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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/29494-8.txt b/29494-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d445e23 --- /dev/null +++ b/29494-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8493 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, King Philip, by John S. C. (John Stevens +Cabot) Abbott + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: King Philip + Makers of History + + +Author: John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot) Abbott + + + +Release Date: July 22, 2009 [eBook #29494] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KING PHILIP*** + + +E-text prepared by D Alexander and the Project Gutenberg Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 29494-h.htm or 29494-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/29494/29494-h/29494-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/29494/29494-h.zip) + + + + + +Makers of History + +King Philip + +BY JOHN S. C. ABBOTT + +With Engravings + + + + + + + +New York and London +Harper & Brothers Publishers +1901 + +Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight +hundred and fifty-seven, by +Harper & Brothers, +in the Clerk's office of the District Court of the Southern District +of New York. + +Copyright, 1885, by Susan Abbot Mead. + + + + +[Illustration: PLYMOUTH BAY, AS SEEN BY THE INDIANS.] + + + + +PREFACE. + + +Few, even of our most intelligent men, if we except those who are +devoted to literary pursuits, are acquainted with the adventures which +our forefathers encountered in the settlement of New England. The +claims of business are now so exacting, that those whose time is +engrossed by its cares have but little leisure for extensive reading, +and yet there is no American who does not desire to be familiar with +the early history of his own country. The writer, with great labor, +has collected from widely-spread materials, and condensed into this +narrative of the career of King Philip, those incidents in our early +history which he has supposed would be most interesting and +instructive to the general reader. He has spared no pains in the +endeavor to be accurate. In the rude annals of those early days there +is often obscurity, and sometimes contradiction, in the dates. Such +dates have been adopted as have appeared, after careful examination, +to be most reliable. + +The writer can not refrain, in this connection, from acknowledging the +obligations he is under to his friend and neighbor, John M'Keen, Esq., +to whose extensive and accurate acquaintance with the early history of +this country he is indebted for many of the materials which have aided +him in the preparation of this work. + + JOHN S. C. ABBOTT. + +Brunswick, Maine, 1857. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + Chapter Page + + I. LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS 13 + + II. MASSASOIT 46 + + III. CLOUDS OF WAR 80 + + IV. THE PEQUOT WAR 110 + + V. COMMENCEMENT OF THE REIGN OF KING PHILIP 156 + + VI. COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES 187 + + VII. AUTUMN AND WINTER CAMPAIGNS 220 + + VIII. CAPTIVITY OF MRS. ROWLANDSON 254 + + IX. THE INDIANS VICTORIOUS 292 + + X. THE VICISSITUDES OF WAR 321 + + XI. DEATH OF KING PHILIP 353 + + XII. CONCLUSION OF THE WAR 385 + + + + +ENGRAVINGS. + + + Page + + PLYMOUTH BAY, AS SEEN BY THE PILGRIMS _Frontispiece._ + + THE FIRST ENCOUNTER 26 + + SAMOSET, THE INDIAN VISITOR 48 + + MASSASOIT AND HIS WARRIORS 57 + + THE PALACE OF MASSASOIT 68 + + THE DEATH OF ALEXANDER 169 + + THE BATTLE IN TIVERTON 210 + + CAPTURE OF THE INDIAN FORTRESS 247 + + CAPTIVITY OF MRS. ROWLANDSON 270 + + THE DESTRUCTION OF SUDBURY 311 + + THE INDIAN AMBUSH 315 + + THE DEATH OF PHILIP 360 + + + + +KING PHILIP. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS. + +1620-1621 + +Arrival of the Mayflower.--Explorations.--Captain Weymouth.--Indian +captives.--Enticing the natives.--The seizure.--Trophies.--Necessity +for caution.--Discovery of a wigwam.--New enterprises.--The return of +the explorers.--New expedition.--Sight of some Indians.--Cheerless +encampment.--Discoveries.--Quaint description of the huts.--Interior +of the hut, and what was found.--Good intentions not realized.--Another +stormy night.--Morning preparations.--A fearful attack.--Protection of +the English.--Power of the Indians.--The chief shot.--Disappearance of +the Indians.--Sudden peace.--Devotions.--Departure.--A gale.--An +accident.--Approaching night.--Discovery of a shelter.--Preparations +for the night.--They resolve to spend the Sabbath at their +camp.--Plymouth Bay.--Sounding for the channel.--Sites for the +village.--Jealousy of the Dutch.--Arrival of the Mayflower.--Survey +of the country.--A location selected.--Interruptions by a storm.--The +birth-day of New England.--Friday, December 22.--Hopes and expectations +of the Pilgrims.--Leaving the ship.--Erection of the store house.--The +little village.--Alarm from the Indians.--Discomforts.--Watchfulness +of the Indians.--End of the year.--Attempts to meet the Indians.--Two +men missing.--Return of the lost.--Their adventures.--They discover +the harbor.--Their sufferings.--February.--Death among the +colonists.--Discovery of Indians.--Alarm.--Preparations for +defense.--Two savages appear.--Weakness of the colonists. + + +On the 11th of November, 1620, the storm-battered Mayflower, with its +band of one hundred and one Pilgrims, first caught sight of the barren +sand-hills of Cape Cod. The shore presented a cheerless scene even for +those weary of a more than four months voyage upon a cold and +tempestuous sea. But, dismal as the prospect was, after struggling for +a short time to make their way farther south, embarrassed by a leaky +ship and by perilous shoals appearing every where around them, they +were glad to make a harbor at the extremity of the unsheltered and +verdureless cape. Before landing, they chose Mr. John Carver, "a pious +and well-approved gentleman," as the governor of their little republic +for the first year. While the carpenter was fitting up the boat to +explore the interior bend of the land which forms Cape Cod Bay, in +search of a more attractive place of settlement, sixteen of their +number set out on foot on a short tour of discovery. They were all +well armed, to guard against any attack from the natives. + +Cautiously the adventurers followed along the western shore of the +Cape toward the south, when suddenly they came in sight of five +Indians. The natives fled with the utmost precipitation. They had +heard of the white men, and had abundant cause to fear them. But a few +years before, in 1605, Captain Weymouth, on an exploring tour along +the coast of Maine, very treacherously kidnapped five of the natives, +and took them with him back to England. This act, which greatly +exasperated the natives, and which led to subsequent scenes of +hostility and blood, it may be well here to record. It explains the +reception which the Pilgrims first encountered. + +Captain Weymouth had been trafficking with the natives for some time +in perfect friendship. One day six Indians came to the ship in two +canoes, three in each. Three were enticed on board the ship, and were +shut up in the cabin. The other three, a little suspicious of danger, +refused to leave their canoe, but, receiving a can of pease and +bread, paddled to the shore, where they built a fire, and sat down to +their entertainment. A boat strongly manned was then sent to the shore +from the ship with enticing presents, and a platter of food of which +the Indians were particularly fond. One of the natives, more cautious +than the rest, upon the approach of the boat, retired to the woods; +the other two met the party cordially. They all walked up to the fire +and sat down, in apparent friendship, to eat their food together. +There were six Englishmen and two naked, helpless natives. At a given +signal, while their unsuspecting victims were gazing at some +curiosities in a box, the English sprang upon them, three to each man. +The natives, young, vigorous, and lithe as eels, struggled with +Herculean energy. The kidnappers, finding it difficult to hold them by +their naked limbs, seized them by the long hair of their heads, and +thus the terrified creatures were dragged into the boats and conveyed +to the ship. Soon after this Captain Weymouth weighed anchor, and the +five captives were taken to England. He also took, as trophies of his +victory, the two canoes, and the bows and arrows of these Indians. +Sundry outrages of a similar character had been perpetrated by +European adventurers all along the New England coast. The Pilgrims +were well aware of these facts, and consequently they were not +surprised at the flight of the Indians, and felt, themselves, the +necessity of guarding against a hostile attack. + +The English pursued the fugitives vigorously for many miles, but were +unable to overtake them. At last night came on. They built a camp, +kindled a fire, established a watch, and slept soundly until the next +morning. They then continued their course, following along in the +track of the Indians. After some time they came to the remains of an +Indian wigwam, surrounded by an old corn-field. Finding concealed here +several baskets filled with ears of corn, they took the grain, so +needful for them, intending, should they ever meet the Indians, to pay +them amply for it. With this as the only fruit of their expedition, +they returned to the ship. + +Soon after their return preparations were completed for a more +important enterprise. The shallop was launched, and well provided with +arms and provisions, and thirty of the ship's company embarked for an +extensive survey of the coast. They slowly crept along the barren +shore, stopping at various points, but they could meet with no +natives, and could find no harbor for their ship, and no inviting +place for a settlement. Drifting sands and gloomy evergreens, through +which the autumnal winds ominously sighed, alone met the eye. They +discovered a few deserted dwellings of the Indians, but could catch no +sight of the terrified natives. After several days of painful search, +they returned disheartened to the ship. + +It was now the 6th of December, and the cold winds of approaching +winter began to sweep over the water, which seemed almost to surround +them. Imagination can hardly conceive a more bleak and dreary spot +than the extremity of Cape Cod. It was manifest to all that it was no +place for the establishment of a colony, and that, late as it was in +the year, they must, at all hazards, continue their search for a more +inviting location. Previous explorers had entered Cape Cod Bay, and +had given a general idea of the sweep of the coast. + +A new expedition was now energetically organized, to proceed with all +speed in a boat along the coast in search of a harbor. The wind, in +freezing blasts, swept across the bay as they spread their sail. Their +frail boat was small and entirely open, and the spray, which ever +dashed over these hardy pioneers, glazed their coats with ice. They +soon lost sight of the ship, and, skirting the coast, were driven +rapidly along by the fair but piercing wind. The sun went down, and +dark night was approaching. They had been looking in vain for some +sheltered cove into which to run to pass the night, when, in the +deepening twilight, they discerned twelve Indians standing upon the +shore. They immediately turned their boat toward the land, and the +Indians as immediately fled. The sandy beach upon which their boat +grounded was entirely exposed to the billows of the ocean. With +difficulty they drew their boat high upon the sand, that it might not +be broken by the waves, and prepared to make themselves as comfortable +as possible. It was, indeed, a cheerless encampment for a cold, windy +December night. Fortunately there was wood in abundance with which to +build a fire, and they also piled up for themselves a slight +protection against the wind and against a midnight attack. Then, +having commended themselves to God in prayer, they established a +watch, and sought such repose as fatigue and their cold, hard couch +could furnish. + +The night passed away without any alarm. In the morning they divided +their numbers, one half taking the boat, and the others following +along upon foot on the shore. Thus they continued their explorations +another day, but could find no suitable place for a settlement. During +the day they saw many traces of inhabitants, but did not obtain sight +of a single native. + +They found two houses, from which the occupants had evidently but +recently escaped. The following is the description which the +adventurers gave of these wigwams, in the quaint English of two +hundred years ago: + + "Whilest we were thus ranging and searching, two of the + Saylers which were newly come on the shore by chance espied + two houses which had beene lately dwelt in, but the people + were gone. They having their peeces and hearing no body + entred the houses and tooke out some things, and durst not + stay but came again and told vs; so some seaven or eight of + vs went with them, and found how we had gone within a slight + shot of them before. The houses were made with long yong + Sapling trees bended and both ends stucke into the ground; + they were made round like unto an Arbour and covered down to + the ground with thicke and well wrought matts, and the doors + were not over a yard high made of a matt to open; the + chimney was a wide open hole in the top, for which they had + a matt to cover it close when they pleased. One might stand + and go upright in them; in the midst of them were four + little trunches knockt into the ground, and small stickes + laid over on which they hung their Pots, and what they had + to seeth. Round about the fire they lay on matts which are + their beds. The houses were double matted, for as they were + matted without so were they within, with newer and fairer + matts. In the houses we found wooden Boules, Trayes & + Dishes, Earthen Pots, Hand baskets made of Crab shells, + wrought together; also an English Pail or Bucket; it wanted + a bayle, but it had two iron eares. There was also Baskets + of sundry sorts, bigger and some lesser, finer and some + coarser. Some were curiously wrought with blacke and white + in pretie workes, and sundry other of their houshold stuffe. + We found also two or three Deeres heads, one whereof had + been newly killed, for it was still fresh. There was also a + company of Deeres feete stuck vp in the houses, Harts + hornes, and Eagles clawes, and sundry such like things there + was; also two or three baskets full of parched Acorns, + peeces of fish and a peece of a broyled Hering. We found + also a little silk grasse and a little Tobacco seed with + some other seeds which wee knew not. Without was sundry + bundles of Flags and Sedge, Bull-rushes and other stuffe to + make matts. There was thrust into a hollow tree two or three + pieces of venison, but we thought it fitter for the Dogs + than for us. Some of the best things we took away with us, + and left their houses standing still as they were. So it + growing towards night, and the tyde almost spent we hastened + with our things down to the shallop, and got aboard that + night, intending to have brought some Beades and other + things to have left in the houses in signe of Peace and that + we meant to truk with them, but it was not done by means of + our hasty comming away from Cape Cod; but so soon as we can + meet conveniently with them we will give them full + satisfaction." + +As they returned to their boat the sun again went down, and another +gloomy December night darkened over the houseless wanderers. No cove, +no creek even, opened its friendly arms to receive them. They again +dragged their boat upon the beach. A dense forest was behind them, the +bleak ocean before them. As they feared no surprise from the side of +the water, they merely threw up a slight rampart of logs to protect +them from an attack from the side of the forest. They again united in +their evening devotions, established their night-watch, and, with a +warm fire blazing at their feet, fell soundly asleep. Through the long +night the wind sighed through the tree-tops and the waves broke upon +the shore. No other sounds disturbed their slumber. + +The next morning they rose before the dawn of day and prepared +anxiously to continue their search. The morning was dark and stormy. A +drizzling rain, which had been falling nearly all night, had soaked +their blankets and their clothing; the ocean looked black and angry, +and sheets of mist were driven by the chill wind over earth and sea. +The Pilgrims bowed reverently together in their morning prayer, +partook of their frugal meal, and some of them had carried their guns, +wrapped in blankets, down to the boat, when suddenly a fearful yell +burst from the forest, and a shower of arrows fell upon their +encampment. + +The English party consisted of but eighteen; but they were heroic men. +Carver, Bradford, Winslow, and Standish were of their number. Four +muskets only were left within their frail intrenchments. By the rapid +and well-directed discharge of these, they, however, kept the Indians +at bay until those who had carried their guns to the boat succeeded in +regaining them, notwithstanding the shower of arrows which fell so +thickly around. The thick clothing with which the English were +covered, to protect themselves from the cold and the rain, were almost +as coats of mail to ward off the comparatively feeble weapons of the +natives. A very fierce conflict now ensued. The English were almost +entirely unprotected, and were exposed to every arrow. The Indians +were each stationed behind some large forest-tree, which effectually +sheltered him from the bullets of his antagonists. Under these +circumstances, the advantage was probably, on the whole, with the +vastly outnumbering natives. They were widely scattered; their bows +were of great strength, and their arrows, pointed and barbed with +sharp flint and stone, when hitting fairly and in full force, would +pierce even the thickest clothing of the English; and, if striking any +unprotected portion of the body, would inflict a dreadful wound. + +For some time this perilous conflict raged, the forest resounding with +the report of musketry, and with the hideous, deafening yell of the +savages. There was one Indian, of Herculean size and strength, +apparently more brave than the rest, who appeared to be the leader of +the band. He had proudly advanced beyond any of his companions, and +placed himself within half musket shot of the encampment. He stood +behind a large tree, and very energetically shot his arrows, and by +voice and gesture roused and animated his comrades. Watching an +opportunity when his arm was exposed, a sharpshooter succeeded in +striking it with a bullet. The shattered arm dropped helpless. The +savage, astounded at the calamity, gazed for a moment in silence upon +his mangled limb, and then uttering a peculiar cry, which was probably +the signal for retreat, dodged from tree to tree, and disappeared. His +fellow-warriors, following his example, disappeared with him in the +depths of the gloomy forest. Hardly a moment elapsed ere not a savage +was to be seen, and perfect silence and solitude reigned upon the spot +which, but a moment before, was the scene of almost demoniac clamor. +The waves broke sullenly upon the shore, and the wind, sweeping the +ocean, and moaning through the sombre firs and pines, drove the rain +in spectral sheets over sea and land. The sun had not yet risen, +and the gray twilight lent additional gloom to the stormy morning. +Both the attack and the retreat were more sudden than imagination can +well conceive. The perfect repose of the night had been instantly +followed by fiendlike uproar and peril, and as instantly succeeded by +perfect silence and solitude. + +[Illustration: THE FIRST ENCOUNTER.] + +The Pilgrims, as soon as they had recovered from their astonishment, +looked around to see how much they had been damaged. Arrows were +hanging by their clothes, and sticking in the logs by the fire, and +scattered every where around, but, to their surprise, they found that +not one had been wounded. Anxious to leave so dangerous a spot, they +immediately collected their effects and embarked in the boat. Before +embarking, however, they united in a prayer of thanksgiving to God for +their deliverance. They named this spot "_The First Encounter_." The +rain now changed to sleet of mist and snow, and the cold storm +descended pitilessly upon their unprotected heads. A day of suffering +and of peril was before them. As the day advanced, the wind increased +to almost a gale. The waves frequently broke into the boat, drenching +them to the skin, and glazing the boat, ropes, and clothing with a +coat of ice. The surf, dashing upon the shore, rendered landing +impossible, and they sought in vain for any creek or cove where they +could find shelter. The short afternoon was fast passing away, and a +terrible night was before them. A huge billow, which seemed to chase +them with gigantic speed and force, broke over the boat, nearly +filling it with water, and at the same time unshipping and sweeping +away their rudder. They immediately got out two oars, and, with much +difficulty, succeeded with them in steering their bark. + +Night and the tempest were settling darkly over the angry sea. To add +to their calamities, a sudden flaw of wind struck the boat, and +instantly snapped the mast into three pieces. The boat was now, for a +few moments, entirely unmanageable, and, involved in the wreck of +mast, rigging, and sail, floated like a log upon the waves, in great +danger of being each moment ingulfed. The hardy adventurers, thus +disabled, seized their oars, and with great exertions succeeded in +keeping their boat before the wind. It was now night, and the rain, +driven violently by the gale, was falling in torrents. + +The dark outline of the shore, upon which the surf was furiously +dashing, was dimly discernible. At last they perceived through the +gloom, directly before them, an island or a promontory pushing out at +right angles from the line of the beach. Rowing around the northern +headland, they found on the western side a small cove, where they +obtained a partial shelter from the storm. Here they dropped anchor. +The night was freezing cold. The rain still fell in torrents, and the +boat rolled and pitched incessantly upon the agitated sea. Though +drenched to the skin, knowing that they were in the vicinity of +hostile Indians, most of the company did not deem it prudent to +attempt a landing, but preferred to pass the night in their wet, +shelterless, wave-rocked bark. Some, however, benumbed and almost +dying from wet and cold, felt that they could not endure the exposure +of the wintry night. They were accordingly put on shore. After much +difficulty, they succeeded in building a fire. Its blaze illumined the +forest, and they piled upon it branches of trees and logs, until they +became somewhat warmed by the exercise and the genial heat. But they +knew full well that this flame was but a beacon to inform their savage +foes where they were and to enable them, with surer aim, to shoot the +poisoned arrow. The forest sheltered them partially from the wind. +They cut down trees, and constructed a rude rampart to protect them +from attack. Thus the explorers on the land and in the boat passed the +first part of this dismal night. At midnight, however, those in the +boat, unable longer to endure the cold, ventured to land, and, with +their shivering companions, huddled round the fire, the rain still +soaking them to the skin. + +When the morning again dawned, they found that they were in the lee of +a small island. It was the morning of the Sabbath. Notwithstanding +their exposure to hostile Indians and to the storm, and +notwithstanding the unspeakable importance of every day, that they +might prepare for the severity of winter, now so rapidly approaching, +these extraordinary men resolved to remain as they were, that they +might "remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy." There was true +heroism and moral grandeur in this decision, even though it be +asserted that a more enlightened judgment would have taught that, +under the circumstances in which they were placed, it was a work of +"necessity and of mercy" to prosecute their tour without delay. But +these men believed it to be their duty to sanctify the Sabbath; and, +notwithstanding the strength of the temptation, they did what they +thought to be right, and this is always noble. To God, who looketh at +the heart, this must have been an acceptable sacrifice. For nearly two +hundred years all these men have now been in the world of spirits, and +it may very safely be affirmed that they have never regretted the +scrupulous reverence they manifested for the law of God in keeping the +Sabbath in the stormy wilderness. + +With the early light of Monday morning they repaired their shattered +boat, and, spreading their sails before a favorable breeze, continued +their tour. Plymouth Bay opened before them, with a low sand-bar +shooting across the water, which served to break the violence of the +billows rolling in from the ocean, but which presented no obstacle to +the sweep of the wind. It was an unsheltered harbor, but it was not +only the best, but the only one which could be found. Cautiously they +sailed around the point of sand, dropping the lead every few moments +to find a channel for their vessel. They at length succeeded in +finding a passage, and a place where their vessel could ride in +comparative safety. They then landed to select a location for their +colonial village. Though it was the most dismal season of the year, +the region presented many attractions. It was pleasantly diversified +with hills and valleys, and the forest, of gigantic growth, swept +sublimely away in all directions. The remains of an Indian village was +found, and deserted corn-fields of considerable extent, where the +ground was in a state for easy and immediate cultivation. + +The Pilgrims had left England with the intention of planting their +colony at the mouth of the Hudson River; but the Dutch, jealous of the +power of the English upon this continent, and wishing to appropriate +that very attractive region entirely to themselves, bribed the pilot +to pretend to lose his course, and to land them at a point much +farther to the north; hence the disappointment of the company in +finding themselves involved amid the shoals of Cape Cod. Though +Plymouth was by no means the home which the Pilgrims had originally +sought, and though neither the harbor nor the location presented the +advantages which they had desired, the season was too far advanced for +them to continue their voyage in search of a more genial home. With +this report the explorers returned to the ship. + +On the 15th of December the Mayflower again weighed anchor from the +harbor of Cape Cod, and, crossing the Bay on the 16th, cautiously +worked its way into the shallow harbor of Plymouth, and cast anchor +about a mile and a half from the shore. The next day was the Sabbath, +and all remained on board the ship engaged in their Sabbath devotions. + +Early Monday morning, a party well armed were sent on shore to make a +still more careful exploration of the region, and to select a spot for +their village. They marched along the coast eight miles, but saw no +natives or wigwams. They crossed several brooks of sweet, fresh water, +but were disappointed in finding no navigable river. They, however, +found many fields where the Indians had formerly cultivated corn. +These fields, thus ready for the seed, seemed very inviting. At night +they returned to the ship, not having decided upon any spot for their +settlement. + +The next day, Tuesday, the 19th, they again sent out a party on a tour +of exploration. This party was divided into two companies, one to sail +along the coast in the shallop, hoping to find the mouth of some large +river; the other landed and traversed the shore. At night they all +returned again to the ship, not having as yet found such a location as +they desired. + +Wednesday morning came, and with increasing fervor the Pilgrims, in +their morning prayer, implored God to guide them. The decision could +no longer be delayed. A party of twenty were sent on shore to mark out +the spot where they should rear their store-house and their dwellings. +On the side of a high hill, facing the rising sun and the beautiful +bay, they found an expanse, gently declining, where there were large +fields which, two or three years before, had been cultivated with +Indian corn. The summit of this hill commanded a wide view of the +ocean and of the land. Springs of sweet water gushed from the +hill-sides, and a beautiful brook, overshadowed by the lofty forest, +meandered at its base. Here they unanimously concluded to rear their +new homes. + +As the whole party were rendezvoused upon this spot, the clouds began +to gather in the sky, the wind rose fiercely, and soon the rain began +to fall in torrents. Huge billows from the ocean rolled in upon the +poorly-sheltered harbor, so that it was impossible to return by their +small boat to the ship. They were entirely unsheltered, as they had +brought with them no preparations for such an emergency. Night, dark, +freezing, tempestuous, soon settled down upon these houseless +wanderers. In the dense forest they sought refuge from the icy gale +which swept over the ocean. They built a large fire, and, gathering +around it, passed the night and all the next day exposed to the fury +of the storm. But, toward the evening of the 21st, the gale so far +abated that they succeeded in returning over the rough waves to the +ship. + +The next morning was the ever memorable Friday, December 22. It dawned +chill and lowering. A wintry gale still swept the bay, and pierced the +thin garments of the Pilgrims. The eventful hour had now come in which +they were to leave the ship, and commence their new life of privation +and hardship in the New World. It was the birth-day of New England. In +the early morning, the whole ship's company assembled upon the deck of +the Mayflower, men, women, and children, to offer their sacrifice of +thanksgiving, and to implore divine protection upon their lofty and +perilous enterprise. + + "The Mayflower on New England's coasts has furled her + tattered sails, + And through her chafed and mourning shrouds December's + breezes wail. + + "There were men of hoary hair + Amid that Pilgrim band; + Why had they come to wither there, + Away from their childhood's land? + + "There was woman's fearless eye, + Lit by her deep love's truth; + There was manhood's brow, serenely high, + And the fiery heart of youth. + + "What sought they thus afar? + Bright jewels of the mine? + The wealth of seas--the spoils of war? + They sought a faith's pure shrine. + + "Ay, call it holy ground, + The soil where first they trod: + They have left unstain'd what there they found-- + Freedom to worship God." + +The Pilgrims, though inspired by impulses as pure and lofty as ever +glowed in human hearts, were still but feebly conscious of the scenes +which they were enacting. They were exiles upon whom their mother +country cruelly frowned, and though they hoped to establish a +prosperous colony, where their civil and religious liberty could be +enjoyed, which they had sought in vain under the government of Great +Britain, they were by no means aware that they were laying the +foundation stones of one of the most majestic nations upon which the +sun has ever shone. As they stood upon that slippery deck, swept by +the wintry wind, and reverently bowed their heads in prayer, they +dreamed not of the immortality which they were conferring upon +themselves and upon that day. Their frail vessel was now the only +material tie which seemed to bind them to their father-land. Their +parting hymn, swelling from gushing hearts and trembling lips, blended +in harmony with the moan of the wind and the wash of the wave, and +fell, we can not doubt, as accepted melody on the ear of God. + +These affecting devotions being ended, boat-load after boat-load left +the ship, until the whole company, one hundred and one in number, men, +women and children, were rowed to the shore, and were landed upon a +rock around which the waves were dashing. As the ship, in the shallow +harbor, rode at anchor a mile from the beach, and the boats were small +and the sea rough, this operation was necessarily very slow. + +They first erected a house of logs twenty feet square, which would +serve as a temporary shelter for them all, and which would also serve +as a general store-house for their effects. They then commenced +building a number of small huts for the several families. Every one +lent a willing hand to the work, and soon a little village of some +twenty dwellings sprang up beneath the brow of the forest-crowned hill +which protected them from the winds of the northwest. The Pilgrims +landed on Friday. The incessant labors of the rest of the day and of +Saturday enabled them to provide but a poor shelter for themselves +before the Sabbath came. But, notwithstanding the urgency of the case, +all labor was intermitted on that day, and the little congregation +gathered in their unfinished store-house to worship God. Aware, +however, that hostile Indians might be near, sentinels were stationed +to guard them from surprise. In the midst of their devotions, the +alarming cry rang upon their ears, "Indians! Indians!" A more fearful +cry could hardly reach the ears of husbands and fathers. The church +instantly became a fortress and the worshipers a garrison. A band of +hostile natives had been prowling around, but, instructed by the +valiant defense of the first encounter, and seeing that the Pilgrims +were prepared to repel an assault, they speedily retreated into the +wilderness. + +The next day the colonists vigorously renewed their labors, having +parceled themselves into nineteen families. They measured out their +house lots and drew for them, clustering their huts together, for +mutual protection, in two rows, with a narrow street between. But the +storms of winter were already upon them. Monday night it again +commenced raining. All that night and all of Tuesday the rain fell in +floods, while the tempest swept the ocean and wailed dismally through +the forest. Thus they toiled along in the endurance of inconceivable +discomfort for the rest of the week. All were suffering from colds, +and many were seriously sick. Friday and Saturday it was again stormy +and very cold. To add to their anxiety, they saw in several +directions, at the distance of five or six miles from them, wreaths of +smoke rising from large fires in the forest, proving that the Indians +were lurking around them and watching their movements. It was evident, +from the caution which the Indians thus manifested, that they were by +no means friendly in their feelings. + +The last day of the year was the Sabbath. It was observed with much +solemnity, their store-house, crowded with their effects, being the +only temple in which they could assemble to worship God. + + "Amid the storm they sang, + And the stars heard and the sea; + And the sounding aisles of the dim woods rang + To the anthem of the free." + +Monday morning of the new year the sun rose in a serene and cloudless +sky, and the Pilgrims, with alacrity, bowed themselves to their work. +Great fires of the Indians were seen in the woods. The valiant Miles +Standish, a man of the loftiest spirit of energy and intrepidity, took +five men with him, and boldly plunged into the forest to find the +Indians, and, if possible, to establish amicable relations with them. +He found their deserted wigwams and the embers of their fires, but +could not catch sight of a single native. A few days after this, two +of the pilgrims, who were abroad gathering thatch, did not return, and +great anxiety was felt for them. Four or five men the next day set out +in search for them. After wandering about all day unsuccessfully +through the pathless forest, they returned at night disheartened, and +the little settlement was plunged into the deepest sorrow. It was +greatly feared that they had been waylaid and captured by the savages. +Twelve men then, well armed, set out to explore the wilderness, to +find any traces of their lost companions. They also returned but to +deepen the dejection of their friends by the recital of their +unsuccessful search. But, as they were telling their story, a shout of +joy arose, and the two lost men, with tattered garments and emaciated +cheeks, emerged from the forest. They gave the following account of +their adventures: + +As they were gathering thatch about a mile and a half from the +plantation, they saw a pond in the distance, and went to it, hoping to +catch some fish. On the margin of the pond they met a large deer. The +affrighted animal fled, pursued eagerly by the dog they had with them. +The men followed on, hoping to capture the rich prize. They were thus +lured so far that they became bewildered and lost in the pathless +forest. All the afternoon they wandered about, until black night +encompassed them. A dismal storm arose of wind and rain, mingled with +snow. They were drenched to the skin, and their garments froze around +them. In the darkness they could find no shelter. They had no weapons, +but each one a small sickle to cut thatch. They had no food whatever. +They heard the roar of the beasts of the forests. They supposed it to +be the roaring of lions, though it was probably the howling of wolves. +Their only safety appeared to be to climb into a tree; but the wind +and the cold were so intolerable that such an exposure they could not +endure. So each one stood at the root of a tree all the night long, +running around it to keep himself from freezing, drenched by the +storm, terrified by the cries which filled the forest, and ready, as +soon as they should hear the gnashing of teeth, to spring into the +branches. + +The long winter night at length passed away, and a gloomy morning +dimly lighted the forest, and they resumed their search for home. They +waded through swamps, crossed streams, were arrested in their course +by large ponds of water, and tore their clothing and their flesh by +forcing their way through the tangled underbrush. At last they came to +a hill, and, climbing one of the highest trees, discerned in the +distance the harbor of Plymouth, which they recognized by the two +little islands, densely wooded, which seemed to float like ships upon +its surface. The cheerful sight invigorated them, and, though their +limbs tottered from exhaustion, they toiled on, and, just as night was +setting in, they reached their home, faint with travel, and almost +famished with hunger and cold. The limbs of one of these men, John +Goodman, were so swollen by exertion and the cold that they were +obliged to cut his shoes from his feet, and it was a long time before +he was again able to walk. Thus passed the month of January. Nearly +all of the colonists were sick, and eight of their number died. + +February was ushered in with piercing cold and desolating storms. +Tempests of rain and snow were so frequent and violent that but little +work could be done. The huts of the colonists were but poorly prepared +for such inclement weather, and so many were sick that the utter +destruction of the colony seemed to be threatened. Though the company +which landed consisted of one hundred and one, but forty-one of these +were men; all the rest were women and children. Death had already +swept many of these men away, and several others were very dangerously +sick. It was evident that the savages were lurking about, watching +them with an eagle eye, and with most manifestly unfriendly feelings. +The colonists were in no condition to repel an attack, and the most +fearless were conscious that they had abundant cause for intense +solicitude. + +On the 16th of this month, a man went to a creek about a mile and a +half from the settlement a gunning, and, concealing himself in the +midst of some shrubs and rashes, watched for water-fowl. While thus +concealed, twelve Indians, armed to the teeth, marched stealthily by +him, and he heard in the forest around the noise of many more. As +soon as the twelve had passed, he hastened home and gave the alarm. +All were called in from their work, the guns were loaded, and every +possible preparation was made to repel the anticipated assault. But +the day passed away in perfect quietness; not an Indian was seen; not +the voice or the footfall of a foe was heard. These prowling bands, +concealed in the dark forest, moved with a mystery which was +appalling. The Pilgrims had now been for nearly two months at +Plymouth, and not an Indian had they as yet caught sight of, except +the twelve whom the gunner from his ambush had discerned. Toward +evening, Miles Standish, who, upon the alarm, had returned to the +house, leaving his tools in the woods, took another man and went to +the place to get them, but they were no longer there. The Indians had +taken them away. + +This state of things convinced the Pilgrims that it was necessary to +adopt very efficient measures that they might be prepared to repel any +attack. All the able-bodied men, some twenty-five in number, met and +formed themselves into a military company. Miles Standish was chosen +captain, and was invested with great powers in case of any emergency. +Rude fortifications were planned for the defense of the little hamlet, +and two small cannons, which had been lying useless beneath the snow, +were dug up and mounted so as to sweep the approaches to the houses. +While engaged in these operations, two savages suddenly appeared upon +the top of a hill about a quarter of a mile distant, gazing earnestly +upon their movements. Captain Standish immediately took one man with +him, and, without any weapons, that their friendly intentions might be +apparent, hastened to meet the Indians. But the savages, as the two +colonists drew near, fled precipitately, and when Captain Standish +arrived upon the top of the hill, he heard noises in the forest behind +as if it were filled with Indians. + +This was the 17th of February. After this a month passed away, and not +a sign of Indians was seen. It was a month of sorrow, sickness, and +death. Seventeen of their little band died, and there was hardly +strength left with the survivors to dig their graves. Had the Indians +known their weakness, they might easily, in any hour, have utterly +destroyed the colony. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +MASSASOIT. + +1621 + +Advance of spring.--Sudden appearance of an Indian.--Samoset.--Effects +of a plague.--Samoset is hospitably treated and likes his +quarters.--Stealing of Indians.--The chief of the Wampanoags.--Departure +of Samoset.--Return of the Indians.--Presents to the +Indians.--Appearance of savages.--Planting.--Squantum.--His +captivity.--His benefactors.--Approach of Massasoit.--Caution of the +Indians.--Conference with Massasoit.--The Pilgrims leave a +hostage.--Visit of Massasoit.--His reception.--Royal interview.--The +first glass of spirits.--Appearance of the warriors.--A friendly +alliance.--Death of Governor Carver.--Mission to Massasoit.--Trouble +from the Indians.--The journey.--Appearance of the country.--Hospitality +of the natives.--Poverty of the natives.--The fishing-party.--Opposition +to crossing the river.--Assistance from the Indians.--Scarcity of +food.--Character of the Indians.--Massasoit absent.--Mount +Hope.--Reflections on the past.--Reflections inspired by the +scene.--Character of our forefathers.--Return of Massasoit.--Royal +ceremonies.--Gifts to the king.--Want of food.--Night in a +palace.--Amusements.--Arrival of fish.--Motives for departure.--Graphic +narrative.--Stormy journey.--Result of the mission.--Child lost.--News +of the safety of the child.--Endeavors for his rescue.--Cummaquids.--An +aged Indian.--Iyanough.--Caution.--Recovery of the lost boy.--Presents +to Aspinet.--The Wampanoags.--Power of Massasoit. + + +March "came in like a lion," cold, wet, and stormy; but toward the +middle of the month the weather changed, and a warm sun and soft +southern breezes gave indication of an early spring. The 16th of the +month was a remarkably pleasant day, and the colonists who were able +to bear arms had assembled at their rendezvous to complete their +military organization for the working days of spring and summer. While +thus engaged they saw, to their great surprise, a solitary Indian +approaching. Boldly, and without the slightest appearance of +hesitancy, he strode along, entered the street of their little +village, and directed his steps toward the group at the rendezvous. He +was a man of majestic stature, and entirely naked, with the exception +of a leathern belt about his loins, to which there was suspended a +fringe about nine inches in length. In his hand he held a bow and two +arrows. + +[Illustration: SAMOSET, THE INDIAN VISITOR.] + +The Indian, with remarkable self-confidence and freedom of gait, +advanced toward the astonished group, and in perfectly intelligible +English addressed them with the words, "Welcome, Englishmen." From +this man the eager colonists soon learned the following facts. His +name was Samoset. He was one of the chiefs of a tribe residing near +the island of Monhegan, which is at the mouth of Penobscot Bay. With a +great wind, he said that it was but a day's sail from Plymouth, though +it required a journey of five days by land. Fishing vessels from +England had occasionally visited that region, and he had, by +intercourse with them, acquired sufficient broken English to be able +to communicate his ideas. He also informed the Pilgrims that, four +years before their arrival, a terrible plague had desolated the coast, +and that the tribe occupying the region upon which they were settled +had been utterly annihilated. The dead had been left unburied to be +devoured by wolves. Thus the way had been prepared for the Pilgrims to +settle upon land which no man claimed, and thus had Providence gone +before them to shield them from the attacks of a savage foe. + +Samoset was disposed to make himself quite at home. He wished to enter +the houses, and called freely for beer and for food. To make him a +little more presentable to their families, the Pilgrims put a large +horseman's coat upon him, and then led him into their houses, and +treated him with great hospitality. The savage seemed well satisfied +with his new friends, and manifested no disposition to leave quarters +so comfortable and entertainment so abundant. Night came, and he still +remained, and would take no hints to go. The colonists could not +rudely turn him out of doors, and they were very apprehensive of +treachery, should they allow him to continue with them for the night. +But all their gentle efforts to get rid of him were in vain--he +_would_ stay. They therefore made arrangements for him in Stephen +Hopkins's house, and carefully, though concealing their movements from +him, watched him all night. + +Samoset was quite an intelligent man, and professed to be well +acquainted with all the tribes who peopled the New England coasts. He +said that the tribe inhabiting the end of the peninsula of Cape Cod +were called Nausites, and that they were exceedingly exasperated +against the whites, because, a few years before, one Captain Hunt, +from England, while trading with the Indians on the Cape, had +inveigled twenty-seven men on board, and then had fastened them below +and set sail. These poor creatures, thus infamously kidnapped, were +carried to Spain, and sold as slaves for one hundred dollars each. It +was in consequence of this outrage that the Pilgrims were so fiercely +attacked at _The First Encounter_. Samoset had heard from his brethren +of the forest all the incidents of this conflict. + +He also informed his eager listeners that at two days' journey from +them, upon the margin of waters now called Bristol Bay, there was a +very powerful tribe, the Wampanoags, who exerted a sort of supremacy +over all the other tribes of the region. Massasoit was the sovereign +of this dominant people, and by his intelligence and energy he kept +the adjacent tribes in a state of vassalage. Not far from his +territories there was another powerful tribe, the Narragansets, who, +in their strength, were sometimes disposed to question his authority. +All this information interested the colonists, and they were anxious, +if possible, to open friendly relations with Massasoit. + +Early the next morning, which was Saturday, March 17th, Samoset left, +having received as a present a knife, a bracelet, and a ring. He +promised soon to return again, and to bring some other Indians with +him. The next morning was the Sabbath. It was warm, serene, and +beautiful. Dreary winter had passed, and genial spring was smiling +around them. As the colonists were assembling for their Sabbath +devotions, Samoset again presented himself, with five tall Indians in +his train. They were all dressed in skins, fitting closely to the +body, and most of them had a panther's skin and other furs for sale. +According to the arrangement which the Pilgrims had made with Samoset, +they all left their bows and arrows about a quarter of a mile distant +from the town, as the Pilgrims did not deem it safe to admit armed +savages into their dwellings. The tools which had been left in the +woods, and which the Indians had taken, were also all brought back by +these men. The colonists received these natives as kindly as possible, +and entertained them hospitably, but declined entering into any +traffic, as it was the Sabbath. They told the Indians, however, that +if they would come on any other day, they would purchase not only the +furs they now had with them, but any others which they might bring. + +Upon this, all retired excepting Samoset. He, saying that he was sick, +insisted upon remaining. The rest soon disappeared in the forest, +having promised to return again the next day. Monday and Tuesday +passed, and the colonists looked in vain for the Indians. On Wednesday +morning, having made Samoset a present of a hat, a pair of shoes, some +stockings, and a piece of cloth to wind around his loins, they sent +him to search out his companions, and ascertain why they did not +return according to their promise. The Indians who first left had all, +upon their departure, received presents from the Pilgrims, so anxious +were our forefathers to establish friendly relations with the natives +of this New World. + +During the first days of the week the colonists were very busy +breaking up their ground and planting their seed. On Wednesday +afternoon, Samoset having left, they again assembled to attend to +their military organization. While thus employed, several savages +appeared on the summit of a hill but a short distance opposite them, +twanging their bow-strings and exhibiting gestures of defiance. +Captain Standish took one man with him, and with two others following +at a distance as a re-enforcement in case of any difficulty, went to +meet them. The savages continued their hostile gesticulation until +Captain Standish drew quite near, and then they precipitately fled. + +The next day it was again warm and beautiful, and the little village +of the colonists presented an aspect of industry, peace, and +prosperity. About noon Samoset returned, with one single stranger +accompanying him. This Indian's name was _Squantum_. He had been of +the party seized by Weymouth or by Hunt--the authorities are not clear +upon that point--and had been carried to Spain and there sold as a +slave. After some years of bondage he succeeded in escaping to +England. Mr. John Slaney, a merchant of London, chanced to meet the +poor fugitive, protected him, and treated him with the greatest +kindness, and finally secured him a passage back to his native land, +from whence he had been so ruthlessly stolen. This Indian, forgetting +the outrage of the knave who had kidnapped him, and remembering only +the great kindness which he had received from his benefactor and from +the people generally in London, in generous requital now attached +himself cordially to the Pilgrims, and became their firm friend. His +residence in England had rendered him quite familiar with the English +language, and he proved invaluable not only as an interpreter, but +also in instructing them respecting the modes of obtaining a support +in the wilderness. + +Squantum brought the welcome intelligence that his sovereign chief, +the great Massasoit, had heard of the arrival of the Pilgrims, and was +approaching, with a retinue of sixty warriors, to pay them a friendly +visit. With characteristic dignity and caution, the Indian chief had +encamped upon a neighboring hill, and had sent Squantum as his +messenger to inform the white men of his arrival, and to conduct the +preliminaries for an interview. Massasoit was well acquainted with the +conduct of the unprincipled English seamen who had skirted the coast, +committing all manner of outrages, and he was too wary to place +himself in the power of strangers respecting whom he entertained such +well-grounded suspicions. He therefore established himself upon a +hill, where he could not be taken by surprise, and where, in case of +an attack, he could easily, if necessary, retreat. + +The Pilgrims also, overawed by their lonely position, and by the +mysterious terrors of the wilderness and of the savage, deemed it +imprudent, when such a band of armed warriors were in their vicinity, +to send any of their feeble force from behind the intrenchments which +they had reared. After several messages, through their interpreter, +had passed to and fro, Massasoit, who, though unlettered, was a man of +reflection and of sagacity, proposed that the English should send one +of their number to his encampment to communicate to him their designs +in settling upon lands which had belonged to one of his vassal tribes. +One of the colonists, Edward Winslow, consented to go upon this +embassy. He took as a present for the barbarian monarch two knives and +a copper chain, with a jewel attached to it. Massasoit received him +with dignity, yet with courtesy. Mr. Winslow, through Squantum as his +interpreter, addressed the chieftain, surrounded by his warriors, in +the sincere words of peace and friendship. The Pilgrims of the +Mayflower were good men. They wished to do right, and to establish +amicable relations with the Indians. + +[Illustration: MASSASOIT AND HIS WARRIORS.] + +Massasoit listened in silence and very attentively to the speech of +Mr. Winslow. At its close he expressed his approval, and, after a +short conference with his councilors, decided to accept Governor +Carver's invitation to visit him, if Mr. Winslow would remain in +the Indian encampment as a hostage during his absence. This +arrangement being assented to, Massasoit set out, with twenty of his +warriors, for the settlement of the Pilgrims. In token of peace, they +left all their weapons behind. In Indian file, and in perfect silence, +the savages advanced until they reached a small brook near the log +huts of the colonists. Here they were met by Captain Miles Standish +with a military array of six men. A salute of six muskets was fired in +honor of the regal visit. Advancing a little farther, Governor Carver +met them with his reserve of military pomp, and the monarch of the +Wampanoags and his chieftains were escorted with the music of the drum +and fife to a log hut decorated with such embellishments as the +occasion could furnish. Two or three cushions, covered with a green +rug, were spread as a seat for the king and the governor in this +formal and most important interview. Governor Carver took the hand of +Massasoit and kissed it. The Indian chieftain immediately imitated his +example, and returned the salute. The governor then, in accordance +with mistaken views of hospitality, presented his guest with a goblet +of ardent spirits. The noble Indian, whose throat had never yet been +tainted by this curse, took a draught which caused his eyes almost to +burst from their sockets, and drove the sweat gushing from every pore. +With the instinctive imperturbability of his race, he soon recovered +from the shock, and a long, friendly, and very satisfactory conference +was held. + +Massasoit was a man of mark, mild, genial, affectionate, yet bold, +cautious, and commanding. He was in the prime of life, of majestic +stature, and of great gravity of countenance and manners. His face was +painted red, after the manner of the warriors of his tribe. His glossy +raven hair, well oiled, was cut short in front, but hung thick and +long behind. He and his companions were picturesquely dressed in skins +and with plumes of brilliant colors. + +As evening approached, Massasoit withdrew with his followers to his +encampment upon the hill. The treachery of Hunt and such men had made +him suspicious, and he was not willing to leave himself for the night +in the power of the white men. He accordingly arranged his encampment +to guard against surprise, and, sentinels being established, the rest +of the party threw themselves upon their hemlock boughs, with their +bows and arrows in their hands, and were soon fast asleep. The +Pilgrims also kept a vigilant watch that night, for neither party had +full confidence in the other. The next morning Captain Standish, with +another man, ventured into the camp of the Indians. They were received +with great kindness, and gradually confidence was strengthened between +the two parties, and the most friendly relations were established. +After entering into a formal alliance, offensive and defensive, the +conference terminated to the satisfaction of all parties, and the +tawny warriors again disappeared in the pathless wilderness. They +returned to Mount Hope, then called Pokanoket, the seat of Massasoit, +about forty miles from Plymouth. + +The ravages of death had now dwindled the colony down to fifty men, +women, and children. But health was restored with the returning sun +and the cheering breezes of spring. Thirty acres of land were planted, +and Squantum proved himself a true and valuable friend, teaching them +how to cultivate Indian corn, and how to take the various kinds of +fish. + +In June Governor Carver died, greatly beloved and revered by the +colony. Mr. William Bradford was chosen as his successor, and by +annual election was continued governor for many years. Early in July +Governor Bradford sent a deputation from Plymouth, with Squantum as +their interpreter, to return the visit of Massasoit. There were +several quite important objects to be obtained by this mission. It was +a matter of moment to ascertain the strength of Massasoit, the number +of his warriors, and the state in which he lived. They wished also, by +a formal visit, to pay him marked attention, and to renew their +friendly correspondence. There was another subject of delicacy and of +difficulty which it had become absolutely necessary to bring forward. +Lazy, vagabond Indians had for some time been increasingly in the +habit of crowding the little village of the colonists and eating out +their substance. They would come with their wives and their children, +and loiter around day after day, without any delicacy whatever, +clamoring for food, and devouring every thing which was set before +them like famished wolves. The Pilgrims, anxious to maintain friendly +relations with Massasoit, were reluctant to drive away his subjects by +violence, but the longer continuance of such hospitality could not be +endured. + +The governor sent to the Indian king, as a present, a gaudy horseman's +coat. It was made of red cotton trimmed with showy lace. At 10 +o'clock in the morning of the second of July, the two ambassadors, Mr. +Winslow and Mr. Hopkins, with Squantum as guide and interpreter, set +forward on their journey. It was a warm and sunny day, and with +cheerful spirits the party threaded the picturesque trails of the +Indians through the forest. These trails were paths through the +wilderness through which the Indians had passed for uncounted +centuries. They were distinctly marked, and almost as renowned as the +paved roads of the Old World, which once reverberated beneath the +tramp of the legions of the Cæsars. Here generation after generation +of the moccasined savage, with silent tread, threaded his way, +delighting in the gloom which no ray of the sun could penetrate, in +the silence interrupted only by the cry of the wild beast in his lair, +and awed by the marvelous beauty of lakes and streams, framed in +mountains and fringed with forests, where water-fowl of every variety +of note and plumage floated buoyant upon the wave, and pierced the air +with monotonous and melancholy song. Ten or twelve Indians--men, +women, and children--followed them, annoying them not a little with +their intrusiveness and their greedy grasp of food. The embassy +traveled about fifteen miles to a small Indian village upon a branch +of Taunton River. Here they arrived about three o'clock in the +afternoon. The natives called the place Namaschet. It was within the +limits of the present town of Middleborough. The Indians received the +colonists with great hospitality, offering them the richest viands +which they could furnish--heavy bread made of corn, and the spawn of +shad, which they ate from wooden spoons. These glimpses of poverty and +wretchedness sadly detract from the romantic ideas we have been wont +to cherish of the free life of the children of the forest. The savages +were exceedingly delighted with the skill which their guests displayed +in shooting crows in their corn-fields. + +As Squantum told them that it was more than a day's travel from there +to Pokanoket or Mount Hope, they resumed their journey, and went about +eight miles farther, till they came, about sunset, to another stream, +where they found a party of natives fishing. They were here cheered +with the aspect of quite a fruitful region. The ground on both sides +of the river was cleared, and had formerly waved with corn-fields. The +place had evidently once been densely populated, but the plague of +which we have spoken swept, it is said, every individual into the +grave. A few wandering Indians had now come to the deserted fields to +fish, and were lazily sleeping in the open air, without constructing +for themselves any shelter. These miserable natives had no food but +fish and a few roasted acorns, and they devoured greedily the stores +which the colonists brought with them. The night was mild and serene, +and was passed without much discomfort in the unsheltered fields. + +Early in the morning the journey was resumed, the colonists following +down the stream, now called Fall River, toward Narraganset Bay. Six of +the savages accompanied them a few miles, until they came to a shallow +place, where, by divesting themselves of their clothing, they were +able to wade through the river. Upon the opposite bank there were two +Indians who seemed, with valor which astonished the colonists, to +oppose their passage. They ran down to the margin of the stream, +brandished their weapons, and made all the threatening gestures in +their power. They were, however, appeased by friendly signs, and at +last permitted the passage of the river without resort to violence. + +Here, after refreshing themselves, they continued their journey, +following down the western bank of the stream. The country on both +sides of the river had been cleared, and in former years had been +planted with corn-fields, but was now quite depopulated. Several +Indians still accompanied them, treating them with the most remarkable +kindness. It was a cloudless day, and intensely hot. The Indians +insisted upon carrying the superfluous clothing of their newly-found +friends. As they were continually coming to brooks, often quite wide +and deep, running into the river, the Indians eagerly took the +Pilgrims upon their shoulders and carried them through. + +[Illustration: THE PALACE OF MASSASOIT.] + +During the whole of the day, after crossing the river, they met with but +two Indians on their route, so effectually had the plague swept off the +inhabitants. But the evidence was abundant that the region had formerly +been quite populous with a people very poor and uncultivated. Their +living had been manifestly nothing but fish and corn pounded into coarse +meal. Game must have been so scarce in the woods, and with such +difficulty taken with bows and arrows, that they could very seldom have +been regaled with meat. A more wretched and monotonous existence than +theirs can hardly be conceived. Entirely devoid of mental culture, there +was no range for thought. Their huts were miserable abodes, barely +endurable in pleasant weather, but comfortless in the extreme when the +wind filled them with smoke, or the rain dripped through the branches. +Men, women, children, and dogs slept together at night in the one +littered room, devoured by fleas. The native Indian was a degraded, +joyless savage, occasionally developing kind feelings and noble +instincts, but generally vicious, treacherous, and cruel. + +The latter part of the afternoon they arrived at Pokanoket. Much to +their disappointment, they found that Massasoit, uninformed of their +intended visit, was absent on a hunting excursion. As he was, however, +not far from home, runners were immediately dispatched to recall him. +The chieftain had selected his residence with that peculiar taste for +picturesque beauty which characterized the more noble of the Indians. +The hillock which the English subsequently named Mount Hope was a +graceful mound about two hundred feet high, commanding an extensive +and remarkably beautiful view of wide, sweeping forests and indented +bays. + +This celebrated mound is about four miles from the city of Fall River. +From its summit the eye now ranges over Providence, Bristol, Warren, +Fall River, and many other minor towns. The whole wide-spread +landscape is embellished with gardens, orchards, cultivated fields, +and thriving villages. Gigantic steamers plow the waves, and the sails +of a commerce which girdles the globe whitens the beautiful bay. + +But, as the tourist sits upon the solitary summit, he forgets the +present in memory of the past. Neither the pyramids of Egypt nor the +Coliseum of the Eternal City are draped with a more sublime antiquity. +Here, during generations which no man can number, the sons of the +forest gathered around their council-fires, and struggled, as human +hearts, whether savage or civilized, must ever struggle, against +"life's stormy doom." + +Here, long centuries ago, were the joys of the bridal, and the anguish +which gathers around the freshly-opened grave. Beneath the moon, which +then, as now, silvered this mound, "the Indian lover wooed his dusky +maid." Upon the beach, barbaric childhood reveled, and their red limbs +were bathed in the crystal waves. + +Here, in ages long since passed away, the war-whoop resounded through +the forest. The shriek of mothers and maidens pierced the skies as +they fell cleft by the tomahawk; and all the horrid clangor of war, +with "its terror, conflagration, tears, and blood," imbittered ten +thousand fold the ever bitter lot of humanity. + + "'Tis dangerous to rouse the lion; + Deadly to cross the tiger's path; + But the most terrible of terrors + Is man himself in his wild wrath." + +In the midst of this attractive scene, perhaps nothing is more +conspicuous than the spires of the churches--those churches of a pure +Christianity to which New England is indebted for all her intelligence +and prosperity. It was upon the Bible that our forefathers laid the +foundations of the institutions of this New World; and, though they +made some mistakes, for they were but mortal, still they were sincere, +conscientious Christian men, and their Christianity has been the +legacy from which their children have derived the greatest benefits. +Two hundred years ago, our fathers, from the summit of Mount Hope, +looked upon a dreary wilderness through which a few naked savages +roamed. How different the spectacle which now meets the eye of the +tourist! + +Massasoit, informed by his runners of the guests who had so +unexpectedly arrived, immediately returned. Mr. Winslow and Mr. +Hopkins, wishing to honor the Indian king, fired a salute, each one +discharging his gun as Massasoit approached. The king, who had heard +the report of fire-arms before, was highly gratified; but the women +and children were struck with exceeding terror, and, like affrighted +deer, leaped from their wigwams and fled into the woods. Squantum +pursued them, and, by assurances that no harm was to be feared, at +length induced them cautiously to return. + +There was then an interchange of sundry ceremonies of state to render +the occasion imposing. The scarlet coat, with its gaudy embroidery of +lace, was placed upon Massasoit, and a chain of copper beads was +thrown around his neck. He seemed much pleased with these showy +trappings, and his naked followers were exceedingly delighted in +seeing their chieftain thus decorated. A motley group now gathered +around the Indian king and the English embassy. Massasoit then made a +long speech, to which the natives seemed to listen with great +interest, occasionally responding with applause. It was now night. The +two envoys were weary with travel, and were hungry, for they had +consumed all their food, not doubting that they should find abundance +at the table of the sovereign of all these realms. But, to their +surprise, Massasoit was entirely destitute, not having even a mouthful +to offer them. Supperless they went to bed. In the following language +they describe their accommodations for the night: + + "Late it grew, but victuals he offered none, so we desired to + go to rest. He laid us on the bed with himself and his wife, + they at the one end and we at the other, it being only planks + laid a foot from the ground, and a thin mat upon them. Two + more of his chief men, for want of room, pressed by and upon + us, so that we were worse weary of our lodging than of our + journey." + +The next day there was gathered at Mount Hope quite a concourse of the +adjoining Indians, subordinate chiefs and common people. They engaged +in various games of strength and agility, with skins for prizes. The +English also fired at a mark, amazing the Indians with the accuracy of +their shot. It was now noon, and the English, who had slept without +supper, had as yet received no breakfast. At one o'clock two large +fishes were brought in, which had been speared in the bay. They were +hastily broiled upon coals, and forty hungry men eagerly devoured +them. + +The afternoon passed slowly and tediously away, and again the Pilgrims +went supperless to bed. Again they passed a sleepless night, being +kept awake by vermin, hunger, and the noise of the savages. Friday +morning they rose before the sun, resolved immediately to commence +their journey home. Massasoit was very importunate to have them remain +longer with him. + + "But we determined," they write in their graphic narrative, + "to keep the Sabbath at home, and feared that we should + either be light-headed for want of sleep, for what with bad + lodgings, the savages' barbarous singing (for they use to + sing themselves asleep), lice, and fleas within doors, and + musketoes without, we could hardly sleep all the time of our + being there; we much fearing that if we should stay any + longer we should not be able to recover home for want of + strength; so that on the Friday morning before the sunrising + we took our leave and departed, Massasoit being both grieved + and ashamed that he could no better entertain us." + +Their journey home was a very weary one. They would, perhaps, have +perished from hunger had they not obtained from the Indians whom they +met a little parched corn, which was considered a very great delicacy, +a squirrel, and a shad. Friday night, as they were asleep in the open +air, a tempest of thunder and lightning arose, with floods of rain. +Their fire was speedily extinguished, and they were soaked to the +skin. Saturday night, just as the twilight was passing away into +darkness, they reached their homes in a storm of rain, wet, weary, +hungry, and sore. + +The result of this mission was, however, important. They renewed their +treaty of peace with Massasoit, and made arrangements that they were +to receive no Indians as guests unless Massasoit should send them with +a copper necklace, in token that they came from him. + +In the autumn of this same year a boy from the colony got lost in the +woods. He wandered about for five days, living upon berries, and then +was found by some Indians in the forests of Cape Cod. Massasoit, as +soon as he heard of it, sent word that the boy was found. He was in +the hands of the same tribe who, in consequence of the villainies of +Hunt, had assailed the Pilgrims so fiercely at the First Encounter. +The savages treated the boy kindly, and had him at Nauset, which is +now the town of Eastham, near the extremity of the Cape. Governor +Bradford immediately sent ten men in a boat to rescue the boy. + +They coasted along the first day very prosperously, notwithstanding a +thunder-shower in the afternoon, with violent wind and rain. At night +they put into Barnstable Bay, then called Cummaquid. Squantum and +another Indian were with them as friends and interpreters. They deemed +it prudent not to land, but anchored for the night in the middle of +the bay. The next morning they saw some savages gathering shell-fish +upon the shore. They sent their two interpreters with assurances of +friendship, and to inquire for the boy. The savages were very +courteous, informed them that the boy was farther down the Cape at +Nauset, and invited the whole party to come on shore and take some +refreshments. Six of the colonists ventured ashore, having first +received four of the natives to remain in their boat as hostages. The +chief of this small tribe, called the Cummaquids, was a young man of +about twenty-six years of age, and appeared to be a very remarkable +character. He was dignified and courteous in his demeanor, and +entertained his guests with a native politeness which surprised them +much. + +While in this place an old Indian woman came to see them, whom they +judged to be a hundred years of age. As soon as she came into their +presence she was overwhelmed with emotion, and cried most +convulsively. Upon inquiring the reason, the Pilgrims were told that +her three sons were kidnapped by Captain Hunt. The young men had been +invited on board his ship to trade. He lured them below, seized and +bound them, and carried them to Spain, where he sold them as slaves. +The unhappy and desolate mother seemed quite heart-broken with grief. +The Pilgrims addressed to her words of sympathy, assured her that +Captain Hunt was a bad man, whom every good man in England condemned, +and gave her some presents. + +They remained with this kind but deeply-wronged people until after +dinner. Then _Iyanough_ himself, the noble young chief of the tribe, +with two of his warriors, accompanied them on board the boat to assist +them in their search for the boy. A fair wind from the west filled +their sails, and late in the evening, when it was too dark to land, +they approached Nauset. Here was the hostile tribe whose prowess the +colonists had experienced in the First Encounter. The villain, Captain +Hunt, had stolen from them twenty men. It was consequently deemed +necessary to practice much caution. Iyanough and Squantum went on +shore there to conciliate the natives and to inform them of the object +of the mission. The next morning a great crowd of natives had +gathered, and were anxious to get into the boat. The English, however, +prudently, would allow but two to enter at a time. The day was passed +in parleying. About sunset a train of a hundred Indians appeared, +bringing the lost boy with them. One half remained at a little +distance, with their bows and arrows; the other half, unarmed, brought +the boy to the boat, and delivered him to his friends. The colonists +made valuable presents to _Aspinet_, the chief of the tribe, and also +paid abundantly for the corn which, it will be remembered, they took +from a deserted house when they were first coasting along the shore in +search of a place of settlement. They then spread their sails, and a +fair wind soon drove them fifty miles across the bay to their homes. + +The Wampanoags do not appear to have constituted a very numerous +tribe, but, through the intellectual and military energy of their +chieftain, Massasoit, they had acquired great power. The present town +of Bristol, Rhode Island, was the region principally occupied by the +tribe; but Massasoit extended his sway over more than thirty tribes, +who inhabited Cape Cod and all the country extending between +Massachusetts and Narraganset Bays, reaching inland to where the head +branches of the Charles River and the Pawtucket River meet. It will be +seen at once, by reference to the map, how wide was the sway of this +Indian monarch, and how important it was for the infant colony to +cultivate friendly relations with a sovereign who could combine all +those tribes, and direct many thousand barbarian warriors to rush like +wolves upon the feeble settlement. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +CLOUDS OF WAR. + +1621-1622 + +Canonicus.--His hostility toward the Puritans.--Corruption at +court.--A rebellion.--Flight of Massasoit.--Reported death of +Squantum.--Action of the Puritans.--The army.--Directions to the +men.--Approach to the wigwam.--The attack.--"I am a squaw!"--Escape of +Corbitant.--Appearance of the huts.--Squantum found.--Threats of Capt. +Standish.--The return.--Reconciliation of Corbitant.--Prosperous +summer.--Rumors of war.--New expedition.--Evidences of the +plague.--Justice of the Pilgrims.--Explorations.--Appearance of the +harbor.--Preparations for return.--The harbor.--Friendly +relations.--Arrival of emigrants from England.--Declaration of +war.--Canonicus.--Weakness of the Pilgrims.--Council +called.--Pickwickian challenge.--Preparations for defense.--Completion +of the fortification.--The challenge retracted.--An arrival.--Kind +reception.--Complaints from the Indians.--Relief wanted.--Death of +Squantum.--His prayer.--Governor Bradford's journey.--Theft +committed.--Return of the articles.--The Weymouth settlers implore +aid.--Disgraceful proceeding.--Injustice of Hudibras.--Sickness of +Massasoit.--Deputation from Plymouth.--The journey.--Reported death of +Massasoit.--Hobbomak.--Hospitality of Corbitant's wife.--Arrival at +Mount Hope.--Massasoit's welcome.--His recovery.--Kindness of the +Pilgrims.--Mr. Winslow as physician.--Alarming tidings.--The party +leave Mount Hope.--Conversation with Corbitant.--English +salutations.--Theological remarks.--Return to Plymouth.--The +army.--Captain Standish.--Insolence of the Indians.--The commencement +of hostilities.--The conflict and victory.--The Weymouth men go to +Monhegan.--Regrets of the English.--Letter from Rev. Mr. Robinson. + + +The Narraganset Indians occupied the region extending from the western +shores of Narraganset Bay to Pawcatuck River. They were estimated to +number about thirty thousand, and could bring five thousand warriors +into the field. Canonicus, the sovereign chief of this tribe, was a +man of great renown. War had occasionally raged between the +Narragansets and the Wampanoags, and the two tribes were bitterly +hostile to each other. Canonicus regarded the newly-arrived English +with great jealousy, and was particularly annoyed by the friendly +relations existing between them and the Wampanoags. Indeed, it is +quite evident that Massasoit was influenced to enter into his alliance +with the English mainly from his dread of the Narragansets. + +Bribery and corruption are almost as common in barbarian as in +civilized courts. Canonicus had brought over to his cause one of the +minor chiefs of Massasoit, named Corbitant. This man, audacious and +reckless, began to rail bitterly at the peace existing between the +Indians and the English. Boldly he declared that Massasoit was a +traitor, and ought to be deposed. Sustained as Corbitant was by the +whole military power of the Narragansets, he soon gathered a party +about him sufficiently strong to bid defiance to Massasoit. The +sovereign of the Wampanoags was even compelled to take refuge from +arrest by flight. + +The colonists heard these tidings with great solicitude, and learning +that Corbitant was within a few miles of them, at Namasket +(Middleborough), striving to rouse the natives to unite with the +Narragansets against them, they privately sent Squantum and another +friendly Indian, Hobbomak, to Namasket, to ascertain what had become +of Massasoit, and how serious was the peril with which they were +threatened. + +The next day Hobbomak returned alone, breathless and terrified. He +reported that they had hardly arrived at Namasket when Corbitant beset +the wigwam into which they had entered with a band of armed men, and +seized them both as prisoners. He declared that they both should die, +saying that when Squantum was dead the English would have lost their +tongue. Brandishing a knife, the savage approached Squantum to stab +him. Hobbomak, being a very powerful man, at that moment broke from +the grasp of those who held him, and outrunning his pursuers, +succeeded in regaining Plymouth. He said that he had no doubt that +Squantum was killed. + +These were melancholy and alarming tidings. Governor Bradford +immediately assembled the few men--about twenty in number--of the +feeble colony, to decide what should be done. After looking to God for +counsel, and after calm deliberation, it was resolved that, if they +should suffer their friends and messengers to be thus assailed and +murdered with impunity, the hostile Indians would be encouraged to +continued aggressions, and no Indians would dare to maintain friendly +relations with them. They therefore adopted the valiant determination +to send ten men, one half of their whole number, with Hobbomak as +their guide, to seize Corbitant and avenge the outrage. + +The 14th of August, 1621, was a dark and stormy day, when this little +band set out on its bold adventure. All the day long, as they silently +threaded the paths of the forest, the rain dripped upon them. Late in +the afternoon they arrived within four miles of Namasket. They then +thought it best to conceal themselves until after dark, that they +might fall upon their foe by surprise. Captain Standish led the band. +To every man he gave minute directions as to the part he was to +perform. Night, wet and stormy, soon darkened around them in Egyptian +blackness. They could hardly see a hand's breadth before them. Groping +along, they soon lost their way, and became entangled in the thick +undergrowth. Wet, weary, and dejected, they toiled on, and at last +again happily hit the trail. It was after midnight when they arrived +within sight of the glimmering fires of the little Indian hamlet of +Namasket. They then sat down, and ate from their knapsacks a hearty +meal. The food which remained they threw away, that they might have +nothing to obstruct them in the conflict which might ensue. + +They then cautiously approached a large wigwam where Hobbomak supposed +that Corbitant and his men were sleeping. Silently they surrounded the +hut, the gloom of the night and the wailings of the storm securing +them from being either seen or heard. At a signal, two muskets were +fired to terrify the savages, and Captain Standish, with three or +four men, rushed into the hut. The ground floor, dimly lighted by some +dying embers, was covered with sleeping savages--men, women, and +children. A scene of indescribable consternation and confusion ensued. +Through Hobbomak, Captain Standish ordered every one to remain, +assuring them that he had come for Corbitant, the murderer of +Squantum, and that, if he were not there, no one else should be +injured. But the savages, terrified by the midnight surprise and by +the report of the muskets, were bereft of reason. Many of them +endeavored to escape, and were severely wounded by the colonists in +their attempts to stop them. The Indian boys, seeing that the women +were not molested, ran around, frantically exclaiming, "I am a squaw! +I am a squaw!" + +At last order was restored, and it was found that Corbitant was not +there, but that he had gone off with all his train, and that Squantum +was not killed. A bright fire was now kindled, that the hut might be +carefully searched. Its blaze illumined one of the wildest of +imaginable scenes. The wigwam, spacious and rudely constructed of +boughs, mats, and bark; the affrighted savages, men, women, and +children, in their picturesque dress and undress, a few with ghastly +wounds, faint and bleeding; the various weapons and utensils of +barbarian life hanging around; the bold colonists in their European +dress and arms; the fire blazing in the centre of the hut, all +combined to present a scene such as few eyes have ever witnessed. +Hobbomak now climbed to the top of the hut and shouted for Squantum. +He immediately came from another wigwam. Having disarmed the savages +of their bows and arrows, the colonists gathered around the fire to +dry their dripping clothes, and waited for the light of the morning. + +With the early light, all who were friendly to the English gathered +around them, while the faction in favor of Corbitant fled into the +wilderness. A large group was soon assembled. Captain Standish, in +words of conciliation and of firmness, informed them that, though +Corbitant had escaped, yet, if he continued his hostility, no place of +retreat would secure him from punishment; and that, if any violence +were offered to Massasoit or to any of his subjects by the +Narragansets, or by any one else, the colonists would avenge it to the +utter overthrow of those thus offending. He expressed great regret +that any of the Indians had been wounded in consequence of their +endeavors to escape from the house, and offered to take the wounded +home, that they might be carefully healed. + +After breakfasting with the Indians, this heroic band, accompanied by +Squantum, some of the wounded, and several other friendly Indians, set +out on their return. They arrived at home in safety the same evening. +This well-judged and decisive measure at once checked the progress of +Corbitant in exciting disaffection. He soon found it expedient to seek +reconciliation, and, through the intercession of Massasoit, signed a +treaty of submission and friendship; and even Canonicus, sovereign of +the Narragansets, sent a messenger, perhaps as a spy, but professedly +to treat for peace. Thus this cloud of war was dissipated. + +On the whole, the Pilgrims had enjoyed a very prosperous summer. They +were eminently just and kind in their treatment of the Indians. In +trading with them they obtained furs and many other articles, which +contributed much to their comfort. Fish was abundant in the bay. Their +corn grew luxuriantly, and their fields waved with a rich and golden +harvest. With the autumnal weather came abundance of water-fowl, +supplying them with delicious meat. Thus were they blessed with peace +and plenty. + +Various rumors had reached the colonists that several of the tribes of +the Massachusetts Indians, so called, inhabiting the islands and main +land at the northwestern extremity of Massachusetts Bay, were +threatening hostilities. It was consequently decided to send an +expedition to them, not to intimidate, but to conciliate with words of +sincerity and deeds of kindness. + +At midnight, September the 18th, the tide then serving, a small party +set sail, and during the day, with a gentle wind, made about sixty +miles north. Not deeming it safe to land, they remained in their boat +during the night, and the next morning landed under a cliff. Here they +found some natives, who seemed to cower before them in terror. It +appeared afterward that Squantum had told the natives that the English +had a box in which they kept the plague, and that, if the Indians +offended them, they would let the awful scourge loose. Every where the +English saw evidences of the ravages of the pestilence to which we +have so often referred. There were desolate villages and deserted +corn-fields, and but a few hundred Indians wandering here and there +where formerly there had been thousands. The kindness with which they +treated the Indians, and the fairness with which they traded with +them, won confidence. Squantum at one time suggested that, by way of +punishment, and to teach the savages a lesson, they should by violence +take away their furs, which were almost their only treasures. Our +fathers nobly replied, "Were they ever so bad, we would not wrong +them, or give them any just occasion against us. We shall pay no +attention to their threatening words, but, if they attack us, we shall +then punish them severely." + +The Pilgrims explored quite minutely this magnificent harbor, then +solitary and fringed with rayless forests, now alive with commerce, +and decorated with mansions of refinement and opulence. The long +promontory, now crowded with the busy streets and thronged dwellings +of Boston, was then a dense and silent wilderness, threaded with a few +Indian trails. Along the shore several rude wigwams were scattered, +the smoke curling from their fires from among the trees, with naked +children playing around the birch canoes upon the beach. + +In the evening of a serene day the moon rose brilliant on the harbor, +illumining with almost celestial beauty the islands and the sea. Many +of the islands were then crowned with forests; others were cleared +smooth and verdant, but swept entirely clean of inhabitants by the +dreadful plague. The Pilgrims, rejoicing in the rays of the autumnal +moon, prepared to spread their sails. "Having well spent the day," +they write, "we returned to the shallop, almost all the women +accompanying us to trucke, who sold their coats from their backes, and +tyed boughes about them, but with great shamefastness, for indeed they +are more modest than some of our English women are. We promised them +to come again to them, and they us to keep their skins. + +"Within this bay the savages say there are two rivers, the one whereof +we saw having a fair entrance, but we had no time to discover it. +Better harbors for shipping can not be than here are. At the entrance +of the bay are many rocks, and, in all likelihood, very good fishing +ground. Having a light moon, we set sail at evening, and before next +day noon got home, with a considerable quantity of beaver, and a good +report of the place, wishing we had been seated there." + +Thus, by kindness, the natives of this region were won to friendship, +and amicable relations were established. Before the close of this year +another vessel arrived from England, bringing thirty-five persons to +join the colony. Though these emigrants were poor, and, having +consumed nearly all their food on a long voyage, were nearly starved, +the lonely colonists received the acquisition with great joy. Houses +were immediately built for their accommodation, and they were fed from +the colony stores. Winter now again whitened the hills of Plymouth. + +Early in January, 1622, Canonicus, sovereign chief of the +Narragansets, notwithstanding the alliance of the foregoing summer +into which he had entered, dreading the encroachments of the white +men, and particularly apprehensive of the strength which their +friendship gave to his hereditary enemies, the Mohegans, sent to +Governor Bradford a bundle of arrows tied up in the skin of a +rattlesnake. Squantum was called to interpret the significance of such +a gift. He said that it was the Indian mode of expressing hostility +and of sending a declaration of war. This act shows an instinctive +sense of honor in the barbarian chieftain which civilized men do not +always imitate. Even the savages cherished ideas of chivalry which led +them to scorn to strike an unsuspecting and defenseless foe. The +friendly Indians around Plymouth assured the colonists that Canonicus +was making great preparations for war; that he could bring five +thousand warriors into the field; that he had sent spies to ascertain +the condition of the English and their weakness; and that he had +boasted that he could eat them all up at a mouthful. It is pleasant to +record that our fathers had not provoked this hostility by any act of +aggression. They had been thus far most eminently just and benevolent +in all their intercourse with the natives. They were settled upon land +to which Canonicus pretended no claim, and were on terms of cordial +friendship with all the Indians around them. The Pilgrims at this time +had not more than twenty men capable of bearing arms, and five +thousand savages were clashing their weapons, and filling the forest +with their war-whoops, preparing to attack them. Their peril was +indeed great. + +Governor Bradford called a council of his most judicious men, and it +was decided that, under these circumstances, any appearance of +timidity would but embolden their enemies. The rattlesnake skin was +accordingly returned filled with powder and bullets, and accompanied +by a defiant message that, if Canonicus preferred war to peace, the +colonists were ready at any moment to meet him, and that he would rue +the day in which he converted friends into enemies. + +Barbarian as well as civilized blusterers can, when discretion +prompts, creep out of an exceedingly small hole. Canonicus had no wish +to meet a foe who was thus prompt for the encounter. He immediately +sent to Governor Bradford the assurance, in Narraganset phrase, of his +high consideration, and begged him to believe that the arrows and the +snake skin were sent purely in a Pickwickian sense. + +The threatening aspect of affairs at this time led the colonists to +surround their whole little village, including also the top of the +hill, on the side of which it was situated, with a strong palisade, +consisting of posts some twelve feet high firmly planted in the ground +in contact with each other. It was an enormous labor to construct this +fortification in the dead of winter. There were three entrance gates +to the little town thus walled in, with bulwarks to defend them. +Behind this rampart, with loop-holes through which the defenders could +fire upon any approaching foe, the colonists felt quite secure. A +large cannon was also mounted upon the summit of the hill, which would +sweep all the approaches with ball and grape-shot. Sentinels were +posted night and day, to guard against surprise, and their whole +available force was divided into four companies, each with its +commander, and its appointed place of rendezvous in case of an attack. +The months of January and February were occupied in this work. Early +in March the fortification was completed. + +The heroic defiance which was returned to Canonicus, and the vigorous +measures of defense adopted, alarmed the Narragansets. They +immediately ceased all hostile demonstrations, and Canonicus remained +after this, until his death, apparently a firm friend of the English. + +In June, to the great annoyance of the Pilgrims, two vessels came into +the harbor of Plymouth, bringing sixty wild and rude adventurers, who, +neither fearing God nor regarding man, had come to the New World to +seek their fortunes. They were an idle and dissolute set, greedy for +gain, and ripe for any deeds of dishonesty or violence. They had made +but poor provision for their voyage, and were almost starved. The +Pilgrims received them kindly, and gave them shelter and food; and yet +the ungrateful wretches stole their corn, wasted their substance, and +secretly reviled their habits of sobriety and devotion. Nearly all +the summer these unprincipled adventurers intruded upon the +hospitality of the Pilgrims. In the autumn, these men, sixty in +number, went to a place which they had selected in Massachusetts Bay, +then called Wessagusset, now the town of Weymouth, which they had +selected for their residence. They left their sick behind them, to be +nursed by those Christian Pilgrims whose piety had excited their +ribald abuse. + +Hardly had these men left ere the ears of the Pilgrims were filled +with the clamors which their injustice and violence raised from the +outraged Indians. The Weymouth miscreants stole their corn, insulted +their females, and treated them with every vile indignity. The Indians +at last became exasperated beyond endurance, and threatened the total +destruction of the dissolute crew. At last starvation stares them in +the face, and they send in October to Plymouth begging for food. The +Pilgrims have not more than enough to meet their own wants during the +winter. But, to save them from famishing by hunger, Governor Bradford +himself takes a small party in a boat and sails along the coast, +purchasing corn of the Indians, getting a few quarts here and a few +bushels there, until he had collected twenty-eight hogsheads of corn +and beans. While at Chatham, then called Manamoyk, Squantum was taken +sick of a fever and died. It is a touching tribute to the kindness of +our Pilgrim fathers that this poor Indian testified so much love for +them. In his dying hour he prayed fervently that God would take him to +the heaven of the Englishmen, that he might dwell with them forever. +As remembrances of his affection, he bequeathed all his little effects +to sundry of his English friends. Governor Bradford and his +companions, with tears, followed the remains of their faithful +interpreter to the grave, and then, with saddened hearts, continued +their voyage. + +At Nauset, now Eastham, their shallop was unfortunately wrecked. +Governor Bradford stored the corn on shore, placed it under the care +of the friendly Indians there, and, taking a native for a guide, set +out on foot to travel fifty miles through the forest to Plymouth. The +natives all along the way received him with kindness, and did every +thing in their power to aid him. Having arrived at Plymouth, he +dispatched Captain Standish with another shallop to fetch the corn. +The bold captain had a prosperous though a very tempestuous voyage. +While at Nauset an Indian stole some trifle from the shallop as she +lay in a creek. Captain Standish immediately went to the sachem of the +tribe, and informed him that the lost goods must be restored, or he +should make reprisals. The next morning the sachem came and delivered +the goods, saying that he was very sorry the crime had been committed; +that the thief had been arrested and punished; and that he had ordered +his women to make some bread for Captain Standish, in token of his +desire to cultivate just and friendly relations. Captain Standish +having arrived at Plymouth, a supply of corn was delivered to help the +people at Weymouth. + +But these lawless adventurers were as improvident as they were vicious +and idle. By the month of February they were again destitute and +starving. They had borrowed all they could, and had stolen all they +could, and were now in a state of extreme misery, many of them having +already perished from exposure and want. The Indians hated them and +despised them. Conspiracies were formed to kill them all, and many +Indians, scattered here and there, were in favor of destroying all the +white men. They foresaw that civilized and savage life could not abide +side by side. The latter part of February the Weymouth people sent a +letter to Plymouth by an Indian, stating their deplorable condition, +and imploring further aid. They had become so helpless and degraded +that the Indians seem actually to have made slaves of them, compelling +them to perform the most menial services. The letter contained the +following dolorous complaints: + + "The boldness of the Indians increases abundantly, insomuch + that the victuals we get they will take out of our pots and + eat it before our faces. If we try to prevent them, they + will hold a knife at our breasts. To satisfy them, we have + been compelled to hang one of our company. We have sold our + clothes for corn, and are ready to starve, both with cold + and hunger also, because we can not endure to get victuals + by reason of our nakedness." + +Under these circumstances, one of the Weymouth men, ranging the woods, +came to an Indian barn and stole some corn. The owner, finding by the +footprints that it was an Englishman who had committed the theft, +determined to have revenge. With insulting and defiant confederates, +he went to the plantation and demanded that the culprit should be +hung, threatening, if there were not prompt acquiescence in the +demand, the utter destruction of the colonists. The consternation at +Weymouth was great. Nearly all were sick and half famished, and they +could present no resistance. After very anxious deliberation, it was +decided that, since the man who committed the theft was young and +strong, and a skillful cobbler, whose services could not be dispensed +with, they would by stratagem save his life, and substitute for him a +poor old bedrid weaver, who was not only useless to them, but a +burden. This economical arrangement was unanimously adopted. The poor +old weaver, bound hand and foot, and dressed in the clothes of the +culprit, was dragged from his bed, and was soon seen dangling in the +air, to the great delight of the Indians. + +Much has been written upon this disgraceful transaction, and various +versions of it have been given, with sundry details, but the facts, so +far as can now be ascertained, are as we have stated. The deed is in +perfect accordance with the whole course pursued by the miserable men +who perpetrated it. The author of Hudibras unjustly--we hope not +maliciously--in his witty doggerel, ascribes this transaction of the +miscreants at Weymouth to the Pilgrims at Plymouth. The mirth-loving +satirist seemed to rejoice at the chance of directing a shaft against +the Puritans. + +Just at this time news came to Plymouth that Massasoit was very sick, +and at the point of death. Governor Bradford immediately dispatched +Mr. Edward Winslow and Mr. John Hampden[A] to the dying chieftain, +with such medical aid as the colony could furnish. Their friend +Hobbomak accompanied them as guide and interpreter. Massasoit had two +sons quite young, Wamsutta and Pometacom, the eldest of whom would, +according to Indian custom, inherit the chieftainship. It was, +however, greatly feared that the ambitious and energetic Corbitant, +who had manifested much hostility to the English, might avail himself +of the death of Massasoit, and grasp the reins of power. The +deputation from Plymouth traveled the first day through the woods as +far as Middleborough, then the little Indian hamlet of Namasket. There +they passed the night in the wigwam of an Indian. They, the next day, +continued their journey, and crossing in a canoe the arm of the bay, +which there runs far inland and three miles beyond, with much anxiety +approached the dwelling-place of Corbitant at Mattapoiset, in the +present town of Swanzey. They had been informed by the way that +Massasoit was dead, and they had great fears that Corbitant had +already taken steps as a usurper, and that they, two defenseless men, +might fall victims to his violence. + +[Footnote A: There is much evidence that this was the celebrated John +Hampden, renowned in the time of Charles I, and to whom Gray, in his +Elegy, alludes: + + "The village _Hampden_, that with dauntless breast + The little tyrant of his fields withstood."] + +Hobbomak, who had embraced Christianity, and was apparently a +consistent Christian, was greatly beloved by Massasoit. The honest +Indian, when he heard the tidings of his chieftain's death, bitterly +deplored his loss. + +"My loving sachem! my loving sachem!" he exclaimed; "many have I +known, but never any like thee." + +Then turning to Mr. Winslow, he added, "While you live you will never +see his like among the Indians. He was no deceiver, nor bloody, nor +cruel, like the other Indians. He never cherished a spirit of revenge, +and was easily reconciled to those who had offended him. He was ever +ready to listen to the advice of others, and governed his people by +wisdom and without severity." + +When they arrived at Corbitant's house they found the sachem not at +home. His wife, however, treated them with great kindness, and +informed them that Massasoit was still alive, though at the point of +death. They therefore hastened on to Mount Hope. Mr. Winslow gives the +following account of the scene witnessed at the bedside of the sick +monarch: + + "When we arrived thither, we found the house so full that we + could scarce get in, though they used their best diligence + to make way for us. They were in the midst of their charms + for him, making such a fiendlike noise that it distempered + us who were well, and therefore was unlike to ease him that + was sick. About him were six or eight women, who chafed his + arms, legs, and thighs, to keep heat in him. When they had + made an end of their charming, one told him that his friends + the English were come to see him. Having understanding left, + but his sight was wholly gone, he asked _who was come_. They + told him _Winsnow_, for they can not pronounce the letter + _l_, but ordinarily _n_ in the place thereof. He desired to + speak with me. When I came to him, and they told him of it, + he put forth his hand to me, which I took. Then he said + twice, though very inwardly, _Keen_ _Winsnow?_ which is to + say, Art thou Winslow? I answered _Ahhe_, that is, _yes_. + Then he doubled these words: _Matta neen wonckanet namen + Winsnow;_ that is to say, _O Winslow, I shall never see thee + again!_" + +Mr. Winslow immediately prepared some refreshing broth for the sick +man, and, by careful nursing, to the astonishment of all, he +recovered. Massasoit appeared to be exceedingly grateful for this +kindness, and ever after attributed his recovery to the skill and +attentions of his English friends. His unquestionable sincerity won +the confidence of the English, and they became more fully convinced of +his real worth than ever before. Mr. Winslow wished for a chicken to +make some broth. An Indian immediately set out, at two o'clock at +night, for a run of forty miles through the wilderness to Plymouth. In +a surprisingly short time, he returned with two live chickens. +Massasoit was so much pleased with the fowls--animals which he had +never seen before--that he would not allow them to be killed, but kept +them as pets. The kind-hearted yet imperial old chieftain manifested +great solicitude for the welfare of his people. He entreated Mr. +Winslow to visit all his villages, that he might relieve the sick and +the suffering who were in them. Mr. Winslow remained several days, +and his fame as a physician spread so rapidly that great crowds +gathered in an encampment around Mount Hope to gain relief from a +thousand nameless ills. Some came from the distance of more than a +hundred miles. + +While at Mount Hope, Massasoit informed Mr. Winslow that Wittuwamet, a +sachem of one of the Massachusetts tribes of Indians near Weymouth, +and several other Indian chiefs, had formed a plot for the purpose of +cutting off the two English colonies. Massasoit stated that he had +been often urged to join in the conspiracy, but had always refused to +do so, and that he had done every thing in his power to prevent it. +Mr. Winslow very anxiously inquired into all the particulars, and +ascertained that the Weymouth men had so thoroughly aroused the +contempt as well as the indignation of the neighboring Indians, that +their total massacre was resolved upon. The Indians, however, both +respected and feared the colonists at Plymouth; and, apprehensive that +they might avenge the slaughter of their countrymen, it was resolved, +by a sudden and treacherous assault, to overwhelm them also, so that +not a single Englishman should remain to tell the tale. + +With these alarming tidings, Mr. Winslow, with Mr. Hampden and +Hobbomak, left Mount Hope on his return. Corbitant, their +outwardly-reconciled enemy, accompanied them as far as his house in +what is now Swanzey. + + "That night," writes Mr. Winslow, "through the earnest + request of Corbitant, we lodged with him at Mattapoiset. On + the way I had much conference with him, so likewise at his + house, he being a notable politician, yet full of merry + jests and squibs, and never better pleased than when the + like are returned upon him. Among other things, he asked me + that, if _he_ were thus dangerously sick, as Massasoit had + been, and should send to Plymouth for medicine, whether the + governor would send it; and if he would, whether I would + come therewith to him. To both which I answered yes; whereat + he gave me many joyful thanks." + +"I am surprised," said Corbitant, after a moment's thought, "that two +Englishmen should dare to venture so far into our country alone. Are +you not afraid?" + +"Where there is true love," Mr. Winslow replied, "there is no fear." + +"But if your love be such," said the wily Indian, "and bear such +fruit, how happens it that when we come to Plymouth, you stand upon +your guard, with the mouth of your pieces pointed toward us?" + +"This," replied Mr. Winslow, "is a mark of respect. It is our custom +to receive our best friends in this manner." + +Corbitant shook his head, and said, "I do not like such salutations." + +Observing that Mr. Winslow, before eating, implored a blessing, +Corbitant desired to know what it meant. Mr. Winslow endeavored to +explain to him some of the primary truths of revealed religion, and +repeated to him the Ten Commandments. Corbitant listened to them very +attentively, and said that he liked them all except the seventh. "It +must be very inconvenient," he said, "for a man to be tied all his +life to one woman, whether she pleases him or not." + +As Mr. Winslow continued his remarks upon the goodness of God, and the +gratitude he should receive from us, Corbitant added, "I believe +almost as you do. The being whom you call God we call Kichtan." + +Mr. Winslow and his companions passed a very pleasant night in the +Indian dwelling, receiving the most hospitable entertainment. The +next morning they hastened on their way to Plymouth. They immediately +informed the governor of the alarming tidings they had heard +respecting the conspiracy, and a council of all the men in the colony +was convened. It was unanimously decided that action, prompt, +vigorous, and decisive, was necessary. + +The bold Captain Standish was immediately placed in command of an army +of _eight men_ to proceed to Weymouth. He embarked his force in a +squadron of _one boat_, to set sail for Massachusetts--for +Massachusetts and Plymouth were then distinct colonies. The captain +was an intrepid, impulsive man, who rarely took counsel of prudence. +He would wrong no man, and, let the consequences be what they might, +he would submit to wrong from no man. The Pilgrims valued him highly, +and yet so deeply regretted his fiery temperament that they were +unwilling to receive him to the communion of the Church. + +When they arrived at Weymouth they found a large number of Indians +swaggering around the wretched settlement, and treating the humiliated +and starving colonists with the utmost insolence. The colonists dared +not exhibit the slightest spirit of retaliation. The Indians had been +so accustomed to treat the godless race at Weymouth with every +indignity, that they had almost forgotten that the Pilgrims were men +of different blood. As Captain Standish and his eight men landed, they +were met by a mob of Indians, who, by derision and insolence, seemed +to aim to provoke a quarrel. Wittuwamet, the head of the conspirators, +was there. He was a stout, brawny savage, vulgar, bold, and impudent, +almost beyond the conception of a civilized mind. Accompanied by a +gang of confederates, he approached Captain Standish, whetting his +knife, and threatening his death in phrase exceedingly contemptuous +and insulting. By the side of this chief was another Indian named +Peksuot, of gigantic stature and Herculean strength, who taunted the +captain with his inferior size, and assailed him with a volley of +barbarian blackguardism. All this it would be hard for a meek man to +bear. Captain Standish was not a meek man. The hot blood of the +Puritan Cavalier was soon at the boiling point. Disdaining to take +advantage even of such a foe, he threw aside his gun, and springing +upon the gigantic Peksuot, grasped at the knife which was suspended +from his neck, the blade of which was double-edged, and ground to a +point as sharp as a needle. There was a moment of terrific conflict, +and then the stout Indian fell dead upon the ground, with the blood +gushing from many mortal wounds. Another Englishman closed with +Wittuwamet, and there was instantly a general fray. Wittuwamet and +another Indian were killed; another was taken prisoner and hung upon +the spot, for conspiring to destroy the English; the rest fled. +Captain Standish followed up his victory, and pursued the fugitives. A +few more were killed. This unexpected development of courage and power +so overwhelmed the hostile Indians that they implored peace. + +The Weymouth men, thus extricated from peril, were afraid to remain +there any longer, though Captain Standish told them that he should not +hesitate to stay with one half their number. Still they persisted in +leaving. Captain Standish then generously offered to take them with +him to Plymouth, where they should share in the now almost exhausted +stores of the Pilgrims. But they decided, since they had a small +vessel in which they could embark, to go to Monhegan, an island near +the mouth of the Kennebec River, where many English ships came +annually to fish. The captain helped them on board the vessel, +provided for them a supply of corn, and remained until their sail was +disappearing in the distant horizon of the sea. He then returned to +Plymouth, and all were rejoiced that the country was delivered from +such a set of vagabonds. + +The Pilgrims regretted the hasty and violent measures adopted by +Captain Standish, and yet they could not, under the circumstances, +severely condemn him. The Rev. Mr. Robinson, father of the Plymouth +Church, wrote from Holland: + + "Due allowance must be made for the warm temper of Captain + Standish. I hope that the Lord has sent him among you for + good, if you will but use him as you ought. I fear, however, + that there is wanting that tenderness for the life of man, + made after God's own image, which we ought to cherish. It + would have been happy if some had been converted before any + had been killed." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE PEQUOT WAR. + +1630-1637 + +Prosperity of the colonies.--Massachusetts Colony.--Settlement of +Boston.--Motives actuating the settlers.--Correspondence with the +Dutch governor.--Dutch colonies.--Taking possession.--Opposition to +their settlement.--Beauty of Connecticut.--The Pequots.--Sassacus.--The +three powers.--Continual wars.--Power of Sassacus.--Trading +expedition.--Murder of the company.--Diplomatic skill.--Indians' +account of the affair.--Friendly alliance.--Planting new +colonies.--Indications of meditated hostility.--Roger Williams.--Mr. +Williams sent as embassador.--His mission.--His success.--Enmity of +the Pequots.--Acts of violence.--Discovery of the murder of Captain +Stone and his men.--Trading expedition to the Pequots.--John +Gallop.--Valiant behavior of Captain Gallop.--Victory over the +Indians.--The body of Captain Oldham.--Loss of the +pinnace.--Retribution.--The expedition.--The first attack.--The +English victorious.--The work of devastation.--Inefficiency of the +punishment.--Exultation of Sassacus.--Scenes of blood.--Energy of +Sassacus.--Vigilance of the enemy.--Siege of Saybrook.--Necessity +for energetic action.--Raising an army.--Uncas sachem of +the Mohegans.--Departure of the troops.--Torture of a +captive.--Fortresses.--Plan of attack.--Delight of +the Pequots.--Detentions.--Landing.--Cordial +reception.--Re-enforcements.--Determination to +proceed.--Boasting.--Continued re-enforcements.--Rapid +march.--Plan of attack changed.--Ardor of the Indians +cooled.--Desertions.--Repose.--Devotions of the English.--Address to +the Indians.--The fort.--Negligence of the enemy.--The attack.--The +conflict.--The wigwams burned.--Massacre.--Horrors of the +scene.--Extermination.--Number of those escaping.--Amazement of the +Indians.--Destitution of the English.--The vessels seen.--Attack from +the Indians.--Valor of the English.--Desertion of the +Narragansets.--Retreat of the English.--Grief of Sassacus.--Journey to +Saybrook.--Effects of the victory.--News of the victory dispatched to +Massachusetts.--New expedition.--Fugitives.--Pursuit.--Sachem's +Head.--Arrival at New Haven.--News of a camp in a swamp.--Surrender of +Indians.--Escape of the Pequots.--Death of Sassacus.--Children sold +into slavery.--Extermination of the tribe.--The motives for the +deed.--The sunshine of peace and plenty. + + +The energetic, yet just and conciliatory measures adopted by the +Pilgrims at Plymouth, in their intercourse with the Indians, were +productive of the happiest results. For several years there was a +period of peace and prosperity. The colony had now become firmly +established, and every year emigrants, arriving from the mother +country, extended along the coasts and into the interior the comforts +and the refinements of civilization. + +In the year 1630, ten years after the landing of the Pilgrims, a +company of gentlemen of fortune and of social distinction organized a +colony, upon a much grander scale than the one at Plymouth, to +emigrate to Massachusetts Bay, under the name of the Massachusetts +Colony. The leaders in this enterprise were men of decidedly a higher +cast of character, intellectual and social, than their brethren at +Plymouth. On the 12th of June this company landed at Salem, and before +the close of the year their number amounted to seventeen hundred. The +tide of emigration now began to flow very rapidly, and eight or ten +towns were soon settled. Toward the close of this year a few families +moved to the end of the peninsula now called Boston. The dense +wilderness spread around them. They reared their log huts near the +beach, at the north end, and by fishing, hunting, and raising Indian +corn, obtained a frugal existence. In the five following years very +great accessions were made to this important colony. Thriving +settlements sprang up rapidly all along the coast. The colonists +appear to have been conscientious in their dealings with the natives, +purchasing their lands of them at a fair price. Nearly all these men +came to the wilderness of this new world inspired by as lofty motives +as can move the human heart. Many of them were wealthy and of high +rank. At an immense sacrifice, they abandoned the luxuries and +refinements to which they had been accustomed at home, that they might +enjoy in New England that civil and religious liberty which Old +England no longer afforded them. + +The Dutch had now established a colony at the mouth of the Hudson +River, and were looking wistfully at the fertile meadows which their +traders had found upon the banks of the Connecticut. The English were +apprehensive that the Dutch might anticipate them in taking possession +of that important valley. In 1630 the Earl of Warwick had obtained +from Charles I. a patent, granting him all the land extending west +from Narraganset Bay one hundred and twenty miles. This grant +comprehended the whole of the present state of Connecticut and +considerable more, reaching west to the Dutch settlements on the +Hudson River. Preparations were immediately made for the establishment +of a small company on the Connecticut River. Governor Winthrop sent a +message to the Dutch governor at New Netherlands, as New York was then +called, informing him that the King of England had granted all the +region of the Connecticut River to his own subjects, and requesting +that the Dutch would not build there. Governor Van Twiller returned a +very polite answer, stating that the authorities in Holland had +granted the same country to a Dutch company, and he accordingly +requested the English not to settle there. + +Governor Winthrop immediately dispatched some men through the +wilderness to explore the country, and several small vessels were +sent to ascend the river, and, by trade, to establish friendly +relations with the Indians. The Plymouth colony also sent a company of +men with a frame house and boards for covering. When William Holmes, +the leader of this company, had sailed up the Connecticut as far as +the present city of Hartford, he found that the Dutch were before him, +and had erected a fort there. The Dutch ordered him to go back, and +stood by their cannon with lighted torches, threatening to fire upon +him. + +Mr. Holmes, an intrepid man, regardless of their threats, which they +did not venture to execute, pushed boldly by, and established himself +at the mouth of Little River, in the present town of Windsor. Here he +put up his house, surrounded it with palisades, and fortified it as +strongly as his means would allow. Governor Van Twiller, being +informed of this movement, sent a band of seventy men, under arms, to +tear down this house and drive away the occupants. But Holmes was +ready for battle, and the Dutch, finding him so well fortified that he +could not be displaced without a bloody conflict, retired. + +The whole region of the State of Connecticut was at this time a +wilderness, covered with a dense and gloomy forest, which +overshadowed both mountain and valley. There were scattered here and +there a few spots where the trees had disappeared, and where the +Indians planted their corn. The Indians were exceedingly numerous in +this lovely valley. The picturesque beauty of the country, the genial +climate, the fertile soil, and the vast variety of fish and fowl which +abounded in its bays, ponds, and streams, rendered Connecticut quite +an elysium for savage life. + +These Indians were divided into very many tribes or clans, more or +less independent, each with its sachem and its chief warriors. The +Pequots were by far the most powerful and warlike among them. Their +territory spread over the present towns of New London, Groton, and +Stonington. Just north of them was a branch of the same tribe, called +the Mohegans, under their distinguished sachem Uncas. The Pequots and +the Mohegans, thus united, were resistless. It is said that, a few +years before the arrival of the English in this country, the Pequots +had poured down like an inundation from the forests of the north, +sweeping all opposition before them, and had taken possession of the +sea-coast as a conquered country. + +Sassacus was the sovereign chief of this nation. The present town of +Groton was his regal residence. Upon two commanding and beautiful +eminences in this town, from which the eye ranged over a very +extensive prospect of the Sound and the adjacent country, Sassacus had +erected, with much barbarian skill, his royal fortresses. The one was +on the banks of the Mystic; the other, a few miles west, on the banks +of the Pequot River, now called the Thames. His sway extended over all +the tribes on Long Island, and along the coast from the dominions of +Canonicus, on Narraganset Bay, to the Hudson River, and spreading into +the interior as far as the present county of Worcester in +Massachusetts. Thus there seem to have been, in the days of the +Pilgrims, three dominant nations, with their illustrious chieftains, +who held sway over all the petty tribes in the south and easterly +portions of New England. The Wampanoags, under Massasoit, held +Massachusetts generally. The Narragansets, under Canonicus, occupied +Rhode Island. The Pequots, under Sassacus, reigned over Connecticut. +These powerful tribes were jealous of each other, and were almost +incessantly engaged in wars. + +Sassacus had twenty-six sachems under him, and could lead into the +field four thousand warriors. He was shrewd, wary, and treacherous, +and with great jealousy watched the increasing power of the English, +who were now spreading rapidly over the principal parts of New +England. + +In the autumn of the year 1634, just after William Holmes had put up +his house at Windsor, two English traders, Captains Norton and Stone, +ascended the Connecticut River in a boat, with eight men, to purchase +furs of the Indians. They had a large assortment of those goods which +the natives prized, and for which they were eager to barter any thing +in their possession. The Indians one night, as the vessel was moored +near the shore, rushed from an ambush, overpowered the crew, murdered +every individual, and plundered and sunk the vessel. The Massachusetts +colony, which had then become far more powerful than the Plymouth, +demanded of Sassacus redress and the surrender of the murderers. The +Pequot chieftain, not being then prepared for hostilities, sent an +embassy to Massachusetts with a present of valuable furs, and with an +artfully contrived story in justification of the deed. + +The barbarian embassadors, with diplomatic skill which Talleyrand or +Metternich might have envied, affirmed that the English had seized two +peaceable Indians, bound them hand and foot, and were carrying them +off in their vessel, no one knew where. As the vessel ascended the +river, the friends of the two captives followed cautiously through the +forest, along the banks, watching for an opportunity to rush to their +rescue. The Indians were well acquainted with the treachery of the +infamous Englishmen in stealing the natives, and transporting them to +perpetual slavery. One night the English adventurers, according to the +representation of the Indians, drew their vessel up to the shore, and +all landed to sleep. At midnight, the friends of the captives watched +their opportunity, and made a rush upon the English while they were +asleep, killed all, and released their friends. They also stated that +all the Indians engaged in the affray, except two, had since died of +the small-pox. + +This was a plausible story. The magistrates of Massachusetts, men of +candor and justice, could not disprove it; and as, admitting this +statement to be true, but little blame could be attached to the +Indians, the governor of Massachusetts accepted the apology, and +entered into friendly alliance with the Pequots. In the treaty into +which he at this time entered with the Indian embassadors, the Pequots +conceded to the English the Connecticut River and its immediate +shores, if the English would establish settlements there and open +trade with them. + +Accordingly, arrangements were immediately made for the planting of a +colony in the valley of the Connecticut. In the autumn of 1635, five +years after the establishment of the Massachusetts colony at Salem, +and fifteen years after the establishment of the Plymouth colony, a +company of sixty persons, men, women, and children, left the towns of +Dorchester, Roxbury, Watertown, and Cambridge, and commenced a journey +through the pathless wilderness in search of their future home. It was +the 12th of October when they left the shores of Massachusetts Bay. +For fourteen days they toiled along through the wilderness, driving +their cattle before them, and enduring incredible hardships as they +traversed mountains, forded streams, and waded through almost +impenetrable swamps. On the 9th of November they reached the +Connecticut at a point near the present city of Hartford. The same +journey can now be taken with ease in two and a half hours. In less +than a year three towns were settled, containing in all nearly eight +hundred inhabitants. A fort was also erected at the entrance of the +river, to exclude the Dutch, and it was garrisoned by twenty men. + +The Indians now began to be seriously alarmed in view of the rapid +encroachments of the English. They became sullen, and annoyed the +colonists with many acts of petty hostility. There were soon many +indications that Sassacus was meditating hostilities, and that he was +probably laying his plans for a combination of all the tribes in a +resistless assault upon the infant settlements. + +The Wampanoags, under Massasoit, were still firm in their friendship; +but it was greatly feared that the Narragansets, whose power was very +formidable, might be induced to yield to the solicitations of the +Pequots. + +Roger Williams, who had taken refuge in Rhode Island to escape from +his enemies in Massachusetts, was greatly beloved by the Indians. He +had become quite a proficient in the Indian language, and by his +honesty, disinterestedness, and courtesy, had particularly won the +esteem of the Narragansets, in the midst of whom he resided. The +governor and council of Connecticut immediately wrote to Mr. +Williams, soliciting him to visit the Narragansets, and exert his +influence to dissuade them from entering into the coalition. + +This great and good man promptly embarked in the humane enterprise. +Bidding a hurried farewell to his wife, he started alone in a +dilapidated canoe to sail along the shores of Narraganset Bay upon his +errand of mercy. A violent tempest arose, tumbling in such a surf upon +the shore that he could not land, while he was every moment threatened +with being swallowed up in the abysses which were yawning around him. +At length, after having encountered much hardship and surmounted many +perils, he arrived at the imperial residence of Canonicus. The +barbarian chieftain was at home, and it so happened that some Pequot +embassadors had but a short time before arrived, and were then +conferring with the Narragansets in reference to the coalition. All +the arts of diplomacy of civilized and of savage life, of the wily +Indian and of the sincere and honest Christian, were now brought into +requisition. With heroism which was the more signal in that it was +entirely unostentatious, this bold man remained three days and three +nights with the savages, encountering the threats of the Pequots, and +expecting every night that they would take his life before morning. +Grandeur of character always wins applause. The Indians marveled at +his calm, unboastful intrepidity, and Canonicus, who was also a man of +heroic mould, was so influenced by his arguments, that he finally not +only declined to enter into an alliance with the Pequots, but pledged +anew his friendship for the English, and engaged to co-operate with +them in repelling the threatened assault. + +This was an achievement of immense moment. Other distant tribes, who +were on the eve of joining the coalition, intimidated by the +withdrawal of the Narragansets, and by their co-operation with the +English, also refused to take part in the war, and thus the Pequots +were left to fight the battle alone. But the Pequots, with their four +thousand merciless warriors, were a fearful foe to rush from their +inaccessible retreats, with torch and tomahawk, upon the sparse and +defenseless settlements scattered along the banks of the Connecticut +River. + +Various acts of individual violence were perpetrated by the savages +before war broke out in all its horrors. The English were anxious to +avert hostilities, if possible, as they had nothing to gain from war +with the natives, and their helpless families would be exposed to +inconceivable misery from the barbarism of the foe. + +The colonists now learned that the excuse which had been offered for +the assault upon Captains Norton and Stone was a fabrication, and +false in all its particulars. These men had engaged several Indians to +pilot them up the river. They often stopped to trade with the natives. +One night, as they were moored alongside of the shore, while many of +the men had gone upon the land, and the captain was asleep in the +cabin, a large number of Indians made a premeditated assault, and +murdered all on board. The rest, as they returned in the darkness and +unsuspicious of danger, were easily dispatched. + +This new evidence of the treachery of the Pequots exasperated the +colonists. Still, they did not think it best to usher in a war with +such powerful foes by any retaliation. The Pequots, encouraged by this +forbearance, became more and more insolent. In July, 1635, John Oldham +ventured on a trading expedition to the Pequot country; for the +Pequots, notwithstanding all the appearances against them, still +pretended to friendship, and solicited trade. One object of sending +Captain Oldham upon this expedition was to ascertain more definitely +the real disposition of the savages. + +A few days after his departure, a man by the name of John Gallop was +in a small vessel of about twenty tons, on his passage from +Connecticut to Massachusetts Bay. A strong northerly wind drove him +near Manisses, or Block Island. This island is about fourteen miles +from Point Judith. It is eight miles long, and from two to four wide. +To his surprise, he saw near the shore an English vessel, which he +immediately recognized as Captain Oldham's, filled with Indians, and +evidently in their possession. Sixteen savages, well armed with their +own weapons, and with the guns and swords which they had taken from +the English, crowded the boat. + +Captain Gallop was a man of lion heart, inspirited by that Puritan +chivalry which ever displayed itself in the most amazing deeds of +daring, without the slightest apparent consciousness that there was +any thing extraordinary in the exploit. His little vessel was +considerably larger than the boat which the Indians had captured. His +crew, however, consisted of only one man and two boys. And yet, +without the slightest hesitancy, he immediately decided upon a naval +fight with the Indians. Loading his muskets and spreading all sail, he +bore down upon his foe. The wind was fair and strong, and, standing +firmly at the helm, while his crew were protected by the bulwarks from +the arrows and bullets of the Indians, and were ready with their +muskets to shoot any who attempted to board, he guided his vessel so +skillfully as to strike the smaller boat of the foe fairly upon the +quarter. The shock was so severe that the boat was nearly capsized, +and six of the Indians were knocked into the sea and drowned. + +Captain Gallop immediately stood off and prepared for another similar +broadside. In the mean time, he lashed the anchor to the bows of the +vessel in such a way that the fluke should pierce the side of the +boat, and serve as a grappling iron. As there were now only ten +Indians to be attacked, he decided to board the boat in case it should +be grappled by the fluke of his anchor. Having made these +arrangements, he again came running down before a brisk gale, and, +striking the boat again, tore open her side with his anchor, while at +the same moment he poured in a heavy discharge of buckshot upon the +terrified savages. Most of them, however, had plunged into the hold of +the little pinnace, and the shot effected but little execution. A +third time he ran down upon the pinnace, and struck her with such +force that five more, in their turn, leaped overboard and were +drowned. There were now but five savages left, and the intrepid Gallop +immediately boarded the enemy. Three of the savages retreated to a +small cabin, where, with swords, they defended themselves. Two were +taken captive and bound. Having no place where he could keep these two +Indians apart, and fearing that they might get loose, and, in +co-operation with the three savages who had fortified themselves in +the cabin, rise successfully upon him, Captain Gallop threw one of the +Indians overboard, and he was drowned. This was rough usage; but the +savages, who had apparently rendered it necessary by their previous +act of robbery and murder, could not complain. + +The pinnace was then stripped of her rigging and of all the goods +which remained. The body of Captain Oldham was found, awfully +mutilated, beneath a sail. The rest of the crew, but two or three in +number, had been carried as captives by the savages on the shore. +Captain Gallop buried the corpse as reverently as possible in the sea, +and then took the pinnace in tow, with the three savages barricaded in +the cabin. Night came on, dark and stormy; the wind increased to a +tempest, and it was necessary to cut the pinnace adrift. She was never +heard of more. + +Block Island, where these scenes occurred, belonged to the +Narragansets; but many who were engaged in the murder, as if fearful +of the vengeance of Canonicus, their own chieftain, fled across the +Sound to the Pequot country, and were protected by them. The Pequots +thus became implicated in the crime. Canonicus, on the other hand, +rescued the captives taken from the boat, and restored them to their +friends. The English now decided that it was necessary for them so to +punish the Indians as to teach them that such outrages could no longer +be committed with impunity. It was a fearful vengeance which was +resolved upon. An army of one hundred men was raised, commissioned to +proceed to Block Island, burn every wigwam, destroy all the corn, +shoot every man, and take the women and children captive. Thus the +island was to be left a solitude and a desert. + +On the 25th of August, 1636, the detachment sailed from Boston. The +Indians were aware of the punishment with which they were threatened, +and were prepared for resistance. Captain John Endicott, who was in +command of the expedition, anchored off the island, and seeing a +solitary Indian wandering upon the beach, who, it afterward appeared, +had been placed there as a decoy, took a boat and a dozen armed men, +and rowed toward the shore. When they reached within a few rods of the +beach, suddenly sixty warriors, picked men, tall, athletic, and of +established bravery, sprang up from behind the sand-hills, rushed to +the water's edge, and poured in upon the boat a volley of arrows. +Fortunately, the boat was so far from the land that not much injury +was done, though two were seriously wounded. As the water was shoal, +the colonists, musket in hand, sprang from the boat and waded toward +the shore, piercing their foes with a well-directed volley of bullets. +Had the Indians possessed any measure of the courage of the English, +the sixty savages might have closed upon the twelve colonists, and +easily have destroyed them all; but they had no disciplined courage +which would enable them to stand a charge. With awful yells of fury +and despair, they broke and fled into the forests and the swamps. + +Captain Endicott now landed his force and commenced the work of +destruction. There were two Indian villages upon the