome of the bold threats uſed by the barbarous crew, but their rage ſhall proceed no further than the counſel of God had determined. The week before was heard a very hideous cry of a kennel of wolves round the town, which raiſed ſome of the inhabitants, and was looked upon by divers perſons, as an ominous preſaging of the following calamity.

ANOTHER aſſault was feared, but as ſoon as the ſoldiers could be gathered together, they turned their backs, as if they never intended to viſit them more: whither theſe Indians went when they left Medfield, is not ſo certainly known; the ſoldiers in the town not having opportunity to purſue them over the river, by reaſon that the bridge was part of it burned: But it is moſt probable that they took their way toward Plimouth, and continued about that ſide of the country for the future, waiting opportunities to do what miſchief they could to the Engliſh in thoſe parts: For within a month after this …ult of Medfield, there was near fix hundred of them …en about Pautuxet and Providence, where Capt. Pierce, with about fifty of his men were loſt, though with no great advantage to the enemy, who at that time loſt above double that number: Our worthy Captains in this and other exploits, being called p. 121ſo imitate Sampton, who was content to die with his enemies, that he might overthrow them thereby: It having ſo fallen out with many of our choice Commanders and ſoldiers a… Deerfield, Narrhaganſet, Pautuxet, and likewiſe not long after at Sudbury.

THE Governor and Council of Plimouth perceiving by the report of theſe outrages committed upon the towns of the Maſſachuſets, that they were like to be viſited this ſpring by their old neighbours, ſent out Capt. Peirce, of Scituate, about the latter end of March, with about fifty Engliſh, and twenty of their chriſtian Indians, about Cape-Cod, who proved none of his worſt ſoldiers, as the ſequal of this his laſt expedition will declare.

CAPT. Pierce, as is ſaid before, being ſent out to purſue the enemy, marched towards Pautuxet, where he underſtood the Indians were many of them gathered together: He being a man of reſolute courage, was willing to engage them though upon never at ſo great diſadvantage: Some ſay the Indians by counterfeiting, drilled him into a kind of ambuſh; poſſibly more of them diſcovered themſelves after he began to engage than he was aware of; and being got over the river in purſuit of them, where he diſcovered ſo great a number of them, he drew down towards the ſide of the river, hoping the better by that means to prevent their ſurrounding of him; but that proved his overthrow which he intended as his greateſt advantage: For the Indians getting over the river ſo galled him from thence, that he was not able to defend himſelf; thus aſſaulted on all ſides, and himſelf not being able to travel much a foot, was thereby hindred from retiring to any better place in time, ſo as he ſaw himſelf conſtrained to fight it out to the laſt, which he did with moſt undaunted courage, and as is ſaid, to the ſlaughter of an hundred and forty of his enemies, before himſelf and his company were cut off. It is ſaid alſo, that being apprehenſive of the danger he was in, by the great numbers of the enemy like to overpower him with their multitude, he ſeat a p. 122meſſenger timely enough to Providence, for relief, but as Solomon faith, a faithful meſſenger is as ſnow in harveſt, another is as ſmoke to the eyes, and vinegar to the teeth. (Whether through ſloth or cowardice, is not much material) this meſſage was not delivered to them to whom it was immediately ſent; by accident only ſome of Rehoboth underſtanding of the danger, after the evening exerciſe (it being on the Lord's day, March 26th, 1676) repaired to the place, but then it was too …ate to bring help, unleſs it were to be ſpectators of the dead carcaſes of their friends, and to perform the laſt office of love to them.

IT is worth the noting, what faithfulneſs and courage ſome of the chriſtian Indians, with the ſaid Capt. Pierce, ſhewed in the fight: One of them, whoſe name was Amos, after the Captain was ſhot in his leg or thigh, ſo as he was not able to ſtand any longer, would not leave him, but charging his gun ſeveral times, fired ſtoutly upon the enemy, till he ſaw that there was no poſſibility for him to do any further good to Capt. Pierce, nor yet to ſave himſelf, if he ſtayed any longer; therefore he uſed this policy, perceiving the enemy had all blacked their faces, he alſo ſtooping down, pulled out ſome blacking out of a pouch be carried with him, diſcoloured his face therewith, and ſo making himſelf look as like Hohamackco, as any of his enemies, he ran amongſt them a little while, and was taken for one of them, as if he had been ſearching for the Engliſh, until he had an opportunity to eſcape away among the buſhes; therein imitating the cuttle fiſh, which when it is purſued, or in danger, caſ…eth out of its body a thick humour, as black as ink, through which it paſſes away unſeen by the purſuer.