island, +containing about sixty wigwams each. The torch was applied, and they +were all destroyed. Every canoe that could be found was staved. There +were also upon the island about two hundred acres of standing corn, +which the English trampled down. But not an Indian could be found. The +women and children had probably been removed from the island, and the +warriors who remained so effectually concealed themselves that the +English sought them in vain. After spending two days upon the island, +the expedition again embarked, and sailed across the Sound to the +mouth of the Thames, then called Pequot Harbor. As the vessel entered +the harbor, about three hundred warriors assembled upon the shore. +Captain Endicott sent an interpreter to inform them that he had come +to demand the murderers of the English, and to obtain compensation for +the injuries which the Indians had inflicted. To this the Pequots +defiantly replied with a shower of arrows. Captain Endicott landed on +both sides of the harbor where New London now stands. The Indians +sullenly retired before him to the adjacent rocks and fastnesses, +rendering it necessary for the English to keep in a compact body to +guard against assault. Two Indians were shot, and probably a few +others wounded. The wigwams along the shore were burned, and the +canoes destroyed, and then the expedition again spread its sails and +returned to Boston, having done infinitely more harm than good. They +had merely exasperated their haughty foes. They had but struck the +hornets' nest with a stick. The Connecticut people were in exceeding +terror, as they knew that savage vengeance would fall mercilessly upon +them. + +Sassacus was a stern man of much native talent. He laughed to scorn +this impotent revenge. To burn an Indian wigwam was inflicting no +great calamity. The huts were reared anew before the expedition had +arrived in Boston. The Pequots now despised their foes, and, gathering +around their council fires, they clashed their weapons, shrieked their +war-whoop, and excited themselves into an intensity of rage. The +defenseless settlers along the banks of the Connecticut were now at +the mercy of the savages, who were roused to the commission of every +possible atrocity. No pen can describe the scenes of woe which, during +the autumn and winter of 1636 and 1637, transpired in the solitudes of +the wilderness. The Indians were every where in marauding bands. At +midnight, startled by the yell of the savage, the lonely settler +sprang to his door but to see his building in flames, to be pierced +with innumerable arrows, to fall upon his floor weltering in blood, +and to see, as death was stealing over him, his wife and his children +brained by the tomahawk. The tortures inflicted by the savages upon +their captives were too horrible to be narrated. Even the recital +almost causes the blood to chill in one's veins. + +Sassacus was indefatigable in his endeavors to rouse all the tribes to +combine in a war of extermination. + +"Now," said he, "is our time. If we do not now destroy the English, +they will soon prove too powerful for us, and they will obtain all our +lands. We need not meet them in open battle. We can shoot and poison +their cattle, burn their houses and barns, lay in ambush for them in +the fields and on the roads. They are now few. We are numerous. We can +thus soon destroy them all." + +Why did they not succeed in this plan? The only answer is that God +willed otherwise. The Indians planned their campaign with great +skill, and prosecuted it with untiring vigor. Not a boat could pass up +or down the river in safety. The colonists were compelled to keep a +constant guard, to huddle together in block-houses, and could never +lie down at night without the fear of being murdered before morning. +Almost every night the flame of their burning dwellings reddened the +sky, and the shriek of the captives expiring under demoniac torture +blended with the hideous shout of the savages. + +At the mouth of the Connecticut River the fort of Saybrook had been +erected. It was built strongly of timber, to resist the approaches of +the Dutch as well as of the Indians, and was garrisoned by about fifty +men. As this point commanded the entrance of the river, it was deemed +of essential importance that it should be effectually fortified. But +the Pequots were now so emboldened that they surrounded the fort, and +held the garrison in a state of siege. They burned every house in the +vicinity, razed all the out-houses of the fort, and burned every stack +of hay and every useful thing which was not within reach of the guns +of the fortress. The cattle were all killed, and no person could +venture outside of the fort. The Indians, keeping beyond the reach of +gun-shot, danced with insulting and defiant gestures, challenging the +English to come out, and mocking them with the groans and pious +invocations which they had extorted from their victims of torture. + +This awful state of affairs rendered it necessary to prosecute the war +with a degree of energy which should insure decisive results. The +story of Indian atrocities caused every ear in the three colonies to +tingle, and all united to punish the common enemy. Plymouth furnished +a vessel, well armed and provisioned, and manned by fifty soldiers +under efficient officers. Massachusetts raised two hundred men to send +promptly to the theatre of conflict. Connecticut furnished ninety men +from the towns of Hartford, Windsor, and Wethersfield. This was an +immense effort for the feeble colonists to make. + +The Mohegans dwelt in the interior of the country, and were +consequently nearer the English settlements. Their sachem, Uncas, had +his royal residence in the present town of Norwich. He was a stern, +reckless man, and quite ambitious of claiming independence of +Sassacus, with his powerful section of the tribe. The Mohegans, +Pequots, and Narragansets all spoke the same language, with but a +slight diversity in dialect. The Mohegans, with apparent eagerness, +united with the English. The Narragansets also continued firm in their +pledged friendship to the Massachusetts and Plymouth colonists, and +promised a liberal supply of warriors to aid them in punishing the +haughty Pequots. Sassacus had now raised a storm which he well might +dread. The doom of his tribe was sealed. + +On Wednesday, the 10th of May, 1637, the Connecticut troops, +consisting of ninety Englishmen and seventy Mohegans, embarked at +Hartford in three vessels, and sailed down the river to the fort at +Saybrook. The expedition was commanded by Captain John Mason. Uncas, +the Mohegan sachem, led the Indian warriors. When they arrived near +the mouth of the river, the Indians desired to be set on shore, that +they might advance by land to the fort, and attack the Pequots by +surprise. The English were very apprehensive that their unreliable +allies were about to prove treacherous, and to desert to the Pequots. +But, as it was desirable to test them before the hour of battle +arrived, they were permitted to land. The Mohegans, however, proved +faithful. On their way to the fort they fell in with forty Pequots, +whom they attacked fiercely and put to rout, after having killed seven +of their number, and taken one a captive. Their wretched prisoner they +bound to a stake, and put to death with every barbarity which demoniac +malice could suggest. + +The two parties met at Fort Saybrook. Sassacus was strongly +intrenched, about twenty miles east of them, in two forts, or, rather, +fortified towns. These Pequot fortresses were about five miles distant +from each other, on commanding hills, one on the banks of the Thames, +and the other on the banks of the Mystic. It was the original plan to +sail directly into the mouth of the Thames, then called Pequot Harbor, +and attack the savage foe in his concentrated strength. But these +fortresses were so situated as to command an extensive view of the +ocean, as well as of the adjacent country. The vessels, consequently, +could not enter Pequot Harbor without being seen by the Indians, and +thus giving them several hours' warning. + +After long and anxious deliberation, the chaplain of the expedition, +Rev. Mr. Stone, having been requested to pass the night in prayer for +Divine guidance, it was decided to sail directly by the mouths of +Pequot Harbor and the Mystic, and to continue along the shore to +Narraganset Bay. Here they hoped to meet with the troops dispatched +from Plymouth and Massachusetts. They could then march across the +country about forty miles, and, approaching the Pequot forts in the +night and through the forest, could attack them by surprise. + +On Friday, the 19th of May, the expedition sailed from the mouth of +the Connecticut. The Pequots, through their runners, kept themselves +informed of every movement, and when they descried the vessels +approaching, they felt that the decisive hour had come, and prepared +for battle. But when they saw the vessels pass directly by without +entering the harbor, they were exceedingly elated, supposing the +English were afraid to attack them. They shouted, and danced, and +clashed their weapons, and assailed their foes with all the artillery +of barbarian derision. But the colonists, unconscious of the ridicule +to which they were exposed, continued their course, and came to anchor +in Narraganset Bay just as the twilight of Saturday evening was +darkening into night. It was too late then to land, and the next day +being the Sabbath, they all remained on board their vessels, in the +sacred observance of the day. All of Monday, and until late in the +afternoon of Tuesday, a fearful gale swept the ocean, so that no boat +could pass to the shore. Tuesday evening, however, Captain Mason +landed, and had an interview with Miantunnomah, a chief very high in +rank, who seems to have shared with his uncle Canonicus in the +government of the Narragansets. + + "Two mighty chiefs--one cautious, wise, and old; + One young, and strong, and terrible in fight-- + All Narraganset and Coweset hold; + One lodge they build, one council-fire they light." + +The fiery-spirited young sachem, hating the Pequots, and eager for a +fight with them in conjunction with such powerful allies as the +English, cordially received Captain Mason, granted him a passage +through his country, and immediately called out a re-enforcement of +two hundred men to join the expedition. That night an Indian runner +arrived in the camp, and informed Captain Mason that Captain Patrick, +with forty men, who had been sent in advance of the Massachusetts and +Plymouth contingent, had reached Mr. Roger Williams's plantation in +Providence, and were hastening to meet him. Desirable as this +junction was deemed, after mature deliberation, it was decided not to +wait for Captain Patrick, as it was very important to strike a sudden +and unexpected blow. The Narragansets stood in great dread of the +Pequots, and it was feared that their zeal might grow cold. It was +also feared that if they did not proceed immediately, the Pequots +might receive tidings of their approach. + +The little army, therefore, the very next morning, Wednesday, May +24th, commenced its march. The force consisted of seventy-seven +Englishmen, sixty Mohegans, and two hundred Narragansets. The +Narragansets were great braggarts. They made the forest resound with +their vainglorious boasts, and, with the most valiant gestures, +declared that they would now show the English how to fight. Guided by +Indians through the forest, they pressed along rapidly through the +day, and at night, having traversed about twenty miles, bivouacked +upon the banks of a small stream. The next morning they resumed their +march, and, crossing the stream, approached the territory of the +Pequots. As they had advanced, large numbers of Narraganset warriors +had flocked to join them, and they had now five hundred of these +boastful savages in the advance leading them on. + +The day was intensely hot, and, in their rapid march, several of the +troops fainted by the way. But, conscious that much depended upon +taking the Pequots by surprise, Captain Mason urged his men forward, +and about noon reached the banks of the Pawcatuck River, about twelve +miles from the previous night's encampment. The Indians led them to a +point in the river where they could pass it by a ford. They halted +here for an hour, and refreshed themselves, and then moved on with +much caution, as they were now almost in the country of their foe. It +was but twelve miles from the ford to the first Pequot fort on the +banks of the Mystic. + +It had been the intention to attack both the forts, the Mystic and the +Pequot, at once; but Wequash, a Pequot sachem, who had revolted from +Sassacus, and, treacherous to his tribe, acted as their guide, here +gave them such information respecting the situation and strength of +these fortresses as induced them to alter their resolution, and to +decide to make a united attack upon the fort at Mystic. When the +Narragansets found that Captain Mason was actually intending to march +directly up to the very palisades of the fort, and assail those +fierce and terrible warriors in their strongholds, they were filled +with amazement and consternation. Many deserted and returned to +Narraganset. All who remained lingered irresolutely in the rear. The +English now found that their Indian allies could render them but very +little service. Undaunted, however, by the great odds against which +they would have to contend, they pressed vigorously and silently on, +followed by a vagabond train of two or three hundred savages. The sun +had gone down, and the shades of night were descending upon the forest +when they reached the banks of the Mystic. + +They were now within three miles of one of the great Pequot forts, on +what is still called Pequot Hill, in the present town of Groton. +Crossing the stream, here narrow and shallow, by a ford, they crept +cautiously along, in the deepening darkness, until they came to a +smooth and level plot of ground between two craggy bluffs now called +Porter's Rocks. + +The troops, excessively fatigued by travel and the heat of the sultry +day, threw themselves upon the ground for a few hours' repose, +intending to advance and make the attack upon the fort just before the +break of day. The night was serene and cloudless, and a brilliant +moon illumined the couch of the weary soldiers. They were now so near +the fort that they could hear the shouts of the savages in their +barbaric carousals. A few moments after midnight they were all aroused +from their sleep to march to the perilous assault. Devoutly these +Christian heroes gathered around their chaplain, the Reverend Mr. +Stone, and, with uncovered heads, united with him in fervent prayer +that God would bless their enterprise. They were not going into the +battle inspired by ambition, or the love of conquest, or the greed of +gain. They were contending only to protect their wives and their +children from the vengeance of a savage and a merciless foe. The +Narragansets, now that the stern hour of trial had come, were in such +a state of consternation that Captain Mason gathered them around him +and said, + +"We ask no aid from you. You may stand at any distance you please, and +look on, and see how Englishmen can fight." + +The fort was on the summit of a heavy swell of land, and consisted of +a village of seventy wigwams, surrounded by a palisade. These +palisades consisted of posts planted side by side, and so high that +they could not be climbed over. The warriors stationed behind them +were safe apparently from assault, for even a musket ball would not +pass through the posts. There were but two entrances to the fort, one +on the northeastern and the other on the southwestern side. Between +six and seven hundred Indians were within the fort. + +The English troops were divided into two parties, one headed by +Captain Mason, and the other by Captain Underhill, who had been in +command of the fort at Saybrook. They decided to make a simultaneous +attack upon each of the entrances. Though the moon shone very +brilliantly, rendering it almost as light as day, yet the Indians, +unsuspicious of danger and soundly asleep, gave not the slightest +indication of alarm until the two parties had each silently approached +within a rod of the entrances. A dog was then heard to bark, and +immediately one solitary voice shouted frantically, "Englishmen! +Englishmen!" The entrances were merely blocked up with bushes about +breast high. The assailants instantly poured a volley of bullets in +upon their sleeping foes, and, sword in hand, rushed over the feeble +barriers. Notwithstanding the surprise and the appalling thunder of +the guns, the Pequots sprang to arms and made a fierce resistance. +The two parties, advancing from the opposite entrances, forced their +way along the main street, firing to the right and the left, and +making fearful slaughter of their foes. They speedily swept the street +clear of all opposition. The savages, however, who still vastly +outnumbered their assailants, retreated into their wigwams, and, +taking advantage of every covert, almost overwhelmed the compact bands +of the English with a shower of arrows and javelins. The conflict was +now fierce in the extreme, and for a time the issue was very doubtful. +Several of the colonists were already killed, and many severely +wounded. + +The wigwams, composed of the boughs and bark of trees, and covered +with mats, were as dry as powder. Captain Mason, at this critical +moment, shouted to his exhausted men, "Set fire to the wigwams." +Torches were immediately applied; the flames leaped from roof to roof, +and in a few moments the whole village was as a furnace of roaring, +crackling flame. The savages, forced by the fire from their +lurking-places, presented a sure mark for the bullet, and they were +shot down and cut down without mercy. It was no longer a fight, but a +massacre. The Indians, bewildered with terror, threw down their arms, +and rushed to and fro in vain attempts to escape. Some climbed the +palisades, only to present a sure target for innumerable bullets; +others plunged into the eddying flames which were fiercely devouring +their dwellings. For a moment their dark bodies seemed to tremble and +vibrate in the glowing furnace, and then they fell as crisped embers. + +The heat soon became so intense and the smoke so smothering that the +English were compelled to retire outside of the fort. But they +surrounded the flaming fortress, and every Indian who attempted to +escape was shot. In one short hour the awful deed was accomplished. +The whole interior of the fort was in ashes, and all the inmates were +destroyed with the exception of seven only who escaped, and seven who +were taken captives. The English knew that at a short distance from +them there was another fort filled with Pequot warriors. It +consequently was not safe to burden their little band with prisoners +whom they could neither guard nor feed. They also wished to strike a +blow which would appall the savages and prevent all future outrages. +Death was, therefore, the doom of all. + +The Mohegans and Narragansets, who had timidly followed the English, +and who had not ventured into the fort of the dreaded Pequots, stood +tremblingly at a distance, gazing with dismay upon their swift and +terrible destruction. The morning was cold, and a strong wind swept +the bleak hills. The little army was entirely destitute of provisions, +for no baggage-wagons could accompany them through the wilderness. +They had hoped to obtain corn from the Indian fort, but the +conflagration to which they had been unexpectedly compelled to resort +had consumed every thing. Several of their number had been killed; +more than twenty were severely wounded. Their surgeon and all their +necessaries for the wounded were on board the vessels, which were to +have sailed the night before from Narraganset Bay for Pequot Harbor. +Nearly all their ammunition was consumed. At a short distance from +them there was another still more formidable fort filled with fierce +Pequot warriors, where Sassacus himself commanded. Thus, even in this +hour of signal victory, starvation and ruin stared them in the face. + +The officers met together in anxious consultation. Just then the sun +rose brilliantly, and revealed the vessels but a few miles distant, +sailing before a fair wind toward Pequot Harbor. These strange men, +of cast-iron mould, gave expression to their joy, not in huzzas, but +in prayers and thanksgivings. But in the midst of this joy their +attention was arrested by another spectacle. Three hundred Pequots, +like a pack of tumultuous, howling wolves, came rushing along from the +other fort. They had heard the guns and seen the flames, and were +hurrying to the rescue. + +As soon as the savages came in sight of the fort, and saw its utter +destruction, they stopped a moment, as if aghast with rage and +despair. They howled and tore out their hair, and, by their phrensied +gestures, appeared to be in a delirium of fury. They then made a +simultaneous rush upon the English, resolved to take revenge at +whatever sacrifice of their own lives. There were now but forty-four +Englishmen in a condition to fight. Three hundred savages--seven to +one--rushed upon them in demoniac rage. But European weapons, and the +courage and discipline of civilized life, were equal to the emergency. + +Captain Mason promptly led forward a body of chosen men, who gave the +savages so warm a reception as to check their advance and cause them +to recoil. These intrepid colonists, with cool, unerring aim, wasted +not a bullet. Every report of the musket was the death of an Indian. +The savages, thus repulsed, took refuge behind trees and rocks, and +with great bravery pressed and harassed the English with every missile +of savage warfare. A rear-guard was now appointed, under Captain +Underhill, which kept the savages at a distance, while the whole party +marched slowly toward the vessels, which were now entering Pequot +Harbor. + +Several of the English had been slain. Five were so severely wounded +that they were utterly helpless, and had to be carried in the arms of +their friends. Twenty others were also so disabled that, though they +could with difficulty hobble along, they were unable to bear the +burden of their own weapons. Nearly all the Narraganset Indians had +now abandoned the English, and, with cowardice which it is difficult +to explain, had retired precipitately through the woods to their own +country. But the Mohegans had no place of refuge; their only safety +was in clinging to the English. Captain Mason, that he might avail +himself of the energies of all his men who were able to fight, +employed these panic-stricken and impotent allies in carrying the +wounded, four taking in their arms one man. The Indians also bore the +weapons of those who were too weak to carry them themselves. In this +way the colonists marched in an uninterrupted battle for several miles +to their vessels. The Pequots pressed them closely, assailing them +with great fierceness and bravery, sending parties in advance to form +ambushes in the thickets, and shooting their barbed and poisoned +arrows from behind every rock and tree. At last the colonists reached +the water's side in safety, and the Pequots, with yells of rage, +retired. + +Sassacus was quite overwhelmed by this disaster. All his warriors were +terror-stricken, and feared to remain in the fort, lest they should +experience the same doom which had overwhelmed their companions. In +their desultory wars, the loss of a few men was deemed a great +disaster. To have six or seven hundred of their warriors, hitherto +deemed invincible, in one hour shot or burned to ashes, was to them +inexpressibly awful. In dismay, they set fire to the royal fortress +and to all the adjacent wigwams, and fled into the fastnesses of the +forest. Captain Mason placed his wounded on board the vessels, +obtained a supply of food and a slight re-enforcement, and then +commenced his march for the fort at Saybrook, which was about twenty +miles distant. The Indians, whose wigwams were scattered here and +there through the forest, fled in terror before him. The English, +however, burned every dwelling, and destroyed all the corn-fields. At +Saybrook the victorious party were received with great exultation. +They then ascended the river to Hartford, and the men returned to +their several families, having been absent but three weeks. + +It is impossible for us to conceive, in these days of abundance and +security, the rapture which this signal victory excited through all +the dwellings on the banks of the Connecticut. One half of the +effective men of the colony had gone forth to the battle, while the +rest remained at home, armed, and sleeplessly vigilant, to protect the +women and the children from a foe demoniac in mercilessness. The +issues of the conflict were doubtful. Defeat was death to all--more +than death: midnight conflagration, torture, and hopeless captivity of +mothers and daughters in the dark wilderness and in the wigwams of the +savage. Tears of gratitude gushed from the eyes of parents and +children; heartfelt prayers and praises ascended from every family +altar and from every worshiping assembly. + +An Indian runner was immediately dispatched to Massachusetts to carry +the news of the decisive victory gained by the Connecticut troops +alone. To complete the work thus auspiciously begun, Connecticut +raised another band of forty men, and Massachusetts sent one hundred +and twenty to meet them at Pequot Harbor. The latter part of June, +four weeks after the destruction of the forts there, these two bodies +met, in strong martial array, upon the ruins of the empire of +Sassacus, resolved to prosecute the war to the utter extermination of +the Pequots. The despairing fugitives had retired into the wilderness +toward the west. The Indians, encumbered with their women and +children, and destitute of food, could move but slowly. They were +compelled to keep near the shore, that they might dig clams, which +food was almost their only refuge from starvation. + +The English vigorously pursued them, occasionally shooting a straggler +or picking up a few captives, whom they retained as guides. When they +arrived at Saybrook, one party followed along the coast in boats, +while the others, accompanied by Uncas and a band of Mohegan Indians, +scoured the shore. They came at length to Menunkatuck, now called +Guilford. The south side of the harbor here is formed by a long +peninsula. Some Pequots, pursued by the English, ran down this neck of +land, hoping that their tireless enemies would miss their track and +pass by. But Uncas, with Indian sagacity, led the party on the trail. +The Pequots, finding their foes upon them, plunged into the water and +swam across the narrow mouth of the harbor. But another party of +English was already there, who seized them as they waded to the shore. +The chief of this little band of Pequots was sentenced to be shot. He +was bound to a tree, and Uncas, with nervous arm, sent an arrow +through his heart. The head of the savage was then cut off and placed +in the crotch of a large oak tree, where it remained for many years, +dried and shriveled in the sun, a ghastly memorial of days of violence +and blood. From this extraordinary incident, the bluff, to the present +day, bears the name of _Sachem's Head_. + +The little army pressed vigorously on, by land and by sea, some twenty +miles farther west, to a place called Quinnipiac, now New Haven. Here +they found a good harbor for their vessels, and they remained several +days for rest. They saw the smokes of great fires in the woods, and +sent out several expeditions in search of the Indians, but could find +none. A Pequot, a traitor to his tribe, came in and informed them that +a hundred Pequot warriors, with some two hundred men, women, and +children of an adjacent tribe, had taken refuge in a large swamp about +twenty-five miles west. This swamp was in the present town of +Fairfield, directly back of the village. The army immediately advanced +with all dispatch to the swamp. The bog was so deep and wet, and +tangled with underbrush, that it seemed impossible to enter it. A few +made the attempt, but they sank in the mire, and were sorely wounded +by arrows shot from an invisible foe. + +The English, with their Indian allies, surrounded the swamp. They were +enabled to do this by placing their men at about twelve feet distance +from each other. Several skirmishes ensued, in which a number of +Indians were shot. At length the Indians who lived in that vicinity, +and who had taken no part in the outrages committed against the +colonists, but who, in their terror, had followed the Pequots into +the swamp, sent a delegation to the English imploring quarter. The +poor creatures were perishing of starvation. The fierce and haughty +Pequots, however, scorned to ask for mercy. They resolved to cut their +way through the enemy, or to sell their lives as dearly as possible. +The English promised life to all who would surrender, and who had +never shed the blood of the colonists. Two hundred men, women, and +children immediately emerged from the swamp. The sachem declared that +neither he nor his people had ever done any harm to the English. They +were accordingly left unmolested. + +There were now nearly two hundred Pequots in the swamp. Night came on, +and the English watched with sleepless vigilance lest they should make +their escape. Toward morning a dense fog rose, adding to the gloom and +darkness of the dreary scene. Availing themselves of this, the shrewd +savages made several feints at different points, and then, with a +simultaneous rush, made a desperate effort to break through. About +seventy of the most vigorous of the warriors effected their escape; +all the rest were either killed or taken prisoners. + +Sassacus, with this remnant of his once powerful tribe, fled over the +mountains and beyond the Hudson to the land of the Mohawks. The fierce +Mohawks, regarding him and his companions as intruders, fell upon +them, and they were all slain but one, who, bleeding with his wounds, +made his escape. They cut off the head of Sassacus, and sent his +scalp, as evidence of his death, to Connecticut. A part of his skin +and a lock of his hair was sent to Boston. During these conflicts many +women and children were taken prisoners. We blush to record that the +boys were all sent to the West Indies, and sold into bondage. The +women and girls were divided about among the colonists of Connecticut +and Massachusetts as servants. + +The Narragansets and the Mohegans now became very valiant, and eagerly +hunted through the woods for the few straggling Pequots who remained. +Quite a number they killed, and brought their gory heads as trophies +to Windsor and to Hartford. The Pequots had been so demoniac in their +cruelty that the colonists had almost ceased to regard them as human +beings. The few wretched survivors were so hunted and harassed that +some fled far away, and obtained incorporation into other tribes. +Others came imploringly to the English at Hartford, and offered to be +their servants, to be disposed of at their pleasure, if their lives +might be spared. + +Such is the melancholy recital of the utter extermination of the +Pequot tribe. Deeply as some of the events in this transaction are to +be condemned and deplored, much allowance is to be made for men +exasperated by all the nameless horrors of Indian war. A pack of the +most ferocious of the beasts of the forest was infinitely less to be +dreaded than a marauding band of Pequots. The Pequots behaved like +demons, and the colonists treated them as such. The man whose son had +been tortured to death by the savages, whose house and barns had been +burned by the midnight conflagration, whose wife and infant child had +been brained upon his hearthstone, and whose daughters were, perhaps, +in captivity in the forest, was not in a mood of mind to deal gently +with a foe so fiendlike. We may deplore it, but we can not wonder, and +we can not sternly blame. + +This destruction of the Pequots so impressed the New England tribes +with the power of the English, and struck them with so much terror, +that for nearly forty years the war-whoop was not again heard. The +Indian tribes had conflicts with each other, but the colonists, +blessed with ever-increasing prosperity, slept in peace and safety. + +In view of the exploits of the Pequot warriors, Dr. Dwight, with some +poetic license, exclaims: + + "And O, ye chiefs! in yonder starry home, + Accept the humble tribute of this rhyme. + Your gallant deeds in Greece or haughty Rome, + By Maro sung, or Homer's harp sublime, + Had charm'd the world's wide round, and triumph'd over + time." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +COMMENCEMENT OF THE REIGN OF KING PHILIP. + +1640-1674 + +Continued prosperity.--Establishment of Harvard College.--Acts of +violence.--Death of Miantunnomah.--The war-whoop resumed.--The +United Colonies of New England.--A confederacy.--Indian +conspiracy.--Indian outrages.--Opposition of the English +to war.--Death of Massasoit.--Changing names.--Sons of +Massasoit.--Wetamoo.--Decline of Indian power.--Mutual +wrongs.--Alexander summoned to court.--He promises to attend.--Departure +of Major Winslow.--He finds Alexander.--Preparations for the +arrest.--Rage of Alexander.--The forced compliance.--The return to +Plymouth.--The royal prisoner.--Sickness of Alexander.--The king taken +by his followers.--Death of Alexander.--King Philip.--Enmity of +Wetamoo.--Her power.--Endowments of Philip.--His religious +beliefs.--His opposition to changing his religion.--Alleged justice +of the English.--The discontent of Philip noticed.--Mutual +suspicions.--Decline of the Narragansets.--The fidelity of the +Mohegans.--Indian vengeance.--Escape of the victim.--Summons to +Philip.--Philip appears with his warriors.--His caution.--The +commissioners.--Desire to attack the Indians.--Equitable +arrangements.--Philip's adroitness.--Charge for charge.--Result of +the conference.--Extraordinary pledge.--Desires in regard to the +Indians.--Uselessness of Indian treaties.--The English violate their +pledge.--Philip for "law and order."--Decision of the referee.--A +general council.--Complaints.--A new treaty.--Philip desires +peace.--Rumors of trouble.--The cloud of terror.--Independence of +Philip.--The close of the year 1674. + + +With peace came abundant prosperity. Emigrants flocked over to the New +World. In ten years after the Pequot war the colonists had settled +fifty towns and villages, had reared forty churches, several forts and +prisons, and the Massachusetts colony, decidedly pre-eminent, had +established Harvard College. The wilderness indeed began to blossom, +and gardens, orchards, rich pastures, fields of grain, and verdant +meadows cheered the eye and filled the dwellings with abundance. + +There were now four English colonies, Plymouth, Massachusetts, +Connecticut, and New Haven. There were also the germs of two more, one +at Providence and the other on Rhode Island. The Indians, with the +exception of illustrious individuals, were a vagabond set of +perfidious and ferocious savages. They were incessantly fighting with +each other, and it required all the efforts of the English to keep +them under any degree of restraint. The utter extirpation of the +Pequots so appalled them, that for forty years no tribe ventured to +wage war against the English. Yet during this time individual Indians +committed many enormous outrages of robbery and murder, for which the +sachems of the tribes were not responsible. The Mohegans, under Uncas, +had become very powerful. They had a fierce fight with the +Narragansets. Miantunnomah was taken captive. Uncas put him to death +upon Norwich plain by splitting his head open with a hatchet. The +Mohegan sachem tore a large piece of flesh from the shoulder of his +victim, and ate it greedily, exclaiming, "It is the sweetest meal I +ever tasted; it makes my heart strong." + +Marauding bands of Indians often committed murders. The efforts of the +English to punish the culprits would exasperate others, and provoke +new violence. Indications of combinations among the savages were +frequently developed, and the colonists were often thrown into a +general state of alarm, in anticipation of the horrors of another +Indian war. + +In the year 1644, a Massachusetts colonist visiting Connecticut was +murdered on the way by an Indian. The English demanded the murderer. +The Indians, under various subterfuges, refused to give him up. The +English, in retaliation, seized upon eight or ten Indians, and threw +them into prison. This so exasperated the savages that they raised the +war-whoop, grasped their arms, and threatened dire revenge. By +boldness and moderation the English accomplished their ends, and the +murderer was surrendered to justice. A few weeks after this an Indian +entered a house in Stamford. He found a woman there alone with her +infant child. With three blows of the tomahawk he cut her down, and, +plundering the house, left her, as he supposed, dead. She, however, so +far recovered as to describe the Indian and his dress. With great +difficulty, the English succeeded in obtaining the murderer. The +savages threw every possible impediment in the way of justice, and +assumed such a threatening attitude as to put the colonists to great +trouble and expense in preparing for war. + +In view of such perils, in the year 1645, the colonies of +Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven formed a +confederacy, under the name of the _United Colonies of New England_. +They thus entered into an alliance offensive and defensive. Each +colony retained, in its domestic concerns, its own government and +jurisdiction. Two commissioners from each colony formed a board for +managing the common affairs of the Confederacy. This was the germ of +the present Congress of the United States. + +In the year 1646 a large number of Indians formed a conspiracy to set +fire to Hartford and murder the inhabitants. An Indian who was engaged +to assassinate the governor, terrified, as he remembered that every +one who had thus far murdered an Englishman had been arrested and +executed, revealed the plot. The Indians generally, at this time, +manifested a very hostile spirit, and many outrages were perpetrated. +The English did not deem it prudent to pursue and punish the +conspirators, but overlooked the offense. + +In the wars which the savages waged with each other, the hostile +parties would pursue their victims even into the houses of the +English, and cut them down before the eyes of the horror-stricken +women and children. In a very dry time the Indians set fire to the +woods all around the town of Milford, hoping thus to set fire to the +town. With the greatest difficulty the inhabitants rescued their +dwellings from the flames. + +In the year 1648, marauding bands of the Narragansets committed +intolerable outrages against the people of Rhode Island, killing their +cattle, robbing their houses, and insulting and even beating the +inmates. The colonists were exceedingly perplexed to know what to do +in these emergencies. The whole wilderness of North America was filled +with savages. If they commenced a general war, it was impossible to +predict how far its ravages might extend. The colonists were eminently +men of peace. They wished to build houses, and cultivate fields, and +surround their homes with the comforts and the opulence of a high +civilization. They had bought their lands of the Indians fairly, and +had paid for them all that the lands then were worth. + +Massasoit died about the year 1661. He remained firm in his fidelity +to the English until his death, though very hostile to the conversion +of the Indians to Christianity. At one time, when treating for the +sale of some of his lands in Swanzey, he insisted very pertinaciously +upon the condition that the English should never attempt to draw off +any of his people from their religion to Christianity. He would not +recede from this condition until he found that the treaty must be +broken off unless he yielded. + +As the English found many of the Indian names hard to remember and to +pronounce, they were fond of giving English names to those with whom +they had frequent intercourse. The Indians in general were quite proud +of receiving these names. Massasoit, with that innate dignity which +pertained to his imperial state, disdained to receive any other name +but the one which he proudly bore as his ancestral legacy. A few years +before his death, however, he brought his two sons, Wamsutta and +Pometacom, to Plymouth, and requested the governor, in token of +friendship, to give them English names. They were very bright, +attractive young men, of the finest physical development. The governor +related to Massasoit the history of the renowned kings of Macedon, +Philip and Alexander, and gave to Wamsutta, the oldest, the name of +Alexander, the great warrior of Asia, and to Pometacom, the younger, +the less renowned name of Philip. These two young men had married +sisters, the daughters of the sachem of Pocasset. The name of the wife +of Alexander was Wetamoo, an unfortunate princess who became quite +illustrious in subsequent scenes. The wife of Philip had the +euphonious name of Wootonekanuske. + +Upon the death of Massasoit, his eldest son Alexander was invested +with the chieftainship. The lands of the Indians were now very rapidly +passing away from the native proprietors to the new-comers, and +English settlements were every where springing up in the wilderness. +The Indian power was evidently declining, while that of the white man +was on the increase. With prosperity came avarice. Unprincipled men +flocked to the colonies; the Indians were despised, and often harshly +treated; and the forbearance which marked the early intercourse of the +Pilgrims with the natives was forgotten. The colonists had generally +become exasperated with the outrages of lawless vagabond savages, whom +the sachems could not restrain, and who ranged the country, shooting +their cattle, pillaging their houses, and often committing murder. A +hungry savage was as ready to shoot a heifer in the pasture as a deer +in the forest, if he could do so and escape detection. There thus very +naturally grew up, upon both sides, a spirit of alienation and +suspicion. + +Alexander kept aloof from the English, and was cold and reserved +whenever he met them. Rumors began to float through the air that the +Wampanoags were meditating hostilities. Some of the colonists, who had +been called by business to Narraganset, wrote to Governor Prince, at +Plymouth, that Alexander was making preparations for war, and that he +was endeavoring to persuade the Narragansets to unite with him in a +general assault upon the English settlements. Governor Prince +immediately sent a messenger to Alexander, at Mount Hope, informing +him of these reports of his hostile intentions which were in +circulation, and requesting him to attend the next court in Plymouth +to vindicate himself from these charges. + +Alexander apparently received this message in a very friendly spirit. +He assured Captain Willet, the messenger, that the accusation was a +gross slander; that the Narragansets were his unrelenting foes; and +that they had fabricated the story that they might alienate from him +his good friends the English. He promised that he would attend the +next meeting of the court at Plymouth, and prove the truth of these +declarations. + +Notwithstanding this ostensible sincerity and friendliness, various +circumstances concurred to increase suspicion. When the court +assembled, Alexander, instead of making his appearance according to +his agreement, was found to be on a visit to the sachem of the +Narragansets, his pretended enemies. Upon this, Governor Prince +assembled his counselors, and, after deliberation, ordered Major +Winslow, afterward governor of the colony, to take an armed band, go +to Mount Hope, seize Alexander by surprise before he should have time +to rally his warriors around him, and take him by force to Plymouth. +Major Winslow immediately set out, with ten men, from Marshfield, +intending to increase his force from the towns nearer to Mount Hope. +When about half way between Plymouth and Bridgewater, they came to a +large pond, probably Monponsett Pond, in the present town of Halifax. +Upon the margin of this sheet of water they saw an Indian hunting +lodge, and soon ascertained that it was one of the several transient +residences of Alexander, and that he was then there, with a large +party of his warriors, on a hunting and fishing excursion. + +The colonists cautiously approached, and saw that the guns of the +Indians were all stacked outside of the lodge, at some distance, and +that the whole party were in the house engaged in a banquet. As the +Wampanoags were then, and had been for forty years, at peace with the +English, and as they were not at war with any other people, and were +in the very heart of their own territories, no precautions whatever +were adopted against surprise. + +Major Winslow dispatched a portion of his force to seize the guns of +the Indians, and with the rest entered the hut. The savages, eighty in +number, manifested neither surprise nor alarm in seeing the English, +and were apparently quite unsuspicious of danger. Major Winslow +requested Alexander to walk out with him for a few moments, and then, +through an interpreter, informed the proud Indian chieftain that he +was to be taken under arrest to Plymouth, there to answer to the +charge of plotting against the English. The haughty savage, as soon as +he fully comprehended the statement, was in a towering rage. He +returned to his companions, and declared that he would not submit to +such an indignity. He felt as the President of the United States would +feel in being arrested by a sheriff sent from the Governor of Canada, +commanding him to submit to be taken to Quebec to answer there to +charges to be brought against him. The demand was of a nature to +preclude the exercise of courtesy. As there were some indications of +resistance, the stern major presented a pistol to the breast of the +Indian chieftain, and said, + +"I am ordered to take you to Plymouth. God willing, I shall do it, at +whatever hazard. If you submit peacefully, you shall receive +respectful usage. If you resist, you shall die upon the spot." + +The Indians were disarmed. They could do nothing. Alexander was almost +insane with vexation and rage in finding himself thus insulted, and +yet incapable of making any resistance. His followers, conscious of +the utter helplessness of their state, entreated him not to resort to +violence, which would only result in his death. They urged him to +yield to necessity, assuring him that they would accompany him as his +retinue, that he might appear in Plymouth with the dignity befitting +his rank. + +The colonists immediately commenced their return to Plymouth with +their illustrious captive. There was a large party of Indian warriors +in the train, with Wetamoo, the wife of Alexander, and several other +Indian women. The day was intensely hot, and a horse was offered to +the chieftain that he might ride. He declined the offer, preferring to +walk with his friends. When they arrived at Duxbury, as they were not +willing to thrust Alexander into a prison, Major Winslow received him +into his own house, where he guarded him with vigilance, yet treated +him courteously, until orders could be received from Governor Prince, +who resided on the Cape at Eastham. At Duxbury, Alexander and his +train were entertained for several days with the most scrupulous +hospitality. But the imperial spirit of the Wampanoag chieftain was so +tortured by the humiliation to which he was exposed that he was thrown +into a burning fever. The best medical attendance was furnished, and +he was nursed with the utmost care, but he grew daily worse, and soon +serious fears were entertained that he would die. + +The Indian warriors, greatly alarmed for their beloved chieftain, +entreated that they might be permitted to take Alexander home, +promising that they would return with him as soon as he had recovered, +and that, in the mean time, the son of Alexander should be sent to the +English as a hostage. The court assented to this arrangement. The +Indians took their unhappy king, dying of a crushed spirit, upon a +litter on their shoulders, and entered the trails of the forest. +Slowly they traveled with their burden until they arrived at Tethquet, +now Taunton River. There they took canoes. They had not, however, +paddled far down the stream before it became evident that their +monarch was dying. They placed him upon a grassy mound beneath a +majestic tree, and in silence the stoical warriors gathered around to +witness the departure of his spirit to the realms of the Red Man's +immortality. + +What a scene for the painter! The sublimity of the forest, the glassy +stream, meandering beneath the overshadowing trees, the bark canoes of +the natives moored to the shore, the dying chieftain, with his +warriors assembled in stern sadness around him, and the beautiful and +heroic Wetamoo, holding in her lap the head of her dying lord as she +wiped his clammy brow, nursing those emotions of revenge which finally +desolated the three colonies with flame, blood, and woe. + +[Illustration: THE DEATH OF ALEXANDER.] + +The tragic death of Alexander introduced to the throne his brother +Pometacom, whom the English named King Philip. + +Much has been written respecting the Indian's disregard for woman. The +history of Wetamoo proves that these views have been very greatly +exaggerated, or that they admit of very marked exceptions. Wetamoo +immediately became the unrelenting foe of the English. With all the +fervor of her fresh nature, she studied to avenge her husband's death. +This one idea became the controlling principle of her future life. +That Wamsutta's death was caused by the anguish of a wounded spirit no +colonist doubted; but Wetamoo believed, and most of the Indians +believed, that poison had been administered to the captive monarch, +and that he thus perished the victim of foul murder. Wetamoo was an +energetic, and, for a savage, a noble woman. All the energies of her +soul were aroused to avenge her husband's death. She was by birth the +princess of another tribe, and it appears that she had power, woman +though she was, to lead three hundred warriors into the field. + +Philip was a man of superior endowments. He clearly understood the +power of the English, and the peril to be encountered in waging war +against them. And yet he as distinctly saw that, unless the +encroachments of the English could be arrested, his own race was +doomed to destruction. At one time he was quite interested in the +Christian religion; but apparently foreseeing that, with the +introduction of Christianity, all the peculiarities of manners and +customs in Indian life must pass away, he adopted the views of his +father, Massasoit, and became bitterly opposed to any change of +religion among his people. Mr. Gookin, speaking of the Wampanoags, +says: + + "There are some that have hopes of their greatest and + chiefest sachem, named Philip. Some of his chief men, as I + hear, stand well-inclined to hear the Gospel, and himself is + a person of good understanding and knowledge in the best + things. I have heard him speak very good words, arguing that + his conscience is convicted. But yet, though his will is + bound to embrace Jesus Christ, his sensual and carnal lusts + are strong bands to hold him fast under Satan's dominion." + +Some time after this, Rev. Mr. Elliot records that, in conversation +with King Philip upon the subject of religion, the Wampanoag chieftain +took hold of a button upon Mr. Elliot's coat, and said, very +deliberately, + +"Mr. Elliot, I care no more for the Gospel of Jesus Christ than I do +for that button." + +For nine years Philip was probably brooding over the subject of the +encroachments of the English, and the waning power of the Indians. +This was the inevitable result of the idle, vagabond life of the +Indians, and of the industry and energy of the colonists. The Indians +had not thus far been defrauded. Mr. Josiah Winslow, governor of +Plymouth Colony, writes, in a letter dated May 1, 1676: + + "I think I can truly say that, before these present troubles + broke out, the English did not possess one foot of land in + this colony but what was fairly obtained by honest purchase + of the Indian proprietors." + +The discontent of Philip did not, however, escape the notice of the +English, and for a long time they saw increasing indications that a +storm was gathering. The wary monarch, with continued protestations of +friendship, was evidently accumulating resources, strengthening +alliances, and distributing more extensively among the Indians guns +and other weapons of Indian warfare. His warriors soon rivaled the +white men in skill as sharp-shooters, and became very adroit in the +use of their weapons. They were carefully laying up stores of powder +and bullets, and Philip could not conceal the interest with which he +endeavored to learn how to manufacture gunpowder. + +Under this state of affairs, it is easy to perceive that mutual +suspicions and recriminations must have rapidly ensued. The Indians +and the colonists, year after year, became more exasperated against +each other. The dangers of collision were constantly growing more +imminent. Many deeds of violence and aggression were perpetrated by +individuals upon each side. Still, candor compels us to admit, as we +carefully read the record of those days, that the English were very +far from being patterns of meekness and long-suffering. Haughtiness +and intolerance when in power has marked the career of our venerated, +yet far from faultless ancestors in every quarter of the globe. + +The Narraganset tribe had now lost its pre-eminence. Canonicus had +long since died, at the age of eighty years. Miantunnomah had been +taken prisoner by the Mohegans, and had been executed upon the plain +of Norwich. Ninigret, who was now sovereign chief of the Narragansets, +was old, infirm, and imbecile. His character illustrates the saying of +Napoleon, that "_better is it to have an army of deer led by a lion, +than an army of lions led by a deer_." + +Philip, by his commanding genius and daring spirit, had now obtained +a great ascendency over all the New England tribes excepting the +Mohegans. They, under Uncas, were strongly attached to the English, to +whom they were indebted for their very existence. The character of +Philip is illustrated by the following incident. In 1665, he heard +that an Indian had spoken disrespectfully of his father, Massasoit. To +avenge the insult, he pursued the offender from place to place, until, +at last, he tracked him to the island of Nantucket. Taking a canoe, +Philip proceeded to the island. Assasamooyh, who, by speaking ill of +the dead, had, according to Indian law, forfeited his life, was a +Christian Indian. He was sitting at the table of one of the colonists, +when a messenger rushed in breathlessly, and informed him that the +dreaded avenger was near the door. Assasamooyh had but just time to +rush from the house when Philip was upon him. The Indian fled like a +frighted deer, pursued by the vengeful chieftain. From house to house +the pursued and his pursuer rushed, while the English looked with +amazement at this exhibition of the energy of Indian law. According to +their code, whoever spoke ill of the dead was to forfeit life at the +hand of the nearest relative. Thus Philip, with his brandished +tomahawk, considered himself but the honored executor of justice. +Assasamooyh, however, at length leaped a bank, and, plunging into the +forest, eluded his foe. The English then succeeded, by a very heavy +ransom, in purchasing his life, and Philip returned to Mount Hope, +feeling that his father's memory had been suitably avenged. + +In the year 1671, the English, alarmed by the threatening aspect of +affairs, and seeing increasing indications that Philip was preparing +for hostilities, sent an imperious command to him to come to Taunton +and explain his conduct. For some time Philip made sundry rather weak +excuses for not complying with this demand, at the same time +reiterating assurances of his friendly feelings. He was, as yet, quite +unprepared for war, and was very reluctant to precipitate hostilities, +which he had sufficient sagacity to foresee would involve him in ruin, +unless he could first form such a coalition of the Indian tribes as +would enable him to attack all the English settlements at one and the +same time. At length, however, he found that he could no longer refuse +to give some explanation of the measures he was adopting without +giving fatal strength to the suspicions against him. + +Accordingly, on the 10th of April of this year, he took with him a +band of warriors, armed to the teeth, and painted and decorated with +the most brilliant trappings of barbarian splendor, and approached +within four miles of Taunton. Here the proud monarch of the Wampanoags +established his encampment, and, with native-taught punctiliousness, +sent a message to the English governor, informing him of his arrival +at that spot, and requiring him to come and treat with him there. The +governor, either afraid to meet these warriors in their own +encampment, or deeming it beneath his dignity to attend the summons of +an Indian chieftain, sent Roger Williams, with several other +messengers, to assure Philip of his friendly feelings, and to entreat +him to continue his journey to Taunton, as a more convenient place for +their conference. Philip, with caution which subsequent events proved +to have been well timed, detained these messengers as hostages for his +safe return, and then, with an imposing retinue of his painted braves, +proudly strode forward toward the town of Taunton. + +When he arrived at a hill upon the outskirts of the village, he again +halted, and warily established sentinels around his encampment. The +governor and magistrates of Massachusetts, apprehensive that the +Plymouth people might get embroiled in a war with the Indians, and +anxious, if possible, to avert so terrible a calamity, had dispatched +three commissioners to Taunton to endeavor to promote reconciliation +between the Plymouth colony and Philip. These commissioners were now +in conference with the Plymouth court. When Philip appeared upon the +hill, the Plymouth magistrates, exasperated by many outrages, were +quite eager to march and attack him, and take his whole party +prisoners, and hold them as hostages for the good behavior of the +Indians. With no little difficulty the Massachusetts commissioners +overruled this rash design, and consented to go out themselves and +persuade Philip to come in and confer in a friendly manner upon the +adjustment of their affairs. + +Philip received the Massachusetts men with reserve, but with much +courtesy. At first he refused to advance any farther, but declared +that those who wished to confer with him must come where he was. At +length, however, he consented to refer the difficulties which existed +between him and the Plymouth colony to the Massachusetts +commissioners, and to hold the conference in the Taunton +meeting-house. But, that he might meet his accusers upon the basis of +perfect equality, he demanded that one half of the meeting-house +should be appropriated sacredly to himself and his followers, while +the Plymouth people, his accusers, should occupy the other half. The +Massachusetts commissioners, three gentlemen, were to sit alone as +umpires. We can not but admire the character developed by Philip in +these arrangements. + +Philip managed his cause, which was manifestly a bad one, with great +adroitness. Talleyrand and Metternich would have given him a high +position among European diplomatists. He could not deny that he was +making great military preparations, but he declared that this was only +in anticipation of an attack from the Narraganset Indians. But it was +proved that at that moment he was on terms of more intimate friendship +with the Narragansets than ever before. He also brought charge for +charge against the English; and it can not be doubted that he and his +people had suffered much from the arrogance of individuals of the +domineering race. Philip has had no one to tell his story, and we have +received the narrative only from the pens of his foes. They tell us +that he was at length confounded, and made full confession of his +hostile designs, and expressed regret for them. + +As a result of the conference, all past grievances were to be buried +in oblivion, and a treaty was entered into in which mutual friendship +was pledged, and in which Philip consented to the extraordinary +measure of disarming his people, and of surrendering their guns to the +governor of Plymouth, to be retained by him so long as he should +distrust the sincerity of their friendship. Philip and his warriors +immediately gave up their guns, seventy in number, and promised to +send in the rest within a given time. + +It is difficult to conceive how the Indians could have +understandingly, and in good faith, have made such a treaty. The +English had now been fifty years in the country. The Indians had +become familiar with the use of guns. Bows and arrows had long since +been laid aside. As game was with them an important element of food, +the loss of their guns was apparently a very serious calamity. It is +not improbable that the English magistrates humanely hoped, by taking +away the guns of the Indians, to lead them from the precarious and +vagabond life of hunters to the more refining influences of +agriculture. But it is very certain that the Indians cherished no such +views. It was also agreed in the council that, in case of future +troubles, both parties should submit their complaints to the +arbitration of Massachusetts. + +This settlement, apparently so important, amounted to nothing. The +Indians were ever ready, it is said, to sign any agreement whatever +which would extricate them from a momentary difficulty; but such +promises were broken as promptly as they were made. Philip, having +returned to Mount Hope, sent in no more guns, but was busy as ever +gaining resources for war, and entering into alliances with other +tribes. Philip denied this, but the people of Plymouth thought that +they had ample evidence that such was the case. + +The summer thus passed away, while the aspect of affairs was daily +growing more threatening. As Philip did not send in his guns according +to agreement, and as there was evidence, apparently conclusive, of his +hostile intentions, the Plymouth government, late in August, sent +another summons, ordering the Wampanoag sovereign to appear before +them on the 13th of September, and threatening, in case he did not +comply with this summons, to send out a force to reduce him to +subjection. At the same time, they sent communications to the colonies +of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, stating their complaints against +Philip, and soliciting their aid in the war which they thought +evidently approaching. + +In this movement Philip gained a manifest advantage over the Plymouth +colonists. It will be remembered that, according to the terms of the +treaty, all future difficulties were to be referred to the arbitration +of Massachusetts as an impartial umpire. But Plymouth had now, in +violation of these terms, imperiously summoned the Indian chieftain, +as if he were their subject, to appear before their courts. Philip, +instead of paying any regard to this arrogant order, immediately +repaired to Boston with his councilors, and thus manifestly placed +himself in the position of the "law and order" party. It so happened +that he arrived in Boston on the very day in which the Governor of +Massachusetts received the letter from the Plymouth colony. The +representations which Philip made seemed to carry conviction to the +impartial umpires of Massachusetts that he was not severely to be +censured. They accordingly wrote a letter to Plymouth, assuming that +there was perhaps equal blame on both sides, and declaring that there +did not appear to be sufficient cause for the Plymouth people to +commence hostilities. In their letter they write: + + "We do not understand how Philip hath subjected himself to + you. But the treatment you have given him, and your + proceedings toward him, do not render him such a subject as + that, if there be not a present answering to summons, there + should presently be a proceeding to hostilities. The sword + once drawn and dipped in blood, may make him as independent + upon you as you are upon him." + +Arrangements were now made for a general council from the united +colonies to assemble at Plymouth on the 24th of September. King Philip +agreed to meet this council in a new attempt to adjust all their +difficulties. At the appointed time the assembly was convened. King +Philip was present, with a retinue of warriors, all decorated in the +highest style of barbaric splendor. Bitter complaints were entered +upon both sides, and neither party were disposed to draw any very +marked line of distinction between individual acts of outrage and the +measures for which the two governments were responsible. Another +treaty was, however, made, similar to the Taunton treaty, and the two +parties again separated with protestations of friendship, but quite +hostile as ever at heart. The colonists were, however, all anxious to +avoid a war, as they had every thing to lose by it and nothing to +gain. Philip, on the contrary, deemed the salvation of the Indians was +depending upon the extermination of the colonists. He was well aware +that he was quite unprepared for immediate hostilities, and that he +had much to do in the way of preparation before he could hope +successfully to encounter foes so formidable as the English had now +become. + +Three years now passed away of reserved intercourse and suspicious +peace. The colonists were continually hearing rumors from distant +tribes of Philip's endeavors, and generally successful endeavors, to +draw them into a coalition. The conspiracy, so far as it could be +ascertained, included nearly all the tribes of New England, and +extended into the interior of New York, and along the coast to +Virginia. The Narragansets agreed to furnish four thousand warriors. +Other tribes, according to their power, were to furnish their hundreds +or their thousands. Hostilities were to be commenced in the spring of +1676 by a simultaneous assault upon all the settlements, so that none +of the English could go from one portion of the country to aid +another. + +The English, month after month, saw this cloud of terror increasing in +blackness; yet measures were so adroitly adopted by King Philip that, +while the air was filled with rumors, it was difficult to obtain any +positive proof, and still more difficult to decide what course to +pursue to avert the calamity. As these deep-laid plans of the shrewd +Wampanoag chieftain were approaching maturity, Philip became more +independent and bold in his demeanor. The Massachusetts colonists now +began to feel that the danger was indeed imminent, and that their +Plymouth brethren had more cause for complaint than they had supposed. +The evidence became so convincing that this dreadful conspiracy was in +progress, that the Governor of Massachusetts sent an embassador to +Philip, demanding an explanation of these threatening appearances, and +soliciting another treaty of peace and friendship. The proud sachem +haughtily replied to the embassador, + +"Your governor is but a subject of King Charles of England. I shall +not treat with a subject. I shall only treat with the king, my +brother. When he comes, I am ready." + +Such was the alarming aspect of affairs at the close of the year 1674. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES. + +1675 + +Enthusiasm of the young Indians.--John Sassamon.--Betty's +Neck.--Private secretary of Philip.--The conspiracy.--Incredulity of +the English.--Sassamon to be murdered.--Death of Sassamon.--Indians +arrested.--Proof of the murder.--Execution of the +Indians.--Superstitious notions.--Insolence of the Indians.--They +capture a settler.--The first blood.--Day of fasting.--Letter of +Governor Winslow.--Murders by the Indians.--Flight of the +colonists.--Energy of Philip.--Assistance implored.--Flight of +Philip.--March of the army.--The Soykonate tribe.--Awashonks.--Captain +Church.--The embassadors of Philip.--The council.--Appearance of the +embassadors.--Exciting conference.--Rage of Captain Church.--Awashonks +to remain friendly.--The Pocasset tribe.--Wetamoo joins Philip.--Indian +warfare.--The colonists much scattered.--An illustration.--Heroic +woman.--Dispatching the Indians.--Succor arrives.--Defiance of the +English.--Horrible sight.--Destruction of corn.--An ambush.--Attempt +to surround them.--A retreat.--Apparent hopeless situation.--Bravery +long continued.--Relief at hand.--All rescued.--Narrow escape of Captain +Church.--Dartmouth burned.--Perfidy of the English.--Attempts to capture +Philip.--An unfortunate ambush.--Lesson of caution dearly +purchased.--Indian allies.--Preaching politics.--Escape of Philip.--A +conference agreed upon.--Suspicions of treachery.--Furious +attack.--Escape to Brookfield.--Attack upon the town.--Brookfield +consumed.--Attempts to burn the garrison.--Relief comes.--A +shower.--The garrison saved.--The Indians elated by victory. + + +The old warriors, conscious of the power of the foe whose fury they +were about to brave, were not at all disposed to precipitate +hostilities, but Philip found it difficult to hold his young men under +restraint. They became very insolent and boastful, and would sharpen +their knives and tomahawks upon the door-sills of the colonists, +vaporing in mysterious phrase of the great deeds they were about to +perform. + +There was at this time a Christian Indian by the name of John +Sassamon, who had learned to read and write, and had become quite an +efficient agent in Christian missions to the Indians. He was esteemed +by the English as truly a pious man, and had been employed in aiding +to translate the Bible into the Indian language, and also in preaching +to his countrymen at Nemasket, now Middleborough. He lived in +semi-civilized style upon Assawompset Neck. He had a very pretty +daughter, whom he called Assowetough, but whose sonorous name the +young Puritans did not improve by changing it into Betty. The noted +place in Middleborough now called Betty's Neck is immortalized by the +charms of Assowetough. This Indian maiden married a warrior of her +tribe, who was also in the employment of the English, and in all his +interests had become identified with them. Sassamon was a subject of +King Philip, but he and his family were on the most intimate and +friendly relations with the colonists. + +Philip needed a private secretary who could draw up his deeds and +write his letters. He accordingly took John Sassamon into his +employment. Sassamon, thus introduced into the court and cabinet of +his sovereign, soon became acquainted with the conspiracy in all its +appalling extent and magnitude of design. He at once repaired to +Plymouth, and communicated his discovery to the governor. He, however, +enjoined the strictest secrecy respecting his communication, assuring +the governor that, should the Indians learn that he had betrayed them, +his life would be the inevitable forfeit. There were many who had no +faith in any conspiracy of the kind. Rumors of approaching perils had +been rife for many years, and the community had become accustomed to +them. Most of the Massachusetts colonists thought the Plymouth people +unnecessarily alarmed. They listened to the story of Sassamon with +great incredulity. "His information," says Dr. I. Mather, "because it +had an Indian original, and one can hardly believe them when they do +speak the truth, was not at first much regarded." + +Sassamon soon after resigned his situation as Philip's secretary, and +returned to Middleborough, where he resumed his employment as a +preacher to the Indians and teacher of a school. + +By some unknown means Philip ascertained that he had been betrayed by +Sassamon. According to the Indian code, the offender was deemed a +traitor and a renegade, and was doomed to death; and it was the duty +of every subject of King Philip to kill him whenever and wherever he +could be found. But Sassamon had been so much with the English, and +had been for years so intimately connected with them as their friend +and agent, that it was feared that they would espouse his cause, and +endeavor to avenge his death. It was, therefore, thought best that +Indian justice should be secretly executed. + +Early in the spring of 1675 Sassamon was suddenly missing. At length +his hat and gun were found upon the ice of Assawompset Pond, near a +hole. Soon after his body was found beneath the ice. There had been an +evident endeavor to leave the impression that he had committed +suicide; but wounds upon his body conclusively showed that he had been +murdered. The English promptly decided that this was a crime which +came under the cognizance of their laws. Three Indians were arrested +under suspicion of being his murderers. These Indians were all men of +note, connected with the council of Philip. An Indian testified that +he happened to be upon a distant hill, and saw the murder committed. +For some time he had concealed the knowledge thus obtained, but at +length was induced to disclose the crime. The evidence against Tobias, +one of the three, is thus stated by Dr. Increase Mather: + +"When Tobias came near the dead body, it fell a bleeding on fresh, as if +it had been newly slain, albeit it was buried a considerable time before +that." In those days of darkness it was supposed that the body of a +murdered man would bleed on the approach of his murderer. + +The prisoners were tried at Plymouth in June, and were all adjudged +guilty, and sentenced to death. The jury consisted of twelve +Englishmen and four Indians. The condemned were all executed, two of +them contending to the last that they were entirely innocent, and knew +nothing of the deed. One of them, it is said, when upon the point of +death, confessed that he was a spectator of the murder, which was +committed by the other two. + +The summary execution of three of Philip's subjects enraged and +alarmed the Wampanoags exceedingly. As the death of Sassamon had been +undeniably ordered by Philip, he was apprehensive that he also might +be kidnapped and hung. The young Wampanoag warriors were roused to +phrensy, and immediately commenced a series of the most intolerable +annoyances, shooting the cattle, frightening the women and children, +and insulting wayfarers wherever they could find them. The Indians had +imbibed the superstitious notion, which had probably been taught them +by John Sassamon, that the party which should commence the war and +shed the first blood would be defeated. They therefore wished, by +violence and insult, to provoke the English to strike the first blow. +The English established a military watch in every town; but, hoping +that the threatening storm might blow over, they endured all these +outrages with commendable patience. + +On the 20th of June, eight Indian desperadoes, all armed for fight, +came swaggering into the town of Swanzey, and, calling at the door of +a colonist, demanded permission to grind their hatchets. As it was the +Lord's day, the colonist informed them that it would be a violation of +the Sabbath for them to do such work, and that God would be +displeased. They replied, "We care neither for your God nor for you, +but we will grind our hatchets." They then went to another house, and, +with insulting carousals, ransacked the closets, helping themselves +abundantly to food. The barbarian roisterers then proceeded blustering +along the road, when they chanced to meet a colonist. They immediately +took him into custody, kept him for some time, loading him with taunts +and ridicule, and then dismissed him, derisively telling him to be a +good man, and not to tell any lies or work on the Lord's day. + +Growing bolder and more insolent as they advanced, they began to shoot +the cattle which they saw in the fields. They encountered no +opposition, for the houses were at some distance from each other, and +most of the men were absent at public worship. At last they came to a +house where the man chanced to be at home. They shot his cattle, and +then entered the house and demanded liquor. Being refused, they became +very boisterous in threats, and attempted to get the liquor by +violence. The man at last, provoked beyond endurance, seized his gun +and shot one of them, inflicting a serious but not mortal wound. The +first blood was now shed, and the drama of war was opened. The young +savages retired, bearing their wounded companion with them, and +breathing threatenings and slaughter. + +The next Thursday, June 24th, had been set apart by the colonists as a +day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, in view of the alarming state +of affairs. Upon an impartial review of all the transactions, it is +difficult to see how the colonists could have avoided the war. + + "I do solemnly protest," says Governor Winslow, in a letter + written July 4th, 1675, "we know not any thing from us which + might have put Philip upon these motions, nor have heard + that he pretends to have suffered any wrong from us, save + only that we had killed some Indians, and intended to send + for himself for the murder of John Sassamon." + +As the people in Swanzey were returning from church on fast-day, a +party of Indians, concealed in a thicket by the road side, fired upon +them, killing one instantly, and severely wounding many others. Two +men who set off in haste for a surgeon were waylaid and murdered. At +the same time, in another part of the town, a house was surrounded by +a band of Indians, and eight more of the colonists were shot. These +awful tidings spread rapidly, causing indescribable alarm. One man, +afraid to remain in his unprotected dwelling, hastily sent his wife +and only son to the house of the Rev. Mr. Miles, which was fortified, +and could be garrisoned. He remained a few moments behind to take some +needful things. The wife had gone but a short distance when she heard +behind her the report of a gun. True to woman's heroic love, she +instantly returned to learn the fate of her husband. + +He was lying in his blood on the threshold of his door, and the +savages were ransacking the house. The wretches caught sight of her, +pursued her, killed both her and her son, and took their scalps. In +this terrible state of alarm, the scattered and helpless colonists +fled with their families, as rapidly as they could, to the garrison +house. Two men went from the house to the well for water. They fell, +pierced by bullets. The savages rushed from their concealment, seized +the two still quivering bodies, and dragged them into the forest. They +were afterward found scalped, and with their hands and feet cut off. +Such were the opening acts of the tragedy of blood and woe. + +With amazing energy and with great strategetic skill, the warriors of +Philip, guided by his sagacity, plied their work of destruction. It +was their sole, emphatic mission to kill, burn, and destroy. The +savages, flushed with success, were skulking every where. No one could +venture abroad without danger of being shot. Runners were immediately +sent, in consternation, from all the frontier towns, to Plymouth and +Boston, to implore assistance. In three hours after the arrival of the +messenger in Boston, one hundred and twenty men were on the march to +attack Philip at Mount Hope. But the renowned chieftain was too wary +to be caught in the trap of Mount Hope Neck. He had sent his women and +children to the hospitality of distant tribes, and, abandoning the +Neck, which was nearly surrounded by water, traversed with his +warriors the country, where he could at any time plunge into the +almost limitless wilderness. + +The little army from Massachusetts moved promptly forward, pressing +into its service all the available men to be found by the way. They +marched to Swanzey, and established their head-quarters at the +garrison house of the Rev. Mr. Miles, a Baptist clergyman of exalted +character and of fervent piety, who was ready to share with his +parishioners in all the perils of protecting themselves from the +border ruffians of that day. About a dozen of the troops, on a +reconnoitring party, crossed the bridge near the garrison house. They +were fired upon from an ambush, and one killed and one wounded. The +Indians fled, hotly pursued by the English, and took refuge in a +swamp, after having lost sixteen of their number. + +Upon the eastern shore of Narraganset Bay, in the region now occupied +by Little Compton and a part of Tiverton, there was a small tribe of +Indians in partial subjection to the Narragansets, and called the +Soykonate tribe. Here also a woman, Awashonks, was sachem of the +tribe, and the bravest warriors were prompt to do homage to her power. +Captain Benjamin Church and a few other colonists had purchased lands +of her, and had settled upon fertile spots along the shores of the +bay. Awashonks was on very friendly terms with Captain Church. Though +there were three hundred warriors obedient to her command, that was +but a feeble force compared with the troops which could be raised both +by Philip and by the English. She was therefore anxious to remain +neutral. This, however, could not be. The war was such that all +dwelling in the midst of its ravages must choose their side. + +Philip sent six embassadors to engage Awashonks in his interest. She +immediately assembled all her counselors to deliberate upon the +momentous question, and also took the very wise precaution to send for +Captain Church. He hastened to her residence, and found several +hundred of her subjects collected and engaged in a furious dance. The +forest rang with their shouts, the perspiration dripped from their +limbs, and they were already wrought to a pitch of intense excitement. +Awashonks herself led in the dance, and her graceful figure appeared +to great advantage as it was contrasted with the gigantic muscular +development of her warriors. + +Immediately upon Captain Church's arrival the dance ceased. Awashonks +sat down, called her chiefs and the Wampanoag embassadors around her, +and then invited Captain Church to take a conspicuous seat in the +midst of the group. She then, in a speech of queenly courtesy, +informed Captain Church that King Philip had sent six of his men to +solicit her to enter into a confederacy against the English, and that +he stated, through these embassadors, that the English had raised a +great army, and were about to invade his territories for the +extermination of the Wampanoags. The conference was long and intensely +exciting. Awashonks called upon the Wampanoag embassadors to come +forward. + +They were marked men, dressed in the highest embellishments of +barbaric warfare. Their faces were painted. Their hair was trimmed in +the fashion of the crests of the ancient helmets. Their knives and +tomahawks were sharp and glittering. They all had guns, and horns and +pouches abundantly supplied with shot and bullets. + +Captain Church, however, was manifestly gaining the advantage, and the +Wampanoag embassadors, baffled and enraged, were anxious to silence +their antagonist with the bludgeon. The Indians began to take sides +furiously, and hot words and threatening gestures were abundant. +Awashonks was very evidently inclined to adhere to the English. She at +last, in the face of the embassadors, declared to Captain Church that +Philip's message to her was that he would send his men over privately +to shoot the cattle and burn the houses of the English who were within +her territories, and thus induce the English to fall in vengeance upon +her, whom they would undoubtedly suppose to be the author of the +mischief. This so enraged Captain Church that he quite forgot his +customary prudence. Turning to the Wampanoag embassadors, he +exclaimed, + +"You are infamous wretches, thirsting for the blood of your English +neighbors, who have never injured you, but who, on the contrary, have +always treated you with kindness." + +Then, addressing Awashonks, he very inconsiderately advised her to +knock the six Wampanoags on the head, and then throw herself upon the +protection of the English. The Indian queen, more discreet than her +adviser, dismissed the embassadors unharmed, but informing them that +she should look to the English as her friends and protectors. + +Captain Church, exulting in this success, which took three hundred +warriors from the enemy and added them to the English force, set out +for Plymouth. At parting, he advised Awashonks to remain faithful to +the English whatever might happen, and to keep, with all her warriors, +within the limits of Soykonate. He promised to return to her again in +a few days. + +Just north of Little Compton, in the region now occupied by the upper +part of Tiverton, and by Fall River, the Pocasset tribe of Indians +dwelt. Wetamoo, the former bride of Alexander, was a princess of this +tribe. Upon the death of her husband and the accession of Philip to +the sovereignty of the Wampanoags, she had returned to her parental +home, and was now queen of the tribe. Her power was about equal to +that of Awashonks, and she could lead three or four hundred warriors +into the field. Captain Church immediately proceeded to her court, as +he deemed it exceedingly important to detach her, if possible, from +the coalition. + +He found her upon a high hill at a short distance from the shore. But +few of her people were with her, and she appeared reserved and very +melancholy. She acknowledged that all her warriors had gone across the +water to Philip's war-dance, though she said that it was against her +will. She was, however, brooding over her past injuries, and was eager +to join Philip in any measures of revenge. Captain Church had hardly +arrived at Plymouth before the wonderful successes of Philip so +encouraged the Indians that Wetamoo, with alacrity and burning zeal, +joined the coalition; and even Awashonks could not resist the +inclinations of her warriors, but was also, with reluctance, compelled +to unite with Philip. + +War was now raging in all its horrors. A more harassing and merciless +conflict can hardly be imagined. The Indians seldom presented +themselves in large numbers, never gathered for a decisive action, +but, dividing into innumerable prowling bands, attacked the lonely +farm-house, the small and distant settlements, and often, in terrific +midnight onset, plunged, with musket, torch, and tomahawk, into the +large towns. These bands varied in their numbers from twenty to thirty +to two or three thousand. The colonists were very much scattered in +isolated farm-houses through the wilderness. In consequence of the +gigantic growth of trees, which it was a great labor to cut down, and +which, when felled, left the ground encumbered for years with +enormous stumps and roots, the colonists were eager to find any smooth +meadow or natural opening in the forest where, for any unknown cause, +the trees had disappeared, and where the thick turf alone opposed +the hoe. They often had neither oxen nor plows. Thus these +widely-scattered spots upon the hill-sides and the margins of distant +streams were eagerly sought for, and thus these lonely settlers were +exposed, utterly defenseless, to the savage foe. + +The following scene, which occurred in a remote section of the country +at a later period, will illustrate the horrible nature of this Indian +warfare. Far away in the wilderness, a man had erected his log hut +upon a small meadow, which had opened itself in the midst of a +gigantic forest. The man's family consisted of himself, his wife, and +several children, the eldest of whom was a daughter fifteen years of +age. At midnight, the loud barking of his dog alarmed him. He stepped +to the door to see what he could discover, and instantly there was a +report of several muskets, and he fell upon the floor of his hut +pierced with bullets, and with a broken leg and arm. The Indians, +surrounding the house, now with frightful yells rushed to the door. +The mother, frantic with terror, her children screaming around her, +and her husband groaning and weltering in his blood, barred the door +and seized an axe. The savages, with their hatchets, soon cut a hole +through the door, and one of them crowded in. The heroic mother, with +one blow of the axe, cleft his head to the shoulder, and he dropped +dead upon the floor. Another of the assailants, supposing, in the +darkness, that he had made good his entrance, followed him. He also +fell by another well-directed stroke. Thus four were slain before the +Indians discovered their mistake. + +They then clambered upon the house, and were soon heard descending +through the capacious flue of the chimney. The wife still stood with +the axe to guard the door. The father, bleeding and fainting, called +upon one of the little children to roll the feather bed upon the fire. +The burning feathers emitted such a suffocating smoke and smell that +the Indians were almost smothered, and they tumbled down upon the +embers. At the same moment, another one attempted to enter the door. +The wounded husband and father had sufficient strength left to seize a +billet of wood and dispatch the half-smothered Indians. But the mother +was now so exhausted with terror and fatigue that her strength failed +her, and she struck a feeble blow, which wounded, but did not kill her +adversary. The savage was so severely wounded, however, that he +retreated, leaving all his comrades, six in number, dead in the house. +We are not informed whether the father recovered of his wounds. Some +distant neighbors, receiving tidings of the attack, came with succor, +and the six dead Indians, without much ceremony, were tumbled into a +hole. + +Volumes might be filled with such terrible details. No one could sleep +at night without the fear of an attack from the Indians before the +morning. In the silence of the wilderness, many a tragedy was enacted +of terror, torture, and blood, which would cause the ear that hears of +it to tingle. + +The day after the arrival of the English force in Swanzey the Indians +again appeared in large numbers, and with defiant shouts dared them to +come out and fight. Philip himself was with this band. A party of +volunteers rushed furiously upon the foe, killed a number, and pursued +the rest more than a mile. The savages retired to their fastnesses, +and the English traversed Mount Hope Neck until they came to the +imperial residence of Philip. Not an Indian was to be found upon the +Neck. But here the English found the heads of eight of their +countrymen, which had been cut off and stuck upon poles, ghastly +trophies of savage victory. They took them down and reverently buried +them. + +It was now the 29th of June, and the Indian corn-fields were waving in +luxuriant growth. Philip had not anticipated so early an outbreak of +the war, and had more than a thousand acres planted with corn. These +fields the English trampled down, and destroyed all the dwellings of +the Indians, leaving the Neck barren and desolate. This was a heavy +blow to Philip. The destruction of his corn-fields threatened him with +starvation in the winter. The Indians scattered in all directions, +carrying every where terror, conflagration, and death. + +Captain Church, with twenty men, crossed the Taunton River, and then +followed down the eastern shores of the bay, through Pokasset, the +territory of Wetamoo, toward Sogkonate Neck, where Awashonks reigned. +At the southern extremity of the present town of Tiverton they came to +a neck of land called Punkateeset. Here they discovered a fresh trail, +which showed that a large body of Indians had recently passed. +Following this trail, they came to a large pea-field belonging to +Captain Almy, a colonist who had settled there. They loitered a short +time in the field, eating the peas. The forest, almost impenetrable +with underbrush, grew very densely around. Just as they were emerging +from the field upon an open piece of ground, with the woods growing +very thickly upon one side, a sudden discharge of musketry broke in +upon the silent air, and bullets were every where whistling fiercely +around them. Instantly three hundred Indians sprang up from their +ambush. Captain Church "casting his eyes to the side of the hill above +him, the hill seemed to move, being covered with Indians, with their +bright guns glistening in the sun, and running in a circumference, +with a design to surround them." Captain Church and his men slowly +retreated toward the shore, where alone they could prevent themselves +from being surrounded. The Indians, outnumbering them fifteen to one, +closely pressed them, making the forest resound with their hideous +outcries. + +As the savages emerged from their ambush, they followed at a cautious +distance, but so directed their steps as to cut off all possibility of +retreat from the Neck. They felt so sure of their victims that they +thought that all could be killed or captured without any loss upon +their own part. + +The situation of the English now seemed desperate. They had no means +of crossing the water, and the exultant foe, in overwhelming numbers +and with fiendlike yells, were pressing nearer and nearer, and +overwhelming them with a storm of bullets. + +But the colonists resolved to sell their lives as dearly as possible. +It was better to die by the quick ministry of the bullet, than to fall +as captives into the hands of the savages, to perish by lingering +torment. Fortunately, the ground was very stony, and every man +instantly threw up a pile for a breastwork. The Indians were very +cautious in presenting their bodies to the unerring aim of the white +men, and did not venture upon a simultaneous rush, which would have +secured the destruction of the whole of Captain Church's party. + +For six hours the colonists beat back their swarming foes. The Indians +availed themselves of every stump, rock, or tree in sight, and kept up +an incessant firing. Just as the ammunition of the colonists was about +exhausted, and night was coming on, a sloop was discerned crossing +the water to their rescue. Captain Golding, a man of great resolution +and fearlessness, had heard the firing, and was hastening to their +relief. The wind was fair, and as the vessel approached the shore the +Indians plied their shot with such effect that the colors, sails, and +sides of the sloop were soon pierced full of bullet holes. The water +was so shoal that they dropped anchor, and the vessel rode afloat +several rods from the beach. Captain Golding had a small canoe, which +would support but two men. Attaching a cord to this, he let it drift +to the shore, driven by the fresh wind. Two men entered the canoe, and +were drawn on board. The canoe was then returned, and two more were +taken on board. Thus the embarkation continued, covered by the muskets +of those on board and those on the shore, until every man was safe. +Not one of their number was even wounded. The English, very skillful +with the musket, kept their innumerable foes at a distance. It was +certain death for any Indian to step from behind his rampart. The +heroic Church was the last to embark. As he was retreating backward, +boldly facing his foes, presenting his gun, which all the remaining +powder he had did but half charge, a bullet passed through his hat, +cutting off a lock of his hair. Two others struck the canoe as he +entered it, and a fourth buried itself in a stake which accidentally +stood before the middle of his breast. Discharging his farewell shot +at the enemy, he was safely received on board, and they were all +conveyed to the English garrison which had been established at Mount +Hope. Many Indians were killed or wounded in this affray, but it is +not known how many. + +[Illustration: THE BATTLE IN TIVERTON.] + +Captain Church then went, with a small army, to ravage the territories +of Wetamoo. When he arrived at the spot where Fall River now stands, +he found that Wetamoo, with her warriors, had taken refuge in a +neighboring swamp. Just then news came that a great part of the town +of Dartmouth was in flames, that many of the inhabitants were killed, +and that the survivors were in great distress. Captain Church marched +immediately to their rescue. But the foe had finished his work of +destruction, and had fled into the wilderness, to emerge at some other +spot, no one could tell where, and strike another deadly blow. The +colonists, however, took one hundred and sixty Indians prisoners, who +had been induced by promises of kind treatment to come in and +surrender themselves. To the extreme indignation of Captain Church, +all these people, in most dishonorable disregard of the pledges of the +capitulation, were by the Plymouth authorities sold into slavery. This +act was as impolitic as it was criminal. It can not be too sternly +denounced. It effectually deterred others from confiding in the +English. + +The colonists, conscious of the intellectual supremacy of King Philip +as the commanding genius of the strife, devoted their main energies to +his capture, dead or alive. Large rewards were offered for his head. +The barbarian monarch, with a large party of his warriors, had taken +refuge in an almost impenetrable swamp upon the river, about eighteen +miles below Taunton. All the inhabitants of Taunton, in their terror, +had abandoned their homes, and were gathered in eight garrison houses. +On the 18th of July, a force of several hundred men from Plymouth and +Taunton surrounded the swamp. They cautiously penetrated the tangled +thicket, their feet at almost every step sinking in the mire and +becoming shackled by interlacing roots, the branches pinioning their +arms, and the dense foliage blinding their eyes. Philip, with +characteristic cunning, sent a few of his warriors occasionally to +exhibit themselves, to lure the English on. The colonists gradually +forgot their accustomed prudence, and pressed eagerly forward. +Suddenly from the dense thicket a party of warriors in ambush poured +upon their pursuers a volley of bullets. Fifteen dropped dead, and +many were sorely wounded. The survivors precipitately retired from the +swamp, "finding it ill," says Hubbard, "fighting a wild beast in his +own den." + +The English, taught a lesson of caution by this misadventure, now +decided to surround the swamp, guarding every avenue of escape. They +knew that Philip had no stores of provisions there, and that he soon +must be starved out. Here they kept guard for thirteen days. In the +mean time, Philip constructed some canoes and rafts, and one dark +night floated all his warriors, some two hundred in number, across the +river, and continued his flight through the present towns of Dighton +and Rehoboth, far away into the unknown wilderness of the interior of +Massachusetts. Wetamoo, with several of her warriors, accompanied +Philip in his flight. He left a hundred starving women and children +in the swamp, who surrendered themselves the next morning to the +English. + +A band of fifty of the Mohegan Indians had now come, by direction of +Uncas, to proffer their services to the colonists. A party of the +English, with these Indian allies, pursued the fugitives. They +overtook Philip's party not far from Providence, and shot thirty of +their number, without the loss of a single man. Rev. Mr. Newman, +pastor of the church in Rehoboth, obtained great commendation for his +zeal in rousing his parishioners to pursue the savages. + +Philip had now penetrated the wilderness, and had effected his escape +beyond the reach of his foes. He had the boundless forest around him +for his refuge, with the opportunity of emerging at his leisure upon +any point of attack along the vast New England frontier which he might +select. + +The Nipmuck Indians were a powerful tribe, consisting of many petty +clans spread over the whole of the interior of Massachusetts. They +appear to have had no sachem of distinction, and at one time were +tributary to the Narragansets, but were now tributary to the +Wampanoags. They had thus far been living on very friendly terms with +the inhabitants of the towns which had been settled within the limits +of their territory. The court at Boston, apprehensive that the +Nipmucks might be induced to join King Philip, sent some messengers to +treat with them. The young warriors were very surly, and manifestly +disposed to fight; but the old men dreaded the perils of war with foes +whose prowess they appreciated, and were inclined to a renewal of +friendship. + +It was agreed that a conference should be held at a certain large +tree, upon a plain about three miles from Brookfield, on the 2d of +August. At the appointed time, the English commissioners were there, +with a small force of twenty mounted men. But not an Indian was to be +seen. Notwithstanding some suspicions of treachery, the English +determined to advance some miles farther, to a spot where they were +assured that a large number of Indians were assembled. They at length +came to a narrow pass, with a steep hill covered with trees and +underbrush on one side, and a swamp, impenetrable with mire and +thickets, upon the other. Along this narrow way they could march only +in single file. The silence of the eternal forest was around them, and +nothing was to be seen or heard which gave the slightest indication of +danger. + +Just as they were in the middle of this trail, three hundred Indians +rose up on either side, and showered upon them a storm of bullets. +Eight dropped dead. Three were mortally, and several others severely +wounded. Captain Wheeler, who was in command, had his horse shot from +under him, and a bullet also passed through his body. His son, who +rode behind him, though his own arm was shattered by a ball, +dismounted, and succeeded in placing his father in the saddle. A +precipitate retreat was immediately commenced, while the Indians +pursued with yells of exultation. But for the aid of three Christian +Indians who accompanied the English party, every Englishman must have +perished. One of these Indians was taken captive. The other two, by +skill and bravery, led their friends, by a by-path, back to +Brookfield. + +This town was then a solitary settlement of about twenty houses, alone +in the wilderness, half way between the Atlantic shore and the +settlements on the Connecticut. The terrified inhabitants had but just +time to abandon their homes and take refuge in the garrison house when +the savages were upon them. With anguish they saw, from the loop-holes +of their retreat, every house and barn consumed, their cattle shot, +and all their property of food, clothing, and furniture destroyed. +They were thus, in an hour, reduced from competence to the extreme of +want. + +The inhabitants of Brookfield, men, women, and children, amounted to +but eighty. The nearest settlement from whence any help could come was +at Lancaster, some forty miles northeast of Brookfield. The Indians +surrounded the garrison, and for two days exerted all their ingenuity +in attempting to destroy the building. They wrapped around their +arrows hemp dipped in oil, and, setting them on fire, shot them upon +the dry and inflammable roof. Several times the building was in +flames, but the inmates succeeded in arresting the conflagration. It +was now the evening of the 4th of August. The garrison, utterly +exhausted by two days and two nights of incessant conflict, aware that +their ammunition must soon be exhausted, and knowing not from what +quarter to hope for relief, were in despair. The Indians now filled a +cart with hemp, flax, and the resinous boughs of firs and pines. They +fastened to the tongue a succession of long poles, and then, setting +the whole fabric on fire, as it rolled up volumes of flame and smoke, +pushed it back against the log house, whose walls were as dry as +powder. Just then, when all hope of escape was abandoned, relief came. + +Major Willard had been sent from Boston to Lancaster with a party of +dragoons for the defense of that region. By some chance, probably +through a friendly Indian, he was informed of the extreme distress of +the people at Brookfield. Taking with him forty-eight dragoons, he +marched with the utmost possible haste to their relief. With Indian +guides, he traversed thirty miles of the forest that day, and arrived +at the garrison in the evening twilight, just as the Indians, with +fiendish clamor, were all engaged in their experiment with the flaming +cart. Though the Indian scouts discovered his approach, and fired +their guns and raised shouts of alarm, there was such a horrid noise +from the yells of the savages and the uproar of musketry that the +scouts could not communicate intelligence of the approach of the +English, and the re-enforcement, with a rush, entered the garrison. At +the same moment a very heavy shower arose, which aided greatly in the +extinguishment of the flames. + +The savages, thus balked of their victims, howled with rage, and, +after firing a few volleys of bullets into the walls of the fortress, +retired to their fastnesses. During this siege many of the whites were +wounded, and about eighty of the Indians were killed. The day after +the defeat, Philip, with forty-eight warriors, arrived at the Indian +encampment at Brookfield. Though the Indians had not taken the +garrison, and though they mourned the loss of many warriors, they were +not a little elated with success. They had killed many of their +enemies, and had utterly destroyed the town of Brookfield. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +AUTUMN AND WINTER CAMPAIGNS. + +1675 + +Philip's influence.--Simultaneous attacks.--Deerfield +burned.--Re-enforcement.--An ambuscade.--Dreadful slaughter and +tortures.--Rescue of Northfield.--Northfield abandoned.--Attempts +to save some corn.--Unsuspicious of danger.--Sudden attack.--A +scene of carnage.--The English overpowered.--Captain Mosely attempts +a rescue.--A prolonged fight.--The Indians vanquished.--Burial of +the dead.--Deerfield destroyed.--Plot against Springfield.--A +timely warning.--Lieutenant Cooper shot.--The attack.--The +conflagration.--Loss of books.--Alarm of the inhabitants.--Decree +of the general court.--Arrangement of forces.--Attack upon +Hatfield.--The Indians defeated.--Narrow escape of Major Appleton.--The +Indian rendezvous.--Philip's employments.--Attempts to secure +the Narragansets.--Mission to the Narragansets.--Compulsory +treaty.--Erection of an Indian fort.--Advantages of the Indians.--Indian +warfare.--Endurance of the Indians.--Losses of the colonists.--Anxious +deliberations.--Arguments pro and con.--The Indians to be attacked.--A +day of fasting.--John Woodcock.--Mode of collecting debts.--March of +the army.--Skirmishes.--Fortifications of the Indians.--The Indian +fort.--Deplorable condition of the colonists.--A friendly +traitor.--Terrible march.--Entrance to the swamp.--Appearance of the +fort.--Fearless bravery.--Terrible slaughter.--An entrance +effected.--Capture of the fort.--A scene of carnage.--Continuance of +the battle.--The houses fired.--Flight of the Indians.--Helplessness +of the English.--Necessity for a retreat.--A second retreat from +Moscow.--Horrors of the night.--Want of provisions.--Disappointment +at not finding food.--Arrival of a vessel. + + +Philip now directed his steps to the valley of the Connecticut, and +gave almost superhuman vigor to the energy which the savages were +already displaying in their attack upon the numerous and thriving +settlements there. Even most of the Christian Indians, who had long +lived upon terms of uninterrupted friendship with the English, were so +influenced by the persuasions of Philip that they joined his warriors, +and were as eager as any others for the extermination of the +colonists. + +Attacks were made almost simultaneously upon the towns of Hadley, +Hatfield, and Deerfield, and also upon several towns upon the Merrimac +River, in the province of New Hampshire. In these conflicts, the +Indians, on the whole, were decidedly the victors. As Philip had fled +from Plymouth, and as the Narragansets had not yet joined the +coalition, the towns in Plymouth colony enjoyed a temporary respite. + +On the 1st of September the Indians made a rush upon Deerfield. They +laid the whole town in ashes. Most of the inhabitants had fortunately +taken refuge in the garrison house, and but one man was slain. They +then proceeded fifteen miles up the river to Northfield, where a small +garrison had been established. They destroyed much property, and shot +eight or ten of the inhabitants. The rest were sheltered in the +garrison. The next day, this disaster not being known at Hadley, +Captain Beers was detached from that place with thirty-six mounted +infantry and a convoy of provisions to re-enforce the feeble garrison +at Northfield. They had a march before them of thirty miles, along the +eastern bank of the river. The road was very rough, and led through +almost a continued forest. + +When they arrived within a few miles of Northfield, they came to a +wide morass, where it was necessary to dismount and lead their horses. +They were also thrown into confusion in their endeavors to transport +their baggage through the swamp. Here the Indians had formed an +ambuscade. The surprise was sudden, and disastrous in the extreme. The +Indians, several hundred in number, surrounded the doomed party, and, +from their concealment, took unerring aim. Captain Beers, a man of +great valor, succeeded, with a few men, in retreating to a small +eminence, since known as Beers's Mountain, where he bravely maintained +the unequal fight until all his ammunition was expended. A ball then +pierced his bosom, and he fell dead. A few escaped back to Hadley to +tell the mournful tidings of the slaughter, while all the rest were +slain, and all their provisions and baggage fell into the hands of the +exultant savages. The barbarian victors amused themselves in cutting +off the heads of the slain, which they fixed upon poles at the spot, +as defiant trophies of their triumph. One man was found with a chain +hooked into his under jaw, and thus he was suspended on the bough of a +tree, where he had been left to struggle and die in mortal agony. The +garrison at Northfield, almost destitute of powder and food, was now +reduced to the last extremity. + +Major Treat was immediately dispatched with a hundred men for their +rescue. Advancing rapidly and with caution, he succeeded in reaching +Northfield. His whole company, in passing through the scene of the +disaster, were most solemnly affected in gazing upon the mutilated +remains of their friends, and appear to have been not a little +terror-stricken in view of such horrid barbarities. Fearing that the +Indians were too numerous in the vicinity to be encountered by their +small band, they brought off the garrison, and retreated precipitately +to Hadley, not tarrying even to destroy the property which they could +not bring away. It is said that Philip himself guided the Indians in +their attack upon Captain Beers. + +Hadley was now the head-quarters of the English army, and quite a +large force was assembled there. Most of the inhabitants of the +adjoining towns in tumult and terror had fled to this place for +protection. At the garrison house in Deerfield, fifteen miles above +Hadley, on the western side of the river, there were three thousand +bushels of corn standing in stacks. + +On the 18th of September, Captain Lothrop, having been sent from +Hadley to bring off this corn, started with his loaded teams on his +return. His force consisted of a hundred men, soldiers and teamsters. +As no Indians had for some time appeared in that immediate vicinity, +and as there was a good road between the two places, no particular +danger was apprehended. The Indians, however, from the fastnesses of +the forest, were all the time watching their movements with eagle eye, +and with consummate cunning were plotting their destruction. + +After leaving Deerfield, the march led for about three miles through a +very level country, densely wooded on each side of the road. The march +was then continued for half a mile along the borders of a morass +filled with large trees and tangled underbrush. Here a thousand +Indians had planted themselves in ambuscade. It was a serene and +beautiful autumnal day. Grape-vines festooned the gigantic trees of +the forest, and purple clusters, ripe and juicy, hung in profusion +among the boughs. Captain Lothrop was so unsuspicious of danger that +many of his men had thrown their guns into the carts, and were +strolling about gathering grapes. + +The critical moment arrived, and the English being in the midst of the +ambush, a thousand Indians sprang up from their concealment, and +poured in upon the straggling column a heavy and destructive fire. +Then, with savage yells, which seemed to fill the whole forest, they +rushed from every quarter to close assault. The English were scattered +in a long line of march, and the Indians, with the ferocity of +wolves, sprang upon them ten to one. A dreadful scene of tumult, +dismay, and carnage ensued. + +The tragic drama was soon closed. The troops, broken and scattered, +could only resort to the Indian mode of fighting, each one skulking +behind a tree. But they were so entirely surrounded and overpowered +that no one could discharge his musket more than two or three times +before he fell. Some, in their dismay, leaped into the branches of +the trees, hoping thus to escape observation. The savages, with shouts +of derision, mocked them for a time, and then pierced them with +bullets until they dropped to the ground. All the wounded were +indiscriminately butchered. But eight escaped to tell the awful story. +Ninety perished upon this bloody field. The young men who were thus +slaughtered constituted the flower of Essex county. They had been +selected for their intrepidity and hardihood from all the towns. Their +destruction caused unspeakable anguish in their homes, and sent a wave +of grief throughout all the colonies. The little stream in the south +part of Deerfield, upon the banks of which this memorable tragedy +occurred, has in consequence received the name of Bloody Brook. + +Captain Mosely had been left in the garrison at Deerfield with seventy +men, intending to go the next day in search of the Indians. As he was +but five miles from the scene of the massacre, he heard the firing, +and immediately marched to the rescue of his friends. But he was too +late. They were all, before his arrival, silent in death. As the +Indians were scalping and stripping the dead, Captain Mosely, with +great intrepidity, fell upon them, though he computed their numbers at +not less than a thousand. Keeping his men in a body, he broke through +the tumultuous mass, charging back and forth, and cutting down all +within range of his shot. + +Still, aided by the swamp and the forest, and being so overwhelmingly +superior to the English in numbers, the savages maintained the fight +with much fierceness for six hours. Captain Mosely and all his men +might perhaps also have perished, had not another party providentially +and very unexpectedly come to their relief. + +Major Treat, from Connecticut, was ascending the river with one +hundred and sixty Mohegan Indians, on his way to Northfield, in +pursuit of the foe in that vicinity. It was so ordered by Providence +that he approached the scene of action just as both parties were +exhausted by the protracted fight. Hearing the firing, he pressed +rapidly forward, and with fresh troops fell vigorously upon the foe. +The Indians, with yells of disappointment and rage, now fled, plunging +into the swamps and forests. They left ninety-six of their number dead +by the side of the English whom they had so mercilessly slaughtered in +the morning. It is supposed that Philip himself commanded the Indians +on this sanguinary day. The Indians, though in the end defeated, had +gained a marvelous victory, by which they were exceedingly encouraged +and emboldened. + +Captains Mosely and Treat encamped in the vicinity for the night, and +the next morning attended to the burial of the dead. They were +deposited in two pits, the English in one and the Indians in another. +A marble monument now marks the spot where this battle occurred, and a +slab is placed over the mound which covers the slain. + +Twenty-seven men only had been left in the garrison at Deerfield. The +next morning the Indians appeared in large numbers before the +garrison, threatening an attack. They tauntingly exhibited the +clothes they had stripped from the slain, and shouted messages of +defiance and insult. But the captain of the garrison, making a brave +show of resistance, and sounding his trumpets, as if to call in forces +near at hand, so alarmed the Indians that they retired, and soon all +disappeared in the pathless forest. Deerfield was, however, utterly +destroyed, and the garrison, abandoning the fortress, retired down the +river to afford such protection as might be in their power to the +lower towns. + +About thirty miles below Hadley, upon the river, was the town of +Springfield, a very flourishing settlement, containing forty-eight +dwelling-houses. A numerous tribe of Indians lived in the immediate +vicinity, having quite a spacious Indian fort at Long Hill, a mile +below the village. These Indians had for forty years lived on terms of +most cordial friendship with their civilized neighbors. They now made +such firm protestations of friendliness that but few doubted in the +least their good faith. But, while thus protesting, they had yielded +to the potent seductions of King Philip, and, joining his party +secretly, were making preparations for the destruction of Springfield. + +On the night of the 4th of October, three hundred of King Philip's +warriors crept stealthily through the forest, and were received into +the Indian fort at Long Hill. A friendly Indian by the name of Toto, +who had received much kindness from the whites, betrayed his +countrymen, and gave information of the conspiracy to burn the town +and massacre the inhabitants. The people were thrown into +consternation, and precipitately fled to the garrison houses, while a +courier was dispatched to Hadley for aid. + +Still, many had so much confidence in the sincerity of the Springfield +Indians that they could not believe in their treachery. Lieutenant +Cooper, who commanded there, was so deceived by their protestations +that he the next morning, taking another man with him, rode toward the +fort to ascertain the facts. He had not advanced far before he met the +enemy, several hundred in number, marching to the assault. The savages +immediately fired upon him. His companion was instantly shot, and +several bullets passed through his body. He was a man of Herculean +strength and vigor, and, though mortally wounded, succeeded, by +clinging to his horse, in reaching the garrison and giving the alarm +before he died. + +The savages now came roaring on like ferocious wild beasts. The town +was utterly defenseless. Thirty-three houses and twenty-five barns +were almost instantly in flames. Fortunately, nearly all of the +inhabitants were in the block-houses, and but five men and one woman +were killed. The Indians kept cautiously beyond the reach of gun-shot, +vigorously plundering the houses and applying the torch. The wretched +inhabitants, from the loop-holes of the garrison, contemplated with +anguish the conflagration of their homes and all their earthly goods. +The Reverend Mr. Glover, pastor of the church in this place, was a man +of studious habits, and had collected a valuable library, at an +expense of five thousand dollars. He had, for some time, kept his +library in the garrison house for safety; but, a short time before the +attack, thinking that Philip could not venture to make an assault upon +Springfield, when it was surrounded by so many friendly Indians, he +removed the books to his own house. They were all consumed. The loss +to this excellent man was irreparable, and a source of the keenest +grief. In the midst of the conflagration and the plunder Major Treat +appeared with a strong force from Hadley, and the Indians, loaded down +with booty, retreated into their forest fastnesses. Fifteen houses +only were left unburned. + +This treachery on the part of the Springfield Indians caused very +great alarm. There were, henceforward, no Indians in whom the +colonists could confide. The general court in Boston ordered: + + "That no person shall entertain, own, or countenance any + Indian, under penalty of being a betrayer of this + government. + + "That a guard be set at the entrance of the town of Boston, + and that no Indian be suffered to enter, upon any pretense, + without a guard of two musketeers, and not to lodge in + town." + +Animated by his success, Philip now planned a still bolder movement. +Hatfield was one of the most beautiful and flourishing of the towns +which reposed in the fertile valley of the Connecticut. Its +inhabitants, warned by the disasters which had befallen so many of +their neighbors, were prepared for a vigorous defense. They kept a +constant watch, and several garrison houses were erected, to which the +women and children could fly in case of alarm. All the male +inhabitants were armed and drilled, and there were three companies of +soldiers stationed in the town; and Hadley, which was on the opposite +side of the river, was the head-quarters of the Massachusetts and +Connecticut forces, then under the command of Major Appleton. An +attack upon Hatfield would immediately bring the forces of Hadley to +its relief. + +On the 19th of October, Philip, at the head of eight hundred warriors, +boldly, but with Indian secrecy, approached the outposts of Hatfield. +He succeeded in cutting off several parties who were scouring the +woods in the vicinity, and then made an impetuous rush upon the town. +But every man sprang to his appointed post. Every avenue of approach +was valiantly defended. Major Appleton immediately crossed with his +force from Hadley, and fell furiously upon the assailants, every man +burning with the desire to avenge the destruction of Northfield, +Deerfield, and Springfield. Notwithstanding this determined defense, +the Indians, inspired by the energies of their indomitable leader, +fought a long time with great resolution. At length, repulsed at every +point, they retreated, bearing off with them all their dead and +wounded. They succeeded, however, in burning many houses, and in +driving off many cattle. The impression they made upon the English may +be inferred from the fact that they were not pursued. In this affair, +six of the English were killed and ten wounded. A bullet passed +through the bushy hair of Major Appleton, cutting a very smooth path +for itself, "by that whisper telling him," says Hubbard, "that death +was very near, but did him no other harm." + +Winter was now approaching, and as Philip found that the remaining +settlements upon the Connecticut were so defended that he could not +hope to accomplish much, he scattered his forces into winter quarters. +Most of his warriors, who had accompanied him from the Atlantic coast +to the Connecticut, returned to Narraganset, and established their +rendezvous in an immense swamp in the region now incorporated into the +town of South Kingston, Rhode Island. Upon what might be called an +island in this immense swamp, they constructed five hundred wigwams, +and surrounded the whole with fortifications admirably adapted to +repel attack. Three thousand Indians were soon assembled upon this +spot. + +There is some uncertainty respecting the movements of Philip during +the winter. It is generally supposed that he passed the winter very +actively engaged in endeavors to rouse all the distant tribes. It is +said that he crossed the Hudson, and endeavored to incite the Indians +in the valley of the Mohawk to fall upon the Dutch settlements on the +Hudson. It is also probable that he spent some time at the Narraganset +fort, and that he directed several assaults which, during this season +of comparative repose, fell upon remote sections of the frontier. + +Straggling parties of Indians lingered about Northampton, Westfield, +and Springfield, occasionally burning a house, shooting at those who +ventured into the fields, and keeping the inhabitants in a state of +constant alarm. + +At the commencement of the war, just before the discomfiture of Philip +in the swamp near Taunton, a united force of the Massachusetts, +Plymouth, and Connecticut colonies had been sent into the Narraganset +country to persuade, and, if they could not persuade, to compel the +Narraganset Indians to declare for the English. It was well known that +the Narragansets in heart espoused the cause of Philip; for the +Wampanoag chieftain, to relieve himself from embarrassment, had sent +his old men, with his women and the children, into the Narraganset +territory, where they were received and entertained with much +hospitality. + +In this mission to the Narraganset country, a part of the troops +crossed the bay in boats, while others rode around by land, entering +the country by the way of Providence. The two parties soon met, and +advanced cautiously together to guard against ambush. They could, +however, for some time find no Indians. The wigwams were all deserted, +and the natives, men, women, and children, fled before them. At length +they succeeded in catching some Narraganset sachems, and with them, +after a conference of two or three days, concluded a treaty of peace. +It was virtually a compulsory treaty, in which the English could place +very little reliance, and to which the Narragansets paid no regard. + +According to the terms of this treaty, which was signed on the 15th of +July, 1675, the Narragansets agreed, + + 1st. To deliver to the English army every subject of King + Philip, either living or dead, who should come into their + territories. + + 2dly. To become allies of the English, and to kill and + destroy, with their utmost ability, all the subjects of King + Philip. + +There were several other articles of the treaty, but they were all +comprehended in the spirit of the two first. But now, in three months +after the signing of this treaty, Philip, with the aid of the +Narragansets, was constructing a fort in the very heart of their +country, and was making it the general rendezvous for all his +warriors. The Narragansets could bring a very fearful accumulation of +strength to the cause of Philip. They could lead two thousand warriors +into the field, and these warriors were renowned for ferocity and +courage. Dwelling so near the English settlements, they could at any +time emerge from their fastnesses, scattering dismay and ruin along +their path. + +The Indians enjoyed peculiar advantages for the rude warfare in which +they engaged. They were not only perfectly acquainted with the +wilderness, its morasses, mountains, and impenetrable thickets, but, +from their constant intercourse with the settlements, were as well +acquainted with the dwellings, fields, and roads of the English as +were the colonists themselves. They were very numerous and widely +scattered, and could watch every movement of their foe. Stealthily +approaching through the forest under cover of the night, they could +creep into barns and out-houses, and lie secreted behind fences, +prepared for murder, robbery, and conflagration. Often they concealed +themselves before the very doors of their victims. The first warning +of their presence would be the ring of the musket, as the lonely +settler, opening his door in the morning, dropped down dead upon his +threshold. The house was then fired, the mother and her babes scalped, +and the work of destruction was accomplished. Like packs of wolves +they came howling from the wilderness, and, leaving blood and +smouldering ruins behind them, howling they disappeared. While the +English were hunting for them in one place, they would be burning and +plundering in another. They were capable of almost any amount of +fatigue, and could subsist in vigor where a civilized man would +starve. A few kernels of corn, pounded into meal between two stones, +and mixed with water, in a cup made from rolling up a strip of birch +bark, afforded a good dinner for an Indian. If to this he could add a +few clams, or a bird or a squirrel shot from a neighboring tree, he +regarded his repast as quite sumptuous. + +The storms of winter checked, but by no means terminated the +atrocities of the savages. Marauding bands were wandering every where, +and no man dwelt in safety. Many persons were shot, houses and barns +were burned, and not a few men, women, and children were taken captive +and carried into the wilderness, where they miserably perished, often +being subjected to the most excruciating torture. The condition of the +colonies was now melancholy in the extreme. Their losses had been very +great, as one company after another of their soldiers had wasted away. +Industry had been paralyzed, and the harvest had consequently been +very short, while at the same time the expenses of the war were +enormous. The savages, elated with success, were recruiting their +strength, to break forth with new vigor upon the settlements in the +early spring. + +The commissioners of the united colonies deliberated long and +anxiously. The all-important question was whether it were best to +adopt the desperate enterprise of attacking the Narraganset fort in +the dead of winter, or whether they should defer active hostilities +until spring. Should they defer, the warriors now collected upon one +spot would scatter every where in the work of destruction. The +Narragansets, who had not as yet engaged openly in the conflict, would +certainly lend all their energies to King Philip. Another year of +disaster and blood might thus be confidently anticipated. + +On the other hand, the severity of the winter was such that a whole +army, houseless, on the march, might perish in a single night. Storms +of snow often arose, encumbering the ground with such drifts and +masses that it might be quite impossible to force a march through the +pathless expanse. + +But, in view of all the circumstances, it was at length decided best +to make the attack. A thousand men were to be raised. Of these, +Massachusetts contributed five hundred and twenty-seven. Plymouth +furnished one hundred and fifty-eight. Connecticut supplied three +hundred and fifteen, and also sent one hundred and fifty Mohegan +Indians. Josiah Winslow, governor of the Plymouth colony, was +appointed commander-in-chief. The choicest officers in the colonies +were selected, and the men who filled the ranks were all chosen from +those of established reputation for physical vigor and bravery. All +were aware of the perilous nature of the enterprise. In consequence of +the depth of the snow, it would probably be impossible to send any +succor to the troops by land in case of reverse. "It was a humbling +providence of God," wrote the commissioners, "that put his poor +people to be meditating a matter of war at such a season." The second +of December was appointed as a solemn fast to implore God's aid upon +the enterprise. + +The Massachusetts troops rendezvoused at Dedham, and on the morning of +the 9th of December commenced their march. They advanced that day +twenty-seven miles, to the garrison house of John Woodcock, within the +limits of the present town of Attleborough. Woodcock kept a sort of +tavern at what was called the Ten Mile River, which tavern he was +enjoined by the court to "keep in good order, that no unruliness or +ribaldry be permitted there." He was a man of some consequence, +energetic, reckless, and not very scrupulous in regard to the rights +of the Indians. An Indian owed him some money. As Woodcock could not +collect the debt, he paid himself by going into the Indian's house and +taking his child and some goods. For this crime he was sentenced to +sit in the stocks at Rehoboth during a training day, and to pay a fine +of forty shillings. + +At this garrison house the troops encamped for the night, and the next +day they advanced to Seekonk, and were ferried across the river to +Providence. On the morning of the twelfth they resumed their march, +and followed down the western shore of the bay until they arrived at +the garrison house of Mr. Smith, in the present town of Wickford, +which was appointed as their head-quarters. Here, in the course of a +few days, the Connecticut companies, marching from Stonington, and the +Plymouth companies were united with them. As the troops were +assembling, several small parties had skirmishes with roving bands of +Indians, in which a few were slain on both sides. A few settlers had +reared their huts along the western shores of the bay, but the +Indians, aware of the approach of their enemies, had burned their +houses, and the inhabitants were either killed or dispersed. Nearly +the whole region was now a wilderness. + +The Indians, three thousand in number, were strongly intrenched, as we +have before mentioned, in a swamp, which was in South Kingston, about +eighteen miles distant from the encampment of the colonists. It is +uncertain whether Philip was in the fort or not; the testimony upon +that point is contradictory. The probability, however, is that he was +present, sharing in the sanguinary scene which ensued. + +The swamp was of immense extent and quite impenetrable, except through +two or three paths known only to the Indians. In the centre of the +swamp there were three or four acres of dry land, a few feet higher +than the surrounding morass. Here Philip had erected his houses, five +hundred in number, and had built them of materials far more solid and +durable than the Indians were accustomed to use, so that they were +quite bullet-proof. They were all surrounded by a high palisade. In +this strong encampment, in friendly alliance with the Narragansets, +Philip and his exultant warriors had been maturing their plans to make +a terrible assault upon all the English settlements in the spring. +Whether Philip was present or not when the fort was attacked, his +genius reared the fortress and nerved the arms of its defenders. + +The condition of the colonial army seemed now deplorable. Their +provisions were nearly consumed, and they could hardly hope for any +supply except such as they could capture from the savages. They knew +nothing of the entrances to the swamp, and were entirely unacquainted +with the nature of the fortification and the points most available for +attack. The ground was covered with snow, and they huddled around the +camp-fires by night, with no shelter from the inclemency of frost and +storm. + +The morning of the 19th dawned cold and gloomy. The supper of the +previous night had utterly exhausted their stores. At break of day +they commenced their march. A storm was then raging, and the air was +filled with snow. But for the treachery of one of Philip's Indians, +they would probably have been routed in the attack and utterly +destroyed. A Narraganset Indian, who, for some cause, had become +enraged against his countrymen, deserted their cause, and, entering +the camp of the colonists, acted as their guide. + +Early in the afternoon of the cold, short, and stormy winter's day, +the troops, unrefreshed by either breakfast or dinner, after a march +of eighteen miles, arrived at the borders of the swamp. An almost +impenetrable forest, tangled with every species of underbrush, spread +over the bog, presenting the most favorable opportunity for +ambuscades, and all the stratagems of Indian warfare. The English, +struggling blindly through the morass, would have found themselves in +a helpless condition, and exposed at every point to the bullets of an +unseen foe. The destruction of this army would have so emboldened the +savages and paralyzed the English that every settlement of the +colonists might have been swept away in an inundation of blood and +flame. The fate of the New England colonies trembled in the balance. + +The Narraganset deserter guided them to the entrance of a narrow and +intricate foot-path which led to the island. The Indians, watching +their approach, were lying in ambush upon the edge of the swamp. They +fired upon the advancing files, and retreated. The English, returning +the fire, vigorously pursued. Led by their guide, they soon arrived at +the fort. It presented a formidable aspect. In addition to the +palisades, a hedge of fallen trees a rod in thickness surrounded the +whole intrenchment; outside the hedge there was a ditch wide and deep. +There was but one point of entrance, and that was over the long and +slender trunk of a tree which had been felled across the ditch, and +rested at its farther end upon a wall of logs three or four feet high. +A block-house, at whose portals many sharp-shooters were stationed in +vigilant guard, commanded the narrow and slippery avenue. It was thus +necessary for the English, in storming the fort, to pass in single +file along this slender stem, exposed every step of the way to the +muskets of the Indians. Every soldier at once perceived that the only +hope for the army was in the energies of despair. + +There is no incident recorded in the annals of war which testifies to +more reckless fearlessness than that which our ancestors displayed on +this occasion. The approaches to the Malakoff and the Redan were not +attended with greater peril. Without waiting a moment to reconnoitre +or for those in the rear to come up, the Massachusetts troops, who +were in the van, made a rush to cross the tree. They were instantly +swept off by Philip's sharp-shooters. Again and again the English +soldiers, led by their captains, rushed upon the fatal bridge to +supply the places of the slain, but they only presented a fair target +for the foe, and they fell as grass before the scythe. In a few +moments six captains and a large number of common soldiers were dead +or dying in the ditch. The assaulting party, in dismay, were beginning +to recoil before certain death, when, by some unexplained means, a +bold party succeeded in wading through the ditch at another place, +and, clambering through the hedge of trees and over the palisades, +with great shoutings they assailed the defenders of the one narrow +pass in the rear. + +The Indians, in consternation, were for a moment bewildered, and knew +not which way to turn. The English, instantly availing themselves of +the panic, made another rush, and succeeded in forcing an entrance. A +hand to hand fight ensued of almost unparalleled ferocity; but the +English, with their long swords, hewed down the foe with immense +slaughter, and soon got possession of the breastwork which commanded +the entrance. A passage was immediately cut through the palisades, and +the whole army poured in. + +[Illustration: CAPTURE OF THE INDIAN FORTRESS.] + +The interior was a large Indian village, containing five hundred +houses, stored with a great abundance of corn, and crowded with women +and children. An awful scene of carnage now ensued. Though the savages +fought with the utmost fury, they could oppose no successful +resistance to the disciplined courage of the English. Flying from +wigwam to wigwam, men, women, and children were struck down without +mercy. The exasperated colonists regarded the children but as young +serpents of a venomous brood, and they were pitilessly knocked in the +head. The women they shot as readily as they would the dam of the wolf +or the bear. It was a day of vengeance, and awfully did retribution +fall. The shrieks of women and children blended fearfully with the +rattle of musketry and the cry of onset. For four hours the terrible +battle raged. The snow which covered the ground was now crimsoned +with blood, and strewed with the bodies of the slain. + +The battle was so fierce, and the defense so determined and prolonged, +the Indians flying from wigwam to wigwam, and taking deadly aim at the +English from innumerable places of concealment, that at length the +assailants were driven to the necessity of setting fire to the houses. +They resorted to this measure with great reluctance, since they needed +the shelter of the houses after the battle for their own refreshment +in their utterly exhausted state, and since there were large +quantities of corn stored in the houses in hollow trees, cut off about +the length of a barrel, which would be entirely consumed by the +conflagration. But there was no alternative; the torch was applied, +and in a few moments five hundred buildings were in flames. + +No language can describe the scene which now ensued. The awful tragedy +of the Pequot fort was here renewed upon a scale of still more +terrific grandeur. Old men, women, and children, no one can tell how +many, perished miserably in the wasting conflagration. The surviving +warriors, utterly discomfited, leaped the flaming palisades and fled +into the swamp. But even here they kept up an incessant and deadly +fire upon the victors, many of whom were shot after they had gained +entire possession of the fort. The terrible conflict had now lasted +four hours. Eighty of the colonists had been killed outright, and one +hundred and fifty wounded, many of whom subsequently died. Seven +hundred Indian warriors were slain, and many hundred wounded, of whom +three hundred soon died. + +The English were now complete masters of the fort, but it was a fort +no longer. The whole island of four acres, houses, palisades, and +hedge, was but a glowing furnace of roaring, crackling flame. The +houses were so exceedingly combustible that in an hour they were +consumed to ashes. The English, unprotected upon the island, were thus +exposed to every shot from the vanquished foe, who were skulking +behind the trees in the swamp. + +Night was now darkening over this dismal scene, a cold, stormy +winter's night. The flames of the blazing palisades and hedge enabled +the savages, who were filling the forest with their howlings of rage, +to take a surer aim, while they themselves were concealed in +impenetrable darkness. It was greatly feared that the Indians, still +much more numerous than their exhausted assailants, might, in the +night, make another onset to regain their lost ground. Indeed, the +bullets were still falling thickly around them as the Indians, +prowling from hummock to hummock, kept up a deadly fire, and it was +necessary, at all hazards, to escape from so perilous a position. It +was another conquest of Moscow. In the hour of the most exultant +victory, the conquerors saw before them but a vista of terrible +disaster. After a few moments' consultation, a precipitate retreat +from the swamp was decided to be absolutely necessary. + +The colonists had marched in the morning, breakfastless, eighteen +miles, over the frozen, snow-covered ground. Without any dinner, they +had entered upon one of the most toilsome and deadly of conflicts, and +had continued to struggle against intrenched and outnumbering foes for +four hours. And now, cold, exhausted, and starving, in the darkness of +a stormy night, they were to retreat through an almost pathless +swamp, bearing in their arms one hundred and fifty of their bleeding +and dying companions. There was no place of safety for them until they +should arrive at their head-quarters of the preceding night, upon the +shores of Narraganset Bay, eighteen miles distant. + +The horrors of that midnight retreat can never be told; they are +hardly surpassed by the tragedy at Borodino. The wind blew fiercely +through the tree-tops, and swept the bleak and drifted plains as the +troops toiled painfully along, breasting the storm, and stumbling in +exhaustion over the concealed inequalities of the ground. Most +fortunately for them, the savages made no pursuit. Many of the wounded +died by the way. Others, tortured by the freezing of their unbandaged +wounds, and by the grating of their splintered bones as they were +hurried along, shrieked aloud in their agony. It was long after +midnight before they reached their encampment. But even here they had +not a single biscuit. Vessels had been dispatched from Boston with +provisions, which should have arrived long before at this point, which +was their designated rendezvous. But these vessels had been driven +into Cape Cod harbor by a storm. The same storm had driven in immense +masses of ice, and for many days they were hopelessly blocked up. +Suffering excessively from this disappointment, the soldiers marched +to the assault, hoping, in the capture of the fort, to find food +stored up amply sufficient to supply the whole army until the spring +of the year, and also to find good warm houses where they all might be +lodged. The conflagration, to which they were compelled to resort, had +blighted all these hopes, and now, though victorious, they were +perishing in the wilderness of cold and hunger. + +The storm, during the night, increased in fury, and the snow, in +blinding, smothering sheets, filled the air, and, in the course of the +ensuing day, covered the ground to such a depth that for several weeks +the army was unable to move in any direction. But on that very +morning, freezing and tempestuous, in which despair had seized upon +every heart, a vessel was seen approaching, buffeting the icy waves of +the bay. It was one of the vessels from Boston, laden with provisions +for the army. Joy succeeded to despair. Prayers and praises ascended +from grateful hearts, and hymns of thanksgiving resounded through the +dim aisles of the forest. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +MRS. ROWLANDSON'S CAPTIVITY. + +1675-1676 + +Winter quarters.--Building a village.--Indignation of the Indians.--The +Narragansets disheartened.--Determination of Philip.--Diplomacy.--A +new fort.--A new army raised.--Sufferings of the troops.--Two names +for the Indians.--Their degraded nature.--Colonel Benjamin's mode +of making proselytes.--Philip betrayed.--His flight.--Return of +the troops.--Attack on Lancaster.--Precautions to guard against +surprise.--The torch applied.--Massacre of the inhabitants.--Mr. +Rowlandson's house.--Burning the building.--The inmates shot.--Mrs. +Rowlandson wounded.--Scalping a child.--Indian bacchanals.--Wastefulness +of the Indians.--Mrs. Rowlandson's narrative.--Her sufferings.--Her +wounded child.--Friendly aid from an Indian.--Arrival at +head-quarters.--Mrs. Rowlandson a slave.--Reciprocal barbarity.--Actions +of the Christian Indians.--Meeting of the captives.--Return of the +warriors.--Exultation of the Indians.--A captive murdered.--Journey to +the interior.--Comfort obtained.--Fear of the English.--The flight.--The +burden.--Crossing the river.--Want of food.--Compelling the captive +to work.--The Indian village.--Numbers of the Indians.--Difficulty +of obtaining food.--Mrs. Rowlandson meets her son.--Regal +repast.--Preparations for an attack.--The queen invited to dinner.--An +interview between the captives.--Unaccountable conduct.--A journey +commenced.--Hardships endured.--Kindness from an old Indian.--False +report about her son.--Dismal life.--Visions of liberty.--Slow +march.--Gentlemanly conduct of Philip.--Queen Wetamoo.--Wampum, +and how made.--Kindness to the captive.--Proposition for her +ransom.--Evidence of slaughter.--A great feast.--Endeavors to see her +children.--Bravery of Mr. John Hoar.--Assurance of freedom.--Dress +for a grand dance.--Dress of Wetamoo.--Interview with Philip.--Her +release.--Appearance of the country.--Return to her friends. + + +The little army was now supplied with food, but the vast masses of +snow extending every where around them through the pathless wilderness +rendered it impossible to move in any direction. The forest afforded +ample materials for huts and fuel. A busy village speedily arose upon +the shores of the frozen bay. Many of the wounded were, for greater +safety and comfort, sent to the island of Rhode Island, where they +were carefully nursed in the dwellings of the colonists. In their +encampment at Wickford, as the region is now called, the soldiers +remained several weeks, blockaded by storms and drifts, waiting for a +change of weather. It was a season of unusual severity, and the army +presented a spectacle resembling, upon a small scale, that of the +mighty hosts of Napoleon afterward encamped among the forests of the +Vistula--a scene of military energy which arrested the gaze and +elicited the astonishment of all Europe. + +As the English evacuated the Indian fort, the warriors who had escaped +into the swamp returned to their smouldering wigwams and to the +mangled bodies of their wives and children, overwhelmed with +indignation, rage, and despair. The storm of war had come and gone, +and awful was the ruin which it had left behind. The Rev. Mr. Ruggles, +recording the horrors of the destruction of the Narraganset fort, +writes: + + "The burning of the wigwams, the shrieks and cries of the + women and children, and the yells of the warriors, exhibited + a most horrible and affecting scene, so that it greatly + moved some of the soldiers. They were in much doubt then, + and often very seriously inquired whether burning their + enemies alive could be consistent with humanity and the + benevolent principles of the Gospel." + +The Narragansets, who were associated with the warriors of Philip in +this conflict, and in whose territory the battle had been fought, were +exceedingly disheartened. This experience of the terrible power and +vengeance of the English appalled them, and they were quite disposed +to abandon Philip. But the great Wampanoag chief was not a man to +yield to adversity. This calamity only nerved him to more undying +resolution and to deeds of more desperate daring. He had still about +two thousand warriors around him, but, being almost entirely destitute +of provisions, they for a time suffered incredibly. + +To gain time, Philip sent deputies to the English commander-in-chief +to treat of peace. The colonists met these advances with the utmost +cordiality, for there was nothing which they more earnestly desired +than to live on friendly terms with the Indians. War was to them only +impoverishment and woe. They had nothing to gain by strife. It was, +however, soon manifest that Philip was but trifling, and that he had +no idea of burying the hatchet. While the wary chieftain was occupying +the colonists with all the delays of diplomacy, he was energetically +constructing another fort in a swamp about twenty miles distant, where +he was again collecting his forces, and all the materials of barbarian +warfare. In this fortress, within the territorial limits of the +Nipmuck Indians, he also assembled a feeble train of women and +children, the fragments of his slaughtered families. The Nipmuck +tribe, then quite powerful, occupied the region now included in the +southeast corner of Worcester county. + +Hardly a ray of civilization had penetrated this portion of the +country. The gloomy wilderness frowned every where around, pathless +and savage. From the tangled morass in which he reared his wigwams he +dispatched runners in all directions, to give impulse to the torrent +of conflagration and blood with which he intended to sweep the +settlements in the spring. + +It was now manifest that there could be no hope of peace. An army of a +thousand men, early in January, was dispatched from Boston to +re-enforce the encampment at Wickford. Their march, in the dead of +winter, over the bleak and frozen hills, was slow, and their +sufferings were awful. Eleven men were frozen to death by the way, and +a large number were severely frostbitten. Immediately after their +arrival there came a remarkable thaw. The snow nearly all disappeared, +and the ground was flooded with water. This thaw was life to the +Indians. It enabled them to traverse the forests freely, and to gather +ground-nuts, upon which they were almost exclusively dependent for +subsistence. + +The army at Wickford now numbered sixteen hundred. They decided upon a +rapid march to attack Philip again in his new intrenchments. There +were _friendly Indians_, as the English called them--_traitors_, as +they were called by King Philip--who were ever ready to guide the +colonists to the haunts of their countrymen. There were individual +Indians who had pride of character and great nobility of nature--men +who, through their virtues, are venerated even by the race which has +supplanted their tribes. They had their Washingtons, their Franklins, +and their Howards. But Indian nature is human nature, with all its +frailty and humiliation. The great mass of the common Indians were low +and degraded men. Almost any of them were ready for a price, and that +an exceedingly small one, to betray their nearest friends. + +An Indian would sometimes be taken prisoner, and immediately, in the +continuance of the same battle, with his musket still hot from the +conflict, he would guide the English to the retreats of his friends, +and engage, apparently with the greatest zeal, in firing upon them. In +the narrative given by Colonel Benjamin Church, one of the heroes of +these wars, he writes, speaking of himself in the third person, + + "When he took any number of prisoners, he would pick out + some, and tell them that he took a particular fancy to + them, and had chosen them for himself to make soldiers of, + and if any would behave themselves well he would do well by + them, and they should be his men, and not sold out of the + country. + + "If he perceived they looked surly, and his Indian soldiers + called them treacherous dogs, as some of them would + sometimes do, all the notice he would take of it would only + be to clap them on the back and say, 'Come, come, you look + wild and surly, and mutter; but that signifies nothing. + These, my soldiers, were a little while ago as wild and + surly as you are now. By the time you have been one day with + me, you will love me too, and be as brisk as any of them.' + + "And it proved so; for there was none of them but, after + they had been a little while with him, and seen his + behavior, and how cheerful and successful his men were, + would be as ready to pilot him to any place where the + Indians dwelt or haunted, though their own fathers or + nearest relations should be among them, as any of his own + men." + +Such a character we can not but despise, and yet such, with +exceptions, was the character of the common Indian. That magnanimity +which at times has shed immortal brilliance upon humanity is a rare +virtue, even in civilized life; in the savage it is still more rare. + +Philip, in the retreat to which he had now escaped, was again betrayed +by one of his renegade countrymen. The English, numbering sixteen +hundred, immediately resumed active hostilities, and after having +ravaged the country directly around them, burning some wigwams, +putting some Indians to death, and taking many captives, broke up +their encampment and commenced their march. It was early in February +that Major Winslow put his army in motion to pursue Philip. As the +English drew near the swamp, Philip, conscious of his inability to +oppose so formidable a force, immediately set his wigwams on fire, +and, with all his warriors, disappeared in the depths of the +wilderness. As it was entirely uncertain in what direction the savages +would emerge from the forest to kindle anew the flames of war, the +troops retraced their steps toward Boston. The Connecticut soldiers +had already returned to their homes. + +On the 10th of February, 1676, the Indians, with whoop and yell, burst +from the forest upon the beautiful settlement of Lancaster. This was +one of the most remote of the frontier towns, some fifty miles west of +Boston, on the Nashua River. The plantation, ten miles in length and +eight in breadth, had been purchased of the Nashaway Indians, with the +stipulation that the English should not molest the Indians in their +hunting, fishing, or planting places. For several years the colonists +and the Indians lived together in entire harmony, mutually benefiting +each other. There were between fifty and sixty families in the town, +embracing nearly three hundred inhabitants. They had noticed some +suspicious circumstances on the part of the Indians who were dwelling +around them, and they had sent their pastor, the Rev. Mr. Rowlandson, +to Boston, to seek assistance for the defense of the town. He had +taken the precaution before he left to convert his house into a +bullet-proof fortress, and had garrisoned it for the protection of his +family during his absence. + +The savages, fifteen hundred in number, during the darkness of the +night stationed themselves at different points, from whence they +could, at an appointed signal, attack the town at the same moment in +five different quarters. There were less than a hundred persons in the +town capable of bearing arms, the remainder being women and children. +The savages thus prepared to overpower them fifteen to one, and, +making the assault by surprise, felt sure of an easy victory. + +Just as the sun was rising the signal was given. In an instant every +heart was congealed with terror as the awful war-whoop resounded +through the forest. It was a cold winter's morning, and the wind swept +bleakly over the whitened plains. Every house was immediately +surrounded, the torch applied, and, as the flames drove the inmates +from their doors, they fell pierced by innumerable bullets, and the +tomahawk and the scalping-knife finished the dreadful work. There were +several garrison houses in the town, where most of the inhabitants had +taken refuge, and where they were able, for a time, to beat off their +assailants. All who were not thus sheltered immediately fell into the +hands of their foes. Between fifty and sixty were either slain or +taken captive. The unhappy inmates of the garrisons looked out through +their port-holes upon the conflagration and plunder of their homes, +the mutilated corpses of their friends, and the wretched band of +captives strongly bound and awaiting their fate. + +There were forty-one persons in the Rev. Mr. Rowlandson's house. They +all defended it valiantly, and no Indian dared expose himself within +gun-shot of their port-holes. Still, the savages, in a body, prepared +for the assault. The house was situated upon the brow of a hill. Some +of the Indians got behind the hill, others filled the barn, and others +sheltered themselves behind stones and stumps, and any other +breastwork, from which they could reach the house with their bullets. +For two hours, fifteen hundred savages kept up an incessant firing, +aiming at the windows and the port-holes. Several in the house were +thus wounded. + +After many unsuccessful attempts to fire the house, they at length +succeeded in pushing a cart loaded with hay and other combustible +materials, all in flames, against the rear of the house. All the +efforts of the garrison to extinguish the fire were unavailing, and +the building was soon in a blaze. As the flames rapidly rolled up the +wall and over the roof, the savages raised shouts of exultation, which +fell as a death-knell upon the hearts of those who had now no +alternative but to be consumed in the flames or to surrender +themselves to the merciless foe. The bullets were still rattling +against the house, and fifteen hundred warriors were greedily +watching to riddle with balls any one who should attempt to escape. +The flames were crackling and roaring around the besieged, and their +only alternative was to perish in the fire, or to go out and meet the +bullet and the tomahawk of the savage. When the first forks of flame +touched the flesh, goaded by torture to delirium, they rushed from the +door. A wild whoop of triumph rose from the savages, and, pouring a +volley of bullets upon the group, they fell upon them with gleaming +knives. + +Many were instantly killed and scalped. All the men were thus +massacred; twenty of the women and children were taken captives. Mrs. +Rowlandson had two children, a son and a daughter, by her side, and +another daughter about six years of age, sick and emaciate, in her +arms. Her sister was also with her, with several children. No less +than seventeen of Rev. Mr. Rowlandson's family and connections were in +this melancholy group. + +As many dropped dead around Mrs. Rowlandson, cut down by the storm of +bullets, one bullet pierced her side, and another passed through the +hand and the bowels of the sick child she held in her arms. One of her +sister's children, a fine boy, fell helpless upon the ground, having +his thigh-bone shattered by a ball. A sturdy Indian, seeing that the +poor child was thus disabled, buried his tomahawk in his brain and +stripped off his scalp. The frantic mother rushed toward her child, +when a bullet pierced her bosom, and she fell lifeless upon his +mangled corpse. The savages immediately stripped all the clothing from +the dead, and, having finished their work of conflagration and +plunder, plunged into the wilderness, dragging their wretched captives +along with them. The beautiful town was left in ruins. + +The victors, with shouts of exultation, marched about a mile, and +encamped for the night upon a hill which overlooked the smouldering +dwellings of their foes. Here was enacted one of the wildest scenes of +barbarian bacchanals. Enormous fires were built, which, with roaring, +crackling flame, illumined for leagues around the sombre forest. +Fifteen hundred savages, delirious with victory, and prodigal of their +immense booty of oxen, cows, sheep, swine, calves, and fowl, reveled +in such a feast as they had hardly dreamed of before. Cattle were +roasted whole and eagerly devoured, with dances and with shouts which +made the welkin ring. With wastefulness characteristic of the +Indians, they took no thought for the morrow, but slaughtered the +animals around them in mere recklessness, and, when utterly satiated +with the banquet, the ground was left strewed with smoking and savory +viands sufficient to feed an army. + +The night was cold; the ground was covered with snow, and a piercing +wind swept the icy eminence. Mrs. Rowlandson, holding her wounded and +moaning child in her arms, and with the group of wretched captives +around her, sat during the long hours of the dreadful night, shivering +with cold, appalled at the awful fate which had befallen her and her +family, and endeavoring in vain to soothe the anguish of her dying +daughter. "This was the dolefullest night," she exclaims in her +affecting narrative, "that my eyes ever saw. Oh, the roaring and +singing, dancing and yelling of those black creatures in the night, +which made the place a lively resemblance of hell." + +The next morning the Indians commenced their departure into the +wilderness. Mrs. Rowlandson toiled along on foot, with her dying child +in her arms. The poor little girl was in extreme anguish, and often +cried out with pain. At length the mother became so exhausted that +she fell fainting to the ground. The Indians then placed her upon a +horse, and again gave her her child to carry. But the horse was +furnished with neither saddle nor bridle, and, in going down a steep +hill, stumbled, and they both were thrown over his neck. This incident +was greeted by the savages with shouts of laughter. To add to their +sufferings, it now began to snow. All the day long the storm wailed +through the tree-tops, and the snow was sifted down upon their path. +The woe-stricken captives toiled along until night, when the Indians +again encamped upon the open ground. + + "And now," writes Mrs. Rowlandson, "I must sit in the snow + by a little fire, and a few boughs behind me, with my sick + child in my lap, and calling much for water, being now, + through the wound, fallen into a violent fever. My own + wound, also, growing so stiff that I could scarce sit down + or rise up, yet so it must be that I must sit all this cold + winter's night upon the cold snowy ground, with my sick + child in my arms, looking that every hour would be the last + of its life, and having no Christian friend near me either + to comfort or help me." + +In the morning the Indians resumed their journey, marching, as was +their custom, in single file through trails in the forest. A humane +Indian mounted a horse and took Mrs. Rowlandson and her child behind +him. All the day long the poor little sufferer moaned with pain, while +the savages were constantly threatening to knock the child in the head +if she did not cease her moaning. In the evening they arrived at an +Indian village called Wenimesset. Here, upon a luxuriant meadow upon +the banks of the River Ware, within the limits of the present town of +New Braintree, the savages had established their head-quarters. It was +about thirty-six miles from Lancaster. A large number of savages were +assembled at this place, and they remained here for several days, +gathering around their council fires, planning new expeditions, and +inflaming their passions with war dances and the most frantic revels. +The Indians treated their captives with comparative kindness. No +violence or disrespect was offered to their persons. They reared a +rude wigwam for Mrs. Rowlandson, where she sat for five days and +nights almost alone, watching her dying child. At last, on the night +of the 18th of February, the little sufferer breathed her last, at the +age of six years and five months. The Indians took the corpse from the +mother and buried it, and then allowed her to see the grave. + +[Illustration: CAPTIVITY OF MRS. ROWLANDSON.] + +When Mrs. Rowlandson was driven from the flames of her dwelling, a +Narraganset Indian was the first to grasp her; he consequently claimed +her as his property. Her children were caught by different savages, +and thus became the slaves of their captors. The Indians, by the law +of retaliation, were perfectly justified in making slaves of their +captives. The human mind can not withhold its assent from the justice +of the verdict, "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." The +English made all their captives slaves, and women and children were +sold to all the horrors of West Indian plantation bondage. The +Narraganset Indian who owned Mrs. Rowlandson soon sold her to a +celebrated chieftain named Quinnapin, a Narraganset sachem, who had +married, for one of his three wives, Wetamoo, of whom we have +heretofore spoken. Quinnapin is represented as a "young, lusty sachem, +and a very great rogue." It will be remembered that Wetamoo, queen of +the Pocasset Indians, was the widow of Alexander and sister of +Wootonekanuske, the wife of Philip. The English clergyman's wife was +assigned to Queen Wetamoo as her dressing-maid. The Indian +slaveholders paid but little regard to family relations. Mrs. +Rowlandson's daughter Mary was sold for a gun by a _praying Indian_, +who first chanced to grasp her. The Christian Indians joined in this +war against the whites, and shared in all the emoluments of the slave +traffic which it introduced. Mary was ten years of age, a child of +cultured mind and lovely character. She was purchased by an Indian who +resided in the town where the Indian army was now encamped. When the +poor slave mother met her slave child, Mary was so overwhelmed with +anguish as to move even the sympathies of her stoical masters; their +several owners consequently forbade their meeting any more. + +After a few days, the warriors scattered on various expeditions of +devastation and blood. Mrs. Rowlandson was left at Wenimesset. Her +days and nights were passed in lamentations, tears, and prayers. One +morning, quite to her surprise, her son William entered her wigwam, +where she was employed by her mistress in menial services. He belonged +to a master who resided at a small plantation of Indians about six +miles distant. His master had gone with a war party to make an attack +upon Medfield, and his mistress, with woman's tender heart, had +brought him to see his mother. The interview was short and full of +anguish. + +The next day the Indians returned from the destruction of Medfield. +Their approach through the forest was heralded by the most demoniac +roaring and whooping, as the whole savage band thus announced their +victory. All the Indians in the little village assembled to meet them. +The warriors had slain twenty of the English, and brought home several +captives and many scalps. Each one told his story, and recapitulated +the numbers of the slain; and, at the close of each narrative, the +whole multitude, with the most frantic gestures, set up a shout which +echoed far and wide over mountain and valley. + +There were now at Wenimesset nine captives, Mrs. Rowlandson, Mrs. +Joslin, and seven children from different families. Mrs. Joslin had an +infant two years old in her arms, and was expecting every hour to give +birth to another child. + +The Indians now deemed it necessary to move farther into the +wilderness. The poor woman, in her deplorable condition, did nothing +but weep, and the Indians, deeming her an incumbrance, resolved to +get rid of her. They placed her upon the ground with her child, +divested her entirely of clothing, and for an hour sang and danced +around their victim with wildest exultation. One then approached and +buried his hatchet in her brain. She fell lifeless. Another blow put +an end to the sufferings of her child. They then built a huge fire, +placed the two bodies upon it, and they were consumed to ashes. All +the captive children were assembled to witness this tragedy, and were +assured that if they made any attempt to escape from slavery, a +similar fate awaited them. The unhappy woman, during all this awful +scene, shed not a tear, but with clasped hands, meekly praying, she +silently and almost joyfully surrendered herself to her fate. + +All the day long, the Indians, leading their captives with them, +traveled through the desolate wilderness. A drizzling rain was +falling, and their feet slumped through the wet snow at every step. +Late in the afternoon they encamped, with no protection from the +weather but a few boughs of trees. Mrs. Rowlandson was separated from +her children; she was faint with hunger, sore, and utterly exhausted +with travel, and she sat down upon the snowy ground and wept +bitterly. She opened her Bible for solace, and her eye fell upon the +cheering words, + + "Refrain thy voice from weeping and thine eyes from tears, + for thy work shall be rewarded, and they shall come again + from the land of the enemy." + +Here, in this wretched encampment, the Indians, their families being +with them, remained for four days. But some of their scouts brought in +intelligence that some English soldiers were in the vicinity. The +Indians immediately, in the greatest apparent consternation, packed up +their things and fled. They retreated farther into the wilderness in +the most precipitate confusion. Women carried their children. Men took +upon their shoulders their aged and decrepit mothers. One very heavy +Indian, who was sick, was carried upon a bier. Mrs. Rowlandson +endeavored to count the Indians, but they were in such a tumultuous +throng, hurrying through the forest, that she was quite unable to +ascertain their numbers. It will be remembered that Mrs. Rowlandson's +side had been pierced by a bullet at the destruction of Lancaster. The +wound was much inflamed, and, being worn down with pain and +exhaustion, she found it exceedingly difficult to keep pace with her +captors. In the distribution of their burdens they had given her two +quarts of parched meal to carry. Fainting with hunger, she implored of +her mistress one spoonful of the meal, that she might mix it with +water to appease the cravings of appetite. Her supplication was +denied. + +Soon they arrived at Swift River, somewhere probably within the limits +of the present town of Enfield. The stream was swollen with the +melting snows of spring. The Indians, with their hatchets, immediately +cut down some dry trees, with which they made a raft, and thus crossed +the stream. The raft was so heavily laden that many of the Indians +were knee deep in the icy water. Mrs. Rowlandson, however, sat upon +some brush, and thus kept her feet dry. For supper they made a broth +by boiling an old horse's leg in a kettle of water, filling up with +water as often as the kettle was emptied. Mrs. Rowlandson was in such +a starving condition that a cupful of this wretched nutriment seemed +delicious. + +Feeling that they were now safe from attack, they reared some rude +wigwams, and rested for one day. It so happened that the next day was +the Sabbath. The English who were pursuing came to the banks of the +river, saw the smoke of their fires, but for some reason decided not +to attempt to cross the stream. During the day, Wetamoo compelled her +slave to knit some stockings for her. When Mrs. Rowlandson plead that +it was the Sabbath, and promised that if she might be permitted to +keep the sacred day she would do double work on Monday, she was told +to do her work immediately, or she should have her face smashed. The +smashing of a face by an Indian's bludgeon is a serious operation. + +The next morning, Monday, the Indians fired their wigwams, and +continued their retreat through the wilderness toward the Connecticut +River. They traveled as fast as they could all day, fording icy +brooks, until late in the afternoon they came to the borders of a +gloomy swamp, where they again encamped. + + "When we came," writes Mrs. Rowlandson, "to the brow of the + hill that looked toward the swamp, I thought we had come to + a great Indian town. Though there were none but our company, + the Indians appeared as thick as the trees. It seemed as if + there had been a thousand hatchets going at once. If one + looked before there were nothing but Indians, and behind + nothing but Indians, and from either hand, and I myself in + the midst, and no Christian soul near me." + +The next morning the wearisome march was again resumed. Early in the +afternoon they reached the banks of the Connecticut at a spot near +Hadley, where they found the ruins of a small English settlement. Mrs. +Rowlandson had for her food during the day an ear of corn and a small +piece of horse's liver. As she was roasting the liver upon some coals, +an Indian came and snatched half of it away. She was forced to eat the +rest almost raw, lest she should lose that also; and yet her hunger +was so great that it seemed a delicious morsel. They gathered a little +wheat from the fields, which they found frozen in the shocks upon the +icy ground. + +The next morning they commenced ascending the river for a few miles, +where they were to cross to meet King Philip, who, with a large party +of warriors, was encamped on the western bank of the stream. Indians +from all quarters were assembling at that rendezvous, in preparation +for an assault on the Connecticut River towns. When Mrs. Rowlandson's +party arrived at the point of crossing, they encamped for the night. +The opposite shore seemed to be thronged with savage warriors. Mrs. +Rowlandson sat upon the banks of the stream, and gazed with amazement +upon the vast multitude, like swarming bees, crowding the shore. She +had never before seen so many assembled. While she was thus sitting, +to her great surprise, her son approached her. His master had brought +him to the spot. The interview between the woe-stricken mother and her +child was very brief and very sad. They were soon again separated. + +The next morning they commenced crossing the river in canoes. When +Mrs. Rowlandson had crossed, she was received with peculiar kindness. +One Indian gave her two spoonfuls of meal, and another brought her +half a pint of peas. The half-famished captive now thought that her +larder was abundantly stored. She was then conducted to the wigwam of +King Philip. The Wampanoag chieftain received her with the courtesy of +a gentleman, invited her to sit down upon a mat by his side, and +presented her a pipe to smoke with him. He requested her to make a +shirt for his son, and, like a gentleman, paid her for her work. He +invited her to dine with him. They dined upon pancakes made of +parched wheat, beaten and fried in bear's grease. The dinner, though +very frugal, was esteemed very delicious. + +The Indians remained here for several days, preparing for a very +formidable attack on the town of Northampton. During all the time that +Mrs. Rowlandson remained near King Philip, though she was held as a +captive, she was not treated as a slave. She was paid for all the work +that she did. She made a shirt for one of the warriors, and received +for it a generous sirloin of bear's flesh. For another she knit a pair +of stockings, for which she received a quart of peas. With these +savory viands Mrs. Rowlandson prepared a nice dinner, and invited her +master and mistress, Quinnapin and Wetamoo, to dine with her. They +accepted the invitation; but Mrs. Rowlandson did not appreciate the +niceties of Indian etiquette. Wetamoo was a queen, Quinnapin was only +her husband--merely the Prince Albert of Queen Victoria. As there was +but one dish from which both the queen and her husband were to be +served, the haughty Wetamoo deemed herself insulted, and refused to +eat a morsel. + +Philip and his warriors soon departed to make attacks upon the +settlements. The Indians who remained took Mrs. Rowlandson and +several other captives some six miles farther up the river, and then +crossed to the eastern banks. Here they remained for some days, and +here Mrs. Rowlandson had another short interview with her son, which +lacerated still more severely her bleeding heart. The poor boy was +sick and in great pain, and his agonized mother was not permitted to +remain with him to afford him any relief. Of her daughter she could +learn no tidings. Wetamoo, Quinnapin, and Philip were all absent, and +the Indians treated her with great inhumanity, with occasional +caprices of strange and unaccountable kindness. + +One bitter cold day, the Indians all huddled around the fire in the +wigwam, and would not allow her to approach it. Perishing with cold, +she went out and entered another wigwam. Here she was received with +great hospitality; a mat was spread for her, and she was addressed in +words of tender sympathy by the mother of the little barbarian +household, in whose bosom woman's loving heart throbbed warmly. But +soon the Indian to whose care she was intrusted came in search of her, +and amused himself in kicking her all the way home. + +The next day the Indians commenced, for some unknown reason, +wandering back again toward Lancaster. They placed upon this poor +captive's back as heavy a burden as she could bear, and goaded her +along through the wilderness. She forded streams, and climbed steep +hills, and endured hardships which can not be described. Her hunger +was so great that six acorns, which she picked up by the way, she +esteemed a great treasure. + +The night was cold and windy. The Indians erected a wigwam, and were +soon gathered around a glowing fire in the centre of it. The interior +presented a bright, warm, and cheerful scene, as Mrs. Rowlandson +entered to warm her shivering frame. She had been compelled to search +around to bring dry fuel for the fire. She was, however, ordered +instantly to leave the hut, the Indians saying that there was no room +for her at the fire. Mrs. Rowlandson hesitated about going out to pass +the night in the freezing air, when one of the Indians drew his knife, +and she was compelled to retire. There were several wigwams around; +the poor captive went from one to another, but from all she was +repelled with abuse and derision. + +At last an old Indian took pity upon her, and told her to come in. +His wife received her with compassion, gave her a warm seat by the +fire, some ground-nuts for her supper, and placed a bundle under her +head for a pillow. With these accommodations the English clergyman's +wife felt that she was luxuriously entertained, and passed the night +in comfort and sweet slumbers. The next day the journey was continued. +As the Indians were binding a heavy burden upon Mrs. Rowlandson's +shoulders, she complained that it hurt her severely, and that the skin +was off her back. A surly Indian delayed not strapping on the load, +merely remarking, dryly, that it would be of but little consequence if +her head were off too. + +The Indians now entered a region of the forest where there was a very +heavy growth of majestic trees, and the underbrush was so dense as to +be almost impenetrable. Plunging into this as a covert, they reared +their wigwams, and remained here, in an almost starving condition, for +fourteen days. The anxious mother inquired of an Indian if he could +inform her what had become of her boy. The rascal very coolly told +her, that he might torture her by the falsehood, that his master had +roasted the lad, and that he himself had been furnished with a steak, +and that it was very delicious meat. They also told her, in the same +spirit, that her husband had been taken by the Indians and slain. + +Thus the Indians continued for several weeks wandering about from one +place to another, without any apparent object, and most of the time in +a miserable, half-famished condition. A more joyless, dismal life +imagination can hardly conceive. One day thirty Indians approached the +encampment on horseback, all dressed in the garments which they had +stripped from the English whom they had slain. They wore hats, white +neckcloths, and sashes about their waists. They brought a message from +Quinnapin that Mrs. Rowlandson must go to the foot of Mount Wachusett, +where the Indian warriors were in council, deliberating with some +English commissioners about the redemption of the captives. "My heart +was so heavy before," writes Mrs. Rowlandson, "that I could scarce +speak or go in the path, and yet now so light that I could run. My +strength seemed to come again, and to recruit my feeble knees and +aching heart. Yet it pleased them to go but one mile that night, and +there we staid two days." + +They then journeyed along slowly, the whole party suffering extremely +from hunger. A little broth, made from boiling the old and dry feet of +a horse, was considered a great refreshment. They at length came to a +small Indian village, where they found in captivity four English +children, and one of them was a child of Mrs. Rowlandson's sister. +They were all gaunt and haggard with famine. Sadly leaving these +suffering little ones, the journey was continued until they arrived +near Mount Wachusett. Here King Philip met them. Kindly, and with the +courtesy of a polished gentleman, he took the hand of the unhappy +captive, and said, "In two weeks more you shall be your own mistress +again." In this encampment of warriors she was placed again in the +hands of her master and mistress, Quinnapin and Wetamoo. Of this +renowned queen Mrs. Rowlandson says: + + "A severe and proud dame she was, bestowing every day, in + dressing herself, nearly as much time as any of the gentry + in the land, powdering her hair and painting her face, going + with her necklaces, with jewels in her ears. When she had + dressed herself, her work was to make girdles of wampum and + beads." + +Wampum was the money in use among the Indians. It consisted of +beautiful shells very curiously strung together. "Their beads," says +John Josselyn, "are their money. Of these there are two sorts, blue +beads and white beads. The first is their gold, the last their silver. +These they work out of certain shells so cunningly that neither Jew +nor Devil can counterfeit. They drill them and string them, and make +many curious works with them to adorn the persons of their sagamores +and principal men and young women, as belts, girdles, tablets, borders +of their women's hair, bracelets, necklaces, and links to hang in +their ears." + +Our poor captive, having returned to the wigwam of her master and +mistress, was treated with much comparative kindness. She was received +hospitably at the fire. A mat was given to her for a bed, and a rug to +spread over her. She was employed in knitting stockings and making +under garments for her mistress. While here, two Indians came with +propositions from the government at Boston for the purchase of her +ransom. The news overwhelmed Mrs. Rowlandson with emotions too deep +for smiles, and she could only give utterance to her feelings in sobs +and flooding tears. + +The sachems now met to consult upon the subject. They called Mrs. +Rowlandson before them, and, after a long and very serious +conference, agreed to receive twenty pounds ($100) for her ransom. One +of the praying Indians was sent to Boston with this proposition. + +While this matter was in progress, the Indians went out on several +expeditions, and returned with much plunder and many scalps. One of +the savages had a necklace made of the fingers of the English whom he +had slain. + +It was the custom of the Indians not to remain long in any one place, +lest they should be overtaken by the bands of the colonists which were +every where in pursuit of them. The latter part of April, after having +perpetrated enormous destruction in Sudbury and other towns, the +warriors returned to their rendezvous elated, yet trembling, as they +knew that the English forces were in search of them. Immediately +breaking up their encampment, they retreated several miles into the +wilderness, and there built an enormous tent of boughs, sufficient to +hold one hundred men. + +Here the Indians gathered from all quarters, and they had a feast and +a great dance. Mrs. Rowlandson learned from a captive English woman +whom she found here that her sister and her own daughter were with +some Indians at but a mile's distance. Though she had seen neither +for ten weeks, she was not permitted to go near them. The poor woman +plead with anguish of entreaty to be permitted to see her child, but +she could make no impression upon their obdurate hearts. + +One Sabbath afternoon, just as the sun was going down, a colonist, Mr. +John Hoar, a man of extraordinary intrepidity of spirit, with a firm +step approached the encampment, guided by two friendly Indians, and +under the very frail protection of a barbarian flag of truce. The +savages, as soon as they saw him, seized their guns, and rushed as if +to kill him. They shot over his head and under his horse, before him +and behind him, seeing how near they could make the bullets whistle by +his ears without hitting him. They dragged him from his horse, pushed +him this way and that way, and treated him with all imaginable +violence without inflicting any bodily harm. This they did to frighten +him; but John Hoar was not a man to be frightened, and the savages +admired his imperturbable courage. + +The chiefs built their council fire, and held a long conference with +Mr. Hoar. They then allowed him a short interview with Mrs. +Rowlandson. He brought her messages of affection from her distracted +husband, and cheered her with the hope that her release would +eventually, though not immediately, be obtained. She plead earnestly +with the Indians for permission to return with Mr. Hoar, promising to +send back the price of her ransom; but they declared that she should +not go. + +After dinner the Indians made arrangements for one of their most +imposing dances. It was a barbarian cotillon, performed by eight +partners in the presence of admiring hundreds. Queen Wetamoo and her +husband, Quinnapin, were conspicuous in this dance. He was dressed in +a white linen shirt, with a broad border of lace around the skirt. To +this robe silver buttons were profusely attached. He wore white cotton +stockings, with shillings dangling and clinking from the garters. A +turban composed of girdles of wampum ornamented his head, while broad +belts of wampum passed over his shoulders and encircled his waist. + +Wetamoo was dressed for the ball in a horseman's coat of coarse, +shaggy cloth. This was beautifully decorated with belts of wampum from +the waist upward. Her arms, from the elbows to the wrist, were clasped +with bracelets. A great profusion of necklaces covered her +well-rounded shoulders and ample bosom. Her ears were laden with +jewels. She wore red stockings and white shoes. Her face was painted a +brilliant crimson, and her hair powdered white as snow. For music the +Indians sang, while one beat time upon a brass kettle. + +Soon after the dance, King Philip, who was there with his warriors, +but who appears to have taken no part in the carousals, sent for Mrs. +Rowlandson, and said to her, with a smiling face, "Would you like to +hear some good news? I have a pleasant word for you. You are to go +home to-morrow." Arrangements had been finally made through Mr. Hoar +for her ransom. + +On the next morning Mrs. Rowlandson, accompanied by Mr. Hoar and the +two friendly Indians, commenced her journey through the wilderness +toward Lancaster. She left her two children, her sister, and many +other friends and relatives still in captivity. "In coming along," she +says, "my heart melted into tears more than all the while I was with +them." + +Toward evening they reached the spot where Lancaster once stood. The +place, once so luxuriant and beautiful, presented a dreary aspect of +ruin. The storm of war had swept over it, and had converted all its +attractive homes into smouldering embers. They chanced to find an old +building which had escaped the flames, and here, upon a bed of straw, +they passed the night. With blended emotions of bliss and of anguish, +the bereaved mother journeyed along the next day, and about noon +reached Concord. Here she met many of her friends, who rejoiced with +her in her rescue, and wept with her over the captives who were still +in bondage. They then hurried on to Boston, where she arrived in the +evening, and was received to the arms of her husband, after a +captivity in the wilderness of three months. By great exertions, their +son and daughter were eventually regained. We now return from the +incidents of this captivity to renew the narrative of Philip's war. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE INDIANS VICTORIOUS. + +1677 + +Spies.--Attack upon Medfield.--Suspicions.--Energy of Philip.--An +unpleasant surprise.--A conflagration.--The Indians retire.--Philip's +letter.--Indian warfare.--An ambuscade.--A decoy.--The town +burned.--Monoco's threats.--Monoco hung.--Destruction of Warwick.--Alarm +from the Indians.--Exultation of the Indians.--Defeat of the Plymouth +army.--Nanuntenoo.--Plan of action.--A stratagem, and its +success.--Defeat certain.--Heroic defense.--An escape.--Escape of the +Indians.--Their mode of accomplishing it.--Terrible slaughter.--Storming +of Providence.--Roger Williams.--Nanuntenoo's reply.--Cowardly +sentinels.--Alarm of the chief.--Flight of Nanuntenoo.--His +capture.--Young America rebuked.--Execution of the sachem.--Statement +of Cotton Mather.--Character of Nanuntenoo.--Peril of the +settlers.--Mutual disasters.--Philip's affection for Taunton.--A +family save a town.--Captain Wadsworth.--Attempt to save Sudbury.--The +woods fired.--The English conquered.--A monument erected.--Delight +in torture.--Mode of torture.--Attack upon Scituate.--Heroism of +Mrs. Ewing.--Attack upon Bridgewater.--Valor of the English +triumphs.--Deplorable condition of the English.--Sudden attack.--The +Indians vanquished.--Escape of two boys.--A surprise party.--Its perfect +success.--Slaughter of the Indians.--Burning the wigwams.--Refreshment +after battle.--Alarm of the party.--Terrible peril.--Bravery of Captain +Holyoke.--Heroic action.--Dawn of hope.--Escape.--Rage of the +Indians.--Assault upon Hatfield.--Unexpected assistance.--Heroism.--A +sudden appearance.--Attack upon Hadley.--Superstition.--General +Goffe.--Old tradition.--Union of forces.--Philip's stratagem.--It +recoils.--Hostility of the Mohawks.--Turn of the tide.--Dismay of +the Indians.--Extract from Cotton Mather.--Search for King Philip.--An +interview with the Indians.--The Indians desire peace.--Interview with +the governor.--Captain Church visits Awashonks.--A perilous +interview.--Rage of a warrior.--Proposals for an alliance.--Embassadors +to the governor.--The journey interrupted.--Awashonks visits Major +Bradford.--Proposals for an alliance.--Indian festivities.--Sagacious +care.--Captain Church to visit the queen.--A luxurious supper.--Bill +of fare.--A huge bonfire.--Indian dance.--Oath of fidelity.--Selection +of warriors.--Grief of Philip.--Undying resolution.--Capture of +Indians.--Continued success.--Approach of Philip's army.--Preparations +for his reception.--He is received by Bridgewater lads.--Narrow escape +of Philip.--His wife and child captured.--The Saconets continue the +pursuit.--Treachery of the Indians.--The reconnoitering +parties.--Description by Captain Church.--Captain Church's +adventures.--Capture of prisoners.--The captives make merry in the +pound. + + +The Massachusetts government now employed two friendly Indians to act +as spies. With consummate cunning they mingled with the hostile +Indians, and made a faithful report to their employers of all the +anticipated movements respecting which they could obtain any +information. + +Eleven days after the destruction of Lancaster, on the 21st of +February, the Indians made an attack upon Medfield. This was a very +bold measure. The town was but seventeen miles from Boston. Several +garrison houses had been erected, in which all the inhabitants could +take refuge in case of alarm. Two hundred soldiers were stationed in +the town, and sentinels kept a very careful watch. On the Sabbath, as +the people were returning from public worship, one or two Indians were +seen on the neighboring hills, which led the people to suspect that an +assault was contemplated. The night was moonless, starless, and of +Egyptian darkness. The Indians, perfectly acquainted with the +location of every building and every inch of the ground, crept +noiselessly, three hundred in number, each to his appointed post. They +spread themselves over all parts of the town, skulking behind every +fence, and rock, and tree. They concealed themselves in orchards, +sheds, and barns. King Philip himself was with them, guiding, with +amazing skill and energy, all the measures for the attack. Not a +voice, or a footfall, or the rustling of a twig was heard, as the +savages stood in immovable and breathless silence, waiting the signal +for the onset. The torch was ready to be lighted; the musket loaded +and primed; the knife and tomahawk sharp and gleaming. + +At the earliest dawn of day one shrill war-whoop was heard, clear and +piercing. It drew forth the instant response of three hundred voices +in unearthly yells. Men, women, and children sprang from their beds in +a phrensy of terror, and, rushing in their night-clothes from their +homes, endeavored to reach the garrison houses. But the leaping savage +was every where with his torch, and soon the blaze of fifty houses and +barns shed its lurid light over the dark morning. Fortunately, many of +the inhabitants were in the garrisons. Of those who were not, but few +escaped. The bullet and the tomahawk speedily did their work, and but +a few moments elapsed ere fifty men, women, and children were +weltering in blood. Though they promptly laid one half of the town in +ashes, the garrison houses were too strong for them to take. During +the progress of this awful tragedy King Philip was seen mounted on a +splendid black horse, leaping the fences, inspiriting his warriors, +and exulting in the havoc he was accomplishing. + +At length the soldiers, who were scattered in different parts of the +town, began gradually to combine their strength, and the savages, +learning that re-enforcements were also approaching from Sudbury, were +compelled to retire. They retreated across a bridge in the southwest +part of the town, in the direction of Medway, keeping up a resolute +firing upon their foes who pursued them. Having passed the stream, +they set fire to the bridge to cut off pursuit. In exultation over +their victory, Philip wrote, probably by the hand of some Christian +Indian, the following letter to his enemies, which he attached to one +of the charred and smouldering posts of the bridge. + + "Know by this paper that the Indians that thou hast provoked + to wrath and anger will war this twenty-one years, if you + will. There are many Indians yet. We come three hundred at + this time. You must consider the Indians lose nothing but + their life. You must lose your fair houses and cattle." + +The Indians now wandered about in comparatively small bands, making +attacks wherever they thought that there was any chance of success, +and marking their path with flames and blood. Without a moment's +warning, and with hideous yells, they would dash from the forest upon +the lonely settlements, and as suddenly retreat before the least +effectual show of resistance. Weymouth, within eleven miles of Boston, +was assailed, and several houses and barns burnt. They ventured even +into the town of Plymouth, setting fire to a house and killing eleven +persons. + +On the 13th of March, the Indians, in a strong party four hundred in +number, made an attack upon Groton. The inhabitants, alarmed by the +fate of Lancaster, had retreated into five garrison houses. Four of +these houses were within musket-shot of each other, but one was more +than a mile distant from the rest. The savages very adroitly formed, +in the night, two ambuscades, one before and one behind the four +united garrisons. Early in the morning they sent a small party of +Indians to show themselves upon a hill as a decoy. The inhabitants, +supposing that the Indians, unaware of their preparations for +resistance, had come in small numbers, very imprudently left two of +the garrisons and pursued them. The Indians retreated with +precipitation. The English eagerly pursued, when suddenly the party in +ambush rose and poured a deadly fire upon them. In the mean time, the +other party in ambush in rear of the garrison rushed to the palisades +to cut off the retreat of the English. Covered, however, by the guns +of the two other garrisons, they succeeded in regaining shelter. A +similar attempt was made to destroy the solitary garrison, but it was +alike unsuccessful. The Indians, however, had the whole town except +the garrisons to themselves. They burned to the ground forty +dwelling-houses, the church, and all the barns and out-houses. The +cattle were fortunately saved, being inclosed within palisades under +the protection of the garrisons. + +A notorious Nipmuck chief, Monoco, called by the English _One-eyed +John_, led this expedition. While the church was in flames, Monoco +shouted to the men in the garrison, assailing them with every variety +of Indian vituperative abuse. He had been so much with the English +that he understood their language very well. + +"What will you do for a place to pray in," said he, "now that we have +burned your meeting-house? We will burn Chelmsford, Concord, +Watertown, Cambridge, Charlestown, Roxbury, and Boston. I have four +hundred and eighty warriors with me; we will show you what we will +do." + +But a few months after this Monoco was taken prisoner, led through the +streets of Boston with a rope round his neck, and hanged at the town's +end. + +On the 17th of March, Warwick, in Rhode Island, was almost entirely +destroyed. The next day another band of Indians attacked Northampton, +on the Connecticut. But by this time most of the towns had fortified +themselves with palisades and garrison houses. The Indians, after a +fierce conflict, were repelled from Northampton with a loss of eleven +men, while the English lost but three. + +On the Sabbath of the 26th of March, as the people of Marlborough +were assembled at public worship, the alarming cry was shouted in at +the door, "The Indians! the Indians!" An indescribable scene of +confusion instantly ensued, as the whole congregation rushed out to +seek shelter in their garrison. The terror and confusion were awfully +increased by a volley of bullets, which the Indians, as they came +rushing like demons over the plain, poured in upon the flying +congregation. Fortunately, the savages were at such a distance that +none were wounded excepting one man, who was carrying an aged and +infirm woman. His arm was broken by a ball. All, however, succeeded in +gaining the garrison house, which was near at hand. The meeting-house +and most of the dwelling-houses were burned. The orchards were cut +down, and all other ruin perpetrated which savage ingenuity could +devise. + +The Indians, exultant with success, encamped that night in the woods +not far from Marlborough, and kept the forest awake with the uproar of +their barbarian wassail. The colonists immediately assembled a small +band of brave men, fell upon them by surprise in the midst of their +carousals, shot forty and dispersed the rest. + +On the same day in which Marlborough was destroyed, a very disastrous +defeat befell a party of soldiers belonging to the old Plymouth +colony. Nanuntenoo, son of the renowned Miantunnomah, was now the head +chief of the Narragansets. He was fired with a terrible spirit of +revenge against the English, and could not forget the swamp fight in +which so many of his bravest warriors had perished, and where hundreds +of his women and children had been cut to pieces and burned to ashes +in their wigwams. He himself had taken a large share in this fierce +fight, and with difficulty escaped. This chieftain, a man of great +intrepidity and sagacity, had gathered a force of nearly two thousand +Indians upon the banks of the Pawtucket River, within the limits of +the present town of Seekonk. They were preparing for an overwhelming +attack upon the town of Plymouth. + +The colonists, by no means aware of the formidableness of the force +assembled, dispatched Captain Pierce from Scituate with seventy men, +fifty of whom were English and twenty Indians, to break up the +encampment of the savages. Nanuntenoo, informed of their movements, +prepared with great strategetic skill to meet them. He concealed a +large portion of his force in ambush on the western side of the river; +another body of warriors he secreted in the forest on the eastern +banks. As Captain Pierce approached the stream, a small party of +Indians, as a decoy, showed themselves on the western side, and +immediately retreated, as if surprised and alarmed. The colonists +eagerly crossed the stream and pursued them. + +The stratagem of the wily savage was thus perfectly successful. The +colonists had advanced but a few rods from the banks, near Pawtucket +Falls, when the Indians, several hundreds in number, rose from their +ambush, and rushed like an avalanche upon them. With bravery almost +unparalleled in Indian warfare, they sought no covert, but rushed upon +their foes in the open field face to face. They knew that the +colonists were now drawn into a trap from which there was no possible +escape. As soon as the battle commenced, the Indians who were in the +rear, on the eastern bank of the narrow stream, sprang up from their +ambush, and, crowding the shore, cut off all hope of retreat, and +commenced a heavy fire upon their foe. Utter defeat was now certain. +The only choice was between instantaneous death by the bullet or +death by lingering torture. Captain Pierce was a valiant man, and +instantly adopted his heroic resolve. He formed his men in a circle, +back to back, and with a few words inspired them with his own +determination to sell his life as dearly as possible. Thus they +continued the fight until nearly every one of the colonial party was +slain. But one white man escaped, and he through the singular sagacity +of one of the friendly Indians. + +Captain Pierce soon fell, having his thigh bone shattered by a bullet. +A noble Indian by the name of Amos would not desert him; he stood +firmly by his side, loading and firing, while his comrades fell +thickly around him. When nearly all his friends had fallen, and the +survivors were mingled with their foes in the smoke and confusion of +the fight, he observed that all the hostile Indians had painted their +faces black. Wetting some gunpowder, he smeared his own face so as to +resemble the adverse party; then, giving the hint to an Englishman, he +pretended to pursue him with an uplifted tomahawk. The Englishman +threw down his gun and fled, but a few steps in advance of his +pursuer. The Narragansets, seeing that the Indian could not fail to +overtake and dispatch the unarmed fugitive, did not interfere. Thus +they entered the forest, and both escaped. + +A friendly Indian, pursued by one of Nanuntenoo's men, took shelter +behind the roots of a fallen tree. The Indian who had pursued him +waited, with his gun cocked and primed, for the fugitive to start +again from his retreat, knowing that he would not dare to remain there +long, when hundreds of Indians were almost surrounding him. The roots +of the tree, newly-turned up, contained a large quantity of adhering +earth, which entirely covered the fugitive from view. Cautiously he +bored a small hole through the earth, took deliberate aim at his +pursuer, shot him down, and then escaped. + +Another of the Indian allies, in his flight, took refuge behind a +large rock. This was a perfect shelter for a moment, but certain death +awaited him in the end. His pursuer, with loaded musket, sure of his +victim, quietly waited to see him start again. In this deplorable +condition the beleaguered Indian thought of the following shrewd +expedient. Putting his cap upon his gun, he raised it very gradually +above the rock, as if he were endeavoring to peep over to discover the +situation of his enemy. The sharp-eyed Narraganset instantly leveled +his gun and sent a bullet through the cap, and, as he supposed, +through the head of his foe. The fugitive sprang from his covert, and, +advancing toward his unarmed enemy, shot him dead. Thus was escape +effected. With the exception of one Englishman and five or six +friendly Indians, all the rest were cut down. The wounded were +reserved for the horrible doom of torture. + +The Indians were exceedingly elated by this signal victory, and their +shouts of exultation were loud and long-repeated. The next morning, +with yells of triumph, they crossed the river, made a rush upon +Seekonk, and burned seventy buildings. The next day they stormed +Providence, and burned thirty houses. These devastations, however, +were not accompanied with much bloodshed, as most of the inhabitants +of Providence and of Seekonk had previously fled to the island of +Rhode Island for protection. + +The heroic Roger Williams, however, remained in Providence. He had +ever been the firm friend of the Indians, and was well acquainted with +the leading chiefs in this war-party. The Indians, while setting fire +to the rest of the town, left his person and property unharmed. +Flushed with success, they assured him that they were confident of +the entire conquest of the country, and of the utter extermination of +the English. Mr. Williams reproached them with their cruelties, and +told them that Massachusetts could raise ten thousand men, and that +even were the Indians to destroy them all, Old England could send over +an equal number every year until the Indians were conquered. +Nanuntenoo proudly and generously replied, + +"We shall be ready for them. But you, Mr. Williams, shall never be +injured, for you are a good man, and have been kind to us." + +Nanuntenoo had about fifteen hundred warriors under his command. +Thinking that the English were very effectually driven from the region +of Seekonk, he very imprudently took but thirty men and went to that +vicinity, hoping to obtain some seed-corn to plant the fields upon the +Connecticut from which the English had been expelled. But the English, +alarmed by the ravages which the Indians were committing in this +region, sent a force consisting of forty-seven Englishmen and eighty +Indians to scour the country. Most of the Indians were Mohegans, under +the command of Oneco, a son of Uncas. + +As this force was approaching Seekonk they encountered two Indians +with their squaws. They instantly shot the Indians and took the squaws +captive. Their prisoners informed them that Nanuntenoo was in a wigwam +at a short distance, with but seven Indians around him. His hut was +erected at the bottom of a hill, upon the brow of which he had +stationed two sentinels. These cowardly savages, when they saw the +English approaching in such force, precipitately fled, without giving +their chieftain any warning. The sachem, from his wigwam, saw their +flight, and sent a third man to the hill-top to ascertain the cause. +As soon as he arrived upon the brow of the hill he saw the glittering +array of more than a hundred men almost directly upon him. Appalled by +the sight, he also fled like his predecessors. Nanuntenoo, amazed by +this conduct, dispatched two more to solve the mystery. These last +proved more faithful to their trust. They came running back in +breathless haste, shouting, "_The English are upon you._" + +Not a moment was to be lost in deliberation. The enemy was already in +sight. Nanuntenoo leaped from his wigwam, and, with the agility of a +deer, bounded over the ground in a hopeless attempt to escape. Nearly +the whole army, English and Indians, like hounds in full cry, eagerly +pressed the chase. + +With amazing speed, the tall, athletic sachem fled along the bank of +the river, seeking a place to ford the stream. In his rapid flight he +threw off his blanket, his silver-laced coat, and his belt of wampum, +so that nothing remained to obstruct his sinewy and finely-moulded +limbs. A Mohegan Indian was in advance of all the rest of the company +in the pursuit. Nanuntenoo plunged into the narrow stream to cross. +His foot slipped upon a stone, and he fell, immersing his gun in the +water. This calamity so disheartened him that he lost all his +strength. His swift-footed pursuer, Monopoide, was immediately upon +him, and grasped him almost as soon as he reached the opposite shore. +The naked and unarmed chief could make no resistance, and, with +stoicism characteristic of his race, submitted to his fate. + +Nanuntenoo was a man of majestic stature, and of bearing as lofty as +if he had been trained in the most haughty of European courts. A young +Englishman, but twenty-one years of age, Robert Staunton, following +Monopoide, was the first one who came up to the Narraganset chieftain +after his capture. Young Staunton, in the pert spirit of Young +America, ventured to question the proud monarch of the Narragansets. +Nanuntenoo, looking disdainfully upon his youthful face, after a short +silence, said, + +"You are too much of a child--you do not understand matters of war. +Let your chief come; him I will answer." + +He was offered life upon condition that he would submit to the +English, and deliver up to them all the Wampanoags in his territory. + +"Let me hear no more of this," he replied, nobly. "I will not +surrender a Wampanoag, nor the paring of a Wampanoag's nail." + +He was taken to Stonington, where he was sentenced to be shot. When +informed of his doom, he replied, in the spirit of an old Roman, + +"I like it well. I shall die before my heart is soft, or before I have +said any thing unworthy of myself." + +He was shot by one of the Indians who were in alliance with the +English; his head was cut off by them, and his body quartered and +burned. The Indians who aided the colonists were always eager for any +work of blood, and considered it a great privilege to enjoy the +pleasures of executioners. They often implored permission to torture +their enemies, and several times the English, to their shame be it +recorded, allowed them to do so. In this case, "The mighty sachem of +Narraganset," writes Cotton Mather, "the English wisely delivered unto +their tawny auxiliaries for them to cut off his head, that so the +alienation between them and the wretches in hostility against us might +become incurable." + +His head, a ghastly trophy of victory, was sent by the Mohegans to the +Common Council at Hartford, in token of their love and fidelity to the +English. The spirit of the times may be inferred from the following +comments upon this transaction in the narrative written by Hubbard: +"This was the confusion of that damned wretch that had often opened +his mouth to blaspheme the name of the living God and those that made +profession thereof." + +We can not take leave of Nanuntenoo without a tribute of respect to +his heroic and noble character. "His refusal," writes Francis Baylies, +"to betray the Wampanoags who had sought his protection is another +evidence of his lofty and generous spirit, and his whole conduct after +his capture was such that surely, at this period, we may be allowed to +lament the unhappy fate of this noble Indian without incurring any +imputation for want of patriotism." + +The inhabitants of New London, Norwich, and Stonington, being in great +peril in consequence of their near vicinity to the enemy, raised +several parties of volunteers and ranged the country. They succeeded +in these expeditions in killing two hundred and thirty-nine of the +enemy without incurring the loss of a single man. As most of the +inhabitants of the towns had found it necessary to take refuge in +garrison houses, prowling bands of Indians experienced but little +difficulty in setting fire to the abandoned dwellings and barns, and +the sky was every night illumined with conflagrations. + +On the ninth of April a small party made an attack upon Bridgewater. +They plundered several houses, and were commencing the conflagration, +when the inhabitants sallied forth and put them to flight. It is said +that Philip had given orders that the town of Taunton should be spared +until all the other towns in the colony were destroyed. A family by +the name of Leonard resided in Taunton, where they had erected the +first forge which was established in the English colonies. Philip, +though his usual residence was at Mount Hope, had a favorite summer +resort at a place called Fowling Pond, then within the limits of +Taunton, but now included in the town of Raynham. In these excursions +he had become acquainted with the Leonards. They had treated him and +his followers with uniform kindness, repairing their guns, and +supplying them with such tools as the Indians highly prized. Philip +had become exceedingly attached to this family, and in gratitude, at +the commencement of the war, had given the strictest orders that the +Indians should never injure a Leonard. Apprehending that in a general +assault upon the town his friends the Leonards might be exposed to +danger, he spread the shield of his generous protection over the whole +place. This act certainly develops a character of more than ordinary +magnanimity. + +[Illustration: THE DESTRUCTION OF SUDBURY.] + +On the 18th of April an immense band of savages, five hundred in number, +made an impetuous assault upon Sudbury. The inhabitants, warned of their +approach, had abandoned their homes and taken refuge in their garrisons. +The savages set fire to several of the dwellings, and were dancing +exultingly around the flames, when a small band of soldiers from +Watertown came to the rescue, and the inmates of the garrison, +sallying forth, joined them, and drove the Indians across the river. + +Captain Wadsworth, from Boston, chanced to be in the vicinity with +about seventy men. Hearing of the extreme peril of Sudbury, although +he had marched all the day and all the night before, and his men were +exhausted with fatigue, he instantly commenced his march for that +place. Painfully toiling on through the night by the road leading from +Marlborough, early on the morning of the 19th he arrived within a mile +and a half of the town. Here the Indians, who by their scouts had kept +themselves informed of his approach, prepared an ambush. As the +English were marching along with great caution, a band of about a +hundred Indians crossed their path some distance in advance of them, +and fled, feigning a panic. The English pursued them impetuously about +a mile into the woods, when the fugitives made a stand, and five +hundred Indians sprang up from their concealment, and hurled a storm +of lead into the faces of their foes. + +The English, with singular intrepidity, formed themselves into a +compact mass, and by unerring aim and rapid firing kept their foes at +bay while, slowly retreating, they ascended an adjacent hill. Here +for five hours they maintained the conflict against such fearful odds. +The superior skill of the English with the musket rendered their fire +much more fatal than that of their foes. Many of the savage warriors +were struck down, and they bit the dust in their rage and dying agony, +while but five or six of the English had been slain. + +[Illustration: THE INDIAN AMBUSH.] + +The wind was high, and a drought had rendered the leaves of the forest +dry as powder. Some shrewd savage thought of the fatal expedient of +setting the forest on fire to the windward of their foes. The +stratagem was crowned with signal success. A wide sheet of flame, +roaring and crackling like a furnace, and emitting billows of +smothering smoke, rolled toward the doomed band. The fierceness of the +flames, and the blinding, suffocating smoke, soon drove the English in +confusion from their advantageous position. The Indians, piercing them +with bullets, rushed upon them with the tomahawk, and nearly every man +in the party was slain. Some accounts say that Captain Wadsworth's +company was entirely cut off; others say that a few escaped to a mill, +where they defended themselves until succor arrived. President +Wadsworth, of Harvard College, was the son of Captain Wadsworth. He +subsequently erected a modest monument over the grave of these heroes. +It is probably still standing, west of Sudbury causeway, on the old +road from Boston to Worcester. The inscription upon the stone is now +admitted to be incorrect in many of its particulars. It is said that +one hundred and twenty Indians were slain in this conflict. + +These successes wonderfully elated the Indians. They sent a defiant +and derisive message to Plymouth: + +"Have a good dinner ready for us, for we intend to dine with you on +election day." + +In this awful warfare, every day had its story of crime and woe. +Unlike the movement of powerful armies among civilized nations, the +Indians were wandering every where, burning houses and slaughtering +families wherever an opportunity was presented. They seemed to take +pleasure in wreaking their vengeance even upon the cattle. They would +cut out the tongues of the poor creatures, and leave them to die in +their misery. They would shut them up in hovels, set fire to the +buildings, and amuse themselves in watching the writhings of the +animals as they were slowly roasted in the flames. Nearly all the men +who were taken captive they tortured to death. "And that the reader +may understand," says Cotton Mather, "what it is to be taken by such +devils incarnate, I shall here inform him. They stripped these unhappy +prisoners, and caused them to run the gauntlet, and whipped them after +a cruel and bloody manner. They then threw hot ashes upon them, and, +cutting off collops of their flesh, they put fire into their wounds, +and so, with exquisite, leisurely, horrible torments, roasted them out +of the world." + +On the 20th of April a band of fifty Indians made an attack upon +Scituate, and, though the inhabitants speedily rallied and assailed +them with great bravery, they succeeded in plundering and burning +nineteen houses and barns. They proceeded along the road, avoiding the +block-houses, and burning all that were unprotected. They approached +one house where an aged woman, Mrs. Ewing, was alone with an infant +grandchild asleep in the cradle. As she saw the savages rushing down +the hill toward her dwelling, in a delirium of terror she fled to the +garrison house, which was about sixty rods distant, forgetting the +child. The savages rushed into the house, plundered it of a few +articles, not noticing the sleeping infant, and then hastened to make +an assault upon the garrison. A fierce fight ensued. In the midst of +the horrid scene of smoke, uproar, and blood, Mrs. Ewing, with heroism +almost unparalleled, stole from the garrison unperceived, by a +circuitous path reached the house, rescued the babe, still +unconsciously sleeping, and bore it in safety to the garrison. Soon +after this, the savages, repelled from their assault, set fire to her +house, and it was consumed to ashes. All the day long the battle and +the destruction continued in different parts of the town. There were +several garrisoned houses which the Indians attacked with great +spirit, but in every case they met with a repulse. Many of the savages +were shot, and a few of the English lost their lives. + +On the 8th of May a band of three hundred Indians made a very fierce +attack upon Bridgewater. The inhabitants had fortunately received +warning of the contemplated assault, and had most of them repaired to +their garrisoned houses. The savages, hoping to take the place by +surprise, with fearful yells rushed from the forest upon the south +part of the town. Disappointed in finding all the inhabitants +sheltered in their fortresses, they immediately commenced setting +fire to the buildings. But the inhabitants boldly sallied forth to +protect their property, and the Indians, though greatly outnumbering +them, fled before their determined valor. They succeeded, however, in +burning some thirteen houses. + +The condition of the colonists was at this time deplorable in the +extreme. During the campaign thus far the Indians had been signally +successful, and had effected an inconceivable amount of destruction +and suffering. The sun of spring had now returned; the snow had +melted, and the buds were bursting. It was time to plow the fields and +scatter the seed; but universal consternation and despair prevailed. +Every day brought its report of horror. Prowling bands of savages were +every where. No one could go into the field or step from his own door +without danger of being shot by some Indian lying in ambush. It was an +hour of gloom into which scarcely one ray of hope could penetrate. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE VICISSITUDES OF WAR. + +1677 + +An ambush discovered.--Information given.--Preparation for a +surprise.--Sudden attack.--The Indians vanquished.--Escape of two +boys.--A surprise party.--Its perfect success.--Slaughter of the +Indians.--Burning the wigwams.--Refreshment after battle.--Alarm of +the party.--Terrible peril.--Bravery of Captain Holyoke.--Heroic +action.--Dawn of hope.--Escape.--Rage of the Indians.--Assault +upon Hatfield.--Unexpected assistance.--Heroism.--Attack upon +Hadley.--A sudden appearance.--Superstition.--General Goffe.--Old +tradition.--Union of forces.--Phillip's strategem.--It +recoils.--Hostility of the Mohawks.--Turn of the tide.--Dismay of +the Indians.--Extract from Cotton Mather.--Search for King Philip.--An +interview with the Indians.--The Indians desire peace.--Interview with +the Governor.--Captain Church visits Awashonks.--A perilous +interview.--Rage of a warrior.--Proposals for an alliance.--Embassadors +to the governor.--The journey interrupted.--Awashonks visits Major +Bradford.--Proposals for an alliance.--Search for Philip.--Cordial +reception.--Indian festivities.--Sagacious care.--Captain Church to +visit the queen.--A luxurious feast.--Bill of fare.--A huge +bonfire.--Indian dance.--Oath of fidelity.--Selection of +warriors.--Grief of Philip.--Undying resolution.--Capture of +Indians.--Continued success.--Approach of Philip's army.--Preparations +for his reception.--He is received by Bridgewater lads.--Narrow escape +of Philip.--His wife and child captured.--The Saconets continue the +pursuit.--Treachery of the Indians.--The reconnoitering +parties.--Description by Captain Church.--Captain Church's +adventures.--Capture of prisoners.--The captives make merry in the +pound. + + +During this terrible war there were many deeds of heroic courage +performed which merit record. A man by the name of Rocket, in the town +of Wrentham, was in the woods searching for his horse. Much to his +alarm, he discovered, far off in the forest, a band of forty-two +Indians, in single file, silently and noiselessly passing along, +apparently seeking a place of concealment. They were all thoroughly +armed. Mr. Rocket without difficulty eluded their observation, and +then, at some distance behind, cautiously followed in their trail. It +was late in the afternoon, and, just before twilight was fading into +darkness, the Indians found a spot which they deemed safe, but a short +distance from the town, in which to pass the night. It was a large +flat rock, upon the brow of a steep hill, where they were quite +surrounded by almost impenetrable bushes. + +Rocket, having marked the place well, hastened back to the town. It +was then near midnight. The inhabitants were immediately aroused, +informed of their peril, and the women and children were all placed +safely in the garrison house, and a small party was left for their +defense. The remaining men capable of bearing arms, but thirteen in +number, then hastened through the forest, guided by Rocket, and +arrived an hour before the break of day at the encampment of the +Indians. With the utmost caution, step by step, they crept within +musket shot of their sleeping foes. Every man took his place, and +endeavored to single out his victim. It was agreed that not a gun +should be fired until the Indians should commence rising from their +sleep, and the morning light should give the colonists fair aim. + +An hour of breathless and moveless silence passed away. In the +earliest dawn of the morning, just as a few rays of light began to +stream along the eastern horizon, the Indians, as if by one volition, +sprang from their hard couch. A sudden discharge of musketry rang +through the forest, and thirteen bullets pierced as many bodies. +Appalled by so sudden an attack and such terrible slaughter, the +survivors, unaware of the feebleness of the force by which they were +assailed, plunged down the precipitous hill, tumbling over each +other, and rolling among the rocks. The adventurous band eagerly +pursued them, and shot at them as they would at deer flying through +the forest. Many more thus fell. One keen marksman struck down an +Indian at the distance of eighty rods, breaking his thigh bone. In +this short encounter twenty-four of the Indians were slain. The +remainder escaped into the depths of the forest. The heroes of this +adventure all returned in safety to their homes, no one having been +injured. It was undoubtedly the intention of this prowling band to +have attacked and fired the town as soon as the inhabitants had been +scattered in the morning in their fields at work. + +Soon after this, two English boys, who had been captured by the +Indians and taken to the upper waters of the Connecticut, escaped, +and, following down the river, succeeded in reaching the settlements. +They gave information that the Indians, in large numbers, were +encamped upon the banks of the river, just above the present site of +Deerfield. Supposing that all the energies of the colonists were +employed in endeavoring to arrest the ravages which were taking place +in the towns nearer the seaboard, they were indulging in careless +security. + +The inhabitants of Hadley, Hatfield, and Northampton promptly raised a +force of one hundred and fifty mounted men to attack them. On the +night of the 18th of May they left Hadley, and, traveling as fast as +they could about twenty miles, through the dead of night, arrived a +little after midnight in the vicinity of the Indian encampment. Here +they alighted, tied their horses to some young trees, and then +cautiously crept through the forest about half a mile, when, still in +the gloom of the rayless morning, they dimly discerned the wigwams of +the savages. Concealing themselves within musket shot, they waited +patiently for the light to reveal their foes. The Indians were in a +very dead sleep from a great debauch in which they had engaged during +the early part of the night. The night had been warm, and they were +sleeping upon the ground around their wigwams. At an appointed signal, +every gun was discharged upon the slumberers, and a storm of bullets +fell upon them and swept through their wigwams. Many were instantly +killed, and many wounded. The survivors, in a terrible panic, men, +women, and children, sprang from the ground and rushed to the river, +attempting to escape to the other shore. + +They were just above some rapids, where the current was very swift and +strong. Numbers attempted to swim across the stream, but were swept by +the torrent over the falls. Some sprang into canoes and pushed from +the shore. They presented but a fair mark for the bullets of the +colonists. Wounded and bleeding, and whirled by the eddies, they were +dashed against the rocks, and perished miserably. Many endeavored to +hide in the bushes and among the rocks upon the shore. Captain Holyoke +killed five with his own hand under a bank. About three hundred +Indians were slain or drowned in the awful tumult of these midnight +hours. Several of the most conspicuous of the Indian chiefs were +killed. Only one white man lost his life. In the midst of the +confusion the wigwams of the Indians were set on fire, and the black +night was illumined by the lurid conflagration. The flashing flames, +the dark billows of smoke, the rattle of musketry, the shouts of the +assailants, the shrieks of women and children, and the yells of the +savage warriors, presented a picture of earthly woe which neither the +pen nor the pencil can portray. + +At last the morning dawned. The sun of a serene and beautiful May day +rose over the spectacle of smouldering ruins and blood. The victors, +weary of sleeplessness, of their night's march, and of the carnage, +sat down among the smoking brands and amid the bodies of the slain to +seek refreshment and repose in this exultant hour of victory. + +But disaster, all unanticipated, came upon them with the sweep of the +whirlwind. It so happened that Philip himself was near with a thousand +warriors. A captured Indian informed them of this fact, and instantly +the victors were in a great panic. They were but one hundred and fifty +in number. Their only retreat was by a narrow trail through the woods +of more than twenty miles. A thousand savage warriors, roused to the +highest pitch of exasperation, and led by the terrible King Philip, +were expected momentarily to fall upon them. It was known that the +fugitives, who had scattered through the woods, would speedily +communicate the tidings of the attack to Philip's band. + +The colonists, in much confusion, immediately commenced a precipitate +retreat. They had hardly mounted their horses ere the whole body of +savages, like famished wolves, with the most dismal yells and +howlings, came rushing upon them. The peril was so terrible that +there seemed to be no hope of escape. But there are no energies like +the energies of despair. Every man resolved, in the calmness of the +absolute certainty of death, to sell his life as dearly as possible. +Captain Holyoke was a man equal to the emergency, and every member of +his heroic little band had perfect confidence in his courage and his +skill. Silently, sternly, sublimely, in a mass as compact as possible, +they moved slowly on. Every eye was on the alert; every man had his +finger to the trigger. Their guns were heavily loaded, that the balls +might be thrown to a great distance. Not an Indian could expose his +body but that he fell before the unerring aim of these keen marksmen. + +Captain Holyoke exposed himself to every danger in front, on the +flanks, and in the rear. His own lion-like energy was infused into the +spirit of his men, and he animated them to prodigious exertions. His +horse was at one time shot, and fell beneath him. Before he could +extricate himself from his entanglement, a band of Indians threw +themselves upon him. Two of them he shot down with his pistols, and +then with his sword cut his way through the rest, aided by a single +soldier who came to his rescue. + +As they toiled along, pursued by the infuriate foe and harassed by a +merciless fire, many were wounded, and every few moments one would +drop lifeless upon the ground. The survivors could do nothing to help +the dead or the dying. Hour after hour passed, and at length +unexpected hope began to dawn upon them. They were evidently holding +the Indians at bay. Could they continue thus for a few hours longer, +they would be so near the settlements that the Indians, in their turn, +would be compelled to retreat. Though it was evident that their loss +must be great, there was now hope that the majority would escape. Thus +animated, they accelerated their march, and at length, having lost +about forty by the way, they emerged upon the clearings of the +settlements, where the savages dared to pursue them no longer. With +howls of disappointment and rage, the discomfited Indians returned to +their forest fastnesses, and the heroic band, having lost about one +third of their number, and with nearly all of the survivors exhausted, +wounded, and bleeding, were received by their friends with throbbing +hearts, and with blended tears of bliss and woe. Those who, while +still living, fell into the hands of the Indians, were put to death by +tortures too horrible to be described. + +A fortnight after this, on the 30th of May, the men of Hatfield were +all at work in the fields, having, as usual, established a careful +watch to guard against surprise. All the houses in the centre of the +town were surrounded by a palisade, but there were several at a +distance which could not be included. One old man only was left within +the palisades to open and bar the gate. + +Suddenly a band of Indians, between six and seven hundred in number, +plunged into the town between the palisades and the party at work in +the fields, thus effectually cutting off the retreat of the colonists +to their fortress. They immediately commenced a fierce attack upon the +palisades, that they might get at the women, the children, and the +booty. The people of Hadley, on the opposite side of the river, +witnessed the assault. Twenty-five young men of Hadley promptly +crossed the river, threw themselves unexpectedly and like a +thunderbolt upon the band of seven hundred savages, cut their way +through them, and gained an entrance within the palisades, having lost +but five of their number. Where has history recorded a deed of nobler +heroism? In their impetuous rush they cut down twenty-five of their +foes. The Indians, intimidated by so daring an act, feared to +approach the palisades thus garrisoned, and sullenly retired. The men +in the fields took refuge in a log house. The savages spread +themselves over the meadows, drove off all the oxen, cows, and sheep, +and burned twelve houses and barns which were beyond the reach of +protection. + +On the 12th of June, the Indians, seven hundred in number, made an +attack upon Hadley, and hid themselves in the bushes at its southern +extremity, while they sent a strong party around to make an assault +from the north. At a given signal, when the first light of the morning +appeared, with their accustomed yells, they leaped from their +concealment, and rushed like demons upon the town. The English, +undismayed, met them at the palisades. The battle raged for some time +with very great fury. + +In the midst of this scene of tumult and blood, when the battle seemed +turning against the English, there suddenly appeared a man of gray +hairs and venerable aspect, and dressed in antique apparel, who, with +the voice and manner of one accustomed to command, took at once the +direction of affairs. There was such an air of authority in his words +and gestures, the directions he gave were so manifestly wise, and he +seemed so perfectly familiar with all military tactics, that, by +instinctive assent, all yielded to his command. Those were days of +superstition, and the aspect of the stranger was so singular, and his +sudden appearance so inexplicable and providential, that it was +generally supposed that God had sent a guardian angel for the +salvation of the settlement. When the Indians retreated the stranger +disappeared, and nothing further was heard of him. + +The supposed angel was General Goffe, one of the judges who had +condemned Charles I. to the block. After the restoration, these judges +were condemned to death. Great efforts were made to arrest them. Two +of them, Generals Goffe and Whalley, fled to this country. They were +both at this time secreted in Hadley, in the house of the Rev. Mr. +Russell. Mr. Whalley was aged and infirm. General Goffe, seeing the +village in imminent peril, left his concealment, joined the +inhabitants, and took a very active part in the defense. It was not +until after the lapse of fifteen years that these facts were +disclosed. The tradition is that both of these men died in their +concealment, and that they were secretly buried in the minister's +cellar. Their bodies were afterward privately conveyed to New Haven. + +It so happened that the Connecticut colony had just raised a standing +army of two hundred and fifty English and two hundred Mohegan Indians, +and had sent them to Northampton, but a few miles from Hadley, for the +protection of the river towns. A force of several hundred men also +marched from Boston to co-operate with the Connecticut troops. The +settlements upon the river were thus so effectually protected that +Philip saw that it would be in vain for him to attempt any farther +assaults. + +He therefore sent most of his warriors to ravage the towns along the +sea-coast. It is generally reported that, about this time, Philip took +a party of warriors and traversed the unbroken wilderness extending +between the Connecticut and the Hudson. He went as far as the present +site of Albany, and endeavored to rouse the Mohawks, a powerful tribe +in that vicinity, to unite with him against the English. It is said, +though the charge is not sustained by any very conclusive evidence, +that Philip, in order to embroil the Mohawks with the English, +attacked a party of Mohawk warriors, and, as he supposed, killed them +all. He then very adroitly arranged matters to convince the Mohawks +that their countrymen had been murdered by the English. But one of the +Mohawks, who was supposed to be killed, revived, and, covered with +blood and wounds, succeeded in reaching his friends. The story he told +roused the tribe to rage, and, allying themselves with the English, +they fell fiercely upon Philip. + +Whether the above narrative be true or not, it is certain that about +this time the Mohawks became irreconcilably hostile to King Philip, +and fell upon him and upon all of his allies with great fury. + +And now suddenly, and almost miraculously, the tide of events +seemed to turn in favor of the English. It is very difficult to +account for the wonderful change which a few weeks introduced. The +Massachusetts Indians, for some unknown cause, became alienated +from the sovereign of the Wampanoags, and bitterly reproached him +with having seduced them into a war in which they were suffering +even more misery than they created. All the Indians in the vicinity +of the English settlements had been driven from their corn-fields +and fishing-grounds, and were now in a famishing condition. They +had sufficient intelligence to foresee that absolute starvation +was their inevitable doom in the approaching winter. At the same +time, a pestilence, deadly and contagious, swept fearful desolation +through their wigwams. The Indians regarded this as evidence that +the God of the white men had enlisted against them. The colonial +forces in the valley of the Connecticut penetrated the forest in +every direction, carrying utter ruin into the homes of the natives. +In this horrible warfare but little mercy was shown to the women +and the children. The English did not torture their foes, but they +generally massacred them without mercy. + +This sudden accumulation of disasters appalled Philip and all his +partisans. They were thrown into a very surprising state of confusion +and dismay. Cotton Mather, speaking of this constant terror which +bewildered them, writes: + + "They were just like beasts stung with a hornet. They ran + they knew not whither, they knew not wherefore. They were + under such consternation that the English did even what they + would upon them. I shall never forget the expressions which + a desperate, fighting sort of fellow, one of their generals, + used unto the English after they had captured him. 'You + could not have subdued us,' said he, striking upon his + breast, 'but the Englishman's God made us afraid here.'" + +The latter part of July, Captain Church, the General Putnam of these +Indian wars, was placed in command of a force to search for Philip, +who, with a small band of faithful followers, had returned to the +region of Mount Hope. Captain Church went from Plymouth to Wood's Hole +in Falmouth, and there engaged two friendly Indians to paddle him in a +canoe across Buzzard's Bay, and along the shore to Rhode Island. As he +was rounding the neck of land called Saconet Point, he saw a number of +Indians fishing from the rocks. Believing that these Indians were in +heart attached to the English, and that they had been forced to unite +with Philip, he resolved to make efforts to detach them from the +confederacy. The Indians on the shore seemed also to seek an +interview, and by signs invited them to land. Captain Church, who was +as prudent as he was intrepid, called to two of the Indians to go down +upon a point of cleared land where there was no room for an ambush. He +then landed, and, leaving one of the Indians to take care of the +canoe, and the other to act as a sentinel, advanced to meet the +Indians. One of the two Indians, who was named George, could speak +English perfectly well. He told Captain Church that his tribe was +weary of the war; that they were in a state of great suffering, and +that they were very anxious to return to a state of friendly alliance +with the English. He said that if the past could be pardoned, his +tribe was ready not only to relinquish all acts of hostility, but to +take up arms against King Philip. Captain Church promised to meet them +again in two days at Richmond's Farm, upon this long neck of land. He +then hastened to Rhode Island, procured an interview with the +governor, and endeavored to obtain authority to enter into a treaty +with these Indians. The governor would not give his consent, affirming +that it was an act of madness in Captain Church to trust himself among +the Saconets. Nevertheless, Church, true to his engagement, took with +him an interpreter, and, embarking in a canoe, reached the spot at the +appointed time. + +Here he found Awashonks, the queen of the tribe, with several of her +followers. As his canoe touched the shore, she advanced to meet him, +and, with a smile of apparent friendliness, extended her hand. They +walked together a short distance from the shore, when suddenly a +large party of Indians, painted and decorated in warlike array, and +armed to the teeth, sprang up from an ambush in the high grass, and +surrounded them. Church, undismayed, turned to Awashonks, and said, +indignantly, + +"I supposed that your object in inviting me to this interview was +peace." + +"And so it is," Awashonks replied. + +"Why, then," Captain Church continued, "are your warriors here with +arms in their hands?" + +Awashonks appeared embarrassed, and replied, + +"What weapons do you wish them to lay aside?" + +The Indian warriors scowled angrily, and deep mutterings were passing +among them. Captain Church, seeing his helpless situation, very +prudently replied, "I only wish them to lay aside their guns, which is +a proper formality when friends meet to treat for peace." + +Hearing this, the Indians laid aside their guns, and quietly seated +themselves around their queen and Captain Church. An interesting and +perilous interview now ensued. Awashonks accused the English of +provoking her to hostilities when she had wished to live in friendship +with them. At one moment these children of nature would seem to be in +a towering rage, and again perfectly pleasant, and almost +affectionate. Captain Church happened to allude to one of the battles +between the English and the Indians. Immediately one of the savages, +foaming with rage, sprang toward him, brandishing his tomahawk, and +threatening to sink it in his brain, declaring that Captain Church had +slain his brother in that battle. Captain Church replied that his +brother was the aggressor, and that, if he had remained at home, as +Captain Church had advised him to do, his life would have been spared. +At this the irate savage immediately calmed down, and all was peace +again. + +As the result of the interview, Awashonks promised to ally herself in +friendship with the English upon condition that Church should obtain +the pardon of her tribe for all past offenses. The chief captain of +her warriors then approached Captain Church with great stateliness, +and said, "Sir, if you will please to accept of me and my men, and +will be our captain, we will fight for you, and will help you to the +head of King Philip before the Indian corn be ripe." At this all the +other warriors clashed their weapons and murmured applause. + +Church then proposed that five Indians should accompany him through +the woods to the governor to secure the ratification of the treaty. +Awashonks objected to this, saying that the party would inevitably be +intercepted on the way by Philip's warriors, and all would be slain. +She proposed, however, that Captain Church should go to Rhode Island, +obtain a small vessel, and then take her embassadors around Cape Cod +to Plymouth. + +Captain Church obtained a small vessel in Newport Harbor, and sailed +for the point. When he arrived there the wind was directly ahead, and +blowing almost a gale. As the storm increased, finding himself quite +unable to land, he returned to Newport. Being a man of deep religious +sensibilities, he considered this disappointment as an indication of +divine disapproval, and immediately relinquished the enterprise. + +Just at this time Major Bradford arrived in the vicinity of the +present town of Fall River with a large force of soldiers. This region +was then called Pocasset, and was within the territory of Queen +Wetamoo. Captain Church immediately then took a canoe, and again +visited Awashonks. He informed her of the arrival of Major Bradford, +urged her to keep all her people at home lest they should be assailed +by these troops, and assured her that if she would visit Major +Bradford in his encampment she should be received with kindness, and a +treaty of peace would be concluded. The next morning, Major Bradford, +with his whole force, marched down the Tiverton shore, and encamped at +a place called Punkatese, half way between Pocasset and Saconet Point. + +Awashonks collected her warriors and repaired to Punkatese to meet the +English. Major Bradford received her with severity and suspicion, +which appears to have been quite unjustifiable. Awashonks offered to +surrender her warriors to his service if they could be under the +command of Captain Church, in whom both she and they reposed perfect +confidence. This offer was peremptorily declined, and she was +haughtily commanded to appear at Sandwich, where the governor resided, +within six days. The queen, mortified by this unfriendly reception, +appealed to Captain Church. He, also, was much chagrined, but advised +her to obey, assuring her that the governor would cordially assent to +her views. The Indians, somewhat reassured, now commenced their march +to Sandwich, under the protection of a flag of truce. + +The next morning Major Bradford embarked his army in canoes, and +crossed to Mount Hope in search of King Philip. It was late at night +before they reached the Mount, and the fires blazing in the woods +showed that the Indians were collecting in large numbers. Meeting, +however, with no foe, they marched on to Rehoboth. Here Captain +Church, taking an Indian for a guide, set out for Plymouth to +intercede for his friends, the Saconet Indians. The governor received +him with great cordiality. Captain Church, highly gratified, took with +him three or four men as a body-guard, and hastened to Sandwich. +Disappointed in not finding Awashonks there, he went to Agawam, in the +present town of Wareham; still not finding her, he crossed Mattapoiset +River, and ascended a bluff which commanded a wide prospect of +Buzzard's Bay. + +As they stood upon the bluff, they heard a loud murmuring noise coming +from the concealed shore at a little distance. Creeping cautiously +along, they peered over a low cliff, and saw a large number of +Indians, of all ages and sexes, engaged upon the beach in the wildest +scene of barbarian festivities. Some were running races on horseback; +some playing at football; some were catching eels and flat-fish; and +others plunging and frolicking in the waves. + +Captain Church was uncertain whether they were enemies or friends. +With characteristic sagacity and intrepidity, he retired some distance +into a thicket, and then hallooed to them. Two young Indians, hearing +the shout, left the rest of their company to see from whence it came. +They came close upon Captain Church before he discovered himself to +them. As soon as they saw Captain Church, with two or three men around +him, all well armed, they, in a panic, endeavored to retreat. He +succeeded, however, in retaining them, and in disarming their fears. + +From them he learned that the party consisted of Awashonks and her +tribe. He then sent word to Awashonks that he intended to sup with her +that evening, and to lodge in her camp that night. The queen +immediately made preparations to receive him and his companions with +all due respect. Captain Church and his men, mounted on horseback, +rode down to the beach. The Indians gathered around them with shouts +of welcome. They were conducted to a pleasant tent, open toward the +sea, and were provided with a luxurious supper of fried fish. The +supper consisted of three courses: a young bass in one dish, eels and +flat-fish in a second, and shell-fish in a third; but there was +neither bread nor salt. + +By the time supper was over it was night, serene and moonless, yet +brilliant with stars. The still waters of Buzzard's Bay lay like a +burnished mirror, reflecting the sparkling canopy above in a +corresponding arch below. The unbroken forest frowned along the shore, +sublime in its solitude, and from its depths could only be heard the +lonely cry of the birds of darkness. + +The Indians collected an enormous pile of pine knots and the resinous +boughs of the fir-tree. Men, women, and children all contributed to +enlarge the gigantic heap, and when the torch was touched, a bonfire +of amazing splendor blazed far and wide over the forest and the bay. +This was the introductory act to a drama where peace and war were +blended. All the Indians, old and young, gathered around the fire. +Queen Awashonks, with the oldest men and women of the tribe, kneeling +down in a circle, formed the first ring; next behind them came all +the most distinguished warriors, armed and arrayed in all the gorgeous +panoply of barbarian warfare; then came a motley multitude of the +common mass of men, women, and children. + +At an appointed signal, Awashonks' chief captain stepped forward from +the circle, danced with frantic gesture around the fire, drew a brand +from the flames, and, calling it by the name of a tribe hostile to the +English, belabored it with bludgeon and tomahawk. He then drew out +another and another, until all the tribes hostile to the English had +been named, assailed, and exterminated. Reeking with perspiration, and +exhausted by his phrensied efforts, he retired within the ring. +Another chief then came out and re-enacted the same scene, endeavoring +to surpass his predecessor in the fierceness and fury of his efforts. +In this way all the chiefs took what they considered as their oath of +fidelity to the English. The chief captain then came forward to +Captain Church, and, presenting him with a fine musket, informed him +that all the warriors were henceforth subject to his command. Captain +Church immediately drew out a number of the ablest warriors, and the +next morning, before the break of day, set out with them for +Plymouth, where he arrived in the afternoon. + +It is said that when King Philip, in the midst of his accumulating +disasters, learned that the Saconet tribe had abandoned his cause and +had gone over to the English, he was never known to smile again. He +knew that his doom was now sealed, and that nothing remained for him +but to be hunted as a wild beast of the forest for the remainder of +his days. Though a few tribes still adhered to him, he was well aware +that in these hours of disaster he would soon be abandoned by all. +Proudly, however, the heroic chieftain disdained all thoughts of +surrender, and resolved to contend with undying determination to the +last. We can not but respect his energy and deplore his fate. + +Receiving a commission from the governor, Captain Church that same +evening took the field, with a company of eighteen Englishmen and +twenty-two Indians. They saw gleaming in the distant forest the +camp-fires of the Indians. Creeping stealthily along, they surrounded +a small band of savages, took them by surprise, and captured every +one. From one of his prisoners he learned there was another party at +Monponsett Pond. Carrying his prisoners back to Plymouth, he set out +again the next night, and was equally successful in capturing every +one of this second band. Thus for some days he continued very +successfully harassing the Indians in the vicinity of the +Middleborough Ponds. From one of his prisoners he ascertained that +both Philip and Quinnapin, the husband of Wetamoo, were in the great +cedar swamp, which was full of Indian warriors, and that a hundred +Indians had gone on a foray down into Sconticut Neck, now Fair Haven. + +The main body of the Plymouth forces was at Taunton. Philip did not +dare attempt the passage of the Taunton River, as it was carefully +watched. He was thus hemmed in between the river and the sea. Church, +with amazing energy and skill, drove his feeble bands from point to +point, allowing them not one moment of rest. One Sabbath morning a +courier was sent to the governor of the Plymouth colony, who happened +to be at Marshfield, informing him that Philip, with a large army, was +advancing, with the apparent intention of crossing the river in the +vicinity of Bridgewater, and attacking that town. The governor +immediately hastened to Plymouth, sent for Captain Church, who was in +the meeting-house attending public worship, and requested him to +rally all the force in his power, and march to attack the Indians. +Captain Church immediately called his company together, and, running +from house to house, collected every loaf of bread in town for the +supply of his troops. + +Early in the afternoon he commenced his march, and early in the +evening arrived at Bridgewater. As they were advancing in the +darkness, they heard a sharp firing in the distance. It afterward +appeared that Philip had felled a tree across the stream, which was +there quite narrow, as a bridge for his men. Some energetic +Bridgewater lads had watched the movements of the Indians, and had +concealed themselves in ambush on the Bridgewater side of the stream. +As soon as the Indians commenced passing over the tree, they poured in +upon them a volley of bullets. Many dropped from the slender bridge, +dead and wounded, into the river. The rest precipitately retreated. +This was on the evening of the 31st of July. + +Early the next morning, Captain Church, having greatly increased his +force by the inhabitants of Bridgewater, marched cautiously to the +spot where Philip had attempted to effect a passage. Accompanied by a +single Indian, he crept to the banks of the stream where the tree had +been. He saw upon the opposite side an Indian in a melancholy, musing +posture, sitting alone upon a stump. He was within short musket shot. +Church clapped his gun to his shoulder, and was just upon the point of +firing, when the Indian who accompanied him hastily called out for him +not to fire, for he believed it was one of their own men. The Indian +heard the warning, and, startled, looked up. Captain Church instantly +saw it was King Philip himself. In another instant the report of a gun +was heard, and a bullet whistled through the thin air, but Philip, +with the speed of an antelope, was gone. + +Captain Church immediately rallied his company, crossed the river, and +pursued the Indians. The savages scattered and fled in all directions. +Church and his men picked up a large number of women and children +flying in dismay through the woods. Among the rest, he captured the +wife of Philip and their only son, a bright boy nine years of age. +Quinnapin, the husband of Wetamoo, with a large band of the Indians, +retreated down the eastern bank of the river, looking anxiously for a +place where they might ford the stream. Captain Church followed upon +their trail, pursued them across the stream, and continued the chase +until he thought it necessary to return and secure the prisoners. + +The Saconet Indians begged permission to continue the pursuit. They +returned the next morning, having shot several of the enemy, and +bringing with them thirteen women and children as prisoners. The +prisoners were all sent to Bridgewater, while bands of soldiers +scoured the woods in all directions in pursuit of the fugitives. Every +now and then the shrill report of the musket told that the bullet was +accomplishing its deadly work. Another night came. It was dark and +gloomy. Some of the captives informed the English that Philip, with a +large party of his warriors, had sought refuge in a swamp. The heroic +chief had heard of the capture of his wife and son, and his heart was +broken. Dejected, disheartened, but unyielding, he still resolved to +bid defiance to fate, and to contend sternly to the last. The Indian +captives, with their accustomed treachery, guided the English to all +the avenues of the swamp. Here Captain Church placed his well-armed +sentinels, cutting off all escape, and watching vigilantly until the +morning. + +As soon as it was light, he sent two scouts to enter the swamp +cautiously, and ascertain the position of the enemy. At the same +moment Philip sent two of his warriors upon a tour of reconnoissance. +The two opposite parties met, and the Indians, with loud yells to give +the alarm, fled toward their camp. Terrified with the apprehension +that the whole English force was upon them, the Indians plunged like +affrighted deer into the deeper recesses of the swamp, leaving their +kettles boiling and their meat roasting upon their wooden spits. But +they were surrounded, and there was no escape. The following scene, +described by Captain Church himself, gives one an idea of the nature +of this warfare. + + "In this swamp skirmish, Captain Church, with his two men, + who always ran by his side as his guard, met with three of + the enemy, two of whom surrendered themselves, and the + captain's guard seized them; but the other, being a great, + stout, surly fellow, with his two locks tied up with red, + and a great rattlesnake's skin hanging to the back part of + his head, ran from them into the swamp. Captain Church in + person pursued him close, till, coming pretty near up with + him, he presented his gun between his shoulders, but it + missing fire, the Indian perceived it, turned, and presented + at Captain Church, and missing fire also, their guns taking + wet from the fog and dew of the morning. But the Indian + turning short for another run, his foot tripped in a small + grape-vine, and he fell flat on his face. Captain Church was + by this time up with him, and struck the muzzle of his gun + an inch and a half into the back part of his head, which + dispatched him without another blow. + + "But Captain Church, looking behind him, saw another Indian, + whom he thought he had killed, come flying at him like a + dragon. But this happened to be fair within sight of the + guard that was set to keep the prisoners, who, spying this + Indian and others who were following him in the very + seasonable juncture, made a shot upon them, and rescued + their captain, though he was in no small danger from his + friends' bullets, for some of them came so near him that he + thought he felt the wind of them. The skirmish being over, + they gathered their prisoners together, and found the number + they had taken to be one hundred and seventy-three." + +With these prisoners the English returned to Bridgewater. Captain +Church drove the captives that night into the pound, and placed an +Indian guard over them. They were abundantly supplied with food and +drink. These poor wretches were so degraded, and so regardless of +their fate, that they passed the night in hideous revelry. Philip had +by some unknown means escaped. With grief and shame we record that his +wife and son were sent to Bermuda and sold as slaves, and were never +heard of more. One of the Indian captives said to Captain Church, + +"Sir, you have now made Philip ready to die. You have rendered him as +poor and miserable as he used to make the English. All his relatives +are now either killed or taken captive. You will soon have his head. +This last bout has broken his heart." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +DEATH OF KING PHILIP. + +1677 + +Fallen fortunes of Philip.--Execution of Sam Barrow.--Character +of Wetamoo.--The queen drowned.--Deplorable condition of +Philip.--Indomitable resolution.--Summary punishment.--Disposition +of the army.--Confident of the capture of Philip.--The carnage +commenced.--Rushing into danger.--Death of Philip.--Delight of +Alderman.--Reception of the news.--Ignoble treatment of the body.--An +Indian executioner.--Noble character of Philip.--His reluctance to +commence war.--His foresight.--His humanity.--His mode of +warfare.--Do justice to his memory.--Feelings for him in 1677.--Cotton +Mather's record.--"In his fate, forget his crimes."--Annawan.--Plan for +his capture.--The march.--A violent gale.--Resolution.--Reluctance of +the Indians.--Uncomfortable night.--Successful decoy.--The plan +repeated.--Making proselytes.--Advantages to be gained.--A feast.--The +Indians in good-humor.--Women captured.--Capture of an old man.--His +story.--A new enterprise proposed.--Energetic resolve of Captain +Church.--Enthusiasm aroused.--The old man a guide.--Arrival at +Annawan's retreat.--Drake's description of the place.--Annawan's +retreat.--Annawan's retreat.--Employments of the Indians.--Precipitous +descent.--Mode of entering the retreat.--Annawan captured.--A quiet +surrender.--A grand repast.--Attempted repose.--Effect of +excitement.--Disappearance of Annawan.--A magnificent present.--Address +to Captain Church.--Relation of early adventures.--Attempt to save +Annawan's life.--Tuspaquin.--His exploits.--Superstitious +belief.--Discovery of the Indians.--Capture of Tuspaquin's +relatives.