IT is reported of another of theſe Cape Indians (friends to the Engliſh of Plimouth) that being purſued by one of the enemy, he betook himſelf to a great rock, where … ſh…ered himſelf for a while, at laſt pe…e…ving that his enemy lay …cady with his gun on the other ſide, to diſcharge upon him, as ſoon as he p. 123ſtired never ſo little away from the place where he ſtood: In the iſſue he thought of this politic ſtratagem to ſave himſelf, and deſtroy his enemy (for as Solomon ſaid of old, wiſdom is better than weapons of war) he took a ſtick, and hung his hat upon it, and then by degrees gently liſted it up, till he thought it would be ſeen, and ſo become a fit mark for the other that watched to take aim at him: The other taking it to be his head, fired a gun and ſhot through the hat; which ou… chriſtian Indian perceiving, boldly held up his head and diſcharged his own gun upon the real head, not the hat, of his adverſary, whereby he ſhot him dead upon the place, and ſo had liberty to march away with the ſpoils of his enemy.

THE like ſubtle device was uſed by another of the Cape Indians at the ſame time, being one of them that went out with Capt Pierce; for being in like manner purſued by one of Philip's Indians, as the former was, he nimbly got behind the butt end of a tree, newly turned up by the roots, which carried a conſiderable breadth of the ſurface of the earth along with it (as is very uſual in theſe parts, where the roots of the trees lye deep in the ground) which ſtood above the Indian'… height, in form of a large ſhield, only it was ſomewhat too heavy to be eaſily removed; the enemy Indian lay with his gun ready to ſhoot him down upon his firſt deſerting his ſtation; but a ſubtle wit taught our chriſtian Netop a better device, for boring a little hole through this his broad ſhield, he diſcerned his enemy, who could not ſo eaſily diſcern him; a good muſketier need never deſire a fairer mark to ſhoot at, whereupon diſcharging his gun, he ſhot him down: What can be more juſt than that he ſhould be killed, who lay in wait to kill another man? neque erim lex juſtior ulla eſt, quàm necis artifices arte perire ſuâ.

INSTANCES of this nature ſhew the ſubtlety and dexterouſneſs of theſe natives, if they were improved in ſeats of arms: And poſſibly if ſome of the Engliſh had not been too ſhy in making uſe of ſuch of them as were well affected to their intereſt, they need never p. 124have ſuffered ſo much from their enemies; it having been found upon late experience, that many of them have proved not only faithful, but very ſerviceable and helpful to the Engliſh; they uſually proving good ſeconds, though they have not ordinarily confidence enough to make the firſt onſet But to return to the proceedings of the Indians towards Plimouth.

February 25th, they aſſaulted Weymouth, and burnt ſeven or eight houſes and barns there, which Weymouth is a town lying towards Plimouth colony.

March 12th, following, they aſſaulted the houſe of one Mr. Clarke, in Plimouth, cruelly murdering eleven perſons that belonged to two families that lodged therein, and then fired the houſe. The cruelty towards theſe perſons was the more remarkable, in that they had often received much kindneſs from the ſaid Clarke. It is the uſual cuſtom of ſuch debtors, to uſe them worſt, of whom they have taken up much kindneſs upon truſt before hand.

March 17th, another party of them fell upon Warwick, a place beyond Philip's land, toward the Narrbaganſet country, where they burnt down to the ground all but a few houſes, which they left ſtanding as a monument of their barbarous fury. The like miſchief was acted by them upon the houſes of the Engliſh remaining in the Narrhaganſet country.

THIS 26th day of March, being the firſt day of the week, as the firſt of the year after our Julian account, ſeemed ominous at the firſt, on ſundry accounts, threatning a gloomy time, yet proved in the iſſue, but as a lowering morning before a lightſome day.