--Outrageous violation of faith. + + +The heroic and unfortunate monarch of the Wampanoags was now indeed a +fugitive, and almost utterly desolate. A few of the more noble of the +Indians still adhered faithfully to the fortunes of their ruined +chieftain. The colonists pursued the broken bands of the Indians with +indefatigable energy. A small party sought refuge at a place called +Agawam, in the present town of Wareham. Captain Church immediately +headed an expedition, pursued them, and captured the whole band. A +notorious Indian desperado called Sam Barrow was among the number. He +was a bloodthirsty wretch, who had filled the colony with the terror +of his name. He boasted that with his own hand he had killed nineteen +of the English. Captain Church informed him that, in consequence of +his inhuman murders, the court could allow him no quarter. The stoical +savage, with perfect indifference, said that he was perfectly willing +to die, and only requested the privilege of smoking a pipe. He sat +down upon a rock, while his Indian executioner stood by his side with +his gleaming tomahawk in his hand. The savage smoked a few whiffs of +tobacco, laid aside his pipe, and calmly said, "I am ready." In +another instant the hatchet of the executioner sank deep into his +brain. He fell dead upon the rock. + +On the 6th of August one of Philip's Indians deserted his master and +fled to Taunton. To make terms for himself, he offered to conduct the +English to a spot upon the river where Wetamoo had secreted herself +with a party of Pocasset warriors. Twenty of the inhabitants of +Taunton armed themselves and followed their Indian guide. He led them +to a spot now called Gardiner's Neck, in the town of Swanzey. + +At the beginning of the war, Wetamoo, flushed with hope, had marched +to the conflict leading three hundred warriors in her train. She was +now hiding in thickets, swamps, and dens, with but twenty-six +followers, and they dejected and despairing. Next to King Philip, +Wetamoo had been the most energetic of the foes of the English. She +was inspired with much of his indomitable courage, and was never +wanting in resources. The English came upon them by surprise, and +captured every one but Wetamoo herself. The heroic queen, too proud to +be captured, instantly threw off all her clothing, seized a broken +piece of wood, and plunged into the stream. Worn down by exhaustion +and famine, her nerveless arm failed her, and she sank beneath the +waves. Her body, like a bronze statue of marvelous symmetry, was soon +after found washed upon the shore. As faithful chroniclers, we must +declare, though with a blush, that the English cut off her head, and +set it upon a pole in their streets, a trophy ghastly, bloody, +revolting. Many of her subjects were in Taunton as captives. When they +beheld the features of their beloved queen, they filled the air with +shrieks of lamentation. + +The situation of Philip was now indescribably deplorable. All the +confederate tribes had abandoned him; the most faithful of his +followers had already perished. His only brother was dead; his wife +and only son were slaves in the hands of the English, doomed to +unending bondage; every other relative was cold in death. The few +followers who still, for their own protection, accompanied him in his +flight, were seeking in dismay to save their own lives. His domain, +which once spread over wide leagues of mountain and forest, was now +contracted to the dark recesses and dismal swamps where, as a hunted +beast, he sought his lair. There was no place of retreat for him. All +the Connecticut Indians had become his bitter foes, because he had +embroiled them in a war which had secured their ruin. The Mohawks, +upon the Hudson, were thirsting for his blood. + +Still, this indomitable man would not think of yielding. He +determined, with a resolution which seemed never to give way, to fight +till a bullet from the foe should pierce his brain. In this hour of +utter hopelessness, one of Philip's warriors ventured to urge him to +surrender to the English. The haughty monarch immediately put the man +to death as a punishment for his temerity and as a warning to others. +The brother of this Indian, indignant at such severity, deserted to +the English, and offered to guide them to the swamp where Philip was +secreted. The ruined monarch had returned to the home of his childhood +to fight his last battles and to die. + +Captain Church happened to be at this time, with a party of +volunteers, at Rhode Island, having crossed over by the ferry from +Tiverton. Here he met the Indian traitor. "He was a fellow of good +sense," says Captain Church, "and told his story handsomely." He +reported that Philip was upon a little spot of upland in the midst of +a miry swamp just south of Mount Hope. It was now evening. Half of the +night was spent in crossing the water in canoes. At midnight Captain +Church brought all his company together, and gave minute directions +respecting their movements. They surrounded the swamp. With the +earliest light of the morning they were ordered to creep cautiously +upon their hands and feet until they came in sight of their foes. As +soon as anyone discovered Philip or any of his men, he was to fire, +and immediately all were to rise and join in the pursuit. To make sure +of his victim, Captain Church also formed a second circle surrounding +the swamp, placing an Englishman and an Indian behind trees, rocks, +etc., so that no one could pass between them. He also stationed small +parties in selected places in ambuscade. + +Having completed all his arrangements, he took his friend Major +Sandford by the hand, and said, + +"I have now so posted my men that I think it impossible that Philip +should escape us." + +He had hardly uttered these words ere the report of a musket was heard +in the swamp, and this was instantaneously followed by a whole volley. +Some of the Indians had been discovered, and the murderous work was +commenced. The morning had as yet but just dawned. An awful scene of +dismay, tumult, and blood ensued. Philip, exhausted by days and nights +of the most harassing flight and fighting, had been found soundly +asleep. The few warriors still faithful to him, equally exhausted, +were dozing at his side. A party of the English crept cautiously +within musket shot of their sleeping foes, discharged a volley of +bullets upon them, and then rushed into their encampment. + +[Illustration: THE DEATH OF KING PHILIP.] + +The dreams of the despairing fugitive were disturbed by the crash of +musketry, the whistling of bullets, and the shout and the onset of his +foes. He leaped from his couch of leaves, and, like a deer, bounded +from hummock to hummock in the swamp. It so happened that he ran +directly upon an ambush which Captain Church had warily established. +An Englishman and the Indian deserter, whose name was Alderman, stood +behind a large tree, with their guns cocked and primed. As Philip, +bewildered and unconscious of his peril, drew near, the Englishman +took deliberate aim at him when he was but at the distance of a few +yards, and sprung his lock. The night dews of the swamp had moistened +the powder, and his gun missed fire. The life of Philip was thus +prolonged for one half of a minute. The traitor Alderman then eagerly +directed his gun against the chief to whom but a few hours before he +had been in subjection. A sharp report rang through the forest, and +two bullets, for the gun was double charged, passed almost directly +through the heart of the heroic warrior. For an instant the majestic +frame of the chieftain, as he stood erect, quivered from the shock, +and then he fell heavy and stone dead in the mud and water of the +swamp. + +Alderman, delighted with his exploit, ran eagerly to inform Captain +Church that he had shot King Philip. Church ordered him to be +perfectly silent about it, that his men might more vigorously pursue +the remaining warriors. For some time the pursuit and the carnage +continued. Captain Church then, by a concerted signal, called his army +together, and informed them of the death of their formidable foe. The +tidings were received with a simultaneous shout of exultation, which, +repeated again and again, reverberated through the solitudes of the +forests. The whole army then advanced to the spot where the sovereign +of the Wampanoags lay gory in death. They had but little reverence for +an Indian, and, seizing the body, they dragged it, as if it had been +the carcass of a wild beast, through the mud to an upland slope, where +the ground was dry. Here, for a time, they gazed with exultation upon +the great trophy of their victory, and spurned the dishonored body as +if it had been a wolf or a panther which had been destroying their +families and their flocks. Captain Church then said, + +"Forasmuch as he has caused many an Englishman's body to lie unburied +and to rot above the ground, not one of his bones shall be buried." + +An old Indian executioner, a vulgar, bloodthirsty wretch, was then +called to cut up the body. With bitter taunts he stood over him with +his hatchet, and cut off his head and quartered him. Philip had one +remarkable hand, which was much scarred by the explosion of a pistol. +This hand was given to Alderman, who shot him, as his share of the +spoil. Alderman preserved it in rum, and carried it around the +country as a show, "and accordingly," says Captain Church, "he got +many a penny by it." We would gladly doubt the statement, if we could, +that the head of this ill-fated chief was sent to Plymouth, where it +was for a long time exposed on a gibbet. The four quarters of the +mangled body were hung upon four trees, and there they remained +swinging in the moaning wind until the elements wasted them away. + +Thus fell Pometacom, perhaps the most illustrious savage upon the +North American continent. The interposition of Providence alone seems +to have prevented him from exterminating the whole English race upon +this continent. Though his character has been described only by those +who were exasperated against him to the very highest degree, still it +is evident that he possessed many of the noblest qualities which can +embellish human nature. + +It is said that with reluctance and anguish he entered upon the war, +and that he shed tears when the first English blood was shed. His +extraordinary kindness to the Leonards, inducing him to avert +calamities from a whole settlement, lest they, by some accident, might +be injured, develops magnanimity which is seldom paralleled. He was a +man of first-rate abilities. He foresaw clearly that the growth of +the English power threatened the utter extermination of his race. War +thus, in his view, became a dire necessity. No man could be more +conscious of its fearful peril. With sagacity which might excite the +envy of the ablest of European diplomatists, he bound together various +heterogeneous and hostile tribes, and guided all their energies. +Though the generality of the Indians were often inhuman in the +extreme, there is no evidence that Philip ever ordered a captive to be +tortured, while it is undeniable that the English, in several +instances, surrendered their captives to the horrid barbarities of +their savage allies. + + "His mode of making war," says Francis Baylies, "was secret + and terrible. He seemed like the demon of destruction + hurling his bolts in darkness. With cautious and noiseless + steps, and shrouded by the deep shade of midnight, he glided + from the gloomy depths of the woods. He stole on the + villages and settlements of New England, like the + pestilence, unseen and unheard. His dreadful agency was felt + when the yells of his followers roused his victims from + their slumbers, and when the flames of their blazing + habitations glared upon their eyes. His pathway could be + traced by the horrible desolation of its progress, by its + crimson print upon the snows and the sands, by smoke and + fire, by houses in ruins, by the shrieks of women, the + wailing of infants, and the groans of the wounded and the + dying. Well indeed might he have been called the 'terror of + New England.' Yet in no instance did he transcend the + ordinary usages of Indian warfare. + + "We now sit in his seats and occupy his lands; the lands + which afforded a bare subsistence to a few wandering savages + can now support countless thousands of civilized people. The + aggregate of the happiness of man is increased, and the + designs of Providence are fulfilled when this fair domain is + held by those who know its use; surely we may be permitted + at this day to lament the fate of him who was once the lord + of our woods and our streams, and who, if he wrought much + mischief to our forefathers, loved some of our race, and + wept for their misfortunes!" + +There was, however, but little sympathy felt in that day for Philip or +any of his confederates. The truly learned and pious but pedantic +Cotton Mather, allowing his spirit to be envenomed by the horrid +atrocities of Indian warfare, thus records the tragic end of +Pometacom: + + "The Englishman's piece would not go off, but the Indians + presently shot him through his venomous and murderous heart. + And in that very place where he first contrived and + commenced his mischief, this Agag was now cut in quarters, + which were then hanged up, while his head was carried in + triumph to Plymouth, where it arrived on the very day that + the church was keeping a solemn thanksgiving to God. God + sent them in the head of a Leviathan for a thanksgiving + feast." + +We must remember that the Indians have no chroniclers of their wrongs, +and yet the colonial historians furnish us with abundant incidental +evidence that outrages were perpetrated by individuals of the +colonists which were sufficient to drive any people mad. No one can +now contemplate the doom of Pometacom, the last of an illustrious +line, but with emotions of sadness. + + "Even that he lived is for his conqueror's tongue; + By foes alone his death-song must be sung. + No chronicles but theirs shall tell + His mournful doom to future times. + May these upon his virtues dwell, + And in his fate forget his crimes!" + +The war was now virtually at an end. Still there were many broken bands +of Indians wandering through the wilderness in a state of utter +desperation; they knew that to surrender doomed them to death or to +hopeless slavery. Though they were unable to wage any effective warfare, +they could desolate the settlements with murders and with terrible +depredations. + +A few days after the death of King Philip, intelligence was brought to +Plymouth that Annawan, Philip's chief captain, a man of indomitable +energy, was ranging the woods with a band of warriors in the vicinity of +Rehoboth and Swanzey, and doing great mischief. + +Annawan was now commander-in-chief of all the remaining Indian forces. +His death or capture was accordingly esteemed a matter of great +moment. Captain Church immediately gathered around him a band of +his enthusiastic troops. They were so devoted to their successful +commander that they declared their readiness to follow him as long as +an Indian was left in the woods. They immediately commenced their +march, and ranged the woods along the Pocasset shore. Not finding any +Indians, they crossed the arm of the bay in canoes to Rhode Island, +intending to spend the next day, which was the Sabbath, there in +religious rest. Early the next morning, however, a messenger informed +the captain that a canoe filled with Indians had been seen passing +from Prudence Island to the west side of Bristol, which was then +called Poppasquash Neck. Captain Church, thinking that these men were +probably going to join the band of Annawan, resolved immediately to +pursue them. He had no means of transporting his troops but in two or +three frail birch canoes. He crossed himself, however, with sixteen of +his Indian allies, when the gale increased to such severity, and hove +up such a tumultuous sea, that the canoes could no longer pass. +Captain Church now found himself upon Bristol Neck with but sixteen +Indian allies around him, while all the rest of his force, including +nearly all of his English soldiers, were upon Rhode Island, and cut +off from all possibility of immediately joining him. Still, the +intrepid captain adopted the resolve to march in pursuit of the enemy, +though he was aware that he might meet them in overwhelming numbers. + +The Indians expressed some reluctance to go unaccompanied by English +soldiers; finally, however, they consented. Skulking through almost +impenetrable thickets, they came to a salt meadow just north of the +present town of Bristol. It was now night, and though they had heard +the report of two guns in the woods, they had met no Indians. A part +of their company, who had been sent out on a skulk, had not returned, +and great anxiety was felt lest they had fallen into an ambush and +been captured. The night was dark, and cold, and dreary. They had not +a morsel of bread, and no food to cook; they did not dare to build a +fire, as the flame would be sure to attract their wakeful enemies. +Hungry and solitary, the hours of the night lingered slowly away. In +the earliest dawn of the morning, the Indian scouts returned with the +following extraordinary story, which proved to be true. They said that +they had not advanced far when they discovered two Indians at a +distance approaching them upon one horse. The scouts immediately hid +in the brush in parallel lines at a little distance from each other. +One of the Indians then stationed himself as a decoy, and howled like +a wolf. The two Indians immediately stopped, and one, sliding from the +horse, came running along to see what was there. The cunning Indian, +howling lower and lower, drew him on between those lying in wait for +him, until they seized and instantly gagged him. The other, seeing +that his companion did not return, and still hearing the faint +howlings of the wolf, also left his horse, and soon experienced the +same fate. + +The two captives they then examined apart, and found them to agree in +the story that there were eight more Indians who had come with them +into the Neck in search of provisions, and that they had all agreed to +meet at an old Indian burying-place that evening. The two captives +chanced to be former acquaintances of the leader of the scouting +party. He told them enticing stories of the bravery of Captain Church, +and of the advantages of fighting with him and for him instead of +against him. The vagabond prisoners were in a very favorable condition +to be influenced by such suggestions. They heartily joined their +victors, and aided in entrapping their unsuspecting comrades. The +eight were soon found, and, by a continuance of the same stratagem, +were all secured. All these men immediately co-operated with Captain +Church's company, and aided in capturing their remaining friends. In +this perhaps they were to be commended, as there was nothing before +them but misery, starvation, and death in the wilderness, while there +was at least food and life with Captain Church. + +With their band thus strengthened there was less fear of surprise. A +horse was killed, roaring fires built, and the Indians, roasting the +meat upon wooden spits, exulted for a few hours in a feast of steaks +which, to them at least, were savory and delicious. The Indians +usually carried salt in their pockets: with this alone they seasoned +their horse-flesh. As there was not a morsel of bread to be obtained, +Captain Church had no better fare than his savage companions. + +The Indians were now in exceeding good-humor. All having eaten their +fill, and loading themselves with a sufficient supply for the day, +they commenced their march, under the guidance of the captives, to the +place where they had left their women and children. All were surprised +and captured. But no one could tell where Annawan was to be found. All +agreed in the declaration that he was continually roving about, never +sleeping twice in the same place. + +One of the Indian prisoners entreated Captain Church to permit him +to go into a swamp, about four miles distant, where his father was +concealed with his young wife. He promised to bring them both in. +Captain Church, thinking that he might, perhaps, obtain some +intelligence respecting Annawan, decided to go with him. Taking with +him one Englishman and a few Indians, and leaving the rest to remain +where they were until his return, he set out upon this enterprise. + +When they arrived on the borders of the swamp, the Indian was sent +forward in search of his father. Pretty soon they heard a low howling, +which was promptly responded to by a corresponding howl at a distance. +At length they saw an old man coming toward them with his gun upon +his shoulder, and followed by a young Indian girl, his daughter. +Concealing themselves on each side of the narrow trail, Captain +Church's party awaited their approach, and seized them both. +Threatening them with terrible punishment if they deceived him with +any falsehood, he examined them apart. + +Both agreed that they had been lately in Annawan's camp; that he had +with him about sixty Indians, and that he was at but a few miles' +distance, in Squannaconk Swamp, in the southeasterly part of Rehoboth. +"Can I get there to-night?" inquired Captain Church. "If you set out +immediately," the old Indian replied, "and travel stoutly, you can +reach there by sunset." + +Just then the young Indian who had been in search of his father +returned with his father and another Indian. Captain Church was now in +much perplexity. He was very desirous of going in pursuit of Annawan +before the wary savage should remove to other quarters. He had, +however, but half a dozen men with him, and it was necessary to send a +messenger back to acquaint those who had been left of his design. +Collecting his little band together, he inquired if they were ready to +go with him to endeavor to take Annawan. The enterprise appeared to +them all very perilous. They replied, + +"We are willing to obey your commands. But Annawan is a renowned and +veteran warrior. He served under Pometacom's father, and has been +Pometacom's chief captain during this war. He is a very subtle man, a +man of great energy, and has often said that he would never be taken +alive by the English. Moreover, the warriors who are with him are very +resolute men. We therefore fear that it would be impossible to take +him with so small a band. We should but throw away our lives." + +Still, Captain Church, relying upon his own inexhaustible resources, +and upon the well-known despondency and despair of the Indians, +resolved to go, and with a few words roused the enthusiasm of his +impulsive and fickle followers. He sent the young Indian, with his +father and the young squaw, back to the camp, while he took the other +old man whom he had captured as his guide. "You have given me my +life," said the Indian, "and it is my duty to serve you." + +Energetically they commenced their march through the woods, the old +man leading off with tremendous strides. Occasionally he would get so +far in advance that the party would lose sight of him, when he would +stop until they came up. He might easily have escaped had he wished to +do so. Just as the sun was setting, the old man made a full stop and +sat down. The rest of the company came up, all being very weary, and +sat down around him. + +"At this hour," said the old man, "Annawan always sends out his +scouts. We must conceal ourselves here until after dark, when the +scouts will have returned." + +As soon as the darkness of night had settled over the forest, the old +man again rose to resume the march. Captain Church said to him, + +"Will you take a gun and fight for us?" + +The faithful guide bowed very low, and nobly said, "I pray you not to +impose upon me such a thing as to fight Annawan, my old friend. I will +go along with you and be helpful to you, and will lay hands on any man +who shall offer to hurt you." + +In the gloom of the wilderness it was now very dark, and all kept +close together, and moved cautiously and silently along. Soon they +heard a noise as of a woman pounding corn. All stopped and listened. +They had arrived at Annawan's retreat. Captain Church, with one +Englishman and half a dozen Indians, most of whom had been taken +captive that very day, were about to attack one of the fiercest and +most redoubtable of Philip's chieftains, surrounded by sixty of his +tribe, many of whom were soldiers of a hundred battles. Drake, in his +Book of the Indians, gives the following description of this noted +place: + + "It is situated in the southeasterly corner of Rehoboth, + about eight miles from Taunton Green, a few rods from the + road which leads to Providence, and on the southeasterly + side of it. If a straight line were drawn from Taunton to + Providence, it would pass very nearly over this place. + Within the limits of an immense swamp of nearly three + thousand acres there is a small piece of upland, separated + from the main only by a brook, which in some seasons is dry. + This island, as we may call it, is nearly covered with an + enormous rock, which to this day is called Annawan's Rock. + Its southeast side presents an almost perpendicular + precipice, and rises to the height of twenty-five or thirty + feet. The northwest side is very sloping and easy of ascent, + being at an angle of not more than thirty-five or forty + degrees. A more gloomy and hidden recess, even now, although + the forest-tree no longer waves over it, could hardly be + found by any inhabitant of the wilderness." + +Creeping cautiously to the summit of the rock, Captain Church looked +down over its precipitous edge upon the scene presented below. The +spectacle which opened to his view was wild and picturesque in the +extreme. He saw three bands of Indians at short distances from each +other, gathered around several fires. Their pots and kettles were +boiling, and meat was roasting upon the spits. Some of the Indians +were sleeping upon the ground, others were cooking, while others were +sitting alone and silent, and all seemed oppressed and melancholy. +Directly under the rock Annawan himself was lying, apparently asleep, +with his son by his side. The guns of the Indians were stacked at a +little distance from the fires, with mats spread over them to protect +them from the weather. It seemed impossible to descend the precipitous +face of the rock, and Captain Church accordingly crept back and +inquired of his guide if they could not approach by some other way. + +"No," answered the guide. "All who belong to Annawan's company are +ordered to approach by that entrance, and none can from any other +direction without danger of being shot." + +The old man and his daughter had left the encampment of Annawan upon +some mission; their return, therefore, would excite no suspicion. They +both had tule baskets bound to their backs. Captain Church directed +them to clamber down the rocks to the spot where Annawan was reposing. +Behind their shadow Church and two or three of his soldiers crept +also. The night was dark, and the expiring embers of Annawan's fire +but enabled the adventurers more securely to direct their steps. The +old chief, in a doze, with his son by his side, hearing the rustling +of the bushes, raised his eyes, and seeing the old Indian and his +daughter, suspected no danger, and again closed his eyes. In this +manner, supporting themselves by roots and vines, the small party +effected its descent undiscovered. Captain Church, with his hatchet in +his hand, stepped directly over the young man's head, and seized his +weapons and those of his father. The young Annawan, discovering +Captain Church, whipped his blanket over his head, and shrunk up in a +heap. Old Annawan, starting from his recumbent posture, and supposing +himself surrounded by the English army, exclaimed, "Ho-woh," _I am +taken_, and sank back upon the ground in despair. Their arms were +instantly secured, and perfect silence was commanded on pain of +immediate death. The Indians who had followed Captain Church down over +the rock, having received previous instructions, immediately hastened +to the other fires, and informed the Indians that their chief was +taken a captive; that they were surrounded by the English army, so +that escape was impossible; and that, at the slightest resistance, a +volley of bullets would be poured in upon them, which would mow them +all down. They were assured that if they would peacefully submit they +might expect the kindest treatment. + +As Church's Indians were all acquainted with Annawan's company, many +of them being relatives, the surprised party without hesitancy +surrendered both their guns and hatchets, and they were carried to +Captain Church. His whole force of six men was now assembled at one +spot, but the Indians still supposed that they were surrounded by a +powerful army in ambush, with loaded muskets pointed at them. Matters +being thus far settled, Annawan ordered an abundant supper to be +prepared of "cow beef and horse beef." Victors and vanquished partook +of this repast together. It was now thirty-six hours since Captain +Church and his men had had any sleep. Captain Church, overwhelmed with +responsibility and care, was utterly exhausted. He told his men that +if they would let him have a nap of two hours, he would then keep +watch for all the rest of the night, and they might sleep. He laid +himself down, but the excitement caused by his strange and perilous +position drove all slumber from his eyelids. He looked around him, and +soon the whole company was soundly sleeping, all excepting Annawan +himself. The Indian and the English chieftain lay side by side for an +hour, looking steadfastly at each other, neither uttering a word. +Captain Church could not speak Indian, and he supposed that Annawan +could not speak English. At length Annawan arose, laid aside his +blanket, and deliberately walked away. Almost before Captain Church +had time to collect his thoughts, he had disappeared in the midnight +gloom of the forest. Though all the arms of the Indians had been taken +from them, Captain Church was apprehensive that Annawan might by some +means obtain a gun and attempt some violence. He knew that pursuit +would be in vain in the darkness of the night and of the forest. + +Placing himself in such a position by the side of young Annawan that +any shot which should endanger him would equally endanger the son, he +remained for some time in great anxiety. At length he heard the sound +of approaching footsteps. Just then the moon broke from among the +clouds, and shone out with great brilliance. By its light he saw +Annawan returning, with something glittering in his hand. The +illustrious chieftain, coming up to Captain Church, presented him with +three magnificent belts of wampum, gorgeously embroidered with +flowers, and pictures of beasts and birds. They were articles of court +dress which had belonged to King Philip, and were nearly a foot wide +and eight or ten feet long. He also had in his hands two powder-horns +filled with powder, and a beautiful crimson blanket. Presenting these +to Captain Church, he said, in plain English, + +"Great captain, you have killed King Philip. I believe that I and my +company are the last that war against the English. I suppose the war +is ended by your means, and therefore these things belong to you. They +were Philip's royalties, with which he adorned himself when he sat in +state. I think myself happy in having an opportunity to present them +to you." + +Neither of these illustrious men could sleep amid the excitements of +these eventful hours. Annawan was an intelligent man, and was fully +conscious that a further continuance of the struggle was hopeless. +With the most confiding frankness, he entertained his conqueror with +the history of his life from his earliest childhood to the present +hour. The whole remainder of the night was spent in this discourse, in +which Annawan, with wonderfully graphic skill, described his feats of +arms in by-gone years, when, under Massasoit, Philip's father, he led +his warriors against hostile tribes. + +As soon as day dawned, Captain Church collected his men and his sixty +prisoners, and, emerging from the swamp, took up their march for +Taunton. They soon gained the Taunton road, about four miles from the +town, and there, according to appointment, met Lieutenant Howland, +with the men who had been left behind. They lodged at Taunton that +night. The next morning all the prisoners were sent forward to +Plymouth excepting Annawan. Captain Church was anxious to save his +life, and took the old chieftain with him to Rhode Island. After a few +days he returned with him to Plymouth. Captain Church plead earnestly +that Annawan's life might be spared, and supposing, without any doubt, +that this request would not be denied him, set out, after a few days, +in pursuit of another small band of Indians who were committing +robberies in the vicinity of Plymouth. + +The leader of this band was Tuspaquin, sachem of Namasket. At the +beginning of the conflict he had led three hundred warriors into the +field. He led the band which laid nineteen buildings in ashes in +Scituate on the twentieth of April, and which burned seventeen +buildings in Bridgewater on the eighth of May. Also, on the eleventh +of May, he had burned eleven houses and five barns in Plymouth. The +English were consequently exceedingly exasperated against him. +Tuspaquin had great renown among his soldiers. He had been in +innumerable perils, and had never been wounded. The Indians affirmed +that no bullet could penetrate his body; that they had often seen them +strike him and glance off. + +Intelligence had been brought to Plymouth that Tuspaquin was in the +vicinity of Sippican, now Rochester, doing great damage to the +inhabitants, killing their horses, cattle, and swine. + +Monday afternoon Captain Church set out in pursuit of him. The next +morning they discovered a trail in the forest, and, following it +noiselessly, they came to a place called Lakenham, where the thicket +was almost impenetrable. Smoke was discovered rising from this +thicket, and two Indians crept in to see what could be discovered. +They soon returned with a report that quite a party of Indians, mostly +women and children, were sitting silently around the embers. Captain +Church ordered every man to creep on his hands and feet until they had +formed a circle around the Indians, and then, at a given signal, to +make a rush, and take them all prisoners. The stratagem was entirely +successful. + +Captain Church found, to his extreme satisfaction, that he had +captured the wife and children of Tuspaquin, and most of his +relatives. They said that he had gone, with two other Indians, to +Wareham and Rochester to kill horses. Captain Church took all his +prisoners back to Plymouth except two old squaws. They were left at +the encampment with a good supply of food, and were directed to inform +Tuspaquin on his return that Captain Church had been there, and had +captured his wife and his children; that, if he would surrender +himself and his companions at Plymouth, they should be received +kindly, be well provided for, and he would employ them as his +soldiers. + +The next day Captain Church had occasion to go to Boston. Upon his +return after a few days, he found, to his extreme chagrin and grief, +that Tuspaquin had come in and surrendered; that both he and Annawan +had been tried as murderers, and had been condemned and executed. This +transaction can not be too severely condemned. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. + +1677-1678 + +End of the war in the Middle States.--Devastation in Maine.--Character +of Squando.--News of the war sent to York.--Attempt to release a +captive.--Unfulfilled promises.--Thomas Purchas.--Dislike of the +Indians.--His house plundered.--Narrow escape of his son.--A captive +child released by Squando.--Proceedings about Brunswick.--Attack upon +Saco.--Long-continued siege.--The assailants retire.--Attack upon +Scarborough.--Repulse of the Indians.--Sagadahock.--Behavior of the +Indians.--Absurdity.--Exertions to obtain a treaty.--Temporary +respite.--Route of the English.--Bravery of Lieutenant +Plaisted.--Sufferings of the Indians.--Atrocious conduct.--Just +complaints of the Indians.--They are refused ammunition.--War +resumed.--Capture of a fortress.--Mr. Lake killed.--Destruction of the +establishment.--Unprotected condition of the settlements.--Outrages on +the islands.--Aid sent from Massachusetts.--Arrival of friendly +Indians.--Perplexity of Major Waldron.--A stratagem.--Was it +right?--Disposition of the prisoners.--Massacre of scouts.--Treaty +concluded.--Expedition to Casco Bay.--Landing at Maquoit.--The party +sail for the Kennebec.--A conference.--Treachery discovered.--A fierce +fight.--Renewed depredations.--Peace implored.--Terms of the +treaty.--Terrible amount of misery created. + + +The war was now at an end in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, +as nearly all the hostile Indians were either killed, captured, or had +submitted to the mercy of their victors. A few hundred desperate +warriors, too proud to yield and too feeble to continue the fight, +fled in a body through the wilderness, beyond the Hudson, and were +blended with the tribes along the banks of the Mohawk and the shores +of the great lakes. There were also many bloody wretches, who, +conscious that their crimes were quite unpardonable, fled to the +almost impenetrable forests of the north and the east. + +In the remote districts of New Hampshire and Maine the war still raged +with unabated violence. Bands of savages were roving over the whole +territory, carrying conflagration and blood to the homes of the lonely +settlers. There were no large gatherings for battle, but prowling +companies of from two or three to a hundred spread terror and +devastation in all directions. + +At this period the towns and plantations in the State of Maine were +but thirteen. The English population was about six thousand; the +Indians, divided into many petty tribes, were probably about eighteen +thousand in number. These Indians had for some time been rather +unfriendly to the English, and an act of gross outrage roused them to +combine in co-operation with King Philip. An illustrious Indian, by +the name of Squando, was sachem of the Sokokis tribe, which occupied +the region in the vicinity of Saco. He was a man of great strength of +mind, elevation of character, and of singular gravity and +impressiveness of address. One day his wife was paddling down the +River Saco in a canoe, with her infant child. Some English sailors, +coming along in a boat, accosted her brutally, and, saying that they +had understood that Indian children could swim as naturally as young +ducks, overset the canoe. The infant sank like lead. The indignant +mother dove to the bottom and brought up her exhausted child alive, +but it soon after died. Squando was so exasperated by this outrage, +that, with his whole soul burning with indignation, he traversed the +wilderness to rouse the scattered tribes to a war of extermination +against the English. + +Just then the appalling tidings came of the breaking out of Philip's +war. The Plymouth colony sent a messenger to York to inform the +inhabitants of their danger, and to urge them to disarm the Indians, +and to sell them no more powder or shot. A party of volunteers was +immediately sent from York to ascend the Kennebec River, inform the +settlers along its banks of their impending danger, and ascertain the +disposition of the Indians. With a small vessel they entered the mouth +of the river, then called the Sagadahock, and ascended the stream for +several miles. Here they met twelve Indians, and, strange to relate, +induced them to surrender their guns. One of the Indians, more +spirited than the rest, was not disposed to yield to the demand, and, +becoming enraged, struck at one of the English party with his hatchet, +endeavoring to kill him. He was promptly arrested, bound, and confined +in a cellar. + +The Indians plead earnestly for his release, offering many apologies +for his crime. They said that he was subject to fits of insanity, and +that he was intoxicated. They offered to pay forty beavers' skins for +his ransom, and to leave hostages for his good behavior in the hands +of the English. Upon these terms the prisoner was released. They then, +in token of amity, partook of an abundant repast, smoked the pipe of +peace, and the Indians had a grand dance, with shouts and songs which +made the welkin ring. The promises of the Indians, however, were not +fulfilled. The hostages all run away, and not a beaver skin was ever +paid. + +A man by the name of Thomas Purchas had built him a hut in the lonely +wilderness, just below the Falls of the Androscoggin, in the present +town of Brunswick. His family dwelt alone in the midst of the +wilderness and the Indians. He purchased furs of the natives, and took +them in his canoe down to the settlements near the mouth of the +Sagadahock, from whence they were transported to England. He is +reputed to have been a hard-hearted, shrewd man, always sure to get +the best end of the bargain. The Indians all disliked him, and he +became the first sufferer in the war. + +On the 5th of September, a few months after the commencement of +hostilities in Swanzey, twenty Indians came to the house of Purchas +under the pretense of trading. Finding Purchas and his son both +absent, they robbed the house of every thing upon which they could +lay their hands. They found rum, and soon became frantically drunk. +There was a fine calf in the barn, and a few sheep at the door. The +Indians were adroit butchers. The veal and the mutton were soon +roasting upon their spits. They danced, they shouted, they clashed +their weapons in exultation, and the noise of the Falls was drowned in +the uproar of barbarian wassail. One of their exploits was to rip open +a feather bed for the pleasure of seeing the feathers float away in +the air. They, however, inflicted no violence upon Mrs. Purchas or her +children. + +In the midst of the scene, a son of Mr. Purchas was approaching home +upon horseback. Alarmed by the clamor, he cautiously drew near, and +was in consternation in view of the savage spectacle. Conscious that +his interposition could be of no possible avail, he fled for life. The +Indians caught sight of him, and one pursued him for some distance +with his gun, but he escaped. Soon after the Indians left, telling +Mrs. Purchas that others would soon come and treat them worse. + +There was an old man by the name of Wakely, who had settled near the +mouth of Presumpscot River, in Falmouth. His family consisted of nine +persons. A week after the robbery of Mr. Purchas's house, a band of +savages made a fierce onset upon this solitary cabin. They burnt the +house and killed all the family, except the youngest daughter, who was +about eleven years of age. This unfortunate child was carried away +captive, and for nine months was led up and down the wilderness, in +the endurance of all the horrors of savage life. At one time she was +led as far south as Narraganset Bay, which led to the supposition that +some of the Narraganset Indians were engaged in the capture. The +celebrated Squando, in whose character humanity and cruelty were most +singularly blended, took pity upon the child, rescued her, and +delivered her to the English at Dover. + +A family living several miles distant from Falmouth, at Casco Neck, +saw the smoke of the burning house, and the next day a file of men +repaired to the place. A scene of horror met their eye in the +smouldering ruins and the mangled corpses. The bodies of the slain the +savages had cut up in the most revolting manner. The tidings of these +outrages spread rapidly, and the settlers, in their solitary homes, +were plunged into a state of great dismay. + +There were at this time in Brunswick two or three families who had +erected their houses upon the banks of New Meadows. A party of +twenty-five English set out from Casco in a sloop and two boats, +sailed along the bay, and entered the river. The inhabitants had +already fled, and the Indians were there, about thirty in number, +rifling the houses. Seeing the approach of the English, they concealed +themselves in an ambush. When the English had advanced but a few rods +from their boats, the savages rushed upon them with hideous yells, +wounded several, drove them all back to their sloop, and captured two +boat-loads of Indian corn. + +Emboldened by their success, a few days after, on the 18th of +September, they made a bold attack upon Saco. A friendly Indian +informed Captain Bonython, who lived on the east side of the river, +about half a mile below the Lower Falls, that a conspiracy was formed +to attack the town. The alarm was immediately communicated to all the +settlers, and in a panic they abandoned their houses, and took refuge +in the garrison house of Major Phillips, which was on the other side +of the river. The Indians, unaware that their plot was discovered, +came the same night and established themselves in ambush. The +assailants were not less than one hundred in number. There were fifty +persons, men, women, and children, in the garrison, of whom but ten +were effective men. At eleven o'clock in the morning they commenced +the assault. The besieged defended themselves with great energy, and +many of the savages fell before their unerring aim. The savages at +length attempted to set fire to the house, after having assailed it +with a storm of shot all the day, and through the night until four in +the morning. They filled a cart with birch bark, straw, and powder, +and, setting this on fire, endeavored to push it against the house +with long poles. They had ingeniously constructed upon the cart a +barricade of planks, which protected those who pushed it against the +fire of the house. When they had got within pistol shot, one wheel +became clogged in a rut, and the other wheel going, whirled the cart +around, so as to expose the whole party to a fatal fire. Six men +almost instantly fell dead, and before the rest could escape, fifteen +of them were wounded. Disheartened by this disaster, the rest sullenly +retired. + +Soon after this, Phillips abandoned his exposed situation, and his +house was burned down by the savages. On the 20th the Indians attacked +Scarborough, destroyed twenty-seven houses, and killed several of the +inhabitants. The principal settlement in Saco was at Winter Harbor. +Many families in the vicinity had fled to that place for refuge. They +were all in great danger of being cut off by the savages. A party of +sixteen volunteers from South Berwick took a sloop and hastened to +their rescue. As they were landing upon the beach, they were assailed +by one hundred and fifty of their fierce foes. The English, +overpowered by numbers, were in great danger of being cut off to a +man, when they succeeded in gaining a shelter behind a pile of logs. +From this breastwork they opened such a deadly fire upon their +thronging foes that the Indians were compelled to retire with a loss +of many of their number. The inhabitants of the garrison, hearing the +report of the guns, sent a party of nine to aid their friends. These +men unfortunately fell into an ambush, and by a single discharge every +one was cut down. This same band then ravaged the settlements in +Wells, Hampton, Exeter, and South Berwick. + +Great exertions had been made to prevent the Indians upon the Kennebec +from engaging in these hostilities. About ten miles from the mouth of +the Sagadahock is the beautiful island of Arrowsic. It is so called +from an Indian who formerly lived upon it. Two Boston merchants, +Messrs. Clark and Lake, had purchased this island, which contains many +thousand acres of fertile land. They had erected several large +dwellings, with a warehouse, a fort, and many other edifices near the +water-side. It was a very important place for trade, being equally +accessible by canoes to all the Indians on the Androscoggin, Kennebec, +and Sheepscot. Captain Davis was the general agent for the proprietors +upon this island. + +The Indians in all this region were daily becoming more cold and +sullen. Captain Davis, to conciliate them, sent a messenger up all +these rivers to invite the Indians to come down and live near him, +assuring them that he would protect them from all mischief, and would +sell them every needed supply at the fairest prices. The messenger, +thinking to add to the force of the invitation, overstepping his +instructions, threatened them that if they did not accede to his +request the English would come and kill them all. This so alarmed the +Indians that they fled to the banks of the Penobscot, which was then +in possession of the French. Here they held a general council. + +Mr. Abraham Shurte was chief magistrate of the flourishing plantation +of Pemaquid. He was a man of integrity, of humanity, and of great good +sense. By indefatigable exertions, he succeeded in obtaining an +interview with the sachems, and entered into a treaty of peace with +them. In consequence of this treaty, the general court of Boston +ordered considerable sums of money to be disbursed to those Indians +who would become the subjects or allies of the colony. There was thus +a temporary respite of hostilities in this section of the country. +Upon the banks of the Piscataquis, however, the warfare still +continued unabated. On the 16th of October, one hundred Indians +assailed a house in South Berwick, burned it to the ground, killed the +master of the house, and carried his son into captivity. Lieutenant +Plaisted, commander of the garrison, viewing the massacre from a +distance, dispatched nine men to reconnoitre the movements of the +enemy. They fell into an ambuscade, and three were shot down, and the +others with difficulty escaped. + +The next day Lieutenant Plaisted ordered out a team to bring in the +bodies for interment. He himself led twenty men as a guard. As they +were placing the bodies in a cart, a party of one hundred and fifty +savages rushed upon them from a thicket, showering a volley of bullets +upon the soldiers. The wounded oxen took fright and ran. A fierce +fight ensued. Most of the soldiers retreated and regained the +garrison. Lieutenant Plaisted, too proud to fly or to surrender, +fought till he was literally hewn in pieces by the hatchets of the +Indians. His two sons also, worthy of their father, fought till one +was slain, and the other, covered with wounds of which he soon died, +escaped. The Indians then ravaged the regions around, plundering, +burning, and killing. + +The storms of winter now came with intense cold, and the snow covered +the ground four feet deep upon a level. The weather compelled a truce. +Though the Indians, during this short campaign, had killed eighty of +the English, had burned many houses, and had committed depredations to +an incalculable amount, still they themselves were suffering perhaps +even more severely. They had no provisions, and no means of purchasing +any. There was but little game in these northern forests, and the snow +was too deep for hunting. Their ammunition was consumed, and they knew +not how to obtain any more. Thus they were starving and almost +helpless. Under these circumstances, they manifested a strong desire +for peace. There were, however, individuals of the English who, by the +commission of the most infamous outrages, fanned anew the flames of +war. + +Early in the spring, one Laughton had obtained a warrant from the +court in Massachusetts to seize any of the Eastern Indians who had +robbed or murdered any of the English. This Laughton, a vile +kidnapper, under cover of this warrant, lured a number of Indians at +Pemaquid on board his vessel. None of them were accused of any crime, +and it is not known that they had committed any. He enticed them +below, fastened the hatches upon them, and carried them to the West +Indies, where they were sold as slaves. This fact was notorious; and, +though the government condemned the deed, and did what it could to +punish the offender, still the unenlightened Indians considered the +whole white race responsible for the crimes of the individual +miscreant. + +Some of the Indian chiefs went to Pemaquid to confer with Mr. Shurte, +in whom they reposed much confidence. Their complaint was truly +touching. + +"Our brothers," said they, "are treacherously caught, carried into +foreign parts, and sold as slaves. Last fall you frightened us from +our corn-fields on the Kennebec. You have withholden powder and shot +from us, so that we can not kill any game; and thus, during the +winter, many have died of starvation." + +Mr. Shurte did what he could to conciliate them, and proposed a +council. It was soon convened. The Indians appeared fair and +honorable, but they said they must have powder and shot; that, without +those articles, they could have no success in the chase, and they must +starve. + +"Where," exclaimed Madockawando, earnestly and impatiently, "shall we +buy powder and shot for our winter's hunting when we have eaten up all +our corn? Shall we leave Englishmen and apply to the French, or shall +we let our Indians die? We have waited long to have you tell us, and +now we want yes or no." + +To this the English could only reply, "You admit that the Western +Indians do not wish for peace. Should you let them have the powder we +sell you, what do we better than to cut our own throats? This is the +best answer we can return to you, though you should wait ten years." + +At this the chiefs took umbrage, declined any farther talk, and the +conference was broken up angrily. War was soon resumed in all its +horrors. + +Early in August a numerous band of savages made an incursion upon +Casco Neck and swept it of its inhabitants. Thirty-four of the +colonists were either killed or carried into captivity. On the 14th of +August, two days after King Philip was slain in the swamp at Mount +Hope, a party of Indians landed from their canoes upon the southeast +corner of the island of Arrowsic, near the spot where the fort stood. +They concealed themselves behind a great rock, and, with true Indian +cunning, notwithstanding the sentinels, succeeded in creeping within +the spacious inclosure which constituted the fortress. They then +opened a sudden and simultaneous fire upon all who were within sight. +The garrison, thus taken by midnight surprise, were in a state of +terrible consternation. A hand to hand fight ensued of the utmost +ferocity. The Indians, however, soon overpowered their opponents and +applied the torch. Captain Davis, who was in command of the fort, with +Mr. Lake, who was one of the owners of the island, escaped with two +others from the massacre by a back passage, and, rushing to the +water's edge, sprang into a canoe and endeavored to reach another +island. The savages, however, pursued them, and, taking deliberate aim +as they were paddling to the opposite shore, killed Mr. Lake, and +wounded Mr. Davis, so as to render him helpless, just as he was +stepping upon the shore. The savages then took a canoe and crossed in +pursuit of their victims. Captain Davis succeeded in hiding himself in +the cleft of a rock, and eluded their search. Here he remained for two +days, until after the savages had left, and then, finding an old canoe +upon the beach, he succeeded in paddling himself across the water to +the main land, where he was rescued. The other two who were not +wounded, plunging into the forest, also effected their escape. + +The exultant savages rioted in the destruction of the beautiful +establishment upon Arrowsic. The spacious mansion house, the +fortifications, the mills, and all the out-buildings, were burned to +the ground. Works which had cost the labor of years, and the +expenditure of thousands of pounds, were in an hour destroyed, and the +whole island was laid desolate. Thirty-five persons were either killed +or carried into captivity. The dismay which now pervaded the +plantations in Maine was terrible. The settlers were very much +scattered; there was no place of safety, and it was impossible, under +the circumstances, for the court in Massachusetts to send them any +effectual relief. Most of the inhabitants upon the Sheepscot River +sought refuge in the fort at Newagen. The people at Pemaquid fled on +board their vessels; some sailed for Boston; others crossed over to +the island of Monhegan, where they strongly fortified themselves. They +had hardly left their flourishing little village of Pemaquid ere dark +columns of smoke informed them that the savages were there, and that +their homes were in a blaze. In one month, fifty miles east of Casco +Bay were laid utterly desolate. The inhabitants were either massacred, +carried into captivity, or had fled by water to the settlements in +Massachusetts. + +Many of the beautiful islands in Casco Bay had a few English settlers +upon them. The Indians paddled from one to another in their canoes, +and the inhabitants generally fell easy victims to their fury. A few +families were gathered upon Jewell's Island, in a fortified house. On +the 2d of September a party of Indians landed upon the island for +their destruction. Several of the men were absent from the island in +search of Indian corn, and few were left in the garrison excepting +women and children. A man was in his boat at a short distance from the +shore fishing, while his wife was washing clothes by the river side, +surrounded by her children. Suddenly the savages sprang upon them, and +took them all captives before the eyes of the husband and father, who +could render no assistance. One of the little boys, shrieking with +terror, ran into the water, calling upon his father for help. An +Indian grasped him, and, as the distracted father presented his gun, +the savage held up the child as a shield, and thus prevented the +father from firing. A brave boy in the garrison shot three of the +Indians from the loop-holes. Soon assistance came from one of the +neighboring islands, and the Indians were driven to their canoes, +after having killed two of the inhabitants and taken five captives. + +In this state of things, Massachusetts sent two hundred men, with +forty Natick Indians, to Dover, then called Cocheco, from whence they +were to march into Maine and New Hampshire, wherever they could be +most serviceable. Here they met unexpectedly about four hundred +Indians, who had come from friendly tribes professedly to join them +in friendly coalition. The English had offered to receive all who in +good faith would become their allies. Many, however, of these men were +atrocious wretches, whose hands were red with the blood of the +English. Others were desperate fellows, who had ravaged Plymouth, +Connecticut, and Massachusetts under King Philip, and, upon his +discomfiture, had fled to continue their barbarities in the remote +districts of New Hampshire and Maine. + +Major Waldron, who had command of the English troops, was in great +perplexity. Many of the Indians of this heterogeneous band had come +together in good faith, relying upon his honor and fidelity. But the +English soldiers, remembering the savage cruelties of perhaps the +majority, were impatient to fall upon them indiscriminately with gun +and bayonet. In this dilemma, Major Waldron adopted the following +stratagem, which was by some applauded, and by others censured. + +He proposed a sham fight, in which the Indians were to be upon one +side and the English upon the other. In the course of the +manoeuvres, he so contrived it that the Indians gave a grand +discharge. At that moment, his troops surrounded and seized their +unsuspecting victims, and took them all prisoners, without the loss of +a man on either side. He then divided them into classes with as much +care as, under the circumstances, could be practiced, though doubtless +some mistakes were made. All the fugitives from King Philip's band, +and all the Indians in the vicinity who had been recently guilty of +bloodshed or outrage, were sent as prisoners to Boston. Here they were +tried; seven or eight were executed; the rest, one hundred and +ninety-two in number, were transported to the West Indies and sold as +slaves. + +This measure excited very earnest discussion in the colony. Many +condemned it as atrocious, others defended it as a necessity; but the +Indians universally were indignant. Even those, two hundred in number, +who were set at liberty as acting in good faith, declared that it was +an act of infamy which they would never forget nor forgive. The next +day these troops proceeded by water to Falmouth, touching at important +points by the way. + +On the 23d of September, a scouting party of seven visited Mountjoy's +Island. An Indian party fell upon them, and all were massacred. These +men were all heads of families, and their deaths occasioned +wide-spread woe. Two days after this, on the 25th, a large party of +Indians ravaged Cape Neddock, in the town of York, and killed or +carried into captivity forty persons. The cruelties they practiced +upon the inhabitants are too revolting to be described. + +Winter now set in again with tremendous severity. All parties +experienced unheard-of sufferings. An Indian chieftain by the name of +Mugg, notorious for his sagacity and his mercilessness, now came to +the Piscataqua River and proposed peace. The English were eager to +accept any reasonable terms. On the 6th of November the treaty was +concluded. Its terms were these: + + 1. All acts of hostility shall cease. + + 2. English captives and property shall be restored. + + 3. Full satisfaction shall be rendered to the English for + damages received. + + 4. The Indians shall purchase ammunition only of those whom + the governor shall appoint. + + 5. Certain notorious murderers were to be surrendered to the + English. + + 6. The sachems included in the treaty engaged to take arms + against Indians who should still persist in the war. + +Notwithstanding this treaty, the aspect of affairs still seemed very +gloomy. The Indians were sullen, the conduct of Mugg was very +suspicious, threats of the renewal of hostilities were continually +reaching the English, and but few captives were restored. Appearances +continued so alarming that, on the 7th of February, 1677, a party of +one hundred and fifty English and sixty Natick Indians sailed for +Casco Bay and the mouth of the Kennebec, to overawe the Indians and to +rescue the English captives who might be in their hands. On the 18th +of February, Captain Waldron, who commanded this expedition, landed +upon Mair Point, about three miles below Maquoit, in Brunswick. They +had hardly landed ere they were hailed by a party of Indians. After a +few words of parley, in which the Indians appeared far from friendly, +they retired, and the English sought for them in vain. About noon the +next day a flotilla of fourteen canoes was discovered out in the bay +pulling for the shore. The savages landed, and in a few moments a +house was seen in flames. The English party hastened to the rescue, +fell upon the savages from an unexpected quarter, and killed or +wounded several. A flag of truce was presented, which produced another +parley. + +"Why," inquired Captain Waldron, "do you not bring in the English +captives as you promised, and why do you set fire to our houses, and +begin again the war?" + +"The captives," the Indians replied, "are a great way off, and we can +not bring them through the snow; and your soldiers fired upon us +first; the house took fire by accident. These are our answers to you." + +Captain Waldron, unwilling to exasperate the Indians by useless +bloodshed, and finding that no captives could be recovered, sailed to +the mouth of the Kennebec, then the Sagadahock. Here he established a +garrison on the eastern bank of the river, opposite the foot of +Arrowsic Island. With the remainder of his force he proceeded in two +vessels to Pemaquid. Here he met a band of Indians, and sending to +them a flag of truce, which they respected, the two parties entered +into a conference. The Indians, under the guise of peace, were +plotting a general massacre. Though both parties had agreed to meet +without arms, the savages had concealed a number of weapons, which at +a given signal they could grasp. + +Captain Waldron, suspecting treachery, was looking around with an +eagle eye, when he saw peering from the leaves the head of a lance. +Going directly to the spot, he saw a large number of weapons +concealed. He immediately brandished one in the air, exclaiming, + +"Perfidious wretches! You intended to massacre us all." + +A stout Indian sprang forward and endeavored to wrest the weapon from +Waldron's hand. Immediately a scene of terrible confusion ensued. All +engaged in a hand to hand fight, with any weapons which could be +grasped. The Indians were soon overcome, and fled, some to the woods +and others to their canoes. Eleven Indians were killed in this fray, +and five were taken captive. The expedition then returned to Arrowsic, +where they put on board their vessels some guns, anchors, and other +articles which had escaped the flames, and then set sail for Boston. + +As soon as the snow melted, the savages renewed their depredations, +but Maine was now nearly depopulated. With the exception of the +garrison opposite Arrowsic, there was no settlement east of Portland. +There was a small fort at Casco, and a few people in garrison at Black +Point and Winter Harbor. A few intrepid settlers still remained in the +towns of York, Wells, Kittery, and South Berwick. The Indians +harassed them during the whole summer with robberies, conflagrations, +and murders. Winter again came with its storms and its intensity of +cold. The united sagamores now, with apparent sincerity, implored +peace. On the 12th of February, 1678, Squando, with all the sachems of +the tribes upon the Androscoggin and the Kennebec, met the +commissioners from Massachusetts at the fort at Casco. The English +were so anxious for peace that they agreed to the following terms, +which many considered very humiliating, but which were nevertheless +vastly preferable to the longer continuance of this horrible warfare. + + 1. The captives were to be immediately released, without + ransom. + + 2. All offenses on both sides, of every kind, were to be + forgiven and forgotten. + + 3. The English were to pay the Indians, as rent for the + land, a peck of corn for every English family, and for Major + Phillips, of Saco, who was a great proprietor, a bushel of + corn. + +Thus this dreadful war was brought to a close. It is estimated that +during its continuance six hundred men lost their lives, twelve +hundred houses were burned, and eight thousand cattle destroyed. But +the amount of misery created can never be told or imagined. The +midnight assault, the awful conflagration, the slaughter of women and +children, the horrors of captivity in the wilderness, the +impoverishment and moaning of widows and orphans, the diabolical +torture, piercing the wilderness with the shrill shriek of mortal +agony, the terror, universal and uninterrupted by day or by +night--all, all combined in composing a scene in the awful tragedy of +human life which the mind of Deity alone can comprehend. + + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +1. Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors and to +ensure consistent spelling and punctuation in this etext; otherwise, +every effort has been made to remain true to the original book. + +2. 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C. (John Stevens Cabot) Abbott</title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + td {vertical-align: top;} + + hr.large {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + hr.tiny {width: 14%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;} + + div.centered {text-align:center;} /*work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 1 */ + div.centered table {margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; text-align:left;} /* work around for IE problem part 2 */ + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + .gap {margin-top: 3.5em;} + .smallgap {margin-top: 1.9em;} + .n {text-indent:0%;} + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: solid 1px;} + .sidenote2 {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1.8em; + font-size: smaller; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: solid 1px;} + + .bbox {border: none;} + .centerbox {width: 23em; /* heading box */ + margin: 0 auto; + text-align: center;} + .centerbox2 {width: 22em; /* heading box */ + margin: 0 auto; + text-align: center;} + .centerbox3 {width: 18em; /* heading box */ + margin: 0 auto; + text-align: center;} + .centerbox5 {width: 27em; /* heading box */ + margin: 0 auto; + text-align: center;} + + .left {margin-left: 50%;} + .ispace {margin-top: 2em;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold; font-size: 95%} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i1 {display: block; margin-left: 1em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i3 {display: block; margin-left: 3em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 85%;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, King Philip, by John S. C. (John Stevens +Cabot) Abbott</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: King Philip</p> +<p> Makers of History</p> +<p>Author: John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot) Abbott</p> +<p>Release Date: July 22, 2009 [eBook #29494]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KING PHILIP***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by D Alexander<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2>Makers of History</h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<h1>King Philip</h1> + +<h2><span class="smcap">By</span> JOHN S. C. ABBOTT</h2> + +<p class="center">WITH ENGRAVINGS</p> + +<p class="smallgap"> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 124px;"> +<img src="images/i001.jpg" width="124" height="150" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="smallgap"> </p> + +<p class="center">NEW YORK AND LONDON<br /> +HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS<br /> +1901 +</p> + +<hr class="large" /> + +<p class="center">Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight<br /> +hundred and fifty-seven, by</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Harper & Brothers,</span></p> + +<p class="center">in the Clerk's office of the District Court of the Southern District of<br /> +New York.</p> +<p class="center">Copyright, 1885, by <span class="smcap">Susan Abbot Mead</span>.</p> + +<hr class="large" /> +<p><a name="Frontispiece" id="Frontispiece"></a></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/i003.jpg" class="ispace" width="500" height="357" alt="PLYMOUTH BAY, AS SEEN BY THE INDIANS." title="" /> +<span class="caption">PLYMOUTH BAY, AS SEEN BY THE INDIANS.</span> +</div> + +<hr class="large" /> +<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE.</h2> + +<p>Few, even of our most intelligent men, if we except those who are +devoted to literary pursuits, are acquainted with the adventures which +our forefathers encountered in the settlement of New England. The +claims of business are now so exacting, that those whose time is +engrossed by its cares have but little leisure for extensive reading, +and yet there is no American who does not desire to be familiar with +the early history of his own country. The writer, with great labor, +has collected from widely-spread materials, and condensed into this +narrative of the career of King Philip, those incidents in our early +history which he has supposed would be most interesting and +instructive to the general reader. He has spared no pains in the +endeavor to be accurate. In the rude annals of those early days there +is often obscurity, and sometimes contradiction, in the dates. Such +dates have been adopted as have appeared, after careful examination, +to be most reliable.</p> + +<p>The writer can not refrain, in this connection, from acknowledging the +obligations he is under to his friend and neighbor, John M'Keen, Esq., +to whose extensive and accurate acquaintance with the early history of +this country he is indebted for many of the materials which have aided +him in the preparation of this work.</p> + +<p class="left"><span class="smcap">John S. C. Abbott.</span></p> +<p>Brunswick, Maine, 1857.</p> + +<hr class="large" /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" width="70%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" summary="CONTENTS"> + +<tr> +<td align="right">Chapter</td> +<td align="left"> </td> +<td align="right">Page</td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">I.</td> +<td align="left">LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#KING_PHILIP">13</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">II.</td> +<td align="left">MASSASOIT</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_II">46</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">III.</td> +<td align="left">CLOUDS OF WART</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_III">80</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">IV.</td> +<td align="left">THE PEQUOT WAR</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_IV">110</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">V.</td> +<td align="left">COMMENCEMENT OF THE REIGN OF KING PHILIP</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_V">156</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">VI.</td> +<td align="left">COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_VI">187</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">VII.</td> +<td align="left">AUTUMN AND WINTER CAMPAIGNS</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_VII">220</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">VIII.</td> +<td align="left">CAPTIVITY OF MRS. ROWLANDSON</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_VIII">254</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">IX.</td> +<td align="left">THE INDIANS VICTORIOUS</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_IX">292</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">X.</td> +<td align="left">THE VICISSITUDES OF WAR</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_X">321</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XI.</td> +<td align="left">DEATH OF KING PHILIP</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_XI">353</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XII.</td> +<td align="left">CONCLUSION OF THE WAR</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Chapter_XII">385</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr class="large" /> +<h2>ENGRAVINGS.</h2> +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" width="70%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" summary="ENGRAVINGS"> + +<tr> +<td align="left"> </td> +<td align="right">Page</td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left">PLYMOUTH BAY, AS SEEN BY THE PILGRIMS</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Frontispiece"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left">THE FIRST ENCOUNTER</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_26">26</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left">SAMOSET, THE INDIAN VISITOR</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_48">48</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left">MASSASOIT AND HIS WARRIORS</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left">THE PALACE OF MASSASOIT</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_68">68</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left">THE DEATH OF ALEXANDER</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_169">169</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left">THE BATTLE IN TIVERTON</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_210">210</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left">CAPTURE OF THE INDIAN FORTRESS</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_247">247</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left">CAPTIVITY OF MRS. ROWLANDSON</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_270">270</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left">THE DESTRUCTION OF SUDBURY</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_311">311</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left">THE INDIAN AMBUSH</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_315">315</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left">THE DEATH OF PHILIP</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_360">360</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="KING_PHILIP" id="KING_PHILIP"></a>KING PHILIP.</h2> + +<h2><a name="Chapter_I" id="Chapter_I"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter I.</span></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Landing of the Pilgrims.</span></h3> + +<p class="center">1620-1621</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Arrival of the Mayflower.</div> + +<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:50px;line-height:32px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">O</span><span style="margin-left:0%;">n</span> the 11th of November, 1620, the storm-battered Mayflower, with its +band of one hundred and one Pilgrims, first caught sight of the barren +sand-hills of Cape Cod. The shore presented a cheerless scene even for +those weary of a more than four months voyage upon a cold and +tempestuous sea. But, dismal as the prospect was, after struggling for +a short time to make their way farther south, embarrassed by a leaky +ship and by perilous shoals appearing every where around them, they +were glad to make a harbor at the extremity of the unsheltered and +verdureless cape. Before landing, they chose Mr. John Carver, "a pious +and well-approved gentleman," as the governor of their little republic +for the first year. While the carpenter was fitting up the boat to +explore the interior bend of the land which forms Cape Cod Bay, in +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>search of a more attractive place of settlement, sixteen of their +number set out on foot on a short tour of discovery. They were all +well armed, to guard against any attack from the natives.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Explorations.<br />Captain Weymouth.<br />Indian captives.</div> + +<p>Cautiously the adventurers followed along the western shore of the +Cape toward the south, when suddenly they came in sight of five +Indians. The natives fled with the utmost precipitation. They had +heard of the white men, and had abundant cause to fear them. But a few +years before, in 1605, Captain Weymouth, on an exploring tour along +the coast of Maine, very treacherously kidnapped five of the natives, +and took them with him back to England. This act, which greatly +exasperated the natives, and which led to subsequent scenes of +hostility and blood, it may be well here to record. It explains the +reception which the Pilgrims first encountered.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Enticing the natives.<br />The seizure.<br />Trophies.<br />Necessity for caution.</div> + +<p>Captain Weymouth had been trafficking with the natives for some time +in perfect friendship. One day six Indians came to the ship in two +canoes, three in each. Three were enticed on board the ship, and were +shut up in the cabin. The other three, a little suspicious of danger, +refused to leave their canoe, but, receiving a can <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>of pease and +bread, paddled to the shore, where they built a fire, and sat down to +their entertainment. A boat strongly manned was then sent to the shore +from the ship with enticing presents, and a platter of food of which +the Indians were particularly fond. One of the natives, more cautious +than the rest, upon the approach of the boat, retired to the woods; +the other two met the party cordially. They all walked up to the fire +and sat down, in apparent friendship, to eat their food together. +There were six Englishmen and two naked, helpless natives. At a given +signal, while their unsuspecting victims were gazing at some +curiosities in a box, the English sprang upon them, three to each man. +The natives, young, vigorous, and lithe as eels, struggled with +Herculean energy. The kidnappers, finding it difficult to hold them by +their naked limbs, seized them by the long hair of their heads, and +thus the terrified creatures were dragged into the boats and conveyed +to the ship. Soon after this Captain Weymouth weighed anchor, and the +five captives were taken to England. He also took, as trophies of his +victory, the two canoes, and the bows and arrows of these Indians. +Sundry outrages of a similar character had been perpetrated by +European <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>adventurers all along the New England coast. The Pilgrims +were well aware of these facts, and consequently they were not +surprised at the flight of the Indians, and felt, themselves, the +necessity of guarding against a hostile attack.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Discovery of a wigwam.</div> + +<p>The English pursued the fugitives vigorously for many miles, but were +unable to overtake them. At last night came on. They built a camp, +kindled a fire, established a watch, and slept soundly until the next +morning. They then continued their course, following along in the +track of the Indians. After some time they came to the remains of an +Indian wigwam, surrounded by an old corn-field. Finding concealed here +several baskets filled with ears of corn, they took the grain, so +needful for them, intending, should they ever meet the Indians, to pay +them amply for it. With this as the only fruit of their expedition, +they returned to the ship.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">New enterprises.</div> + +<p>Soon after their return preparations were completed for a more +important enterprise. The shallop was launched, and well provided with +arms and provisions, and thirty of the ship's company embarked for an +extensive survey of the coast. They slowly crept along the barren +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>shore, stopping at various points, but they could meet with no +natives, and could find no harbor for their ship, and no inviting +place for a settlement. Drifting sands and gloomy evergreens, through +which the autumnal winds ominously sighed, alone met the eye. They +discovered a few deserted dwellings of the Indians, but could catch no +sight of the terrified natives. After several days of painful search, +they returned disheartened to the ship.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The return of the explorers.</div> + +<p>It was now the 6th of December, and the cold winds of approaching +winter began to sweep over the water, which seemed almost to surround +them. Imagination can hardly conceive a more bleak and dreary spot +than the extremity of Cape Cod. It was manifest to all that it was no +place for the establishment of a colony, and that, late as it was in +the year, they must, at all hazards, continue their search for a more +inviting location. Previous explorers had entered Cape Cod Bay, and +had given a general idea of the sweep of the coast.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">New expedition.<br />Sight of some Indians.<br />Cheerless encampment.</div> + +<p>A new expedition was now energetically organized, to proceed with all +speed in a boat along the coast in search of a harbor. The wind, in +freezing blasts, swept across the bay as they spread their sail. Their +frail boat was small <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>and entirely open, and the spray, which ever +dashed over these hardy pioneers, glazed their coats with ice. They +soon lost sight of the ship, and, skirting the coast, were driven +rapidly along by the fair but piercing wind. The sun went down, and +dark night was approaching. They had been looking in vain for some +sheltered cove into which to run to pass the night, when, in the +deepening twilight, they discerned twelve Indians standing upon the +shore. They immediately turned their boat toward the land, and the +Indians as immediately fled. The sandy beach upon which their boat +grounded was entirely exposed to the billows of the ocean. With +difficulty they drew their boat high upon the sand, that it might not +be broken by the waves, and prepared to make themselves as comfortable +as possible. It was, indeed, a cheerless encampment for a cold, windy +December night. Fortunately there was wood in abundance with which to +build a fire, and they also piled up for themselves a slight +protection against the wind and against a midnight attack. Then, +having commended themselves to God in prayer, they established a +watch, and sought such repose as fatigue and their cold, hard couch +could furnish.</p> + +<p>The night passed away without any alarm. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>In the morning they divided +their numbers, one half taking the boat, and the others following +along upon foot on the shore. Thus they continued their explorations +another day, but could find no suitable place for a settlement. During +the day they saw many traces of inhabitants, but did not obtain sight +of a single native.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Discoveries.</div> + +<p>They found two houses, from which the occupants had evidently but +recently escaped. The following is the description which the +adventurers gave of these wigwams, in the quaint English of two +hundred years ago:</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Quaint description of the huts.<br />Interior of the hut, and what was found.<br />Good intentions not realized.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Whilest we were thus ranging and searching, two of the +Saylers which were newly come on the shore by chance espied +two houses which had beene lately dwelt in, but the people +were gone. They having their peeces and hearing no body +entred the houses and tooke out some things, and durst not +stay but came again and told vs; so some seaven or eight of +vs went with them, and found how we had gone within a slight +shot of them before. The houses were made with long yong +Sapling trees bended and both ends stucke into the ground; +they were made round like unto an Arbour and covered down to +the ground with thicke and well wrought matts, and the doors +were not over a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>yard high made of a matt to open; the +chimney was a wide open hole in the top, for which they had +a matt to cover it close when they pleased. One might stand +and go upright in them; in the midst of them were four +little trunches knockt into the ground, and small stickes +laid over on which they hung their Pots, and what they had +to seeth. Round about the fire they lay on matts which are +their beds. The houses were double matted, for as they were +matted without so were they within, with newer and fairer +matts. In the houses we found wooden Boules, Trayes & +Dishes, Earthen Pots, Hand baskets made of Crab shells, +wrought together; also an English Pail or Bucket; it wanted +a bayle, but it had two iron eares. There was also Baskets +of sundry sorts, bigger and some lesser, finer and some +coarser. Some were curiously wrought with blacke and white +in pretie workes, and sundry other of their houshold stuffe. +We found also two or three Deeres heads, one whereof had +been newly killed, for it was still fresh. There was also a +company of Deeres feete stuck vp in the houses, Harts +hornes, and Eagles clawes, and sundry such like things there +was; also two or three baskets full of parched Acorns, +peeces of fish and a peece of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>a broyled Hering. We found +also a little silk grasse and a little Tobacco seed with +some other seeds which wee knew not. Without was sundry +bundles of Flags and Sedge, Bull-rushes and other stuffe to +make matts. There was thrust into a hollow tree two or three +pieces of venison, but we thought it fitter for the Dogs +than for us. Some of the best things we took away with us, +and left their houses standing still as they were. So it +growing towards night, and the tyde almost spent we hastened +with our things down to the shallop, and got aboard that +night, intending to have brought some Beades and other +things to have left in the houses in signe of Peace and that +we meant to truk with them, but it was not done by means of +our hasty comming away from Cape Cod; but so soon as we can +meet conveniently with them we will give them full +satisfaction."</p></div> + +<div class="sidenote">Another stormy night.</div> + +<p>As they returned to their boat the sun again went down, and another +gloomy December night darkened over the houseless wanderers. No cove, +no creek even, opened its friendly arms to receive them. They again +dragged their boat upon the beach. A dense forest was behind them, the +bleak ocean before them. As they feared no surprise from the side of +the water, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>they merely threw up a slight rampart of logs to protect +them from an attack from the side of the forest. They again united in +their evening devotions, established their night-watch, and, with a +warm fire blazing at their feet, fell soundly asleep. Through the long +night the wind sighed through the tree-tops and the waves broke upon +the shore. No other sounds disturbed their slumber.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Morning preparations.</div> + +<p>The next morning they rose before the dawn of day and prepared +anxiously to continue their search. The morning was dark and stormy. A +drizzling rain, which had been falling nearly all night, had soaked +their blankets and their clothing; the ocean looked black and angry, +and sheets of mist were driven by the chill wind over earth and sea. +The Pilgrims bowed reverently together in their morning prayer, +partook of their frugal meal, and some of them had carried their guns, +wrapped in blankets, down to the boat, when suddenly a fearful yell +burst from the forest, and a shower of arrows fell upon their +encampment.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A fearful attack.<br />Protection of the English.<br />Power of the Indians.</div> + +<p>The English party consisted of but eighteen; but they were heroic men. +Carver, Bradford, Winslow, and Standish were of their number. Four +muskets only were left within their frail <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>intrenchments. By the rapid +and well-directed discharge of these, they, however, kept the Indians +at bay until those who had carried their guns to the boat succeeded in +regaining them, notwithstanding the shower of arrows which fell so +thickly around. The thick clothing with which the English were +covered, to protect themselves from the cold and the rain, were almost +as coats of mail to ward off the comparatively feeble weapons of the +natives. A very fierce conflict now ensued. The English were almost +entirely unprotected, and were exposed to every arrow. The Indians +were each stationed behind some large forest-tree, which effectually +sheltered him from the bullets of his antagonists. Under these +circumstances, the advantage was probably, on the whole, with the +vastly outnumbering natives. They were widely scattered; their bows +were of great strength, and their arrows, pointed and barbed with +sharp flint and stone, when hitting fairly and in full force, would +pierce even the thickest clothing of the English; and, if striking any +unprotected portion of the body, would inflict a dreadful wound.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The chief shot.<br />Disappearance of the Indians.<br />Sudden peace.</div> + +<p>For some time this perilous conflict raged, the forest resounding with +the report of musketry, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>and with the hideous, deafening yell of the +savages. There was one Indian, of Herculean size and strength, +apparently more brave than the rest, who appeared to be the leader of +the band. He had proudly advanced beyond any of his companions, and +placed himself within half musket shot of the encampment. He stood +behind a large tree, and very energetically shot his arrows, and by +voice and gesture roused and animated his comrades. Watching an +opportunity when his arm was exposed, a sharpshooter succeeded in +striking it with a bullet. The shattered arm dropped helpless. The +savage, astounded at the calamity, gazed for a moment in silence upon +his mangled limb, and then uttering a peculiar cry, which was probably +the signal for retreat, dodged from tree to tree, and disappeared. His +fellow-warriors, following his example, disappeared with him in the +depths of the gloomy forest. Hardly a moment elapsed ere not a savage +was to be seen, and perfect silence and solitude reigned upon the spot +which, but a moment before, was the scene of almost demoniac clamor. +The waves broke sullenly upon the shore, and the wind, sweeping the +ocean, and moaning through the sombre firs and pines, drove the rain +in spectral sheets over sea and land. The sun had not yet risen, and the gray +twilight lent additional gloom to the stormy morning. Both the attack +and the retreat were more sudden than imagination can well conceive. +The perfect repose of the night had been instantly followed by +fiendlike uproar and peril, and as instantly succeeded by perfect +silence and solitude.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 25-6]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/i021.jpg" class="ispace" width="500" height="334" alt="THE FIRST ENCOUNTER." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE FIRST ENCOUNTER.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> +<div class="sidenote">Devotions.<br />Departure.<br />A gale.</div> + +<p>The Pilgrims, as soon as they had recovered from their astonishment, +looked around to see how much they had been damaged. Arrows were +hanging by their clothes, and sticking in the logs by the fire, and +scattered every where around, but, to their surprise, they found that +not one had been wounded. Anxious to leave so dangerous a spot, they +immediately collected their effects and embarked in the boat. Before +embarking, however, they united in a prayer of thanksgiving to God for +their deliverance. They named this spot "<i>The First Encounter</i>." The +rain now changed to sleet of mist and snow, and the cold storm +descended pitilessly upon their unprotected heads. A day of suffering +and of peril was before them. As the day advanced, the wind increased +to almost a gale. The waves frequently broke into the boat, drenching +them to the skin, and glazing the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>boat, ropes, and clothing with a +coat of ice. The surf, dashing upon the shore, rendered landing +impossible, and they sought in vain for any creek or cove where they +could find shelter. The short afternoon was fast passing away, and a +terrible night was before them. A huge billow, which seemed to chase +them with gigantic speed and force, broke over the boat, nearly +filling it with water, and at the same time unshipping and sweeping +away their rudder. They immediately got out two oars, and, with much +difficulty, succeeded with them in steering their bark.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">An accident.<br />Approaching night.</div> + +<p>Night and the tempest were settling darkly over the angry sea. To add +to their calamities, a sudden flaw of wind struck the boat, and +instantly snapped the mast into three pieces. The boat was now, for a +few moments, entirely unmanageable, and, involved in the wreck of +mast, rigging, and sail, floated like a log upon the waves, in great +danger of being each moment ingulfed. The hardy adventurers, thus +disabled, seized their oars, and with great exertions succeeded in +keeping their boat before the wind. It was now night, and the rain, +driven violently by the gale, was falling in torrents.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Discovery of a shelter.<br />Preparations for the night.</div> + +<p>The dark outline of the shore, upon which <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>the surf was furiously +dashing, was dimly discernible. At last they perceived through the +gloom, directly before them, an island or a promontory pushing out at +right angles from the line of the beach. Rowing around the northern +headland, they found on the western side a small cove, where they +obtained a partial shelter from the storm. Here they dropped anchor. +The night was freezing cold. The rain still fell in torrents, and the +boat rolled and pitched incessantly upon the agitated sea. Though +drenched to the skin, knowing that they were in the vicinity of +hostile Indians, most of the company did not deem it prudent to +attempt a landing, but preferred to pass the night in their wet, +shelterless, wave-rocked bark. Some, however, benumbed and almost +dying from wet and cold, felt that they could not endure the exposure +of the wintry night. They were accordingly put on shore. After much +difficulty, they succeeded in building a fire. Its blaze illumined the +forest, and they piled upon it branches of trees and logs, until they +became somewhat warmed by the exercise and the genial heat. But they +knew full well that this flame was but a beacon to inform their savage +foes where they were and to enable them, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span>with surer aim, to shoot the +poisoned arrow. The forest sheltered them partially from the wind. +They cut down trees, and constructed a rude rampart to protect them +from attack. Thus the explorers on the land and in the boat passed the +first part of this dismal night. At midnight, however, those in the +boat, unable longer to endure the cold, ventured to land, and, with +their shivering companions, huddled round the fire, the rain still +soaking them to the skin.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">They resolve to spend the Sabbath at their camp.</div> + +<p>When the morning again dawned, they found that they were in the lee of +a small island. It was the morning of the Sabbath. Notwithstanding +their exposure to hostile Indians and to the storm, and +notwithstanding the unspeakable importance of every day, that they +might prepare for the severity of winter, now so rapidly approaching, +these extraordinary men resolved to remain as they were, that they +might "remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy." There was true +heroism and moral grandeur in this decision, even though it be +asserted that a more enlightened judgment would have taught that, +under the circumstances in which they were placed, it was a work of +"necessity and of mercy" to prosecute their tour without delay. But +these men believed it to be their <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>duty to sanctify the Sabbath; and, +notwithstanding the strength of the temptation, they did what they +thought to be right, and this is always noble. To God, who looketh at +the heart, this must have been an acceptable sacrifice. For nearly two +hundred years all these men have now been in the world of spirits, and +it may very safely be affirmed that they have never regretted the +scrupulous reverence they manifested for the law of God in keeping the +Sabbath in the stormy wilderness.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Plymouth Bay.<br />Sounding for the channel.<br />Sites for the village.</div> + +<p>With the early light of Monday morning they repaired their shattered +boat, and, spreading their sails before a favorable breeze, continued +their tour. Plymouth Bay opened before them, with a low sand-bar +shooting across the water, which served to break the violence of the +billows rolling in from the ocean, but which presented no obstacle to +the sweep of the wind. It was an unsheltered harbor, but it was not +only the best, but the only one which could be found. Cautiously they +sailed around the point of sand, dropping the lead every few moments +to find a channel for their vessel. They at length succeeded in +finding a passage, and a place where their vessel could ride in +comparative safety. They then landed to select a location <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>for their +colonial village. Though it was the most dismal season of the year, +the region presented many attractions. It was pleasantly diversified +with hills and valleys, and the forest, of gigantic growth, swept +sublimely away in all directions. The remains of an Indian village was +found, and deserted corn-fields of considerable extent, where the +ground was in a state for easy and immediate cultivation.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Jealousy of the Dutch.</div> + +<p>The Pilgrims had left England with the intention of planting their +colony at the mouth of the Hudson River; but the Dutch, jealous of the +power of the English upon this continent, and wishing to appropriate +that very attractive region entirely to themselves, bribed the pilot +to pretend to lose his course, and to land them at a point much +farther to the north; hence the disappointment of the company in +finding themselves involved amid the shoals of Cape Cod. Though +Plymouth was by no means the home which the Pilgrims had originally +sought, and though neither the harbor nor the location presented the +advantages which they had desired, the season was too far advanced for +them to continue their voyage in search of a more genial home. With +this report the explorers returned to the ship.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Arrival of the Mayflower.</div> + +<p>On the 15th of December the Mayflower again weighed anchor from the +harbor of Cape Cod, and, crossing the Bay on the 16th, cautiously +worked its way into the shallow harbor of Plymouth, and cast anchor +about a mile and a half from the shore. The next day was the Sabbath, +and all remained on board the ship engaged in their Sabbath devotions.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Survey of the country.</div> + +<p>Early Monday morning, a party well armed were sent on shore to make a +still more careful exploration of the region, and to select a spot for +their village. They marched along the coast eight miles, but saw no +natives or wigwams. They crossed several brooks of sweet, fresh water, +but were disappointed in finding no navigable river. They, however, +found many fields where the Indians had formerly cultivated corn. +These fields, thus ready for the seed, seemed very inviting. At night +they returned to the ship, not having decided upon any spot for their +settlement.</p> + +<p>The next day, Tuesday, the 19th, they again sent out a party on a tour +of exploration. This party was divided into two companies, one to sail +along the coast in the shallop, hoping to find the mouth of some large +river; the other landed and traversed the shore. At night they <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>all +returned again to the ship, not having as yet found such a location as +they desired.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A location selected.</div> + +<p>Wednesday morning came, and with increasing fervor the Pilgrims, in +their morning prayer, implored God to guide them. The decision could +no longer be delayed. A party of twenty were sent on shore to mark out +the spot where they should rear their store-house and their dwellings. +On the side of a high hill, facing the rising sun and the beautiful +bay, they found an expanse, gently declining, where there were large +fields which, two or three years before, had been cultivated with +Indian corn. The summit of this hill commanded a wide view of the +ocean and of the land. Springs of sweet water gushed from the +hill-sides, and a beautiful brook, overshadowed by the lofty forest, +meandered at its base. Here they unanimously concluded to rear their +new homes.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Interruptions by a storm.</div> + +<p>As the whole party were rendezvoused upon this spot, the clouds began +to gather in the sky, the wind rose fiercely, and soon the rain began +to fall in torrents. Huge billows from the ocean rolled in upon the +poorly-sheltered harbor, so that it was impossible to return by their +small boat to the ship. They were entirely unsheltered, as they had +brought with them no <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>preparations for such an emergency. Night, dark, +freezing, tempestuous, soon settled down upon these houseless +wanderers. In the dense forest they sought refuge from the icy gale +which swept over the ocean. They built a large fire, and, gathering +around it, passed the night and all the next day exposed to the fury +of the storm. But, toward the evening of the 21st, the gale so far +abated that they succeeded in returning over the rough waves to the +ship.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Friday, December 22.<br />The birth-day of New England.</div> + +<p>The next morning was the ever memorable Friday, December 22. It dawned +chill and lowering. A wintry gale still swept the bay, and pierced the +thin garments of the Pilgrims. The eventful hour had now come in which +they were to leave the ship, and commence their new life of privation +and hardship in the New World. It was the birth-day of New England. In +the early morning, the whole ship's company assembled upon the deck of +the Mayflower, men, women, and children, to offer their sacrifice of +thanksgiving, and to implore divine protection upon their lofty and +perilous enterprise.</p> + +<div class="centerbox bbox"> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"The Mayflower on New England's coasts has<br /></span> +<span class="i1">furled her tattered sails,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And through her chafed and mourning shrouds<br /></span> +<span class="i1">December's breezes wail.</span></div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span><span class="i0">"There were men of hoary hair<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Amid that Pilgrim band;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Why had they come to wither there,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Away from their childhood's land?</span></div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"There was woman's fearless eye,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Lit by her deep love's truth;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">There was manhood's brow, serenely high,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And the fiery heart of youth.</span></div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"What sought they thus afar?<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Bright jewels of the mine?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The wealth of seas—the spoils of war?<br /></span> +<span class="i1">They sought a faith's pure shrine.</span></div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Ay, call it holy ground,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">The soil where first they trod:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They have left unstain'd what there they found—<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Freedom to worship God."</span></div></div></div> + +<div class="sidenote2">Hopes and expectations of the Pilgrims.</div> + +<p>The Pilgrims, though inspired by impulses as pure and lofty as ever +glowed in human hearts, were still but feebly conscious of the scenes +which they were enacting. They were exiles upon whom their mother +country cruelly frowned, and though they hoped to establish a +prosperous colony, where their civil and religious liberty could be +enjoyed, which they had sought in vain under the government of Great +Britain, they were by no means aware that they were laying the +foundation stones of one of the most majestic nations upon which the +sun has ever shone. As they stood upon that slippery <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>deck, swept by +the wintry wind, and reverently bowed their heads in prayer, they +dreamed not of the immortality which they were conferring upon +themselves and upon that day. Their frail vessel was now the only +material tie which seemed to bind them to their father-land. Their +parting hymn, swelling from gushing hearts and trembling lips, blended +in harmony with the moan of the wind and the wash of the wave, and +fell, we can not doubt, as accepted melody on the ear of God.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Leaving the ship.</div> + +<p>These affecting devotions being ended, boat-load after boat-load left +the ship, until the whole company, one hundred and one in number, men, +women and children, were rowed to the shore, and were landed upon a +rock around which the waves were dashing. As the ship, in the shallow +harbor, rode at anchor a mile from the beach, and the boats were small +and the sea rough, this operation was necessarily very slow.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Erection of the store house.<br />The little village.<br />Alarm from the Indians.</div> + +<p>They first erected a house of logs twenty feet square, which would +serve as a temporary shelter for them all, and which would also serve +as a general store-house for their effects. They then commenced +building a number of small huts for the several families. Every one +lent a willing hand to the work, and soon a little village <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>of some +twenty dwellings sprang up beneath the brow of the forest-crowned hill +which protected them from the winds of the northwest. The Pilgrims +landed on Friday. The incessant labors of the rest of the day and of +Saturday enabled them to provide but a poor shelter for themselves +before the Sabbath came. But, notwithstanding the urgency of the case, +all labor was intermitted on that day, and the little congregation +gathered in their unfinished store-house to worship God. Aware, +however, that hostile Indians might be near, sentinels were stationed +to guard them from surprise. In the midst of their devotions, the +alarming cry rang upon their ears, "Indians! Indians!" A more fearful +cry could hardly reach the ears of husbands and fathers. The church +instantly became a fortress and the worshipers a garrison. A band of +hostile natives had been prowling around, but, instructed by the +valiant defense of the first encounter, and seeing that the Pilgrims +were prepared to repel an assault, they speedily retreated into the +wilderness.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Discomforts.<br />Watchfulness of the Indians.</div> + +<p>The next day the colonists vigorously renewed their labors, having +parceled themselves into nineteen families. They measured out their +house lots and drew for them, clustering their <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>huts together, for +mutual protection, in two rows, with a narrow street between. But the +storms of winter were already upon them. Monday night it again +commenced raining. All that night and all of Tuesday the rain fell in +floods, while the tempest swept the ocean and wailed dismally through +the forest. Thus they toiled along in the endurance of inconceivable +discomfort for the rest of the week. All were suffering from colds, +and many were seriously sick. Friday and Saturday it was again stormy +and very cold. To add to their anxiety, they saw in several +directions, at the distance of five or six miles from them, wreaths of +smoke rising from large fires in the forest, proving that the Indians +were lurking around them and watching their movements. It was evident, +from the caution which the Indians thus manifested, that they were by +no means friendly in their feelings.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">End of the year.</div> + +<p>The last day of the year was the Sabbath. It was observed with much +solemnity, their store-house, crowded with their effects, being the +only temple in which they could assemble to worship God.</p> + +<div class="centerbox2 bbox"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Amid the storm they sang,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And the stars heard and the sea;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the sounding aisles of the dim woods rang<br /></span> +<span class="i1">To the anthem of the free."</span></div></div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Attempts to meet the Indians.<br />Two men missing.<br />Return of the lost.</div> + +<p>Monday morning of the new year the sun rose in a serene and cloudless +sky, and the Pilgrims, with alacrity, bowed themselves to their work. +Great fires of the Indians were seen in the woods. The valiant Miles +Standish, a man of the loftiest spirit of energy and intrepidity, took +five men with him, and boldly plunged into the forest to find the +Indians, and, if possible, to establish amicable relations with them. +He found their deserted wigwams and the embers of their fires, but +could not catch sight of a single native. A few days after this, two +of the pilgrims, who were abroad gathering thatch, did not return, and +great anxiety was felt for them. Four or five men the next day set out +in search for them. After wandering about all day unsuccessfully +through the pathless forest, they returned at night disheartened, and +the little settlement was plunged into the deepest sorrow. It was +greatly feared that they had been waylaid and captured by the savages. +Twelve men then, well armed, set out to explore the wilderness, to +find any traces of their lost companions. They also returned but to +deepen the dejection of their friends by the recital of their +unsuccessful search. But, as they were telling their story, a shout of +joy arose, and the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>two lost men, with tattered garments and emaciated +cheeks, emerged from the forest. They gave the following account of +their adventures:</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Their adventures.</div> + +<p>As they were gathering thatch about a mile and a half from the +plantation, they saw a pond in the distance, and went to it, hoping to +catch some fish. On the margin of the pond they met a large deer. The +affrighted animal fled, pursued eagerly by the dog they had with them. +The men followed on, hoping to capture the rich prize. They were thus +lured so far that they became bewildered and lost in the pathless +forest. All the afternoon they wandered about, until black night +encompassed them. A dismal storm arose of wind and rain, mingled with +snow. They were drenched to the skin, and their garments froze around +them. In the darkness they could find no shelter. They had no weapons, +but each one a small sickle to cut thatch. They had no food whatever. +They heard the roar of the beasts of the forests. They supposed it to +be the roaring of lions, though it was probably the howling of wolves. +Their only safety appeared to be to climb into a tree; but the wind +and the cold were so intolerable that such an exposure they could not +endure. So each one stood at the root of a tree <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>all the night long, +running around it to keep himself from freezing, drenched by the +storm, terrified by the cries which filled the forest, and ready, as +soon as they should hear the gnashing of teeth, to spring into the +branches.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">They discover the harbor.<br />Their sufferings.</div> + +<p>The long winter night at length passed away, and a gloomy morning +dimly lighted the forest, and they resumed their search for home. They +waded through swamps, crossed streams, were arrested in their course +by large ponds of water, and tore their clothing and their flesh by +forcing their way through the tangled underbrush. At last they came to +a hill, and, climbing one of the highest trees, discerned in the +distance the harbor of Plymouth, which they recognized by the two +little islands, densely wooded, which seemed to float like ships upon +its surface. The cheerful sight invigorated them, and, though their +limbs tottered from exhaustion, they toiled on, and, just as night was +setting in, they reached their home, faint with travel, and almost +famished with hunger and cold. The limbs of one of these men, John +Goodman, were so swollen by exertion and the cold that they were +obliged to cut his shoes from his feet, and it was a long time before +he was again able to walk. Thus passed the month of January. Nearly +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>all of the colonists were sick, and eight of their number died.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">February.<br />Death among the colonists.</div> + +<p>February was ushered in with piercing cold and desolating storms. +Tempests of rain and snow were so frequent and violent that but little +work could be done. The huts of the colonists were but poorly prepared +for such inclement weather, and so many were sick that the utter +destruction of the colony seemed to be threatened. Though the company +which landed consisted of one hundred and one, but forty-one of these +were men; all the rest were women and children. Death had already +swept many of these men away, and several others were very dangerously +sick. It was evident that the savages were lurking about, watching +them with an eagle eye, and with most manifestly unfriendly feelings. +The colonists were in no condition to repel an attack, and the most +fearless were conscious that they had abundant cause for intense +solicitude.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Discovery of Indians.<br />Alarm.</div> + +<p>On the 16th of this month, a man went to a creek about a mile and a +half from the settlement a gunning, and, concealing himself in the +midst of some shrubs and rashes, watched for water-fowl. While thus +concealed, twelve Indians, armed to the teeth, marched stealthily by +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>him, and he heard in the forest around the noise of many more. As +soon as the twelve had passed, he hastened home and gave the alarm. +All were called in from their work, the guns were loaded, and every +possible preparation was made to repel the anticipated assault. But +the day passed away in perfect quietness; not an Indian was seen; not +the voice or the footfall of a foe was heard. These prowling bands, +concealed in the dark forest, moved with a mystery which was +appalling. The Pilgrims had now been for nearly two months at +Plymouth, and not an Indian had they as yet caught sight of, except +the twelve whom the gunner from his ambush had discerned. Toward +evening, Miles Standish, who, upon the alarm, had returned to the +house, leaving his tools in the woods, took another man and went to +the place to get them, but they were no longer there. The Indians had +taken them away.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Preparations for defense.<br />Two savages appear.</div> + +<p>This state of things convinced the Pilgrims that it was necessary to +adopt very efficient measures that they might be prepared to repel any +attack. All the able-bodied men, some twenty-five in number, met and +formed themselves into a military company. Miles Standish was chosen +captain, and was invested with <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>great powers in case of any emergency. +Rude fortifications were planned for the defense of the little hamlet, +and two small cannons, which had been lying useless beneath the snow, +were dug up and mounted so as to sweep the approaches to the houses. +While engaged in these operations, two savages suddenly appeared upon +the top of a hill about a quarter of a mile distant, gazing earnestly +upon their movements. Captain Standish immediately took one man with +him, and, without any weapons, that their friendly intentions might be +apparent, hastened to meet the Indians. But the savages, as the two +colonists drew near, fled precipitately, and when Captain Standish +arrived upon the top of the hill, he heard noises in the forest behind +as if it were filled with Indians.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Weakness of the colonists.</div> + +<p>This was the 17th of February. After this a month passed away, and not +a sign of Indians was seen. It was a month of sorrow, sickness, and +death. Seventeen of their little band died, and there was hardly +strength left with the survivors to dig their graves. Had the Indians +known their weakness, they might easily, in any hour, have utterly +destroyed the colony.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_II" id="Chapter_II"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter II.</span></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Massasoit.</span></h3> + +<p class="center">1621</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Advance of spring.<br />Sudden appearance of an Indian.</div> + +<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:50px;line-height:32px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">M</span><span style="margin-left:0%;">arch</span> "came in like a lion," cold, wet, and stormy; but toward the +middle of the month the weather changed, and a warm sun and soft +southern breezes gave indication of an early spring. The 16th of the +month was a remarkably pleasant day, and the colonists who were able +to bear arms had assembled at their rendezvous to complete their +military organization for the working days of spring and summer. While +thus engaged they saw, to their great surprise, a solitary Indian +approaching. Boldly, and without the slightest appearance of +hesitancy, he strode along, entered the street of their little +village, and directed his steps toward the group at the rendezvous. He +was a man of majestic stature, and entirely naked, with the exception +of a leathern belt about his loins, to which there was suspended a +fringe about nine inches in length. In his hand he held a bow and two +arrows.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 47-8]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 376px;"> +<img src="images/i043.jpg" class="ispace" width="376" height="500" alt="SAMOSET, THE INDIAN VISITOR." title="" /> +<span class="caption">SAMOSET, THE INDIAN VISITOR.</span> +</div> + +<div class="sidenote2">Samoset.<br />Effects of a plague.</div> + +<p>The Indian, with remarkable self-confidence <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>and freedom of gait, advanced toward the astonished group, and in +perfectly intelligible English addressed them with the words, +"Welcome, Englishmen." From this man the eager colonists soon learned +the following facts. His name was Samoset. He was one of the chiefs of +a tribe residing near the island of Monhegan, which is at the mouth of +Penobscot Bay. With a great wind, he said that it was but a day's sail +from Plymouth, though it required a journey of five days by land. +Fishing vessels from England had occasionally visited that region, and +he had, by intercourse with them, acquired sufficient broken English +to be able to communicate his ideas. He also informed the Pilgrims +that, four years before their arrival, a terrible plague had desolated +the coast, and that the tribe occupying the region upon which they +were settled had been utterly annihilated. The dead had been left +unburied to be devoured by wolves. Thus the way had been prepared for +the Pilgrims to settle upon land which no man claimed, and thus had +Providence gone before them to shield them from the attacks of a +savage foe.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Samoset is hospitably treated and likes his quarters.</div> + +<p>Samoset was disposed to make himself quite at home. He wished to enter +the houses, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>called freely for beer and for food. To make him a +little more presentable to their families, the Pilgrims put a large +horseman's coat upon him, and then led him into their houses, and +treated him with great hospitality. The savage seemed well satisfied +with his new friends, and manifested no disposition to leave quarters +so comfortable and entertainment so abundant. Night came, and he still +remained, and would take no hints to go. The colonists could not +rudely turn him out of doors, and they were very apprehensive of +treachery, should they allow him to continue with them for the night. +But all their gentle efforts to get rid of him were in vain—he +<i>would</i> stay. They therefore made arrangements for him in Stephen +Hopkins's house, and carefully, though concealing their movements from +him, watched him all night.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Stealing of Indians.</div> + +<p>Samoset was quite an intelligent man, and professed to be well +acquainted with all the tribes who peopled the New England coasts. He +said that the tribe inhabiting the end of the peninsula of Cape Cod +were called Nausites, and that they were exceedingly exasperated +against the whites, because, a few years before, one Captain Hunt, +from England, while trading <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>with the Indians on the Cape, had +inveigled twenty-seven men on board, and then had fastened them below +and set sail. These poor creatures, thus infamously kidnapped, were +carried to Spain, and sold as slaves for one hundred dollars each. It +was in consequence of this outrage that the Pilgrims were so fiercely +attacked at <i>The First Encounter</i>. Samoset had heard from his brethren +of the forest all the incidents of this conflict.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The chief of the Wampanoags.</div> + +<p>He also informed his eager listeners that at two days' journey from +them, upon the margin of waters now called Bristol Bay, there was a +very powerful tribe, the Wampanoags, who exerted a sort of supremacy +over all the other tribes of the region. Massasoit was the sovereign +of this dominant people, and by his intelligence and energy he kept +the adjacent tribes in a state of vassalage. Not far from his +territories there was another powerful tribe, the Narragansets, who, +in their strength, were sometimes disposed to question his authority. +All this information interested the colonists, and they were anxious, +if possible, to open friendly relations with Massasoit.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Departure of Samoset.<br />Return of the Indians.</div> + +<p>Early the next morning, which was Saturday, March 17th, Samoset left, +having received as <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>a present a knife, a bracelet, and a ring. He +promised soon to return again, and to bring some other Indians with +him. The next morning was the Sabbath. It was warm, serene, and +beautiful. Dreary winter had passed, and genial spring was smiling +around them. As the colonists were assembling for their Sabbath +devotions, Samoset again presented himself, with five tall Indians in +his train. They were all dressed in skins, fitting closely to the +body, and most of them had a panther's skin and other furs for sale. +According to the arrangement which the Pilgrims had made with Samoset, +they all left their bows and arrows about a quarter of a mile distant +from the town, as the Pilgrims did not deem it safe to admit armed +savages into their dwellings. The tools which had been left in the +woods, and which the Indians had taken, were also all brought back by +these men. The colonists received these natives as kindly as possible, +and entertained them hospitably, but declined entering into any +traffic, as it was the Sabbath. They told the Indians, however, that +if they would come on any other day, they would purchase not only the +furs they now had with them, but any others which they might bring.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Presents to the Indians.</div> + +<p>Upon this, all retired excepting Samoset. He, saying that he was sick, +insisted upon remaining. The rest soon disappeared in the forest, +having promised to return again the next day. Monday and Tuesday +passed, and the colonists looked in vain for the Indians. On Wednesday +morning, having made Samoset a present of a hat, a pair of shoes, some +stockings, and a piece of cloth to wind around his loins, they sent +him to search out his companions, and ascertain why they did not +return according to their promise. The Indians who first left had all, +upon their departure, received presents from the Pilgrims, so anxious +were our forefathers to establish friendly relations with the natives +of this New World.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Planting.<br />Appearance of savages.</div> + +<p>During the first days of the week the colonists were very busy +breaking up their ground and planting their seed. On Wednesday +afternoon, Samoset having left, they again assembled to attend to +their military organization. While thus employed, several savages +appeared on the summit of a hill but a short distance opposite them, +twanging their bow-strings and exhibiting gestures of defiance. +Captain Standish took one man with him, and with two others following +at a distance as a re-enforcement in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>case of any difficulty, went to +meet them. The savages continued their hostile gesticulation until +Captain Standish drew quite near, and then they precipitately fled.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Squantum.<br />His captivity.<br />His benefactors.</div> + +<p>The next day it was again warm and beautiful, and the little village +of the colonists presented an aspect of industry, peace, and +prosperity. About noon Samoset returned, with one single stranger +accompanying him. This Indian's name was <i>Squantum</i>. He had been of +the party seized by Weymouth or by Hunt—the authorities are not clear +upon that point—and had been carried to Spain and there sold as a +slave. After some years of bondage he succeeded in escaping to +England. Mr. John Slaney, a merchant of London, chanced to meet the +poor fugitive, protected him, and treated him with the greatest +kindness, and finally secured him a passage back to his native land, +from whence he had been so ruthlessly stolen. This Indian, forgetting +the outrage of the knave who had kidnapped him, and remembering only +the great kindness which he had received from his benefactor and from +the people generally in London, in generous requital now attached +himself cordially to the Pilgrims, and became their firm friend. His +residence in England had rendered <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span>him quite familiar with the English +language, and he proved invaluable not only as an interpreter, but +also in instructing them respecting the modes of obtaining a support +in the wilderness.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Approach of Massasoit.<br />Caution of the Indians.</div> + +<p>Squantum brought the welcome intelligence that his sovereign chief, +the great Massasoit, had heard of the arrival of the Pilgrims, and was +approaching, with a retinue of sixty warriors, to pay them a friendly +visit. With characteristic dignity and caution, the Indian chief had +encamped upon a neighboring hill, and had sent Squantum as his +messenger to inform the white men of his arrival, and to conduct the +preliminaries for an interview. Massasoit was well acquainted with the +conduct of the unprincipled English seamen who had skirted the coast, +committing all manner of outrages, and he was too wary to place +himself in the power of strangers respecting whom he entertained such +well-grounded suspicions. He therefore established himself upon a +hill, where he could not be taken by surprise, and where, in case of +an attack, he could easily, if necessary, retreat.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Conference with Massasoit.</div> + +<p>The Pilgrims also, overawed by their lonely position, and by the +mysterious terrors of the wilderness and of the savage, deemed it +imprudent, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>when such a band of armed warriors were in their vicinity, +to send any of their feeble force from behind the intrenchments which +they had reared. After several messages, through their interpreter, +had passed to and fro, Massasoit, who, though unlettered, was a man of +reflection and of sagacity, proposed that the English should send one +of their number to his encampment to communicate to him their designs +in settling upon lands which had belonged to one of his vassal tribes. +One of the colonists, Edward Winslow, consented to go upon this +embassy. He took as a present for the barbarian monarch two knives and +a copper chain, with a jewel attached to it. Massasoit received him +with dignity, yet with courtesy. Mr. Winslow, through Squantum as his +interpreter, addressed the chieftain, surrounded by his warriors, in +the sincere words of peace and friendship. The Pilgrims of the +Mayflower were good men. They wished to do right, and to establish +amicable relations with the Indians.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57-8]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/i052.jpg" class="ispace" width="500" height="371" alt="MASSASOIT AND HIS WARRIORS." title="" /> +<span class="caption">MASSASOIT AND HIS WARRIORS.</span> +</div> + +<div class="sidenote2">The Pilgrims leave a hostage.<br />Visit of Massasoit.<br />His reception.<br /> +Royal interview.<br />The first glass of spirits.</div> + +<p>Massasoit listened in silence and very attentively to the speech of +Mr. Winslow. At its close he expressed his approval, and, after a +short conference with his councilors, decided to accept Governor +Carver's invitation to visit him, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>if Mr. Winslow would remain in the Indian encampment as a hostage +during his absence. This arrangement being assented to, Massasoit set +out, with twenty of his warriors, for the settlement of the Pilgrims. +In token of peace, they left all their weapons behind. In Indian file, +and in perfect silence, the savages advanced until they reached a +small brook near the log huts of the colonists. Here they were met by +Captain Miles Standish with a military array of six men. A salute of +six muskets was fired in honor of the regal visit. Advancing a little +farther, Governor Carver met them with his reserve of military pomp, +and the monarch of the Wampanoags and his chieftains were escorted +with the music of the drum and fife to a log hut decorated with such +embellishments as the occasion could furnish. Two or three cushions, +covered with a green rug, were spread as a seat for the king and the +governor in this formal and most important interview. Governor Carver +took the hand of Massasoit and kissed it. The Indian chieftain +immediately imitated his example, and returned the salute. The +governor then, in accordance with mistaken views of hospitality, +presented his guest with a goblet of ardent spirits. The noble Indian, +whose throat <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>had never yet been tainted by this curse, took a draught +which caused his eyes almost to burst from their sockets, and drove +the sweat gushing from every pore. With the instinctive +imperturbability of his race, he soon recovered from the shock, and a +long, friendly, and very satisfactory conference was held.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Appearance of the warriors.</div> + +<p>Massasoit was a man of mark, mild, genial, affectionate, yet bold, +cautious, and commanding. He was in the prime of life, of majestic +stature, and of great gravity of countenance and manners. His face was +painted red, after the manner of the warriors of his tribe. His glossy +raven hair, well oiled, was cut short in front, but hung thick and +long behind. He and his companions were picturesquely dressed in skins +and with plumes of brilliant colors.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A friendly alliance.</div> + +<p>As evening approached, Massasoit withdrew with his followers to his +encampment upon the hill. The treachery of Hunt and such men had made +him suspicious, and he was not willing to leave himself for the night +in the power of the white men. He accordingly arranged his encampment +to guard against surprise, and, sentinels being established, the rest +of the party threw themselves upon their hemlock boughs, with their +bows and arrows in their hands, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>were soon fast asleep. The +Pilgrims also kept a vigilant watch that night, for neither party had +full confidence in the other. The next morning Captain Standish, with +another man, ventured into the camp of the Indians. They were received +with great kindness, and gradually confidence was strengthened between +the two parties, and the most friendly relations were established. +After entering into a formal alliance, offensive and defensive, the +conference terminated to the satisfaction of all parties, and the +tawny warriors again disappeared in the pathless wilderness. They +returned to Mount Hope, then called Pokanoket, the seat of Massasoit, +about forty miles from Plymouth.</p> + +<p>The ravages of death had now dwindled the colony down to fifty men, +women, and children. But health was restored with the returning sun +and the cheering breezes of spring. Thirty acres of land were planted, +and Squantum proved himself a true and valuable friend, teaching them +how to cultivate Indian corn, and how to take the various kinds of +fish.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Death of Governor Carver.<br />Mission to Massasoit.<br />Trouble from the Indians.</div> + +<p>In June Governor Carver died, greatly beloved and revered by the +colony. Mr. William Bradford was chosen as his successor, and by +annual election was continued governor for many <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>years. Early in July +Governor Bradford sent a deputation from Plymouth, with Squantum as +their interpreter, to return the visit of Massasoit. There were +several quite important objects to be obtained by this mission. It was +a matter of moment to ascertain the strength of Massasoit, the number +of his warriors, and the state in which he lived. They wished also, by +a formal visit, to pay him marked attention, and to renew their +friendly correspondence. There was another subject of delicacy and of +difficulty which it had become absolutely necessary to bring forward. +Lazy, vagabond Indians had for some time been increasingly in the +habit of crowding the little village of the colonists and eating out +their substance. They would come with their wives and their children, +and loiter around day after day, without any delicacy whatever, +clamoring for food, and devouring every thing which was set before +them like famished wolves. The Pilgrims, anxious to maintain friendly +relations with Massasoit, were reluctant to drive away his subjects by +violence, but the longer continuance of such hospitality could not be +endured.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The journey.<br />Appearance of the country.<br />Hospitality of the natives.<br />Poverty of the natives.</div> + +<p>The governor sent to the Indian king, as a present, a gaudy horseman's +coat. It was made <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>of red cotton trimmed with showy lace. At 10 +o'clock in the morning of the second of July, the two ambassadors, Mr. +Winslow and Mr. Hopkins, with Squantum as guide and interpreter, set +forward on their journey. It was a warm and sunny day, and with +cheerful spirits the party threaded the picturesque trails of the +Indians through the forest. These trails were paths through the +wilderness through which the Indians had passed for uncounted +centuries. They were distinctly marked, and almost as renowned as the +paved roads of the Old World, which once reverberated beneath the +tramp of the legions of the Cæsars. Here generation after generation +of the moccasined savage, with silent tread, threaded his way, +delighting in the gloom which no ray of the sun could penetrate, in +the silence interrupted only by the cry of the wild beast in his lair, +and awed by the marvelous beauty of lakes and streams, framed in +mountains and fringed with forests, where water-fowl of every variety +of note and plumage floated buoyant upon the wave, and pierced the air +with monotonous and melancholy song. Ten or twelve Indians—men, +women, and children—followed them, annoying them not a little with +their intrusiveness and their greedy grasp <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>of food. The embassy +traveled about fifteen miles to a small Indian village upon a branch +of Taunton River. Here they arrived about three o'clock in the +afternoon. The natives called the place Namaschet. It was within the +limits of the present town of Middleborough. The Indians received the +colonists with great hospitality, offering them the richest viands +which they could furnish—heavy bread made of corn, and the spawn of +shad, which they ate from wooden spoons. These glimpses of poverty and +wretchedness sadly detract from the romantic ideas we have been wont +to cherish of the free life of the children of the forest. The savages +were exceedingly delighted with the skill which their guests displayed +in shooting crows in their corn-fields.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The fishing-party.</div> + +<p>As Squantum told them that it was more than a day's travel from there +to Pokanoket or Mount Hope, they resumed their journey, and went about +eight miles farther, till they came, about sunset, to another stream, +where they found a party of natives fishing. They were here cheered +with the aspect of quite a fruitful region. The ground on both sides +of the river was cleared, and had formerly waved with corn-fields. The +place had evidently once been <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>densely populated, but the plague of +which we have spoken swept, it is said, every individual into the +grave. A few wandering Indians had now come to the deserted fields to +fish, and were lazily sleeping in the open air, without constructing +for themselves any shelter. These miserable natives had no food but +fish and a few roasted acorns, and they devoured greedily the stores +which the colonists brought with them. The night was mild and serene, +and was passed without much discomfort in the unsheltered fields.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Opposition to crossing the river.</div> + +<p>Early in the morning the journey was resumed, the colonists following +down the stream, now called Fall River, toward Narraganset Bay. Six of +the savages accompanied them a few miles, until they came to a shallow +place, where, by divesting themselves of their clothing, they were +able to wade through the river. Upon the opposite bank there were two +Indians who seemed, with valor which astonished the colonists, to +oppose their passage. They ran down to the margin of the stream, +brandished their weapons, and made all the threatening gestures in +their power. They were, however, appeased by friendly signs, and at +last permitted the passage of the river without resort to violence.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Assistance from the Indians.</div> + +<p>Here, after refreshing themselves, they continued their journey, +following down the western bank of the stream. The country on both +sides of the river had been cleared, and in former years had been +planted with corn-fields, but was now quite depopulated. Several +Indians still accompanied them, treating them with the most remarkable +kindness. It was a cloudless day, and intensely hot. The Indians +insisted upon carrying the superfluous clothing of their newly-found +friends. As they were continually coming to brooks, often quite wide +and deep, running into the river, the Indians eagerly took the +Pilgrims upon their shoulders and carried them through.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 67-8]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 370px;"> +<img src="images/i063.jpg" class="ispace" width="370" height="500" alt="THE PALACE OF MASSASOIT." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE PALACE OF MASSASOIT.</span> +</div> + +<div class="sidenote2">Scarcity of food.<br />Character of the Indians.</div> + +<p>During the whole of the day, after crossing the river, they met with +but two Indians on their route, so effectually had the plague swept +off the inhabitants. But the evidence was abundant that the region had +formerly been quite populous with a people very poor and uncultivated. +Their living had been manifestly nothing but fish and corn pounded +into coarse meal. Game must have been so scarce in the woods, and with +such difficulty taken with bows and arrows, that they could very +seldom have been regaled with meat. A more wretched and monotonous <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>existence than theirs can hardly be conceived. Entirely devoid of +mental culture, there was no range for thought. Their huts were +miserable abodes, barely endurable in pleasant weather, but +comfortless in the extreme when the wind filled them with smoke, or +the rain dripped through the branches. Men, women, children, and dogs +slept together at night in the one littered room, devoured by fleas. +The native Indian was a degraded, joyless savage, occasionally +developing kind feelings and noble instincts, but generally vicious, +treacherous, and cruel.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Massasoit absent.</div> + +<p>The latter part of the afternoon they arrived at Pokanoket. Much to +their disappointment, they found that Massasoit, uninformed of their +intended visit, was absent on a hunting excursion. As he was, however, +not far from home, runners were immediately dispatched to recall him. +The chieftain had selected his residence with that peculiar taste for +picturesque beauty which characterized the more noble of the Indians. +The hillock which the English subsequently named Mount Hope was a +graceful mound about two hundred feet high, commanding an extensive +and remarkably beautiful view of wide, sweeping forests and indented +bays.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Mount Hope.</div> + +<p>This celebrated mound is about four miles from the city of Fall River. +From its summit the eye now ranges over Providence, Bristol, Warren, +Fall River, and many other minor towns. The whole wide-spread +landscape is embellished with gardens, orchards, cultivated fields, +and thriving villages. Gigantic steamers plow the waves, and the sails +of a commerce which girdles the globe whitens the beautiful bay.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Reflections on the past.</div> + +<p>But, as the tourist sits upon the solitary summit, he forgets the +present in memory of the past. Neither the pyramids of Egypt nor the +Coliseum of the Eternal City are draped with a more sublime antiquity. +Here, during generations which no man can number, the sons of the +forest gathered around their council-fires, and struggled, as human +hearts, whether savage or civilized, must ever struggle, against +"life's stormy doom."</p> + +<p>Here, long centuries ago, were the joys of the bridal, and the anguish +which gathers around the freshly-opened grave. Beneath the moon, which +then, as now, silvered this mound, "the Indian lover wooed his dusky +maid." Upon the beach, barbaric childhood reveled, and their red limbs +were bathed in the crystal waves.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p><p>Here, in ages long since passed away, the war-whoop resounded through +the forest. The shriek of mothers and maidens pierced the skies as +they fell cleft by the tomahawk; and all the horrid clangor of war, +with "its terror, conflagration, tears, and blood," imbittered ten +thousand fold the ever bitter lot of humanity.</p> + +<div class="centerbox3 bbox"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"'Tis dangerous to rouse the lion;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Deadly to cross the tiger's path;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But the most terrible of terrors<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Is man himself in his wild wrath."</span></div></div></div> + +<div class="sidenote2">Reflections inspired by the scene.<br />Character of our forefathers.</div> + +<p>In the midst of this attractive scene, perhaps nothing is more +conspicuous than the spires of the churches—those churches of a pure +Christianity to which New England is indebted for all her intelligence +and prosperity. It was upon the Bible that our forefathers laid the +foundations of the institutions of this New World; and, though they +made some mistakes, for they were but mortal, still they were sincere, +conscientious Christian men, and their Christianity has been the +legacy from which their children have derived the greatest benefits. +Two hundred years ago, our fathers, from the summit of Mount Hope, +looked upon a dreary wilderness through which a few naked savages +roamed. How different the spectacle which now meets the eye of the +tourist!</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Return of Massasoit.</div> + +<p>Massasoit, informed by his runners of the guests who had so +unexpectedly arrived, immediately returned. Mr. Winslow and Mr. +Hopkins, wishing to honor the Indian king, fired a salute, each one +discharging his gun as Massasoit approached. The king, who had heard +the report of fire-arms before, was highly gratified; but the women +and children were struck with exceeding terror, and, like affrighted +deer, leaped from their wigwams and fled into the woods. Squantum +pursued them, and, by assurances that no harm was to be feared, at +length induced them cautiously to return.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Royal ceremonies.<br />Gifts to the king.</div> + +<p>There was then an interchange of sundry ceremonies of state to render +the occasion imposing. The scarlet coat, with its gaudy embroidery of +lace, was placed upon Massasoit, and a chain of copper beads was +thrown around his neck. He seemed much pleased with these showy +trappings, and his naked followers were exceedingly delighted in +seeing their chieftain thus decorated. A motley group now gathered +around the Indian king and the English embassy. Massasoit then made a +long speech, to which the natives seemed to listen with great +interest, occasionally responding with applause. It was now night. The +two envoys were weary <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>with travel, and were hungry, for they had +consumed all their food, not doubting that they should find abundance +at the table of the sovereign of all these realms. But, to their +surprise, Massasoit was entirely destitute, not having even a mouthful +to offer them. Supperless they went to bed. In the following language +they describe their accommodations for the night:</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Want of food.<br />Night in a palace.</div><div class="blockquot"><p>"Late it grew, but victuals he offered none, so we desired to +go to rest. He laid us on the bed with himself and his wife, +they at the one end and we at the other, it being only planks +laid a foot from the ground, and a thin mat upon them. Two +more of his chief men, for want of room, pressed by and upon +us, so that we were worse weary of our lodging than of our +journey."</p></div> + +<div class="sidenote">Amusements.<br />Arrival of fish.</div> + +<p>The next day there was gathered at Mount Hope quite a concourse of the +adjoining Indians, subordinate chiefs and common people. They engaged +in various games of strength and agility, with skins for prizes. The +English also fired at a mark, amazing the Indians with the accuracy of +their shot. It was now noon, and the English, who had slept without +supper, had as yet received no breakfast. At one o'clock <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span>two large +fishes were brought in, which had been speared in the bay. They were +hastily broiled upon coals, and forty hungry men eagerly devoured +them.