FOR beſides the burning of Marlborough, at leaſt a great part of it, on the ſame day, a very ſad accident fell out the ſame time at Springfield, as ſhall be ſpecified hereafter; beſides that which befell Captain Pierce, which is already related, with whom fell ſo p. 125many of his ſoldiers on the ſame day alſo; yet had the enemy no cauſe to beaſt, being forced by the valour of the Engliſh, to give ſo many of their own lives in exchange: Some few made their eſcape, as is ſaid, by ſubtle devices: Beſides the three forementioned, another by a like ſhift, not only ſaved himſelf, but helped an Engliſhman to eſcape alſo, whom he ran after, with his hatchet in his hand, as if he were about to kill him; whereby both of them made a ſhift to get away; the reſt were all loſt (the unfaithfulneſs of the meſſenger being as was intimated before, the cauſe of their ſlaughter) unto a few that hardly eſcaped by the advantage of the buſhes, giving them opportunity to paſs unſeen, yet was it confeſſed by a priſoner of the enemy, taken afterward by the Engliſh, that they loſt an hundred and forty in that encounter: And had not the ſaid Engliſh by wading after the enemy over a river, made their ammunition uſeleſs, there had not half ſo many of them been cut off. From thence they turned back towards Rehoboth, near Swanzy, where on March 28th, they burnt thirty barns, and near upon forty dwelling-houſes, thereby as it were threatning the utter deſolation of that poor town; and ſo proceeding on that ſide the country, they burnt the very next day about thirty houſes in Providence, in their way toward Narrhaganſet.

BUT it was now full ſea with Philip's affairs, for ſoon after the tide of his ſucceſſes began to turn about the ſea coaſt, which made way for the falling of the water up higher in the country. For about this time news came to Boſton that our neighbours and friends of Connecticut colony, hearing of the attempts of the enemy on that ſide of the country, ſent a party of their ſoldiers, under the command of Capt. George Deniſon, with ſome friendly Indians, part Mohegins and Pequods, part Nianticks, belonging to Ninigret, a Narrhaganſet Sachem, who never engaged in this quarrel againſt the Engliſh; who in purſuit of the enemy, meeting with a conſiderable part of them about the Narrhaganſet p. 126country, killed and took forty-five of them, without the loſs of one of their own men. This victory was the more conſiderable, in that ſeveral of the chief Captains of the enemy were at this time killed or taken; amongſt whom was Canonchet (who came down to get ſeed corn to plant at Squakbeag) he was the chief Sachem of all the Narrhaganſets, the ſon of Miantonimoh, and the heir of all his father's pride and inſolence, as well as of his malice againſt the Engliſh, a moſt perfidious villian, who had the laſt October been at Boſton, pretending to make a firm peace with the Engliſh, but never intending to keep one article thereof: Therefore, as a juſt reward of his wickedneſs he was adjudged by thoſe that took him, to die, which was accordingly put in execution at Stonington, whither he was carried; there his head being cut off, was carried to Hartford: The Mohegins and Pequods that had the honor to take him priſoner, having the honor likewiſe of doing juſtice upon him, and that by the prudent advice of the Engliſh Commanders, thereby the more firmly to engage the ſaid Indians againſt the treacherous Narrhaganſets. There are diff…ing reports about the manner of his taking, and by whom, whether the Indians or the Engliſh firſt took him; however, it was ſufficient matter of rejoicing to all the colonies of the Engliſh, that the ring-leader of almoſt all this miſchief, and great incendiary betwixt the Narrhaganſets and us, died himſelf by that ſword of war which he had drawn againſt others.

CONCERNING the Narrhaganſets, this is further to be added here, that Mr. Thomas Stanton, and his ſon Robert, who have a long time lived amongſt them, and beſt acquainted with their language and manners of any in New-England, do affirm, that to their knowledge, the Narrhaganſet Sachems before the late troubles, had two thouſand fighting men under them, and nine hundred arms, yet they are at this day ſo broken and ſcattered, that there is none of them left on that ſide of the country, unleſs ſome few, not exceeding ſeventy in number, that have ſheltered themſelves under the p. 127inhabitants of Rhode-Iſland, as a merchant of that place, worthy of credit, lately affirmed to the writer hereof. It is conſiderable by what degrees they have been conſumed and deſtroyed.