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Motives for departure.</div> + +<p>The afternoon passed slowly and tediously away, and again the Pilgrims +went supperless to bed. Again they passed a sleepless night, being +kept awake by vermin, hunger, and the noise of the savages. Friday +morning they rose before the sun, resolved immediately to commence +their journey home. Massasoit was very importunate to have them remain +longer with him.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Graphic narrative.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"But we determined," they write in their graphic narrative, "to keep +the Sabbath at home, and feared that we should either be light-headed +for want of sleep, for what with bad lodgings, the savages' barbarous +singing (for they use to sing themselves asleep), lice, and fleas +within doors, and musketoes without, we could hardly sleep all the +time of our being there; we much fearing that if we should stay any +longer we should not be able to recover home for want of strength; so +that on the Friday morning before the sunrising we took our leave and +departed, Massasoit being both grieved and ashamed that he could no +better entertain us."</p></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Stormy journey.</div> + +<p>Their journey home was a very weary one. They would, perhaps, have +perished from hunger had they not obtained from the Indians whom they +met a little parched corn, which was considered a very great delicacy, +a squirrel, and a shad. Friday night, as they were asleep in the open +air, a tempest of thunder and lightning arose, with floods of rain. +Their fire was speedily extinguished, and they were soaked to the +skin. Saturday night, just as the twilight was passing away into +darkness, they reached their homes in a storm of rain, wet, weary, +hungry, and sore.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Result of the mission.</div> + +<p>The result of this mission was, however, important. They renewed their +treaty of peace with Massasoit, and made arrangements that they were +to receive no Indians as guests unless Massasoit should send them with +a copper necklace, in token that they came from him.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Child lost.<br />News of the safety of the child.</div> + +<p>In the autumn of this same year a boy from the colony got lost in the +woods. He wandered about for five days, living upon berries, and then +was found by some Indians in the forests of Cape Cod. Massasoit, as +soon as he heard of it, sent word that the boy was found. He was in +the hands of the same tribe who, in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>consequence of the villainies of +Hunt, had assailed the Pilgrims so fiercely at the First Encounter. +The savages treated the boy kindly, and had him at Nauset, which is +now the town of Eastham, near the extremity of the Cape. Governor +Bradford immediately sent ten men in a boat to rescue the boy.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Endeavors for his rescue.<br />Cummaquids.</div> + +<p>They coasted along the first day very prosperously, notwithstanding a +thunder-shower in the afternoon, with violent wind and rain. At night +they put into Barnstable Bay, then called Cummaquid. Squantum and +another Indian were with them as friends and interpreters. They deemed +it prudent not to land, but anchored for the night in the middle of +the bay. The next morning they saw some savages gathering shell-fish +upon the shore. They sent their two interpreters with assurances of +friendship, and to inquire for the boy. The savages were very +courteous, informed them that the boy was farther down the Cape at +Nauset, and invited the whole party to come on shore and take some +refreshments. Six of the colonists ventured ashore, having first +received four of the natives to remain in their boat as hostages. The +chief of this small tribe, called the Cummaquids, was a young man of +about twenty-six <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>years of age, and appeared to be a very remarkable +character. He was dignified and courteous in his demeanor, and +entertained his guests with a native politeness which surprised them +much.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">An aged Indian.</div> + +<p>While in this place an old Indian woman came to see them, whom they +judged to be a hundred years of age. As soon as she came into their +presence she was overwhelmed with emotion, and cried most +convulsively. Upon inquiring the reason, the Pilgrims were told that +her three sons were kidnapped by Captain Hunt. The young men had been +invited on board his ship to trade. He lured them below, seized and +bound them, and carried them to Spain, where he sold them as slaves. +The unhappy and desolate mother seemed quite heart-broken with grief. +The Pilgrims addressed to her words of sympathy, assured her that +Captain Hunt was a bad man, whom every good man in England condemned, +and gave her some presents.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Iyanough.<br />Caution.<br />Recovery of the lost boy.<br />Presents to Aspinet.</div> + +<p>They remained with this kind but deeply-wronged people until after +dinner. Then <i>Iyanough</i> himself, the noble young chief of the tribe, +with two of his warriors, accompanied them on board the boat to assist +them in their <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>search for the boy. A fair wind from the west filled +their sails, and late in the evening, when it was too dark to land, +they approached Nauset. Here was the hostile tribe whose prowess the +colonists had experienced in the First Encounter. The villain, Captain +Hunt, had stolen from them twenty men. It was consequently deemed +necessary to practice much caution. Iyanough and Squantum went on +shore there to conciliate the natives and to inform them of the object +of the mission. The next morning a great crowd of natives had +gathered, and were anxious to get into the boat. The English, however, +prudently, would allow but two to enter at a time. The day was passed +in parleying. About sunset a train of a hundred Indians appeared, +bringing the lost boy with them. One half remained at a little +distance, with their bows and arrows; the other half, unarmed, brought +the boy to the boat, and delivered him to his friends. The colonists +made valuable presents to <i>Aspinet</i>, the chief of the tribe, and also +paid abundantly for the corn which, it will be remembered, they took +from a deserted house when they were first coasting along the shore in +search of a place of settlement. They then spread their sails, and a +fair wind soon <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span>drove them fifty miles across the bay to their homes.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Wampanoags.<br />Power of Massasoit.</div> + +<p>The Wampanoags do not appear to have constituted a very numerous +tribe, but, through the intellectual and military energy of their +chieftain, Massasoit, they had acquired great power. The present town +of Bristol, Rhode Island, was the region principally occupied by the +tribe; but Massasoit extended his sway over more than thirty tribes, +who inhabited Cape Cod and all the country extending between +Massachusetts and Narraganset Bays, reaching inland to where the head +branches of the Charles River and the Pawtucket River meet. It will be +seen at once, by reference to the map, how wide was the sway of this +Indian monarch, and how important it was for the infant colony to +cultivate friendly relations with a sovereign who could combine all +those tribes, and direct many thousand barbarian warriors to rush like +wolves upon the feeble settlement.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_III" id="Chapter_III"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter III.</span></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Clouds of War.</span></h3> + +<p class="center">1621-1622</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Canonicus.<br />His hostility toward the Puritans.</div> + +<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:50px;line-height:32px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">T</span><span style="margin-left:0%;">he</span> Narraganset Indians occupied the region extending from the western +shores of Narraganset Bay to Pawcatuck River. They were estimated to +number about thirty thousand, and could bring five thousand warriors +into the field. Canonicus, the sovereign chief of this tribe, was a +man of great renown. War had occasionally raged between the +Narragansets and the Wampanoags, and the two tribes were bitterly +hostile to each other. Canonicus regarded the newly-arrived English +with great jealousy, and was particularly annoyed by the friendly +relations existing between them and the Wampanoags. Indeed, it is +quite evident that Massasoit was influenced to enter into his alliance +with the English mainly from his dread of the Narragansets.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Corruption at court.<br />A rebellion.<br />Flight of Massasoit.</div> + +<p>Bribery and corruption are almost as common in barbarian as in +civilized courts. Canonicus had brought over to his cause one of the +minor chiefs of Massasoit, named Corbitant. This <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>man, audacious and +reckless, began to rail bitterly at the peace existing between the +Indians and the English. Boldly he declared that Massasoit was a +traitor, and ought to be deposed. Sustained as Corbitant was by the +whole military power of the Narragansets, he soon gathered a party +about him sufficiently strong to bid defiance to Massasoit. The +sovereign of the Wampanoags was even compelled to take refuge from +arrest by flight.</p> + +<p>The colonists heard these tidings with great solicitude, and learning +that Corbitant was within a few miles of them, at Namasket +(Middleborough), striving to rouse the natives to unite with the +Narragansets against them, they privately sent Squantum and another +friendly Indian, Hobbomak, to Namasket, to ascertain what had become +of Massasoit, and how serious was the peril with which they were +threatened.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Reported death of Squantum.</div> + +<p>The next day Hobbomak returned alone, breathless and terrified. He +reported that they had hardly arrived at Namasket when Corbitant beset +the wigwam into which they had entered with a band of armed men, and +seized them both as prisoners. He declared that they both should die, +saying that when Squantum was dead the English would have lost their +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>tongue. Brandishing a knife, the savage approached Squantum to stab +him. Hobbomak, being a very powerful man, at that moment broke from +the grasp of those who held him, and outrunning his pursuers, +succeeded in regaining Plymouth. He said that he had no doubt that +Squantum was killed.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Action of the Puritans.</div> + +<p>These were melancholy and alarming tidings. Governor Bradford +immediately assembled the few men—about twenty in number—of the +feeble colony, to decide what should be done. After looking to God for +counsel, and after calm deliberation, it was resolved that, if they +should suffer their friends and messengers to be thus assailed and +murdered with impunity, the hostile Indians would be encouraged to +continued aggressions, and no Indians would dare to maintain friendly +relations with them. They therefore adopted the valiant determination +to send ten men, one half of their whole number, with Hobbomak as +their guide, to seize Corbitant and avenge the outrage.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The army.<br />Directions to the men.</div> + +<p>The 14th of August, 1621, was a dark and stormy day, when this little +band set out on its bold adventure. All the day long, as they silently +threaded the paths of the forest, the rain dripped upon them. Late in +the afternoon they <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>arrived within four miles of Namasket. They then +thought it best to conceal themselves until after dark, that they +might fall upon their foe by surprise. Captain Standish led the band. +To every man he gave minute directions as to the part he was to +perform. Night, wet and stormy, soon darkened around them in Egyptian +blackness. They could hardly see a hand's breadth before them. Groping +along, they soon lost their way, and became entangled in the thick +undergrowth. Wet, weary, and dejected, they toiled on, and at last +again happily hit the trail. It was after midnight when they arrived +within sight of the glimmering fires of the little Indian hamlet of +Namasket. They then sat down, and ate from their knapsacks a hearty +meal. The food which remained they threw away, that they might have +nothing to obstruct them in the conflict which might ensue.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Approach to the wigwam.<br />The attack.<br />"I am a squaw!"</div> + +<p>They then cautiously approached a large wigwam where Hobbomak supposed +that Corbitant and his men were sleeping. Silently they surrounded the +hut, the gloom of the night and the wailings of the storm securing +them from being either seen or heard. At a signal, two muskets were +fired to terrify the savages, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>and Captain Standish, with three or +four men, rushed into the hut. The ground floor, dimly lighted by some +dying embers, was covered with sleeping savages—men, women, and +children. A scene of indescribable consternation and confusion ensued. +Through Hobbomak, Captain Standish ordered every one to remain, +assuring them that he had come for Corbitant, the murderer of +Squantum, and that, if he were not there, no one else should be +injured. But the savages, terrified by the midnight surprise and by +the report of the muskets, were bereft of reason. Many of them +endeavored to escape, and were severely wounded by the colonists in +their attempts to stop them. The Indian boys, seeing that the women +were not molested, ran around, frantically exclaiming, "I am a squaw! +I am a squaw!"</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Escape of Corbitant.<br />Appearance of the huts.<br />Squantum found.</div> + +<p>At last order was restored, and it was found that Corbitant was not +there, but that he had gone off with all his train, and that Squantum +was not killed. A bright fire was now kindled, that the hut might be +carefully searched. Its blaze illumined one of the wildest of +imaginable scenes. The wigwam, spacious and rudely constructed of +boughs, mats, and bark; the affrighted savages, men, women, and +children, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>in their picturesque dress and undress, a few with ghastly +wounds, faint and bleeding; the various weapons and utensils of +barbarian life hanging around; the bold colonists in their European +dress and arms; the fire blazing in the centre of the hut, all +combined to present a scene such as few eyes have ever witnessed. +Hobbomak now climbed to the top of the hut and shouted for Squantum. +He immediately came from another wigwam. Having disarmed the savages +of their bows and arrows, the colonists gathered around the fire to +dry their dripping clothes, and waited for the light of the morning.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Threats of Capt. Standish.</div> + +<p>With the early light, all who were friendly to the English gathered +around them, while the faction in favor of Corbitant fled into the +wilderness. A large group was soon assembled. Captain Standish, in +words of conciliation and of firmness, informed them that, though +Corbitant had escaped, yet, if he continued his hostility, no place of +retreat would secure him from punishment; and that, if any violence +were offered to Massasoit or to any of his subjects by the +Narragansets, or by any one else, the colonists would avenge it to the +utter overthrow of those thus offending. He expressed great regret +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>that any of the Indians had been wounded in consequence of their +endeavors to escape from the house, and offered to take the wounded +home, that they might be carefully healed.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The return.<br />Reconciliation of Corbitant.</div> + +<p>After breakfasting with the Indians, this heroic band, accompanied by +Squantum, some of the wounded, and several other friendly Indians, set +out on their return. They arrived at home in safety the same evening. +This well-judged and decisive measure at once checked the progress of +Corbitant in exciting disaffection. He soon found it expedient to seek +reconciliation, and, through the intercession of Massasoit, signed a +treaty of submission and friendship; and even Canonicus, sovereign of +the Narragansets, sent a messenger, perhaps as a spy, but professedly +to treat for peace. Thus this cloud of war was dissipated.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Prosperous summer.</div> + +<p>On the whole, the Pilgrims had enjoyed a very prosperous summer. They +were eminently just and kind in their treatment of the Indians. In +trading with them they obtained furs and many other articles, which +contributed much to their comfort. Fish was abundant in the bay. Their +corn grew luxuriantly, and their fields waved with a rich and golden +harvest. With the autumnal weather came abundance of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>water-fowl, +supplying them with delicious meat. Thus were they blessed with peace +and plenty.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Rumors of war.</div> + +<p>Various rumors had reached the colonists that several of the tribes of +the Massachusetts Indians, so called, inhabiting the islands and main +land at the northwestern extremity of Massachusetts Bay, were +threatening hostilities. It was consequently decided to send an +expedition to them, not to intimidate, but to conciliate with words of +sincerity and deeds of kindness.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">New expedition.<br />Evidences of the plague.<br />Justice of the Pilgrims.</div> + +<p>At midnight, September the 18th, the tide then serving, a small party +set sail, and during the day, with a gentle wind, made about sixty +miles north. Not deeming it safe to land, they remained in their boat +during the night, and the next morning landed under a cliff. Here they +found some natives, who seemed to cower before them in terror. It +appeared afterward that Squantum had told the natives that the English +had a box in which they kept the plague, and that, if the Indians +offended them, they would let the awful scourge loose. Every where the +English saw evidences of the ravages of the pestilence to which we +have so often referred. There were desolate villages and deserted +corn-fields, and but a few hundred Indians wandering here and there +where formerly there had been <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>thousands. The kindness with which they +treated the Indians, and the fairness with which they traded with +them, won confidence. Squantum at one time suggested that, by way of +punishment, and to teach the savages a lesson, they should by violence +take away their furs, which were almost their only treasures. Our +fathers nobly replied, "Were they ever so bad, we would not wrong +them, or give them any just occasion against us. We shall pay no +attention to their threatening words, but, if they attack us, we shall +then punish them severely."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Explorations.<br />Appearance of the harbor.</div> + +<p>The Pilgrims explored quite minutely this magnificent harbor, then +solitary and fringed with rayless forests, now alive with commerce, +and decorated with mansions of refinement and opulence. The long +promontory, now crowded with the busy streets and thronged dwellings +of Boston, was then a dense and silent wilderness, threaded with a few +Indian trails. Along the shore several rude wigwams were scattered, +the smoke curling from their fires from among the trees, with naked +children playing around the birch canoes upon the beach.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Preparations for return.</div> + +<p>In the evening of a serene day the moon rose brilliant on the harbor, +illumining with almost celestial beauty the islands and the sea. Many +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>of the islands were then crowned with forests; others were cleared +smooth and verdant, but swept entirely clean of inhabitants by the +dreadful plague. The Pilgrims, rejoicing in the rays of the autumnal +moon, prepared to spread their sails. "Having well spent the day," +they write, "we returned to the shallop, almost all the women +accompanying us to trucke, who sold their coats from their backes, and +tyed boughes about them, but with great shamefastness, for indeed they +are more modest than some of our English women are. We promised them +to come again to them, and they us to keep their skins.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The harbor.</div> + +<p>"Within this bay the savages say there are two rivers, the one whereof +we saw having a fair entrance, but we had no time to discover it. +Better harbors for shipping can not be than here are. At the entrance +of the bay are many rocks, and, in all likelihood, very good fishing +ground. Having a light moon, we set sail at evening, and before next +day noon got home, with a considerable quantity of beaver, and a good +report of the place, wishing we had been seated there."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Friendly relations.<br />Arrival of emigrants from England.</div> + +<p>Thus, by kindness, the natives of this region were won to friendship, +and amicable relations were established. Before the close of this year +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span>another vessel arrived from England, bringing thirty-five persons to +join the colony. Though these emigrants were poor, and, having +consumed nearly all their food on a long voyage, were nearly starved, +the lonely colonists received the acquisition with great joy. Houses +were immediately built for their accommodation, and they were fed from +the colony stores. Winter now again whitened the hills of Plymouth.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Declaration of war.<br />Canonicus.<br />Weakness of the Pilgrims.</div> + +<p>Early in January, 1622, Canonicus, sovereign chief of the +Narragansets, notwithstanding the alliance of the foregoing summer +into which he had entered, dreading the encroachments of the white +men, and particularly apprehensive of the strength which their +friendship gave to his hereditary enemies, the Mohegans, sent to +Governor Bradford a bundle of arrows tied up in the skin of a +rattlesnake. Squantum was called to interpret the significance of such +a gift. He said that it was the Indian mode of expressing hostility +and of sending a declaration of war. This act shows an instinctive +sense of honor in the barbarian chieftain which civilized men do not +always imitate. Even the savages cherished ideas of chivalry which led +them to scorn to strike an unsuspecting and defenseless foe. The +friendly Indians around Plymouth assured the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span>colonists that Canonicus +was making great preparations for war; that he could bring five +thousand warriors into the field; that he had sent spies to ascertain +the condition of the English and their weakness; and that he had +boasted that he could eat them all up at a mouthful. It is pleasant to +record that our fathers had not provoked this hostility by any act of +aggression. They had been thus far most eminently just and benevolent +in all their intercourse with the natives. They were settled upon land +to which Canonicus pretended no claim, and were on terms of cordial +friendship with all the Indians around them. The Pilgrims at this time +had not more than twenty men capable of bearing arms, and five +thousand savages were clashing their weapons, and filling the forest +with their war-whoops, preparing to attack them. Their peril was +indeed great.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Council called.</div> + +<p>Governor Bradford called a council of his most judicious men, and it +was decided that, under these circumstances, any appearance of +timidity would but embolden their enemies. The rattlesnake skin was +accordingly returned filled with powder and bullets, and accompanied +by a defiant message that, if Canonicus preferred war to peace, the +colonists were ready at <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span>any moment to meet him, and that he would rue +the day in which he converted friends into enemies.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Pickwickian challenge.</div> + +<p>Barbarian as well as civilized blusterers can, when discretion +prompts, creep out of an exceedingly small hole. Canonicus had no wish +to meet a foe who was thus prompt for the encounter. He immediately +sent to Governor Bradford the assurance, in Narraganset phrase, of his +high consideration, and begged him to believe that the arrows and the +snake skin were sent purely in a Pickwickian sense.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Preparations for defense.<br />Completion of the fortification.</div> + +<p>The threatening aspect of affairs at this time led the colonists to +surround their whole little village, including also the top of the +hill, on the side of which it was situated, with a strong palisade, +consisting of posts some twelve feet high firmly planted in the ground +in contact with each other. It was an enormous labor to construct this +fortification in the dead of winter. There were three entrance gates +to the little town thus walled in, with bulwarks to defend them. +Behind this rampart, with loop-holes through which the defenders could +fire upon any approaching foe, the colonists felt quite secure. A +large cannon was also mounted upon the summit of the hill, which would +sweep all the approaches <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>with ball and grape-shot. Sentinels were +posted night and day, to guard against surprise, and their whole +available force was divided into four companies, each with its +commander, and its appointed place of rendezvous in case of an attack. +The months of January and February were occupied in this work. Early +in March the fortification was completed.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The challenge retracted.</div> + +<p>The heroic defiance which was returned to Canonicus, and the vigorous +measures of defense adopted, alarmed the Narragansets. They +immediately ceased all hostile demonstrations, and Canonicus remained +after this, until his death, apparently a firm friend of the English.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">An arrival.<br />Kind reception.</div> + +<p>In June, to the great annoyance of the Pilgrims, two vessels came into +the harbor of Plymouth, bringing sixty wild and rude adventurers, who, +neither fearing God nor regarding man, had come to the New World to +seek their fortunes. They were an idle and dissolute set, greedy for +gain, and ripe for any deeds of dishonesty or violence. They had made +but poor provision for their voyage, and were almost starved. The +Pilgrims received them kindly, and gave them shelter and food; and yet +the ungrateful wretches stole their corn, wasted their substance, and +secretly reviled their habits <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>of sobriety and devotion. Nearly all +the summer these unprincipled adventurers intruded upon the +hospitality of the Pilgrims. In the autumn, these men, sixty in +number, went to a place which they had selected in Massachusetts Bay, +then called Wessagusset, now the town of Weymouth, which they had +selected for their residence. They left their sick behind them, to be +nursed by those Christian Pilgrims whose piety had excited their +ribald abuse.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Complaints from the Indians.<br />Relief wanted.<br />Death of Squantum.<br />His prayer.</div> + +<p>Hardly had these men left ere the ears of the Pilgrims were filled +with the clamors which their injustice and violence raised from the +outraged Indians. The Weymouth miscreants stole their corn, insulted +their females, and treated them with every vile indignity. The Indians +at last became exasperated beyond endurance, and threatened the total +destruction of the dissolute crew. At last starvation stares them in +the face, and they send in October to Plymouth begging for food. The +Pilgrims have not more than enough to meet their own wants during the +winter. But, to save them from famishing by hunger, Governor Bradford +himself takes a small party in a boat and sails along the coast, +purchasing corn of the Indians, getting a few quarts here and a few +bushels there, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>until he had collected twenty-eight hogsheads of corn +and beans. While at Chatham, then called Manamoyk, Squantum was taken +sick of a fever and died. It is a touching tribute to the kindness of +our Pilgrim fathers that this poor Indian testified so much love for +them. In his dying hour he prayed fervently that God would take him to +the heaven of the Englishmen, that he might dwell with them forever. +As remembrances of his affection, he bequeathed all his little effects +to sundry of his English friends. Governor Bradford and his +companions, with tears, followed the remains of their faithful +interpreter to the grave, and then, with saddened hearts, continued +their voyage.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Governor Bradford's journey.<br />Theft committed.<br />Return of the articles.</div> + +<p>At Nauset, now Eastham, their shallop was unfortunately wrecked. +Governor Bradford stored the corn on shore, placed it under the care +of the friendly Indians there, and, taking a native for a guide, set +out on foot to travel fifty miles through the forest to Plymouth. The +natives all along the way received him with kindness, and did every +thing in their power to aid him. Having arrived at Plymouth, he +dispatched Captain Standish with another shallop to fetch the corn. +The bold captain had a prosperous though a very tempestuous voyage. +While at <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>Nauset an Indian stole some trifle from the shallop as she +lay in a creek. Captain Standish immediately went to the sachem of the +tribe, and informed him that the lost goods must be restored, or he +should make reprisals. The next morning the sachem came and delivered +the goods, saying that he was very sorry the crime had been committed; +that the thief had been arrested and punished; and that he had ordered +his women to make some bread for Captain Standish, in token of his +desire to cultivate just and friendly relations. Captain Standish +having arrived at Plymouth, a supply of corn was delivered to help the +people at Weymouth.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Weymouth settlers implore aid.</div> + +<p>But these lawless adventurers were as improvident as they were vicious +and idle. By the month of February they were again destitute and +starving. They had borrowed all they could, and had stolen all they +could, and were now in a state of extreme misery, many of them having +already perished from exposure and want. The Indians hated them and +despised them. Conspiracies were formed to kill them all, and many +Indians, scattered here and there, were in favor of destroying all the +white men. They foresaw that civilized and savage life could not abide +side by side. The latter part of February <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span>the Weymouth people sent a +letter to Plymouth by an Indian, stating their deplorable condition, +and imploring further aid. They had become so helpless and degraded +that the Indians seem actually to have made slaves of them, compelling +them to perform the most menial services. The letter contained the +following dolorous complaints:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The boldness of the Indians increases abundantly, insomuch +that the victuals we get they will take out of our pots and +eat it before our faces. If we try to prevent them, they +will hold a knife at our breasts. To satisfy them, we have +been compelled to hang one of our company. We have sold our +clothes for corn, and are ready to starve, both with cold +and hunger also, because we can not endure to get victuals +by reason of our nakedness."</p></div> + +<div class="sidenote">Disgraceful proceeding.</div> + +<p>Under these circumstances, one of the Weymouth men, ranging the woods, +came to an Indian barn and stole some corn. The owner, finding by the +footprints that it was an Englishman who had committed the theft, +determined to have revenge. With insulting and defiant confederates, +he went to the plantation and demanded that the culprit should be +hung, threatening, if there were not prompt acquiescence in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>the +demand, the utter destruction of the colonists. The consternation at +Weymouth was great. Nearly all were sick and half famished, and they +could present no resistance. After very anxious deliberation, it was +decided that, since the man who committed the theft was young and +strong, and a skillful cobbler, whose services could not be dispensed +with, they would by stratagem save his life, and substitute for him a +poor old bedrid weaver, who was not only useless to them, but a +burden. This economical arrangement was unanimously adopted. The poor +old weaver, bound hand and foot, and dressed in the clothes of the +culprit, was dragged from his bed, and was soon seen dangling in the +air, to the great delight of the Indians.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Injustice of Hudibras.</div> + +<p>Much has been written upon this disgraceful transaction, and various +versions of it have been given, with sundry details, but the facts, so +far as can now be ascertained, are as we have stated. The deed is in +perfect accordance with the whole course pursued by the miserable men +who perpetrated it. The author of Hudibras unjustly—we hope not +maliciously—in his witty doggerel, ascribes this transaction of the +miscreants at Weymouth to the Pilgrims at Plymouth. The mirth-loving +satirist seemed to rejoice <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span>at the chance of directing a shaft against +the Puritans.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Sickness of Massasoit.<br />Deputation from Plymouth.<br />The journey.<br />Reported death of Massasoit.</div> + +<p>Just at this time news came to Plymouth that Massasoit was very sick, +and at the point of death. Governor Bradford immediately dispatched +Mr. Edward Winslow and Mr. John Hampden<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> to the dying chieftain, +with such medical aid as the colony could furnish. Their friend +Hobbomak accompanied them as guide and interpreter. Massasoit had two +sons quite young, Wamsutta and Pometacom, the eldest of whom would, +according to Indian custom, inherit the chieftainship. It was, +however, greatly feared that the ambitious and energetic Corbitant, +who had manifested much hostility to the English, might avail himself +of the death of Massasoit, and grasp the reins of power. The +deputation from Plymouth traveled the first day through the woods as +far as Middleborough, then the little Indian hamlet of Namasket. There +they passed the night in the wigwam of an Indian. They, the next day, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>continued their journey, and crossing in a canoe the arm of the bay, +which there runs far inland and three miles beyond, with much anxiety +approached the dwelling-place of Corbitant at Mattapoiset, in the +present town of Swanzey. They had been informed by the way that +Massasoit was dead, and they had great fears that Corbitant had +already taken steps as a usurper, and that they, two defenseless men, +might fall victims to his violence.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Hobbomak.</div> + +<p>Hobbomak, who had embraced Christianity, and was apparently a +consistent Christian, was greatly beloved by Massasoit. The honest +Indian, when he heard the tidings of his chieftain's death, bitterly +deplored his loss.</p> + +<p>"My loving sachem! my loving sachem!" he exclaimed; "many have I +known, but never any like thee."</p> + +<p>Then turning to Mr. Winslow, he added, "While you live you will never +see his like among the Indians. He was no deceiver, nor bloody, nor +cruel, like the other Indians. He never cherished a spirit of revenge, +and was easily reconciled to those who had offended him. He was ever +ready to listen to the advice of others, and governed his people by +wisdom and without severity."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Hospitality of Corbitant's wife.<br />Arrival at Mount Hope.</div> + +<p>When they arrived at Corbitant's house they found the sachem not at +home. His wife, however, treated them with great kindness, and +informed them that Massasoit was still alive, though at the point of +death. They therefore hastened on to Mount Hope. Mr. Winslow gives the +following account of the scene witnessed at the bedside of the sick +monarch:</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Massasoit's welcome.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"When we arrived thither, we found the house so full that we +could scarce get in, though they used their best diligence +to make way for us. They were in the midst of their charms +for him, making such a fiendlike noise that it distempered +us who were well, and therefore was unlike to ease him that +was sick. About him were six or eight women, who chafed his +arms, legs, and thighs, to keep heat in him. When they had +made an end of their charming, one told him that his friends +the English were come to see him. Having understanding left, +but his sight was wholly gone, he asked <i>who was come</i>. They +told him <i>Winsnow</i>, for they can not pronounce the letter +<i>l</i>, but ordinarily <i>n</i> in the place thereof. He desired to +speak with me. When I came to him, and they told him of it, +he put forth his hand to me, which I took. Then he said +twice, though very inwardly, <i>Keen</i> <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span><i>Winsnow?</i> which is to +say, Art thou Winslow? I answered <i>Ahhe</i>, that is, <i>yes</i>. +Then he doubled these words: <i>Matta neen wonckanet namen +Winsnow;</i> that is to say, <i>O Winslow, I shall never see thee +again!</i>"</p></div> + +<div class="sidenote">His recovery.<br />Kindness of the Pilgrims.<br />Mr. Winslow as physician.</div> + +<p>Mr. Winslow immediately prepared some refreshing broth for the sick +man, and, by careful nursing, to the astonishment of all, he +recovered. Massasoit appeared to be exceedingly grateful for this +kindness, and ever after attributed his recovery to the skill and +attentions of his English friends. His unquestionable sincerity won +the confidence of the English, and they became more fully convinced of +his real worth than ever before. Mr. Winslow wished for a chicken to +make some broth. An Indian immediately set out, at two o'clock at +night, for a run of forty miles through the wilderness to Plymouth. In +a surprisingly short time, he returned with two live chickens. +Massasoit was so much pleased with the fowls—animals which he had +never seen before—that he would not allow them to be killed, but kept +them as pets. The kind-hearted yet imperial old chieftain manifested +great solicitude for the welfare of his people. He entreated Mr. +Winslow to visit all his villages, that he might relieve the sick and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span>the suffering who were in them. Mr. Winslow remained several days, +and his fame as a physician spread so rapidly that great crowds +gathered in an encampment around Mount Hope to gain relief from a +thousand nameless ills. Some came from the distance of more than a +hundred miles.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Alarming tidings.</div> + +<p>While at Mount Hope, Massasoit informed Mr. Winslow that Wittuwamet, a +sachem of one of the Massachusetts tribes of Indians near Weymouth, +and several other Indian chiefs, had formed a plot for the purpose of +cutting off the two English colonies. Massasoit stated that he had +been often urged to join in the conspiracy, but had always refused to +do so, and that he had done every thing in his power to prevent it. +Mr. Winslow very anxiously inquired into all the particulars, and +ascertained that the Weymouth men had so thoroughly aroused the +contempt as well as the indignation of the neighboring Indians, that +their total massacre was resolved upon. The Indians, however, both +respected and feared the colonists at Plymouth; and, apprehensive that +they might avenge the slaughter of their countrymen, it was resolved, +by a sudden and treacherous assault, to overwhelm them also, so that +not a single Englishman should remain to tell the tale.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">The party leave Mount Hope.</div> + +<p>With these alarming tidings, Mr. Winslow, with Mr. Hampden and +Hobbomak, left Mount Hope on his return. Corbitant, their +outwardly-reconciled enemy, accompanied them as far as his house in +what is now Swanzey.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Conversation with Corbitant.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"That night," writes Mr. Winslow, "through the earnest +request of Corbitant, we lodged with him at Mattapoiset. On +the way I had much conference with him, so likewise at his +house, he being a notable politician, yet full of merry +jests and squibs, and never better pleased than when the +like are returned upon him. Among other things, he asked me +that, if <i>he</i> were thus dangerously sick, as Massasoit had +been, and should send to Plymouth for medicine, whether the +governor would send it; and if he would, whether I would +come therewith to him. To both which I answered yes; whereat +he gave me many joyful thanks."</p></div> + +<p>"I am surprised," said Corbitant, after a moment's thought, "that two +Englishmen should dare to venture so far into our country alone. Are +you not afraid?"</p> + +<p>"Where there is true love," Mr. Winslow replied, "there is no fear."</p> + +<p>"But if your love be such," said the wily Indian, "and bear such +fruit, how happens it that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span>when we come to Plymouth, you stand upon +your guard, with the mouth of your pieces pointed toward us?"</p> + +<div class="sidenote">English salutations.</div> + +<p>"This," replied Mr. Winslow, "is a mark of respect. It is our custom +to receive our best friends in this manner."</p> + +<p>Corbitant shook his head, and said, "I do not like such salutations."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Theological remarks.</div> + +<p>Observing that Mr. Winslow, before eating, implored a blessing, +Corbitant desired to know what it meant. Mr. Winslow endeavored to +explain to him some of the primary truths of revealed religion, and +repeated to him the Ten Commandments. Corbitant listened to them very +attentively, and said that he liked them all except the seventh. "It +must be very inconvenient," he said, "for a man to be tied all his +life to one woman, whether she pleases him or not."</p> + +<p>As Mr. Winslow continued his remarks upon the goodness of God, and the +gratitude he should receive from us, Corbitant added, "I believe +almost as you do. The being whom you call God we call Kichtan."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Return to Plymouth.</div> + +<p>Mr. Winslow and his companions passed a very pleasant night in the +Indian dwelling, receiving the most hospitable entertainment. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>The +next morning they hastened on their way to Plymouth. They immediately +informed the governor of the alarming tidings they had heard +respecting the conspiracy, and a council of all the men in the colony +was convened. It was unanimously decided that action, prompt, +vigorous, and decisive, was necessary.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The army.<br />Captain Standish.</div> + +<p>The bold Captain Standish was immediately placed in command of an army +of <i>eight men</i> to proceed to Weymouth. He embarked his force in a +squadron of <i>one boat</i>, to set sail for Massachusetts—for +Massachusetts and Plymouth were then distinct colonies. The captain +was an intrepid, impulsive man, who rarely took counsel of prudence. +He would wrong no man, and, let the consequences be what they might, +he would submit to wrong from no man. The Pilgrims valued him highly, +and yet so deeply regretted his fiery temperament that they were +unwilling to receive him to the communion of the Church.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Insolence of the Indians.<br />The commencement of hostilities.<br />The conflict and victory.</div> + +<p>When they arrived at Weymouth they found a large number of Indians +swaggering around the wretched settlement, and treating the humiliated +and starving colonists with the utmost insolence. The colonists dared +not exhibit the slightest spirit of retaliation. The Indians had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>been +so accustomed to treat the godless race at Weymouth with every +indignity, that they had almost forgotten that the Pilgrims were men +of different blood. As Captain Standish and his eight men landed, they +were met by a mob of Indians, who, by derision and insolence, seemed +to aim to provoke a quarrel. Wittuwamet, the head of the conspirators, +was there. He was a stout, brawny savage, vulgar, bold, and impudent, +almost beyond the conception of a civilized mind. Accompanied by a +gang of confederates, he approached Captain Standish, whetting his +knife, and threatening his death in phrase exceedingly contemptuous +and insulting. By the side of this chief was another Indian named +Peksuot, of gigantic stature and Herculean strength, who taunted the +captain with his inferior size, and assailed him with a volley of +barbarian blackguardism. All this it would be hard for a meek man to +bear. Captain Standish was not a meek man. The hot blood of the +Puritan Cavalier was soon at the boiling point. Disdaining to take +advantage even of such a foe, he threw aside his gun, and springing +upon the gigantic Peksuot, grasped at the knife which was suspended +from his neck, the blade of which was double-edged, and ground <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>to a +point as sharp as a needle. There was a moment of terrific conflict, +and then the stout Indian fell dead upon the ground, with the blood +gushing from many mortal wounds. Another Englishman closed with +Wittuwamet, and there was instantly a general fray. Wittuwamet and +another Indian were killed; another was taken prisoner and hung upon +the spot, for conspiring to destroy the English; the rest fled. +Captain Standish followed up his victory, and pursued the fugitives. A +few more were killed. This unexpected development of courage and power +so overwhelmed the hostile Indians that they implored peace.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Weymouth men go to Monhegan.</div> + +<p>The Weymouth men, thus extricated from peril, were afraid to remain +there any longer, though Captain Standish told them that he should not +hesitate to stay with one half their number. Still they persisted in +leaving. Captain Standish then generously offered to take them with +him to Plymouth, where they should share in the now almost exhausted +stores of the Pilgrims. But they decided, since they had a small +vessel in which they could embark, to go to Monhegan, an island near +the mouth of the Kennebec River, where many English ships came +annually to fish. The captain helped <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span>them on board the vessel, +provided for them a supply of corn, and remained until their sail was +disappearing in the distant horizon of the sea. He then returned to +Plymouth, and all were rejoiced that the country was delivered from +such a set of vagabonds.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Regrets of the English.</div> + +<p>The Pilgrims regretted the hasty and violent measures adopted by +Captain Standish, and yet they could not, under the circumstances, +severely condemn him. The Rev. Mr. Robinson, father of the Plymouth +Church, wrote from Holland:</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Letter from Rev. Mr. Robinson.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Due allowance must be made for the warm temper of Captain +Standish. I hope that the Lord has sent him among you for +good, if you will but use him as you ought. I fear, however, +that there is wanting that tenderness for the life of man, +made after God's own image, which we ought to cherish. It +would have been happy if some had been converted before any +had been killed."</p></div> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_IV" id="Chapter_IV"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter IV.</span></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Pequot War.</span></h3> + +<p class="center">1630-1637</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Prosperity of the colonies.</div> + +<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:50px;line-height:32px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">T</span><span style="margin-left:0%;">he</span> energetic, yet just and conciliatory measures adopted by the +Pilgrims at Plymouth, in their intercourse with the Indians, were +productive of the happiest results. For several years there was a +period of peace and prosperity. The colony had now become firmly +established, and every year emigrants, arriving from the mother +country, extended along the coasts and into the interior the comforts +and the refinements of civilization.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Massachusetts Colony.<br />Settlement of Boston.<br />Motives actuating the settlers.</div> + +<p>In the year 1630, ten years after the landing of the Pilgrims, a +company of gentlemen of fortune and of social distinction organized a +colony, upon a much grander scale than the one at Plymouth, to +emigrate to Massachusetts Bay, under the name of the Massachusetts +Colony. The leaders in this enterprise were men of decidedly a higher +cast of character, intellectual and social, than their brethren at +Plymouth. On the 12th of June this company landed at Salem, and before +the close of the year their <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>number amounted to seventeen hundred. The +tide of emigration now began to flow very rapidly, and eight or ten +towns were soon settled. Toward the close of this year a few families +moved to the end of the peninsula now called Boston. The dense +wilderness spread around them. They reared their log huts near the +beach, at the north end, and by fishing, hunting, and raising Indian +corn, obtained a frugal existence. In the five following years very +great accessions were made to this important colony. Thriving +settlements sprang up rapidly all along the coast. The colonists +appear to have been conscientious in their dealings with the natives, +purchasing their lands of them at a fair price. Nearly all these men +came to the wilderness of this new world inspired by as lofty motives +as can move the human heart. Many of them were wealthy and of high +rank. At an immense sacrifice, they abandoned the luxuries and +refinements to which they had been accustomed at home, that they might +enjoy in New England that civil and religious liberty which Old +England no longer afforded them.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Dutch colonies.<br />Correspondence with the Dutch governor.</div> + +<p>The Dutch had now established a colony at the mouth of the Hudson +River, and were looking wistfully at the fertile meadows which their +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span>traders had found upon the banks of the Connecticut. The English were +apprehensive that the Dutch might anticipate them in taking possession +of that important valley. In 1630 the Earl of Warwick had obtained +from Charles I. a patent, granting him all the land extending west +from Narraganset Bay one hundred and twenty miles. This grant +comprehended the whole of the present state of Connecticut and +considerable more, reaching west to the Dutch settlements on the +Hudson River. Preparations were immediately made for the establishment +of a small company on the Connecticut River. Governor Winthrop sent a +message to the Dutch governor at New Netherlands, as New York was then +called, informing him that the King of England had granted all the +region of the Connecticut River to his own subjects, and requesting +that the Dutch would not build there. Governor Van Twiller returned a +very polite answer, stating that the authorities in Holland had +granted the same country to a Dutch company, and he accordingly +requested the English not to settle there.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Taking possession.</div> + +<p>Governor Winthrop immediately dispatched some men through the +wilderness to explore the country, and several small vessels were +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span>sent to ascend the river, and, by trade, to establish friendly +relations with the Indians. The Plymouth colony also sent a company of +men with a frame house and boards for covering. When William Holmes, +the leader of this company, had sailed up the Connecticut as far as +the present city of Hartford, he found that the Dutch were before him, +and had erected a fort there. The Dutch ordered him to go back, and +stood by their cannon with lighted torches, threatening to fire upon +him.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Opposition to their settlement.</div> + +<p>Mr. Holmes, an intrepid man, regardless of their threats, which they +did not venture to execute, pushed boldly by, and established himself +at the mouth of Little River, in the present town of Windsor. Here he +put up his house, surrounded it with palisades, and fortified it as +strongly as his means would allow. Governor Van Twiller, being +informed of this movement, sent a band of seventy men, under arms, to +tear down this house and drive away the occupants. But Holmes was +ready for battle, and the Dutch, finding him so well fortified that he +could not be displaced without a bloody conflict, retired.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Beauty of Connecticut.</div> + +<p>The whole region of the State of Connecticut was at this time a +wilderness, covered with a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span>dense and gloomy forest, which +overshadowed both mountain and valley. There were scattered here and +there a few spots where the trees had disappeared, and where the +Indians planted their corn. The Indians were exceedingly numerous in +this lovely valley. The picturesque beauty of the country, the genial +climate, the fertile soil, and the vast variety of fish and fowl which +abounded in its bays, ponds, and streams, rendered Connecticut quite +an elysium for savage life.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Pequots.</div> + +<p>These Indians were divided into very many tribes or clans, more or +less independent, each with its sachem and its chief warriors. The +Pequots were by far the most powerful and warlike among them. Their +territory spread over the present towns of New London, Groton, and +Stonington. Just north of them was a branch of the same tribe, called +the Mohegans, under their distinguished sachem Uncas. The Pequots and +the Mohegans, thus united, were resistless. It is said that, a few +years before the arrival of the English in this country, the Pequots +had poured down like an inundation from the forests of the north, +sweeping all opposition before them, and had taken possession of the +sea-coast as a conquered country.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">Sassacus.<br />The three powers.<br />Continual wars.</div> + +<p>Sassacus was the sovereign chief of this nation. The present town of +Groton was his regal residence. Upon two commanding and beautiful +eminences in this town, from which the eye ranged over a very +extensive prospect of the Sound and the adjacent country, Sassacus had +erected, with much barbarian skill, his royal fortresses. The one was +on the banks of the Mystic; the other, a few miles west, on the banks +of the Pequot River, now called the Thames. His sway extended over all +the tribes on Long Island, and along the coast from the dominions of +Canonicus, on Narraganset Bay, to the Hudson River, and spreading into +the interior as far as the present county of Worcester in +Massachusetts. Thus there seem to have been, in the days of the +Pilgrims, three dominant nations, with their illustrious chieftains, +who held sway over all the petty tribes in the south and easterly +portions of New England. The Wampanoags, under Massasoit, held +Massachusetts generally. The Narragansets, under Canonicus, occupied +Rhode Island. The Pequots, under Sassacus, reigned over Connecticut. +These powerful tribes were jealous of each other, and were almost +incessantly engaged in wars.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Power of Sassacus.</div> + +<p>Sassacus had twenty-six sachems under him, and could lead into the +field four thousand warriors. He was shrewd, wary, and treacherous, +and with great jealousy watched the increasing power of the English, +who were now spreading rapidly over the principal parts of New +England.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Trading expedition.<br />Murder of the company.</div> + +<p>In the autumn of the year 1634, just after William Holmes had put up +his house at Windsor, two English traders, Captains Norton and Stone, +ascended the Connecticut River in a boat, with eight men, to purchase +furs of the Indians. They had a large assortment of those goods which +the natives prized, and for which they were eager to barter any thing +in their possession. The Indians one night, as the vessel was moored +near the shore, rushed from an ambush, overpowered the crew, murdered +every individual, and plundered and sunk the vessel. The Massachusetts +colony, which had then become far more powerful than the Plymouth, +demanded of Sassacus redress and the surrender of the murderers. The +Pequot chieftain, not being then prepared for hostilities, sent an +embassy to Massachusetts with a present of valuable furs, and with an +artfully contrived story in justification of the deed.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">Diplomatic skill.<br />Indians' account of the affair.</div> + +<p>The barbarian embassadors, with diplomatic skill which Talleyrand or +Metternich might have envied, affirmed that the English had seized two +peaceable Indians, bound them hand and foot, and were carrying them +off in their vessel, no one knew where. As the vessel ascended the +river, the friends of the two captives followed cautiously through the +forest, along the banks, watching for an opportunity to rush to their +rescue. The Indians were well acquainted with the treachery of the +infamous Englishmen in stealing the natives, and transporting them to +perpetual slavery. One night the English adventurers, according to the +representation of the Indians, drew their vessel up to the shore, and +all landed to sleep. At midnight, the friends of the captives watched +their opportunity, and made a rush upon the English while they were +asleep, killed all, and released their friends. They also stated that +all the Indians engaged in the affray, except two, had since died of +the small-pox.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Friendly alliance.</div> + +<p>This was a plausible story. The magistrates of Massachusetts, men of +candor and justice, could not disprove it; and as, admitting this +statement to be true, but little blame could be attached to the +Indians, the governor of Massachusetts accepted the apology, and +entered into <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>friendly alliance with the Pequots. In the treaty into +which he at this time entered with the Indian embassadors, the Pequots +conceded to the English the Connecticut River and its immediate +shores, if the English would establish settlements there and open +trade with them.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Planting new colonies.</div> + +<p>Accordingly, arrangements were immediately made for the planting of a +colony in the valley of the Connecticut. In the autumn of 1635, five +years after the establishment of the Massachusetts colony at Salem, +and fifteen years after the establishment of the Plymouth colony, a +company of sixty persons, men, women, and children, left the towns of +Dorchester, Roxbury, Watertown, and Cambridge, and commenced a journey +through the pathless wilderness in search of their future home. It was +the 12th of October when they left the shores of Massachusetts Bay. +For fourteen days they toiled along through the wilderness, driving +their cattle before them, and enduring incredible hardships as they +traversed mountains, forded streams, and waded through almost +impenetrable swamps. On the 9th of November they reached the +Connecticut at a point near the present city of Hartford. The same +journey can now be taken with ease in two and a half <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>hours. In less +than a year three towns were settled, containing in all nearly eight +hundred inhabitants. A fort was also erected at the entrance of the +river, to exclude the Dutch, and it was garrisoned by twenty men.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Indications of meditated hostility.</div> + +<p>The Indians now began to be seriously alarmed in view of the rapid +encroachments of the English. They became sullen, and annoyed the +colonists with many acts of petty hostility. There were soon many +indications that Sassacus was meditating hostilities, and that he was +probably laying his plans for a combination of all the tribes in a +resistless assault upon the infant settlements.</p> + +<p>The Wampanoags, under Massasoit, were still firm in their friendship; +but it was greatly feared that the Narragansets, whose power was very +formidable, might be induced to yield to the solicitations of the +Pequots.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Roger Williams.</div> + +<p>Roger Williams, who had taken refuge in Rhode Island to escape from +his enemies in Massachusetts, was greatly beloved by the Indians. He +had become quite a proficient in the Indian language, and by his +honesty, disinterestedness, and courtesy, had particularly won the +esteem of the Narragansets, in the midst of whom he resided. The +governor and council <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span>of Connecticut immediately wrote to Mr. +Williams, soliciting him to visit the Narragansets, and exert his +influence to dissuade them from entering into the coalition.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Mr. Williams sent as embassador.<br />His mission.<br />His success.</div> + +<p>This great and good man promptly embarked in the humane enterprise. +Bidding a hurried farewell to his wife, he started alone in a +dilapidated canoe to sail along the shores of Narraganset Bay upon his +errand of mercy. A violent tempest arose, tumbling in such a surf upon +the shore that he could not land, while he was every moment threatened +with being swallowed up in the abysses which were yawning around him. +At length, after having encountered much hardship and surmounted many +perils, he arrived at the imperial residence of Canonicus. The +barbarian chieftain was at home, and it so happened that some Pequot +embassadors had but a short time before arrived, and were then +conferring with the Narragansets in reference to the coalition. All +the arts of diplomacy of civilized and of savage life, of the wily +Indian and of the sincere and honest Christian, were now brought into +requisition. With heroism which was the more signal in that it was +entirely unostentatious, this bold man remained three days and three +nights <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>with the savages, encountering the threats of the Pequots, and +expecting every night that they would take his life before morning. +Grandeur of character always wins applause. The Indians marveled at +his calm, unboastful intrepidity, and Canonicus, who was also a man of +heroic mould, was so influenced by his arguments, that he finally not +only declined to enter into an alliance with the Pequots, but pledged +anew his friendship for the English, and engaged to co-operate with +them in repelling the threatened assault.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Enmity of the Pequots.</div> + +<p>This was an achievement of immense moment. Other distant tribes, who +were on the eve of joining the coalition, intimidated by the +withdrawal of the Narragansets, and by their co-operation with the +English, also refused to take part in the war, and thus the Pequots +were left to fight the battle alone. But the Pequots, with their four +thousand merciless warriors, were a fearful foe to rush from their +inaccessible retreats, with torch and tomahawk, upon the sparse and +defenseless settlements scattered along the banks of the Connecticut +River.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Acts of violence.</div> + +<p>Various acts of individual violence were perpetrated by the savages +before war broke out in all its horrors. The English were anxious to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span>avert hostilities, if possible, as they had nothing to gain from war +with the natives, and their helpless families would be exposed to +inconceivable misery from the barbarism of the foe.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Discovery of the murder of Captain Stone and his men.</div> + +<p>The colonists now learned that the excuse which had been offered for +the assault upon Captains Norton and Stone was a fabrication, and +false in all its particulars. These men had engaged several Indians to +pilot them up the river. They often stopped to trade with the natives. +One night, as they were moored alongside of the shore, while many of +the men had gone upon the land, and the captain was asleep in the +cabin, a large number of Indians made a premeditated assault, and +murdered all on board. The rest, as they returned in the darkness and +unsuspicious of danger, were easily dispatched.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Trading expedition to the Pequots.</div> + +<p>This new evidence of the treachery of the Pequots exasperated the +colonists. Still, they did not think it best to usher in a war with +such powerful foes by any retaliation. The Pequots, encouraged by this +forbearance, became more and more insolent. In July, 1635, John Oldham +ventured on a trading expedition to the Pequot country; for the +Pequots, notwithstanding all the appearances against them, still +pretended <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>to friendship, and solicited trade. One object of sending +Captain Oldham upon this expedition was to ascertain more definitely +the real disposition of the savages.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">John Gallop.</div> + +<p>A few days after his departure, a man by the name of John Gallop was +in a small vessel of about twenty tons, on his passage from +Connecticut to Massachusetts Bay. A strong northerly wind drove him +near Manisses, or Block Island. This island is about fourteen miles +from Point Judith. It is eight miles long, and from two to four wide. +To his surprise, he saw near the shore an English vessel, which he +immediately recognized as Captain Oldham's, filled with Indians, and +evidently in their possession. Sixteen savages, well armed with their +own weapons, and with the guns and swords which they had taken from +the English, crowded the boat.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Valiant behavior of Captain Gallop.</div> + +<p>Captain Gallop was a man of lion heart, inspirited by that Puritan +chivalry which ever displayed itself in the most amazing deeds of +daring, without the slightest apparent consciousness that there was +any thing extraordinary in the exploit. His little vessel was +considerably larger than the boat which the Indians had captured. His +crew, however, consisted <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span>of only one man and two boys. And yet, +without the slightest hesitancy, he immediately decided upon a naval +fight with the Indians. Loading his muskets and spreading all sail, he +bore down upon his foe. The wind was fair and strong, and, standing +firmly at the helm, while his crew were protected by the bulwarks from +the arrows and bullets of the Indians, and were ready with their +muskets to shoot any who attempted to board, he guided his vessel so +skillfully as to strike the smaller boat of the foe fairly upon the +quarter. The shock was so severe that the boat was nearly capsized, +and six of the Indians were knocked into the sea and drowned.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Victory over the Indians.</div> + +<p>Captain Gallop immediately stood off and prepared for another similar +broadside. In the mean time, he lashed the anchor to the bows of the +vessel in such a way that the fluke should pierce the side of the +boat, and serve as a grappling iron. As there were now only ten +Indians to be attacked, he decided to board the boat in case it should +be grappled by the fluke of his anchor. Having made these +arrangements, he again came running down before a brisk gale, and, +striking the boat again, tore open her side with his anchor, while at +the same moment <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span>he poured in a heavy discharge of buckshot upon the +terrified savages. Most of them, however, had plunged into the hold of +the little pinnace, and the shot effected but little execution. A +third time he ran down upon the pinnace, and struck her with such +force that five more, in their turn, leaped overboard and were +drowned. There were now but five savages left, and the intrepid Gallop +immediately boarded the enemy. Three of the savages retreated to a +small cabin, where, with swords, they defended themselves. Two were +taken captive and bound. Having no place where he could keep these two +Indians apart, and fearing that they might get loose, and, in +co-operation with the three savages who had fortified themselves in +the cabin, rise successfully upon him, Captain Gallop threw one of the +Indians overboard, and he was drowned. This was rough usage; but the +savages, who had apparently rendered it necessary by their previous +act of robbery and murder, could not complain.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The body of Captain Oldham.<br />Loss of the pinnace.</div> + +<p>The pinnace was then stripped of her rigging and of all the goods +which remained. The body of Captain Oldham was found, awfully +mutilated, beneath a sail. The rest of the crew, but two or three in +number, had been carried <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span>as captives by the savages on the shore. +Captain Gallop buried the corpse as reverently as possible in the sea, +and then took the pinnace in tow, with the three savages barricaded in +the cabin. Night came on, dark and stormy; the wind increased to a +tempest, and it was necessary to cut the pinnace adrift. She was never +heard of more.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Retribution.</div> + +<p>Block Island, where these scenes occurred, belonged to the +Narragansets; but many who were engaged in the murder, as if fearful +of the vengeance of Canonicus, their own chieftain, fled across the +Sound to the Pequot country, and were protected by them. The Pequots +thus became implicated in the crime. Canonicus, on the other hand, +rescued the captives taken from the boat, and restored them to their +friends. The English now decided that it was necessary for them so to +punish the Indians as to teach them that such outrages could no longer +be committed with impunity. It was a fearful vengeance which was +resolved upon. An army of one hundred men was raised, commissioned to +proceed to Block Island, burn every wigwam, destroy all the corn, +shoot every man, and take the women and children captive. Thus the +island was to be left a solitude and a desert.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p> +<div class="sidenote">The expedition.<br />The first attack.<br />The English victorious.</div> + +<p>On the 25th of August, 1636, the detachment sailed from Boston. The +Indians were aware of the punishment with which they were threatened, +and were prepared for resistance. Captain John Endicott, who was in +command of the expedition, anchored off the island, and seeing a +solitary Indian wandering upon the beach, who, it afterward appeared, +had been placed there as a decoy, took a boat and a dozen armed men, +and rowed toward the shore. When they reached within a few rods of the +beach, suddenly sixty warriors, picked men, tall, athletic, and of +established bravery, sprang up from behind the sand-hills, rushed to +the water's edge, and poured in upon the boat a volley of arrows. +Fortunately, the boat was so far from the land that not much injury +was done, though two were seriously wounded. As the water was shoal, +the colonists, musket in hand, sprang from the boat and waded toward +the shore, piercing their foes with a well-directed volley of bullets. +Had the Indians possessed any measure of the courage of the English, +the sixty savages might have closed upon the twelve colonists, and +easily have destroyed them all; but they had no disciplined courage +which would enable them to stand a charge. With awful <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>yells of fury +and despair, they broke and fled into the forests and the swamps.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The work of devastation.<br />Inefficiency of the punishment.</div> + +<p>Captain Endicott now landed his force and commenced the work of +destruction. There were two Indian villages upon the island, +containing about sixty wigwams each. The torch was applied, and they +were all destroyed. Every canoe that could be found was staved. There +were also upon the island about two hundred acres of standing corn, +which the English trampled down. But not an Indian could be found. The +women and children had probably been removed from the island, and the +warriors who remained so effectually concealed themselves that the +English sought them in vain. After spending two days upon the island, +the expedition again embarked, and sailed across the Sound to the +mouth of the Thames, then called Pequot Harbor. As the vessel entered +the harbor, about three hundred warriors assembled upon the shore. +Captain Endicott sent an interpreter to inform them that he had come +to demand the murderers of the English, and to obtain compensation for +the injuries which the Indians had inflicted. To this the Pequots +defiantly replied with a shower of arrows. Captain Endicott landed on +both sides <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span>of the harbor where New London now stands. The Indians +sullenly retired before him to the adjacent rocks and fastnesses, +rendering it necessary for the English to keep in a compact body to +guard against assault. Two Indians were shot, and probably a few +others wounded. The wigwams along the shore were burned, and the +canoes destroyed, and then the expedition again spread its sails and +returned to Boston, having done infinitely more harm than good. They +had merely exasperated their haughty foes. They had but struck the +hornets' nest with a stick. The Connecticut people were in exceeding +terror, as they knew that savage vengeance would fall mercilessly upon +them.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Exultation of Sassacus.<br />Scenes of blood.</div> + +<p>Sassacus was a stern man of much native talent. He laughed to scorn +this impotent revenge. To burn an Indian wigwam was inflicting no +great calamity. The huts were reared anew before the expedition had +arrived in Boston. The Pequots now despised their foes, and, gathering +around their council fires, they clashed their weapons, shrieked their +war-whoop, and excited themselves into an intensity of rage. The +defenseless settlers along the banks of the Connecticut were now at +the mercy of the savages, who were roused to the commission <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>of every +possible atrocity. No pen can describe the scenes of woe which, during +the autumn and winter of 1636 and 1637, transpired in the solitudes of +the wilderness. The Indians were every where in marauding bands. At +midnight, startled by the yell of the savage, the lonely settler +sprang to his door but to see his building in flames, to be pierced +with innumerable arrows, to fall upon his floor weltering in blood, +and to see, as death was stealing over him, his wife and his children +brained by the tomahawk. The tortures inflicted by the savages upon +their captives were too horrible to be narrated. Even the recital +almost causes the blood to chill in one's veins.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Energy of Sassacus.</div> + +<p>Sassacus was indefatigable in his endeavors to rouse all the tribes to +combine in a war of extermination.</p> + +<p>"Now," said he, "is our time. If we do not now destroy the English, +they will soon prove too powerful for us, and they will obtain all our +lands. We need not meet them in open battle. We can shoot and poison +their cattle, burn their houses and barns, lay in ambush for them in +the fields and on the roads. They are now few. We are numerous. We can +thus soon destroy them all."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Vigilance of the enemy.</div> + +<p>Why did they not succeed in this plan? The only answer is that God +willed otherwise. The Indians planned their campaign with great +skill, and prosecuted it with untiring vigor. Not a boat could pass up +or down the river in safety. The colonists were compelled to keep a +constant guard, to huddle together in block-houses, and could never +lie down at night without the fear of being murdered before morning. +Almost every night the flame of their burning dwellings reddened the +sky, and the shriek of the captives expiring under demoniac torture +blended with the hideous shout of the savages.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Siege of Saybrook.</div> + +<p>At the mouth of the Connecticut River the fort of Saybrook had been +erected. It was built strongly of timber, to resist the approaches of +the Dutch as well as of the Indians, and was garrisoned by about fifty +men. As this point commanded the entrance of the river, it was deemed +of essential importance that it should be effectually fortified. But +the Pequots were now so emboldened that they surrounded the fort, and +held the garrison in a state of siege. They burned every house in the +vicinity, razed all the out-houses of the fort, and burned every stack +of hay and every useful thing which was not within reach of the guns +of the fortress. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span>The cattle were all killed, and no person could +venture outside of the fort. The Indians, keeping beyond the reach of +gun-shot, danced with insulting and defiant gestures, challenging the +English to come out, and mocking them with the groans and pious +invocations which they had extorted from their victims of torture.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Necessity for energetic action.<br />Raising an army.</div> + +<p>This awful state of affairs rendered it necessary to prosecute the war +with a degree of energy which should insure decisive results. The +story of Indian atrocities caused every ear in the three colonies to +tingle, and all united to punish the common enemy. Plymouth furnished +a vessel, well armed and provisioned, and manned by fifty soldiers +under efficient officers. Massachusetts raised two hundred men to send +promptly to the theatre of conflict. Connecticut furnished ninety men +from the towns of Hartford, Windsor, and Wethersfield. This was an +immense effort for the feeble colonists to make.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Uncas sachem of the Mohegans.</div> + +<p>The Mohegans dwelt in the interior of the country, and were +consequently nearer the English settlements. Their sachem, Uncas, had +his royal residence in the present town of Norwich. He was a stern, +reckless man, and quite ambitious of claiming independence of +Sassacus, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>with his powerful section of the tribe. The Mohegans, +Pequots, and Narragansets all spoke the same language, with but a +slight diversity in dialect. The Mohegans, with apparent eagerness, +united with the English. The Narragansets also continued firm in their +pledged friendship to the Massachusetts and Plymouth colonists, and +promised a liberal supply of warriors to aid them in punishing the +haughty Pequots. Sassacus had now raised a storm which he well might +dread. The doom of his tribe was sealed.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Departure of the troops.<br />Torture of a captive.</div> + +<p>On Wednesday, the 10th of May, 1637, the Connecticut troops, +consisting of ninety Englishmen and seventy Mohegans, embarked at +Hartford in three vessels, and sailed down the river to the fort at +Saybrook. The expedition was commanded by Captain John Mason. Uncas, +the Mohegan sachem, led the Indian warriors. When they arrived near +the mouth of the river, the Indians desired to be set on shore, that +they might advance by land to the fort, and attack the Pequots by +surprise. The English were very apprehensive that their unreliable +allies were about to prove treacherous, and to desert to the Pequots. +But, as it was desirable to test them before the hour of battle +arrived, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>they were permitted to land. The Mohegans, however, proved +faithful. On their way to the fort they fell in with forty Pequots, +whom they attacked fiercely and put to rout, after having killed seven +of their number, and taken one a captive. Their wretched prisoner they +bound to a stake, and put to death with every barbarity which demoniac +malice could suggest.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Fortresses.</div> + +<p>The two parties met at Fort Saybrook. Sassacus was strongly +intrenched, about twenty miles east of them, in two forts, or, rather, +fortified towns. These Pequot fortresses were about five miles distant +from each other, on commanding hills, one on the banks of the Thames, +and the other on the banks of the Mystic. It was the original plan to +sail directly into the mouth of the Thames, then called Pequot Harbor, +and attack the savage foe in his concentrated strength. But these +fortresses were so situated as to command an extensive view of the +ocean, as well as of the adjacent country. The vessels, consequently, +could not enter Pequot Harbor without being seen by the Indians, and +thus giving them several hours' warning.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Plan of attack.</div> + +<p>After long and anxious deliberation, the chaplain of the expedition, +Rev. Mr. Stone, having <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span>been requested to pass the night in prayer for +Divine guidance, it was decided to sail directly by the mouths of +Pequot Harbor and the Mystic, and to continue along the shore to +Narraganset Bay. Here they hoped to meet with the troops dispatched +from Plymouth and Massachusetts. They could then march across the +country about forty miles, and, approaching the Pequot forts in the +night and through the forest, could attack them by surprise.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Delight of the Pequots.<br />Detentions.<br />Landing.</div> + +<p>On Friday, the 19th of May, the expedition sailed from the mouth of +the Connecticut. The Pequots, through their runners, kept themselves +informed of every movement, and when they descried the vessels +approaching, they felt that the decisive hour had come, and prepared +for battle. But when they saw the vessels pass directly by without +entering the harbor, they were exceedingly elated, supposing the +English were afraid to attack them. They shouted, and danced, and +clashed their weapons, and assailed their foes with all the artillery +of barbarian derision. But the colonists, unconscious of the ridicule +to which they were exposed, continued their course, and came to anchor +in Narraganset Bay just as the twilight of Saturday evening was +darkening into night. It was too late <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span>then to land, and the next day +being the Sabbath, they all remained on board their vessels, in the +sacred observance of the day. All of Monday, and until late in the +afternoon of Tuesday, a fearful gale swept the ocean, so that no boat +could pass to the shore. Tuesday evening, however, Captain Mason +landed, and had an interview with Miantunnomah, a chief very high in +rank, who seems to have shared with his uncle Canonicus in the +government of the Narragansets.</p> + +<div class="centerbox5 bbox"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Two mighty chiefs—one cautious, wise, and old;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">One young, and strong, and terrible in fight—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All Narraganset and Coweset hold;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">One lodge they build, one council-fire they light."</span></div></div></div> + +<div class="sidenote2">Cordial reception.<br />Re-enforcements.</div> + +<p>The fiery-spirited young sachem, hating the Pequots, and eager for a +fight with them in conjunction with such powerful allies as the +English, cordially received Captain Mason, granted him a passage +through his country, and immediately called out a re-enforcement of +two hundred men to join the expedition. That night an Indian runner +arrived in the camp, and informed Captain Mason that Captain Patrick, +with forty men, who had been sent in advance of the Massachusetts and +Plymouth contingent, had reached Mr. Roger Williams's plantation in +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span>Providence, and were hastening to meet him. Desirable as this +junction was deemed, after mature deliberation, it was decided not to +wait for Captain Patrick, as it was very important to strike a sudden +and unexpected blow. The Narragansets stood in great dread of the +Pequots, and it was feared that their zeal might grow cold. It was +also feared that if they did not proceed immediately, the Pequots +might receive tidings of their approach.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Determination to proceed.<br />Boasting.<br />Continued re-enforcements.</div> + +<p>The little army, therefore, the very next morning, Wednesday, May +24th, commenced its march. The force consisted of seventy-seven +Englishmen, sixty Mohegans, and two hundred Narragansets. The +Narragansets were great braggarts. They made the forest resound with +their vainglorious boasts, and, with the most valiant gestures, +declared that they would now show the English how to fight. Guided by +Indians through the forest, they pressed along rapidly through the +day, and at night, having traversed about twenty miles, bivouacked +upon the banks of a small stream. The next morning they resumed their +march, and, crossing the stream, approached the territory of the +Pequots. As they had advanced, large numbers of Narraganset warriors +had flocked to join them, and they <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span>had now five hundred of these +boastful savages in the advance leading them on.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Rapid march.</div> + +<p>The day was intensely hot, and, in their rapid march, several of the +troops fainted by the way. But, conscious that much depended upon +taking the Pequots by surprise, Captain Mason urged his men forward, +and about noon reached the banks of the Pawcatuck River, about twelve +miles from the previous night's encampment. The Indians led them to a +point in the river where they could pass it by a ford. They halted +here for an hour, and refreshed themselves, and then moved on with +much caution, as they were now almost in the country of their foe. It +was but twelve miles from the ford to the first Pequot fort on the +banks of the Mystic.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Plan of attack changed.<br />Ardor of the Indians cooled.<br />Desertions.</div> + +<p>It had been the intention to attack both the forts, the Mystic and the +Pequot, at once; but Wequash, a Pequot sachem, who had revolted from +Sassacus, and, treacherous to his tribe, acted as their guide, here +gave them such information respecting the situation and strength of +these fortresses as induced them to alter their resolution, and to +decide to make a united attack upon the fort at Mystic. When the +Narragansets found that Captain Mason was actually intending to march +directly up to the very <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>palisades of the fort, and assail those +fierce and terrible warriors in their strongholds, they were filled +with amazement and consternation. Many deserted and returned to +Narraganset. All who remained lingered irresolutely in the rear. The +English now found that their Indian allies could render them but very +little service. Undaunted, however, by the great odds against which +they would have to contend, they pressed vigorously and silently on, +followed by a vagabond train of two or three hundred savages. The sun +had gone down, and the shades of night were descending upon the forest +when they reached the banks of the Mystic.</p> + +<p>They were now within three miles of one of the great Pequot forts, on +what is still called Pequot Hill, in the present town of Groton. +Crossing the stream, here narrow and shallow, by a ford, they crept +cautiously along, in the deepening darkness, until they came to a +smooth and level plot of ground between two craggy bluffs now called +Porter's Rocks.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Repose.<br />Devotions of the English.</div> + +<p>The troops, excessively fatigued by travel and the heat of the sultry +day, threw themselves upon the ground for a few hours' repose, +intending to advance and make the attack upon the fort just before the +break of day. The night <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span>was serene and cloudless, and a brilliant +moon illumined the couch of the weary soldiers. They were now so near +the fort that they could hear the shouts of the savages in their +barbaric carousals. A few moments after midnight they were all aroused +from their sleep to march to the perilous assault. Devoutly these +Christian heroes gathered around their chaplain, the Reverend Mr. +Stone, and, with uncovered heads, united with him in fervent prayer +that God would bless their enterprise. They were not going into the +battle inspired by ambition, or the love of conquest, or the greed of +gain. They were contending only to protect their wives and their +children from the vengeance of a savage and a merciless foe. The +Narragansets, now that the stern hour of trial had come, were in such +a state of consternation that Captain Mason gathered them around him +and said,</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Address to the Indians.</div> + +<p>"We ask no aid from you. You may stand at any distance you please, and +look on, and see how Englishmen can fight."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The fort.</div> + +<p>The fort was on the summit of a heavy swell of land, and consisted of +a village of seventy wigwams, surrounded by a palisade. These +palisades consisted of posts planted side by side, and so high that +they could not be climbed <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>over. The warriors stationed behind them +were safe apparently from assault, for even a musket ball would not +pass through the posts. There were but two entrances to the fort, one +on the northeastern and the other on the southwestern side. Between +six and seven hundred Indians were within the fort.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Negligence of the enemy.<br />The attack.<br />The conflict.</div> + +<p>The English troops were divided into two parties, one headed by +Captain Mason, and the other by Captain Underhill, who had been in +command of the fort at Saybrook. They decided to make a simultaneous +attack upon each of the entrances. Though the moon shone very +brilliantly, rendering it almost as light as day, yet the Indians, +unsuspicious of danger and soundly asleep, gave not the slightest +indication of alarm until the two parties had each silently approached +within a rod of the entrances. A dog was then heard to bark, and +immediately one solitary voice shouted frantically, "Englishmen! +Englishmen!" The entrances were merely blocked up with bushes about +breast high. The assailants instantly poured a volley of bullets in +upon their sleeping foes, and, sword in hand, rushed over the feeble +barriers. Notwithstanding the surprise and the appalling thunder of +the guns, the Pequots sprang to arms and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span>made a fierce resistance. +The two parties, advancing from the opposite entrances, forced their +way along the main street, firing to the right and the left, and +making fearful slaughter of their foes. They speedily swept the street +clear of all opposition. The savages, however, who still vastly +outnumbered their assailants, retreated into their wigwams, and, +taking advantage of every covert, almost overwhelmed the compact bands +of the English with a shower of arrows and javelins. The conflict was +now fierce in the extreme, and for a time the issue was very doubtful. +Several of the colonists were already killed, and many severely +wounded.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The wigwams burned.<br />Massacre.<br />Horrors of the scene.</div> + +<p>The wigwams, composed of the boughs and bark of trees, and covered +with mats, were as dry as powder. Captain Mason, at this critical +moment, shouted to his exhausted men, "Set fire to the wigwams." +Torches were immediately applied; the flames leaped from roof to roof, +and in a few moments the whole village was as a furnace of roaring, +crackling flame. The savages, forced by the fire from their +lurking-places, presented a sure mark for the bullet, and they were +shot down and cut down without mercy. It was no longer a fight, but a +massacre. The Indians, bewildered with terror, threw <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span>down their arms, +and rushed to and fro in vain attempts to escape. Some climbed the +palisades, only to present a sure target for innumerable bullets; +others plunged into the eddying flames which were fiercely devouring +their dwellings. For a moment their dark bodies seemed to tremble and +vibrate in the glowing furnace, and then they fell as crisped embers.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Extermination.<br />Number of those escaping.</div> + +<p>The heat soon became so intense and the smoke so smothering that the +English were compelled to retire outside of the fort. But they +surrounded the flaming fortress, and every Indian who attempted to +escape was shot. In one short hour the awful deed was accomplished. +The whole interior of the fort was in ashes, and all the inmates were +destroyed with the exception of seven only who escaped, and seven who +were taken captives. The English knew that at a short distance from +them there was another fort filled with Pequot warriors. It +consequently was not safe to burden their little band with prisoners +whom they could neither guard nor feed. They also wished to strike a +blow which would appall the savages and prevent all future outrages. +Death was, therefore, the doom of all.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Amazement of the Indians.<br />Destitution of the English.</div> + +<p>The Mohegans and Narragansets, who had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>timidly followed the English, +and who had not ventured into the fort of the dreaded Pequots, stood +tremblingly at a distance, gazing with dismay upon their swift and +terrible destruction. The morning was cold, and a strong wind swept +the bleak hills. The little army was entirely destitute of provisions, +for no baggage-wagons could accompany them through the wilderness. +They had hoped to obtain corn from the Indian fort, but the +conflagration to which they had been unexpectedly compelled to resort +had consumed every thing. Several of their number had been killed; +more than twenty were severely wounded. Their surgeon and all their +necessaries for the wounded were on board the vessels, which were to +have sailed the night before from Narraganset Bay for Pequot Harbor. +Nearly all their ammunition was consumed. At a short distance from +them there was another still more formidable fort filled with fierce +Pequot warriors, where Sassacus himself commanded. Thus, even in this +hour of signal victory, starvation and ruin stared them in the face.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The vessels seen.</div> + +<p>The officers met together in anxious consultation. Just then the sun +rose brilliantly, and revealed the vessels but a few miles distant, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span>sailing before a fair wind toward Pequot Harbor. These strange men, +of cast-iron mould, gave expression to their joy, not in huzzas, but +in prayers and thanksgivings. But in the midst of this joy their +attention was arrested by another spectacle. Three hundred Pequots, +like a pack of tumultuous, howling wolves, came rushing along from the +other fort. They had heard the guns and seen the flames, and were +hurrying to the rescue.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Attack from the Indians.</div> + +<p>As soon as the savages came in sight of the fort, and saw its utter +destruction, they stopped a moment, as if aghast with rage and +despair. They howled and tore out their hair, and, by their phrensied +gestures, appeared to be in a delirium of fury. They then made a +simultaneous rush upon the English, resolved to take revenge at +whatever sacrifice of their own lives. There were now but forty-four +Englishmen in a condition to fight. Three hundred savages—seven to +one—rushed upon them in demoniac rage. But European weapons, and the +courage and discipline of civilized life, were equal to the emergency.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Valor of the English.</div> + +<p>Captain Mason promptly led forward a body of chosen men, who gave the +savages so warm a reception as to check their advance and cause <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span>them +to recoil. These intrepid colonists, with cool, unerring aim, wasted +not a bullet. Every report of the musket was the death of an Indian. +The savages, thus repulsed, took refuge behind trees and rocks, and +with great bravery pressed and harassed the English with every missile +of savage warfare. A rear-guard was now appointed, under Captain +Underhill, which kept the savages at a distance, while the whole party +marched slowly toward the vessels, which were now entering Pequot +Harbor.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Desertion of the Narragansets.<br />Retreat of the English.</div> + +<p>Several of the English had been slain. Five were so severely wounded +that they were utterly helpless, and had to be carried in the arms of +their friends. Twenty others were also so disabled that, though they +could with difficulty hobble along, they were unable to bear the +burden of their own weapons. Nearly all the Narraganset Indians had +now abandoned the English, and, with cowardice which it is difficult +to explain, had retired precipitately through the woods to their own +country. But the Mohegans had no place of refuge; their only safety +was in clinging to the English. Captain Mason, that he might avail +himself of the energies of all his men who were able to fight, +employed these panic-stricken and impotent allies in carrying <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span>the +wounded, four taking in their arms one man. The Indians also bore the +weapons of those who were too weak to carry them themselves. In this +way the colonists marched in an uninterrupted battle for several miles +to their vessels. The Pequots pressed them closely, assailing them +with great fierceness and bravery, sending parties in advance to form +ambushes in the thickets, and shooting their barbed and poisoned +arrows from behind every rock and tree. At last the colonists reached +the water's side in safety, and the Pequots, with yells of rage, +retired.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Grief of Sassacus.<br />Journey to Saybrook.</div> + +<p>Sassacus was quite overwhelmed by this disaster. All his warriors were +terror-stricken, and feared to remain in the fort, lest they should +experience the same doom which had overwhelmed their companions. In +their desultory wars, the loss of a few men was deemed a great +disaster. To have six or seven hundred of their warriors, hitherto +deemed invincible, in one hour shot or burned to ashes, was to them +inexpressibly awful. In dismay, they set fire to the royal fortress +and to all the adjacent wigwams, and fled into the fastnesses of the +forest. Captain Mason placed his wounded on board the vessels, +obtained a supply of food <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span>and a slight re-enforcement, and then +commenced his march for the fort at Saybrook, which was about twenty +miles distant. The Indians, whose wigwams were scattered here and +there through the forest, fled in terror before him. The English, +however, burned every dwelling, and destroyed all the corn-fields. At +Saybrook the victorious party were received with great exultation. +They then ascended the river to Hartford, and the men returned to +their several families, having been absent but three weeks.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Effects of the victory.</div> + +<p>It is impossible for us to conceive, in these days of abundance and +security, the rapture which this signal victory excited through all +the dwellings on the banks of the Connecticut. One half of the +effective men of the colony had gone forth to the battle, while the +rest remained at home, armed, and sleeplessly vigilant, to protect the +women and the children from a foe demoniac in mercilessness. The +issues of the conflict were doubtful. Defeat was death to all—more +than death: midnight conflagration, torture, and hopeless captivity of +mothers and daughters in the dark wilderness and in the wigwams of the +savage. Tears of gratitude gushed from the eyes of parents and +children; <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span>heartfelt prayers and praises ascended from every family +altar and from every worshiping assembly.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">News of the victory dispatched to Massachusetts.<br />New expedition.</div> + +<p>An Indian runner was immediately dispatched to Massachusetts to carry +the news of the decisive victory gained by the Connecticut troops +alone. To complete the work thus auspiciously begun, Connecticut +raised another band of forty men, and Massachusetts sent one hundred +and twenty to meet them at Pequot Harbor. The latter part of June, +four weeks after the destruction of the forts there, these two bodies +met, in strong martial array, upon the ruins of the empire of +Sassacus, resolved to prosecute the war to the utter extermination of +the Pequots. The despairing fugitives had retired into the wilderness +toward the west. The Indians, encumbered with their women and +children, and destitute of food, could move but slowly. They were +compelled to keep near the shore, that they might dig clams, which +food was almost their only refuge from starvation.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Fugitives.<br />Pursuit.<br />Sachem's Head.</div> + +<p>The English vigorously pursued them, occasionally shooting a straggler +or picking up a few captives, whom they retained as guides. When they +arrived at Saybrook, one party followed along the coast in boats, +while the others, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span>accompanied by Uncas and a band of Mohegan Indians, +scoured the shore. They came at length to Menunkatuck, now called +Guilford. The south side of the harbor here is formed by a long +peninsula. Some Pequots, pursued by the English, ran down this neck of +land, hoping that their tireless enemies would miss their track and +pass by. But Uncas, with Indian sagacity, led the party on the trail. +The Pequots, finding their foes upon them, plunged into the water and +swam across the narrow mouth of the harbor. But another party of +English was already there, who seized them as they waded to the shore. +The chief of this little band of Pequots was sentenced to be shot. He +was bound to a tree, and Uncas, with nervous arm, sent an arrow +through his heart. The head of the savage was then cut off and placed +in the crotch of a large oak tree, where it remained for many years, +dried and shriveled in the sun, a ghastly memorial of days of violence +and blood. From this extraordinary incident, the bluff, to the present +day, bears the name of <i>Sachem's Head</i>.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Arrival at New Haven.<br />News of a camp in a swamp.</div> + +<p>The little army pressed vigorously on, by land and by sea, some twenty +miles farther west, to a place called Quinnipiac, now New <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span>Haven. Here +they found a good harbor for their vessels, and they remained several +days for rest. They saw the smokes of great fires in the woods, and +sent out several expeditions in search of the Indians, but could find +none. A Pequot, a traitor to his tribe, came in and informed them that +a hundred Pequot warriors, with some two hundred men, women, and +children of an adjacent tribe, had taken refuge in a large swamp about +twenty-five miles west. This swamp was in the present town of +Fairfield, directly back of the village. The army immediately advanced +with all dispatch to the swamp. The bog was so deep and wet, and +tangled with underbrush, that it seemed impossible to enter it. A few +made the attempt, but they sank in the mire, and were sorely wounded +by arrows shot from an invisible foe.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Surrender of Indians.</div> + +<p>The English, with their Indian allies, surrounded the swamp. They were +enabled to do this by placing their men at about twelve feet distance +from each other. Several skirmishes ensued, in which a number of +Indians were shot. At length the Indians who lived in that vicinity, +and who had taken no part in the outrages committed against the +colonists, but who, in their terror, had followed the Pequots into +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span>the swamp, sent a delegation to the English imploring quarter. The +poor creatures were perishing of starvation. The fierce and haughty +Pequots, however, scorned to ask for mercy. They resolved to cut their +way through the enemy, or to sell their lives as dearly as possible. +The English promised life to all who would surrender, and who had +never shed the blood of the colonists. Two hundred men, women, and +children immediately emerged from the swamp. The sachem declared that +neither he nor his people had ever done any harm to the English. They +were accordingly left unmolested.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Escape of the Pequots.</div> + +<p>There were now nearly two hundred Pequots in the swamp. Night came on, +and the English watched with sleepless vigilance lest they should make +their escape. Toward morning a dense fog rose, adding to the gloom and +darkness of the dreary scene. Availing themselves of this, the shrewd +savages made several feints at different points, and then, with a +simultaneous rush, made a desperate effort to break through. About +seventy of the most vigorous of the warriors effected their escape; +all the rest were either killed or taken prisoners.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Death of Sassacus.<br />Children sold into slavery.</div> + +<p>Sassacus, with this remnant of his once powerful <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span>tribe, fled over the +mountains and beyond the Hudson to the land of the Mohawks. The fierce +Mohawks, regarding him and his companions as intruders, fell upon +them, and they were all slain but one, who, bleeding with his wounds, +made his escape. They cut off the head of Sassacus, and sent his +scalp, as evidence of his death, to Connecticut. A part of his skin +and a lock of his hair was sent to Boston. During these conflicts many +women and children were taken prisoners. We blush to record that the +boys were all sent to the West Indies, and sold into bondage. The +women and girls were divided about among the colonists of Connecticut +and Massachusetts as servants.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Extermination of the tribe.</div> + +<p>The Narragansets and the Mohegans now became very valiant, and eagerly +hunted through the woods for the few straggling Pequots who remained. +Quite a number they killed, and brought their gory heads as trophies +to Windsor and to Hartford. The Pequots had been so demoniac in their +cruelty that the colonists had almost ceased to regard them as human +beings. The few wretched survivors were so hunted and harassed that +some fled far away, and obtained incorporation into other tribes. +Others came imploringly to the English at Hartford, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span>and offered to be +their servants, to be disposed of at their pleasure, if their lives +might be spared.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The motives for the deed.</div> + +<p>Such is the melancholy recital of the utter extermination of the +Pequot tribe. Deeply as some of the events in this transaction are to +be condemned and deplored, much allowance is to be made for men +exasperated by all the nameless horrors of Indian war. A pack of the +most ferocious of the beasts of the forest was infinitely less to be +dreaded than a marauding band of Pequots. The Pequots behaved like +demons, and the colonists treated them as such. The man whose son had +been tortured to death by the savages, whose house and barns had been +burned by the midnight conflagration, whose wife and infant child had +been brained upon his hearthstone, and whose daughters were, perhaps, +in captivity in the forest, was not in a mood of mind to deal gently +with a foe so fiendlike. We may deplore it, but we can not wonder, and +we can not sternly blame.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The sunshine of peace and plenty.</div> + +<p>This destruction of the Pequots so impressed the New England tribes +with the power of the English, and struck them with so much terror, +that for nearly forty years the war-whoop was not again heard. The +Indian tribes had conflicts <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span>with each other, but the colonists, +blessed with ever-increasing prosperity, slept in peace and safety.</p> + +<p>In view of the exploits of the Pequot warriors, Dr. Dwight, with some +poetic license, exclaims:</p> + +<div class="centerbox5 bbox"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"And O, ye chiefs! in yonder starry home,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Accept the humble tribute of this rhyme.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Your gallant deeds in Greece or haughty Rome,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">By Maro sung, or Homer's harp sublime,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Had charm'd the world's wide round, and triumph'd over time."</span></div></div></div> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_V" id="Chapter_V"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter V.</span></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Commencement of the Reign of King Philip.</span></h3> + +<p class="center">1640-1674</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Continued prosperity.<br />Establishment of Harvard College.</div> + +<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:50px;line-height:32px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">W</span><span style="margin-left:0%;">ith</span> peace came abundant prosperity. Emigrants flocked over to the New +World. In ten years after the Pequot war the colonists had settled +fifty towns and villages, had reared forty churches, several forts and +prisons, and the Massachusetts colony, decidedly pre-eminent, had +established Harvard College. The wilderness indeed began to blossom, +and gardens, orchards, rich pastures, fields of grain, and verdant +meadows cheered the eye and filled the dwellings with abundance.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Acts of violence.<br />Death of Miantunnomah.</div> + +<p>There were now four English colonies, Plymouth, Massachusetts, +Connecticut, and New Haven. There were also the germs of two more, one +at Providence and the other on Rhode Island. The Indians, with the +exception of illustrious individuals, were a vagabond set of +perfidious and ferocious savages. They were incessantly fighting with +each other, and it required all the efforts of the English to keep +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span>them under any degree of restraint. The utter extirpation of the +Pequots so appalled them, that for forty years no tribe ventured to +wage war against the English. Yet during this time individual Indians +committed many enormous outrages of robbery and murder, for which the +sachems of the tribes were not responsible. The Mohegans, under Uncas, +had become very powerful. They had a fierce fight with the +Narragansets. Miantunnomah was taken captive. Uncas put him to death +upon Norwich plain by splitting his head open with a hatchet. The +Mohegan sachem tore a large piece of flesh from the shoulder of his +victim, and ate it greedily, exclaiming, "It is the sweetest meal I +ever tasted; it makes my heart strong."</p> + +<p>Marauding bands of Indians often committed murders. The efforts of the +English to punish the culprits would exasperate others, and provoke +new violence. Indications of combinations among the savages were +frequently developed, and the colonists were often thrown into a +general state of alarm, in anticipation of the horrors of another +Indian war.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The war-whoop resumed.</div> + +<p>In the year 1644, a Massachusetts colonist visiting Connecticut was +murdered on the way by an Indian. The English demanded the murderer. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span>The Indians, under various subterfuges, refused to give him up. The +English, in retaliation, seized upon eight or ten Indians, and threw +them into prison. This so exasperated the savages that they raised the +war-whoop, grasped their arms, and threatened dire revenge. By +boldness and moderation the English accomplished their ends, and the +murderer was surrendered to justice. A few weeks after this an Indian +entered a house in Stamford. He found a woman there alone with her +infant child. With three blows of the tomahawk he cut her down, and, +plundering the house, left her, as he supposed, dead. She, however, so +far recovered as to describe the Indian and his dress. With great +difficulty, the English succeeded in obtaining the murderer. The +savages threw every possible impediment in the way of justice, and +assumed such a threatening attitude as to put the colonists to great +trouble and expense in preparing for war.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The United Colonies of New England.<br />A confederacy.</div> + +<p>In view of such perils, in the year 1645, the colonies of +Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven formed a +confederacy, under the name of the <i>United Colonies of New England</i>. +They thus entered into an alliance offensive and defensive. Each +colony retained, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>in its domestic concerns, its own government and +jurisdiction. Two commissioners from each colony formed a board for +managing the common affairs of the Confederacy. This was the germ of +the present Congress of the United States.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Indian conspiracy.</div> + +<p>In the year 1646 a large number of Indians formed a conspiracy to set +fire to Hartford and murder the inhabitants. An Indian who was engaged +to assassinate the governor, terrified, as he remembered that every +one who had thus far murdered an Englishman had been arrested and +executed, revealed the plot. The Indians generally, at this time, +manifested a very hostile spirit, and many outrages were perpetrated. +The English did not deem it prudent to pursue and punish the +conspirators, but overlooked the offense.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Indian outrages.</div> + +<p>In the wars which the savages waged with each other, the hostile +parties would pursue their victims even into the houses of the +English, and cut them down before the eyes of the horror-stricken +women and children. In a very dry time the Indians set fire to the +woods all around the town of Milford, hoping thus to set fire to the +town. With the greatest difficulty the inhabitants rescued their +dwellings from the flames.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Opposition of the English to war.</div> + +<p>In the year 1648, marauding bands of the Narragansets committed +intolerable outrages against the people of Rhode Island, killing their +cattle, robbing their houses, and insulting and even beating the +inmates. The colonists were exceedingly perplexed to know what to do +in these emergencies. The whole wilderness of North America was filled +with savages. If they commenced a general war, it was impossible to +predict how far its ravages might extend. The colonists were eminently +men of peace. They wished to build houses, and cultivate fields, and +surround their homes with the comforts and the opulence of a high +civilization. They had bought their lands of the Indians fairly, and +had paid for them all that the lands then were worth.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Death of Massasoit.</div> + +<p>Massasoit died about the year 1661. He remained firm in his fidelity +to the English until his death, though very hostile to the conversion +of the Indians to Christianity. At one time, when treating for the +sale of some of his lands in Swanzey, he insisted very pertinaciously +upon the condition that the English should never attempt to draw off +any of his people from their religion to Christianity. He would not +recede from this condition until he found <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span>that the treaty must be +broken off unless he yielded.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Changing names.<br />Sons of Massasoit.<br />Wetamoo.</div> + +<p>As the English found many of the Indian names hard to remember and to +pronounce, they were fond of giving English names to those with whom +they had frequent intercourse. The Indians in general were quite proud +of receiving these names. Massasoit, with that innate dignity which +pertained to his imperial state, disdained to receive any other name +but the one which he proudly bore as his ancestral legacy. A few years +before his death, however, he brought his two sons, Wamsutta and +Pometacom, to Plymouth, and requested the governor, in token of +friendship, to give them English names. They were very bright, +attractive young men, of the finest physical development. The governor +related to Massasoit the history of the renowned kings of Macedon, +Philip and Alexander, and gave to Wamsutta, the oldest, the name of +Alexander, the great warrior of Asia, and to Pometacom, the younger, +the less renowned name of Philip. These two young men had married +sisters, the daughters of the sachem of Pocasset. The name of the wife +of Alexander was Wetamoo, an unfortunate princess who became quite +illustrious in subsequent scenes. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>The wife of Philip had the +euphonious name of Wootonekanuske.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Decline of Indian power.<br />Mutual wrongs.</div> + +<p>Upon the death of Massasoit, his eldest son Alexander was invested +with the chieftainship. The lands of the Indians were now very rapidly +passing away from the native proprietors to the new-comers, and +English settlements were every where springing up in the wilderness. +The Indian power was evidently declining, while that of the white man +was on the increase. With prosperity came avarice. Unprincipled men +flocked to the colonies; the Indians were despised, and often harshly +treated; and the forbearance which marked the early intercourse of the +Pilgrims with the natives was forgotten. The colonists had generally +become exasperated with the outrages of lawless vagabond savages, whom +the sachems could not restrain, and who ranged the country, shooting +their cattle, pillaging their houses, and often committing murder. A +hungry savage was as ready to shoot a heifer in the pasture as a deer +in the forest, if he could do so and escape detection. There thus very +naturally grew up, upon both sides, a spirit of alienation and +suspicion.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Alexander summoned to court.</div> + +<p>Alexander kept aloof from the English, and was cold and reserved +whenever he met them. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span>Rumors began to float through the air that the +Wampanoags were meditating hostilities. Some of the colonists, who had +been called by business to Narraganset, wrote to Governor Prince, at +Plymouth, that Alexander was making preparations for war, and that he +was endeavoring to persuade the Narragansets to unite with him in a +general assault upon the English settlements. Governor Prince +immediately sent a messenger to Alexander, at Mount Hope, informing +him of these reports of his hostile intentions which were in +circulation, and requesting him to attend the next court in Plymouth +to vindicate himself from these charges.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">He promises to attend.</div> + +<p>Alexander apparently received this message in a very friendly spirit. +He assured Captain Willet, the messenger, that the accusation was a +gross slander; that the Narragansets were his unrelenting foes; and +that they had fabricated the story that they might alienate from him +his good friends the English. He promised that he would attend the +next meeting of the court at Plymouth, and prove the truth of these +declarations.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Departure of Major Winslow.<br />He finds Alexander.</div> + +<p>Notwithstanding this ostensible sincerity and friendliness, various +circumstances concurred to increase suspicion. When the court +assembled, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span>Alexander, instead of making his appearance according to +his agreement, was found to be on a visit to the sachem of the +Narragansets, his pretended enemies. Upon this, Governor Prince +assembled his counselors, and, after deliberation, ordered Major +Winslow, afterward governor of the colony, to take an armed band, go +to Mount Hope, seize Alexander by surprise before he should have time +to rally his warriors around him, and take him by force to Plymouth. +Major Winslow immediately set out, with ten men, from Marshfield, +intending to increase his force from the towns nearer to Mount Hope. +When about half way between Plymouth and Bridgewater, they came to a +large pond, probably Monponsett Pond, in the present town of Halifax. +Upon the margin of this sheet of water they saw an Indian hunting +lodge, and soon ascertained that it was one of the several transient +residences of Alexander, and that he was then there, with a large +party of his warriors, on a hunting and fishing excursion.</p> + +<p>The colonists cautiously approached, and saw that the guns of the +Indians were all stacked outside of the lodge, at some distance, and +that the whole party were in the house engaged in a banquet. As the +Wampanoags were then, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span>had been for forty years, at peace with the +English, and as they were not at war with any other people, and were +in the very heart of their own territories, no precautions whatever +were adopted against surprise.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Preparations for the arrest.<br />Rage of Alexander.</div> + +<p>Major Winslow dispatched a portion of his force to seize the guns of +the Indians, and with the rest entered the hut. The savages, eighty in +number, manifested neither surprise nor alarm in seeing the English, +and were apparently quite unsuspicious of danger. Major Winslow +requested Alexander to walk out with him for a few moments, and then, +through an interpreter, informed the proud Indian chieftain that he +was to be taken under arrest to Plymouth, there to answer to the +charge of plotting against the English. The haughty savage, as soon as +he fully comprehended the statement, was in a towering rage. He +returned to his companions, and declared that he would not submit to +such an indignity. He felt as the President of the United States would +feel in being arrested by a sheriff sent from the Governor of Canada, +commanding him to submit to be taken to Quebec to answer there to +charges to be brought against him. The demand was of a nature to +preclude the exercise of courtesy. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span>As there were some indications of +resistance, the stern major presented a pistol to the breast of the +Indian chieftain, and said,</p> + +<p>"I am ordered to take you to Plymouth. God willing, I shall do it, at +whatever hazard. If you submit peacefully, you shall receive +respectful usage. If you resist, you shall die upon the spot."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The forced compliance.</div> + +<p>The Indians were disarmed. They could do nothing. Alexander was almost +insane with vexation and rage in finding himself thus insulted, and +yet incapable of making any resistance. His followers, conscious of +the utter helplessness of their state, entreated him not to resort to +violence, which would only result in his death. They urged him to +yield to necessity, assuring him that they would accompany him as his +retinue, that he might appear in Plymouth with the dignity befitting +his rank.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The return to Plymouth.<br />The royal prisoner.<br />Sickness of Alexander.</div> + +<p>The colonists immediately commenced their return to Plymouth with +their illustrious captive. There was a large party of Indian warriors +in the train, with Wetamoo, the wife of Alexander, and several other +Indian women. The day was intensely hot, and a horse was offered to +the chieftain that he might ride. He declined the offer, preferring to +walk with his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span>friends. When they arrived at Duxbury, as they were not +willing to thrust Alexander into a prison, Major Winslow received him +into his own house, where he guarded him with vigilance, yet treated +him courteously, until orders could be received from Governor Prince, +who resided on the Cape at Eastham. At Duxbury, Alexander and his +train were entertained for several days with the most scrupulous +hospitality. But the imperial spirit of the Wampanoag chieftain was so +tortured by the humiliation to which he was exposed that he was thrown +into a burning fever. The best medical attendance was furnished, and +he was nursed with the utmost care, but he grew daily worse, and soon +serious fears were entertained that he would die.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The king taken by his followers.<br />Death of Alexander.</div> + +<p>The Indian warriors, greatly alarmed for their beloved chieftain, +entreated that they might be permitted to take Alexander home, +promising that they would return with him as soon as he had recovered, +and that, in the mean time, the son of Alexander should be sent to the +English as a hostage. The court assented to this arrangement. The +Indians took their unhappy king, dying of a crushed spirit, upon a +litter on their shoulders, and entered the trails of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>forest. +Slowly they traveled with their burden until they arrived at Tethquet, +now Taunton River. There they took canoes. They had not, however, +paddled far down the stream before it became evident that their +monarch was dying. They placed him upon a grassy mound beneath a +majestic tree, and in silence the stoical warriors gathered around to +witness the departure of his spirit to the realms of the Red Man's +immortality.</p> + +<p>What a scene for the painter! The sublimity of the forest, the glassy +stream, meandering beneath the overshadowing trees, the bark canoes of +the natives moored to the shore, the dying chieftain, with his +warriors assembled in stern sadness around him, and the beautiful and +heroic Wetamoo, holding in her lap the head of her dying lord as she +wiped his clammy brow, nursing those emotions of revenge which finally +desolated the three colonies with flame, blood, and woe.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169-70]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/i164.jpg" class="ispace" width="500" height="361" alt="THE DEATH OF ALEXANDER." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE DEATH OF ALEXANDER.</span> +</div> + +<div class="sidenote2">King Philip.</div> + +<p>The tragic death of Alexander introduced to the throne his brother +Pometacom, whom the English named King Philip.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Enmity of Wetamoo.<br />Her power.</div> + +<p>Much has been written respecting the Indian's disregard for woman. The +history of Wetamoo proves that these views have been <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span>very greatly exaggerated, or that they admit of very marked +exceptions. Wetamoo immediately became the unrelenting foe of the +English. With all the fervor of her fresh nature, she studied to +avenge her husband's death. This one idea became the controlling +principle of her future life. That Wamsutta's death was caused by the +anguish of a wounded spirit no colonist doubted; but Wetamoo believed, +and most of the Indians believed, that poison had been administered to +the captive monarch, and that he thus perished the victim of foul +murder. Wetamoo was an energetic, and, for a savage, a noble woman. +All the energies of her soul were aroused to avenge her husband's +death. She was by birth the princess of another tribe, and it appears +that she had power, woman though she was, to lead three hundred +warriors into the field.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Endowments of Philip.<br />His religious beliefs.<br />His opposition to changing his religion.</div> + +<p>Philip was a man of superior endowments. He clearly understood the +power of the English, and the peril to be encountered in waging war +against them. And yet he as distinctly saw that, unless the +encroachments of the English could be arrested, his own race was +doomed to destruction. At one time he was quite interested in the +Christian religion; but apparently foreseeing <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span>that, with the +introduction of Christianity, all the peculiarities of manners and +customs in Indian life must pass away, he adopted the views of his +father, Massasoit, and became bitterly opposed to any change of +religion among his people. Mr. Gookin, speaking of the Wampanoags, +says:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"There are some that have hopes of their greatest and +chiefest sachem, named Philip. Some of his chief men, as I +hear, stand well-inclined to hear the Gospel, and himself is +a person of good understanding and knowledge in the best +things. I have heard him speak very good words, arguing that +his conscience is convicted. But yet, though his will is +bound to embrace Jesus Christ, his sensual and carnal lusts +are strong bands to hold him fast under Satan's dominion."</p></div> + +<p>Some time after this, Rev. Mr. Elliot records that, in conversation +with King Philip upon the subject of religion, the Wampanoag chieftain +took hold of a button upon Mr. Elliot's coat, and said, very +deliberately,</p> + +<p>"Mr. Elliot, I care no more for the Gospel of Jesus Christ than I do +for that button."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Alleged justice of the English.</div> + +<p>For nine years Philip was probably brooding over the subject of the +encroachments of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>English, and the waning power of the Indians. +This was the inevitable result of the idle, vagabond life of the +Indians, and of the industry and energy of the colonists. The Indians +had not thus far been defrauded. Mr. Josiah Winslow, governor of +Plymouth Colony, writes, in a letter dated May 1, 1676:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I think I can truly say that, before these present troubles +broke out, the English did not possess one foot of land in +this colony but what was fairly obtained by honest purchase +of the Indian proprietors."</p></div> + +<div class="sidenote">The discontent of Philip noticed.</div> + +<p>The discontent of Philip did not, however, escape the notice of the +English, and for a long time they saw increasing indications that a +storm was gathering. The wary monarch, with continued protestations of +friendship, was evidently accumulating resources, strengthening +alliances, and distributing more extensively among the Indians guns +and other weapons of Indian warfare. His warriors soon rivaled the +white men in skill as sharp-shooters, and became very adroit in the +use of their weapons. They were carefully laying up stores of powder +and bullets, and Philip could not conceal the interest with which he +endeavored to learn how to manufacture gunpowder.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Mutual suspicions.</div> + +<p>Under this state of affairs, it is easy to perceive that mutual +suspicions and recriminations must have rapidly ensued. The Indians +and the colonists, year after year, became more exasperated against +each other. The dangers of collision were constantly growing more +imminent. Many deeds of violence and aggression were perpetrated by +individuals upon each side. Still, candor compels us to admit, as we +carefully read the record of those days, that the English were very +far from being patterns of meekness and long-suffering. Haughtiness +and intolerance when in power has marked the career of our venerated, +yet far from faultless ancestors in every quarter of the globe.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Decline of the Narragansets.</div> + +<p>The Narraganset tribe had now lost its pre-eminence. Canonicus had +long since died, at the age of eighty years. Miantunnomah had been +taken prisoner by the Mohegans, and had been executed upon the plain +of Norwich. Ninigret, who was now sovereign chief of the Narragansets, +was old, infirm, and imbecile. His character illustrates the saying of +Napoleon, that "<i>better is it to have an army of deer led by a lion, +than an army of lions led by a deer</i>."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The fidelity of the Mohegans.<br />Indian vengeance.<br />Escape of the victim.</div> + +<p>Philip, by his commanding genius and daring <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span>spirit, had now obtained +a great ascendency over all the New England tribes excepting the +Mohegans. They, under Uncas, were strongly attached to the English, to +whom they were indebted for their very existence. The character of +Philip is illustrated by the following incident. In 1665, he heard +that an Indian had spoken disrespectfully of his father, Massasoit. To +avenge the insult, he pursued the offender from place to place, until, +at last, he tracked him to the island of Nantucket. Taking a canoe, +Philip proceeded to the island. Assasamooyh, who, by speaking ill of +the dead, had, according to Indian law, forfeited his life, was a +Christian Indian. He was sitting at the table of one of the colonists, +when a messenger rushed in breathlessly, and informed him that the +dreaded avenger was near the door. Assasamooyh had but just time to +rush from the house when Philip was upon him. The Indian fled like a +frighted deer, pursued by the vengeful chieftain. From house to house +the pursued and his pursuer rushed, while the English looked with +amazement at this exhibition of the energy of Indian law. According to +their code, whoever spoke ill of the dead was to forfeit life at the +hand of the nearest relative. Thus Philip, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span>with his brandished +tomahawk, considered himself but the honored executor of justice. +Assasamooyh, however, at length leaped a bank, and, plunging into the +forest, eluded his foe. The English then succeeded, by a very heavy +ransom, in purchasing his life, and Philip returned to Mount Hope, +feeling that his father's memory had been suitably avenged.