THE firſt week in April, 1676, Canonchet, their chief Sachem, having with this people been driven out of his own country, by the ſword of the Engliſh, the winter before, breathed ſtill nothing but rage and cruelty againſt them, bearing himſelf upon his great numbers: Yet as appeared in the iſſue, himſelf and they that eſcaped with him, were not ſo much preſerved from the preſent calamity that befell the reſt in their fort, as reſerved to another and more ignominious death. For the whole body of the Indians to the weſtward, truſting under the ſhadow of that aſpiring bramble; he took a kind of care of them upon himſelf: wherefore foreſeeing ſo many hundreds could not well ſubſiſt without planting, he propounded it in his council, that all the weſt plantations upon Connecticut river, taken from the Engliſh, ſhould this laſt ſummer be planted with Indian corn; which was indeed in itſelf a very prudent conſideration: To that end he reſolved to venture himſelf with but thirty men (the reſt declining it) to fetch ſeed-corn from Seaconk, the next town to Mount-hope, leaving a body of men, not fewer than fifteen hundred to follow him, or meet him about Seaconk the week after. This adventure brought him into the ſnare, from whence he could not eſcape: For Capt. George Deniſon, of Stonington, and Capt. Avery, of New-London, having raiſed forty-ſeven Engliſh, the moſt part volunteers, with eighty Indians, twenty of which were Narrhaganſets, belonging to Ninigret, commanded by one called Catapazet; the reſt Pequods, under Caſaſinamon, and Mohegins under Oneco, ſon to Uncas, being now abroad upon their third expedition, which they began March 27th, 1676, and ended on the 10th of April following: They met with a ſtout Indian of the enemy's whom they preſently ſlew, and two old ſquaws, that confeſſed Nanunttenoo, alias Canonchet (thoſe chief Sachems uſually changing p. 128their names at every great dance, and by that name of Nanunttenoo was he then known) was not far off; which welcome news put new life into the wearied ſoldiers, that had travelled hard many days, and met with no booty till now; eſpecially when it was confirmed by intelligence the ſame inſtant, brought in by their ſcouts, that they met with new tracks, which brought them in view of ſome wigwams, not far from Pautuket, by ſome called Blackſtone's river, in one of which the ſaid Sachem was at that moment diverting himſelf with the recital of Capt. Pierce's ſlaughter, ſurprized by his men a few days before, but the alarm of the Engliſh at that time heard by himſelf, put by that diſcourſe, apalled with the ſuddeneſs thereof, as if he had been informed by ſecret item from Heaven, that now his own turn was come; ſo as having but 7 men about him, he ſent up two of them to the top of the hill, to ſee what the matter was, but they affrighted with the near approach of the Engliſh, at that time with great ſpeed mounting over a fair champagna on the other ſide of the hill, ran by, as if they wanted time to tell what they ſaw; preſently he ſent a third, who did the like; then ſending two more on the ſame errand, one of theſe laſt endued with more courage, or a better ſenſe of his duty, informed him in great haſte that all the Engliſh army was upon him; whereupon, having no time to conſult, and but little to attempt an eſcape, and no means to defend himſelf; he began to dodge with his purſuers, running round the hill on the contrary ſide; but as he was running ſo haſtily by, Catapazat, with twenty of his followers, and a few of the Engliſh, lighteſt of foot, gueſſed by the ſwiftneſs of his motion, that he fled as if an enemy, which made them immediately take the chace after him, as for their lives; he that was the ſwifter purſuer put him ſo hard to it, that he caſt off firſt his blanket, then his ſilver laced coat (given him at Boſton, as a pledge of their friendſhip, upon the renewal of his league in October before) and belt of peag, which made Catapazat conclude it was the right bird, which made them purſue as eagerly as the other fled; ſo as they forced him to p. 129take to the water, through which as he over haſtily plunged; his foot ſlipping upon a ſtone, it made him fall into the water ſo deep, as it wet his gun, upon which accident, he confeſſed ſoon after, that his heart and his bowels turned within him, ſo as he became like a rotten ſtick, void of ſtrength; inſomuch as one Monopoide, a Pequod, ſwifteſt of foot, laid hold of him within thirty rod of the river ſide, without his making any reſiſtance; though he was a very proper man, of goodly ſtature, and great courage of mind, as well as ſtrength of body; one of the firſt Engliſh that came up with him, was Robert Stanton, a young man that ſcarce had reached the twenty-ſecond year of his age, yet adventuring to aſk him a queſtion or two, to whom this manly Sachem looking with a little neglect upon his youthful face, replied in broken Engliſh, you much child, no underſtand matters of war; let your brother, or your chief come, him I will anſwer, and was as good as his word; acting herein, as if by a Pythagorean metempſychoſis, ſome old Roman ghoſt had poſſeſſed the body of this weſtern Pagan; and like Attilius Regulus, he would not accept of his own life, when it was tendered him, upon that (in his account) low condition of compliance with the Engliſh, refuſing to ſend an old Counſellor of his to make any motion that way, ſaying he knew the Indians would not yield; but more probably he was not willing they ſhould, chooſing rather to ſacrifice his own, and his peoples lives, to his private humour of revenge, than timely to provide for his own, and their ſafety, by entertaining the counſels of a peace, ſo neceſſary for the general good of all: He continuing in the ſame obſtinate reſolution, was carried ſoon after to Stonington, where he was ſhot to death, by ſome of his own quality, ſc. the young Sachem of the Mohegins, and two of the Pequods, of like quality. This was the confuſion of a damned wretch, that had often opened his mouth to blaſpheme the name of the living God, and thoſe that make profeſſion thereof. He was told at large of his breach of faith, and how he boaſted he would not deliver up a Wampanoog, or the paring of a Wampanoog's nail, that he would p. 130burn the Engliſh alive in their houſes; to which he replied, others were as forward for the war as himſelf; and that he deſired to hear no more thereof. And when he was told his ſentence was to die, he ſaid, he liked it well, that he ſhould die before his heart was ſoft, or had ſpoken any thing unworthy of himſelf. He told the Engliſh before they put him to death, that the killing him would not end the war; but it was a conſiderable ſtep thereunto, nor did it live much longer after his death, at leaſt, not in thoſe parts; for after Sudbury fight, when the ſun of their hopes was at its higheſt; April the 18th following, it viſibly declined, till it ſet in a night of obſcure and utter darkneſs upon them all, as is to be feared.

THE inhabitants of New London, Norwich, and Stonington, apprehenſive of their danger, by reaſon of the near bordering of the enemy, and upon other prudent conſiderations, voluntarily liſted themſelves under ſome able gentlemen, and reſolute ſoldiers, amongſt themſelves, Major Palmes, Capt. George Deniſon, Capt. Avery, with whom, or under whom, within the compaſs of the year 1676, they made ten or more ſeveral expeditions, in all which, at thoſe ſeveral times, they killed and took two hundred and thirty-nine of the enemy, by the help and aſſiſtance of the Pequods, Mohegins, and a few friendly Narrhaganſets; beſides thirty taken in the long march homeward, after the fort fight, December 19th, 1675; and beſides ſixteen captivated in the ſecond expedition, not reckoned within the compaſs of the ſaid number; together with fifty guns, and ſpoiling the enemy of an hundred buſhels of corn.

IN January they went again in purſuit, and took five men and a boy. Certain Nipnets intended to have ſheltered themſelves under Uncas; but he perceiving it would be diſtaſteful to the Engliſh, ſoon ſhabbed them off, ſo as they were in the beginning of the winter brought into Boſton, many of them by Peter Ephraim, and Andrew Pityme, with their fellows.

p. 131IN all which exploits, neither they, nor any of their followers ſuſtained any loſs by the ſword of the enemy, or ſickneſs; as is expreſly declared by the Reverend Miniſter of Stonington, Mr. James Noyee, which is a matter very admirable to conſider, engaging all that were any way concerned in ſuch ſignal teſtimonies of divine favour, to be …ady to pay their vows to the Moſt High, who alone teacheth the hands of his people to war, and their fingers to fight.

NOT long after Capt. George Deniſon, of Stonington, with ſixty-ſix-volunteers, and an hundred and twelve Pequods, killed and took ſeventy-ſix of the enemy, amongſt whom were two Narrhaganſet Sachems, one of which was the grand-child of Pomham (who is accounted the moſt warlike, and the beſt ſoldier of all the Narrhaganſet Sachems) taking at the ſame time 160 buſhels of the enemy's corn, no ſmall damage to our enemies at that time, and all this without the loſs of one man of the ſaid Captain's followers.

The greateſt miſchief which after this time was done by the enemy in Plimouth colony, was by burning of houſes and barns, which they might eaſily do, the inhabitants in moſt of thoſe towns being repaired to garriſon houſes for their greater ſecurity: For about the 20th of April, fifty of the enemy burnt about nineteen houſes and barns at Scituate, but were ſo reſolutely encountered by a few of the inhabitants, that they were driven away, and thereby prevented from doing of further miſchief.