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Summons to Philip.</div> + +<p>In the year 1671, the English, alarmed by the threatening aspect of +affairs, and seeing increasing indications that Philip was preparing +for hostilities, sent an imperious command to him to come to Taunton +and explain his conduct. For some time Philip made sundry rather weak +excuses for not complying with this demand, at the same time +reiterating assurances of his friendly feelings. He was, as yet, quite +unprepared for war, and was very reluctant to precipitate hostilities, +which he had sufficient sagacity to foresee would involve him in ruin, +unless he could first form such a coalition of the Indian tribes as +would enable him to attack all the English settlements at one and the +same time. At length, however, he found that he could no longer refuse +to give some explanation of the measures he was adopting without +giving fatal strength to the suspicions against him.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p> +<div class="sidenote">Philip appears with his warriors.<br />His caution.</div> + +<p>Accordingly, on the 10th of April of this year, he took with him a +band of warriors, armed to the teeth, and painted and decorated with +the most brilliant trappings of barbarian splendor, and approached +within four miles of Taunton. Here the proud monarch of the Wampanoags +established his encampment, and, with native-taught punctiliousness, +sent a message to the English governor, informing him of his arrival +at that spot, and requiring him to come and treat with him there. The +governor, either afraid to meet these warriors in their own +encampment, or deeming it beneath his dignity to attend the summons of +an Indian chieftain, sent Roger Williams, with several other +messengers, to assure Philip of his friendly feelings, and to entreat +him to continue his journey to Taunton, as a more convenient place for +their conference. Philip, with caution which subsequent events proved +to have been well timed, detained these messengers as hostages for his +safe return, and then, with an imposing retinue of his painted braves, +proudly strode forward toward the town of Taunton.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The commissioners.<br />Desire to attack the Indians.</div> + +<p>When he arrived at a hill upon the outskirts of the village, he again +halted, and warily established sentinels around his encampment. The +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span>governor and magistrates of Massachusetts, apprehensive that the +Plymouth people might get embroiled in a war with the Indians, and +anxious, if possible, to avert so terrible a calamity, had dispatched +three commissioners to Taunton to endeavor to promote reconciliation +between the Plymouth colony and Philip. These commissioners were now +in conference with the Plymouth court. When Philip appeared upon the +hill, the Plymouth magistrates, exasperated by many outrages, were +quite eager to march and attack him, and take his whole party +prisoners, and hold them as hostages for the good behavior of the +Indians. With no little difficulty the Massachusetts commissioners +overruled this rash design, and consented to go out themselves and +persuade Philip to come in and confer in a friendly manner upon the +adjustment of their affairs.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Equitable arrangements.</div> + +<p>Philip received the Massachusetts men with reserve, but with much +courtesy. At first he refused to advance any farther, but declared +that those who wished to confer with him must come where he was. At +length, however, he consented to refer the difficulties which existed +between him and the Plymouth colony to the Massachusetts +commissioners, and to hold the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span>conference in the Taunton +meeting-house. But, that he might meet his accusers upon the basis of +perfect equality, he demanded that one half of the meeting-house +should be appropriated sacredly to himself and his followers, while +the Plymouth people, his accusers, should occupy the other half. The +Massachusetts commissioners, three gentlemen, were to sit alone as +umpires. We can not but admire the character developed by Philip in +these arrangements.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Philip's adroitness.<br />Charge for charge.</div> + +<p>Philip managed his cause, which was manifestly a bad one, with great +adroitness. Talleyrand and Metternich would have given him a high +position among European diplomatists. He could not deny that he was +making great military preparations, but he declared that this was only +in anticipation of an attack from the Narraganset Indians. But it was +proved that at that moment he was on terms of more intimate friendship +with the Narragansets than ever before. He also brought charge for +charge against the English; and it can not be doubted that he and his +people had suffered much from the arrogance of individuals of the +domineering race. Philip has had no one to tell his story, and we have +received the narrative only from the pens of his foes. They tell us +that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span>he was at length confounded, and made full confession of his +hostile designs, and expressed regret for them.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Result of the conference.<br />Extraordinary pledge.</div> + +<p>As a result of the conference, all past grievances were to be buried +in oblivion, and a treaty was entered into in which mutual friendship +was pledged, and in which Philip consented to the extraordinary +measure of disarming his people, and of surrendering their guns to the +governor of Plymouth, to be retained by him so long as he should +distrust the sincerity of their friendship. Philip and his warriors +immediately gave up their guns, seventy in number, and promised to +send in the rest within a given time.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Desires in regard to the Indians.</div> + +<p>It is difficult to conceive how the Indians could have +understandingly, and in good faith, have made such a treaty. The +English had now been fifty years in the country. The Indians had +become familiar with the use of guns. Bows and arrows had long since +been laid aside. As game was with them an important element of food, +the loss of their guns was apparently a very serious calamity. It is +not improbable that the English magistrates humanely hoped, by taking +away the guns of the Indians, to lead them from the precarious and +vagabond life of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span>hunters to the more refining influences of +agriculture. But it is very certain that the Indians cherished no such +views. It was also agreed in the council that, in case of future +troubles, both parties should submit their complaints to the +arbitration of Massachusetts.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Uselessness of Indian treaties.</div> + +<p>This settlement, apparently so important, amounted to nothing. The +Indians were ever ready, it is said, to sign any agreement whatever +which would extricate them from a momentary difficulty; but such +promises were broken as promptly as they were made. Philip, having +returned to Mount Hope, sent in no more guns, but was busy as ever +gaining resources for war, and entering into alliances with other +tribes. Philip denied this, but the people of Plymouth thought that +they had ample evidence that such was the case.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The English violate their pledge.</div> + +<p>The summer thus passed away, while the aspect of affairs was daily +growing more threatening. As Philip did not send in his guns according +to agreement, and as there was evidence, apparently conclusive, of his +hostile intentions, the Plymouth government, late in August, sent +another summons, ordering the Wampanoag sovereign to appear before +them on the 13th of September, and threatening, in case he did not +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span>comply with this summons, to send out a force to reduce him to +subjection. At the same time, they sent communications to the colonies +of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, stating their complaints against +Philip, and soliciting their aid in the war which they thought +evidently approaching.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Philip for "law and order."<br />Decision of the referee.</div> + +<p>In this movement Philip gained a manifest advantage over the Plymouth +colonists. It will be remembered that, according to the terms of the +treaty, all future difficulties were to be referred to the arbitration +of Massachusetts as an impartial umpire. But Plymouth had now, in +violation of these terms, imperiously summoned the Indian chieftain, +as if he were their subject, to appear before their courts. Philip, +instead of paying any regard to this arrogant order, immediately +repaired to Boston with his councilors, and thus manifestly placed +himself in the position of the "law and order" party. It so happened +that he arrived in Boston on the very day in which the Governor of +Massachusetts received the letter from the Plymouth colony. The +representations which Philip made seemed to carry conviction to the +impartial umpires of Massachusetts that he was not severely to be +censured. They accordingly wrote a letter to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>Plymouth, assuming that +there was perhaps equal blame on both sides, and declaring that there +did not appear to be sufficient cause for the Plymouth people to +commence hostilities. In their letter they write:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"We do not understand how Philip hath subjected himself to +you. But the treatment you have given him, and your +proceedings toward him, do not render him such a subject as +that, if there be not a present answering to summons, there +should presently be a proceeding to hostilities. The sword +once drawn and dipped in blood, may make him as independent +upon you as you are upon him."</p></div> + +<div class="sidenote">A general council.<br />Complaints.<br />A new treaty.<br />Philip desires peace.</div> + +<p>Arrangements were now made for a general council from the united +colonies to assemble at Plymouth on the 24th of September. King Philip +agreed to meet this council in a new attempt to adjust all their +difficulties. At the appointed time the assembly was convened. King +Philip was present, with a retinue of warriors, all decorated in the +highest style of barbaric splendor. Bitter complaints were entered +upon both sides, and neither party were disposed to draw any very +marked line of distinction between individual acts of outrage and the +measures for which the two governments were <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>responsible. Another +treaty was, however, made, similar to the Taunton treaty, and the two +parties again separated with protestations of friendship, but quite +hostile as ever at heart. The colonists were, however, all anxious to +avoid a war, as they had every thing to lose by it and nothing to +gain. Philip, on the contrary, deemed the salvation of the Indians was +depending upon the extermination of the colonists. He was well aware +that he was quite unprepared for immediate hostilities, and that he +had much to do in the way of preparation before he could hope +successfully to encounter foes so formidable as the English had now +become.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Rumors of trouble.</div> + +<p>Three years now passed away of reserved intercourse and suspicious +peace. The colonists were continually hearing rumors from distant +tribes of Philip's endeavors, and generally successful endeavors, to +draw them into a coalition. The conspiracy, so far as it could be +ascertained, included nearly all the tribes of New England, and +extended into the interior of New York, and along the coast to +Virginia. The Narragansets agreed to furnish four thousand warriors. +Other tribes, according to their power, were to furnish their hundreds +or their thousands. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span>Hostilities were to be commenced in the spring of +1676 by a simultaneous assault upon all the settlements, so that none +of the English could go from one portion of the country to aid +another.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The cloud of terror.<br />Independence of Philip.</div> + +<p>The English, month after month, saw this cloud of terror increasing in +blackness; yet measures were so adroitly adopted by King Philip that, +while the air was filled with rumors, it was difficult to obtain any +positive proof, and still more difficult to decide what course to +pursue to avert the calamity. As these deep-laid plans of the shrewd +Wampanoag chieftain were approaching maturity, Philip became more +independent and bold in his demeanor. The Massachusetts colonists now +began to feel that the danger was indeed imminent, and that their +Plymouth brethren had more cause for complaint than they had supposed. +The evidence became so convincing that this dreadful conspiracy was in +progress, that the Governor of Massachusetts sent an embassador to +Philip, demanding an explanation of these threatening appearances, and +soliciting another treaty of peace and friendship. The proud sachem +haughtily replied to the embassador,</p> + +<p>"Your governor is but a subject of King <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span>Charles of England. I shall +not treat with a subject. I shall only treat with the king, my +brother. When he comes, I am ready."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The close of the year 1674.</div> + +<p>Such was the alarming aspect of affairs at the close of the year 1674.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_VI" id="Chapter_VI"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter VI.</span></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Commencement of Hostilities.</span></h3> + +<p class="center">1675</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Enthusiasm of the young Indians.</div> + +<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:50px;line-height:32px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">T</span><span style="margin-left:0%;">he</span> old warriors, conscious of the power of the foe whose fury they +were about to brave, were not at all disposed to precipitate +hostilities, but Philip found it difficult to hold his young men under +restraint. They became very insolent and boastful, and would sharpen +their knives and tomahawks upon the door-sills of the colonists, +vaporing in mysterious phrase of the great deeds they were about to +perform.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">John Sassamon.<br />Betty's Neck.</div> + +<p>There was at this time a Christian Indian by the name of John +Sassamon, who had learned to read and write, and had become quite an +efficient agent in Christian missions to the Indians. He was esteemed +by the English as truly a pious man, and had been employed in aiding +to translate the Bible into the Indian language, and also in preaching +to his countrymen at Nemasket, now Middleborough. He lived in +semi-civilized style upon Assawompset Neck. He had a very pretty +daughter, whom he called Assowetough, but whose sonorous name the +young Puritans did not improve by <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span>changing it into Betty. The noted +place in Middleborough now called Betty's Neck is immortalized by the +charms of Assowetough. This Indian maiden married a warrior of her +tribe, who was also in the employment of the English, and in all his +interests had become identified with them. Sassamon was a subject of +King Philip, but he and his family were on the most intimate and +friendly relations with the colonists.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Private secretary of Philip.<br />The conspiracy.<br />Incredulity of the English.</div> + +<p>Philip needed a private secretary who could draw up his deeds and +write his letters. He accordingly took John Sassamon into his +employment. Sassamon, thus introduced into the court and cabinet of +his sovereign, soon became acquainted with the conspiracy in all its +appalling extent and magnitude of design. He at once repaired to +Plymouth, and communicated his discovery to the governor. He, however, +enjoined the strictest secrecy respecting his communication, assuring +the governor that, should the Indians learn that he had betrayed them, +his life would be the inevitable forfeit. There were many who had no +faith in any conspiracy of the kind. Rumors of approaching perils had +been rife for many years, and the community had become accustomed to +them. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span>Most of the Massachusetts colonists thought the Plymouth people +unnecessarily alarmed. They listened to the story of Sassamon with +great incredulity. "His information," says Dr. I. Mather, "because it +had an Indian original, and one can hardly believe them when they do +speak the truth, was not at first much regarded."</p> + +<p>Sassamon soon after resigned his situation as Philip's secretary, and +returned to Middleborough, where he resumed his employment as a +preacher to the Indians and teacher of a school.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Sassamon to be murdered.</div> + +<p>By some unknown means Philip ascertained that he had been betrayed by +Sassamon. According to the Indian code, the offender was deemed a +traitor and a renegade, and was doomed to death; and it was the duty +of every subject of King Philip to kill him whenever and wherever he +could be found. But Sassamon had been so much with the English, and +had been for years so intimately connected with them as their friend +and agent, that it was feared that they would espouse his cause, and +endeavor to avenge his death. It was, therefore, thought best that +Indian justice should be secretly executed.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Death of Sassamon.<br />Indians arrested.</div> + +<p>Early in the spring of 1675 Sassamon was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span>suddenly missing. At length +his hat and gun were found upon the ice of Assawompset Pond, near a +hole. Soon after his body was found beneath the ice. There had been an +evident endeavor to leave the impression that he had committed +suicide; but wounds upon his body conclusively showed that he had been +murdered. The English promptly decided that this was a crime which +came under the cognizance of their laws. Three Indians were arrested +under suspicion of being his murderers. These Indians were all men of +note, connected with the council of Philip. An Indian testified that +he happened to be upon a distant hill, and saw the murder committed. +For some time he had concealed the knowledge thus obtained, but at +length was induced to disclose the crime. The evidence against Tobias, +one of the three, is thus stated by Dr. Increase Mather:</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Proof of the murder.</div> + +<p>"When Tobias came near the dead body, it fell a bleeding on fresh, as +if it had been newly slain, albeit it was buried a considerable time +before that." In those days of darkness it was supposed that the body +of a murdered man would bleed on the approach of his murderer.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Execution of the Indians.</div> + +<p>The prisoners were tried at Plymouth in June, and were all adjudged +guilty, and sentenced <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>to death. The jury consisted of twelve +Englishmen and four Indians. The condemned were all executed, two of +them contending to the last that they were entirely innocent, and knew +nothing of the deed. One of them, it is said, when upon the point of +death, confessed that he was a spectator of the murder, which was +committed by the other two.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Superstitious notions.</div> + +<p>The summary execution of three of Philip's subjects enraged and +alarmed the Wampanoags exceedingly. As the death of Sassamon had been +undeniably ordered by Philip, he was apprehensive that he also might +be kidnapped and hung. The young Wampanoag warriors were roused to +phrensy, and immediately commenced a series of the most intolerable +annoyances, shooting the cattle, frightening the women and children, +and insulting wayfarers wherever they could find them. The Indians had +imbibed the superstitious notion, which had probably been taught them +by John Sassamon, that the party which should commence the war and +shed the first blood would be defeated. They therefore wished, by +violence and insult, to provoke the English to strike the first blow. +The English established a military watch in every town; but, hoping +that the threatening storm <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span>might blow over, they endured all these +outrages with commendable patience.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Insolence of the Indians.<br />They capture a settler.</div> + +<p>On the 20th of June, eight Indian desperadoes, all armed for fight, +came swaggering into the town of Swanzey, and, calling at the door of +a colonist, demanded permission to grind their hatchets. As it was the +Lord's day, the colonist informed them that it would be a violation of +the Sabbath for them to do such work, and that God would be +displeased. They replied, "We care neither for your God nor for you, +but we will grind our hatchets." They then went to another house, and, +with insulting carousals, ransacked the closets, helping themselves +abundantly to food. The barbarian roisterers then proceeded blustering +along the road, when they chanced to meet a colonist. They immediately +took him into custody, kept him for some time, loading him with taunts +and ridicule, and then dismissed him, derisively telling him to be a +good man, and not to tell any lies or work on the Lord's day.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The first blood.</div> + +<p>Growing bolder and more insolent as they advanced, they began to shoot +the cattle which they saw in the fields. They encountered no +opposition, for the houses were at some distance from each other, and +most of the men were absent <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span>at public worship. At last they came to a +house where the man chanced to be at home. They shot his cattle, and +then entered the house and demanded liquor. Being refused, they became +very boisterous in threats, and attempted to get the liquor by +violence. The man at last, provoked beyond endurance, seized his gun +and shot one of them, inflicting a serious but not mortal wound. The +first blood was now shed, and the drama of war was opened. The young +savages retired, bearing their wounded companion with them, and +breathing threatenings and slaughter.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Day of fasting.</div> + +<p>The next Thursday, June 24th, had been set apart by the colonists as a +day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, in view of the alarming state +of affairs. Upon an impartial review of all the transactions, it is +difficult to see how the colonists could have avoided the war.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Letter of Governor Winslow.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I do solemnly protest," says Governor Winslow, in a letter +written July 4th, 1675, "we know not any thing from us which +might have put Philip upon these motions, nor have heard +that he pretends to have suffered any wrong from us, save +only that we had killed some Indians, and intended to send +for himself for the murder of John Sassamon."</p></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Murders by the Indians.</div> + +<p>As the people in Swanzey were returning from church on fast-day, a +party of Indians, concealed in a thicket by the road side, fired upon +them, killing one instantly, and severely wounding many others. Two +men who set off in haste for a surgeon were waylaid and murdered. At +the same time, in another part of the town, a house was surrounded by +a band of Indians, and eight more of the colonists were shot. These +awful tidings spread rapidly, causing indescribable alarm. One man, +afraid to remain in his unprotected dwelling, hastily sent his wife +and only son to the house of the Rev. Mr. Miles, which was fortified, +and could be garrisoned. He remained a few moments behind to take some +needful things. The wife had gone but a short distance when she heard +behind her the report of a gun. True to woman's heroic love, she +instantly returned to learn the fate of her husband.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Flight of the colonists.</div> + +<p>He was lying in his blood on the threshold of his door, and the +savages were ransacking the house. The wretches caught sight of her, +pursued her, killed both her and her son, and took their scalps. In +this terrible state of alarm, the scattered and helpless colonists +fled with their families, as rapidly as they could, to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span>the garrison +house. Two men went from the house to the well for water. They fell, +pierced by bullets. The savages rushed from their concealment, seized +the two still quivering bodies, and dragged them into the forest. They +were afterward found scalped, and with their hands and feet cut off. +Such were the opening acts of the tragedy of blood and woe.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Energy of Philip.<br />Assistance implored.<br />Flight of Philip.</div> + +<p>With amazing energy and with great strategetic skill, the warriors of +Philip, guided by his sagacity, plied their work of destruction. It +was their sole, emphatic mission to kill, burn, and destroy. The +savages, flushed with success, were skulking every where. No one could +venture abroad without danger of being shot. Runners were immediately +sent, in consternation, from all the frontier towns, to Plymouth and +Boston, to implore assistance. In three hours after the arrival of the +messenger in Boston, one hundred and twenty men were on the march to +attack Philip at Mount Hope. But the renowned chieftain was too wary +to be caught in the trap of Mount Hope Neck. He had sent his women and +children to the hospitality of distant tribes, and, abandoning the +Neck, which was nearly surrounded by water, traversed with his +warriors the country, where <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span>he could at any time plunge into the +almost limitless wilderness.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">March of the army.</div> + +<p>The little army from Massachusetts moved promptly forward, pressing +into its service all the available men to be found by the way. They +marched to Swanzey, and established their head-quarters at the +garrison house of the Rev. Mr. Miles, a Baptist clergyman of exalted +character and of fervent piety, who was ready to share with his +parishioners in all the perils of protecting themselves from the +border ruffians of that day. About a dozen of the troops, on a +reconnoitring party, crossed the bridge near the garrison house. They +were fired upon from an ambush, and one killed and one wounded. The +Indians fled, hotly pursued by the English, and took refuge in a +swamp, after having lost sixteen of their number.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Soykonate tribe.<br />Awashonks.<br />Captain Church.</div> + +<p>Upon the eastern shore of Narraganset Bay, in the region now occupied +by Little Compton and a part of Tiverton, there was a small tribe of +Indians in partial subjection to the Narragansets, and called the +Soykonate tribe. Here also a woman, Awashonks, was sachem of the +tribe, and the bravest warriors were prompt to do homage to her power. +Captain Benjamin Church and a few other colonists had purchased <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span>lands +of her, and had settled upon fertile spots along the shores of the +bay. Awashonks was on very friendly terms with Captain Church. Though +there were three hundred warriors obedient to her command, that was +but a feeble force compared with the troops which could be raised both +by Philip and by the English. She was therefore anxious to remain +neutral. This, however, could not be. The war was such that all +dwelling in the midst of its ravages must choose their side.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The embassadors of Philip.</div> + +<p>Philip sent six embassadors to engage Awashonks in his interest. She +immediately assembled all her counselors to deliberate upon the +momentous question, and also took the very wise precaution to send for +Captain Church. He hastened to her residence, and found several +hundred of her subjects collected and engaged in a furious dance. The +forest rang with their shouts, the perspiration dripped from their +limbs, and they were already wrought to a pitch of intense excitement. +Awashonks herself led in the dance, and her graceful figure appeared +to great advantage as it was contrasted with the gigantic muscular +development of her warriors.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The council.</div> + +<p>Immediately upon Captain Church's arrival <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span>the dance ceased. Awashonks +sat down, called her chiefs and the Wampanoag embassadors around her, +and then invited Captain Church to take a conspicuous seat in the +midst of the group. She then, in a speech of queenly courtesy, +informed Captain Church that King Philip had sent six of his men to +solicit her to enter into a confederacy against the English, and that +he stated, through these embassadors, that the English had raised a +great army, and were about to invade his territories for the +extermination of the Wampanoags. The conference was long and intensely +exciting. Awashonks called upon the Wampanoag embassadors to come +forward.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Appearance of the embassadors.</div> + +<p>They were marked men, dressed in the highest embellishments of +barbaric warfare. Their faces were painted. Their hair was trimmed in +the fashion of the crests of the ancient helmets. Their knives and +tomahawks were sharp and glittering. They all had guns, and horns and +pouches abundantly supplied with shot and bullets.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Exciting conference.<br />Rage of Captain Church.</div> + +<p>Captain Church, however, was manifestly gaining the advantage, and the +Wampanoag embassadors, baffled and enraged, were anxious to silence +their antagonist with the bludgeon. The Indians began to take sides +furiously, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span>and hot words and threatening gestures were abundant. +Awashonks was very evidently inclined to adhere to the English. She at +last, in the face of the embassadors, declared to Captain Church that +Philip's message to her was that he would send his men over privately +to shoot the cattle and burn the houses of the English who were within +her territories, and thus induce the English to fall in vengeance upon +her, whom they would undoubtedly suppose to be the author of the +mischief. This so enraged Captain Church that he quite forgot his +customary prudence. Turning to the Wampanoag embassadors, he +exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"You are infamous wretches, thirsting for the blood of your English +neighbors, who have never injured you, but who, on the contrary, have +always treated you with kindness."</p> + +<p>Then, addressing Awashonks, he very inconsiderately advised her to +knock the six Wampanoags on the head, and then throw herself upon the +protection of the English. The Indian queen, more discreet than her +adviser, dismissed the embassadors unharmed, but informing them that +she should look to the English as her friends and protectors.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Awashonks to remain friendly.</div> + +<p>Captain Church, exulting in this success, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span>which took three hundred +warriors from the enemy and added them to the English force, set out +for Plymouth. At parting, he advised Awashonks to remain faithful to +the English whatever might happen, and to keep, with all her warriors, +within the limits of Soykonate. He promised to return to her again in +a few days.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Pocasset tribe.</div> + +<p>Just north of Little Compton, in the region now occupied by the upper +part of Tiverton, and by Fall River, the Pocasset tribe of Indians +dwelt. Wetamoo, the former bride of Alexander, was a princess of this +tribe. Upon the death of her husband and the accession of Philip to +the sovereignty of the Wampanoags, she had returned to her parental +home, and was now queen of the tribe. Her power was about equal to +that of Awashonks, and she could lead three or four hundred warriors +into the field. Captain Church immediately proceeded to her court, as +he deemed it exceedingly important to detach her, if possible, from +the coalition.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Wetamoo joins Philip.</div> + +<p>He found her upon a high hill at a short distance from the shore. But +few of her people were with her, and she appeared reserved and very +melancholy. She acknowledged that all her warriors had gone across the +water to Philip's <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span>war-dance, though she said that it was against her +will. She was, however, brooding over her past injuries, and was eager +to join Philip in any measures of revenge. Captain Church had hardly +arrived at Plymouth before the wonderful successes of Philip so +encouraged the Indians that Wetamoo, with alacrity and burning zeal, +joined the coalition; and even Awashonks could not resist the +inclinations of her warriors, but was also, with reluctance, compelled +to unite with Philip.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Indian warfare.<br />The colonists much scattered.</div> + +<p>War was now raging in all its horrors. A more harassing and merciless +conflict can hardly be imagined. The Indians seldom presented +themselves in large numbers, never gathered for a decisive action, +but, dividing into innumerable prowling bands, attacked the lonely +farm-house, the small and distant settlements, and often, in terrific +midnight onset, plunged, with musket, torch, and tomahawk, into the +large towns. These bands varied in their numbers from twenty to thirty +to two or three thousand. The colonists were very much scattered in +isolated farm-houses through the wilderness. In consequence of the +gigantic growth of trees, which it was a great labor to cut down, and +which, when felled, left the ground encumbered <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span>for years with +enormous stumps and roots, the colonists were eager to find any smooth +meadow or natural opening in the forest where, for any unknown cause, +the trees had disappeared, and where the thick turf alone opposed the +hoe. They often had neither oxen nor plows. Thus these +widely-scattered spots upon the hill-sides and the margins of distant +streams were eagerly sought for, and thus these lonely settlers were +exposed, utterly defenseless, to the savage foe.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">An illustration.<br />Heroic woman.</div> + +<p>The following scene, which occurred in a remote section of the country +at a later period, will illustrate the horrible nature of this Indian +warfare. Far away in the wilderness, a man had erected his log hut +upon a small meadow, which had opened itself in the midst of a +gigantic forest. The man's family consisted of himself, his wife, and +several children, the eldest of whom was a daughter fifteen years of +age. At midnight, the loud barking of his dog alarmed him. He stepped +to the door to see what he could discover, and instantly there was a +report of several muskets, and he fell upon the floor of his hut +pierced with bullets, and with a broken leg and arm. The Indians, +surrounding the house, now with frightful yells rushed to the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span>door. +The mother, frantic with terror, her children screaming around her, +and her husband groaning and weltering in his blood, barred the door +and seized an axe. The savages, with their hatchets, soon cut a hole +through the door, and one of them crowded in. The heroic mother, with +one blow of the axe, cleft his head to the shoulder, and he dropped +dead upon the floor. Another of the assailants, supposing, in the +darkness, that he had made good his entrance, followed him. He also +fell by another well-directed stroke. Thus four were slain before the +Indians discovered their mistake.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Dispatching the Indians.<br />Succor arrives.</div> + +<p>They then clambered upon the house, and were soon heard descending +through the capacious flue of the chimney. The wife still stood with +the axe to guard the door. The father, bleeding and fainting, called +upon one of the little children to roll the feather bed upon the fire. +The burning feathers emitted such a suffocating smoke and smell that +the Indians were almost smothered, and they tumbled down upon the +embers. At the same moment, another one attempted to enter the door. +The wounded husband and father had sufficient strength left to seize a +billet of wood and dispatch the half-smothered Indians. But the mother +was now <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span>so exhausted with terror and fatigue that her strength failed +her, and she struck a feeble blow, which wounded, but did not kill her +adversary. The savage was so severely wounded, however, that he +retreated, leaving all his comrades, six in number, dead in the house. +We are not informed whether the father recovered of his wounds. Some +distant neighbors, receiving tidings of the attack, came with succor, +and the six dead Indians, without much ceremony, were tumbled into a +hole.</p> + +<p>Volumes might be filled with such terrible details. No one could sleep +at night without the fear of an attack from the Indians before the +morning. In the silence of the wilderness, many a tragedy was enacted +of terror, torture, and blood, which would cause the ear that hears of +it to tingle.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Defiance of the English.<br />Horrible sight.</div> + +<p>The day after the arrival of the English force in Swanzey the Indians +again appeared in large numbers, and with defiant shouts dared them to +come out and fight. Philip himself was with this band. A party of +volunteers rushed furiously upon the foe, killed a number, and pursued +the rest more than a mile. The savages retired to their fastnesses, +and the English traversed Mount Hope Neck until they came <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span>to the +imperial residence of Philip. Not an Indian was to be found upon the +Neck. But here the English found the heads of eight of their +countrymen, which had been cut off and stuck upon poles, ghastly +trophies of savage victory. They took them down and reverently buried +them.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Destruction of corn.</div> + +<p>It was now the 29th of June, and the Indian corn-fields were waving in +luxuriant growth. Philip had not anticipated so early an outbreak of +the war, and had more than a thousand acres planted with corn. These +fields the English trampled down, and destroyed all the dwellings of +the Indians, leaving the Neck barren and desolate. This was a heavy +blow to Philip. The destruction of his corn-fields threatened him with +starvation in the winter. The Indians scattered in all directions, +carrying every where terror, conflagration, and death.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">An ambush.<br />Attempt to surround them.<br />A retreat.</div> + +<p>Captain Church, with twenty men, crossed the Taunton River, and then +followed down the eastern shores of the bay, through Pokasset, the +territory of Wetamoo, toward Sogkonate Neck, where Awashonks reigned. +At the southern extremity of the present town of Tiverton they came to +a neck of land called Punkateeset. Here they discovered a fresh trail, +which showed <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span>that a large body of Indians had recently passed. +Following this trail, they came to a large pea-field belonging to +Captain Almy, a colonist who had settled there. They loitered a short +time in the field, eating the peas. The forest, almost impenetrable +with underbrush, grew very densely around. Just as they were emerging +from the field upon an open piece of ground, with the woods growing +very thickly upon one side, a sudden discharge of musketry broke in +upon the silent air, and bullets were every where whistling fiercely +around them. Instantly three hundred Indians sprang up from their +ambush. Captain Church "casting his eyes to the side of the hill above +him, the hill seemed to move, being covered with Indians, with their +bright guns glistening in the sun, and running in a circumference, +with a design to surround them." Captain Church and his men slowly +retreated toward the shore, where alone they could prevent themselves +from being surrounded. The Indians, outnumbering them fifteen to one, +closely pressed them, making the forest resound with their hideous +outcries.</p> + +<p>As the savages emerged from their ambush, they followed at a cautious +distance, but so directed their steps as to cut off all possibility of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span>retreat from the Neck. They felt so sure of their victims that they +thought that all could be killed or captured without any loss upon +their own part.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Apparent hopeless situation.</div> + +<p>The situation of the English now seemed desperate. They had no means +of crossing the water, and the exultant foe, in overwhelming numbers +and with fiendlike yells, were pressing nearer and nearer, and +overwhelming them with a storm of bullets.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Bravery long continued.</div> + +<p>But the colonists resolved to sell their lives as dearly as possible. +It was better to die by the quick ministry of the bullet, than to fall +as captives into the hands of the savages, to perish by lingering +torment. Fortunately, the ground was very stony, and every man +instantly threw up a pile for a breastwork. The Indians were very +cautious in presenting their bodies to the unerring aim of the white +men, and did not venture upon a simultaneous rush, which would have +secured the destruction of the whole of Captain Church's party.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Relief at hand.<br />All rescued.<br />Narrow escape of Captain Church.</div> + +<p>For six hours the colonists beat back their swarming foes. The Indians +availed themselves of every stump, rock, or tree in sight, and kept up +an incessant firing. Just as the ammunition of the colonists was about +exhausted, and night <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span>was coming on, a sloop was discerned crossing +the water to their rescue. Captain Golding, a man of great resolution +and fearlessness, had heard the firing, and was hastening to their +relief. The wind was fair, and as the vessel approached the shore the +Indians plied their shot with such effect that the colors, sails, and +sides of the sloop were soon pierced full of bullet holes. The water +was so shoal that they dropped anchor, and the vessel rode afloat +several rods from the beach. Captain Golding had a small canoe, which +would support but two men. Attaching a cord to this, he let it drift +to the shore, driven by the fresh wind. Two men entered the canoe, and +were drawn on board. The canoe was then returned, and two more were +taken on board. Thus the embarkation continued, covered by the muskets +of those on board and those on the shore, until every man was safe. +Not one of their number was even wounded. The English, very skillful +with the musket, kept their innumerable foes at a distance. It was +certain death for any Indian to step from behind his rampart. The +heroic Church was the last to embark. As he was retreating backward, +boldly facing his foes, presenting his gun, which all the remaining +powder he had did but half charge, a bullet passed through his hat, cutting off a lock of +his hair. Two others struck the canoe as he entered it, and a fourth +buried itself in a stake which accidentally stood before the middle of +his breast. Discharging his farewell shot at the enemy, he was safely +received on board, and they were all conveyed to the English garrison +which had been established at Mount Hope. Many Indians were killed or +wounded in this affray, but it is not known how many.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 209-10]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/i205.jpg" class="ispace" width="500" height="290" alt="THE BATTLE IN TIVERTON." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE BATTLE IN TIVERTON.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Dartmouth burned.<br />Perfidy of the English.</div> + +<p>Captain Church then went, with a small army, to ravage the territories +of Wetamoo. When he arrived at the spot where Fall River now stands, +he found that Wetamoo, with her warriors, had taken refuge in a +neighboring swamp. Just then news came that a great part of the town +of Dartmouth was in flames, that many of the inhabitants were killed, +and that the survivors were in great distress. Captain Church marched +immediately to their rescue. But the foe had finished his work of +destruction, and had fled into the wilderness, to emerge at some other +spot, no one could tell where, and strike another deadly blow. The +colonists, however, took one hundred and sixty Indians prisoners, who +had been induced by promises of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span>kind treatment to come in and +surrender themselves. To the extreme indignation of Captain Church, +all these people, in most dishonorable disregard of the pledges of the +capitulation, were by the Plymouth authorities sold into slavery. This +act was as impolitic as it was criminal. It can not be too sternly +denounced. It effectually deterred others from confiding in the +English.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Attempts to capture Philip.<br />An unfortunate ambush.</div> + +<p>The colonists, conscious of the intellectual supremacy of King Philip +as the commanding genius of the strife, devoted their main energies to +his capture, dead or alive. Large rewards were offered for his head. +The barbarian monarch, with a large party of his warriors, had taken +refuge in an almost impenetrable swamp upon the river, about eighteen +miles below Taunton. All the inhabitants of Taunton, in their terror, +had abandoned their homes, and were gathered in eight garrison houses. +On the 18th of July, a force of several hundred men from Plymouth and +Taunton surrounded the swamp. They cautiously penetrated the tangled +thicket, their feet at almost every step sinking in the mire and +becoming shackled by interlacing roots, the branches pinioning their +arms, and the dense foliage blinding their eyes. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span>Philip, with +characteristic cunning, sent a few of his warriors occasionally to +exhibit themselves, to lure the English on. The colonists gradually +forgot their accustomed prudence, and pressed eagerly forward. +Suddenly from the dense thicket a party of warriors in ambush poured +upon their pursuers a volley of bullets. Fifteen dropped dead, and +many were sorely wounded. The survivors precipitately retired from the +swamp, "finding it ill," says Hubbard, "fighting a wild beast in his +own den."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Lesson of caution dearly purchased.</div> + +<p>The English, taught a lesson of caution by this misadventure, now +decided to surround the swamp, guarding every avenue of escape. They +knew that Philip had no stores of provisions there, and that he soon +must be starved out. Here they kept guard for thirteen days. In the +mean time, Philip constructed some canoes and rafts, and one dark +night floated all his warriors, some two hundred in number, across the +river, and continued his flight through the present towns of Dighton +and Rehoboth, far away into the unknown wilderness of the interior of +Massachusetts. Wetamoo, with several of her warriors, accompanied +Philip in his flight. He left a hundred starving women and children +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span>in the swamp, who surrendered themselves the next morning to the +English.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Indian allies.<br />Preaching politics.</div> + +<p>A band of fifty of the Mohegan Indians had now come, by direction of +Uncas, to proffer their services to the colonists. A party of the +English, with these Indian allies, pursued the fugitives. They +overtook Philip's party not far from Providence, and shot thirty of +their number, without the loss of a single man. Rev. Mr. Newman, +pastor of the church in Rehoboth, obtained great commendation for his +zeal in rousing his parishioners to pursue the savages.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Escape of Philip.</div> + +<p>Philip had now penetrated the wilderness, and had effected his escape +beyond the reach of his foes. He had the boundless forest around him +for his refuge, with the opportunity of emerging at his leisure upon +any point of attack along the vast New England frontier which he might +select.</p> + +<p>The Nipmuck Indians were a powerful tribe, consisting of many petty +clans spread over the whole of the interior of Massachusetts. They +appear to have had no sachem of distinction, and at one time were +tributary to the Narragansets, but were now tributary to the +Wampanoags. They had thus far been living on very friendly terms with +the inhabitants of the towns <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span>which had been settled within the limits +of their territory. The court at Boston, apprehensive that the +Nipmucks might be induced to join King Philip, sent some messengers to +treat with them. The young warriors were very surly, and manifestly +disposed to fight; but the old men dreaded the perils of war with foes +whose prowess they appreciated, and were inclined to a renewal of +friendship.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A conference agreed upon.<br />Suspicions of treachery.</div> + +<p>It was agreed that a conference should be held at a certain large +tree, upon a plain about three miles from Brookfield, on the 2d of +August. At the appointed time, the English commissioners were there, +with a small force of twenty mounted men. But not an Indian was to be +seen. Notwithstanding some suspicions of treachery, the English +determined to advance some miles farther, to a spot where they were +assured that a large number of Indians were assembled. They at length +came to a narrow pass, with a steep hill covered with trees and +underbrush on one side, and a swamp, impenetrable with mire and +thickets, upon the other. Along this narrow way they could march only +in single file. The silence of the eternal forest was around them, and +nothing was to be seen or heard which gave the slightest indication of +danger.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span></p> +<div class="sidenote">Furious attack.<br />Escape to Brookfield.</div> + +<p>Just as they were in the middle of this trail, three hundred Indians +rose up on either side, and showered upon them a storm of bullets. +Eight dropped dead. Three were mortally, and several others severely +wounded. Captain Wheeler, who was in command, had his horse shot from +under him, and a bullet also passed through his body. His son, who +rode behind him, though his own arm was shattered by a ball, +dismounted, and succeeded in placing his father in the saddle. A +precipitate retreat was immediately commenced, while the Indians +pursued with yells of exultation. But for the aid of three Christian +Indians who accompanied the English party, every Englishman must have +perished. One of these Indians was taken captive. The other two, by +skill and bravery, led their friends, by a by-path, back to +Brookfield.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Attack upon the town.<br />Brookfield consumed.</div> + +<p>This town was then a solitary settlement of about twenty houses, alone +in the wilderness, half way between the Atlantic shore and the +settlements on the Connecticut. The terrified inhabitants had but just +time to abandon their homes and take refuge in the garrison house when +the savages were upon them. With anguish they saw, from the loop-holes +of their retreat, every house and barn consumed, their cattle <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span>shot, +and all their property of food, clothing, and furniture destroyed. +They were thus, in an hour, reduced from competence to the extreme of +want.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Attempts to burn the garrison.</div> + +<p>The inhabitants of Brookfield, men, women, and children, amounted to +but eighty. The nearest settlement from whence any help could come was +at Lancaster, some forty miles northeast of Brookfield. The Indians +surrounded the garrison, and for two days exerted all their ingenuity +in attempting to destroy the building. They wrapped around their +arrows hemp dipped in oil, and, setting them on fire, shot them upon +the dry and inflammable roof. Several times the building was in +flames, but the inmates succeeded in arresting the conflagration. It +was now the evening of the 4th of August. The garrison, utterly +exhausted by two days and two nights of incessant conflict, aware that +their ammunition must soon be exhausted, and knowing not from what +quarter to hope for relief, were in despair. The Indians now filled a +cart with hemp, flax, and the resinous boughs of firs and pines. They +fastened to the tongue a succession of long poles, and then, setting +the whole fabric on fire, as it rolled up volumes of flame and smoke, +pushed it back against the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span>log house, whose walls were as dry as +powder. Just then, when all hope of escape was abandoned, relief came.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Relief comes.<br />A shower.<br />The garrison saved.</div> + +<p>Major Willard had been sent from Boston to Lancaster with a party of +dragoons for the defense of that region. By some chance, probably +through a friendly Indian, he was informed of the extreme distress of +the people at Brookfield. Taking with him forty-eight dragoons, he +marched with the utmost possible haste to their relief. With Indian +guides, he traversed thirty miles of the forest that day, and arrived +at the garrison in the evening twilight, just as the Indians, with +fiendish clamor, were all engaged in their experiment with the flaming +cart. Though the Indian scouts discovered his approach, and fired +their guns and raised shouts of alarm, there was such a horrid noise +from the yells of the savages and the uproar of musketry that the +scouts could not communicate intelligence of the approach of the +English, and the re-enforcement, with a rush, entered the garrison. At +the same moment a very heavy shower arose, which aided greatly in the +extinguishment of the flames.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Indians elated by victory.</div> + +<p>The savages, thus balked of their victims, howled with rage, and, +after firing a few volleys <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span>of bullets into the walls of the fortress, +retired to their fastnesses. During this siege many of the whites were +wounded, and about eighty of the Indians were killed. The day after +the defeat, Philip, with forty-eight warriors, arrived at the Indian +encampment at Brookfield. Though the Indians had not taken the +garrison, and though they mourned the loss of many warriors, they were +not a little elated with success. They had killed many of their +enemies, and had utterly destroyed the town of Brookfield.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_VII" id="Chapter_VII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter VII.</span></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Autumn and Winter Campaigns.</span></h3> + +<p class="center">1675</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Philip's influence.</div> + +<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:50px;line-height:32px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">P</span><span style="margin-left:0%;">hilip</span> now directed his steps to the valley of the Connecticut, and +gave almost superhuman vigor to the energy which the savages were +already displaying in their attack upon the numerous and thriving +settlements there. Even most of the Christian Indians, who had long +lived upon terms of uninterrupted friendship with the English, were so +influenced by the persuasions of Philip that they joined his warriors, +and were as eager as any others for the extermination of the +colonists.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Simultaneous attacks.</div> + +<p>Attacks were made almost simultaneously upon the towns of Hadley, +Hatfield, and Deerfield, and also upon several towns upon the Merrimac +River, in the province of New Hampshire. In these conflicts, the +Indians, on the whole, were decidedly the victors. As Philip had fled +from Plymouth, and as the Narragansets had not yet joined the +coalition, the towns in Plymouth colony enjoyed a temporary respite.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Deerfield burned.<br />Re-enforcement.</div> + +<p>On the 1st of September the Indians made <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span>a rush upon Deerfield. They +laid the whole town in ashes. Most of the inhabitants had fortunately +taken refuge in the garrison house, and but one man was slain. They +then proceeded fifteen miles up the river to Northfield, where a small +garrison had been established. They destroyed much property, and shot +eight or ten of the inhabitants. The rest were sheltered in the +garrison. The next day, this disaster not being known at Hadley, +Captain Beers was detached from that place with thirty-six mounted +infantry and a convoy of provisions to re-enforce the feeble garrison +at Northfield. They had a march before them of thirty miles, along the +eastern bank of the river. The road was very rough, and led through +almost a continued forest.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">An ambuscade.<br />Dreadful slaughter and tortures.</div> + +<p>When they arrived within a few miles of Northfield, they came to a +wide morass, where it was necessary to dismount and lead their horses. +They were also thrown into confusion in their endeavors to transport +their baggage through the swamp. Here the Indians had formed an +ambuscade. The surprise was sudden, and disastrous in the extreme. The +Indians, several hundred in number, surrounded the doomed party, and, +from their concealment, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span>took unerring aim. Captain Beers, a man of +great valor, succeeded, with a few men, in retreating to a small +eminence, since known as Beers's Mountain, where he bravely maintained +the unequal fight until all his ammunition was expended. A ball then +pierced his bosom, and he fell dead. A few escaped back to Hadley to +tell the mournful tidings of the slaughter, while all the rest were +slain, and all their provisions and baggage fell into the hands of the +exultant savages. The barbarian victors amused themselves in cutting +off the heads of the slain, which they fixed upon poles at the spot, +as defiant trophies of their triumph. One man was found with a chain +hooked into his under jaw, and thus he was suspended on the bough of a +tree, where he had been left to struggle and die in mortal agony. The +garrison at Northfield, almost destitute of powder and food, was now +reduced to the last extremity.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Rescue of Northfield.<br />Northfield abandoned.</div> + +<p>Major Treat was immediately dispatched with a hundred men for their +rescue. Advancing rapidly and with caution, he succeeded in reaching +Northfield. His whole company, in passing through the scene of the +disaster, were most solemnly affected in gazing upon the mutilated +remains of their friends, and appear to have been <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span>not a little +terror-stricken in view of such horrid barbarities. Fearing that the +Indians were too numerous in the vicinity to be encountered by their +small band, they brought off the garrison, and retreated precipitately +to Hadley, not tarrying even to destroy the property which they could +not bring away. It is said that Philip himself guided the Indians in +their attack upon Captain Beers.</p> + +<p>Hadley was now the head-quarters of the English army, and quite a +large force was assembled there. Most of the inhabitants of the +adjoining towns in tumult and terror had fled to this place for +protection. At the garrison house in Deerfield, fifteen miles above +Hadley, on the western side of the river, there were three thousand +bushels of corn standing in stacks.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Attempts to save some corn.</div> + +<p>On the 18th of September, Captain Lothrop, having been sent from +Hadley to bring off this corn, started with his loaded teams on his +return. His force consisted of a hundred men, soldiers and teamsters. +As no Indians had for some time appeared in that immediate vicinity, +and as there was a good road between the two places, no particular +danger was apprehended. The Indians, however, from the fastnesses <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span>of +the forest, were all the time watching their movements with eagle eye, +and with consummate cunning were plotting their destruction.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Unsuspicious of danger.</div> + +<p>After leaving Deerfield, the march led for about three miles through a +very level country, densely wooded on each side of the road. The march +was then continued for half a mile along the borders of a morass +filled with large trees and tangled underbrush. Here a thousand +Indians had planted themselves in ambuscade. It was a serene and +beautiful autumnal day. Grape-vines festooned the gigantic trees of +the forest, and purple clusters, ripe and juicy, hung in profusion +among the boughs. Captain Lothrop was so unsuspicious of danger that +many of his men had thrown their guns into the carts, and were +strolling about gathering grapes.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Sudden attack.<br />A scene of carnage.</div> + +<p>The critical moment arrived, and the English being in the midst of the +ambush, a thousand Indians sprang up from their concealment, and +poured in upon the straggling column a heavy and destructive fire. +Then, with savage yells, which seemed to fill the whole forest, they +rushed from every quarter to close assault. The English were scattered +in a long line of march, and the Indians, with the ferocity of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span>wolves, sprang upon them ten to one. A dreadful scene of tumult, +dismay, and carnage ensued.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The English overpowered.</div> + +<p>The tragic drama was soon closed. The troops, broken and scattered, +could only resort to the Indian mode of fighting, each one skulking +behind a tree. But they were so entirely surrounded and overpowered +that no one could discharge his musket more than two or three times +before he fell. Some, in their dismay, leaped into the branches of the +trees, hoping thus to escape observation. The savages, with shouts of +derision, mocked them for a time, and then pierced them with bullets +until they dropped to the ground. All the wounded were +indiscriminately butchered. But eight escaped to tell the awful story. +Ninety perished upon this bloody field. The young men who were thus +slaughtered constituted the flower of Essex county. They had been +selected for their intrepidity and hardihood from all the towns. Their +destruction caused unspeakable anguish in their homes, and sent a wave +of grief throughout all the colonies. The little stream in the south +part of Deerfield, upon the banks of which this memorable tragedy +occurred, has in consequence received the name of Bloody Brook.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Captain Mosely attempts a rescue.</div> + +<p>Captain Mosely had been left in the garrison at Deerfield with seventy +men, intending to go the next day in search of the Indians. As he was +but five miles from the scene of the massacre, he heard the firing, +and immediately marched to the rescue of his friends. But he was too +late. They were all, before his arrival, silent in death. As the +Indians were scalping and stripping the dead, Captain Mosely, with +great intrepidity, fell upon them, though he computed their numbers at +not less than a thousand. Keeping his men in a body, he broke through +the tumultuous mass, charging back and forth, and cutting down all +within range of his shot.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A prolonged fight.</div> + +<p>Still, aided by the swamp and the forest, and being so overwhelmingly +superior to the English in numbers, the savages maintained the fight +with much fierceness for six hours. Captain Mosely and all his men +might perhaps also have perished, had not another party providentially +and very unexpectedly come to their relief.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Indians vanquished.</div> + +<p>Major Treat, from Connecticut, was ascending the river with one +hundred and sixty Mohegan Indians, on his way to Northfield, in +pursuit of the foe in that vicinity. It was so <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span>ordered by Providence +that he approached the scene of action just as both parties were +exhausted by the protracted fight. Hearing the firing, he pressed +rapidly forward, and with fresh troops fell vigorously upon the foe. +The Indians, with yells of disappointment and rage, now fled, plunging +into the swamps and forests. They left ninety-six of their number dead +by the side of the English whom they had so mercilessly slaughtered in +the morning. It is supposed that Philip himself commanded the Indians +on this sanguinary day. The Indians, though in the end defeated, had +gained a marvelous victory, by which they were exceedingly encouraged +and emboldened.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Burial of the dead.</div> + +<p>Captains Mosely and Treat encamped in the vicinity for the night, and +the next morning attended to the burial of the dead. They were +deposited in two pits, the English in one and the Indians in another. +A marble monument now marks the spot where this battle occurred, and a +slab is placed over the mound which covers the slain.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Deerfield destroyed.</div> + +<p>Twenty-seven men only had been left in the garrison at Deerfield. The +next morning the Indians appeared in large numbers before the +garrison, threatening an attack. They tauntingly <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span>exhibited the +clothes they had stripped from the slain, and shouted messages of +defiance and insult. But the captain of the garrison, making a brave +show of resistance, and sounding his trumpets, as if to call in forces +near at hand, so alarmed the Indians that they retired, and soon all +disappeared in the pathless forest. Deerfield was, however, utterly +destroyed, and the garrison, abandoning the fortress, retired down the +river to afford such protection as might be in their power to the +lower towns.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Plot against Springfield.</div> + +<p>About thirty miles below Hadley, upon the river, was the town of +Springfield, a very flourishing settlement, containing forty-eight +dwelling-houses. A numerous tribe of Indians lived in the immediate +vicinity, having quite a spacious Indian fort at Long Hill, a mile +below the village. These Indians had for forty years lived on terms of +most cordial friendship with their civilized neighbors. They now made +such firm protestations of friendliness that but few doubted in the +least their good faith. But, while thus protesting, they had yielded +to the potent seductions of King Philip, and, joining his party +secretly, were making preparations for the destruction of Springfield.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A timely warning.</div> + +<p>On the night of the 4th of October, three <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span>hundred of King Philip's +warriors crept stealthily through the forest, and were received into +the Indian fort at Long Hill. A friendly Indian by the name of Toto, +who had received much kindness from the whites, betrayed his +countrymen, and gave information of the conspiracy to burn the town +and massacre the inhabitants. The people were thrown into +consternation, and precipitately fled to the garrison houses, while a +courier was dispatched to Hadley for aid.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Lieutenant Cooper shot.</div> + +<p>Still, many had so much confidence in the sincerity of the Springfield +Indians that they could not believe in their treachery. Lieutenant +Cooper, who commanded there, was so deceived by their protestations +that he the next morning, taking another man with him, rode toward the +fort to ascertain the facts. He had not advanced far before he met the +enemy, several hundred in number, marching to the assault. The savages +immediately fired upon him. His companion was instantly shot, and +several bullets passed through his body. He was a man of Herculean +strength and vigor, and, though mortally wounded, succeeded, by +clinging to his horse, in reaching the garrison and giving the alarm +before he died.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span></p> +<div class="sidenote">The attack.<br />The conflagration.<br />Loss of books.</div> + +<p>The savages now came roaring on like ferocious wild beasts. The town +was utterly defenseless. Thirty-three houses and twenty-five barns +were almost instantly in flames. Fortunately, nearly all of the +inhabitants were in the block-houses, and but five men and one woman +were killed. The Indians kept cautiously beyond the reach of gun-shot, +vigorously plundering the houses and applying the torch. The wretched +inhabitants, from the loop-holes of the garrison, contemplated with +anguish the conflagration of their homes and all their earthly goods. +The Reverend Mr. Glover, pastor of the church in this place, was a man +of studious habits, and had collected a valuable library, at an +expense of five thousand dollars. He had, for some time, kept his +library in the garrison house for safety; but, a short time before the +attack, thinking that Philip could not venture to make an assault upon +Springfield, when it was surrounded by so many friendly Indians, he +removed the books to his own house. They were all consumed. The loss +to this excellent man was irreparable, and a source of the keenest +grief. In the midst of the conflagration and the plunder Major Treat +appeared with a strong force from Hadley, and the Indians, loaded down +with <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span>booty, retreated into their forest fastnesses. Fifteen houses +only were left unburned.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Alarm of the inhabitants.</div> + +<p>This treachery on the part of the Springfield Indians caused very +great alarm. There were, henceforward, no Indians in whom the +colonists could confide. The general court in Boston ordered:</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Decree of the general court.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"That no person shall entertain, own, or countenance any +Indian, under penalty of being a betrayer of this +government.</p> + +<p>"That a guard be set at the entrance of the town of Boston, +and that no Indian be suffered to enter, upon any pretense, +without a guard of two musketeers, and not to lodge in +town."</p></div> + +<div class="sidenote">Arrangement of forces.</div> + +<p>Animated by his success, Philip now planned a still bolder movement. +Hatfield was one of the most beautiful and flourishing of the towns +which reposed in the fertile valley of the Connecticut. Its +inhabitants, warned by the disasters which had befallen so many of +their neighbors, were prepared for a vigorous defense. They kept a +constant watch, and several garrison houses were erected, to which the +women and children could fly in case of alarm. All the male +inhabitants were armed and drilled, and there were three companies of +soldiers stationed in the town; and Hadley, which was on <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span>the opposite +side of the river, was the head-quarters of the Massachusetts and +Connecticut forces, then under the command of Major Appleton. An +attack upon Hatfield would immediately bring the forces of Hadley to +its relief.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Attack upon Hatfield.<br />The Indians defeated.<br />Narrow escape of Major Appleton.</div> + +<p>On the 19th of October, Philip, at the head of eight hundred warriors, +boldly, but with Indian secrecy, approached the outposts of Hatfield. +He succeeded in cutting off several parties who were scouring the +woods in the vicinity, and then made an impetuous rush upon the town. +But every man sprang to his appointed post. Every avenue of approach +was valiantly defended. Major Appleton immediately crossed with his +force from Hadley, and fell furiously upon the assailants, every man +burning with the desire to avenge the destruction of Northfield, +Deerfield, and Springfield. Notwithstanding this determined defense, +the Indians, inspired by the energies of their indomitable leader, +fought a long time with great resolution. At length, repulsed at every +point, they retreated, bearing off with them all their dead and +wounded. They succeeded, however, in burning many houses, and in +driving off many cattle. The impression they made upon the English may +be inferred from the fact that they were not pursued. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span>In this affair, +six of the English were killed and ten wounded. A bullet passed +through the bushy hair of Major Appleton, cutting a very smooth path +for itself, "by that whisper telling him," says Hubbard, "that death +was very near, but did him no other harm."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Indian rendezvous.</div> + +<p>Winter was now approaching, and as Philip found that the remaining +settlements upon the Connecticut were so defended that he could not +hope to accomplish much, he scattered his forces into winter quarters. +Most of his warriors, who had accompanied him from the Atlantic coast +to the Connecticut, returned to Narraganset, and established their +rendezvous in an immense swamp in the region now incorporated into the +town of South Kingston, Rhode Island. Upon what might be called an +island in this immense swamp, they constructed five hundred wigwams, +and surrounded the whole with fortifications admirably adapted to +repel attack. Three thousand Indians were soon assembled upon this +spot.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Philip's employments.</div> + +<p>There is some uncertainty respecting the movements of Philip during +the winter. It is generally supposed that he passed the winter very +actively engaged in endeavors to rouse all <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span>the distant tribes. It is +said that he crossed the Hudson, and endeavored to incite the Indians +in the valley of the Mohawk to fall upon the Dutch settlements on the +Hudson. It is also probable that he spent some time at the Narraganset +fort, and that he directed several assaults which, during this season +of comparative repose, fell upon remote sections of the frontier.</p> + +<p>Straggling parties of Indians lingered about Northampton, Westfield, +and Springfield, occasionally burning a house, shooting at those who +ventured into the fields, and keeping the inhabitants in a state of +constant alarm.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Attempts to secure the Narragansets.</div> + +<p>At the commencement of the war, just before the discomfiture of Philip +in the swamp near Taunton, a united force of the Massachusetts, +Plymouth, and Connecticut colonies had been sent into the Narraganset +country to persuade, and, if they could not persuade, to compel the +Narraganset Indians to declare for the English. It was well known that +the Narragansets in heart espoused the cause of Philip; for the +Wampanoag chieftain, to relieve himself from embarrassment, had sent +his old men, with his women and the children, into the Narraganset +territory, where they were received and entertained with much +hospitality.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span></p> +<div class="sidenote">Mission to the Narragansets.<br />Compulsory treaty.</div> + +<p>In this mission to the Narraganset country, a part of the troops +crossed the bay in boats, while others rode around by land, entering +the country by the way of Providence. The two parties soon met, and +advanced cautiously together to guard against ambush. They could, +however, for some time find no Indians. The wigwams were all deserted, +and the natives, men, women, and children, fled before them. At length +they succeeded in catching some Narraganset sachems, and with them, +after a conference of two or three days, concluded a treaty of peace. +It was virtually a compulsory treaty, in which the English could place +very little reliance, and to which the Narragansets paid no regard.</p> + +<p>According to the terms of this treaty, which was signed on the 15th of +July, 1675, the Narragansets agreed,</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>1st. To deliver to the English army every subject of King +Philip, either living or dead, who should come into their +territories.</p> + +<p>2dly. To become allies of the English, and to kill and +destroy, with their utmost ability, all the subjects of King +Philip.</p></div> + +<div class="sidenote">Erection of an Indian fort.</div> + +<p>There were several other articles of the treaty, but they were all +comprehended in the spirit <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span>of the two first. But now, in three months +after the signing of this treaty, Philip, with the aid of the +Narragansets, was constructing a fort in the very heart of their +country, and was making it the general rendezvous for all his +warriors. The Narragansets could bring a very fearful accumulation of +strength to the cause of Philip. They could lead two thousand warriors +into the field, and these warriors were renowned for ferocity and +courage. Dwelling so near the English settlements, they could at any +time emerge from their fastnesses, scattering dismay and ruin along +their path.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Advantages of the Indians.<br />Indian warfare.<br />Endurance of the Indians.</div> + +<p>The Indians enjoyed peculiar advantages for the rude warfare in which +they engaged. They were not only perfectly acquainted with the +wilderness, its morasses, mountains, and impenetrable thickets, but, +from their constant intercourse with the settlements, were as well +acquainted with the dwellings, fields, and roads of the English as +were the colonists themselves. They were very numerous and widely +scattered, and could watch every movement of their foe. Stealthily +approaching through the forest under cover of the night, they could +creep into barns and out-houses, and lie secreted behind fences, +prepared for murder, robbery, and conflagration. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span>Often they concealed +themselves before the very doors of their victims. The first warning +of their presence would be the ring of the musket, as the lonely +settler, opening his door in the morning, dropped down dead upon his +threshold. The house was then fired, the mother and her babes scalped, +and the work of destruction was accomplished. Like packs of wolves +they came howling from the wilderness, and, leaving blood and +smouldering ruins behind them, howling they disappeared. While the +English were hunting for them in one place, they would be burning and +plundering in another. They were capable of almost any amount of +fatigue, and could subsist in vigor where a civilized man would +starve. A few kernels of corn, pounded into meal between two stones, +and mixed with water, in a cup made from rolling up a strip of birch +bark, afforded a good dinner for an Indian. If to this he could add a +few clams, or a bird or a squirrel shot from a neighboring tree, he +regarded his repast as quite sumptuous.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Losses of the colonists.</div> + +<p>The storms of winter checked, but by no means terminated the +atrocities of the savages. Marauding bands were wandering every where, +and no man dwelt in safety. Many persons <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span>were shot, houses and barns +were burned, and not a few men, women, and children were taken captive +and carried into the wilderness, where they miserably perished, often +being subjected to the most excruciating torture. The condition of the +colonies was now melancholy in the extreme. Their losses had been very +great, as one company after another of their soldiers had wasted away. +Industry had been paralyzed, and the harvest had consequently been +very short, while at the same time the expenses of the war were +enormous. The savages, elated with success, were recruiting their +strength, to break forth with new vigor upon the settlements in the +early spring.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Anxious deliberations.<br />Arguments pro and con.</div> + +<p>The commissioners of the united colonies deliberated long and +anxiously. The all-important question was whether it were best to +adopt the desperate enterprise of attacking the Narraganset fort in +the dead of winter, or whether they should defer active hostilities +until spring. Should they defer, the warriors now collected upon one +spot would scatter every where in the work of destruction. The +Narragansets, who had not as yet engaged openly in the conflict, would +certainly lend all their energies to King Philip. Another year of +disaster <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span>and blood might thus be confidently anticipated.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, the severity of the winter was such that a whole +army, houseless, on the march, might perish in a single night. Storms +of snow often arose, encumbering the ground with such drifts and +masses that it might be quite impossible to force a march through the +pathless expanse.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Indians to be attacked.<br />A day of fasting.</div> + +<p>But, in view of all the circumstances, it was at length decided best +to make the attack. A thousand men were to be raised. Of these, +Massachusetts contributed five hundred and twenty-seven. Plymouth +furnished one hundred and fifty-eight. Connecticut supplied three +hundred and fifteen, and also sent one hundred and fifty Mohegan +Indians. Josiah Winslow, governor of the Plymouth colony, was +appointed commander-in-chief. The choicest officers in the colonies +were selected, and the men who filled the ranks were all chosen from +those of established reputation for physical vigor and bravery. All +were aware of the perilous nature of the enterprise. In consequence of +the depth of the snow, it would probably be impossible to send any +succor to the troops by land in case of reverse. "It was a humbling +providence of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span>God," wrote the commissioners, "that put his poor +people to be meditating a matter of war at such a season." The second +of December was appointed as a solemn fast to implore God's aid upon +the enterprise.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">John Woodcock.<br />Mode of collecting debts.</div> + +<p>The Massachusetts troops rendezvoused at Dedham, and on the morning of +the 9th of December commenced their march. They advanced that day +twenty-seven miles, to the garrison house of John Woodcock, within the +limits of the present town of Attleborough. Woodcock kept a sort of +tavern at what was called the Ten Mile River, which tavern he was +enjoined by the court to "keep in good order, that no unruliness or +ribaldry be permitted there." He was a man of some consequence, +energetic, reckless, and not very scrupulous in regard to the rights +of the Indians. An Indian owed him some money. As Woodcock could not +collect the debt, he paid himself by going into the Indian's house and +taking his child and some goods. For this crime he was sentenced to +sit in the stocks at Rehoboth during a training day, and to pay a fine +of forty shillings.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">March of the army.<br />Skirmishes.</div> + +<p>At this garrison house the troops encamped for the night, and the next +day they advanced to Seekonk, and were ferried across the river to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span>Providence. On the morning of the twelfth they resumed their march, +and followed down the western shore of the bay until they arrived at +the garrison house of Mr. Smith, in the present town of Wickford, +which was appointed as their head-quarters. Here, in the course of a +few days, the Connecticut companies, marching from Stonington, and the +Plymouth companies were united with them. As the troops were +assembling, several small parties had skirmishes with roving bands of +Indians, in which a few were slain on both sides. A few settlers had +reared their huts along the western shores of the bay, but the +Indians, aware of the approach of their enemies, had burned their +houses, and the inhabitants were either killed or dispersed. Nearly +the whole region was now a wilderness.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Fortifications of the Indians.</div> + +<p>The Indians, three thousand in number, were strongly intrenched, as we +have before mentioned, in a swamp, which was in South Kingston, about +eighteen miles distant from the encampment of the colonists. It is +uncertain whether Philip was in the fort or not; the testimony upon +that point is contradictory. The probability, however, is that he was +present, sharing in the sanguinary scene which ensued.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">The Indian fort.</div> + +<p>The swamp was of immense extent and quite impenetrable, except through +two or three paths known only to the Indians. In the centre of the +swamp there were three or four acres of dry land, a few feet higher +than the surrounding morass. Here Philip had erected his houses, five +hundred in number, and had built them of materials far more solid and +durable than the Indians were accustomed to use, so that they were +quite bullet-proof. They were all surrounded by a high palisade. In +this strong encampment, in friendly alliance with the Narragansets, +Philip and his exultant warriors had been maturing their plans to make +a terrible assault upon all the English settlements in the spring. +Whether Philip was present or not when the fort was attacked, his +genius reared the fortress and nerved the arms of its defenders.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Deplorable condition of the colonists.</div> + +<p>The condition of the colonial army seemed now deplorable. Their +provisions were nearly consumed, and they could hardly hope for any +supply except such as they could capture from the savages. They knew +nothing of the entrances to the swamp, and were entirely unacquainted +with the nature of the fortification and the points most available for +attack. The ground was covered with snow, and they <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span>huddled around the +camp-fires by night, with no shelter from the inclemency of frost and +storm.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A friendly traitor.</div> + +<p>The morning of the 19th dawned cold and gloomy. The supper of the +previous night had utterly exhausted their stores. At break of day +they commenced their march. A storm was then raging, and the air was +filled with snow. But for the treachery of one of Philip's Indians, +they would probably have been routed in the attack and utterly +destroyed. A Narraganset Indian, who, for some cause, had become +enraged against his countrymen, deserted their cause, and, entering +the camp of the colonists, acted as their guide.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Terrible march.</div> + +<p>Early in the afternoon of the cold, short, and stormy winter's day, +the troops, unrefreshed by either breakfast or dinner, after a march +of eighteen miles, arrived at the borders of the swamp. An almost +impenetrable forest, tangled with every species of underbrush, spread +over the bog, presenting the most favorable opportunity for +ambuscades, and all the stratagems of Indian warfare. The English, +struggling blindly through the morass, would have found themselves in +a helpless condition, and exposed at every point to the bullets of an +unseen foe. The destruction <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span>of this army would have so emboldened the +savages and paralyzed the English that every settlement of the +colonists might have been swept away in an inundation of blood and +flame. The fate of the New England colonies trembled in the balance.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Entrance to the swamp.<br />Appearance of the fort.</div> + +<p>The Narraganset deserter guided them to the entrance of a narrow and +intricate foot-path which led to the island. The Indians, watching +their approach, were lying in ambush upon the edge of the swamp. They +fired upon the advancing files, and retreated. The English, returning +the fire, vigorously pursued. Led by their guide, they soon arrived at +the fort. It presented a formidable aspect. In addition to the +palisades, a hedge of fallen trees a rod in thickness surrounded the +whole intrenchment; outside the hedge there was a ditch wide and deep. +There was but one point of entrance, and that was over the long and +slender trunk of a tree which had been felled across the ditch, and +rested at its farther end upon a wall of logs three or four feet high. +A block-house, at whose portals many sharp-shooters were stationed in +vigilant guard, commanded the narrow and slippery avenue. It was thus +necessary for the English, in storming the fort, to pass in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span>single +file along this slender stem, exposed every step of the way to the +muskets of the Indians. Every soldier at once perceived that the only +hope for the army was in the energies of despair.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Fearless bravery.<br />Terrible slaughter.<br />An entrance effected.</div> + +<p>There is no incident recorded in the annals of war which testifies to +more reckless fearlessness than that which our ancestors displayed on +this occasion. The approaches to the Malakoff and the Redan were not +attended with greater peril. Without waiting a moment to reconnoitre +or for those in the rear to come up, the Massachusetts troops, who +were in the van, made a rush to cross the tree. They were instantly +swept off by Philip's sharp-shooters. Again and again the English +soldiers, led by their captains, rushed upon the fatal bridge to +supply the places of the slain, but they only presented a fair target +for the foe, and they fell as grass before the scythe. In a few +moments six captains and a large number of common soldiers were dead +or dying in the ditch. The assaulting party, in dismay, were beginning +to recoil before certain death, when, by some unexplained means, a +bold party succeeded in wading through the ditch at another place, +and, clambering through the hedge of trees and over <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span>the palisades, +with great shoutings they assailed the defenders of the one narrow +pass in the rear.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Capture of the fort.</div> + +<p>The Indians, in consternation, were for a moment bewildered, and knew +not which way to turn. The English, instantly availing themselves of +the panic, made another rush, and succeeded in forcing an entrance. A +hand to hand fight ensued of almost unparalleled ferocity; but the +English, with their long swords, hewed down the foe with immense +slaughter, and soon got possession of the breastwork which commanded +the entrance. A passage was immediately cut through the palisades, and +the whole army poured in.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247-8]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/i242.jpg" class="ispace" width="500" height="304" alt="CAPTURE OF THE INDIAN FORTRESS." title="" /> +<span class="caption">CAPTURE OF THE INDIAN FORTRESS.</span> +</div> + +<div class="sidenote2">A scene of carnage.<br />Continuance of the battle.</div> + +<p>The interior was a large Indian village, containing five hundred +houses, stored with a great abundance of corn, and crowded with women +and children. An awful scene of carnage now ensued. Though the savages +fought with the utmost fury, they could oppose no successful +resistance to the disciplined courage of the English. Flying from +wigwam to wigwam, men, women, and children were struck down without +mercy. The exasperated colonists regarded the children but as young +serpents of a venomous brood, and they were pitilessly knocked in the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span>head. The women they shot as readily as they would the dam of the wolf +or the bear. It was a day of vengeance, and awfully did retribution +fall. The shrieks of women and children blended fearfully with the +rattle of musketry and the cry of onset. For four hours the terrible +battle raged. The snow which covered the ground was now crimsoned with +blood, and strewed with the bodies of the slain.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The houses fired.</div> + +<p>The battle was so fierce, and the defense so determined and prolonged, +the Indians flying from wigwam to wigwam, and taking deadly aim at the +English from innumerable places of concealment, that at length the +assailants were driven to the necessity of setting fire to the houses. +They resorted to this measure with great reluctance, since they needed +the shelter of the houses after the battle for their own refreshment +in their utterly exhausted state, and since there were large +quantities of corn stored in the houses in hollow trees, cut off about +the length of a barrel, which would be entirely consumed by the +conflagration. But there was no alternative; the torch was applied, +and in a few moments five hundred buildings were in flames.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Flight of the Indians.</div> + +<p>No language can describe the scene which now ensued. The awful tragedy +of the Pequot <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span>fort was here renewed upon a scale of still more +terrific grandeur. Old men, women, and children, no one can tell how +many, perished miserably in the wasting conflagration. The surviving +warriors, utterly discomfited, leaped the flaming palisades and fled +into the swamp. But even here they kept up an incessant and deadly +fire upon the victors, many of whom were shot after they had gained +entire possession of the fort. The terrible conflict had now lasted +four hours. Eighty of the colonists had been killed outright, and one +hundred and fifty wounded, many of whom subsequently died. Seven +hundred Indian warriors were slain, and many hundred wounded, of whom +three hundred soon died.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Helplessness of the English.</div> + +<p>The English were now complete masters of the fort, but it was a fort +no longer. The whole island of four acres, houses, palisades, and +hedge, was but a glowing furnace of roaring, crackling flame. The +houses were so exceedingly combustible that in an hour they were +consumed to ashes. The English, unprotected upon the island, were thus +exposed to every shot from the vanquished foe, who were skulking +behind the trees in the swamp.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Necessity for a retreat.<br />A second retreat from Moscow.</div> + +<p>Night was now darkening over this dismal <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span>scene, a cold, stormy +winter's night. The flames of the blazing palisades and hedge enabled +the savages, who were filling the forest with their howlings of rage, +to take a surer aim, while they themselves were concealed in +impenetrable darkness. It was greatly feared that the Indians, still +much more numerous than their exhausted assailants, might, in the +night, make another onset to regain their lost ground. Indeed, the +bullets were still falling thickly around them as the Indians, +prowling from hummock to hummock, kept up a deadly fire, and it was +necessary, at all hazards, to escape from so perilous a position. It +was another conquest of Moscow. In the hour of the most exultant +victory, the conquerors saw before them but a vista of terrible +disaster. After a few moments' consultation, a precipitate retreat +from the swamp was decided to be absolutely necessary.</p> + +<p>The colonists had marched in the morning, breakfastless, eighteen +miles, over the frozen, snow-covered ground. Without any dinner, they +had entered upon one of the most toilsome and deadly of conflicts, and +had continued to struggle against intrenched and outnumbering foes for +four hours. And now, cold, exhausted, and starving, in the darkness of +a stormy <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span>night, they were to retreat through an almost pathless +swamp, bearing in their arms one hundred and fifty of their bleeding +and dying companions. There was no place of safety for them until they +should arrive at their head-quarters of the preceding night, upon the +shores of Narraganset Bay, eighteen miles distant.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Horrors of the night.<br />Want of provisions.<br />Disappointment at not finding food.</div> + +<p>The horrors of that midnight retreat can never be told; they are +hardly surpassed by the tragedy at Borodino. The wind blew fiercely +through the tree-tops, and swept the bleak and drifted plains as the +troops toiled painfully along, breasting the storm, and stumbling in +exhaustion over the concealed inequalities of the ground. Most +fortunately for them, the savages made no pursuit. Many of the wounded +died by the way. Others, tortured by the freezing of their unbandaged +wounds, and by the grating of their splintered bones as they were +hurried along, shrieked aloud in their agony. It was long after +midnight before they reached their encampment. But even here they had +not a single biscuit. Vessels had been dispatched from Boston with +provisions, which should have arrived long before at this point, which +was their designated rendezvous. But these vessels had been driven +into Cape Cod <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span>harbor by a storm. The same storm had driven in immense +masses of ice, and for many days they were hopelessly blocked up. +Suffering excessively from this disappointment, the soldiers marched +to the assault, hoping, in the capture of the fort, to find food +stored up amply sufficient to supply the whole army until the spring +of the year, and also to find good warm houses where they all might be +lodged. The conflagration, to which they were compelled to resort, had +blighted all these hopes, and now, though victorious, they were +perishing in the wilderness of cold and hunger.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Arrival of a vessel.</div> + +<p>The storm, during the night, increased in fury, and the snow, in +blinding, smothering sheets, filled the air, and, in the course of the +ensuing day, covered the ground to such a depth that for several weeks +the army was unable to move in any direction. But on that very +morning, freezing and tempestuous, in which despair had seized upon +every heart, a vessel was seen approaching, buffeting the icy waves of +the bay. It was one of the vessels from Boston, laden with provisions +for the army. Joy succeeded to despair. Prayers and praises ascended +from grateful hearts, and hymns of thanksgiving resounded through the +dim aisles of the forest.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_VIII" id="Chapter_VIII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter VIII.</span></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Mrs. Rowlandson's Captivity.</span></h3> + +<p class="center">1675-1676</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Winter quarters.<br />Building a village.</div> + +<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:50px;line-height:32px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">T</span><span style="margin-left:0%;">he</span> little army was now supplied with food, but the vast masses of +snow extending every where around them through the pathless wilderness +rendered it impossible to move in any direction. The forest afforded +ample materials for huts and fuel. A busy village speedily arose upon +the shores of the frozen bay. Many of the wounded were, for greater +safety and comfort, sent to the island of Rhode Island, where they +were carefully nursed in the dwellings of the colonists. In their +encampment at Wickford, as the region is now called, the soldiers +remained several weeks, blockaded by storms and drifts, waiting for a +change of weather. It was a season of unusual severity, and the army +presented a spectacle resembling, upon a small scale, that of the +mighty hosts of Napoleon afterward encamped among the forests of the +Vistula—a scene of military energy which arrested the gaze and +elicited the astonishment of all Europe.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Indignation of the Indians.</div> + +<p>As the English evacuated the Indian fort, the warriors who had escaped +into the swamp returned to their smouldering wigwams and to the +mangled bodies of their wives and children, overwhelmed with +indignation, rage, and despair. The storm of war had come and gone, +and awful was the ruin which it had left behind. The Rev. Mr. Ruggles, +recording the horrors of the destruction of the Narraganset fort, +writes:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The burning of the wigwams, the shrieks and cries of the +women and children, and the yells of the warriors, exhibited +a most horrible and affecting scene, so that it greatly +moved some of the soldiers. They were in much doubt then, +and often very seriously inquired whether burning their +enemies alive could be consistent with humanity and the +benevolent principles of the Gospel."</p></div> + +<div class="sidenote">The Narragansets disheartened.<br />Determination of Philip.</div> + +<p>The Narragansets, who were associated with the warriors of Philip in +this conflict, and in whose territory the battle had been fought, were +exceedingly disheartened. This experience of the terrible power and +vengeance of the English appalled them, and they were quite disposed +to abandon Philip. But the great Wampanoag chief was not a man to +yield to adversity. This calamity only nerved him to more <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span>undying +resolution and to deeds of more desperate daring. He had still about +two thousand warriors around him, but, being almost entirely destitute +of provisions, they for a time suffered incredibly.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Diplomacy.<br />A new fort.</div> + +<p>To gain time, Philip sent deputies to the English commander-in-chief +to treat of peace. The colonists met these advances with the utmost +cordiality, for there was nothing which they more earnestly desired +than to live on friendly terms with the Indians. War was to them only +impoverishment and woe. They had nothing to gain by strife. It was, +however, soon manifest that Philip was but trifling, and that he had +no idea of burying the hatchet. While the wary chieftain was occupying +the colonists with all the delays of diplomacy, he was energetically +constructing another fort in a swamp about twenty miles distant, where +he was again collecting his forces, and all the materials of barbarian +warfare. In this fortress, within the territorial limits of the +Nipmuck Indians, he also assembled a feeble train of women and +children, the fragments of his slaughtered families. The Nipmuck +tribe, then quite powerful, occupied the region now included in the +southeast corner of Worcester county.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span></p><p>Hardly a ray of civilization had penetrated this portion of the +country. The gloomy wilderness frowned every where around, pathless +and savage. From the tangled morass in which he reared his wigwams he +dispatched runners in all directions, to give impulse to the torrent +of conflagration and blood with which he intended to sweep the +settlements in the spring.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A new army raised.<br />Sufferings of the troops.</div> + +<p>It was now manifest that there could be no hope of peace. An army of a +thousand men, early in January, was dispatched from Boston to +re-enforce the encampment at Wickford. Their march, in the dead of +winter, over the bleak and frozen hills, was slow, and their +sufferings were awful. Eleven men were frozen to death by the way, and +a large number were severely frostbitten. Immediately after their +arrival there came a remarkable thaw. The snow nearly all disappeared, +and the ground was flooded with water. This thaw was life to the +Indians. It enabled them to traverse the forests freely, and to gather +ground-nuts, upon which they were almost exclusively dependent for +subsistence.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Two names for the Indians.<br />Their degraded nature.</div> + +<p>The army at Wickford now numbered sixteen hundred. They decided upon a +rapid march to attack Philip again in his new intrenchments. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span>There +were <i>friendly Indians</i>, as the English called them—<i>traitors</i>, as +they were called by King Philip—who were ever ready to guide the +colonists to the haunts of their countrymen. There were individual +Indians who had pride of character and great nobility of nature—men +who, through their virtues, are venerated even by the race which has +supplanted their tribes. They had their Washingtons, their Franklins, +and their Howards. But Indian nature is human nature, with all its +frailty and humiliation. The great mass of the common Indians were low +and degraded men. Almost any of them were ready for a price, and that +an exceedingly small one, to betray their nearest friends.</p> + +<p>An Indian would sometimes be taken prisoner, and immediately, in the +continuance of the same battle, with his musket still hot from the +conflict, he would guide the English to the retreats of his friends, +and engage, apparently with the greatest zeal, in firing upon them. In +the narrative given by Colonel Benjamin Church, one of the heroes of +these wars, he writes, speaking of himself in the third person,</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Colonel Benjamin's mode of making proselytes.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"When he took any number of prisoners, he would pick out +some, and tell them that he took <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span>a particular fancy to +them, and had chosen them for himself to make soldiers of, +and if any would behave themselves well he would do well by +them, and they should be his men, and not sold out of the +country.</p> + +<p>"If he perceived they looked surly, and his Indian soldiers +called them treacherous dogs, as some of them would +sometimes do, all the notice he would take of it would only +be to clap them on the back and say, 'Come, come, you look +wild and surly, and mutter; but that signifies nothing. +These, my soldiers, were a little while ago as wild and +surly as you are now. By the time you have been one day with +me, you will love me too, and be as brisk as any of them.'</p> + +<p>"And it proved so; for there was none of them but, after +they had been a little while with him, and seen his +behavior, and how cheerful and successful his men were, +would be as ready to pilot him to any place where the +Indians dwelt or haunted, though their own fathers or +nearest relations should be among them, as any of his own +men."</p></div> + +<p>Such a character we can not but despise, and yet such, with +exceptions, was the character of the common Indian. That magnanimity +which <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span>at times has shed immortal brilliance upon humanity is a rare +virtue, even in civilized life; in the savage it is still more rare.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Philip betrayed.<br />His flight.<br />Return of the troops.</div> + +<p>Philip, in the retreat to which he had now escaped, was again betrayed +by one of his renegade countrymen. The English, numbering sixteen +hundred, immediately resumed active hostilities, and after having +ravaged the country directly around them, burning some wigwams, +putting some Indians to death, and taking many captives, broke up +their encampment and commenced their march. It was early in February +that Major Winslow put his army in motion to pursue Philip. As the +English drew near the swamp, Philip, conscious of his inability to +oppose so formidable a force, immediately set his wigwams on fire, +and, with all his warriors, disappeared in the depths of the +wilderness. As it was entirely uncertain in what direction the savages +would emerge from the forest to kindle anew the flames of war, the +troops retraced their steps toward Boston. The Connecticut soldiers +had already returned to their homes.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Attack on Lancaster.<br />Precautions to guard against surprise.</div> + +<p>On the 10th of February, 1676, the Indians, with whoop and yell, burst +from the forest upon the beautiful settlement of Lancaster. This <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span>was +one of the most remote of the frontier towns, some fifty miles west of +Boston, on the Nashua River. The plantation, ten miles in length and +eight in breadth, had been purchased of the Nashaway Indians, with the +stipulation that the English should not molest the Indians in their +hunting, fishing, or planting places. For several years the colonists +and the Indians lived together in entire harmony, mutually benefiting +each other. There were between fifty and sixty families in the town, +embracing nearly three hundred inhabitants. They had noticed some +suspicious circumstances on the part of the Indians who were dwelling +around them, and they had sent their pastor, the Rev. Mr. Rowlandson, +to Boston, to seek assistance for the defense of the town. He had +taken the precaution before he left to convert his house into a +bullet-proof fortress, and had garrisoned it for the protection of his +family during his absence.</p> + +<p>The savages, fifteen hundred in number, during the darkness of the +night stationed themselves at different points, from whence they +could, at an appointed signal, attack the town at the same moment in +five different quarters. There were less than a hundred persons in the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span>town capable of bearing arms, the remainder being women and children. +The savages thus prepared to overpower them fifteen to one, and, +making the assault by surprise, felt sure of an easy victory.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The torch applied.<br />Massacre of the inhabitants.</div> + +<p>Just as the sun was rising the signal was given. In an instant every +heart was congealed with terror as the awful war-whoop resounded +through the forest. It was a cold winter's morning, and the wind swept +bleakly over the whitened plains. Every house was immediately +surrounded, the torch applied, and, as the flames drove the inmates +from their doors, they fell pierced by innumerable bullets, and the +tomahawk and the scalping-knife finished the dreadful work. There were +several garrison houses in the town, where most of the inhabitants had +taken refuge, and where they were able, for a time, to beat off their +assailants. All who were not thus sheltered immediately fell into the +hands of their foes. Between fifty and sixty were either slain or +taken captive. The unhappy inmates of the garrisons looked out through +their port-holes upon the conflagration and plunder of their homes, +the mutilated corpses of their friends, and the wretched band of +captives strongly bound and awaiting their fate.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Mr. Rowlandson's house.</div> + +<p>There were forty-one persons in the Rev. Mr. Rowlandson's house. They +all defended it valiantly, and no Indian dared expose himself within +gun-shot of their port-holes. Still, the savages, in a body, prepared +for the assault. The house was situated upon the brow of a hill. Some +of the Indians got behind the hill, others filled the barn, and others +sheltered themselves behind stones and stumps, and any other +breastwork, from which they could reach the house with their bullets. +For two hours, fifteen hundred savages kept up an incessant firing, +aiming at the windows and the port-holes. Several in the house were +thus wounded.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Burning the building.</div> + +<p>After many unsuccessful attempts to fire the house, they at length +succeeded in pushing a cart loaded with hay and other combustible +materials, all in flames, against the rear of the house. All the +efforts of the garrison to extinguish the fire were unavailing, and +the building was soon in a blaze. As the flames rapidly rolled up the +wall and over the roof, the savages raised shouts of exultation, which +fell as a death-knell upon the hearts of those who had now no +alternative but to be consumed in the flames or to surrender +themselves to the merciless foe. The bullets were still rattling +against <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span>the house, and fifteen hundred warriors were greedily +watching to riddle with balls any one who should attempt to escape. +The flames were crackling and roaring around the besieged, and their +only alternative was to perish in the fire, or to go out and meet the +bullet and the tomahawk of the savage. When the first forks of flame +touched the flesh, goaded by torture to delirium, they rushed from the +door. A wild whoop of triumph rose from the savages, and, pouring a +volley of bullets upon the group, they fell upon them with gleaming +knives.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The inmates shot.</div> + +<p>Many were instantly killed and scalped. All the men were thus +massacred; twenty of the women and children were taken captives. Mrs. +Rowlandson had two children, a son and a daughter, by her side, and +another daughter about six years of age, sick and emaciate, in her +arms. Her sister was also with her, with several children. No less +than seventeen of Rev. Mr. Rowlandson's family and connections were in +this melancholy group.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Mrs. Rowlandson wounded.<br />Scalping a child.</div> + +<p>As many dropped dead around Mrs. Rowlandson, cut down by the storm of +bullets, one bullet pierced her side, and another passed through the +hand and the bowels of the sick child she held in her arms. One of her +sister's <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span>children, a fine boy, fell helpless upon the ground, having +his thigh-bone shattered by a ball. A sturdy Indian, seeing that the +poor child was thus disabled, buried his tomahawk in his brain and +stripped off his scalp. The frantic mother rushed toward her child, +when a bullet pierced her bosom, and she fell lifeless upon his +mangled corpse. The savages immediately stripped all the clothing from +the dead, and, having finished their work of conflagration and +plunder, plunged into the wilderness, dragging their wretched captives +along with them. The beautiful town was left in ruins.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Indian bacchanals.<br />Wastefulness of the Indians.</div> + +<p>The victors, with shouts of exultation, marched about a mile, and +encamped for the night upon a hill which overlooked the smouldering +dwellings of their foes. Here was enacted one of the wildest scenes of +barbarian bacchanals. Enormous fires were built, which, with roaring, +crackling flame, illumined for leagues around the sombre forest. +Fifteen hundred savages, delirious with victory, and prodigal of their +immense booty of oxen, cows, sheep, swine, calves, and fowl, reveled +in such a feast as they had hardly dreamed of before. Cattle were +roasted whole and eagerly devoured, with dances and with shouts which +made the welkin ring. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span>With wastefulness characteristic of the +Indians, they took no thought for the morrow, but slaughtered the +animals around them in mere recklessness, and, when utterly satiated +with the banquet, the ground was left strewed with smoking and savory +viands sufficient to feed an army.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Mrs. Rowlandson's narrative.</div> + +<p>The night was cold; the ground was covered with snow, and a piercing +wind swept the icy eminence. Mrs. Rowlandson, holding her wounded and +moaning child in her arms, and with the group of wretched captives +around her, sat during the long hours of the dreadful night, shivering +with cold, appalled at the awful fate which had befallen her and her +family, and endeavoring in vain to soothe the anguish of her dying +daughter. "This was the dolefullest night," she exclaims in her +affecting narrative, "that my eyes ever saw. Oh, the roaring and +singing, dancing and yelling of those black creatures in the night, +which made the place a lively resemblance of hell."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Her sufferings.<br />Her wounded child.</div> + +<p>The next morning the Indians commenced their departure into the +wilderness. Mrs. Rowlandson toiled along on foot, with her dying child +in her arms. The poor little girl was in extreme anguish, and often +cried out with pain. At length the mother became so exhausted that +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span>she fell fainting to the ground. The Indians then placed her upon a +horse, and again gave her her child to carry. But the horse was +furnished with neither saddle nor bridle, and, in going down a steep +hill, stumbled, and they both were thrown over his neck. This incident +was greeted by the savages with shouts of laughter. To add to their +sufferings, it now began to snow. All the day long the storm wailed +through the tree-tops, and the snow was sifted down upon their path. +The woe-stricken captives toiled along until night, when the Indians +again encamped upon the open ground.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"And now," writes Mrs. Rowlandson, "I must sit in the snow +by a little fire, and a few boughs behind me, with my sick +child in my lap, and calling much for water, being now, +through the wound, fallen into a violent fever. My own +wound, also, growing so stiff that I could scarce sit down +or rise up, yet so it must be that I must sit all this cold +winter's night upon the cold snowy ground, with my sick +child in my arms, looking that every hour would be the last +of its life, and having no Christian friend near me either +to comfort or help me."</p></div> + +<div class="sidenote">Friendly aid from an Indian.<br />Arrival at head-quarters.</div> + +<p>In the morning the Indians resumed their journey, marching, as was +their custom, in single <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span>file through trails in the forest. A humane +Indian mounted a horse and took Mrs. Rowlandson and her child behind +him. All the day long the poor little sufferer moaned with pain, while +the savages were constantly threatening to knock the child in the head +if she did not cease her moaning. In the evening they arrived at an +Indian village called Wenimesset. Here, upon a luxuriant meadow upon +the banks of the River Ware, within the limits of the present town of +New Braintree, the savages had established their head-quarters. It was +about thirty-six miles from Lancaster. A large number of savages were +assembled at this place, and they remained here for several days, +gathering around their council fires, planning new expeditions, and +inflaming their passions with war dances and the most frantic revels. +The Indians treated their captives with comparative kindness. No +violence or disrespect was offered to their persons. They reared a +rude wigwam for Mrs. Rowlandson, where she sat for five days and +nights almost alone, watching her dying child. At last, on the night +of the 18th of February, the little sufferer breathed her last, at the +age of six years and five months. The Indians took the corpse from the +mother and buried it, and then allowed her to see the grave.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 269-70]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/i265.jpg" class="ispace" width="500" height="294" alt="CAPTIVITY OF MRS ROWLANDSON." title="" /> +<span class="caption">CAPTIVITY OF MRS. ROWLANDSON.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span></p> +<div class="sidenote">Mrs. Rowlandson a slave.<br />Reciprocal barbarity.<br />Actions of the Christian Indians.<br />Meeting of the captives.</div> + +<p>When Mrs. Rowlandson was driven from the flames of her dwelling, a +Narraganset Indian was the first to grasp her; he consequently claimed +her as his property. Her children were caught by different savages, +and thus became the slaves of their captors. The Indians, by the law +of retaliation, were perfectly justified in making slaves of their +captives. The human mind can not withhold its assent from the justice +of the verdict, "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." The +English made all their captives slaves, and women and children were +sold to all the horrors of West Indian plantation bondage. The +Narraganset Indian who owned Mrs. Rowlandson soon sold her to a +celebrated chieftain named Quinnapin, a Narraganset sachem, who had +married, for one of his three wives, Wetamoo, of whom we have +heretofore spoken. Quinnapin is represented as a "young, lusty sachem, +and a very great rogue." It will be remembered that Wetamoo, queen of +the Pocasset Indians, was the widow of Alexander and sister of +Wootonekanuske, the wife of Philip. The English clergyman's wife was +assigned to Queen Wetamoo as her dressing-maid. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span>The Indian +slaveholders paid but little regard to family relations. Mrs. +Rowlandson's daughter Mary was sold for a gun by a <i>praying Indian</i>, +who first chanced to grasp her. The Christian Indians joined in this +war against the whites, and shared in all the emoluments of the slave +traffic which it introduced. Mary was ten years of age, a child of +cultured mind and lovely character. She was purchased by an Indian who +resided in the town where the Indian army was now encamped. When the +poor slave mother met her slave child, Mary was so overwhelmed with +anguish as to move even the sympathies of her stoical masters; their +several owners consequently forbade their meeting any more.</p> + +<p>After a few days, the warriors scattered on various expeditions of +devastation and blood. Mrs. Rowlandson was left at Wenimesset. Her +days and nights were passed in lamentations, tears, and prayers. One +morning, quite to her surprise, her son William entered her wigwam, +where she was employed by her mistress in menial services. He belonged +to a master who resided at a small plantation of Indians about six +miles distant. His master had gone with a war party to make an attack +upon Medfield, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span>and his mistress, with woman's tender heart, had +brought him to see his mother. The interview was short and full of +anguish.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Return of the warriors.<br />Exultation of the Indians.</div> + +<p>The next day the Indians returned from the destruction of Medfield. +Their approach through the forest was heralded by the most demoniac +roaring and whooping, as the whole savage band thus announced their +victory. All the Indians in the little village assembled to meet them. +The warriors had slain twenty of the English, and brought home several +captives and many scalps. Each one told his story, and recapitulated +the numbers of the slain; and, at the close of each narrative, the +whole multitude, with the most frantic gestures, set up a shout which +echoed far and wide over mountain and valley.</p> + +<p>There were now at Wenimesset nine captives, Mrs. Rowlandson, Mrs. +Joslin, and seven children from different families. Mrs. Joslin had an +infant two years old in her arms, and was expecting every hour to give +birth to another child.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A captive murdered.</div> + +<p>The Indians now deemed it necessary to move farther into the +wilderness. The poor woman, in her deplorable condition, did nothing +but weep, and the Indians, deeming her an incumbrance, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span>resolved to +get rid of her. They placed her upon the ground with her child, +divested her entirely of clothing, and for an hour sang and danced +around their victim with wildest exultation. One then approached and +buried his hatchet in her brain. She fell lifeless. Another blow put +an end to the sufferings of her child. They then built a huge fire, +placed the two bodies upon it, and they were consumed to ashes. All +the captive children were assembled to witness this tragedy, and were +assured that if they made any attempt to escape from slavery, a +similar fate awaited them. The unhappy woman, during all this awful +scene, shed not a tear, but with clasped hands, meekly praying, she +silently and almost joyfully surrendered herself to her fate.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Journey to the interior.</div> + +<p>All the day long, the Indians, leading their captives with them, +traveled through the desolate wilderness. A drizzling rain was +falling, and their feet slumped through the wet snow at every step. +Late in the afternoon they encamped, with no protection from the +weather but a few boughs of trees. Mrs. Rowlandson was separated from +her children; she was faint with hunger, sore, and utterly exhausted +with travel, and she sat down upon the snowy <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span>ground and wept +bitterly. She opened her Bible for solace, and her eye fell upon the +cheering words,</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Comfort obtained.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Refrain thy voice from weeping and thine eyes from tears, +for thy work shall be rewarded, and they shall come again +from the land of the enemy."</p></div> + +<div class="sidenote">Fear of the English.<br />The flight.<br />The burden.</div> + +<p>Here, in this wretched encampment, the Indians, their families being +with them, remained for four days. But some of their scouts brought in +intelligence that some English soldiers were in the vicinity. The +Indians immediately, in the greatest apparent consternation, packed up +their things and fled. They retreated farther into the wilderness in +the most precipitate confusion. Women carried their children. Men took +upon their shoulders their aged and decrepit mothers. One very heavy +Indian, who was sick, was carried upon a bier. Mrs. Rowlandson +endeavored to count the Indians, but they were in such a tumultuous +throng, hurrying through the forest, that she was quite unable to +ascertain their numbers. It will be remembered that Mrs. Rowlandson's +side had been pierced by a bullet at the destruction of Lancaster. The +wound was much inflamed, and, being worn down with pain and +exhaustion, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span>she found it exceedingly difficult to keep pace with her +captors. In the distribution of their burdens they had given her two +quarts of parched meal to carry. Fainting with hunger, she implored of +her mistress one spoonful of the meal, that she might mix it with +water to appease the cravings of appetite. Her supplication was +denied.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Crossing the river.<br />Want of food.</div> + +<p>Soon they arrived at Swift River, somewhere probably within the limits +of the present town of Enfield. The stream was swollen with the +melting snows of spring. The Indians, with their hatchets, immediately +cut down some dry trees, with which they made a raft, and thus crossed +the stream. The raft was so heavily laden that many of the Indians +were knee deep in the icy water. Mrs. Rowlandson, however, sat upon +some brush, and thus kept her feet dry. For supper they made a broth +by boiling an old horse's leg in a kettle of water, filling up with +water as often as the kettle was emptied. Mrs. Rowlandson was in such +a starving condition that a cupful of this wretched nutriment seemed +delicious.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Compelling the captive to work.</div> + +<p>Feeling that they were now safe from attack, they reared some rude +wigwams, and rested for one day. It so happened that the next day <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span>was +the Sabbath. The English who were pursuing came to the banks of the +river, saw the smoke of their fires, but for some reason decided not +to attempt to cross the stream. During the day, Wetamoo compelled her +slave to knit some stockings for her. When Mrs. Rowlandson plead that +it was the Sabbath, and promised that if she might be permitted to +keep the sacred day she would do double work on Monday, she was told +to do her work immediately, or she should have her face smashed. The +smashing of a face by an Indian's bludgeon is a serious operation.</p> + +<p>The next morning, Monday, the Indians fired their wigwams, and +continued their retreat through the wilderness toward the Connecticut +River. They traveled as fast as they could all day, fording icy +brooks, until late in the afternoon they came to the borders of a +gloomy swamp, where they again encamped.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Indian village.<br />Numbers of the Indians.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"When we came," writes Mrs. Rowlandson, "to the brow of the +hill that looked toward the swamp, I thought we had come to +a great Indian town. Though there were none but our company, +the Indians appeared as thick as the trees. It seemed as if +there had been a thousand hatchets going at once. If one +looked <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span>before there were nothing but Indians, and behind +nothing but Indians, and from either hand, and I myself in +the midst, and no Christian soul near me."</p></div> + +<div class="sidenote">Difficulty of obtaining food.</div> + +<p>The next morning the wearisome march was again resumed. Early in the +afternoon they reached the banks of the Connecticut at a spot near +Hadley, where they found the ruins of a small English settlement. Mrs. +Rowlandson had for her food during the day an ear of corn and a small +piece of horse's liver. As she was roasting the liver upon some coals, +an Indian came and snatched half of it away. She was forced to eat the +rest almost raw, lest she should lose that also; and yet her hunger +was so great that it seemed a delicious morsel. They gathered a little +wheat from the fields, which they found frozen in the shocks upon the +icy ground.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Mrs. Rowlandson meets her son.</div> + +<p>The next morning they commenced ascending the river for a few miles, +where they were to cross to meet King Philip, who, with a large party +of warriors, was encamped on the western bank of the stream. Indians +from all quarters were assembling at that rendezvous, in preparation +for an assault on the Connecticut River towns. When Mrs. Rowlandson's +party arrived at the point of crossing, they encamped <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span>for the night. +The opposite shore seemed to be thronged with savage warriors. Mrs. +Rowlandson sat upon the banks of the stream, and gazed with amazement +upon the vast multitude, like swarming bees, crowding the shore. She +had never before seen so many assembled. While she was thus sitting, +to her great surprise, her son approached her. His master had brought +him to the spot. The interview between the woe-stricken mother and her +child was very brief and very sad. They were soon again separated.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Regal repast.</div> + +<p>The next morning they commenced crossing the river in canoes. When +Mrs. Rowlandson had crossed, she was received with peculiar kindness. +One Indian gave her two spoonfuls of meal, and another brought her +half a pint of peas. The half-famished captive now thought that her +larder was abundantly stored. She was then conducted to the wigwam of +King Philip. The Wampanoag chieftain received her with the courtesy of +a gentleman, invited her to sit down upon a mat by his side, and +presented her a pipe to smoke with him. He requested her to make a +shirt for his son, and, like a gentleman, paid her for her work. He +invited her to dine with him. They dined <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span>upon pancakes made of +parched wheat, beaten and fried in bear's grease. The dinner, though +very frugal, was esteemed very delicious.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Preparations for an attack.<br />The queen invited to dinner.</div> + +<p>The Indians remained here for several days, preparing for a very +formidable attack on the town of Northampton. During all the time that +Mrs. Rowlandson remained near King Philip, though she was held as a +captive, she was not treated as a slave. She was paid for all the work +that she did. She made a shirt for one of the warriors, and received +for it a generous sirloin of bear's flesh. For another she knit a pair +of stockings, for which she received a quart of peas. With these +savory viands Mrs. Rowlandson prepared a nice dinner, and invited her +master and mistress, Quinnapin and Wetamoo, to dine with her. They +accepted the invitation; but Mrs. Rowlandson did not appreciate the +niceties of Indian etiquette. Wetamoo was a queen, Quinnapin was only +her husband—merely the Prince Albert of Queen Victoria. As there was +but one dish from which both the queen and her husband were to be +served, the haughty Wetamoo deemed herself insulted, and refused to +eat a morsel.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">An interview between the captives.<br />Unaccountable conduct.</div> + +<p>Philip and his warriors soon departed to make attacks upon the +settlements. The Indians <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span>who remained took Mrs. Rowlandson and +several other captives some six miles farther up the river, and then +crossed to the eastern banks. Here they remained for some days, and +here Mrs. Rowlandson had another short interview with her son, which +lacerated still more severely her bleeding heart. The poor boy was +sick and in great pain, and his agonized mother was not permitted to +remain with him to afford him any relief. Of her daughter she could +learn no tidings. Wetamoo, Quinnapin, and Philip were all absent, and +the Indians treated her with great inhumanity, with occasional +caprices of strange and unaccountable kindness.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A journey commenced.<br />Hardships endured.</div> + +<p>One bitter cold day, the Indians all huddled around the fire in the +wigwam, and would not allow her to approach it. Perishing with cold, +she went out and entered another wigwam. Here she was received with +great hospitality; a mat was spread for her, and she was addressed in +words of tender sympathy by the mother of the little barbarian +household, in whose bosom woman's loving heart throbbed warmly. But +soon the Indian to whose care she was intrusted came in search of her, +and amused himself in kicking her all the way home.