NOT long after, May 8th, they burnt about ſeventeen houſes and barns in Bridgewater, a ſmall town in Plimouth colony, twelve miles on this ſide Taunton; but it pleaſed God juſt at the time to ſend a thunderſhower, which put out the fire, or elſe it might have prevailed much further.

IT is very remarkable, that the inhabitants of the ſaid Bridgewater, never yet loſt one perſon by the p. 132ſword of the enemy, though the town is ſituate within Plimouth colony, yet they have helped to deſtroy many of the enemy. None knows either love or hatred by all that is before them in things of this nature; nor ought ſtanders-by that may eſcape, think themſelves leſs ſinners than thoſe that ſo periſh by the ſword of the enemy: Yet about this time four of the inhabitants of Taunton were killed as they were at their work in the field, whereby it is ſaid, thirty children were made fatherleſs: So unſearchable are the judgments of the Almighty, and his ways paſt finding out.

DURING theſe calamities, God's diſpenſations have been very various, as well in reference unto towns and villages, as unto perſons: As if ſome places had been by ſpecial providence marked out to preſervation, as others unto deſtruction; of which no other reaſon can be rendered according unto man, than the good pleaſure of God ſo to order and diſpoſe of events, which ſometimes, as Solomon ſays, are all one to the good, and to the clean, and to the unclean.

AND becauſe ſpecial notice is taken of the town of Bridgewater, the which although it is ſeared, as it were, in the midſt of danger, and hath been often aſſaulted by conſiderable numbers of the enemy, yet never loſt any one of their inhabitants, young or old; a particular account ſhall here be given of the moſt remarkable paſſages of divine providence relating to that plantation ſince the war began. June 26th, 1675, when Philip's malice againſt the Engliſh, mixed with a particular prejudice againſt Governor Winſlow, began to boil up to the height of an open rebellion; the people of Swanzy being like to be diſtreſſed by the Indians, a poſt was inſtantly ſent to the Governor of Plimouth, the way lying through Bridgewater; the ſaid poſt returned the next day, and about 9 or 10 of the clock, as he paſſed through the town, left an order from the Governor for the raiſing of twenty men, well armed, and furniſhed with horſes, to be forthwith diſpatched away for the relief of Swanzy; ſeventeen were p. 133all that could be raiſed on the ſudden, who were ſent thither that night, and were the firſt that were upon their march in all the country; and poſſibly they fared not the worſe for their forwardneſs: As Deborah the propheteſs bleſſed God for them that offered themſelves willingly among the people: Theſe ſeventeen of Bridgewater, were June 21ſt, ordered by Capt. Bradford … Metapoiſet, a place at twelve miles diſtance from Swanzy, to ſtrengthen the garriſon at one Bourn's …, wherein were ſeventy perſons, amongſt whom w… only found ſixteen men. After they had marched five miles of their way, having Mr. Brown's ſon for their pilot, they met with ſome Swanzy people, newly turned out of their houſes (by which they were to paſs) who having not as yet reſiſted unto blood, yet ma…e doleful lamentations, wringing of their hands, and bewailing of their leſſes, very much alſo perſuading Bridgewater men to turn back, becauſe of the danger, but they having ſo clear a call, had alſo more courage than cowardly to deſert the cauſe of God and his people, leſt they ſhould thereby betray the lives of ſo many of their friends into the enemy's hands; and ſo by the good hand of God towards them, came ſafe to Metapoiſet that night.

THE next day in the morning, a part of them went to guard Mr. Brown, their pilot, back to his quarters; in their return they came ſuddenly upon a party of Indians, about thirty in all; they were within ſhot of one another, but the Engliſh having no commiſſion to fight till they were aſſaulted, and not being impended in their paſſage, they returned ſafe to their garriſon at Metapoiſet: The Indians preſently drawing off, and firing three guns (though not with intent to do them any hurt, as was conceived) gave a ſhout, and ſo le…t them. When this party of the Engliſh drew near to their garriſon, they met with a company of carts going to fetch corn from an houſe deſerted near by, about a quarter of a mile off from Mr. Bourn's houſe, the ſoldiers gave them notice of the Indians which they diſcovered, p. 134and withal adviſed them by no means to venture any more, becauſe of the danger; but they were reſolved notwithſtanding theſe earneſt perſuaſions of the ſoldiers to have another turn, which they ſoon found to be to the peril of their own lives, ſix of them being preſently after killed right out, or mortally wounded, as ſoon as they came to the barn where was the corn; theſe ſix are ſaid to be the firſt that were ſlain in this quarrel. The ſoldiers at the garriſon hearing the guns, made what haſte they could to the place, but being moſt of them in that interim gone to look their horſes, they could not come time enough to the relief of their friends, yet upon their approach, they who had done the miſchief preſently fled away: One Jones hard purſued by two Indians, was by their coming delivered from the extent of the enemy's cruelty, but having received his mortal wound, had only that favour thereby, to die in the arms of his friends, though by the wounds received from his enemies.

THE next week, fifteen of thoſe ſoldiers looking after their horſes, fell into an ambuſh of twenty of the Indians, but being prepared for the encounter, they diſcharged their guns upon each other; but our men received no hurt, ſome of them felt the wind of the bullets paſſing by their faces; what damage the enemy received is uncertain, yet ſome of the Engliſh report they found ſome of their enemies dead bodies in the place afterward.

THUS were they not only preſerved in many perils themſelves, but became inſtrumental alſo for the preſervation of moſt of that garriſon, who with their goods, by their means, with the help of a ſmall party of Plimouth forces, ſent thither after the ſix were killed (as is mentioned before) were ſoon after tranſported ſafely to Read-Iſland.

MANY outrages were that ſummer committed upon their neighbours at Taunton and Namaſket, yet it pleaſed God to protect this poor town of Bridgewater from any p. 135other hurt, till the beginning of April following, when themſelves, with their neighbours of Taunton and Rehoboth, were ſtrongly ſolicited to deſert their dwellings, and repair down to the towns by the ſea ſide, but God encouraged them to keep their ſtations, notwithſtanding the extream danger then preſented. It is reported that Philip gave orders that Taunton and Bridgewater ſhould not be deſtroyed till the laſt, which is all the favour to be expected from an enemy, but theſe things are only in the hands of God, and not to be determined by man.

April 9th, being Lord's day, a ſmall party of the enemy came down upon the ſaid Bridgewater, burnt an out houſe and barn, broke up and rifled ſeveral other houſes in the ſame quarter of the town, which are notwithſtanding yet remaining; they ſent out a party of their men to purſue them that night, and many days after, but could not hear of them.

May 7th, the Lord's day alſo (no doubt but the betterneſs of the day, will increaſe the badneſs of their deed attempted thereon) they had intelligence of a great body of Indians diſperſed that way, with intent to have fallen upon the town that very day, but were caſually prevented by a great deal of rain that fell the night before; however, they were reſolved not to miſs the opportunity, wherefore on the next day (May 8th) about three hundred of them, one Tiſguogen being their chief leader, at 8 or 9 in the morning made an aſſault upon the ecaſt end of the town, on the ſouth ſide of the river: Many of the inhabitants ſtayed at home that morning, becauſe of the intelligence the day before, and ſo were the more ready to entertain them; ſome that not taking that warning, ventured into the field about their occaſions, were in danger of ſurprizal, but by the ſpecial favour of God eſcaped, and came time enough to help defend their own and their neighbours dwellings, being ſhot at, and hard purſued a conſiderable way.

THE Indians preſently began to fire the town, but it pleaſed God ſo to ſpirit and encourage ſeveral of the p. 136inhabitants, iſſuing out of their garriſon houſes, that they fell upon them with great reſolution, and beat them off; at the ſame inſtant of time, the Lord of Hoſts alſo fighting for them from Heaven, by ſending a ſtorm of thunder and rain very ſeaſonably, which prevented the burning of the houſes which were fired: The ſoldiers alſo fighting under the banner of God's ſpecial protection, were ſo ſucceſsful in repelling the enemy, that they neither had any of the inhabitants killed or taken, and but one wounded. The Indians by this ſtout reſiſtance, being beaten off to the ſkirts of the town, made a freſh onſet upon another quarter thereof, on the north ſide of the river, where they had done much more miſchief, but that God ſtirred up ſundry of the people to venture out of their fortified houſes, who fired upon the enemy, and beat them from their dwellings, ſo as in the evening they drew off to an outhouſe, three miles diſtant from the town: The next day the inhabitants expected another aſſault, but the enemy having burnt the houſe and barn were they kept their rendezvous over night, and one houſe more not far diſtant, they marched all clear away for that time.