</p> + +<p>The next day the Indians commenced, for <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span>some unknown reason, +wandering back again toward Lancaster. They placed upon this poor +captive's back as heavy a burden as she could bear, and goaded her +along through the wilderness. She forded streams, and climbed steep +hills, and endured hardships which can not be described. Her hunger +was so great that six acorns, which she picked up by the way, she +esteemed a great treasure.</p> + +<p>The night was cold and windy. The Indians erected a wigwam, and were +soon gathered around a glowing fire in the centre of it. The interior +presented a bright, warm, and cheerful scene, as Mrs. Rowlandson +entered to warm her shivering frame. She had been compelled to search +around to bring dry fuel for the fire. She was, however, ordered +instantly to leave the hut, the Indians saying that there was no room +for her at the fire. Mrs. Rowlandson hesitated about going out to pass +the night in the freezing air, when one of the Indians drew his knife, +and she was compelled to retire. There were several wigwams around; +the poor captive went from one to another, but from all she was +repelled with abuse and derision.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Kindness from an old Indian.</div> + +<p>At last an old Indian took pity upon her, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span>told her to come in. +His wife received her with compassion, gave her a warm seat by the +fire, some ground-nuts for her supper, and placed a bundle under her +head for a pillow. With these accommodations the English clergyman's +wife felt that she was luxuriously entertained, and passed the night +in comfort and sweet slumbers. The next day the journey was continued. +As the Indians were binding a heavy burden upon Mrs. Rowlandson's +shoulders, she complained that it hurt her severely, and that the skin +was off her back. A surly Indian delayed not strapping on the load, +merely remarking, dryly, that it would be of but little consequence if +her head were off too.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">False report about her son.</div> + +<p>The Indians now entered a region of the forest where there was a very +heavy growth of majestic trees, and the underbrush was so dense as to +be almost impenetrable. Plunging into this as a covert, they reared +their wigwams, and remained here, in an almost starving condition, for +fourteen days. The anxious mother inquired of an Indian if he could +inform her what had become of her boy. The rascal very coolly told +her, that he might torture her by the falsehood, that his master had +roasted the lad, and that he himself had been furnished with a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span>steak, +and that it was very delicious meat. They also told her, in the same +spirit, that her husband had been taken by the Indians and slain.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Dismal life.<br />Visions of liberty.</div> + +<p>Thus the Indians continued for several weeks wandering about from one +place to another, without any apparent object, and most of the time in +a miserable, half-famished condition. A more joyless, dismal life +imagination can hardly conceive. One day thirty Indians approached the +encampment on horseback, all dressed in the garments which they had +stripped from the English whom they had slain. They wore hats, white +neckcloths, and sashes about their waists. They brought a message from +Quinnapin that Mrs. Rowlandson must go to the foot of Mount Wachusett, +where the Indian warriors were in council, deliberating with some +English commissioners about the redemption of the captives. "My heart +was so heavy before," writes Mrs. Rowlandson, "that I could scarce +speak or go in the path, and yet now so light that I could run. My +strength seemed to come again, and to recruit my feeble knees and +aching heart. Yet it pleased them to go but one mile that night, and +there we staid two days."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Slow march.<br />Gentlemanly conduct of Philip.</div> + +<p>They then journeyed along slowly, the whole <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span>party suffering extremely +from hunger. A little broth, made from boiling the old and dry feet of +a horse, was considered a great refreshment. They at length came to a +small Indian village, where they found in captivity four English +children, and one of them was a child of Mrs. Rowlandson's sister. +They were all gaunt and haggard with famine. Sadly leaving these +suffering little ones, the journey was continued until they arrived +near Mount Wachusett. Here King Philip met them. Kindly, and with the +courtesy of a polished gentleman, he took the hand of the unhappy +captive, and said, "In two weeks more you shall be your own mistress +again." In this encampment of warriors she was placed again in the +hands of her master and mistress, Quinnapin and Wetamoo. Of this +renowned queen Mrs. Rowlandson says:</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Queen Wetamoo.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"A severe and proud dame she was, bestowing every day, in +dressing herself, nearly as much time as any of the gentry +in the land, powdering her hair and painting her face, going +with her necklaces, with jewels in her ears. When she had +dressed herself, her work was to make girdles of wampum and +beads."</p></div> + +<div class="sidenote">Wampum, and how made.</div> + +<p>Wampum was the money in use among the Indians. It consisted of +beautiful shells very <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span>curiously strung together. "Their beads," says +John Josselyn, "are their money. Of these there are two sorts, blue +beads and white beads. The first is their gold, the last their silver. +These they work out of certain shells so cunningly that neither Jew +nor Devil can counterfeit. They drill them and string them, and make +many curious works with them to adorn the persons of their sagamores +and principal men and young women, as belts, girdles, tablets, borders +of their women's hair, bracelets, necklaces, and links to hang in +their ears."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Kindness to the captive.</div> + +<p>Our poor captive, having returned to the wigwam of her master and +mistress, was treated with much comparative kindness. She was received +hospitably at the fire. A mat was given to her for a bed, and a rug to +spread over her. She was employed in knitting stockings and making +under garments for her mistress. While here, two Indians came with +propositions from the government at Boston for the purchase of her +ransom. The news overwhelmed Mrs. Rowlandson with emotions too deep +for smiles, and she could only give utterance to her feelings in sobs +and flooding tears.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Proposition for her ransom.</div> + +<p>The sachems now met to consult upon the subject. They called Mrs. +Rowlandson before <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span>them, and, after a long and very serious +conference, agreed to receive twenty pounds ($100) for her ransom. One +of the praying Indians was sent to Boston with this proposition.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Evidence of slaughter.</div> + +<p>While this matter was in progress, the Indians went out on several +expeditions, and returned with much plunder and many scalps. One of +the savages had a necklace made of the fingers of the English whom he +had slain.</p> + +<p>It was the custom of the Indians not to remain long in any one place, +lest they should be overtaken by the bands of the colonists which were +every where in pursuit of them. The latter part of April, after having +perpetrated enormous destruction in Sudbury and other towns, the +warriors returned to their rendezvous elated, yet trembling, as they +knew that the English forces were in search of them. Immediately +breaking up their encampment, they retreated several miles into the +wilderness, and there built an enormous tent of boughs, sufficient to +hold one hundred men.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A great feast.<br />Endeavors to see her children.</div> + +<p>Here the Indians gathered from all quarters, and they had a feast and +a great dance. Mrs. Rowlandson learned from a captive English woman +whom she found here that her sister and her own daughter were with +some Indians <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span>at but a mile's distance. Though she had seen neither +for ten weeks, she was not permitted to go near them. The poor woman +plead with anguish of entreaty to be permitted to see her child, but +she could make no impression upon their obdurate hearts.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Bravery of Mr. John Hoar.</div> + +<p>One Sabbath afternoon, just as the sun was going down, a colonist, Mr. +John Hoar, a man of extraordinary intrepidity of spirit, with a firm +step approached the encampment, guided by two friendly Indians, and +under the very frail protection of a barbarian flag of truce. The +savages, as soon as they saw him, seized their guns, and rushed as if +to kill him. They shot over his head and under his horse, before him +and behind him, seeing how near they could make the bullets whistle by +his ears without hitting him. They dragged him from his horse, pushed +him this way and that way, and treated him with all imaginable +violence without inflicting any bodily harm. This they did to frighten +him; but John Hoar was not a man to be frightened, and the savages +admired his imperturbable courage.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Assurance of freedom.</div> + +<p>The chiefs built their council fire, and held a long conference with +Mr. Hoar. They then allowed him a short interview with Mrs. +Rowlandson. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span>He brought her messages of affection from her distracted +husband, and cheered her with the hope that her release would +eventually, though not immediately, be obtained. She plead earnestly +with the Indians for permission to return with Mr. Hoar, promising to +send back the price of her ransom; but they declared that she should +not go.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Dress for a grand dance.</div> + +<p>After dinner the Indians made arrangements for one of their most +imposing dances. It was a barbarian cotillon, performed by eight +partners in the presence of admiring hundreds. Queen Wetamoo and her +husband, Quinnapin, were conspicuous in this dance. He was dressed in +a white linen shirt, with a broad border of lace around the skirt. To +this robe silver buttons were profusely attached. He wore white cotton +stockings, with shillings dangling and clinking from the garters. A +turban composed of girdles of wampum ornamented his head, while broad +belts of wampum passed over his shoulders and encircled his waist.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Dress of Wetamoo.</div> + +<p>Wetamoo was dressed for the ball in a horseman's coat of coarse, +shaggy cloth. This was beautifully decorated with belts of wampum from +the waist upward. Her arms, from the elbows to the wrist, were clasped +with bracelets. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span>A great profusion of necklaces covered her +well-rounded shoulders and ample bosom. Her ears were laden with +jewels. She wore red stockings and white shoes. Her face was painted a +brilliant crimson, and her hair powdered white as snow. For music the +Indians sang, while one beat time upon a brass kettle.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Interview with Philip.</div> + +<p>Soon after the dance, King Philip, who was there with his warriors, +but who appears to have taken no part in the carousals, sent for Mrs. +Rowlandson, and said to her, with a smiling face, "Would you like to +hear some good news? I have a pleasant word for you. You are to go +home to-morrow." Arrangements had been finally made through Mr. Hoar +for her ransom.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Her release.</div> + +<p>On the next morning Mrs. Rowlandson, accompanied by Mr. Hoar and the +two friendly Indians, commenced her journey through the wilderness +toward Lancaster. She left her two children, her sister, and many +other friends and relatives still in captivity. "In coming along," she +says, "my heart melted into tears more than all the while I was with +them."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Appearance of the country.<br />Return to her friends.</div> + +<p>Toward evening they reached the spot where Lancaster once stood. The +place, once so luxuriant and beautiful, presented a dreary aspect <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span>of +ruin. The storm of war had swept over it, and had converted all its +attractive homes into smouldering embers. They chanced to find an old +building which had escaped the flames, and here, upon a bed of straw, +they passed the night. With blended emotions of bliss and of anguish, +the bereaved mother journeyed along the next day, and about noon +reached Concord. Here she met many of her friends, who rejoiced with +her in her rescue, and wept with her over the captives who were still +in bondage. They then hurried on to Boston, where she arrived in the +evening, and was received to the arms of her husband, after a +captivity in the wilderness of three months. By great exertions, their +son and daughter were eventually regained. We now return from the +incidents of this captivity to renew the narrative of Philip's war.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_IX" id="Chapter_IX"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter IX.</span></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Indians Victorious.</span></h3> + +<p class="center">1677</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Spies.</div> + +<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:50px;line-height:32px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">T</span><span style="margin-left:0%;">he</span> Massachusetts government now employed two friendly Indians to act +as spies. With consummate cunning they mingled with the hostile +Indians, and made a faithful report to their employers of all the +anticipated movements respecting which they could obtain any +information.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Attack upon Medfield.<br />Suspicions.<br />Energy of Philip.</div> + +<p>Eleven days after the destruction of Lancaster, on the 21st of +February, the Indians made an attack upon Medfield. This was a very +bold measure. The town was but seventeen miles from Boston. Several +garrison houses had been erected, in which all the inhabitants could +take refuge in case of alarm. Two hundred soldiers were stationed in +the town, and sentinels kept a very careful watch. On the Sabbath, as +the people were returning from public worship, one or two Indians were +seen on the neighboring hills, which led the people to suspect that an +assault was contemplated. The night was moonless, starless, and of +Egyptian darkness. The <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span>Indians, perfectly acquainted with the +location of every building and every inch of the ground, crept +noiselessly, three hundred in number, each to his appointed post. They +spread themselves over all parts of the town, skulking behind every +fence, and rock, and tree. They concealed themselves in orchards, +sheds, and barns. King Philip himself was with them, guiding, with +amazing skill and energy, all the measures for the attack. Not a +voice, or a footfall, or the rustling of a twig was heard, as the +savages stood in immovable and breathless silence, waiting the signal +for the onset. The torch was ready to be lighted; the musket loaded +and primed; the knife and tomahawk sharp and gleaming.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">An unpleasant surprise.<br />A conflagration.</div> + +<p>At the earliest dawn of day one shrill war-whoop was heard, clear and +piercing. It drew forth the instant response of three hundred voices +in unearthly yells. Men, women, and children sprang from their beds in +a phrensy of terror, and, rushing in their night-clothes from their +homes, endeavored to reach the garrison houses. But the leaping savage +was every where with his torch, and soon the blaze of fifty houses and +barns shed its lurid light over the dark morning. Fortunately, many of +the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span>inhabitants were in the garrisons. Of those who were not, but few +escaped. The bullet and the tomahawk speedily did their work, and but +a few moments elapsed ere fifty men, women, and children were +weltering in blood. Though they promptly laid one half of the town in +ashes, the garrison houses were too strong for them to take. During +the progress of this awful tragedy King Philip was seen mounted on a +splendid black horse, leaping the fences, inspiriting his warriors, +and exulting in the havoc he was accomplishing.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Indians retire.</div> + +<p>At length the soldiers, who were scattered in different parts of the +town, began gradually to combine their strength, and the savages, +learning that re-enforcements were also approaching from Sudbury, were +compelled to retire. They retreated across a bridge in the southwest +part of the town, in the direction of Medway, keeping up a resolute +firing upon their foes who pursued them. Having passed the stream, +they set fire to the bridge to cut off pursuit. In exultation over +their victory, Philip wrote, probably by the hand of some Christian +Indian, the following letter to his enemies, which he attached to one +of the charred and smouldering posts of the bridge.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Philip's letter.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Know by this paper that the Indians that thou hast provoked +to wrath and anger will war this twenty-one years, if you +will. There are many Indians yet. We come three hundred at +this time. You must consider the Indians lose nothing but +their life. You must lose your fair houses and cattle."</p></div> + +<div class="sidenote">Indian warfare.</div> + +<p>The Indians now wandered about in comparatively small bands, making +attacks wherever they thought that there was any chance of success, +and marking their path with flames and blood. Without a moment's +warning, and with hideous yells, they would dash from the forest upon +the lonely settlements, and as suddenly retreat before the least +effectual show of resistance. Weymouth, within eleven miles of Boston, +was assailed, and several houses and barns burnt. They ventured even +into the town of Plymouth, setting fire to a house and killing eleven +persons.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">An ambuscade.<br />A decoy.<br />The town burned.</div> + +<p>On the 13th of March, the Indians, in a strong party four hundred in +number, made an attack upon Groton. The inhabitants, alarmed by the +fate of Lancaster, had retreated into five garrison houses. Four of +these houses were within musket-shot of each other, but one was more +than a mile distant from the rest. The <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span>savages very adroitly formed, +in the night, two ambuscades, one before and one behind the four +united garrisons. Early in the morning they sent a small party of +Indians to show themselves upon a hill as a decoy. The inhabitants, +supposing that the Indians, unaware of their preparations for +resistance, had come in small numbers, very imprudently left two of +the garrisons and pursued them. The Indians retreated with +precipitation. The English eagerly pursued, when suddenly the party in +ambush rose and poured a deadly fire upon them. In the mean time, the +other party in ambush in rear of the garrison rushed to the palisades +to cut off the retreat of the English. Covered, however, by the guns +of the two other garrisons, they succeeded in regaining shelter. A +similar attempt was made to destroy the solitary garrison, but it was +alike unsuccessful. The Indians, however, had the whole town except +the garrisons to themselves. They burned to the ground forty +dwelling-houses, the church, and all the barns and out-houses. The +cattle were fortunately saved, being inclosed within palisades under +the protection of the garrisons.</p> + +<p>A notorious Nipmuck chief, Monoco, called by the English <i>One-eyed +John</i>, led this expedition. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span>While the church was in flames, Monoco +shouted to the men in the garrison, assailing them with every variety +of Indian vituperative abuse. He had been so much with the English +that he understood their language very well.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Monoco's threats.</div> + +<p>"What will you do for a place to pray in," said he, "now that we have +burned your meeting-house? We will burn Chelmsford, Concord, +Watertown, Cambridge, Charlestown, Roxbury, and Boston. I have four +hundred and eighty warriors with me; we will show you what we will +do."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Monoco hung.</div> + +<p>But a few months after this Monoco was taken prisoner, led through the +streets of Boston with a rope round his neck, and hanged at the town's +end.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Destruction of Warwick.</div> + +<p>On the 17th of March, Warwick, in Rhode Island, was almost entirely +destroyed. The next day another band of Indians attacked Northampton, +on the Connecticut. But by this time most of the towns had fortified +themselves with palisades and garrison houses. The Indians, after a +fierce conflict, were repelled from Northampton with a loss of eleven +men, while the English lost but three.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Alarm from the Indians.</div> + +<p>On the Sabbath of the 26th of March, as the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span>people of Marlborough +were assembled at public worship, the alarming cry was shouted in at +the door, "The Indians! the Indians!" An indescribable scene of +confusion instantly ensued, as the whole congregation rushed out to +seek shelter in their garrison. The terror and confusion were awfully +increased by a volley of bullets, which the Indians, as they came +rushing like demons over the plain, poured in upon the flying +congregation. Fortunately, the savages were at such a distance that +none were wounded excepting one man, who was carrying an aged and +infirm woman. His arm was broken by a ball. All, however, succeeded in +gaining the garrison house, which was near at hand. The meeting-house +and most of the dwelling-houses were burned. The orchards were cut +down, and all other ruin perpetrated which savage ingenuity could +devise.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Exultation of the Indians.</div> + +<p>The Indians, exultant with success, encamped that night in the woods +not far from Marlborough, and kept the forest awake with the uproar of +their barbarian wassail. The colonists immediately assembled a small +band of brave men, fell upon them by surprise in the midst of their +carousals, shot forty and dispersed the rest.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span></p> +<div class="sidenote">Defeat of the Plymouth army.<br />Nanuntenoo.<br />Plan of action.</div> + +<p>On the same day in which Marlborough was destroyed, a very disastrous +defeat befell a party of soldiers belonging to the old Plymouth +colony. Nanuntenoo, son of the renowned Miantunnomah, was now the head +chief of the Narragansets. He was fired with a terrible spirit of +revenge against the English, and could not forget the swamp fight in +which so many of his bravest warriors had perished, and where hundreds +of his women and children had been cut to pieces and burned to ashes +in their wigwams. He himself had taken a large share in this fierce +fight, and with difficulty escaped. This chieftain, a man of great +intrepidity and sagacity, had gathered a force of nearly two thousand +Indians upon the banks of the Pawtucket River, within the limits of +the present town of Seekonk. They were preparing for an overwhelming +attack upon the town of Plymouth.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A stratagem, and its success.</div> + +<p>The colonists, by no means aware of the formidableness of the force +assembled, dispatched Captain Pierce from Scituate with seventy men, +fifty of whom were English and twenty Indians, to break up the +encampment of the savages. Nanuntenoo, informed of their movements, +prepared with great strategetic skill to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span>meet them. He concealed a +large portion of his force in ambush on the western side of the river; +another body of warriors he secreted in the forest on the eastern +banks. As Captain Pierce approached the stream, a small party of +Indians, as a decoy, showed themselves on the western side, and +immediately retreated, as if surprised and alarmed. The colonists +eagerly crossed the stream and pursued them.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Defeat certain.<br />Heroic defense.</div> + +<p>The stratagem of the wily savage was thus perfectly successful. The +colonists had advanced but a few rods from the banks, near Pawtucket +Falls, when the Indians, several hundreds in number, rose from their +ambush, and rushed like an avalanche upon them. With bravery almost +unparalleled in Indian warfare, they sought no covert, but rushed upon +their foes in the open field face to face. They knew that the +colonists were now drawn into a trap from which there was no possible +escape. As soon as the battle commenced, the Indians who were in the +rear, on the eastern bank of the narrow stream, sprang up from their +ambush, and, crowding the shore, cut off all hope of retreat, and +commenced a heavy fire upon their foe. Utter defeat was now certain. +The only choice was between instantaneous death by the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span>bullet or +death by lingering torture. Captain Pierce was a valiant man, and +instantly adopted his heroic resolve. He formed his men in a circle, +back to back, and with a few words inspired them with his own +determination to sell his life as dearly as possible. Thus they +continued the fight until nearly every one of the colonial party was +slain. But one white man escaped, and he through the singular sagacity +of one of the friendly Indians.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">An escape.</div> + +<p>Captain Pierce soon fell, having his thigh bone shattered by a bullet. +A noble Indian by the name of Amos would not desert him; he stood +firmly by his side, loading and firing, while his comrades fell +thickly around him. When nearly all his friends had fallen, and the +survivors were mingled with their foes in the smoke and confusion of +the fight, he observed that all the hostile Indians had painted their +faces black. Wetting some gunpowder, he smeared his own face so as to +resemble the adverse party; then, giving the hint to an Englishman, he +pretended to pursue him with an uplifted tomahawk. The Englishman +threw down his gun and fled, but a few steps in advance of his +pursuer. The Narragansets, seeing that the Indian could not fail to +overtake <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span>and dispatch the unarmed fugitive, did not interfere. Thus +they entered the forest, and both escaped.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Escape of the Indians.<br />Their mode of accomplishing it.</div> + +<p>A friendly Indian, pursued by one of Nanuntenoo's men, took shelter +behind the roots of a fallen tree. The Indian who had pursued him +waited, with his gun cocked and primed, for the fugitive to start +again from his retreat, knowing that he would not dare to remain there +long, when hundreds of Indians were almost surrounding him. The roots +of the tree, newly-turned up, contained a large quantity of adhering +earth, which entirely covered the fugitive from view. Cautiously he +bored a small hole through the earth, took deliberate aim at his +pursuer, shot him down, and then escaped.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Terrible slaughter.</div> + +<p>Another of the Indian allies, in his flight, took refuge behind a +large rock. This was a perfect shelter for a moment, but certain death +awaited him in the end. His pursuer, with loaded musket, sure of his +victim, quietly waited to see him start again. In this deplorable +condition the beleaguered Indian thought of the following shrewd +expedient. Putting his cap upon his gun, he raised it very gradually +above the rock, as if he were endeavoring to peep over to discover the +situation of his enemy. The <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span>sharp-eyed Narraganset instantly leveled +his gun and sent a bullet through the cap, and, as he supposed, +through the head of his foe. The fugitive sprang from his covert, and, +advancing toward his unarmed enemy, shot him dead. Thus was escape +effected. With the exception of one Englishman and five or six +friendly Indians, all the rest were cut down. The wounded were +reserved for the horrible doom of torture.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Storming of Providence.</div> + +<p>The Indians were exceedingly elated by this signal victory, and their +shouts of exultation were loud and long-repeated. The next morning, +with yells of triumph, they crossed the river, made a rush upon +Seekonk, and burned seventy buildings. The next day they stormed +Providence, and burned thirty houses. These devastations, however, +were not accompanied with much bloodshed, as most of the inhabitants +of Providence and of Seekonk had previously fled to the island of +Rhode Island for protection.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Roger Williams.</div> + +<p>The heroic Roger Williams, however, remained in Providence. He had +ever been the firm friend of the Indians, and was well acquainted with +the leading chiefs in this war-party. The Indians, while setting fire +to the rest of the town, left his person and property unharmed. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span>Flushed with success, they assured him that they were confident of +the entire conquest of the country, and of the utter extermination of +the English. Mr. Williams reproached them with their cruelties, and +told them that Massachusetts could raise ten thousand men, and that +even were the Indians to destroy them all, Old England could send over +an equal number every year until the Indians were conquered. +Nanuntenoo proudly and generously replied,</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Nanuntenoo's reply.</div> + +<p>"We shall be ready for them. But you, Mr. Williams, shall never be +injured, for you are a good man, and have been kind to us."</p> + +<p>Nanuntenoo had about fifteen hundred warriors under his command. +Thinking that the English were very effectually driven from the region +of Seekonk, he very imprudently took but thirty men and went to that +vicinity, hoping to obtain some seed-corn to plant the fields upon the +Connecticut from which the English had been expelled. But the English, +alarmed by the ravages which the Indians were committing in this +region, sent a force consisting of forty-seven Englishmen and eighty +Indians to scour the country. Most of the Indians were Mohegans, under +the command of Oneco, a son of Uncas.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Cowardly sentinels.</div> + +<p>As this force was approaching Seekonk they encountered two Indians +with their squaws. They instantly shot the Indians and took the squaws +captive. Their prisoners informed them that Nanuntenoo was in a wigwam +at a short distance, with but seven Indians around him. His hut was +erected at the bottom of a hill, upon the brow of which he had +stationed two sentinels. These cowardly savages, when they saw the +English approaching in such force, precipitately fled, without giving +their chieftain any warning. The sachem, from his wigwam, saw their +flight, and sent a third man to the hill-top to ascertain the cause. +As soon as he arrived upon the brow of the hill he saw the glittering +array of more than a hundred men almost directly upon him. Appalled by +the sight, he also fled like his predecessors. Nanuntenoo, amazed by +this conduct, dispatched two more to solve the mystery. These last +proved more faithful to their trust. They came running back in +breathless haste, shouting, "<i>The English are upon you.</i>"</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Alarm of the chief.</div> + +<p>Not a moment was to be lost in deliberation. The enemy was already in +sight. Nanuntenoo leaped from his wigwam, and, with the agility of a +deer, bounded over the ground in a hopeless <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span>attempt to escape. Nearly +the whole army, English and Indians, like hounds in full cry, eagerly +pressed the chase.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Flight of Nanuntenoo.<br />His capture.</div> + +<p>With amazing speed, the tall, athletic sachem fled along the bank of +the river, seeking a place to ford the stream. In his rapid flight he +threw off his blanket, his silver-laced coat, and his belt of wampum, +so that nothing remained to obstruct his sinewy and finely-moulded +limbs. A Mohegan Indian was in advance of all the rest of the company +in the pursuit. Nanuntenoo plunged into the narrow stream to cross. +His foot slipped upon a stone, and he fell, immersing his gun in the +water. This calamity so disheartened him that he lost all his +strength. His swift-footed pursuer, Monopoide, was immediately upon +him, and grasped him almost as soon as he reached the opposite shore. +The naked and unarmed chief could make no resistance, and, with +stoicism characteristic of his race, submitted to his fate.</p> + +<p>Nanuntenoo was a man of majestic stature, and of bearing as lofty as +if he had been trained in the most haughty of European courts. A young +Englishman, but twenty-one years of age, Robert Staunton, following +Monopoide, was the first one who came up to the Narraganset chieftain +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span>after his capture. Young Staunton, in the pert spirit of Young +America, ventured to question the proud monarch of the Narragansets. +Nanuntenoo, looking disdainfully upon his youthful face, after a short +silence, said,</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Young America rebuked.</div> + +<p>"You are too much of a child—you do not understand matters of war. +Let your chief come; him I will answer."</p> + +<p>He was offered life upon condition that he would submit to the +English, and deliver up to them all the Wampanoags in his territory.</p> + +<p>"Let me hear no more of this," he replied, nobly. "I will not +surrender a Wampanoag, nor the paring of a Wampanoag's nail."</p> + +<p>He was taken to Stonington, where he was sentenced to be shot. When +informed of his doom, he replied, in the spirit of an old Roman,</p> + +<p>"I like it well. I shall die before my heart is soft, or before I have +said any thing unworthy of myself."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Execution of the sachem.<br />Statement of Cotton Mather.</div> + +<p>He was shot by one of the Indians who were in alliance with the +English; his head was cut off by them, and his body quartered and +burned. The Indians who aided the colonists were always eager for any +work of blood, and considered it a great privilege to enjoy the +pleasures of executioners. They often implored permission <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span>to torture +their enemies, and several times the English, to their shame be it +recorded, allowed them to do so. In this case, "The mighty sachem of +Narraganset," writes Cotton Mather, "the English wisely delivered unto +their tawny auxiliaries for them to cut off his head, that so the +alienation between them and the wretches in hostility against us might +become incurable."</p> + +<p>His head, a ghastly trophy of victory, was sent by the Mohegans to the +Common Council at Hartford, in token of their love and fidelity to the +English. The spirit of the times may be inferred from the following +comments upon this transaction in the narrative written by Hubbard: +"This was the confusion of that damned wretch that had often opened +his mouth to blaspheme the name of the living God and those that made +profession thereof."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Character of Nanuntenoo.</div> + +<p>We can not take leave of Nanuntenoo without a tribute of respect to +his heroic and noble character. "His refusal," writes Francis Baylies, +"to betray the Wampanoags who had sought his protection is another +evidence of his lofty and generous spirit, and his whole conduct after +his capture was such that surely, at this period, we may be allowed to +lament the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span>unhappy fate of this noble Indian without incurring any +imputation for want of patriotism."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Peril of the settlers.<br />Mutual disasters.</div> + +<p>The inhabitants of New London, Norwich, and Stonington, being in great +peril in consequence of their near vicinity to the enemy, raised +several parties of volunteers and ranged the country. They succeeded +in these expeditions in killing two hundred and thirty-nine of the +enemy without incurring the loss of a single man. As most of the +inhabitants of the towns had found it necessary to take refuge in +garrison houses, prowling bands of Indians experienced but little +difficulty in setting fire to the abandoned dwellings and barns, and +the sky was every night illumined with conflagrations.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Philip's affection for Taunton.<br />A family save a town.</div> + +<p>On the ninth of April a small party made an attack upon Bridgewater. +They plundered several houses, and were commencing the conflagration, +when the inhabitants sallied forth and put them to flight. It is said +that Philip had given orders that the town of Taunton should be spared +until all the other towns in the colony were destroyed. A family by +the name of Leonard resided in Taunton, where they had erected the +first forge which was established in the English colonies. Philip, +though <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span>his usual residence was at Mount Hope, had a favorite summer +resort at a place called Fowling Pond, then within the limits of +Taunton, but now included in the town of Raynham. In these excursions +he had become acquainted with the Leonards. They had treated him and +his followers with uniform kindness, repairing their guns, and +supplying them with such tools as the Indians highly prized. Philip +had become exceedingly attached to this family, and in gratitude, at +the commencement of the war, had given the strictest orders that the +Indians should never injure a Leonard. Apprehending that in a general +assault upon the town his friends the Leonards might be exposed to +danger, he spread the shield of his generous protection over the whole +place. This act certainly develops a character of more than ordinary +magnanimity.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311-2]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/i306.jpg" class="ispace" width="500" height="321" alt="THE DESTRUCTION OF SUDBURY." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE DESTRUCTION OF SUDBURY.</span></div> + +<p>On the 18th of April an immense band of savages, five hundred in +number, made an impetuous assault upon Sudbury. The inhabitants, +warned of their approach, had abandoned their homes and taken refuge +in their garrisons. The savages set fire to several of the dwellings, +and were dancing exultingly around the flames, when a small band of +soldiers from Watertown <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span>came to the rescue, and the inmates of the garrison, sallying forth, +joined them, and drove the Indians across the river.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Captain Wadsworth.<br />Attempt to save Sudbury.</div> + +<p>Captain Wadsworth, from Boston, chanced to be in the vicinity with +about seventy men. Hearing of the extreme peril of Sudbury, although +he had marched all the day and all the night before, and his men were +exhausted with fatigue, he instantly commenced his march for that +place. Painfully toiling on through the night by the road leading from +Marlborough, early on the morning of the 19th he arrived within a mile +and a half of the town. Here the Indians, who by their scouts had kept +themselves informed of his approach, prepared an ambush. As the +English were marching along with great caution, a band of about a +hundred Indians crossed their path some distance in advance of them, +and fled, feigning a panic. The English pursued them impetuously about +a mile into the woods, when the fugitives made a stand, and five +hundred Indians sprang up from their concealment, and hurled a storm +of lead into the faces of their foes.</p> + +<p>The English, with singular intrepidity, formed themselves into a +compact mass, and by unerring aim and rapid firing kept their foes at +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span>bay while, slowly retreating, they ascended an adjacent hill. Here +for five hours they maintained the conflict against such fearful odds. +The superior skill of the English with the musket rendered their fire +much more fatal than that of their foes. Many of the savage warriors +were struck down, and they bit the dust in their rage and dying agony, +while but five or six of the English had been slain.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315-6]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/i310.jpg" class="ispace" width="500" height="321" alt="THE INDIAN AMBUSH." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE INDIAN AMBUSH.</span> +</div> + +<div class="sidenote2">The woods fired.<br />The English conquered.<br />A monument erected.</div> + +<p>The wind was high, and a drought had rendered the leaves of the forest +dry as powder. Some shrewd savage thought of the fatal expedient of +setting the forest on fire to the windward of their foes. The +stratagem was crowned with signal success. A wide sheet of flame, +roaring and crackling like a furnace, and emitting billows of +smothering smoke, rolled toward the doomed band. The fierceness of the +flames, and the blinding, suffocating smoke, soon drove the English in +confusion from their advantageous position. The Indians, piercing them +with bullets, rushed upon them with the tomahawk, and nearly every man +in the party was slain. Some accounts say that Captain Wadsworth's +company was entirely cut off; others say that a few escaped to a mill, +where they defended themselves until succor arrived. President <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span>Wadsworth, of Harvard College, was the son of Captain Wadsworth. He +subsequently erected a modest monument over the grave of these heroes. +It is probably still standing, west of Sudbury causeway, on the old +road from Boston to Worcester. The inscription upon the stone is now +admitted to be incorrect in many of its particulars. It is said that +one hundred and twenty Indians were slain in this conflict.</p> + +<p>These successes wonderfully elated the Indians. They sent a defiant +and derisive message to Plymouth:</p> + +<p>"Have a good dinner ready for us, for we intend to dine with you on +election day."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Delight in torture.<br />Mode of torture.</div> + +<p>In this awful warfare, every day had its story of crime and woe. +Unlike the movement of powerful armies among civilized nations, the +Indians were wandering every where, burning houses and slaughtering +families wherever an opportunity was presented. They seemed to take +pleasure in wreaking their vengeance even upon the cattle. They would +cut out the tongues of the poor creatures, and leave them to die in +their misery. They would shut them up in hovels, set fire to the +buildings, and amuse themselves in watching the writhings of the +animals as they were slowly roasted in the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span>flames. Nearly all the men +who were taken captive they tortured to death. "And that the reader +may understand," says Cotton Mather, "what it is to be taken by such +devils incarnate, I shall here inform him. They stripped these unhappy +prisoners, and caused them to run the gauntlet, and whipped them after +a cruel and bloody manner. They then threw hot ashes upon them, and, +cutting off collops of their flesh, they put fire into their wounds, +and so, with exquisite, leisurely, horrible torments, roasted them out +of the world."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Attack upon Scituate.<br />Heroism of Mrs. Ewing.</div> + +<p>On the 20th of April a band of fifty Indians made an attack upon +Scituate, and, though the inhabitants speedily rallied and assailed +them with great bravery, they succeeded in plundering and burning +nineteen houses and barns. They proceeded along the road, avoiding the +block-houses, and burning all that were unprotected. They approached +one house where an aged woman, Mrs. Ewing, was alone with an infant +grandchild asleep in the cradle. As she saw the savages rushing down +the hill toward her dwelling, in a delirium of terror she fled to the +garrison house, which was about sixty rods distant, forgetting the +child. The savages rushed into the house, plundered it of a few +articles, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span>not noticing the sleeping infant, and then hastened to make +an assault upon the garrison. A fierce fight ensued. In the midst of +the horrid scene of smoke, uproar, and blood, Mrs. Ewing, with heroism +almost unparalleled, stole from the garrison unperceived, by a +circuitous path reached the house, rescued the babe, still +unconsciously sleeping, and bore it in safety to the garrison. Soon +after this, the savages, repelled from their assault, set fire to her +house, and it was consumed to ashes. All the day long the battle and +the destruction continued in different parts of the town. There were +several garrisoned houses which the Indians attacked with great +spirit, but in every case they met with a repulse. Many of the savages +were shot, and a few of the English lost their lives.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Attack upon Bridgewater.<br />Valor of the English triumphs.</div> + +<p>On the 8th of May a band of three hundred Indians made a very fierce +attack upon Bridgewater. The inhabitants had fortunately received +warning of the contemplated assault, and had most of them repaired to +their garrisoned houses. The savages, hoping to take the place by +surprise, with fearful yells rushed from the forest upon the south +part of the town. Disappointed in finding all the inhabitants +sheltered <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span>in their fortresses, they immediately commenced setting +fire to the buildings. But the inhabitants boldly sallied forth to +protect their property, and the Indians, though greatly outnumbering +them, fled before their determined valor. They succeeded, however, in +burning some thirteen houses.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Deplorable condition of the English.</div> + +<p>The condition of the colonists was at this time deplorable in the +extreme. During the campaign thus far the Indians had been signally +successful, and had effected an inconceivable amount of destruction +and suffering. The sun of spring had now returned; the snow had +melted, and the buds were bursting. It was time to plow the fields and +scatter the seed; but universal consternation and despair prevailed. +Every day brought its report of horror. Prowling bands of savages were +every where. No one could go into the field or step from his own door +without danger of being shot by some Indian lying in ambush. It was an +hour of gloom into which scarcely one ray of hope could penetrate.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_X" id="Chapter_X"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter X.</span></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Vicissitudes of War.</span></h3> + +<p class="center">1677</p> + +<div class="sidenote">An ambush discovered.</div> + +<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:50px;line-height:32px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">D</span><span style="margin-left:0%;">uring</span> this terrible war there were many deeds of heroic courage +performed which merit record. A man by the name of Rocket, in the town +of Wrentham, was in the woods searching for his horse. Much to his +alarm, he discovered, far off in the forest, a band of forty-two +Indians, in single file, silently and noiselessly passing along, +apparently seeking a place of concealment. They were all thoroughly +armed. Mr. Rocket without difficulty eluded their observation, and +then, at some distance behind, cautiously followed in their trail. It +was late in the afternoon, and, just before twilight was fading into +darkness, the Indians found a spot which they deemed safe, but a short +distance from the town, in which to pass the night. It was a large +flat rock, upon the brow of a steep hill, where they were quite +surrounded by almost impenetrable bushes.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Information given.<br />Preparation for a surprise.</div> + +<p>Rocket, having marked the place well, hastened back to the town. It +was then near midnight. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span>The inhabitants were immediately aroused, +informed of their peril, and the women and children were all placed +safely in the garrison house, and a small party was left for their +defense. The remaining men capable of bearing arms, but thirteen in +number, then hastened through the forest, guided by Rocket, and +arrived an hour before the break of day at the encampment of the +Indians. With the utmost caution, step by step, they crept within +musket shot of their sleeping foes. Every man took his place, and +endeavored to single out his victim. It was agreed that not a gun +should be fired until the Indians should commence rising from their +sleep, and the morning light should give the colonists fair aim.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Sudden attack.<br />The Indians vanquished.</div> + +<p>An hour of breathless and moveless silence passed away. In the +earliest dawn of the morning, just as a few rays of light began to +stream along the eastern horizon, the Indians, as if by one volition, +sprang from their hard couch. A sudden discharge of musketry rang +through the forest, and thirteen bullets pierced as many bodies. +Appalled by so sudden an attack and such terrible slaughter, the +survivors, unaware of the feebleness of the force by which they were +assailed, plunged down the precipitous <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span>hill, tumbling over each +other, and rolling among the rocks. The adventurous band eagerly +pursued them, and shot at them as they would at deer flying through +the forest. Many more thus fell. One keen marksman struck down an +Indian at the distance of eighty rods, breaking his thigh bone. In +this short encounter twenty-four of the Indians were slain. The +remainder escaped into the depths of the forest. The heroes of this +adventure all returned in safety to their homes, no one having been +injured. It was undoubtedly the intention of this prowling band to +have attacked and fired the town as soon as the inhabitants had been +scattered in the morning in their fields at work.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Escape of two boys.</div> + +<p>Soon after this, two English boys, who had been captured by the +Indians and taken to the upper waters of the Connecticut, escaped, +and, following down the river, succeeded in reaching the settlements. +They gave information that the Indians, in large numbers, were +encamped upon the banks of the river, just above the present site of +Deerfield. Supposing that all the energies of the colonists were +employed in endeavoring to arrest the ravages which were taking place +in the towns nearer the seaboard, they were indulging in careless +security.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span></p> +<div class="sidenote">A surprise party.<br />Its perfect success.</div> + +<p>The inhabitants of Hadley, Hatfield, and Northampton promptly raised a +force of one hundred and fifty mounted men to attack them. On the +night of the 18th of May they left Hadley, and, traveling as fast as +they could about twenty miles, through the dead of night, arrived a +little after midnight in the vicinity of the Indian encampment. Here +they alighted, tied their horses to some young trees, and then +cautiously crept through the forest about half a mile, when, still in +the gloom of the rayless morning, they dimly discerned the wigwams of +the savages. Concealing themselves within musket shot, they waited +patiently for the light to reveal their foes. The Indians were in a +very dead sleep from a great debauch in which they had engaged during +the early part of the night. The night had been warm, and they were +sleeping upon the ground around their wigwams. At an appointed signal, +every gun was discharged upon the slumberers, and a storm of bullets +fell upon them and swept through their wigwams. Many were instantly +killed, and many wounded. The survivors, in a terrible panic, men, +women, and children, sprang from the ground and rushed to the river, +attempting to escape to the other shore.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span></p> +<div class="sidenote">Slaughter of the Indians.<br />Burning the wigwams.</div> + +<p>They were just above some rapids, where the current was very swift and +strong. Numbers attempted to swim across the stream, but were swept by +the torrent over the falls. Some sprang into canoes and pushed from +the shore. They presented but a fair mark for the bullets of the +colonists. Wounded and bleeding, and whirled by the eddies, they were +dashed against the rocks, and perished miserably. Many endeavored to +hide in the bushes and among the rocks upon the shore. Captain Holyoke +killed five with his own hand under a bank. About three hundred +Indians were slain or drowned in the awful tumult of these midnight +hours. Several of the most conspicuous of the Indian chiefs were +killed. Only one white man lost his life. In the midst of the +confusion the wigwams of the Indians were set on fire, and the black +night was illumined by the lurid conflagration. The flashing flames, +the dark billows of smoke, the rattle of musketry, the shouts of the +assailants, the shrieks of women and children, and the yells of the +savage warriors, presented a picture of earthly woe which neither the +pen nor the pencil can portray.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Refreshment after battle.</div> + +<p>At last the morning dawned. The sun of a serene and beautiful May day +rose over the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span>spectacle of smouldering ruins and blood. The victors, +weary of sleeplessness, of their night's march, and of the carnage, +sat down among the smoking brands and amid the bodies of the slain to +seek refreshment and repose in this exultant hour of victory.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Alarm of the party.</div> + +<p>But disaster, all unanticipated, came upon them with the sweep of the +whirlwind. It so happened that Philip himself was near with a thousand +warriors. A captured Indian informed them of this fact, and instantly +the victors were in a great panic. They were but one hundred and fifty +in number. Their only retreat was by a narrow trail through the woods +of more than twenty miles. A thousand savage warriors, roused to the +highest pitch of exasperation, and led by the terrible King Philip, +were expected momentarily to fall upon them. It was known that the +fugitives, who had scattered through the woods, would speedily +communicate the tidings of the attack to Philip's band.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Terrible peril.<br />Bravery of Captain Holyoke.</div> + +<p>The colonists, in much confusion, immediately commenced a precipitate +retreat. They had hardly mounted their horses ere the whole body of +savages, like famished wolves, with the most dismal yells and +howlings, came rushing upon <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span>them. The peril was so terrible that +there seemed to be no hope of escape. But there are no energies like +the energies of despair. Every man resolved, in the calmness of the +absolute certainty of death, to sell his life as dearly as possible. +Captain Holyoke was a man equal to the emergency, and every member of +his heroic little band had perfect confidence in his courage and his +skill. Silently, sternly, sublimely, in a mass as compact as possible, +they moved slowly on. Every eye was on the alert; every man had his +finger to the trigger. Their guns were heavily loaded, that the balls +might be thrown to a great distance. Not an Indian could expose his +body but that he fell before the unerring aim of these keen marksmen.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Heroic action.</div> + +<p>Captain Holyoke exposed himself to every danger in front, on the +flanks, and in the rear. His own lion-like energy was infused into the +spirit of his men, and he animated them to prodigious exertions. His +horse was at one time shot, and fell beneath him. Before he could +extricate himself from his entanglement, a band of Indians threw +themselves upon him. Two of them he shot down with his pistols, and +then with his sword cut his way through the rest, aided by a single +soldier who came to his rescue.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span></p> +<div class="sidenote">Dawn of hope.<br />Escape.<br />Rage of the Indians.</div> + +<p>As they toiled along, pursued by the infuriate foe and harassed by a +merciless fire, many were wounded, and every few moments one would +drop lifeless upon the ground. The survivors could do nothing to help +the dead or the dying. Hour after hour passed, and at length +unexpected hope began to dawn upon them. They were evidently holding +the Indians at bay. Could they continue thus for a few hours longer, +they would be so near the settlements that the Indians, in their turn, +would be compelled to retreat. Though it was evident that their loss +must be great, there was now hope that the majority would escape. Thus +animated, they accelerated their march, and at length, having lost +about forty by the way, they emerged upon the clearings of the +settlements, where the savages dared to pursue them no longer. With +howls of disappointment and rage, the discomfited Indians returned to +their forest fastnesses, and the heroic band, having lost about one +third of their number, and with nearly all of the survivors exhausted, +wounded, and bleeding, were received by their friends with throbbing +hearts, and with blended tears of bliss and woe. Those who, while +still living, fell into the hands of the Indians, were put to death by +tortures too horrible to be described.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span></p><p>A fortnight after this, on the 30th of May, the men of Hatfield were +all at work in the fields, having, as usual, established a careful +watch to guard against surprise. All the houses in the centre of the +town were surrounded by a palisade, but there were several at a +distance which could not be included. One old man only was left within +the palisades to open and bar the gate.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Assault upon Hatfield.<br />Unexpected assistance.<br />Heroism.</div> + +<p>Suddenly a band of Indians, between six and seven hundred in number, +plunged into the town between the palisades and the party at work in +the fields, thus effectually cutting off the retreat of the colonists +to their fortress. They immediately commenced a fierce attack upon the +palisades, that they might get at the women, the children, and the +booty. The people of Hadley, on the opposite side of the river, +witnessed the assault. Twenty-five young men of Hadley promptly +crossed the river, threw themselves unexpectedly and like a +thunderbolt upon the band of seven hundred savages, cut their way +through them, and gained an entrance within the palisades, having lost +but five of their number. Where has history recorded a deed of nobler +heroism? In their impetuous rush they cut down twenty-five of their +foes. The Indians, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span>intimidated by so daring an act, feared to +approach the palisades thus garrisoned, and sullenly retired. The men +in the fields took refuge in a log house. The savages spread +themselves over the meadows, drove off all the oxen, cows, and sheep, +and burned twelve houses and barns which were beyond the reach of +protection.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Attack upon Hadley.</div> + +<p>On the 12th of June, the Indians, seven hundred in number, made an +attack upon Hadley, and hid themselves in the bushes at its southern +extremity, while they sent a strong party around to make an assault +from the north. At a given signal, when the first light of the morning +appeared, with their accustomed yells, they leaped from their +concealment, and rushed like demons upon the town. The English, +undismayed, met them at the palisades. The battle raged for some time +with very great fury.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A sudden appearance.<br />Superstition.</div> + +<p>In the midst of this scene of tumult and blood, when the battle seemed +turning against the English, there suddenly appeared a man of gray +hairs and venerable aspect, and dressed in antique apparel, who, with +the voice and manner of one accustomed to command, took at once the +direction of affairs. There was such an air of authority in his words +and gestures, the directions <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span>he gave were so manifestly wise, and he +seemed so perfectly familiar with all military tactics, that, by +instinctive assent, all yielded to his command. Those were days of +superstition, and the aspect of the stranger was so singular, and his +sudden appearance so inexplicable and providential, that it was +generally supposed that God had sent a guardian angel for the +salvation of the settlement. When the Indians retreated the stranger +disappeared, and nothing further was heard of him.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">General Goffe.<br />Old tradition.</div> + +<p>The supposed angel was General Goffe, one of the judges who had +condemned Charles I. to the block. After the restoration, these judges +were condemned to death. Great efforts were made to arrest them. Two +of them, Generals Goffe and Whalley, fled to this country. They were +both at this time secreted in Hadley, in the house of the Rev. Mr. +Russell. Mr. Whalley was aged and infirm. General Goffe, seeing the +village in imminent peril, left his concealment, joined the +inhabitants, and took a very active part in the defense. It was not +until after the lapse of fifteen years that these facts were +disclosed. The tradition is that both of these men died in their +concealment, and that they were secretly buried in the minister's +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span>cellar. Their bodies were afterward privately conveyed to New Haven.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Union of forces.</div> + +<p>It so happened that the Connecticut colony had just raised a standing +army of two hundred and fifty English and two hundred Mohegan Indians, +and had sent them to Northampton, but a few miles from Hadley, for the +protection of the river towns. A force of several hundred men also +marched from Boston to co-operate with the Connecticut troops. The +settlements upon the river were thus so effectually protected that +Philip saw that it would be in vain for him to attempt any farther +assaults.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Philip's stratagem.<br />It recoils.</div> + +<p>He therefore sent most of his warriors to ravage the towns along the +sea-coast. It is generally reported that, about this time, Philip took +a party of warriors and traversed the unbroken wilderness extending +between the Connecticut and the Hudson. He went as far as the present +site of Albany, and endeavored to rouse the Mohawks, a powerful tribe +in that vicinity, to unite with him against the English. It is said, +though the charge is not sustained by any very conclusive evidence, +that Philip, in order to embroil the Mohawks with the English, +attacked a party of Mohawk warriors, and, as he supposed, killed them +all. He then <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span>very adroitly arranged matters to convince the Mohawks +that their countrymen had been murdered by the English. But one of the +Mohawks, who was supposed to be killed, revived, and, covered with +blood and wounds, succeeded in reaching his friends. The story he told +roused the tribe to rage, and, allying themselves with the English, +they fell fiercely upon Philip.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Hostility of the Mohawks.</div> + +<p>Whether the above narrative be true or not, it is certain that about +this time the Mohawks became irreconcilably hostile to King Philip, +and fell upon him and upon all of his allies with great fury.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Turn of the tide.</div> + +<p>And now suddenly, and almost miraculously, the tide of events +seemed to turn in favor of the English. It is very difficult to +account for the wonderful change which a few weeks introduced. The +Massachusetts Indians, for some unknown cause, became alienated +from the sovereign of the Wampanoags, and bitterly reproached him +with having seduced them into a war in which they were suffering +even more misery than they created. All the Indians in the vicinity +of the English settlements had been driven from their corn-fields +and fishing-grounds, and were now in a famishing condition. They +had sufficient intelligence to foresee that absolute <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span>starvation +was their inevitable doom in the approaching winter. At the same +time, a pestilence, deadly and contagious, swept fearful desolation +through their wigwams. The Indians regarded this as evidence that +the God of the white men had enlisted against them. The colonial +forces in the valley of the Connecticut penetrated the forest in +every direction, carrying utter ruin into the homes of the natives. +In this horrible warfare but little mercy was shown to the women +and the children. The English did not torture their foes, but they +generally massacred them without mercy.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Dismay of the Indians.</div> + +<p>This sudden accumulation of disasters appalled Philip and all his +partisans. They were thrown into a very surprising state of confusion +and dismay. Cotton Mather, speaking of this constant terror which +bewildered them, writes:</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Extract from Cotton Mather.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"They were just like beasts stung with a hornet. They ran +they knew not whither, they knew not wherefore. They were +under such consternation that the English did even what they +would upon them. I shall never forget the expressions which +a desperate, fighting sort of fellow, one of their generals, +used unto the English after they had captured him. 'You +could not have subdued us,' said he, striking <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span>upon his +breast, 'but the Englishman's God made us afraid here.'"</p></div> + +<div class="sidenote">Search for King Philip.<br />An interview with the Indians.<br />The Indians desire peace.<br />Interview with the governor.</div> + +<p>The latter part of July, Captain Church, the General Putnam of these +Indian wars, was placed in command of a force to search for Philip, +who, with a small band of faithful followers, had returned to the +region of Mount Hope. Captain Church went from Plymouth to Wood's Hole +in Falmouth, and there engaged two friendly Indians to paddle him in a +canoe across Buzzard's Bay, and along the shore to Rhode Island. As he +was rounding the neck of land called Saconet Point, he saw a number of +Indians fishing from the rocks. Believing that these Indians were in +heart attached to the English, and that they had been forced to unite +with Philip, he resolved to make efforts to detach them from the +confederacy. The Indians on the shore seemed also to seek an +interview, and by signs invited them to land. Captain Church, who was +as prudent as he was intrepid, called to two of the Indians to go down +upon a point of cleared land where there was no room for an ambush. He +then landed, and, leaving one of the Indians to take care of the +canoe, and the other to act as a sentinel, advanced to meet the +Indians. One of the two <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span>Indians, who was named George, could speak +English perfectly well. He told Captain Church that his tribe was +weary of the war; that they were in a state of great suffering, and +that they were very anxious to return to a state of friendly alliance +with the English. He said that if the past could be pardoned, his +tribe was ready not only to relinquish all acts of hostility, but to +take up arms against King Philip. Captain Church promised to meet them +again in two days at Richmond's Farm, upon this long neck of land. He +then hastened to Rhode Island, procured an interview with the +governor, and endeavored to obtain authority to enter into a treaty +with these Indians. The governor would not give his consent, affirming +that it was an act of madness in Captain Church to trust himself among +the Saconets. Nevertheless, Church, true to his engagement, took with +him an interpreter, and, embarking in a canoe, reached the spot at the +appointed time.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Captain Church visits Awashonks.</div> + +<p>Here he found Awashonks, the queen of the tribe, with several of her +followers. As his canoe touched the shore, she advanced to meet him, +and, with a smile of apparent friendliness, extended her hand. They +walked together a short distance from the shore, when suddenly a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span>large party of Indians, painted and decorated in warlike array, and +armed to the teeth, sprang up from an ambush in the high grass, and +surrounded them. Church, undismayed, turned to Awashonks, and said, +indignantly,</p> + +<p>"I supposed that your object in inviting me to this interview was +peace."</p> + +<p>"And so it is," Awashonks replied.</p> + +<p>"Why, then," Captain Church continued, "are your warriors here with +arms in their hands?"</p> + +<p>Awashonks appeared embarrassed, and replied,</p> + +<p>"What weapons do you wish them to lay aside?"</p> + +<p>The Indian warriors scowled angrily, and deep mutterings were passing +among them. Captain Church, seeing his helpless situation, very +prudently replied, "I only wish them to lay aside their guns, which is +a proper formality when friends meet to treat for peace."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A perilous interview.<br />Rage of a warrior.</div> + +<p>Hearing this, the Indians laid aside their guns, and quietly seated +themselves around their queen and Captain Church. An interesting and +perilous interview now ensued. Awashonks accused the English of +provoking her to hostilities when she had wished to live in friendship +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span>with them. At one moment these children of nature would seem to be in +a towering rage, and again perfectly pleasant, and almost +affectionate. Captain Church happened to allude to one of the battles +between the English and the Indians. Immediately one of the savages, +foaming with rage, sprang toward him, brandishing his tomahawk, and +threatening to sink it in his brain, declaring that Captain Church had +slain his brother in that battle. Captain Church replied that his +brother was the aggressor, and that, if he had remained at home, as +Captain Church had advised him to do, his life would have been spared. +At this the irate savage immediately calmed down, and all was peace +again.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Proposals for an alliance.</div> + +<p>As the result of the interview, Awashonks promised to ally herself in +friendship with the English upon condition that Church should obtain +the pardon of her tribe for all past offenses. The chief captain of +her warriors then approached Captain Church with great stateliness, +and said, "Sir, if you will please to accept of me and my men, and +will be our captain, we will fight for you, and will help you to the +head of King Philip before the Indian corn be ripe." At this all the +other warriors clashed their weapons and murmured applause.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Embassadors to the governor.</div> + +<p>Church then proposed that five Indians should accompany him through +the woods to the governor to secure the ratification of the treaty. +Awashonks objected to this, saying that the party would inevitably be +intercepted on the way by Philip's warriors, and all would be slain. +She proposed, however, that Captain Church should go to Rhode Island, +obtain a small vessel, and then take her embassadors around Cape Cod +to Plymouth.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The journey interrupted.</div> + +<p>Captain Church obtained a small vessel in Newport Harbor, and sailed +for the point. When he arrived there the wind was directly ahead, and +blowing almost a gale. As the storm increased, finding himself quite +unable to land, he returned to Newport. Being a man of deep religious +sensibilities, he considered this disappointment as an indication of +divine disapproval, and immediately relinquished the enterprise.</p> + +<p>Just at this time Major Bradford arrived in the vicinity of the +present town of Fall River with a large force of soldiers. This region +was then called Pocasset, and was within the territory of Queen +Wetamoo. Captain Church immediately then took a canoe, and again +visited Awashonks. He informed her of the arrival <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span>of Major Bradford, +urged her to keep all her people at home lest they should be assailed +by these troops, and assured her that if she would visit Major +Bradford in his encampment she should be received with kindness, and a +treaty of peace would be concluded. The next morning, Major Bradford, +with his whole force, marched down the Tiverton shore, and encamped at +a place called Punkatese, half way between Pocasset and Saconet Point.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Awashonks visits Major Bradford.<br />Proposals for an alliance.</div> + +<p>Awashonks collected her warriors and repaired to Punkatese to meet the +English. Major Bradford received her with severity and suspicion, +which appears to have been quite unjustifiable. Awashonks offered to +surrender her warriors to his service if they could be under the +command of Captain Church, in whom both she and they reposed perfect +confidence. This offer was peremptorily declined, and she was +haughtily commanded to appear at Sandwich, where the governor resided, +within six days. The queen, mortified by this unfriendly reception, +appealed to Captain Church. He, also, was much chagrined, but advised +her to obey, assuring her that the governor would cordially assent to +her views. The Indians, somewhat reassured, now commenced their march +to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span>Sandwich, under the protection of a flag of truce.</p> + +<p>The next morning Major Bradford embarked his army in canoes, and +crossed to Mount Hope in search of King Philip. It was late at night +before they reached the Mount, and the fires blazing in the woods +showed that the Indians were collecting in large numbers. Meeting, +however, with no foe, they marched on to Rehoboth. Here Captain +Church, taking an Indian for a guide, set out for Plymouth to +intercede for his friends, the Saconet Indians. The governor received +him with great cordiality. Captain Church, highly gratified, took with +him three or four men as a body-guard, and hastened to Sandwich. +Disappointed in not finding Awashonks there, he went to Agawam, in the +present town of Wareham; still not finding her, he crossed Mattapoiset +River, and ascended a bluff which commanded a wide prospect of +Buzzard's Bay.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Indian festivities.</div> + +<p>As they stood upon the bluff, they heard a loud murmuring noise coming +from the concealed shore at a little distance. Creeping cautiously +along, they peered over a low cliff, and saw a large number of +Indians, of all ages and sexes, engaged upon the beach in the wildest +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span>scene of barbarian festivities. Some were running races on horseback; +some playing at football; some were catching eels and flat-fish; and +others plunging and frolicking in the waves.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Sagacious care.</div> + +<p>Captain Church was uncertain whether they were enemies or friends. +With characteristic sagacity and intrepidity, he retired some distance +into a thicket, and then hallooed to them. Two young Indians, hearing +the shout, left the rest of their company to see from whence it came. +They came close upon Captain Church before he discovered himself to +them. As soon as they saw Captain Church, with two or three men around +him, all well armed, they, in a panic, endeavored to retreat. He +succeeded, however, in retaining them, and in disarming their fears.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Captain Church to visit the queen.<br />A luxurious supper.<br />Bill of fare.</div> + +<p>From them he learned that the party consisted of Awashonks and her +tribe. He then sent word to Awashonks that he intended to sup with her +that evening, and to lodge in her camp that night. The queen +immediately made preparations to receive him and his companions with +all due respect. Captain Church and his men, mounted on horseback, +rode down to the beach. The Indians gathered around them with shouts +of welcome. They were conducted to a pleasant <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</a></span>tent, open toward the +sea, and were provided with a luxurious supper of fried fish. The +supper consisted of three courses: a young bass in one dish, eels and +flat-fish in a second, and shell-fish in a third; but there was +neither bread nor salt.</p> + +<p>By the time supper was over it was night, serene and moonless, yet +brilliant with stars. The still waters of Buzzard's Bay lay like a +burnished mirror, reflecting the sparkling canopy above in a +corresponding arch below. The unbroken forest frowned along the shore, +sublime in its solitude, and from its depths could only be heard the +lonely cry of the birds of darkness.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A huge bonfire.</div> + +<p>The Indians collected an enormous pile of pine knots and the resinous +boughs of the fir-tree. Men, women, and children all contributed to +enlarge the gigantic heap, and when the torch was touched, a bonfire +of amazing splendor blazed far and wide over the forest and the bay. +This was the introductory act to a drama where peace and war were +blended. All the Indians, old and young, gathered around the fire. +Queen Awashonks, with the oldest men and women of the tribe, kneeling +down in a circle, formed the first ring; next behind <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</a></span>them came all +the most distinguished warriors, armed and arrayed in all the gorgeous +panoply of barbarian warfare; then came a motley multitude of the +common mass of men, women, and children.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Indian dance.<br />Oath of fidelity.<br />Selection of warriors.</div> + +<p>At an appointed signal, Awashonks' chief captain stepped forward from +the circle, danced with frantic gesture around the fire, drew a brand +from the flames, and, calling it by the name of a tribe hostile to the +English, belabored it with bludgeon and tomahawk. He then drew out +another and another, until all the tribes hostile to the English had +been named, assailed, and exterminated. Reeking with perspiration, and +exhausted by his phrensied efforts, he retired within the ring. +Another chief then came out and re-enacted the same scene, endeavoring +to surpass his predecessor in the fierceness and fury of his efforts. +In this way all the chiefs took what they considered as their oath of +fidelity to the English. The chief captain then came forward to +Captain Church, and, presenting him with a fine musket, informed him +that all the warriors were henceforth subject to his command. Captain +Church immediately drew out a number of the ablest warriors, and the +next morning, before the break of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</a></span>day, set out with them for +Plymouth, where he arrived in the afternoon.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Grief of Philip.<br />Undying resolution.</div> + +<p>It is said that when King Philip, in the midst of his accumulating +disasters, learned that the Saconet tribe had abandoned his cause and +had gone over to the English, he was never known to smile again. He +knew that his doom was now sealed, and that nothing remained for him +but to be hunted as a wild beast of the forest for the remainder of +his days. Though a few tribes still adhered to him, he was well aware +that in these hours of disaster he would soon be abandoned by all. +Proudly, however, the heroic chieftain disdained all thoughts of +surrender, and resolved to contend with undying determination to the +last. We can not but respect his energy and deplore his fate.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Capture of Indians.<br />Continued success.</div> + +<p>Receiving a commission from the governor, Captain Church that same +evening took the field, with a company of eighteen Englishmen and +twenty-two Indians. They saw gleaming in the distant forest the +camp-fires of the Indians. Creeping stealthily along, they surrounded +a small band of savages, took them by surprise, and captured every +one. From one of his prisoners he learned there was another party at +Monponsett Pond. Carrying his prisoners <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</a></span>back to Plymouth, he set out +again the next night, and was equally successful in capturing every +one of this second band. Thus for some days he continued very +successfully harassing the Indians in the vicinity of the +Middleborough Ponds. From one of his prisoners he ascertained that +both Philip and Quinnapin, the husband of Wetamoo, were in the great +cedar swamp, which was full of Indian warriors, and that a hundred +Indians had gone on a foray down into Sconticut Neck, now Fair Haven.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Approach of Philip's army.<br />Preparations for his reception.</div> + +<p>The main body of the Plymouth forces was at Taunton. Philip did not +dare attempt the passage of the Taunton River, as it was carefully +watched. He was thus hemmed in between the river and the sea. Church, +with amazing energy and skill, drove his feeble bands from point to +point, allowing them not one moment of rest. One Sabbath morning a +courier was sent to the governor of the Plymouth colony, who happened +to be at Marshfield, informing him that Philip, with a large army, was +advancing, with the apparent intention of crossing the river in the +vicinity of Bridgewater, and attacking that town. The governor +immediately hastened to Plymouth, sent for Captain Church, who was in +the meeting-house attending public <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</a></span>worship, and requested him to +rally all the force in his power, and march to attack the Indians. +Captain Church immediately called his company together, and, running +from house to house, collected every loaf of bread in town for the +supply of his troops.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">He is received by Bridgewater lads.</div> + +<p>Early in the afternoon he commenced his march, and early in the +evening arrived at Bridgewater. As they were advancing in the +darkness, they heard a sharp firing in the distance. It afterward +appeared that Philip had felled a tree across the stream, which was +there quite narrow, as a bridge for his men. Some energetic +Bridgewater lads had watched the movements of the Indians, and had +concealed themselves in ambush on the Bridgewater side of the stream. +As soon as the Indians commenced passing over the tree, they poured in +upon them a volley of bullets. Many dropped from the slender bridge, +dead and wounded, into the river. The rest precipitately retreated. +This was on the evening of the 31st of July.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Narrow escape of Philip.</div> + +<p>Early the next morning, Captain Church, having greatly increased his +force by the inhabitants of Bridgewater, marched cautiously to the +spot where Philip had attempted to effect a passage. Accompanied by a +single Indian, he <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</a></span>crept to the banks of the stream where the tree had +been. He saw upon the opposite side an Indian in a melancholy, musing +posture, sitting alone upon a stump. He was within short musket shot. +Church clapped his gun to his shoulder, and was just upon the point of +firing, when the Indian who accompanied him hastily called out for him +not to fire, for he believed it was one of their own men. The Indian +heard the warning, and, startled, looked up. Captain Church instantly +saw it was King Philip himself. In another instant the report of a gun +was heard, and a bullet whistled through the thin air, but Philip, +with the speed of an antelope, was gone.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">His wife and child captured.</div> + +<p>Captain Church immediately rallied his company, crossed the river, and +pursued the Indians. The savages scattered and fled in all directions. +Church and his men picked up a large number of women and children +flying in dismay through the woods. Among the rest, he captured the +wife of Philip and their only son, a bright boy nine years of age. +Quinnapin, the husband of Wetamoo, with a large band of the Indians, +retreated down the eastern bank of the river, looking anxiously for a +place where they might ford the stream. Captain Church <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</a></span>followed upon +their trail, pursued them across the stream, and continued the chase +until he thought it necessary to return and secure the prisoners.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Saconets continue the pursuit.<br />Treachery of the Indians.</div> + +<p>The Saconet Indians begged permission to continue the pursuit. They +returned the next morning, having shot several of the enemy, and +bringing with them thirteen women and children as prisoners. The +prisoners were all sent to Bridgewater, while bands of soldiers +scoured the woods in all directions in pursuit of the fugitives. Every +now and then the shrill report of the musket told that the bullet was +accomplishing its deadly work. Another night came. It was dark and +gloomy. Some of the captives informed the English that Philip, with a +large party of his warriors, had sought refuge in a swamp. The heroic +chief had heard of the capture of his wife and son, and his heart was +broken. Dejected, disheartened, but unyielding, he still resolved to +bid defiance to fate, and to contend sternly to the last. The Indian +captives, with their accustomed treachery, guided the English to all +the avenues of the swamp. Here Captain Church placed his well-armed +sentinels, cutting off all escape, and watching vigilantly until the +morning.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">The reconnoitering parties.</div> + +<p>As soon as it was light, he sent two scouts to enter the swamp +cautiously, and ascertain the position of the enemy. At the same +moment Philip sent two of his warriors upon a tour of reconnoissance. +The two opposite parties met, and the Indians, with loud yells to give +the alarm, fled toward their camp. Terrified with the apprehension +that the whole English force was upon them, the Indians plunged like +affrighted deer into the deeper recesses of the swamp, leaving their +kettles boiling and their meat roasting upon their wooden spits. But +they were surrounded, and there was no escape. The following scene, +described by Captain Church himself, gives one an idea of the nature +of this warfare.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Description by Captain Church.<br />Captain Church's adventures.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"In this swamp skirmish, Captain Church, with his two men, +who always ran by his side as his guard, met with three of +the enemy, two of whom surrendered themselves, and the +captain's guard seized them; but the other, being a great, +stout, surly fellow, with his two locks tied up with red, +and a great rattlesnake's skin hanging to the back part of +his head, ran from them into the swamp. Captain Church in +person pursued him close, till, coming pretty near up with +him, he presented his gun between his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</a></span>shoulders, but it +missing fire, the Indian perceived it, turned, and presented +at Captain Church, and missing fire also, their guns taking +wet from the fog and dew of the morning. But the Indian +turning short for another run, his foot tripped in a small +grape-vine, and he fell flat on his face. Captain Church was +by this time up with him, and struck the muzzle of his gun +an inch and a half into the back part of his head, which +dispatched him without another blow.</p></div> + +<div class="sidenote">Capture of prisoners.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"But Captain Church, looking behind him, saw another Indian, +whom he thought he had killed, come flying at him like a +dragon. But this happened to be fair within sight of the +guard that was set to keep the prisoners, who, spying this +Indian and others who were following him in the very +seasonable juncture, made a shot upon them, and rescued +their captain, though he was in no small danger from his +friends' bullets, for some of them came so near him that he +thought he felt the wind of them. The skirmish being over, +they gathered their prisoners together, and found the number +they had taken to be one hundred and seventy-three."</p></div> + +<div class="sidenote">The captives make merry in the pound.</div> + +<p>With these prisoners the English returned to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</a></span>Bridgewater. Captain +Church drove the captives that night into the pound, and placed an +Indian guard over them. They were abundantly supplied with food and +drink. These poor wretches were so degraded, and so regardless of +their fate, that they passed the night in hideous revelry. Philip had +by some unknown means escaped. With grief and shame we record that his +wife and son were sent to Bermuda and sold as slaves, and were never +heard of more. One of the Indian captives said to Captain Church,</p> + +<p>"Sir, you have now made Philip ready to die. You have rendered him as +poor and miserable as he used to make the English. All his relatives +are now either killed or taken captive. You will soon have his head. +This last bout has broken his heart."</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XI" id="Chapter_XI"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XI.</span></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Death of King Philip.</span></h3> + +<p class="center">1677</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Fallen fortunes of Philip.<br />Execution of Sam Barrow.</div> + +<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:50px;line-height:32px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">T</span><span style="margin-left:0%;">he</span> heroic and unfortunate monarch of the Wampanoags was now indeed a +fugitive, and almost utterly desolate. A few of the more noble of the +Indians still adhered faithfully to the fortunes of their ruined +chieftain. The colonists pursued the broken bands of the Indians with +indefatigable energy. A small party sought refuge at a place called +Agawam, in the present town of Wareham. Captain Church immediately +headed an expedition, pursued them, and captured the whole band. A +notorious Indian desperado called Sam Barrow was among the number. He +was a bloodthirsty wretch, who had filled the colony with the terror +of his name. He boasted that with his own hand he had killed nineteen +of the English. Captain Church informed him that, in consequence of +his inhuman murders, the court could allow him no quarter. The stoical +savage, with perfect indifference, said that he was perfectly willing +to die, and only requested the privilege <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</a></span>of smoking a pipe. He sat +down upon a rock, while his Indian executioner stood by his side with +his gleaming tomahawk in his hand. The savage smoked a few whiffs of +tobacco, laid aside his pipe, and calmly said, "I am ready." In +another instant the hatchet of the executioner sank deep into his +brain. He fell dead upon the rock.</p> + +<p>On the 6th of August one of Philip's Indians deserted his master and +fled to Taunton. To make terms for himself, he offered to conduct the +English to a spot upon the river where Wetamoo had secreted herself +with a party of Pocasset warriors. Twenty of the inhabitants of +Taunton armed themselves and followed their Indian guide. He led them +to a spot now called Gardiner's Neck, in the town of Swanzey.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Character of Wetamoo.<br />The queen drowned.</div> + +<p>At the beginning of the war, Wetamoo, flushed with hope, had marched +to the conflict leading three hundred warriors in her train. She was +now hiding in thickets, swamps, and dens, with but twenty-six +followers, and they dejected and despairing. Next to King Philip, +Wetamoo had been the most energetic of the foes of the English. She +was inspired with much of his indomitable courage, and was never +wanting in resources. The English came upon <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</a></span>them by surprise, and +captured every one but Wetamoo herself. The heroic queen, too proud to +be captured, instantly threw off all her clothing, seized a broken +piece of wood, and plunged into the stream. Worn down by exhaustion +and famine, her nerveless arm failed her, and she sank beneath the +waves. Her body, like a bronze statue of marvelous symmetry, was soon +after found washed upon the shore. As faithful chroniclers, we must +declare, though with a blush, that the English cut off her head, and +set it upon a pole in their streets, a trophy ghastly, bloody, +revolting. Many of her subjects were in Taunton as captives. When they +beheld the features of their beloved queen, they filled the air with +shrieks of lamentation.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Deplorable condition of Philip.</div> + +<p>The situation of Philip was now indescribably deplorable. All the +confederate tribes had abandoned him; the most faithful of his +followers had already perished. His only brother was dead; his wife +and only son were slaves in the hands of the English, doomed to +unending bondage; every other relative was cold in death. The few +followers who still, for their own protection, accompanied him in his +flight, were seeking in dismay to save their own lives. His domain, +which once spread over wide <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</a></span>leagues of mountain and forest, was now +contracted to the dark recesses and dismal swamps where, as a hunted +beast, he sought his lair. There was no place of retreat for him. All +the Connecticut Indians had become his bitter foes, because he had +embroiled them in a war which had secured their ruin. The Mohawks, +upon the Hudson, were thirsting for his blood.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Indomitable resolution.<br />Summary punishment.</div> + +<p>Still, this indomitable man would not think of yielding. He +determined, with a resolution which seemed never to give way, to fight +till a bullet from the foe should pierce his brain. In this hour of +utter hopelessness, one of Philip's warriors ventured to urge him to +surrender to the English. The haughty monarch immediately put the man +to death as a punishment for his temerity and as a warning to others. +The brother of this Indian, indignant at such severity, deserted to +the English, and offered to guide them to the swamp where Philip was +secreted. The ruined monarch had returned to the home of his childhood +to fight his last battles and to die.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Disposition of the army.</div> + +<p>Captain Church happened to be at this time, with a party of +volunteers, at Rhode Island, having crossed over by the ferry from +Tiverton. Here he met the Indian traitor. "He <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</a></span>was a fellow of good +sense," says Captain Church, "and told his story handsomely." He +reported that Philip was upon a little spot of upland in the midst of +a miry swamp just south of Mount Hope. It was now evening. Half of the +night was spent in crossing the water in canoes. At midnight Captain +Church brought all his company together, and gave minute directions +respecting their movements. They surrounded the swamp. With the +earliest light of the morning they were ordered to creep cautiously +upon their hands and feet until they came in sight of their foes. As +soon as anyone discovered Philip or any of his men, he was to fire, +and immediately all were to rise and join in the pursuit. To make sure +of his victim, Captain Church also formed a second circle surrounding +the swamp, placing an Englishman and an Indian behind trees, rocks, +etc., so that no one could pass between them. He also stationed small +parties in selected places in ambuscade.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Confident of the capture of Philip.</div> + +<p>Having completed all his arrangements, he took his friend Major +Sandford by the hand, and said,</p> + +<p>"I have now so posted my men that I think it impossible that Philip +should escape us."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">The carnage commenced.</div> + +<p>He had hardly uttered these words ere the report of a musket was heard +in the swamp, and this was instantaneously followed by a whole volley. +Some of the Indians had been discovered, and the murderous work was +commenced. The morning had as yet but just dawned. An awful scene of +dismay, tumult, and blood ensued. Philip, exhausted by days and nights +of the most harassing flight and fighting, had been found soundly +asleep. The few warriors still faithful to him, equally exhausted, +were dozing at his side. A party of the English crept cautiously +within musket shot of their sleeping foes, discharged a volley of +bullets upon them, and then rushed into their encampment.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[Pg 359-60]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/i355.jpg" class="ispace" width="500" height="326" alt="THE DEATH OF KING PHILIP." title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE DEATH OF KING PHILIP.</span></div> + +<div class="sidenote2">Rushing into danger.<br />Death of Philip.</div> + +<p>The dreams of the despairing fugitive were disturbed by the crash of +musketry, the whistling of bullets, and the shout and the onset of his +foes. He leaped from his couch of leaves, and, like a deer, bounded +from hummock to hummock in the swamp. It so happened that he ran +directly upon an ambush which Captain Church had warily established. +An Englishman and the Indian deserter, whose name was Alderman, stood +behind a large tree, with their guns cocked and primed. As Philip, +bewildered <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[Pg 361]</a></span>and unconscious of his peril, drew near, the Englishman took +deliberate aim at him when he was but at the distance of a few yards, +and sprung his lock. The night dews of the swamp had moistened the +powder, and his gun missed fire. The life of Philip was thus prolonged +for one half of a minute. The traitor Alderman then eagerly directed +his gun against the chief to whom but a few hours before he had been +in subjection. A sharp report rang through the forest, and two +bullets, for the gun was double charged, passed almost directly +through the heart of the heroic warrior. For an instant the majestic +frame of the chieftain, as he stood erect, quivered from the shock, +and then he fell heavy and stone dead in the mud and water of the +swamp.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Delight of Alderman.<br />Reception of the news.<br />Ignoble treatment of the body.</div> + +<p>Alderman, delighted with his exploit, ran eagerly to inform Captain +Church that he had shot King Philip. Church ordered him to be +perfectly silent about it, that his men might more vigorously pursue +the remaining warriors. For some time the pursuit and the carnage +continued. Captain Church then, by a concerted signal, called his army +together, and informed them of the death of their formidable foe. The +tidings were received with a simultaneous shout <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[Pg 362]</a></span>of exultation, which, +repeated again and again, reverberated through the solitudes of the +forests. The whole army then advanced to the spot where the sovereign +of the Wampanoags lay gory in death. They had but little reverence for +an Indian, and, seizing the body, they dragged it, as if it had been +the carcass of a wild beast, through the mud to an upland slope, where +the ground was dry. Here, for a time, they gazed with exultation upon +the great trophy of their victory, and spurned the dishonored body as +if it had been a wolf or a panther which had been destroying their +families and their flocks. Captain Church then said,</p> + +<p>"Forasmuch as he has caused many an Englishman's body to lie unburied +and to rot above the ground, not one of his bones shall be buried."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">An Indian executioner.</div> + +<p>An old Indian executioner, a vulgar, bloodthirsty wretch, was then +called to cut up the body. With bitter taunts he stood over him with +his hatchet, and cut off his head and quartered him. Philip had one +remarkable hand, which was much scarred by the explosion of a pistol. +This hand was given to Alderman, who shot him, as his share of the +spoil. Alderman preserved it in rum, and carried it around the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[Pg 363]</a></span>country as a show, "and accordingly," says Captain Church, "he got +many a penny by it." We would gladly doubt the statement, if we could, +that the head of this ill-fated chief was sent to Plymouth, where it +was for a long time exposed on a gibbet. The four quarters of the +mangled body were hung upon four trees, and there they remained +swinging in the moaning wind until the elements wasted them away.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Noble character of Philip.</div> + +<p>Thus fell Pometacom, perhaps the most illustrious savage upon the +North American continent. The interposition of Providence alone seems +to have prevented him from exterminating the whole English race upon +this continent. Though his character has been described only by those +who were exasperated against him to the very highest degree, still it +is evident that he possessed many of the noblest qualities which can +embellish human nature.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">His reluctance to commence war.<br />His foresight.<br />His humanity.</div> + +<p>It is said that with reluctance and anguish he entered upon the war, +and that he shed tears when the first English blood was shed. His +extraordinary kindness to the Leonards, inducing him to avert +calamities from a whole settlement, lest they, by some accident, might +be injured, develops magnanimity which is seldom paralleled. He was a +man of first-rate abilities. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[Pg 364]</a></span>He foresaw clearly that the growth of +the English power threatened the utter extermination of his race. War +thus, in his view, became a dire necessity. No man could be more +conscious of its fearful peril. With sagacity which might excite the +envy of the ablest of European diplomatists, he bound together various +heterogeneous and hostile tribes, and guided all their energies. +Though the generality of the Indians were often inhuman in the +extreme, there is no evidence that Philip ever ordered a captive to be +tortured, while it is undeniable that the English, in several +instances, surrendered their captives to the horrid barbarities of +their savage allies.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">His mode of warfare.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"His mode of making war," says Francis Baylies, "was secret +and terrible. He seemed like the demon of destruction +hurling his bolts in darkness. With cautious and noiseless +steps, and shrouded by the deep shade of midnight, he glided +from the gloomy depths of the woods. He stole on the +villages and settlements of New England, like the +pestilence, unseen and unheard. His dreadful agency was felt +when the yells of his followers roused his victims from +their slumbers, and when the flames of their blazing +habitations glared upon their eyes. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[Pg 365]</a></span>His pathway could be +traced by the horrible desolation of its progress, by its +crimson print upon the snows and the sands, by smoke and +fire, by houses in ruins, by the shrieks of women, the +wailing of infants, and the groans of the wounded and the +dying. Well indeed might he have been called the 'terror of +New England.' Yet in no instance did he transcend the +ordinary usages of Indian warfare.</p></div> + +<div class="sidenote">Do justice to his memory.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"We now sit in his seats and occupy his lands; the lands +which afforded a bare subsistence to a few wandering savages +can now support countless thousands of civilized people. The +aggregate of the happiness of man is increased, and the +designs of Providence are fulfilled when this fair domain is +held by those who know its use; surely we may be permitted +at this day to lament the fate of him who was once the lord +of our woods and our streams, and who, if he wrought much +mischief to our forefathers, loved some of our race, and +wept for their misfortunes!"</p></div> + +<div class="sidenote">Feelings for him in 1677.</div> + +<p>There was, however, but little sympathy felt in that day for Philip or +any of his confederates. The truly learned and pious but pedantic +Cotton Mather, allowing his spirit to be envenomed by the horrid +atrocities of Indian warfare, thus records the tragic end of +Pometacom:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[Pg 366]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Cotton Mather's record.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The Englishman's piece would not go off, but the Indians +presently shot him through his venomous and murderous heart. +And in that very place where he first contrived and +commenced his mischief, this Agag was now cut in quarters, +which were then hanged up, while his head was carried in +triumph to Plymouth, where it arrived on the very day that +the church was keeping a solemn thanksgiving to God. God +sent them in the head of a Leviathan for a thanksgiving +feast."</p></div> + +<p>We must remember that the Indians have no chroniclers of +their wrongs, and yet the colonial historians furnish us +with abundant incidental evidence that outrages were +perpetrated by individuals of the colonists which were +sufficient to drive any people mad. No one can now +contemplate the doom of Pometacom, the last of an +illustrious line, but with emotions of sadness.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">"In his fate, forget his crimes."</div> + +<div class="centerbox bbox"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Even that he lived is for his conqueror's tongue;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">By foes alone his death-song must be sung.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">No chronicles but theirs shall tell<br /></span> +<span class="i3">His mournful doom to future times.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">May these upon his virtues dwell,<br /></span> +<span class="i3">And in his fate forget his crimes!"</span></div></div></div> + +<p>The war was now virtually at an end. Still there were many broken bands +of Indians wandering <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[Pg 367]</a></span>through the wilderness in a state of utter +desperation; they knew that to surrender doomed them to death or to +hopeless slavery. Though they were unable to wage any effective warfare, +they could desolate the settlements with murders and with terrible +depredations.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Annawan.</div> + +<p>A few days after the death of King Philip, intelligence was brought to +Plymouth that Annawan, Philip's chief captain, a man of indomitable +energy, was ranging the woods with a band of warriors in the vicinity of +Rehoboth and Swanzey, and doing great mischief.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Plan for his capture.<br />The march.<br />A violent gale.<br />Resolution.</div> + +<p>Annawan was now commander-in-chief of all the remaining Indian forces. +His death or capture was accordingly esteemed a matter of great moment. +Captain Church immediately gathered around him a band of his enthusiastic +troops. They were so devoted to their successful commander that they +declared their readiness to follow him as long as an Indian was left in +the woods. They immediately commenced their march, and ranged the woods +along the Pocasset shore. Not finding any Indians, they crossed the arm +of the bay in canoes to Rhode Island, intending to spend the next day, +which was the Sabbath, there in religious rest. Early the next morning, +however, a messenger informed <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[Pg 368]</a></span>the captain that a canoe filled with +Indians had been seen passing from Prudence Island to the west side of +Bristol, which was then called Poppasquash Neck. Captain Church, thinking +that these men were probably going to join the band of Annawan, resolved +immediately to pursue them. He had no means of transporting his troops +but in two or three frail birch canoes. He crossed himself, however, with +sixteen of his Indian allies, when the gale increased to such severity, +and hove up such a tumultuous sea, that the canoes could no longer pass. +Captain Church now found himself upon Bristol Neck with but sixteen +Indian allies around him, while all the rest of his force, including +nearly all of his English soldiers, were upon Rhode Island, and cut off +from all possibility of immediately joining him. Still, the intrepid +captain adopted the resolve to march in pursuit of the enemy, though he +was aware that he might meet them in overwhelming numbers.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Reluctance of the Indians.<br />Uncomfortable night.<br />Successful decoy.<br />The plan repeated.</div> + +<p>The Indians expressed some reluctance to go unaccompanied by English +soldiers; finally, however, they consented. Skulking through almost +impenetrable thickets, they came to a salt meadow just north of the +present town of Bristol. It was now night, and though they <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[Pg 369]</a></span>had heard the +report of two guns in the woods, they had met no Indians. A part of their +company, who had been sent out on a skulk, had not returned, and great +anxiety was felt lest they had fallen into an ambush and been captured. +The night was dark, and cold, and dreary. They had not a morsel of bread, +and no food to cook; they did not dare to build a fire, as the flame +would be sure to attract their wakeful enemies. Hungry and solitary, the +hours of the night lingered slowly away. In the earliest dawn of the +morning, the Indian scouts returned with the following extraordinary +story, which proved to be true. They said that they had not advanced far +when they discovered two Indians at a distance approaching them upon one +horse. The scouts immediately hid in the brush in parallel lines at a +little distance from each other. One of the Indians then stationed +himself as a decoy, and howled like a wolf. The two Indians immediately +stopped, and one, sliding from the horse, came running along to see what +was there. The cunning Indian, howling lower and lower, drew him on +between those lying in wait for him, until they seized and instantly +gagged him. The other, seeing that his companion did not return, and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[Pg 370]</a></span>still hearing the faint howlings of the wolf, also left his horse, and +soon experienced the same fate.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Making proselytes.<br />Advantages to be gained.</div> + +<p>The two captives they then examined apart, and found them to agree in the +story that there were eight more Indians who had come with them into the +Neck in search of provisions, and that they had all agreed to meet at an +old Indian burying-place that evening. The two captives chanced to be +former acquaintances of the leader of the scouting party. He told them +enticing stories of the bravery of Captain Church, and of the advantages +of fighting with him and for him instead of against him. The vagabond +prisoners were in a very favorable condition to be influenced by such +suggestions. They heartily joined their victors, and aided in entrapping +their unsuspecting comrades. The eight were soon found, and, by a +continuance of the same stratagem, were all secured. All these men +immediately co-operated with Captain Church's company, and aided in +capturing their remaining friends. In this perhaps they were to be +commended, as there was nothing before them but misery, starvation, and +death in the wilderness, while there was at least food and life with +Captain Church.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[Pg 371]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">A feast.</div> + +<p>With their band thus strengthened there was less fear of surprise. A +horse was killed, roaring fires built, and the Indians, roasting the meat +upon wooden spits, exulted for a few hours in a feast of steaks which, to +them at least, were savory and delicious. The Indians usually carried +salt in their pockets: with this alone they seasoned their horse-flesh. +As there was not a morsel of bread to be obtained, Captain Church had no +better fare than his savage companions.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Indians in good-humor.<br />Women captured.</div> + +<p>The Indians were now in exceeding good-humor. All having eaten their +fill, and loading themselves with a sufficient supply for the day, they +commenced their march, under the guidance of the captives, to the place +where they had left their women and children. All were surprised and +captured. But no one could tell where Annawan was to be found. All agreed +in the declaration that he was continually roving about, never sleeping +twice in the same place.</p> + +<p>One of the Indian prisoners entreated Captain Church to permit him to go +into a swamp, about four miles distant, where his father was concealed +with his young wife. He promised to bring them both in. Captain Church, +thinking that he might, perhaps, obtain some intelligence <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[Pg 372]</a></span>respecting +Annawan, decided to go with him. Taking with him one Englishman and a few +Indians, and leaving the rest to remain where they were until his return, +he set out upon this enterprise.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Capture of an old man.</div> + +<p>When they arrived on the borders of the swamp, the Indian was sent +forward in search of his father. Pretty soon they heard a low howling, +which was promptly responded to by a corresponding howl at a distance. At +length they saw an old man coming toward them with his gun upon his +shoulder, and followed by a young Indian girl, his daughter. Concealing +themselves on each side of the narrow trail, Captain Church's party +awaited their approach, and seized them both. Threatening them with +terrible punishment if they deceived him with any falsehood, he examined +them apart.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">His story.</div> + +<p>Both agreed that they had been lately in Annawan's camp; that he had with +him about sixty Indians, and that he was at but a few miles' distance, in +Squannaconk Swamp, in the southeasterly part of Rehoboth. "Can I get +there to-night?" inquired Captain Church. "If you set out immediately," +the old Indian replied, "and travel stoutly, you can reach there by +sunset."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[Pg 373]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">A new enterprise proposed.</div> + +<p>Just then the young Indian who had been in search of his father returned +with his father and another Indian. Captain Church was now in much +perplexity. He was very desirous of going in pursuit of Annawan before +the wary savage should remove to other quarters. He had, however, but +half a dozen men with him, and it was necessary to send a messenger back +to acquaint those who had been left of his design. Collecting his little +band together, he inquired if they were ready to go with him to endeavor +to take Annawan. The enterprise appeared to them all very perilous. They +replied,</p> + +<p>"We are willing to obey your commands. But Annawan is a renowned and +veteran warrior. He served under Pometacom's father, and has been +Pometacom's chief captain during this war. He is a very subtle man, a man +of great energy, and has often said that he would never be taken alive by +the English. Moreover, the warriors who are with him are very resolute +men. We therefore fear that it would be impossible to take him with so +small a band. We should but throw away our lives."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Energetic resolve of Captain Church.<br />Enthusiasm aroused.</div> + +<p>Still, Captain Church, relying upon his own inexhaustible resources, and +upon the well-known despondency and despair of the Indians, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[Pg 374]</a></span>resolved to +go, and with a few words roused the enthusiasm of his impulsive and +fickle followers. He sent the young Indian, with his father and the young +squaw, back to the camp, while he took the other old man whom he had +captured as his guide. "You have given me my life," said the Indian, "and +it is my duty to serve you."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The old man a guide.</div> + +<p>Energetically they commenced their march through the woods, the old man +leading off with tremendous strides. Occasionally he would get so far in +advance that the party would lose sight of him, when he would stop until +they came up. He might easily have escaped had he wished to do so. Just +as the sun was setting, the old man made a full stop and sat down. The +rest of the company came up, all being very weary, and sat down around +him.</p> + +<p>"At this hour," said the old man, "Annawan always sends out his scouts. +We must conceal ourselves here until after dark, when the scouts will +have returned."</p> + +<p>As soon as the darkness of night had settled over the forest, the old man +again rose to resume the march. Captain Church said to him,</p> + +<p>"Will you take a gun and fight for us?"</p> + +<p>The faithful guide bowed very low, and nobly <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[Pg 375]</a></span>said, "I pray you not to +impose upon me such a thing as to fight Annawan, my old friend. I will go +along with you and be helpful to you, and will lay hands on any man who +shall offer to hurt you."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Arrival at Annawan's retreat.</div> + +<p>In the gloom of the wilderness it was now very dark, and all kept close +together, and moved cautiously and silently along. Soon they heard a +noise as of a woman pounding corn. All stopped and listened. They had +arrived at Annawan's retreat. Captain Church, with one Englishman and +half a dozen Indians, most of whom had been taken captive that very day, +were about to attack one of the fiercest and most redoubtable of Philip's +chieftains, surrounded by sixty of his tribe, many of whom were soldiers +of a hundred battles. Drake, in his Book of the Indians, gives the +following description of this noted place:</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Drake's description of the place.<br />Annawan's retreat.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"It is situated in the southeasterly corner of Rehoboth, +about eight miles from Taunton Green, a few rods from the +road which leads to Providence, and on the southeasterly +side of it. If a straight line were drawn from Taunton to +Providence, it would pass very nearly over this place. +Within the limits of an immense swamp of nearly three +thousand acres there is a small <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[Pg 376]</a></span>piece of upland, separated +from the main only by a brook, which in some seasons is dry. +This island, as we may call it, is nearly covered with an +enormous rock, which to this day is called Annawan's Rock. +Its southeast side presents an almost perpendicular +precipice, and rises to the height of twenty-five or thirty +feet. The northwest side is very sloping and easy of ascent, +being at an angle of not more than thirty-five or forty +degrees. A more gloomy and hidden recess, even now, although +the forest-tree no longer waves over it, could hardly be +found by any inhabitant of the wilderness."</p></div> + +<div class="sidenote">Annawan's retreat.<br />Employments of the Indians.<br />Precipitous descent.</div> + +<p>Creeping cautiously to the summit of the rock, Captain Church looked +down over its precipitous edge upon the scene presented below. The +spectacle which opened to his view was wild and picturesque in the +extreme. He saw three bands of Indians at short distances from each +other, gathered around several fires. Their pots and kettles were +boiling, and meat was roasting upon the spits. Some of the Indians +were sleeping upon the ground, others were cooking, while others were +sitting alone and silent, and all seemed oppressed and melancholy. +Directly under the rock Annawan himself was lying, apparently asleep, +with his son by his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[Pg 377]</a></span>side. The guns of the Indians were stacked at a +little distance from the fires, with mats spread over them to protect +them from the weather. It seemed impossible to descend the precipitous +face of the rock, and Captain Church accordingly crept back and +inquired of his guide if they could not approach by some other way.</p> + +<p>"No," answered the guide. "All who belong to Annawan's company are +ordered to approach by that entrance, and none can from any other +direction without danger of being shot."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Mode of entering the retreat.<br />Annawan captured.<br />A quiet surrender.</div> + +<p>The old man and his daughter had left the encampment of Annawan upon +some mission; their return, therefore, would excite no suspicion. They +both had tule baskets bound to their backs. Captain Church directed +them to clamber down the rocks to the spot where Annawan was reposing. +Behind their shadow Church and two or three of his soldiers crept +also. The night was dark, and the expiring embers of Annawan's fire +but enabled the adventurers more securely to direct their steps. The +old chief, in a doze, with his son by his side, hearing the rustling +of the bushes, raised his eyes, and seeing the old Indian and his +daughter, suspected no danger, and again closed his eyes. In this +manner, supporting themselves <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[Pg 378]</a></span>by roots and vines, the small party +effected its descent undiscovered. Captain Church, with his hatchet in +his hand, stepped directly over the young man's head, and seized his +weapons and those of his father. The young Annawan, discovering +Captain Church, whipped his blanket over his head, and shrunk up in a +heap. Old Annawan, starting from his recumbent posture, and supposing +himself surrounded by the English army, exclaimed, "Ho-woh," <i>I am +taken</i>, and sank back upon the ground in despair. Their arms were +instantly secured, and perfect silence was commanded on pain of +immediate death. The Indians who had followed Captain Church down over +the rock, having received previous instructions, immediately hastened +to the other fires, and informed the Indians that their chief was +taken a captive; that they were surrounded by the English army, so +that escape was impossible; and that, at the slightest resistance, a +volley of bullets would be poured in upon them, which would mow them +all down. They were assured that if they would peacefully submit they +might expect the kindest treatment.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A grand repast.<br />Attempted repose.<br />Effect of excitement.<br />Disappearance of Annawan.</div> + +<p>As Church's Indians were all acquainted with Annawan's company, many +of them being <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[Pg 379]</a></span>relatives, the surprised party without hesitancy +surrendered both their guns and hatchets, and they were carried to +Captain Church. His whole force of six men was now assembled at one +spot, but the Indians still supposed that they were surrounded by a +powerful army in ambush, with loaded muskets pointed at them. Matters +being thus far settled, Annawan ordered an abundant supper to be +prepared of "cow beef and horse beef." Victors and vanquished partook +of this repast together. It was now thirty-six hours since Captain +Church and his men had had any sleep. Captain Church, overwhelmed with +responsibility and care, was utterly exhausted. He told his men that +if they would let him have a nap of two hours, he would then keep +watch for all the rest of the night, and they might sleep. He laid +himself down, but the excitement caused by his strange and perilous +position drove all slumber from his eyelids. He looked around him, and +soon the whole company was soundly sleeping, all excepting Annawan +himself. The Indian and the English chieftain lay side by side for an +hour, looking steadfastly at each other, neither uttering a word. +Captain Church could not speak Indian, and he supposed that Annawan +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[Pg 380]</a></span>could not speak English. At length Annawan arose, laid aside his +blanket, and deliberately walked away. Almost before Captain Church +had time to collect his thoughts, he had disappeared in the midnight +gloom of the forest. Though all the arms of the Indians had been taken +from them, Captain Church was apprehensive that Annawan might by some +means obtain a gun and attempt some violence. He knew that pursuit +would be in vain in the darkness of the night and of the forest.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A magnificent present.</div> + +<p>Placing himself in such a position by the side of young Annawan that +any shot which should endanger him would equally endanger the son, he +remained for some time in great anxiety. At length he heard the sound +of approaching footsteps. Just then the moon broke from among the +clouds, and shone out with great brilliance. By its light he saw +Annawan returning, with something glittering in his hand. The +illustrious chieftain, coming up to Captain Church, presented him with +three magnificent belts of wampum, gorgeously embroidered with +flowers, and pictures of beasts and birds. They were articles of court +dress which had belonged to King Philip, and were nearly a foot wide +and eight or ten feet long. He also had in his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">[Pg 381]</a></span>hands two powder-horns +filled with powder, and a beautiful crimson blanket. Presenting these +to Captain Church, he said, in plain English,</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Address to Captain Church.</div> + +<p>"Great captain, you have killed King Philip. I believe that I and my +company are the last that war against the English. I suppose the war +is ended by your means, and therefore these things belong to you. They +were Philip's royalties, with which he adorned himself when he sat in +state. I think myself happy in having an opportunity to present them +to you."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Relation of early adventures.</div> + +<p>Neither of these illustrious men could sleep amid the excitements of +these eventful hours. Annawan was an intelligent man, and was fully +conscious that a further continuance of the struggle was hopeless. +With the most confiding frankness, he entertained his conqueror with +the history of his life from his earliest childhood to the present +hour. The whole remainder of the night was spent in this discourse, in +which Annawan, with wonderfully graphic skill, described his feats of +arms in by-gone years, when, under Massasoit, Philip's father, he led +his warriors against hostile tribes.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Attempt to save Annawan's life.</div> + +<p>As soon as day dawned, Captain Church collected his men and his sixty +prisoners, and, emerging from the swamp, took up their march <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[Pg 382]</a></span>for +Taunton. They soon gained the Taunton road, about four miles from the +town, and there, according to appointment, met Lieutenant Howland, +with the men who had been left behind. They lodged at Taunton that +night. The next morning all the prisoners were sent forward to +Plymouth excepting Annawan. Captain Church was anxious to save his +life, and took the old chieftain with him to Rhode Island. After a few +days he returned with him to Plymouth. Captain Church plead earnestly +that Annawan's life might be spared, and supposing, without any doubt, +that this request would not be denied him, set out, after a few days, +in pursuit of another small band of Indians who were committing +robberies in the vicinity of Plymouth.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Tuspaquin.<br />His exploits.<br />Superstitious belief.</div> + +<p>The leader of this band was Tuspaquin, sachem of Namasket. At the +beginning of the conflict he had led three hundred warriors into the +field. He led the band which laid nineteen buildings in ashes in +Scituate on the twentieth of April, and which burned seventeen +buildings in Bridgewater on the eighth of May. Also, on the eleventh +of May, he had burned eleven houses and five barns in Plymouth. The +English were consequently exceedingly exasperated against him. +Tuspaquin had great renown <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">[Pg 383]</a></span>among his soldiers. He had been in +innumerable perils, and had never been wounded. The Indians affirmed +that no bullet could penetrate his body; that they had often seen them +strike him and glance off.</p> + +<p>Intelligence had been brought to Plymouth that Tuspaquin was in the +vicinity of Sippican, now Rochester, doing great damage to the +inhabitants, killing their horses, cattle, and swine.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Discovery of the Indians.</div> + +<p>Monday afternoon Captain Church set out in pursuit of him. The next +morning they discovered a trail in the forest, and, following it +noiselessly, they came to a place called Lakenham, where the thicket +was almost impenetrable. Smoke was discovered rising from this +thicket, and two Indians crept in to see what could be discovered. +They soon returned with a report that quite a party of Indians, mostly +women and children, were sitting silently around the embers. Captain +Church ordered every man to creep on his hands and feet until they had +formed a circle around the Indians, and then, at a given signal, to +make a rush, and take them all prisoners. The stratagem was entirely +successful.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Capture of Tuspaquin's relatives.</div> + +<p>Captain Church found, to his extreme satisfaction, that he had +captured the wife and children <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">[Pg 384]</a></span>of Tuspaquin, and most of his +relatives. They said that he had gone, with two other Indians, to +Wareham and Rochester to kill horses. Captain Church took all his +prisoners back to Plymouth except two old squaws. They were left at +the encampment with a good supply of food, and were directed to inform +Tuspaquin on his return that Captain Church had been there, and had +captured his wife and his children; that, if he would surrender +himself and his companions at Plymouth, they should be received +kindly, be well provided for, and he would employ them as his +soldiers.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Outrageous violation of faith.</div> + +<p>The next day Captain Church had occasion to go to Boston. Upon his +return after a few days, he found, to his extreme chagrin and grief, +that Tuspaquin had come in and surrendered; that both he and Annawan +had been tried as murderers, and had been condemned and executed. This +transaction can not be too severely condemned.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">[Pg 385]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XII" id="Chapter_XII"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter XII.</span></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Conclusion of the War.</span></h3> + +<p class="center">1677-1678</p> + +<div class="sidenote">End of the war in the Middle States.</div> + +<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:50px;line-height:32px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">T</span><span style="margin-left:0%;">he</span> war was now at an end in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, +as nearly all the hostile Indians were either killed, captured, or had +submitted to the mercy of their victors. A few hundred desperate +warriors, too proud to yield and too feeble to continue the fight, +fled in a body through the wilderness, beyond the Hudson, and were +blended with the tribes along the banks of the Mohawk and the shores +of the great lakes. There were also many bloody wretches, who, +conscious that their crimes were quite unpardonable, fled to the +almost impenetrable forests of the north and the east.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Devastation in Maine.<br />Character of Squando.</div> + +<p>In the remote districts of New Hampshire and Maine the war still raged +with unabated violence. Bands of savages were roving over the whole +territory, carrying conflagration and blood to the homes of the lonely +settlers. There were no large gatherings for battle, but prowling +companies of from two or three to a hundred <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">[Pg 386]</a></span>spread terror and +devastation in all directions.</p> + +<p>At this period the towns and plantations in the State of Maine were +but thirteen. The English population was about six thousand; the +Indians, divided into many petty tribes, were probably about eighteen +thousand in number. These Indians had for some time been rather +unfriendly to the English, and an act of gross outrage roused them to +combine in co-operation with King Philip. An illustrious Indian, by +the name of Squando, was sachem of the Sokokis tribe, which occupied +the region in the vicinity of Saco. He was a man of great strength of +mind, elevation of character, and of singular gravity and +impressiveness of address. One day his wife was paddling down the +River Saco in a canoe, with her infant child. Some English sailors, +coming along in a boat, accosted her brutally, and, saying that they +had understood that Indian children could swim as naturally as young +ducks, overset the canoe. The infant sank like lead. The indignant +mother dove to the bottom and brought up her exhausted child alive, +but it soon after died. Squando was so exasperated by this outrage, +that, with his whole soul burning with indignation, he traversed the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">[Pg 387]</a></span>wilderness to rouse the scattered tribes to a war of extermination +against the English.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">News of the war sent to York.