THUS it pleaſed God ſo to order his diſpenſations toward this ſmall town, as a brand plucked out of the fire, that they did but juſt taſte of this bitter cup, which others drank deeper of; yet had they not ſuch mercy, as theſe had, mixed therewith: Under God, the courage of the inhabitants was a great means of their preſervation, for they fired ſo ſtoutly upon the enemy, that they durſt not come very near any of the garriſoned houſes, ſaluting them only at a diſtance. God was eminently ſeen upholding the ſpirits of all ſorts, men and women, ſo as no conſternation of mind was ſeen upon any of them, during the whole time of the diſpute.

IN this aſſault they loſt but thirteen dwelling houſes, whereof five only were in the town (the reſt being outhouſes, and deſerted for the preſent,) with ſome few …rns, and ſome of their cattle; all which was a very p. 137inconſiderable loſs, in compariſon of what befel others, and themſelves might have endured, if God had not by his ſpecial favour prevented.

July 14th and 15th, another party of Indians came down upon the north-weſt ſide of the town, but with no better ſucceſs; for they had no commiſſion from the Lord of Hoſts to touch any of the perſons of the inhabitants, their power reaching only to the ſlaying of their cattle at this time.

July 18th, 19th, and 20th, they ſent our parties after the enemy to purſue them by their track, who fell upon ſome of them. On the 20th they took ſixteen, whereof two were men: On this day they had to aſſiſt them, it ſeems, ſome of the Bay Indians, ſent them from Capt. Brattle; ſome of the captives informed that there were but ſeventy or eighty in the company, and but ten or twelve men amongſt them: But within a few days theſe Bridgewater men ſhall find better ſucceſs in purſuit of their enemies, when Philip himſelf ſhall hardly eſcape their hands, as ſhall be ſeen afterwards.

WHILE one party of the enemy thus acted their part in and and about Plimouth colony, towards the ſeacoaſt, other parties of them were not idle in the Maſſachuſets colony, where they aſſaulted many places, doing what miſchief they could by firing of houſes, and killing ſeveral perſons in the inland plantations.

March 2d, they aſſaulted Groton; the next day over night Major Willard, with ſeventy horſe came into the town; forty foot alſo came up to their relief from Watertown, but the Indians were all fled, having firſt burnt all the houſes in the town, ſave four that were garriſoned, the meeting-houſe being the ſecond houſe they fired; ſoon after Capt. Sill was ſent with a ſmall party of dragoons, of eight files, to fetch off the inhabitants of Groton, and what was left from the ſpoil of the enemy, having under his conduct about ſixty carts, p. 138being in depth from front to rear above two miles, when a party of Indians lying in ambuſh, at a place of eminent advantage, fired upon the front and mortally wounded two of the firſt carriers, who both died the next night; and might (had God permitted) have done eminent damage to the whole body, it being a full hour before the whole body could be drawn up, which was done with care and courage; but the Indians after a few more ſhot made, without doing harm, retired, and made no further aſſault upon them, being the ſame party of Indians which the day before had burnt ſome part of Chelmsford. Soon after this village was deſerted and deſtroyed by the enemy; yet it was a ſpecial providence, that though the carts were guarded with ſo ſlender a convoy, yet there was not any conſiderable loſs ſuſtained.

THE ſurprizal of Groton was after this manner: On March 2d, the Indians came in the night and rifled eight or nine houſes, and carried away ſome cattle, and alarmed the town.

ON March 9th, about ten in the morning, a parcel of Indians (having two days lurked in the town, and taken poſſeſſion of three out-houſes, and feaſted themſelves with corn, divers ſwine and poultry, which they there ſeized) laid an ambuſh for two carts, which went from their garriſon to fetch in ſome hay, attended with four men, two of which eſpying the enemy, made a difficult eſcape, the other two were ſet upon, and one of them ſlain, ſtript naked, his body mangled, and dragged into the high-way, and laid on his back in a moſt ſhameful manner: The other taken captive, and after ſentenced to death; but the enemy not concurring in the manner of it, execution was deferred, and he by the providence of God eſcaped by a bold attempt the night before he was deſigned to have been ſlaughtered, and fled to the garriſon at Lancaſter, the cattle in both towns wounded, and five of them ſlain.