</div> + +<p>Just then the appalling tidings came of the breaking out of Philip's +war. The Plymouth colony sent a messenger to York to inform the +inhabitants of their danger, and to urge them to disarm the Indians, +and to sell them no more powder or shot. A party of volunteers was +immediately sent from York to ascend the Kennebec River, inform the +settlers along its banks of their impending danger, and ascertain the +disposition of the Indians. With a small vessel they entered the mouth +of the river, then called the Sagadahock, and ascended the stream for +several miles. Here they met twelve Indians, and, strange to relate, +induced them to surrender their guns. One of the Indians, more +spirited than the rest, was not disposed to yield to the demand, and, +becoming enraged, struck at one of the English party with his hatchet, +endeavoring to kill him. He was promptly arrested, bound, and confined +in a cellar.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Attempt to release a captive.<br />Unfulfilled promises.</div> + +<p>The Indians plead earnestly for his release, offering many apologies +for his crime. They said that he was subject to fits of insanity, and +that he was intoxicated. They offered to pay forty beavers' skins for +his ransom, and to leave <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">[Pg 388]</a></span>hostages for his good behavior in the hands +of the English. Upon these terms the prisoner was released. They then, +in token of amity, partook of an abundant repast, smoked the pipe of +peace, and the Indians had a grand dance, with shouts and songs which +made the welkin ring. The promises of the Indians, however, were not +fulfilled. The hostages all run away, and not a beaver skin was ever +paid.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Thomas Purchas.<br />Dislike of the Indians.</div> + +<p>A man by the name of Thomas Purchas had built him a hut in the lonely +wilderness, just below the Falls of the Androscoggin, in the present +town of Brunswick. His family dwelt alone in the midst of the +wilderness and the Indians. He purchased furs of the natives, and took +them in his canoe down to the settlements near the mouth of the +Sagadahock, from whence they were transported to England. He is +reputed to have been a hard-hearted, shrewd man, always sure to get +the best end of the bargain. The Indians all disliked him, and he +became the first sufferer in the war.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">His house plundered.</div> + +<p>On the 5th of September, a few months after the commencement of +hostilities in Swanzey, twenty Indians came to the house of Purchas +under the pretense of trading. Finding Purchas and his son both +absent, they robbed the house <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">[Pg 389]</a></span>of every thing upon which they could +lay their hands. They found rum, and soon became frantically drunk. +There was a fine calf in the barn, and a few sheep at the door. The +Indians were adroit butchers. The veal and the mutton were soon +roasting upon their spits. They danced, they shouted, they clashed +their weapons in exultation, and the noise of the Falls was drowned in +the uproar of barbarian wassail. One of their exploits was to rip open +a feather bed for the pleasure of seeing the feathers float away in +the air. They, however, inflicted no violence upon Mrs. Purchas or her +children.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Narrow escape of his son.</div> + +<p>In the midst of the scene, a son of Mr. Purchas was approaching home +upon horseback. Alarmed by the clamor, he cautiously drew near, and +was in consternation in view of the savage spectacle. Conscious that +his interposition could be of no possible avail, he fled for life. The +Indians caught sight of him, and one pursued him for some distance +with his gun, but he escaped. Soon after the Indians left, telling +Mrs. Purchas that others would soon come and treat them worse.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A captive child released by Squando.</div> + +<p>There was an old man by the name of Wakely, who had settled near the +mouth of Presumpscot River, in Falmouth. His family consisted <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">[Pg 390]</a></span>of nine +persons. A week after the robbery of Mr. Purchas's house, a band of +savages made a fierce onset upon this solitary cabin. They burnt the +house and killed all the family, except the youngest daughter, who was +about eleven years of age. This unfortunate child was carried away +captive, and for nine months was led up and down the wilderness, in +the endurance of all the horrors of savage life. At one time she was +led as far south as Narraganset Bay, which led to the supposition that +some of the Narraganset Indians were engaged in the capture. The +celebrated Squando, in whose character humanity and cruelty were most +singularly blended, took pity upon the child, rescued her, and +delivered her to the English at Dover.</p> + +<p>A family living several miles distant from Falmouth, at Casco Neck, +saw the smoke of the burning house, and the next day a file of men +repaired to the place. A scene of horror met their eye in the +smouldering ruins and the mangled corpses. The bodies of the slain the +savages had cut up in the most revolting manner. The tidings of these +outrages spread rapidly, and the settlers, in their solitary homes, +were plunged into a state of great dismay.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">[Pg 391]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Proceedings about Brunswick.</div> + +<p>There were at this time in Brunswick two or three families who had +erected their houses upon the banks of New Meadows. A party of +twenty-five English set out from Casco in a sloop and two boats, +sailed along the bay, and entered the river. The inhabitants had +already fled, and the Indians were there, about thirty in number, +rifling the houses. Seeing the approach of the English, they concealed +themselves in an ambush. When the English had advanced but a few rods +from their boats, the savages rushed upon them with hideous yells, +wounded several, drove them all back to their sloop, and captured two +boat-loads of Indian corn.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Attack upon Saco.<br />Long-continued siege.<br />The assailants retire.</div> + +<p>Emboldened by their success, a few days after, on the 18th of +September, they made a bold attack upon Saco. A friendly Indian +informed Captain Bonython, who lived on the east side of the river, +about half a mile below the Lower Falls, that a conspiracy was formed +to attack the town. The alarm was immediately communicated to all the +settlers, and in a panic they abandoned their houses, and took refuge +in the garrison house of Major Phillips, which was on the other side +of the river. The Indians, unaware that their plot was discovered, +came the same night and established themselves in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">[Pg 392]</a></span>ambush. The +assailants were not less than one hundred in number. There were fifty +persons, men, women, and children, in the garrison, of whom but ten +were effective men. At eleven o'clock in the morning they commenced +the assault. The besieged defended themselves with great energy, and +many of the savages fell before their unerring aim. The savages at +length attempted to set fire to the house, after having assailed it +with a storm of shot all the day, and through the night until four in +the morning. They filled a cart with birch bark, straw, and powder, +and, setting this on fire, endeavored to push it against the house +with long poles. They had ingeniously constructed upon the cart a +barricade of planks, which protected those who pushed it against the +fire of the house. When they had got within pistol shot, one wheel +became clogged in a rut, and the other wheel going, whirled the cart +around, so as to expose the whole party to a fatal fire. Six men +almost instantly fell dead, and before the rest could escape, fifteen +of them were wounded. Disheartened by this disaster, the rest sullenly +retired.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Attack upon Scarborough.<br />Repulse of the Indians.</div> + +<p>Soon after this, Phillips abandoned his exposed situation, and his +house was burned down by the savages. On the 20th the Indians attacked +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">[Pg 393]</a></span>Scarborough, destroyed twenty-seven houses, and killed several of the +inhabitants. The principal settlement in Saco was at Winter Harbor. +Many families in the vicinity had fled to that place for refuge. They +were all in great danger of being cut off by the savages. A party of +sixteen volunteers from South Berwick took a sloop and hastened to +their rescue. As they were landing upon the beach, they were assailed +by one hundred and fifty of their fierce foes. The English, +overpowered by numbers, were in great danger of being cut off to a +man, when they succeeded in gaining a shelter behind a pile of logs. +From this breastwork they opened such a deadly fire upon their +thronging foes that the Indians were compelled to retire with a loss +of many of their number. The inhabitants of the garrison, hearing the +report of the guns, sent a party of nine to aid their friends. These +men unfortunately fell into an ambush, and by a single discharge every +one was cut down. This same band then ravaged the settlements in +Wells, Hampton, Exeter, and South Berwick.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Sagadahock.</div> + +<p>Great exertions had been made to prevent the Indians upon the Kennebec +from engaging in these hostilities. About ten miles from the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">[Pg 394]</a></span>mouth of +the Sagadahock is the beautiful island of Arrowsic. It is so called +from an Indian who formerly lived upon it. Two Boston merchants, +Messrs. Clark and Lake, had purchased this island, which contains many +thousand acres of fertile land. They had erected several large +dwellings, with a warehouse, a fort, and many other edifices near the +water-side. It was a very important place for trade, being equally +accessible by canoes to all the Indians on the Androscoggin, Kennebec, +and Sheepscot. Captain Davis was the general agent for the proprietors +upon this island.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Behavior of the Indians.<br />Absurdity.</div> + +<p>The Indians in all this region were daily becoming more cold and +sullen. Captain Davis, to conciliate them, sent a messenger up all +these rivers to invite the Indians to come down and live near him, +assuring them that he would protect them from all mischief, and would +sell them every needed supply at the fairest prices. The messenger, +thinking to add to the force of the invitation, overstepping his +instructions, threatened them that if they did not accede to his +request the English would come and kill them all. This so alarmed the +Indians that they fled to the banks of the Penobscot, which was then +in possession of the French. Here they held a general council.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">[Pg 395]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Exertions to obtain a treaty.<br />Temporary respite.</div> + +<p>Mr. Abraham Shurte was chief magistrate of the flourishing plantation +of Pemaquid. He was a man of integrity, of humanity, and of great good +sense. By indefatigable exertions, he succeeded in obtaining an +interview with the sachems, and entered into a treaty of peace with +them. In consequence of this treaty, the general court of Boston +ordered considerable sums of money to be disbursed to those Indians +who would become the subjects or allies of the colony. There was thus +a temporary respite of hostilities in this section of the country. +Upon the banks of the Piscataquis, however, the warfare still +continued unabated. On the 16th of October, one hundred Indians +assailed a house in South Berwick, burned it to the ground, killed the +master of the house, and carried his son into captivity. Lieutenant +Plaisted, commander of the garrison, viewing the massacre from a +distance, dispatched nine men to reconnoitre the movements of the +enemy. They fell into an ambuscade, and three were shot down, and the +others with difficulty escaped.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Route of the English.<br />Bravery of Lieutenant Plaisted.</div> + +<p>The next day Lieutenant Plaisted ordered out a team to bring in the +bodies for interment. He himself led twenty men as a guard. As <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">[Pg 396]</a></span>they +were placing the bodies in a cart, a party of one hundred and fifty +savages rushed upon them from a thicket, showering a volley of bullets +upon the soldiers. The wounded oxen took fright and ran. A fierce +fight ensued. Most of the soldiers retreated and regained the +garrison. Lieutenant Plaisted, too proud to fly or to surrender, +fought till he was literally hewn in pieces by the hatchets of the +Indians. His two sons also, worthy of their father, fought till one +was slain, and the other, covered with wounds of which he soon died, +escaped. The Indians then ravaged the regions around, plundering, +burning, and killing.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Sufferings of the Indians.</div> + +<p>The storms of winter now came with intense cold, and the snow covered +the ground four feet deep upon a level. The weather compelled a truce. +Though the Indians, during this short campaign, had killed eighty of +the English, had burned many houses, and had committed depredations to +an incalculable amount, still they themselves were suffering perhaps +even more severely. They had no provisions, and no means of purchasing +any. There was but little game in these northern forests, and the snow +was too deep for hunting. Their ammunition was consumed, and they knew +not how to obtain <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">[Pg 397]</a></span>any more. Thus they were starving and almost +helpless. Under these circumstances, they manifested a strong desire +for peace. There were, however, individuals of the English who, by the +commission of the most infamous outrages, fanned anew the flames of +war.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Atrocious conduct.</div> + +<p>Early in the spring, one Laughton had obtained a warrant from the +court in Massachusetts to seize any of the Eastern Indians who had +robbed or murdered any of the English. This Laughton, a vile +kidnapper, under cover of this warrant, lured a number of Indians at +Pemaquid on board his vessel. None of them were accused of any crime, +and it is not known that they had committed any. He enticed them +below, fastened the hatches upon them, and carried them to the West +Indies, where they were sold as slaves. This fact was notorious; and, +though the government condemned the deed, and did what it could to +punish the offender, still the unenlightened Indians considered the +whole white race responsible for the crimes of the individual +miscreant.</p> + +<p>Some of the Indian chiefs went to Pemaquid to confer with Mr. Shurte, +in whom they reposed much confidence. Their complaint was truly +touching.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">[Pg 398]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Just complaints of the Indians.</div> + +<p>"Our brothers," said they, "are treacherously caught, carried into +foreign parts, and sold as slaves. Last fall you frightened us from +our corn-fields on the Kennebec. You have withholden powder and shot +from us, so that we can not kill any game; and thus, during the +winter, many have died of starvation."</p> + +<p>Mr. Shurte did what he could to conciliate them, and proposed a +council. It was soon convened. The Indians appeared fair and +honorable, but they said they must have powder and shot; that, without +those articles, they could have no success in the chase, and they must +starve.</p> + +<p>"Where," exclaimed Madockawando, earnestly and impatiently, "shall we +buy powder and shot for our winter's hunting when we have eaten up all +our corn? Shall we leave Englishmen and apply to the French, or shall +we let our Indians die? We have waited long to have you tell us, and +now we want yes or no."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">They are refused ammunition.</div> + +<p>To this the English could only reply, "You admit that the Western +Indians do not wish for peace. Should you let them have the powder we +sell you, what do we better than to cut our own throats? This is the +best answer we can return to you, though you should wait ten years."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">[Pg 399]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">War resumed.</div> + +<p>At this the chiefs took umbrage, declined any farther talk, and the +conference was broken up angrily. War was soon resumed in all its +horrors.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Capture of a fortress.<br />Mr. Lake killed.</div> + +<p>Early in August a numerous band of savages made an incursion upon +Casco Neck and swept it of its inhabitants. Thirty-four of the +colonists were either killed or carried into captivity. On the 14th of +August, two days after King Philip was slain in the swamp at Mount +Hope, a party of Indians landed from their canoes upon the southeast +corner of the island of Arrowsic, near the spot where the fort stood. +They concealed themselves behind a great rock, and, with true Indian +cunning, notwithstanding the sentinels, succeeded in creeping within +the spacious inclosure which constituted the fortress. They then +opened a sudden and simultaneous fire upon all who were within sight. +The garrison, thus taken by midnight surprise, were in a state of +terrible consternation. A hand to hand fight ensued of the utmost +ferocity. The Indians, however, soon overpowered their opponents and +applied the torch. Captain Davis, who was in command of the fort, with +Mr. Lake, who was one of the owners of the island, escaped with two +others from the massacre by a back passage, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400">[Pg 400]</a></span>and, rushing to the +water's edge, sprang into a canoe and endeavored to reach another +island. The savages, however, pursued them, and, taking deliberate aim +as they were paddling to the opposite shore, killed Mr. Lake, and +wounded Mr. Davis, so as to render him helpless, just as he was +stepping upon the shore. The savages then took a canoe and crossed in +pursuit of their victims. Captain Davis succeeded in hiding himself in +the cleft of a rock, and eluded their search. Here he remained for two +days, until after the savages had left, and then, finding an old canoe +upon the beach, he succeeded in paddling himself across the water to +the main land, where he was rescued. The other two who were not +wounded, plunging into the forest, also effected their escape.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Destruction of the establishment.<br />Unprotected condition of the settlements.</div> + +<p>The exultant savages rioted in the destruction of the beautiful +establishment upon Arrowsic. The spacious mansion house, the +fortifications, the mills, and all the out-buildings, were burned to +the ground. Works which had cost the labor of years, and the +expenditure of thousands of pounds, were in an hour destroyed, and the +whole island was laid desolate. Thirty-five persons were either killed +or carried into captivity. The dismay which now pervaded <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_401" id="Page_401">[Pg 401]</a></span>the +plantations in Maine was terrible. The settlers were very much +scattered; there was no place of safety, and it was impossible, under +the circumstances, for the court in Massachusetts to send them any +effectual relief. Most of the inhabitants upon the Sheepscot River +sought refuge in the fort at Newagen. The people at Pemaquid fled on +board their vessels; some sailed for Boston; others crossed over to +the island of Monhegan, where they strongly fortified themselves. They +had hardly left their flourishing little village of Pemaquid ere dark +columns of smoke informed them that the savages were there, and that +their homes were in a blaze. In one month, fifty miles east of Casco +Bay were laid utterly desolate. The inhabitants were either massacred, +carried into captivity, or had fled by water to the settlements in +Massachusetts.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Outrages on the islands.</div> + +<p>Many of the beautiful islands in Casco Bay had a few English settlers +upon them. The Indians paddled from one to another in their canoes, +and the inhabitants generally fell easy victims to their fury. A few +families were gathered upon Jewell's Island, in a fortified house. On +the 2d of September a party of Indians landed upon the island for +their destruction. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_402" id="Page_402">[Pg 402]</a></span>Several of the men were absent from the island in +search of Indian corn, and few were left in the garrison excepting +women and children. A man was in his boat at a short distance from the +shore fishing, while his wife was washing clothes by the river side, +surrounded by her children. Suddenly the savages sprang upon them, and +took them all captives before the eyes of the husband and father, who +could render no assistance. One of the little boys, shrieking with +terror, ran into the water, calling upon his father for help. An +Indian grasped him, and, as the distracted father presented his gun, +the savage held up the child as a shield, and thus prevented the +father from firing. A brave boy in the garrison shot three of the +Indians from the loop-holes. Soon assistance came from one of the +neighboring islands, and the Indians were driven to their canoes, +after having killed two of the inhabitants and taken five captives.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Aid sent from Massachusetts.<br />Arrival of friendly Indians.</div> + +<p>In this state of things, Massachusetts sent two hundred men, with +forty Natick Indians, to Dover, then called Cocheco, from whence they +were to march into Maine and New Hampshire, wherever they could be +most serviceable. Here they met unexpectedly about four hundred +Indians, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_403" id="Page_403">[Pg 403]</a></span>who had come from friendly tribes professedly to join them +in friendly coalition. The English had offered to receive all who in +good faith would become their allies. Many, however, of these men were +atrocious wretches, whose hands were red with the blood of the +English. Others were desperate fellows, who had ravaged Plymouth, +Connecticut, and Massachusetts under King Philip, and, upon his +discomfiture, had fled to continue their barbarities in the remote +districts of New Hampshire and Maine.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Perplexity of Major Waldron.</div> + +<p>Major Waldron, who had command of the English troops, was in great +perplexity. Many of the Indians of this heterogeneous band had come +together in good faith, relying upon his honor and fidelity. But the +English soldiers, remembering the savage cruelties of perhaps the +majority, were impatient to fall upon them indiscriminately with gun +and bayonet. In this dilemma, Major Waldron adopted the following +stratagem, which was by some applauded, and by others censured.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A stratagem.</div> + +<p>He proposed a sham fight, in which the Indians were to be upon one +side and the English upon the other. In the course of the +manœuvres, he so contrived it that the Indians gave a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_404" id="Page_404">[Pg 404]</a></span>grand +discharge. At that moment, his troops surrounded and seized their +unsuspecting victims, and took them all prisoners, without the loss of +a man on either side. He then divided them into classes with as much +care as, under the circumstances, could be practiced, though doubtless +some mistakes were made. All the fugitives from King Philip's band, +and all the Indians in the vicinity who had been recently guilty of +bloodshed or outrage, were sent as prisoners to Boston. Here they were +tried; seven or eight were executed; the rest, one hundred and +ninety-two in number, were transported to the West Indies and sold as +slaves.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Was it right?<br />Disposition of the prisoners.</div> + +<p>This measure excited very earnest discussion in the colony. Many +condemned it as atrocious, others defended it as a necessity; but the +Indians universally were indignant. Even those, two hundred in number, +who were set at liberty as acting in good faith, declared that it was +an act of infamy which they would never forget nor forgive. The next +day these troops proceeded by water to Falmouth, touching at important +points by the way.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Massacre of scouts.</div> + +<p>On the 23d of September, a scouting party of seven visited Mountjoy's +Island. An Indian party fell upon them, and all were massacred. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_405" id="Page_405">[Pg 405]</a></span>These +men were all heads of families, and their deaths occasioned +wide-spread woe. Two days after this, on the 25th, a large party of +Indians ravaged Cape Neddock, in the town of York, and killed or +carried into captivity forty persons. The cruelties they practiced +upon the inhabitants are too revolting to be described.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Treaty concluded.</div> + +<p>Winter now set in again with tremendous severity. All parties +experienced unheard-of sufferings. An Indian chieftain by the name of +Mugg, notorious for his sagacity and his mercilessness, now came to +the Piscataqua River and proposed peace. The English were eager to +accept any reasonable terms. On the 6th of November the treaty was +concluded. Its terms were these:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>1. All acts of hostility shall cease.</p> + +<p>2. English captives and property shall be restored.</p> + +<p>3. Full satisfaction shall be rendered to the English for +damages received.</p> + +<p>4. The Indians shall purchase ammunition only of those whom +the governor shall appoint.</p> + +<p>5. Certain notorious murderers were to be surrendered to the +English.</p> + +<p>6. The sachems included in the treaty engaged to take arms +against Indians who should still persist in the war.</p></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_406" id="Page_406">[Pg 406]</a></span></p><div class="sidenote">Expedition to Casco Bay.<br />Landing at Maquoit.</div> + +<p>Notwithstanding this treaty, the aspect of affairs still seemed very +gloomy. The Indians were sullen, the conduct of Mugg was very +suspicious, threats of the renewal of hostilities were continually +reaching the English, and but few captives were restored. Appearances +continued so alarming that, on the 7th of February, 1677, a party of +one hundred and fifty English and sixty Natick Indians sailed for +Casco Bay and the mouth of the Kennebec, to overawe the Indians and to +rescue the English captives who might be in their hands. On the 18th +of February, Captain Waldron, who commanded this expedition, landed +upon Mair Point, about three miles below Maquoit, in Brunswick. They +had hardly landed ere they were hailed by a party of Indians. After a +few words of parley, in which the Indians appeared far from friendly, +they retired, and the English sought for them in vain. About noon the +next day a flotilla of fourteen canoes was discovered out in the bay +pulling for the shore. The savages landed, and in a few moments a +house was seen in flames. The English party hastened to the rescue, +fell upon the savages from an unexpected quarter, and killed or +wounded several. A flag of truce was presented, which produced another +parley.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_407" id="Page_407">[Pg 407]</a></span></p><p>"Why," inquired Captain Waldron, "do you not bring in the English +captives as you promised, and why do you set fire to our houses, and +begin again the war?"</p> + +<p>"The captives," the Indians replied, "are a great way off, and we can +not bring them through the snow; and your soldiers fired upon us +first; the house took fire by accident. These are our answers to you."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The party sail for the Kennebec.<br />A conference.</div> + +<p>Captain Waldron, unwilling to exasperate the Indians by useless +bloodshed, and finding that no captives could be recovered, sailed to +the mouth of the Kennebec, then the Sagadahock. Here he established a +garrison on the eastern bank of the river, opposite the foot of +Arrowsic Island. With the remainder of his force he proceeded in two +vessels to Pemaquid. Here he met a band of Indians, and sending to +them a flag of truce, which they respected, the two parties entered +into a conference. The Indians, under the guise of peace, were +plotting a general massacre. Though both parties had agreed to meet +without arms, the savages had concealed a number of weapons, which at +a given signal they could grasp.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Treachery discovered.</div> + +<p>Captain Waldron, suspecting treachery, was looking around with an +eagle eye, when he saw <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_408" id="Page_408">[Pg 408]</a></span>peering from the leaves the head of a lance. +Going directly to the spot, he saw a large number of weapons +concealed. He immediately brandished one in the air, exclaiming,</p> + +<p>"Perfidious wretches! You intended to massacre us all."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A fierce fight.</div> + +<p>A stout Indian sprang forward and endeavored to wrest the weapon from +Waldron's hand. Immediately a scene of terrible confusion ensued. All +engaged in a hand to hand fight, with any weapons which could be +grasped. The Indians were soon overcome, and fled, some to the woods +and others to their canoes. Eleven Indians were killed in this fray, +and five were taken captive. The expedition then returned to Arrowsic, +where they put on board their vessels some guns, anchors, and other +articles which had escaped the flames, and then set sail for Boston.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Renewed depredations.<br />Peace implored.</div> + +<p>As soon as the snow melted, the savages renewed their depredations, +but Maine was now nearly depopulated. With the exception of the +garrison opposite Arrowsic, there was no settlement east of Portland. +There was a small fort at Casco, and a few people in garrison at Black +Point and Winter Harbor. A few intrepid settlers still remained in the +towns of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_409" id="Page_409">[Pg 409]</a></span> York, Wells, Kittery, and South Berwick. The Indians +harassed them during the whole summer with robberies, conflagrations, +and murders. Winter again came with its storms and its intensity of +cold. The united sagamores now, with apparent sincerity, implored +peace. On the 12th of February, 1678, Squando, with all the sachems of +the tribes upon the Androscoggin and the Kennebec, met the +commissioners from Massachusetts at the fort at Casco. The English +were so anxious for peace that they agreed to the following terms, +which many considered very humiliating, but which were nevertheless +vastly preferable to the longer continuance of this horrible warfare.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Terms of the treaty.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>1. The captives were to be immediately released, without +ransom.</p> + +<p>2. All offenses on both sides, of every kind, were to be +forgiven and forgotten.</p> + +<p>3. The English were to pay the Indians, as rent for the +land, a peck of corn for every English family, and for Major +Phillips, of Saco, who was a great proprietor, a bushel of +corn.</p></div> + +<div class="sidenote">Terrible amount of misery created.</div> + +<p>Thus this dreadful war was brought to a close. It is estimated that +during its continuance six hundred men lost their lives, twelve +hundred houses were burned, and eight thousand <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_410" id="Page_410">[Pg 410]</a></span>cattle destroyed. But +the amount of misery created can never be told or imagined. The +midnight assault, the awful conflagration, the slaughter of women and +children, the horrors of captivity in the wilderness, the +impoverishment and moaning of widows and orphans, the diabolical +torture, piercing the wilderness with the shrill shriek of mortal +agony, the terror, universal and uninterrupted by day or by +night—all, all combined in composing a scene in the awful tragedy of +human life which the mind of Deity alone can comprehend.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<hr class="large" /> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Footnote:</span></h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> There is much evidence that this was the celebrated John +Hampden, renowned in the time of Charles I, and to whom Gray, in his +Elegy, alludes:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"The village <i>Hampden</i>, that with dauntless breast<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The little tyrant of his fields withstood."<br /></span> +</div></div></div> + +<hr class="large" /> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Transcriber's Notes:</span></h3> + +<p>1. Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors and to ensure consistent spelling and punctuation in this etext; otherwise, +every effort has been made to remain true to the original book.</p> + +<p>2. The sidenotes used in this text were originally published as banners in the page headers, and have been moved to the relevant paragraph +for the reader's convenience.</p> + +<p>3. 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C. (John Stevens +Cabot) Abbott + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: King Philip + Makers of History + + +Author: John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot) Abbott + + + +Release Date: July 22, 2009 [eBook #29494] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KING PHILIP*** + + +E-text prepared by D Alexander and the Project Gutenberg Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 29494-h.htm or 29494-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/29494/29494-h/29494-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/29494/29494-h.zip) + + + + + +Makers of History + +King Philip + +BY JOHN S. C. ABBOTT + +With Engravings + + + + + + + +New York and London +Harper & Brothers Publishers +1901 + +Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight +hundred and fifty-seven, by +Harper & Brothers, +in the Clerk's office of the District Court of the Southern District +of New York. + +Copyright, 1885, by Susan Abbot Mead. + + + + +[Illustration: PLYMOUTH BAY, AS SEEN BY THE INDIANS.] + + + + +PREFACE. + + +Few, even of our most intelligent men, if we except those who are +devoted to literary pursuits, are acquainted with the adventures which +our forefathers encountered in the settlement of New England. The +claims of business are now so exacting, that those whose time is +engrossed by its cares have but little leisure for extensive reading, +and yet there is no American who does not desire to be familiar with +the early history of his own country. The writer, with great labor, +has collected from widely-spread materials, and condensed into this +narrative of the career of King Philip, those incidents in our early +history which he has supposed would be most interesting and +instructive to the general reader. He has spared no pains in the +endeavor to be accurate. In the rude annals of those early days there +is often obscurity, and sometimes contradiction, in the dates. Such +dates have been adopted as have appeared, after careful examination, +to be most reliable. + +The writer can not refrain, in this connection, from acknowledging the +obligations he is under to his friend and neighbor, John M'Keen, Esq., +to whose extensive and accurate acquaintance with the early history of +this country he is indebted for many of the materials which have aided +him in the preparation of this work. + + JOHN S. C. ABBOTT. + +Brunswick, Maine, 1857. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + Chapter Page + + I. LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS 13 + + II. MASSASOIT 46 + + III. CLOUDS OF WAR 80 + + IV. THE PEQUOT WAR 110 + + V. COMMENCEMENT OF THE REIGN OF KING PHILIP 156 + + VI. COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES 187 + + VII. AUTUMN AND WINTER CAMPAIGNS 220 + + VIII. CAPTIVITY OF MRS. ROWLANDSON 254 + + IX. THE INDIANS VICTORIOUS 292 + + X. THE VICISSITUDES OF WAR 321 + + XI. DEATH OF KING PHILIP 353 + + XII. CONCLUSION OF THE WAR 385 + + + + +ENGRAVINGS. + + + Page + + PLYMOUTH BAY, AS SEEN BY THE PILGRIMS _Frontispiece._ + + THE FIRST ENCOUNTER 26 + + SAMOSET, THE INDIAN VISITOR 48 + + MASSASOIT AND HIS WARRIORS 57 + + THE PALACE OF MASSASOIT 68 + + THE DEATH OF ALEXANDER 169 + + THE BATTLE IN TIVERTON 210 + + CAPTURE OF THE INDIAN FORTRESS 247 + + CAPTIVITY OF MRS. ROWLANDSON 270 + + THE DESTRUCTION OF SUDBURY 311 + + THE INDIAN AMBUSH 315 + + THE DEATH OF PHILIP 360 + + + + +KING PHILIP. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS. + +1620-1621 + +Arrival of the Mayflower.--Explorations.--Captain Weymouth.--Indian +captives.--Enticing the natives.--The seizure.--Trophies.--Necessity +for caution.--Discovery of a wigwam.--New enterprises.--The return of +the explorers.--New expedition.--Sight of some Indians.--Cheerless +encampment.--Discoveries.--Quaint description of the huts.--Interior +of the hut, and what was found.--Good intentions not realized.--Another +stormy night.--Morning preparations.--A fearful attack.--Protection of +the English.--Power of the Indians.--The chief shot.--Disappearance of +the Indians.--Sudden peace.--Devotions.--Departure.--A gale.--An +accident.--Approaching night.--Discovery of a shelter.--Preparations +for the night.--They resolve to spend the Sabbath at their +camp.--Plymouth Bay.--Sounding for the channel.--Sites for the +village.--Jealousy of the Dutch.--Arrival of the Mayflower.--Survey +of the country.--A location selected.--Interruptions by a storm.--The +birth-day of New England.--Friday, December 22.--Hopes and expectations +of the Pilgrims.--Leaving the ship.--Erection of the store house.--The +little village.--Alarm from the Indians.--Discomforts.--Watchfulness +of the Indians.--End of the year.--Attempts to meet the Indians.--Two +men missing.--Return of the lost.--Their adventures.--They discover +the harbor.--Their sufferings.--February.--Death among the +colonists.--Discovery of Indians.--Alarm.--Preparations for +defense.--Two savages appear.--Weakness of the colonists. + + +On the 11th of November, 1620, the storm-battered Mayflower, with its +band of one hundred and one Pilgrims, first caught sight of the barren +sand-hills of Cape Cod. The shore presented a cheerless scene even for +those weary of a more than four months voyage upon a cold and +tempestuous sea. But, dismal as the prospect was, after struggling for +a short time to make their way farther south, embarrassed by a leaky +ship and by perilous shoals appearing every where around them, they +were glad to make a harbor at the extremity of the unsheltered and +verdureless cape. Before landing, they chose Mr. John Carver, "a pious +and well-approved gentleman," as the governor of their little republic +for the first year. While the carpenter was fitting up the boat to +explore the interior bend of the land which forms Cape Cod Bay, in +search of a more attractive place of settlement, sixteen of their +number set out on foot on a short tour of discovery. They were all +well armed, to guard against any attack from the natives. + +Cautiously the adventurers followed along the western shore of the +Cape toward the south, when suddenly they came in sight of five +Indians. The natives fled with the utmost precipitation. They had +heard of the white men, and had abundant cause to fear them. But a few +years before, in 1605, Captain Weymouth, on an exploring tour along +the coast of Maine, very treacherously kidnapped five of the natives, +and took them with him back to England. This act, which greatly +exasperated the natives, and which led to subsequent scenes of +hostility and blood, it may be well here to record. It explains the +reception which the Pilgrims first encountered. + +Captain Weymouth had been trafficking with the natives for some time +in perfect friendship. One day six Indians came to the ship in two +canoes, three in each. Three were enticed on board the ship, and were +shut up in the cabin. The other three, a little suspicious of danger, +refused to leave their canoe, but, receiving a can of pease and +bread, paddled to the shore, where they built a fire, and sat down to +their entertainment. A boat strongly manned was then sent to the shore +from the ship with enticing presents, and a platter of food of which +the Indians were particularly fond. One of the natives, more cautious +than the rest, upon the approach of the boat, retired to the woods; +the other two met the party cordially. They all walked up to the fire +and sat down, in apparent friendship, to eat their food together. +There were six Englishmen and two naked, helpless natives. At a given +signal, while their unsuspecting victims were gazing at some +curiosities in a box, the English sprang upon them, three to each man. +The natives, young, vigorous, and lithe as eels, struggled with +Herculean energy. The kidnappers, finding it difficult to hold them by +their naked limbs, seized them by the long hair of their heads, and +thus the terrified creatures were dragged into the boats and conveyed +to the ship. Soon after this Captain Weymouth weighed anchor, and the +five captives were taken to England. He also took, as trophies of his +victory, the two canoes, and the bows and arrows of these Indians. +Sundry outrages of a similar character had been perpetrated by +European adventurers all along the New England coast. The Pilgrims +were well aware of these facts, and consequently they were not +surprised at the flight of the Indians, and felt, themselves, the +necessity of guarding against a hostile attack. + +The English pursued the fugitives vigorously for many miles, but were +unable to overtake them. At last night came on. They built a camp, +kindled a fire, established a watch, and slept soundly until the next +morning. They then continued their course, following along in the +track of the Indians. After some time they came to the remains of an +Indian wigwam, surrounded by an old corn-field. Finding concealed here +several baskets filled with ears of corn, they took the grain, so +needful for them, intending, should they ever meet the Indians, to pay +them amply for it. With this as the only fruit of their expedition, +they returned to the ship. + +Soon after their return preparations were completed for a more +important enterprise. The shallop was launched, and well provided with +arms and provisions, and thirty of the ship's company embarked for an +extensive survey of the coast. They slowly crept along the barren +shore, stopping at various points, but they could meet with no +natives, and could find no harbor for their ship, and no inviting +place for a settlement. Drifting sands and gloomy evergreens, through +which the autumnal winds ominously sighed, alone met the eye. They +discovered a few deserted dwellings of the Indians, but could catch no +sight of the terrified natives. After several days of painful search, +they returned disheartened to the ship. + +It was now the 6th of December, and the cold winds of approaching +winter began to sweep over the water, which seemed almost to surround +them. Imagination can hardly conceive a more bleak and dreary spot +than the extremity of Cape Cod. It was manifest to all that it was no +place for the establishment of a colony, and that, late as it was in +the year, they must, at all hazards, continue their search for a more +inviting location. Previous explorers had entered Cape Cod Bay, and +had given a general idea of the sweep of the coast. + +A new expedition was now energetically organized, to proceed with all +speed in a boat along the coast in search of a harbor. The wind, in +freezing blasts, swept across the bay as they spread their sail. Their +frail boat was small and entirely open, and the spray, which ever +dashed over these hardy pioneers, glazed their coats with ice. They +soon lost sight of the ship, and, skirting the coast, were driven +rapidly along by the fair but piercing wind. The sun went down, and +dark night was approaching. They had been looking in vain for some +sheltered cove into which to run to pass the night, when, in the +deepening twilight, they discerned twelve Indians standing upon the +shore. They immediately turned their boat toward the land, and the +Indians as immediately fled. The sandy beach upon which their boat +grounded was entirely exposed to the billows of the ocean. With +difficulty they drew their boat high upon the sand, that it might not +be broken by the waves, and prepared to make themselves as comfortable +as possible. It was, indeed, a cheerless encampment for a cold, windy +December night. Fortunately there was wood in abundance with which to +build a fire, and they also piled up for themselves a slight +protection against the wind and against a midnight attack. Then, +having commended themselves to God in prayer, they established a +watch, and sought such repose as fatigue and their cold, hard couch +could furnish. + +The night passed away without any alarm. In the morning they divided +their numbers, one half taking the boat, and the others following +along upon foot on the shore. Thus they continued their explorations +another day, but could find no suitable place for a settlement. During +the day they saw many traces of inhabitants, but did not obtain sight +of a single native. + +They found two houses, from which the occupants had evidently but +recently escaped. The following is the description which the +adventurers gave of these wigwams, in the quaint English of two +hundred years ago: + + "Whilest we were thus ranging and searching, two of the + Saylers which were newly come on the shore by chance espied + two houses which had beene lately dwelt in, but the people + were gone. They having their peeces and hearing no body + entred the houses and tooke out some things, and durst not + stay but came again and told vs; so some seaven or eight of + vs went with them, and found how we had gone within a slight + shot of them before. The houses were made with long yong + Sapling trees bended and both ends stucke into the ground; + they were made round like unto an Arbour and covered down to + the ground with thicke and well wrought matts, and the doors + were not over a yard high made of a matt to open; the + chimney was a wide open hole in the top, for which they had + a matt to cover it close when they pleased. One might stand + and go upright in them; in the midst of them were four + little trunches knockt into the ground, and small stickes + laid over on which they hung their Pots, and what they had + to seeth. Round about the fire they lay on matts which are + their beds. The houses were double matted, for as they were + matted without so were they within, with newer and fairer + matts. In the houses we found wooden Boules, Trayes & + Dishes, Earthen Pots, Hand baskets made of Crab shells, + wrought together; also an English Pail or Bucket; it wanted + a bayle, but it had two iron eares. There was also Baskets + of sundry sorts, bigger and some lesser, finer and some + coarser. Some were curiously wrought with blacke and white + in pretie workes, and sundry other of their houshold stuffe. + We found also two or three Deeres heads, one whereof had + been newly killed, for it was still fresh. There was also a + company of Deeres feete stuck vp in the houses, Harts + hornes, and Eagles clawes, and sundry such like things there + was; also two or three baskets full of parched Acorns, + peeces of fish and a peece of a broyled Hering. We found + also a little silk grasse and a little Tobacco seed with + some other seeds which wee knew not. Without was sundry + bundles of Flags and Sedge, Bull-rushes and other stuffe to + make matts. There was thrust into a hollow tree two or three + pieces of venison, but we thought it fitter for the Dogs + than for us. Some of the best things we took away with us, + and left their houses standing still as they were. So it + growing towards night, and the tyde almost spent we hastened + with our things down to the shallop, and got aboard that + night, intending to have brought some Beades and other + things to have left in the houses in signe of Peace and that + we meant to truk with them, but it was not done by means of + our hasty comming away from Cape Cod; but so soon as we can + meet conveniently with them we will give them full + satisfaction." + +As they returned to their boat the sun again went down, and another +gloomy December night darkened over the houseless wanderers. No cove, +no creek even, opened its friendly arms to receive them. They again +dragged their boat upon the beach. A dense forest was behind them, the +bleak ocean before them. As they feared no surprise from the side of +the water, they merely threw up a slight rampart of logs to protect +them from an attack from the side of the forest. They again united in +their evening devotions, established their night-watch, and, with a +warm fire blazing at their feet, fell soundly asleep. Through the long +night the wind sighed through the tree-tops and the waves broke upon +the shore. No other sounds disturbed their slumber. + +The next morning they rose before the dawn of day and prepared +anxiously to continue their search. The morning was dark and stormy. A +drizzling rain, which had been falling nearly all night, had soaked +their blankets and their clothing; the ocean looked black and angry, +and sheets of mist were driven by the chill wind over earth and sea. +The Pilgrims bowed reverently together in their morning prayer, +partook of their frugal meal, and some of them had carried their guns, +wrapped in blankets, down to the boat, when suddenly a fearful yell +burst from the forest, and a shower of arrows fell upon their +encampment. + +The English party consisted of but eighteen; but they were heroic men. +Carver, Bradford, Winslow, and Standish were of their number. Four +muskets only were left within their frail intrenchments. By the rapid +and well-directed discharge of these, they, however, kept the Indians +at bay until those who had carried their guns to the boat succeeded in +regaining them, notwithstanding the shower of arrows which fell so +thickly around. The thick clothing with which the English were +covered, to protect themselves from the cold and the rain, were almost +as coats of mail to ward off the comparatively feeble weapons of the +natives. A very fierce conflict now ensued. The English were almost +entirely unprotected, and were exposed to every arrow. The Indians +were each stationed behind some large forest-tree, which effectually +sheltered him from the bullets of his antagonists. Under these +circumstances, the advantage was probably, on the whole, with the +vastly outnumbering natives. They were widely scattered; their bows +were of great strength, and their arrows, pointed and barbed with +sharp flint and stone, when hitting fairly and in full force, would +pierce even the thickest clothing of the English; and, if striking any +unprotected portion of the body, would inflict a dreadful wound. + +For some time this perilous conflict raged, the forest resounding with +the report of musketry, and with the hideous, deafening yell of the +savages. There was one Indian, of Herculean size and strength, +apparently more brave than the rest, who appeared to be the leader of +the band. He had proudly advanced beyond any of his companions, and +placed himself within half musket shot of the encampment. He stood +behind a large tree, and very energetically shot his arrows, and by +voice and gesture roused and animated his comrades. Watching an +opportunity when his arm was exposed, a sharpshooter succeeded in +striking it with a bullet. The shattered arm dropped helpless. The +savage, astounded at the calamity, gazed for a moment in silence upon +his mangled limb, and then uttering a peculiar cry, which was probably +the signal for retreat, dodged from tree to tree, and disappeared. His +fellow-warriors, following his example, disappeared with him in the +depths of the gloomy forest. Hardly a moment elapsed ere not a savage +was to be seen, and perfect silence and solitude reigned upon the spot +which, but a moment before, was the scene of almost demoniac clamor. +The waves broke sullenly upon the shore, and the wind, sweeping the +ocean, and moaning through the sombre firs and pines, drove the rain +in spectral sheets over sea and land. The sun had not yet risen, +and the gray twilight lent additional gloom to the stormy morning. +Both the attack and the retreat were more sudden than imagination can +well conceive. The perfect repose of the night had been instantly +followed by fiendlike uproar and peril, and as instantly succeeded by +perfect silence and solitude. + +[Illustration: THE FIRST ENCOUNTER.] + +The Pilgrims, as soon as they had recovered from their astonishment, +looked around to see how much they had been damaged. Arrows were +hanging by their clothes, and sticking in the logs by the fire, and +scattered every where around, but, to their surprise, they found that +not one had been wounded. Anxious to leave so dangerous a spot, they +immediately collected their effects and embarked in the boat. Before +embarking, however, they united in a prayer of thanksgiving to God for +their deliverance. They named this spot "_The First Encounter_." The +rain now changed to sleet of mist and snow, and the cold storm +descended pitilessly upon their unprotected heads. A day of suffering +and of peril was before them. As the day advanced, the wind increased +to almost a gale. The waves frequently broke into the boat, drenching +them to the skin, and glazing the boat, ropes, and clothing with a +coat of ice. The surf, dashing upon the shore, rendered landing +impossible, and they sought in vain for any creek or cove where they +could find shelter. The short afternoon was fast passing away, and a +terrible night was before them. A huge billow, which seemed to chase +them with gigantic speed and force, broke over the boat, nearly +filling it with water, and at the same time unshipping and sweeping +away their rudder. They immediately got out two oars, and, with much +difficulty, succeeded with them in steering their bark. + +Night and the tempest were settling darkly over the angry sea. To add +to their calamities, a sudden flaw of wind struck the boat, and +instantly snapped the mast into three pieces. The boat was now, for a +few moments, entirely unmanageable, and, involved in the wreck of +mast, rigging, and sail, floated like a log upon the waves, in great +danger of being each moment ingulfed. The hardy adventurers, thus +disabled, seized their oars, and with great exertions succeeded in +keeping their boat before the wind. It was now night, and the rain, +driven violently by the gale, was falling in torrents. + +The dark outline of the shore, upon which the surf was furiously +dashing, was dimly discernible. At last they perceived through the +gloom, directly before them, an island or a promontory pushing out at +right angles from the line of the beach. Rowing around the northern +headland, they found on the western side a small cove, where they +obtained a partial shelter from the storm. Here they dropped anchor. +The night was freezing cold. The rain still fell in torrents, and the +boat rolled and pitched incessantly upon the agitated sea. Though +drenched to the skin, knowing that they were in the vicinity of +hostile Indians, most of the company did not deem it prudent to +attempt a landing, but preferred to pass the night in their wet, +shelterless, wave-rocked bark. Some, however, benumbed and almost +dying from wet and cold, felt that they could not endure the exposure +of the wintry night. They were accordingly put on shore. After much +difficulty, they succeeded in building a fire. Its blaze illumined the +forest, and they piled upon it branches of trees and logs, until they +became somewhat warmed by the exercise and the genial heat. But they +knew full well that this flame was but a beacon to inform their savage +foes where they were and to enable them, with surer aim, to shoot the +poisoned arrow. The forest sheltered them partially from the wind. +They cut down trees, and constructed a rude rampart to protect them +from attack. Thus the explorers on the land and in the boat passed the +first part of this dismal night. At midnight, however, those in the +boat, unable longer to endure the cold, ventured to land, and, with +their shivering companions, huddled round the fire, the rain still +soaking them to the skin. + +When the morning again dawned, they found that they were in the lee of +a small island. It was the morning of the Sabbath. Notwithstanding +their exposure to hostile Indians and to the storm, and +notwithstanding the unspeakable importance of every day, that they +might prepare for the severity of winter, now so rapidly approaching, +these extraordinary men resolved to remain as they were, that they +might "remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy." There was true +heroism and moral grandeur in this decision, even though it be +asserted that a more enlightened judgment would have taught that, +under the circumstances in which they were placed, it was a work of +"necessity and of mercy" to prosecute their tour without delay. But +these men believed it to be their duty to sanctify the Sabbath; and, +notwithstanding the strength of the temptation, they did what they +thought to be right, and this is always noble. To God, who looketh at +the heart, this must have been an acceptable sacrifice. For nearly two +hundred years all these men have now been in the world of spirits, and +it may very safely be affirmed that they have never regretted the +scrupulous reverence they manifested for the law of God in keeping the +Sabbath in the stormy wilderness. + +With the early light of Monday morning they repaired their shattered +boat, and, spreading their sails before a favorable breeze, continued +their tour. Plymouth Bay opened before them, with a low sand-bar +shooting across the water, which served to break the violence of the +billows rolling in from the ocean, but which presented no obstacle to +the sweep of the wind. It was an unsheltered harbor, but it was not +only the best, but the only one which could be found. Cautiously they +sailed around the point of sand, dropping the lead every few moments +to find a channel for their vessel. They at length succeeded in +finding a passage, and a place where their vessel could ride in +comparative safety. They then landed to select a location for their +colonial village. Though it was the most dismal season of the year, +the region presented many attractions. It was pleasantly diversified +with hills and valleys, and the forest, of gigantic growth, swept +sublimely away in all directions. The remains of an Indian village was +found, and deserted corn-fields of considerable extent, where the +ground was in a state for easy and immediate cultivation. + +The Pilgrims had left England with the intention of planting their +colony at the mouth of the Hudson River; but the Dutch, jealous of the +power of the English upon this continent, and wishing to appropriate +that very attractive region entirely to themselves, bribed the pilot +to pretend to lose his course, and to land them at a point much +farther to the north; hence the disappointment of the company in +finding themselves involved amid the shoals of Cape Cod. Though +Plymouth was by no means the home which the Pilgrims had originally +sought, and though neither the harbor nor the location presented the +advantages which they had desired, the season was too far advanced for +them to continue their voyage in search of a more genial home. With +this report the explorers returned to the ship. + +On the 15th of December the Mayflower again weighed anchor from the +harbor of Cape Cod, and, crossing the Bay on the 16th, cautiously +worked its way into the shallow harbor of Plymouth, and cast anchor +about a mile and a half from the shore. The next day was the Sabbath, +and all remained on board the ship engaged in their Sabbath devotions. + +Early Monday morning, a party well armed were sent on shore to make a +still more careful exploration of the region, and to select a spot for +their village. They marched along the coast eight miles, but saw no +natives or wigwams. They crossed several brooks of sweet, fresh water, +but were disappointed in finding no navigable river. They, however, +found many fields where the Indians had formerly cultivated corn. +These fields, thus ready for the seed, seemed very inviting. At night +they returned to the ship, not having decided upon any spot for their +settlement. + +The next day, Tuesday, the 19th, they again sent out a party on a tour +of exploration. This party was divided into two companies, one to sail +along the coast in the shallop, hoping to find the mouth of some large +river; the other landed and traversed the shore. At night they all +returned again to the ship, not having as yet found such a location as +they desired. + +Wednesday morning came, and with increasing fervor the Pilgrims, in +their morning prayer, implored God to guide them. The decision could +no longer be delayed. A party of twenty were sent on shore to mark out +the spot where they should rear their store-house and their dwellings. +On the side of a high hill, facing the rising sun and the beautiful +bay, they found an expanse, gently declining, where there were large +fields which, two or three years before, had been cultivated with +Indian corn. The summit of this hill commanded a wide view of the +ocean and of the land. Springs of sweet water gushed from the +hill-sides, and a beautiful brook, overshadowed by the lofty forest, +meandered at its base. Here they unanimously concluded to rear their +new homes. + +As the whole party were rendezvoused upon this spot, the clouds began +to gather in the sky, the wind rose fiercely, and soon the rain began +to fall in torrents. Huge billows from the ocean rolled in upon the +poorly-sheltered harbor, so that it was impossible to return by their +small boat to the ship. They were entirely unsheltered, as they had +brought with them no preparations for such an emergency. Night, dark, +freezing, tempestuous, soon settled down upon these houseless +wanderers. In the dense forest they sought refuge from the icy gale +which swept over the ocean. They built a large fire, and, gathering +around it, passed the night and all the next day exposed to the fury +of the storm. But, toward the evening of the 21st, the gale so far +abated that they succeeded in returning over the rough waves to the +ship. + +The next morning was the ever memorable Friday, December 22. It dawned +chill and lowering. A wintry gale still swept the bay, and pierced the +thin garments of the Pilgrims. The eventful hour had now come in which +they were to leave the ship, and commence their new life of privation +and hardship in the New World. It was the birth-day of New England. In +the early morning, the whole ship's company assembled upon the deck of +the Mayflower, men, women, and children, to offer their sacrifice of +thanksgiving, and to implore divine protection upon their lofty and +perilous enterprise. + + "The Mayflower on New England's coasts has furled her + tattered sails, + And through her chafed and mourning shrouds December's + breezes wail. + + "There were men of hoary hair + Amid that Pilgrim band; + Why had they come to wither there, + Away from their childhood's land? + + "There was woman's fearless eye, + Lit by her deep love's truth; + There was manhood's brow, serenely high, + And the fiery heart of youth. + + "What sought they thus afar? + Bright jewels of the mine? + The wealth of seas--the spoils of war? + They sought a faith's pure shrine. + + "Ay, call it holy ground, + The soil where first they trod: + They have left unstain'd what there they found-- + Freedom to worship God." + +The Pilgrims, though inspired by impulses as pure and lofty as ever +glowed in human hearts, were still but feebly conscious of the scenes +which they were enacting. They were exiles upon whom their mother +country cruelly frowned, and though they hoped to establish a +prosperous colony, where their civil and religious liberty could be +enjoyed, which they had sought in vain under the government of Great +Britain, they were by no means aware that they were laying the +foundation stones of one of the most majestic nations upon which the +sun has ever shone. As they stood upon that slippery deck, swept by +the wintry wind, and reverently bowed their heads in prayer, they +dreamed not of the immortality which they were conferring upon +themselves and upon that day. Their frail vessel was now the only +material tie which seemed to bind them to their father-land. Their +parting hymn, swelling from gushing hearts and trembling lips, blended +in harmony with the moan of the wind and the wash of the wave, and +fell, we can not doubt, as accepted melody on the ear of God. + +These affecting devotions being ended, boat-load after boat-load left +the ship, until the whole company, one hundred and one in number, men, +women and children, were rowed to the shore, and were landed upon a +rock around which the waves were dashing. As the ship, in the shallow +harbor, rode at anchor a mile from the beach, and the boats were small +and the sea rough, this operation was necessarily very slow. + +They first erected a house of logs twenty feet square, which would +serve as a temporary shelter for them all, and which would also serve +as a general store-house for their effects. They then commenced +building a number of small huts for the several families. Every one +lent a willing hand to the work, and soon a little village of some +twenty dwellings sprang up beneath the brow of the forest-crowned hill +which protected them from the winds of the northwest. The Pilgrims +landed on Friday. The incessant labors of the rest of the day and of +Saturday enabled them to provide but a poor shelter for themselves +before the Sabbath came. But, notwithstanding the urgency of the case, +all labor was intermitted on that day, and the little congregation +gathered in their unfinished store-house to worship God. Aware, +however, that hostile Indians might be near, sentinels were stationed +to guard them from surprise. In the midst of their devotions, the +alarming cry rang upon their ears, "Indians! Indians!" A more fearful +cry could hardly reach the ears of husbands and fathers. The church +instantly became a fortress and the worshipers a garrison. A band of +hostile natives had been prowling around, but, instructed by the +valiant defense of the first encounter, and seeing that the Pilgrims +were prepared to repel an assault, they speedily retreated into the +wilderness. + +The next day the colonists vigorously renewed their labors, having +parceled themselves into nineteen families. They measured out their +house lots and drew for them, clustering their huts together, for +mutual protection, in two rows, with a narrow street between. But the +storms of winter were already upon them. Monday night it again +commenced raining. All that night and all of Tuesday the rain fell in +floods, while the tempest swept the ocean and wailed dismally through +the forest. Thus they toiled along in the endurance of inconceivable +discomfort for the rest of the week. All were suffering from colds, +and many were seriously sick. Friday and Saturday it was again stormy +and very cold. To add to their anxiety, they saw in several +directions, at the distance of five or six miles from them, wreaths of +smoke rising from large fires in the forest, proving that the Indians +were lurking around them and watching their movements. It was evident, +from the caution which the Indians thus manifested, that they were by +no means friendly in their feelings. + +The last day of the year was the Sabbath. It was observed with much +solemnity, their store-house, crowded with their effects, being the +only temple in which they could assemble to worship God. + + "Amid the storm they sang, + And the stars heard and the sea; + And the sounding aisles of the dim woods rang + To the anthem of the free." + +Monday morning of the new year the sun rose in a serene and cloudless +sky, and the Pilgrims, with alacrity, bowed themselves to their work. +Great fires of the Indians were seen in the woods. The valiant Miles +Standish, a man of the loftiest spirit of energy and intrepidity, took +five men with him, and boldly plunged into the forest to find the +Indians, and, if possible, to establish amicable relations with them. +He found their deserted wigwams and the embers of their fires, but +could not catch sight of a single native. A few days after this, two +of the pilgrims, who were abroad gathering thatch, did not return, and +great anxiety was felt for them. Four or five men the next day set out +in search for them. After wandering about all day unsuccessfully +through the pathless forest, they returned at night disheartened, and +the little settlement was plunged into the deepest sorrow. It was +greatly feared that they had been waylaid and captured by the savages. +Twelve men then, well armed, set out to explore the wilderness, to +find any traces of their lost companions. They also returned but to +deepen the dejection of their friends by the recital of their +unsuccessful search. But, as they were telling their story, a shout of +joy arose, and the two lost men, with tattered garments and emaciated +cheeks, emerged from the forest. They gave the following account of +their adventures: + +As they were gathering thatch about a mile and a half from the +plantation, they saw a pond in the distance, and went to it, hoping to +catch some fish. On the margin of the pond they met a large deer. The +affrighted animal fled, pursued eagerly by the dog they had with them. +The men followed on, hoping to capture the rich prize. They were thus +lured so far that they became bewildered and lost in the pathless +forest. All the afternoon they wandered about, until black night +encompassed them. A dismal storm arose of wind and rain, mingled with +snow. They were drenched to the skin, and their garments froze around +them. In the darkness they could find no shelter. They had no weapons, +but each one a small sickle to cut thatch. They had no food whatever. +They heard the roar of the beasts of the forests. They supposed it to +be the roaring of lions, though it was probably the howling of wolves. +Their only safety appeared to be to climb into a tree; but the wind +and the cold were so intolerable that such an exposure they could not +endure. So each one stood at the root of a tree all the night long, +running around it to keep himself from freezing, drenched by the +storm, terrified by the cries which filled the forest, and ready, as +soon as they should hear the gnashing of teeth, to spring into the +branches. + +The long winter night at length passed away, and a gloomy morning +dimly lighted the forest, and they resumed their search for home. They +waded through swamps, crossed streams, were arrested in their course +by large ponds of water, and tore their clothing and their flesh by +forcing their way through the tangled underbrush. At last they came to +a hill, and, climbing one of the highest trees, discerned in the +distance the harbor of Plymouth, which they recognized by the two +little islands, densely wooded, which seemed to float like ships upon +its surface. The cheerful sight invigorated them, and, though their +limbs tottered from exhaustion, they toiled on, and, just as night was +setting in, they reached their home, faint with travel, and almost +famished with hunger and cold. The limbs of one of these men, John +Goodman, were so swollen by exertion and the cold that they were +obliged to cut his shoes from his feet, and it was a long time before +he was again able to walk. Thus passed the month of January. Nearly +all of the colonists were sick, and eight of their number died. + +February was ushered in with piercing cold and desolating storms. +Tempests of rain and snow were so frequent and violent that but little +work could be done. The huts of the colonists were but poorly prepared +for such inclement weather, and so many were sick that the utter +destruction of the colony seemed to be threatened. Though the company +which landed consisted of one hundred and one, but forty-one of these +were men; all the rest were women and children. Death had already +swept many of these men away, and several others were very dangerously +sick. It was evident that the savages were lurking about, watching +them with an eagle eye, and with most manifestly unfriendly feelings. +The colonists were in no condition to repel an attack, and the most +fearless were conscious that they had abundant cause for intense +solicitude. + +On the 16th of this month, a man went to a creek about a mile and a +half from the settlement a gunning, and, concealing himself in the +midst of some shrubs and rashes, watched for water-fowl. While thus +concealed, twelve Indians, armed to the teeth, marched stealthily by +him, and he heard in the forest around the noise of many more. As +soon as the twelve had passed, he hastened home and gave the alarm. +All were called in from their work, the guns were loaded, and every +possible preparation was made to repel the anticipated assault. But +the day passed away in perfect quietness; not an Indian was seen; not +the voice or the footfall of a foe was heard. These prowling bands, +concealed in the dark forest, moved with a mystery which was +appalling. The Pilgrims had now been for nearly two months at +Plymouth, and not an Indian had they as yet caught sight of, except +the twelve whom the gunner from his ambush had discerned. Toward +evening, Miles Standish, who, upon the alarm, had returned to the +house, leaving his tools in the woods, took another man and went to +the place to get them, but they were no longer there. The Indians had +taken them away. + +This state of things convinced the Pilgrims that it was necessary to +adopt very efficient measures that they might be prepared to repel any +attack. All the able-bodied men, some twenty-five in number, met and +formed themselves into a military company. Miles Standish was chosen +captain, and was invested with great powers in case of any emergency. +Rude fortifications were planned for the defense of the little hamlet, +and two small cannons, which had been lying useless beneath the snow, +were dug up and mounted so as to sweep the approaches to the houses. +While engaged in these operations, two savages suddenly appeared upon +the top of a hill about a quarter of a mile distant, gazing earnestly +upon their movements. Captain Standish immediately took one man with +him, and, without any weapons, that their friendly intentions might be +apparent, hastened to meet the Indians. But the savages, as the two +colonists drew near, fled precipitately, and when Captain Standish +arrived upon the top of the hill, he heard noises in the forest behind +as if it were filled with Indians. + +This was the 17th of February. After this a month passed away, and not +a sign of Indians was seen. It was a month of sorrow, sickness, and +death. Seventeen of their little band died, and there was hardly +strength left with the survivors to dig their graves. Had the Indians +known their weakness, they might easily, in any hour, have utterly +destroyed the colony. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +MASSASOIT. + +1621 + +Advance of spring.--Sudden appearance of an Indian.--Samoset.--Effects +of a plague.--Samoset is hospitably treated and likes his +quarters.--Stealing of Indians.--The chief of the Wampanoags.--Departure +of Samoset.--Return of the Indians.--Presents to the +Indians.--Appearance of savages.--Planting.--Squantum.--His +captivity.--His benefactors.--Approach of Massasoit.--Caution of the +Indians.--Conference with Massasoit.--The Pilgrims leave a +hostage.--Visit of Massasoit.--His reception.--Royal interview.--The +first glass of spirits.--Appearance of the warriors.--A friendly +alliance.--Death of Governor Carver.--Mission to Massasoit.--Trouble +from the Indians.--The journey.--Appearance of the country.--Hospitality +of the natives.--Poverty of the natives.--The fishing-party.--Opposition +to crossing the river.--Assistance from the Indians.--Scarcity of +food.--Character of the Indians.--Massasoit absent.--Mount +Hope.--Reflections on the past.--Reflections inspired by the +scene.--Character of our forefathers.--Return of Massasoit.--Royal +ceremonies.--Gifts to the king.--Want of food.--Night in a +palace.--Amusements.--Arrival of fish.--Motives for departure.--Graphic +narrative.--Stormy journey.--Result of the mission.--Child lost.--News +of the safety of the child.--Endeavors for his rescue.--Cummaquids.--An +aged Indian.--Iyanough.--Caution.--Recovery of the lost boy.--Presents +to Aspinet.--The Wampanoags.--Power of Massasoit. + + +March "came in like a lion," cold, wet, and stormy; but toward the +middle of the month the weather changed, and a warm sun and soft +southern breezes gave indication of an early spring. The 16th of the +month was a remarkably pleasant day, and the colonists who were able +to bear arms had assembled at their rendezvous to complete their +military organization for the working days of spring and summer. While +thus engaged they saw, to their great surprise, a solitary Indian +approaching. Boldly, and without the slightest appearance of +hesitancy, he strode along, entered the street of their little +village, and directed his steps toward the group at the rendezvous. He +was a man of majestic stature, and entirely naked, with the exception +of a leathern belt about his loins, to which there was suspended a +fringe about nine inches in length. In his hand he held a bow and two +arrows. + +[Illustration: SAMOSET, THE INDIAN VISITOR.] + +The Indian, with remarkable self-confidence and freedom of gait, +advanced toward the astonished group, and in perfectly intelligible +English addressed them with the words, "Welcome, Englishmen." From +this man the eager colonists soon learned the following facts. His +name was Samoset. He was one of the chiefs of a tribe residing near +the island of Monhegan, which is at the mouth of Penobscot Bay. With a +great wind, he said that it was but a day's sail from Plymouth, though +it required a journey of five days by land. Fishing vessels from +England had occasionally visited that region, and he had, by +intercourse with them, acquired sufficient broken English to be able +to communicate his ideas. He also informed the Pilgrims that, four +years before their arrival, a terrible plague had desolated the coast, +and that the tribe occupying the region upon which they were settled +had been utterly annihilated. The dead had been left unburied to be +devoured by wolves. Thus the way had been prepared for the Pilgrims to +settle upon land which no man claimed, and thus had Providence gone +before them to shield them from the attacks of a savage foe. + +Samoset was disposed to make himself quite at home. He wished to enter +the houses, and called freely for beer and for food. To make him a +little more presentable to their families, the Pilgrims put a large +horseman's coat upon him, and then led him into their houses, and +treated him with great hospitality. The savage seemed well satisfied +with his new friends, and manifested no disposition to leave quarters +so comfortable and entertainment so abundant. Night came, and he still +remained, and would take no hints to go. The colonists could not +rudely turn him out of doors, and they were very apprehensive of +treachery, should they allow him to continue with them for the night. +But all their gentle efforts to get rid of him were in vain--he +_would_ stay. They therefore made arrangements for him in Stephen +Hopkins's house, and carefully, though concealing their movements from +him, watched him all night. + +Samoset was quite an intelligent man, and professed to be well +acquainted with all the tribes who peopled the New England coasts. He +said that the tribe inhabiting the end of the peninsula of Cape Cod +were called Nausites, and that they were exceedingly exasperated +against the whites, because, a few years before, one Captain Hunt, +from England, while trading with the Indians on the Cape, had +inveigled twenty-seven men on board, and then had fastened them below +and set sail. These poor creatures, thus infamously kidnapped, were +carried to Spain, and sold as slaves for one hundred dollars each. It +was in consequence of this outrage that the Pilgrims were so fiercely +attacked at _The First Encounter_. Samoset had heard from his brethren +of the forest all the incidents of this conflict. + +He also informed his eager listeners that at two days' journey from +them, upon the margin of waters now called Bristol Bay, there was a +very powerful tribe, the Wampanoags, who exerted a sort of supremacy +over all the other tribes of the region. Massasoit was the sovereign +of this dominant people, and by his intelligence and energy he kept +the adjacent tribes in a state of vassalage. Not far from his +territories there was another powerful tribe, the Narragansets, who, +in their strength, were sometimes disposed to question his authority. +All this information interested the colonists, and they were anxious, +if possible, to open friendly relations with Massasoit. + +Early the next morning, which was Saturday, March 17th, Samoset left, +having received as a present a knife, a bracelet, and a ring. He +promised soon to return again, and to bring some other Indians with +him. The next morning was the Sabbath. It was warm, serene, and +beautiful. Dreary winter had passed, and genial spring was smiling +around them. As the colonists were assembling for their Sabbath +devotions, Samoset again presented himself, with five tall Indians in +his train. They were all dressed in skins, fitting closely to the +body, and most of them had a panther's skin and other furs for sale. +According to the arrangement which the Pilgrims had made with Samoset, +they all left their bows and arrows about a quarter of a mile distant +from the town, as the Pilgrims did not deem it safe to admit armed +savages into their dwellings. The tools which had been left in the +woods, and which the Indians had taken, were also all brought back by +these men. The colonists received these natives as kindly as possible, +and entertained them hospitably, but declined entering into any +traffic, as it was the Sabbath. They told the Indians, however, that +if they would come on any other day, they would purchase not only the +furs they now had with them, but any others which they might bring. + +Upon this, all retired excepting Samoset. He, saying that he was sick, +insisted upon remaining. The rest soon disappeared in the forest, +having promised to return again the next day. Monday and Tuesday +passed, and the colonists looked in vain for the Indians. On Wednesday +morning, having made Samoset a present of a hat, a pair of shoes, some +stockings, and a piece of cloth to wind around his loins, they sent +him to search out his companions, and ascertain why they did not +return according to their promise. The Indians who first left had all, +upon their departure, received presents from the Pilgrims, so anxious +were our forefathers to establish friendly relations with the natives +of this New World. + +During the first days of the week the colonists were very busy +breaking up their ground and planting their seed. On Wednesday +afternoon, Samoset having left, they again assembled to attend to +their military organization. While thus employed, several savages +appeared on the summit of a hill but a short distance opposite them, +twanging their bow-strings and exhibiting gestures of defiance. +Captain Standish took one man with him, and with two others following +at a distance as a re-enforcement in case of any difficulty, went to +meet them. The savages continued their hostile gesticulation until +Captain Standish drew quite near, and then they precipitately fled. + +The next day it was again warm and beautiful, and the little village +of the colonists presented an aspect of industry, peace, and +prosperity. About noon Samoset returned, with one single stranger +accompanying him. This Indian's name was _Squantum_. He had been of +the party seized by Weymouth or by Hunt--the authorities are not clear +upon that point--and had been carried to Spain and there sold as a +slave. After some years of bondage he succeeded in escaping to +England. Mr. John Slaney, a merchant of London, chanced to meet the +poor fugitive, protected him, and treated him with the greatest +kindness, and finally secured him a passage back to his native land, +from whence he had been so ruthlessly stolen. This Indian, forgetting +the outrage of the knave who had kidnapped him, and remembering only +the great kindness which he had received from his benefactor and from +the people generally in London, in generous requital now attached +himself cordially to the Pilgrims, and became their firm friend. His +residence in England had rendered him quite familiar with the English +language, and he proved invaluable not only as an interpreter, but +also in instructing them respecting the modes of obtaining a support +in the wilderness. + +Squantum brought the welcome intelligence that his sovereign chief, +the great Massasoit, had heard of the arrival of the Pilgrims, and was +approaching, with a retinue of sixty warriors, to pay them a friendly +visit. With characteristic dignity and caution, the Indian chief had +encamped upon a neighboring hill, and had sent Squantum as his +messenger to inform the white men of his arrival, and to conduct the +preliminaries for an interview. Massasoit was well acquainted with the +conduct of the unprincipled English seamen who had skirted the coast, +committing all manner of outrages, and he was too wary to place +himself in the power of strangers respecting whom he entertained such +well-grounded suspicions. He therefore established himself upon a +hill, where he could not be taken by surprise, and where, in case of +an attack, he could easily, if necessary, retreat. + +The Pilgrims also, overawed by their lonely position, and by the +mysterious terrors of the wilderness and of the savage, deemed it +imprudent, when such a band of armed warriors were in their vicinity, +to send any of their feeble force from behind the intrenchments which +they had reared. After several messages, through their interpreter, +had passed to and fro, Massasoit, who, though unlettered, was a man of +reflection and of sagacity, proposed that the English should send one +of their number to his encampment to communicate to him their designs +in settling upon lands which had belonged to one of his vassal tribes. +One of the colonists, Edward Winslow, consented to go upon this +embassy. He took as a present for the barbarian monarch two knives and +a copper chain, with a jewel attached to it. Massasoit received him +with dignity, yet with courtesy. Mr. Winslow, through Squantum as his +interpreter, addressed the chieftain, surrounded by his warriors, in +the sincere words of peace and friendship. The Pilgrims of the +Mayflower were good men. They wished to do right, and to establish +amicable relations with the Indians. + +[Illustration: MASSASOIT AND HIS WARRIORS.] + +Massasoit listened in silence and very attentively to the speech of +Mr. Winslow. At its close he expressed his approval, and, after a +short conference with his councilors, decided to accept Governor +Carver's invitation to visit him, if Mr. Winslow would remain in +the Indian encampment as a hostage during his absence. This +arrangement being assented to, Massasoit set out, with twenty of his +warriors, for the settlement of the Pilgrims. In token of peace, they +left all their weapons behind. In Indian file, and in perfect silence, +the savages advanced until they reached a small brook near the log +huts of the colonists. Here they were met by Captain Miles Standish +with a military array of six men. A salute of six muskets was fired in +honor of the regal visit. Advancing a little farther, Governor Carver +met them with his reserve of military pomp, and the monarch of the +Wampanoags and his chieftains were escorted with the music of the drum +and fife to a log hut decorated with such embellishments as the +occasion could furnish. Two or three cushions, covered with a green +rug, were spread as a seat for the king and the governor in this +formal and most important interview. Governor Carver took the hand of +Massasoit and kissed it. The Indian chieftain immediately imitated his +example, and returned the salute. The governor then, in accordance +with mistaken views of hospitality, presented his guest with a goblet +of ardent spirits. The noble Indian, whose throat had never yet been +tainted by this curse, took a draught which caused his eyes almost to +burst from their sockets, and drove the sweat gushing from every pore. +With the instinctive imperturbability of his race, he soon recovered +from the shock, and a long, friendly, and very satisfactory conference +was held. + +Massasoit was a man of mark, mild, genial, affectionate, yet bold, +cautious, and commanding. He was in the prime of life, of majestic +stature, and of great gravity of countenance and manners. His face was +painted red, after the manner of the warriors of his tribe. His glossy +raven hair, well oiled, was cut short in front, but hung thick and +long behind. He and his companions were picturesquely dressed in skins +and with plumes of brilliant colors. + +As evening approached, Massasoit withdrew with his followers to his +encampment upon the hill. The treachery of Hunt and such men had made +him suspicious, and he was not willing to leave himself for the night +in the power of the white men. He accordingly arranged his encampment +to guard against surprise, and, sentinels being established, the rest +of the party threw themselves upon their hemlock boughs, with their +bows and arrows in their hands, and were soon fast asleep. The +Pilgrims also kept a vigilant watch that night, for neither party had +full confidence in the other. The next morning Captain Standish, with +another man, ventured into the camp of the Indians. They were received +with great kindness, and gradually confidence was strengthened between +the two parties, and the most friendly relations were established. +After entering into a formal alliance, offensive and defensive, the +conference terminated to the satisfaction of all parties, and the +tawny warriors again disappeared in the pathless wilderness. They +returned to Mount Hope, then called Pokanoket, the seat of Massasoit, +about forty miles from Plymouth. + +The ravages of death had now dwindled the colony down to fifty men, +women, and children. But health was restored with the returning sun +and the cheering breezes of spring. Thirty acres of land were planted, +and Squantum proved himself a true and valuable friend, teaching them +how to cultivate Indian corn, and how to take the various kinds of +fish. + +In June Governor Carver died, greatly beloved and revered by the +colony. Mr. William Bradford was chosen as his successor, and by +annual election was continued governor for many years. Early in July +Governor Bradford sent a deputation from Plymouth, with Squantum as +their interpreter, to return the visit of Massasoit. There were +several quite important objects to be obtained by this mission. It was +a matter of moment to ascertain the strength of Massasoit, the number +of his warriors, and the state in which he lived. They wished also, by +a formal visit, to pay him marked attention, and to renew their +friendly correspondence. There was another subject of delicacy and of +difficulty which it had become absolutely necessary to bring forward. +Lazy, vagabond Indians had for some time been increasingly in the +habit of crowding the little village of the colonists and eating out +their substance. They would come with their wives and their children, +and loiter around day after day, without any delicacy whatever, +clamoring for food, and devouring every thing which was set before +them like famished wolves. The Pilgrims, anxious to maintain friendly +relations with Massasoit, were reluctant to drive away his subjects by +violence, but the longer continuance of such hospitality could not be +endured. + +The governor sent to the Indian king, as a present, a gaudy horseman's +coat. It was made of red cotton trimmed with showy lace. At 10 +o'clock in the morning of the second of July, the two ambassadors, Mr. +Winslow and Mr. Hopkins, with Squantum as guide and interpreter, set +forward on their journey. It was a warm and sunny day, and with +cheerful spirits the party threaded the picturesque trails of the +Indians through the forest. These trails were paths through the +wilderness through which the Indians had passed for uncounted +centuries. They were distinctly marked, and almost as renowned as the +paved roads of the Old World, which once reverberated beneath the +tramp of the legions of the Caesars. Here generation after generation +of the moccasined savage, with silent tread, threaded his way, +delighting in the gloom which no ray of the sun could penetrate, in +the silence interrupted only by the cry of the wild beast in his lair, +and awed by the marvelous beauty of lakes and streams, framed in +mountains and fringed with forests, where water-fowl of every variety +of note and plumage floated buoyant upon the wave, and pierced the air +with monotonous and melancholy song. Ten or twelve Indians--men, +women, and children--followed them, annoying them not a little with +their intrusiveness and their greedy grasp of food. The embassy +traveled about fifteen miles to a small Indian village upon a branch +of Taunton River. Here they arrived about three o'clock in the +afternoon. The natives called the place Namaschet. It was within the +limits of the present town of Middleborough. The Indians received the +colonists with great hospitality, offering them the richest viands +which they could furnish--heavy bread made of corn, and the spawn of +shad, which they ate from wooden spoons. These glimpses of poverty and +wretchedness sadly detract from the romantic ideas we have been wont +to cherish of the free life of the children of the forest. The savages +were exceedingly delighted with the skill which their guests displayed +in shooting crows in their corn-fields. + +As Squantum told them that it was more than a day's travel from there +to Pokanoket or Mount Hope, they resumed their journey, and went about +eight miles farther, till they came, about sunset, to another stream, +where they found a party of natives fishing. They were here cheered +with the aspect of quite a fruitful region. The ground on both sides +of the river was cleared, and had formerly waved with corn-fields. The +place had evidently once been densely populated, but the plague of +which we have spoken swept, it is said, every individual into the +grave. A few wandering Indians had now come to the deserted fields to +fish, and were lazily sleeping in the open air, without constructing +for themselves any shelter. These miserable natives had no food but +fish and a few roasted acorns, and they devoured greedily the stores +which the colonists brought with them. The night was mild and serene, +and was passed without much discomfort in the unsheltered fields. + +Early in the morning the journey was resumed, the colonists following +down the stream, now called Fall River, toward Narraganset Bay. Six of +the savages accompanied them a few miles, until they came to a shallow +place, where, by divesting themselves of their clothing, they were +able to wade through the river. Upon the opposite bank there were two +Indians who seemed, with valor which astonished the colonists, to +oppose their passage. They ran down to the margin of the stream, +brandished their weapons, and made all the threatening gestures in +their power. They were, however, appeased by friendly signs, and at +last permitted the passage of the river without resort to violence. + +Here, after refreshing themselves, they continued their journey, +following down the western bank of the stream. The country on both +sides of the river had been cleared, and in former years had been +planted with corn-fields, but was now quite depopulated. Several +Indians still accompanied them, treating them with the most remarkable +kindness. It was a cloudless day, and intensely hot. The Indians +insisted upon carrying the superfluous clothing of their newly-found +friends. As they were continually coming to brooks, often quite wide +and deep, running into the river, the Indians eagerly took the +Pilgrims upon their shoulders and carried them through. + +[Illustration: THE PALACE OF MASSASOIT.] + +During the whole of the day, after crossing the river, they met with but +two Indians on their route, so effectually had the plague swept off the +inhabitants. But the evidence was abundant that the region had formerly +been quite populous with a people very poor and uncultivated. Their +living had been manifestly nothing but fish and corn pounded into coarse +meal. Game must have been so scarce in the woods, and with such +difficulty taken with bows and arrows, that they could very seldom have +been regaled with meat. A more wretched and monotonous existence than +theirs can hardly be conceived. Entirely devoid of mental culture, there +was no range for thought. Their huts were miserable abodes, barely +endurable in pleasant weather, but comfortless in the extreme when the +wind filled them with smoke, or the rain dripped through the branches. +Men, women, children, and dogs slept together at night in the one +littered room, devoured by fleas. The native Indian was a degraded, +joyless savage, occasionally developing kind feelings and noble +instincts, but generally vicious, treacherous, and cruel. + +The latter part of the afternoon they arrived at Pokanoket. Much to +their disappointment, they found that Massasoit, uninformed of their +intended visit, was absent on a hunting excursion. As he was, however, +not far from home, runners were immediately dispatched to recall him. +The chieftain had selected his residence with that peculiar taste for +picturesque beauty which characterized the more noble of the Indians. +The hillock which the English subsequently named Mount Hope was a +graceful mound about two hundred feet high, commanding an extensive +and remarkably beautiful view of wide, sweeping forests and indented +bays. + +This celebrated mound is about four miles from the city of Fall River. +From its summit the eye now ranges over Providence, Bristol, Warren, +Fall River, and many other minor towns. The whole wide-spread +landscape is embellished with gardens, orchards, cultivated fields, +and thriving villages. Gigantic steamers plow the waves, and the sails +of a commerce which girdles the globe whitens the beautiful bay. + +But, as the tourist sits upon the solitary summit, he forgets the +present in memory of the past. Neither the pyramids of Egypt nor the +Coliseum of the Eternal City are draped with a more sublime antiquity. +Here, during generations which no man can number, the sons of the +forest gathered around their council-fires, and struggled, as human +hearts, whether savage or civilized, must ever struggle, against +"life's stormy doom." + +Here, long centuries ago, were the joys of the bridal, and the anguish +which gathers around the freshly-opened grave. Beneath the moon, which +then, as now, silvered this mound, "the Indian lover wooed his dusky +maid." Upon the beach, barbaric childhood reveled, and their red limbs +were bathed in the crystal waves. + +Here, in ages long since passed away, the war-whoop resounded through +the forest. The shriek of mothers and maidens pierced the skies as +they fell cleft by the tomahawk; and all the horrid clangor of war, +with "its terror, conflagration, tears, and blood," imbittered ten +thousand fold the ever bitter lot of humanity. + + "'Tis dangerous to rouse the lion; + Deadly to cross the tiger's path; + But the most terrible of terrors + Is man himself in his wild wrath." + +In the midst of this attractive scene, perhaps nothing is more +conspicuous than the spires of the churches--those churches of a pure +Christianity to which New England is indebted for all her intelligence +and prosperity. It was upon the Bible that our forefathers laid the +foundations of the institutions of this New World; and, though they +made some mistakes, for they were but mortal, still they were sincere, +conscientious Christian men, and their Christianity has been the +legacy from which their children have derived the greatest benefits. +Two hundred years ago, our fathers, from the summit of Mount Hope, +looked upon a dreary wilderness through which a few naked savages +roamed. How different the spectacle which now meets the eye of the +tourist! + +Massasoit, informed by his runners of the guests who had so +unexpectedly arrived, immediately returned. Mr. Winslow and Mr. +Hopkins, wishing to honor the Indian king, fired a salute, each one +discharging his gun as Massasoit approached. The king, who had heard +the report of fire-arms before, was highly gratified; but the women +and children were struck with exceeding terror, and, like affrighted +deer, leaped from their wigwams and fled into the woods. Squantum +pursued them, and, by assurances that no harm was to be feared, at +length induced them cautiously to return. + +There was then an interchange of sundry ceremonies of state to render +the occasion imposing. The scarlet coat, with its gaudy embroidery of +lace, was placed upon Massasoit, and a chain of copper beads was +thrown around his neck. He seemed much pleased with these showy +trappings, and his naked followers were exceedingly delighted in +seeing their chieftain thus decorated. A motley group now gathered +around the Indian king and the English embassy. Massasoit then made a +long speech, to which the natives seemed to listen with great +interest, occasionally responding with applause. It was now night. The +two envoys were weary with travel, and were hungry, for they had +consumed all their food, not doubting that they should find abundance +at the table of the sovereign of all these realms. But, to their +surprise, Massasoit was entirely destitute, not having even a mouthful +to offer them. Supperless they went to bed. In the following language +they describe their accommodations for the night: + + "Late it grew, but victuals he offered none, so we desired to + go to rest. He laid us on the bed with himself and his wife, + they at the one end and we at the other, it being only planks + laid a foot from the ground, and a thin mat upon them. Two + more of his chief men, for want of room, pressed by and upon + us, so that we were worse weary of our lodging than of our + journey." + +The next day there was gathered at Mount Hope quite a concourse of the +adjoining Indians, subordinate chiefs and common people. They engaged +in various games of strength and agility, with skins for prizes. The +English also fired at a mark, amazing the Indians with the accuracy of +their shot. It was now noon, and the English, who had slept without +supper, had as yet received no breakfast. At one o'clock two large +fishes were brought in, which had been speared in the bay. They were +hastily broiled upon coals, and forty hungry men eagerly devoured +them. + +The afternoon passed slowly and tediously away, and again the Pilgrims +went supperless to bed. Again they passed a sleepless night, being +kept awake by vermin, hunger, and the noise of the savages. Friday +morning they rose before the sun, resolved immediately to commence +their journey home. Massasoit was very importunate to have them remain +longer with him. + + "But we determined," they write in their graphic narrative, + "to keep the Sabbath at home, and feared that we should + either be light-headed for want of sleep, for what with bad + lodgings, the savages' barbarous singing (for they use to + sing themselves asleep), lice, and fleas within doors, and + musketoes without, we could hardly sleep all the time of our + being there; we much fearing that if we should stay any + longer we should not be able to recover home for want of + strength; so that on the Friday morning before the sunrising + we took our leave and departed, Massasoit being both grieved + and ashamed that he could no better entertain us." + +Their journey home was a very weary one. They would, perhaps, have +perished from hunger had they not obtained from the Indians whom they +met a little parched corn, which was considered a very great delicacy, +a squirrel, and a shad. Friday night, as they were asleep in the open +air, a tempest of thunder and lightning arose, with floods of rain. +Their fire was speedily extinguished, and they were soaked to the +skin. Saturday night, just as the twilight was passing away into +darkness, they reached their homes in a storm of rain, wet, weary, +hungry, and sore. + +The result of this mission was, however, important. They renewed their +treaty of peace with Massasoit, and made arrangements that they were +to receive no Indians as guests unless Massasoit should send them with +a copper necklace, in token that they came from him. + +In the autumn of this same year a boy from the colony got lost in the +woods. He wandered about for five days, living upon berries, and then +was found by some Indians in the forests of Cape Cod. Massasoit, as +soon as he heard of it, sent word that the boy was found. He was in +the hands of the same tribe who, in consequence of the villainies of +Hunt, had assailed the Pilgrims so fiercely at the First Encounter. +The savages treated the boy kindly, and had him at Nauset, which is +now the town of Eastham, near the extremity of the Cape. Governor +Bradford immediately sent ten men in a boat to rescue the boy. + +They coasted along the first day very prosperously, notwithstanding a +thunder-shower in the afternoon, with violent wind and rain. At night +they put into Barnstable Bay, then called Cummaquid. Squantum and +another Indian were with them as friends and interpreters. They deemed +it prudent not to land, but anchored for the night in the middle of +the bay. The next morning they saw some savages gathering shell-fish +upon the shore. They sent their two interpreters with assurances of +friendship, and to inquire for the boy. The savages were very +courteous, informed them that the boy was farther down the Cape at +Nauset, and invited the whole party to come on shore and take some +refreshments. Six of the colonists ventured ashore, having first +received four of the natives to remain in their boat as hostages. The +chief of this small tribe, called the Cummaquids, was a young man of +about twenty-six years of age, and appeared to be a very remarkable +character. He was dignified and courteous in his demeanor, and +entertained his guests with a native politeness which surprised them +much. + +While in this place an old Indian woman came to see them, whom they +judged to be a hundred years of age. As soon as she came into their +presence she was overwhelmed with emotion, and cried most +convulsively. Upon inquiring the reason, the Pilgrims were told that +her three sons were kidnapped by Captain Hunt. The young men had been +invited on board his ship to trade. He lured them below, seized and +bound them, and carried them to Spain, where he sold them as slaves. +The unhappy and desolate mother seemed quite heart-broken with grief. +The Pilgrims addressed to her words of sympathy, assured her that +Captain Hunt was a bad man, whom every good man in England condemned, +and gave her some presents. + +They remained with this kind but deeply-wronged people until after +dinner. Then _Iyanough_ himself, the noble young chief of the tribe, +with two of his warriors, accompanied them on board the boat to assist +them in their search for the boy. A fair wind from the west filled +their sails, and late in the evening, when it was too dark to land, +they approached Nauset. Here was the hostile tribe whose prowess the +colonists had experienced in the First Encounter. The villain, Captain +Hunt, had stolen from them twenty men. It was consequently deemed +necessary to practice much caution. Iyanough and Squantum went on +shore there to conciliate the natives and to inform them of the object +of the mission. The next morning a great crowd of natives had +gathered, and were anxious to get into the boat. The English, however, +prudently, would allow but two to enter at a time. The day was passed +in parleying. About sunset a train of a hundred Indians appeared, +bringing the lost boy with them. One half remained at a little +distance, with their bows and arrows; the other half, unarmed, brought +the boy to the boat, and delivered him to his friends. The colonists +made valuable presents to _Aspinet_, the chief of the tribe, and also +paid abundantly for the corn which, it will be remembered, they took +from a deserted house when they were first coasting along the shore in +search of a place of settlement. They then spread their sails, and a +fair wind soon drove them fifty miles across the bay to their homes. + +The Wampanoags do not appear to have constituted a very numerous +tribe, but, through the intellectual and military energy of their +chieftain, Massasoit, they had acquired great power. The present town +of Bristol, Rhode Island, was the region principally occupied by the +tribe; but Massasoit extended his sway over more than thirty tribes, +who inhabited Cape Cod and all the country extending between +Massachusetts and Narraganset Bays, reaching inland to where the head +branches of the Charles River and the Pawtucket River meet. It will be +seen at once, by reference to the map, how wide was the sway of this +Indian monarch, and how important it was for the infant colony to +cultivate friendly relations with a sovereign who could combine all +those tribes, and direct many thousand barbarian warriors to rush like +wolves upon the feeble settlement. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +CLOUDS OF WAR. + +1621-1622 + +Canonicus.--His hostility toward the Puritans.--Corruption at +court.--A rebellion.--Flight of Massasoit.--Reported death of +Squantum.--Action of the Puritans.--The army.--Directions to the +men.--Approach to the wigwam.--The attack.--"I am a squaw!"--Escape of +Corbitant.--Appearance of the huts.--Squantum found.--Threats of Capt. +Standish.--The return.--Reconciliation of Corbitant.--Prosperous +summer.--Rumors of war.--New expedition.--Evidences of the +plague.--Justice of the Pilgrims.--Explorations.--Appearance of the +harbor.--Preparations for return.--The harbor.--Friendly +relations.--Arrival of emigrants from England.--Declaration of +war.--Canonicus.--Weakness of the Pilgrims.--Council +called.--Pickwickian challenge.--Preparations for defense.--Completion +of the fortification.--The challenge retracted.--An arrival.--Kind +reception.--Complaints from the Indians.--Relief wanted.--Death of +Squantum.--His prayer.--Governor Bradford's journey.--Theft +committed.--Return of the articles.--The Weymouth settlers implore +aid.--Disgraceful proceeding.--Injustice of Hudibras.--Sickness of +Massasoit.--Deputation from Plymouth.--The journey.--Reported death of +Massasoit.--Hobbomak.--Hospitality of Corbitant's wife.--Arrival at +Mount Hope.--Massasoit's welcome.--His recovery.--Kindness of the +Pilgrims.--Mr. Winslow as physician.--Alarming tidings.--The party +leave Mount Hope.--Conversation with Corbitant.--English +salutations.--Theological remarks.--Return to Plymouth.--The +army.--Captain Standish.--Insolence of the Indians.--The commencement +of hostilities.--The conflict and victory.--The Weymouth men go to +Monhegan.--Regrets of the English.--Letter from Rev. Mr. Robinson. + + +The Narraganset Indians occupied the region extending from the western +shores of Narraganset Bay to Pawcatuck River. They were estimated to +number about thirty thousand, and could bring five thousand warriors +into the field. Canonicus, the sovereign chief of this tribe, was a +man of great renown. War had occasionally raged between the +Narragansets and the Wampanoags, and the two tribes were bitterly +hostile to each other. Canonicus regarded the newly-arrived English +with great jealousy, and was particularly annoyed by the friendly +relations existing between them and the Wampanoags. Indeed, it is +quite evident that Massasoit was influenced to enter into his alliance +with the English mainly from his dread of the Narragansets. + +Bribery and corruption are almost as common in barbarian as in +civilized courts. Canonicus had brought over to his cause one of the +minor chiefs of Massasoit, named Corbitant. This man, audacious and +reckless, began to rail bitterly at the peace existing between the +Indians and the English. Boldly he declared that Massasoit was a +traitor, and ought to be deposed. Sustained as Corbitant was by the +whole military power of the Narragansets, he soon gathered a party +about him sufficiently strong to bid defiance to Massasoit. The +sovereign of the Wampanoags was even compelled to take refuge from +arrest by flight. + +The colonists heard these tidings with great solicitude, and learning +that Corbitant was within a few miles of them, at Namasket +(Middleborough), striving to rouse the natives to unite with the +Narragansets against them, they privately sent Squantum and another +friendly Indian, Hobbomak, to Namasket, to ascertain what had become +of Massasoit, and how serious was the peril with which they were +threatened. + +The next day Hobbomak returned alone, breathless and terrified. He +reported that they had hardly arrived at Namasket when Corbitant beset +the wigwam into which they had entered with a band of armed men, and +seized them both as prisoners. He declared that they both should die, +saying that when Squantum was dead the English would have lost their +tongue. Brandishing a knife, the savage approached Squantum to stab +him. Hobbomak, being a very powerful man, at that moment broke from +the grasp of those who held him, and outrunning his pursuers, +succeeded in regaining Plymouth. He said that he had no doubt that +Squantum was killed. + +These were melancholy and alarming tidings. Governor Bradford +immediately assembled the few men--about twenty in number--of the +feeble colony, to decide what should be done. After looking to God for +counsel, and after calm deliberation, it was resolved that, if they +should suffer their friends and messengers to be thus assailed and +murdered with impunity, the hostile Indians would be encouraged to +continued aggressions, and no Indians would dare to maintain friendly +relations with them. They therefore adopted the valiant determination +to send ten men, one half of their whole number, with Hobbomak as +their guide, to seize Corbitant and avenge the outrage. + +The 14th of August, 1621, was a dark and stormy day, when this little +band set out on its bold adventure. All the day long, as they silently +threaded the paths of the forest, the rain dripped upon them. Late in +the afternoon they arrived within four miles of Namasket. They then +thought it best to conceal themselves until after dark, that they +might fall upon their foe by surprise. Captain Standish led the band. +To every man he gave minute directions as to the part he was to +perform. Night, wet and stormy, soon darkened around them in Egyptian +blackness. They could hardly see a hand's breadth before them. Groping +along, they soon lost their way, and became entangled in the thick +undergrowth. Wet, weary, and dejected, they toiled on, and at last +again happily hit the trail. It was after midnight when they arrived +within sight of the glimmering fires of the little Indian hamlet of +Namasket. They then sat down, and ate from their knapsacks a hearty +meal. The food which remained they threw away, that they might have +nothing to obstruct them in the conflict which might ensue. + +They then cautiously approached a large wigwam where Hobbomak supposed +that Corbitant and his men were sleeping. Silently they surrounded the +hut, the gloom of the night and the wailings of the storm securing +them from being either seen or heard. At a signal, two muskets were +fired to terrify the savages, and Captain Standish, with three or +four men, rushed into the hut. The ground floor, dimly lighted by some +dying embers, was covered with sleeping savages--men, women, and +children. A scene of indescribable consternation and confusion ensued. +Through Hobbomak, Captain Standish ordered every one to remain, +assuring them that he had come for Corbitant, the murderer of +Squantum, and that, if he were not there, no one else should be +injured. But the savages, terrified by the midnight surprise and by +the report of the muskets, were bereft of reason. Many of them +endeavored to escape, and were severely wounded by the colonists in +their attempts to stop them. The Indian boys, seeing that the women +were not molested, ran around, frantically exclaiming, "I am a squaw! +I am a squaw!" + +At last order was restored, and it was found that Corbitant was not +there, but that he had gone off with all his train, and that Squantum +was not killed. A bright fire was now kindled, that the hut might be +carefully searched. Its blaze illumined one of the wildest of +imaginable scenes. The wigwam, spacious and rudely constructed of +boughs, mats, and bark; the affrighted savages, men, women, and +children, in their picturesque dress and undress, a few with ghastly +wounds, faint and bleeding; the various weapons and utensils of +barbarian life hanging around; the bold colonists in their European +dress and arms; the fire blazing in the centre of the hut, all +combined to present a scene such as few eyes have ever witnessed. +Hobbomak now climbed to the top of the hut and shouted for Squantum. +He immediately came from another wigwam. Having disarmed the savages +of their bows and arrows, the colonists gathered around the fire to +dry their dripping clothes, and waited for the light of the morning. + +With the early light, all who were friendly to the English gathered +around them, while the faction in favor of Corbitant fled into the +wilderness. A large group was soon assembled. Captain Standish, in +words of conciliation and of firmness, informed them that, though +Corbitant had escaped, yet, if he continued his hostility, no place of +retreat would secure him from punishment; and that, if any violence +were offered to Massasoit or to any of his subjects by the +Narragansets, or by any one else, the colonists would avenge it to the +utter overthrow of those thus offending. He expressed great regret +that any of the Indians had been wounded in consequence of their +endeavors to escape from the house, and offered to take the wounded +home, that they might be carefully healed. + +After breakfasting with the Indians, this heroic band, accompanied by +Squantum, some of the wounded, and several other friendly Indians, set +out on their return. They arrived at home in safety the same evening. +This well-judged and decisive measure at once checked the progress of +Corbitant in exciting disaffection. He soon found it expedient to seek +reconciliation, and, through the intercession of Massasoit, signed a +treaty of submission and friendship; and even Canonicus, sovereign of +the Narragansets, sent a messenger, perhaps as a spy, but professedly +to treat for peace. Thus this cloud of war was dissipated. + +On the whole, the Pilgrims had enjoyed a very prosperous summer. They +were eminently just and kind in their treatment of the Indians. In +trading with them they obtained furs and many other articles, which +contributed much to their comfort. Fish was abundant in the bay. Their +corn grew luxuriantly, and their fields waved with a rich and golden +harvest. With the autumnal weather came abundance of water-fowl, +supplying them with delicious meat. Thus were they blessed with peace +and plenty. + +Various rumors had reached the colonists that several of the tribes of +the Massachusetts Indians, so called, inhabiting the islands and main +land at the northwestern extremity of Massachusetts Bay, were +threatening hostilities. It was consequently decided to send an +expedition to them, not to intimidate, but to conciliate with words of +sincerity and deeds of kindness. + +At midnight, September the 18th, the tide then serving, a small party +set sail, and during the day, with a gentle wind, made about sixty +miles north. Not deeming it safe to land, they remained in their boat +during the night, and the next morning landed under a cliff. Here they +found some natives, who seemed to cower before them in terror. It +appeared afterward that Squantum had told the natives that the English +had a box in which they kept the plague, and that, if the Indians +offended them, they would let the awful scourge loose. Every where the +English saw evidences of the ravages of the pestilence to which we +have so often referred. There were desolate villages and deserted +corn-fields, and but a few hundred Indians wandering here and there +where formerly there had been thousands. The kindness with which they +treated the Indians, and the fairness with which they traded with +them, won confidence. Squantum at one time suggested that, by way of +punishment, and to teach the savages a lesson, they should by violence +take away their furs, which were almost their only treasures. Our +fathers nobly replied, "Were they ever so bad, we would not wrong +them, or give them any just occasion against us. We shall pay no +attention to their threatening words, but, if they attack us, we shall +then punish them severely." + +The Pilgrims explored quite minutely this magnificent harbor, then +solitary and fringed with rayless forests, now alive with commerce, +and decorated with mansions of refinement and opulence. The long +promontory, now crowded with the busy streets and thronged dwellings +of Boston, was then a dense and silent wilderness, threaded with a few +Indian trails. Along the shore several rude wigwams were scattered, +the smoke curling from their fires from among the trees, with naked +children playing around the birch canoes upon the beach. + +In the evening of a serene day the moon rose brilliant on the harbor, +illumining with almost celestial beauty the islands and the sea. Many +of the islands were then crowned with forests; others were cleared +smooth and verdant, but swept entirely clean of inhabitants by the +dreadful plague. The Pilgrims, rejoicing in the rays of the autumnal +moon, prepared to spread their sails. "Having well spent the day," +they write, "we returned to the shallop, almost all the women +accompanying us to trucke, who sold their coats from their backes, and +tyed boughes about them, but with great shamefastness, for indeed they +are more modest than some of our English women are. We promised them +to come again to them, and they us to keep their skins. + +"Within this bay the savages say there are two rivers, the one whereof +we saw having a fair entrance, but we had no time to discover it. +Better harbors for shipping can not be than here are. At the entrance +of the bay are many rocks, and, in all likelihood, very good fishing +ground. Having a light moon, we set sail at evening, and before next +day noon got home, with a considerable quantity of beaver, and a good +report of the place, wishing we had been seated there." + +Thus, by kindness, the natives of this region were won to friendship, +and amicable relations were established. Before the close of this year +another vessel arrived from England, bringing thirty-five persons to +join the colony. Though these emigrants were poor, and, having +consumed nearly all their food on a long voyage, were nearly starved, +the lonely colonists received the acquisition with great joy. Houses +were immediately built for their accommodation, and they were fed from +the colony stores. Winter now again whitened the hills of Plymouth. + +Early in January, 1622, Canonicus, sovereign chief of the +Narragansets, notwithstanding the alliance of the foregoing summer +into which he had entered, dreading the encroachments of the white +men, and particularly apprehensive of the strength which their +friendship gave to his hereditary enemies, the Mohegans, sent to +Governor Bradford a bundle of arrows tied up in the skin of a +rattlesnake. Squantum was called to interpret the significance of such +a gift. He said that it was the Indian mode of expressing hostility +and of sending a declaration of war. This act shows an instinctive +sense of honor in the barbarian chieftain which civilized men do not +always imitate. Even the savages cherished ideas of chivalry which led +them to scorn to strike an unsuspecting and defenseless foe. The +friendly Indians around Plymouth assured the colonists that Canonicus +was making great preparations for war; that he could bring five +thousand warriors into the field; that he had sent spies to ascertain +the condition of the English and their weakness; and that he had +boasted that he could eat them all up at a mouthful. It is pleasant to +record that our fathers had not provoked this hostility by any act of +aggression. They had been thus far most eminently just and benevolent +in all their intercourse with the natives. They were settled upon land +to which Canonicus pretended no claim, and were on terms of cordial +friendship with all the Indians around them. The Pilgrims at this time +had not more than twenty men capable of bearing arms, and five +thousand savages were clashing their weapons, and filling the forest +with their war-whoops, preparing to attack them. Their peril was +indeed great. + +Governor Bradford called a council of his most judicious men, and it +was decided that, under these circumstances, any appearance of +timidity would but embolden their enemies. The rattlesnake skin was +accordingly returned filled with powder and bullets, and accompanied +by a defiant message that, if Canonicus preferred war to peace, the +colonists were ready at any moment to meet him, and that he would rue +the day in which he converted friends into enemies. + +Barbarian as well as civilized blusterers can, when discretion +prompts, creep out of an exceedingly small hole. Canonicus had no wish +to meet a foe who was thus prompt for the encounter. He immediately +sent to Governor Bradford the assurance, in Narraganset phrase, of his +high consideration, and begged him to believe that the arrows and the +snake skin were sent purely in a Pickwickian sense. + +The threatening aspect of affairs at this time led the colonists to +surround their whole little village, including also the top of the +hill, on the side of which it was situated, with a strong palisade, +consisting of posts some twelve feet high firmly planted in the ground +in contact with each other. It was an enormous labor to construct this +fortification in the dead of winter. There were three entrance gates +to the little town thus walled in, with bulwarks to defend them. +Behind this rampart, with loop-holes through which the defenders could +fire upon any approaching foe, the colonists felt quite secure. A +large cannon was also mounted upon the summit of the hill, which would +sweep all the approaches with ball and grape-shot. Sentinels were +posted night and day, to guard against surprise, and their whole +available force was divided into four companies, each with its +commander, and its appointed place of rendezvous in case of an attack. +The months of January and February were occupied in this work. Early +in March the fortification was completed. + +The heroic defiance which was returned to Canonicus, and the vigorous +measures of defense adopted, alarmed the Narragansets. They +immediately ceased all hostile demonstrations, and Canonicus remained +after this, until his death, apparently a firm friend of the English. + +In June, to the great annoyance of the Pilgrims, two vessels came into +the harbor of Plymouth, bringing sixty wild and rude adventurers, who, +neither fearing God nor regarding man, had come to the New World to +seek their fortunes. They were an idle and dissolute set, greedy for +gain, and ripe for any deeds of dishonesty or violence. They had made +but poor provision for their voyage, and were almost starved. The +Pilgrims received them kindly, and gave them shelter and food; and yet +the ungrateful wretches stole their corn, wasted their substance, and +secretly reviled their habits of sobriety and devotion. Nearly all +the summer these unprincipled adventurers intruded upon the +hospitality of the Pilgrims. In the autumn, these men, sixty in +number, went to a place which they had selected in Massachusetts Bay, +then called Wessagusset, now the town of Weymouth, which they had +selected for their residence. They left their sick behind them, to be +nursed by those Christian Pilgrims whose piety had excited their +ribald abuse. + +Hardly had these men left ere the ears of the Pilgrims were filled +with the clamors which their injustice and violence raised from the +outraged Indians. The Weymouth miscreants stole their corn, insulted +their females, and treated them with every vile indignity. The Indians +at last became exasperated beyond endurance, and threatened the total +destruction of the dissolute crew. At last starvation stares them in +the face, and they send in October to Plymouth begging for food. The +Pilgrims have not more than enough to meet their own wants during the +winter. But, to save them from famishing by hunger, Governor Bradford +himself takes a small party in a boat and sails along the coast, +purchasing corn of the Indians, getting a few quarts here and a few +bushels there, until he had collected twenty-eight hogsheads of corn +and beans. While at Chatham, then called Manamoyk, Squantum was taken +sick of a fever and died. It is a touching tribute to the kindness of +our Pilgrim fathers that this poor Indian testified so much love for +them. In his dying hour he prayed fervently that God would take him to +the heaven of the Englishmen, that he might dwell with them forever. +As remembrances of his affection, he bequeathed all his little effects +to sundry of his English friends. Governor Bradford and his +companions, with tears, followed the remains of their faithful +interpreter to the grave, and then, with saddened hearts, continued +their voyage. + +At Nauset, now Eastham, their shallop was unfortunately wrecked. +Governor Bradford stored the corn on shore, placed it under the care +of the friendly Indians there, and, taking a native for a guide, set +out on foot to travel fifty miles through the forest to Plymouth. The +natives all along the way received him with kindness, and did every +thing in their power to aid him. Having arrived at Plymouth, he +dispatched Captain Standish with another shallop to fetch the corn. +The bold captain had a prosperous though a very tempestuous voyage. +While at Nauset an Indian stole some trifle from the shallop as she +lay in a creek. Captain Standish immediately went to the sachem of the +tribe, and informed him that the lost goods must be restored, or he +should make reprisals. The next morning the sachem came and delivered +the goods, saying that he was very sorry the crime had been committed; +that the thief had been arrested and punished; and that he had ordered +his women to make some bread for Captain Standish, in token of his +desire to cultivate just and friendly relations. Captain Standish +having arrived at Plymouth, a supply of corn was delivered to help the +people at Weymouth. + +But these lawless adventurers were as improvident as they were vicious +and idle. By the month of February they were again destitute and +starving. They had borrowed all they could, and had stolen all they +could, and were now in a state of extreme misery, many of them having +already perished from exposure and want. The Indians hated them and +despised them. Conspiracies were formed to kill them all, and many +Indians, scattered here and there, were in favor of destroying all the +white men. They foresaw that civilized and savage life could not abide +side by side. The latter part of February the Weymouth people sent a +letter to Plymouth by an Indian, stating their deplorable condition, +and imploring further aid. They had become so helpless and degraded +that the Indians seem actually to have made slaves of them, compelling +them to perform the most menial services. The letter contained the +following dolorous complaints: + + "The boldness of the Indians increases abundantly, insomuch + that the victuals we get they will take out of our pots and + eat it before our faces. If we try to prevent them, they + will hold a knife at our breasts. To satisfy them, we have + been compelled to hang one of our company. We have sold our + clothes for corn, and are ready to starve, both with cold + and hunger also, because we can not endure to get victuals + by reason of our nakedness." + +Under these circumstances, one of the Weymouth men, ranging the woods, +came to an Indian barn and stole some corn. The owner, finding by the +footprints that it was an Englishman who had committed the theft, +determined to have revenge. With insulting and defiant confederates, +he went to the plantation and demanded that the culprit should be +hung, threatening, if there were not prompt acquiescence in the +demand, the utter destruction of the colonists. The consternation at +Weymouth was great. Nearly all were sick and half famished, and they +could present no resistance. After very anxious deliberation, it was +decided that, since the man who committed the theft was young and +strong, and a skillful cobbler, whose services could not be dispensed +with, they would by stratagem save his life, and substitute for him a +poor old bedrid weaver, who was not only useless to them, but a +burden. This economical arrangement was unanimously adopted. The poor +old weaver, bound hand and foot, and dressed in the clothes of the +culprit, was dragged from his bed, and was soon seen dangling in the +air, to the great delight of the Indians. + +Much has been written upon this disgraceful transaction, and various +versions of it have been given, with sundry details, but the facts, so +far as can now be ascertained, are as we have stated. The deed is in +perfect accordance with the whole course pursued by the miserable men +who perpetrated it. The author of Hudibras unjustly--we hope not +maliciously--in his witty doggerel, ascribes this transaction of the +miscreants at Weymouth to the Pilgrims at Plymouth. The mirth-loving +satirist seemed to rejoice at the chance of directing a shaft against +the Puritans. + +Just at this time news came to Plymouth that Massasoit was very sick, +and at the point of death. Governor Bradford immediately dispatched +Mr. Edward Winslow and Mr. John Hampden[A] to the dying chieftain, +with such medical aid as the colony could furnish. Their friend +Hobbomak accompanied them as guide and interpreter. Massasoit had two +sons quite young, Wamsutta and Pometacom, the eldest of whom would, +according to Indian custom, inherit the chieftainship. It was, +however, greatly feared that the ambitious and energetic Corbitant, +who had manifested much hostility to the English, might avail himself +of the death of Massasoit, and grasp the reins of power. The +deputation from Plymouth traveled the first day through the woods as +far as Middleborough, then the little Indian hamlet of Namasket. There +they passed the night in the wigwam of an Indian. They, the next day, +continued their journey, and crossing in a canoe the arm of the bay, +which there runs far inland and three miles beyond, with much anxiety +approached the dwelling-place of Corbitant at Mattapoiset, in the +present town of Swanzey. They had been informed by the way that +Massasoit was dead, and they had great fears that Corbitant had +already taken steps as a usurper, and that they, two defenseless men, +might fall victims to his violence. + +[Footnote A: There is much evidence that this was the celebrated John +Hampden, renowned in the time of Charles I, and to whom Gray, in his +Elegy, alludes: + + "The village _Hampden_, that with dauntless breast + The little tyrant of his fields withstood."] + +Hobbomak, who had embraced Christianity, and was apparently a +consistent Christian, was greatly beloved by Massasoit. The honest +Indian, when he heard the tidings of his chieftain's death, bitterly +deplored his loss. + +"My loving sachem! my loving sachem!" he exclaimed; "many have I +known, but never any like thee." + +Then turning to Mr. Winslow, he added, "While you live you will never +see his like among the Indians. He was no deceiver, nor bloody, nor +cruel, like the other Indians. He never cherished a spirit of revenge, +and was easily reconciled to those who had offended him. He was ever +ready to listen to the advice of others, and governed his people by +wisdom and without severity." + +When they arrived at Corbitant's house they found the sachem not at +home. His wife, however, treated them with great kindness, and +informed them that Massasoit was still alive, though at the point of +death. They therefore hastened on to Mount Hope. Mr. Winslow gives the +following account of the scene witnessed at the bedside of the sick +monarch: + + "When we arrived thither, we found the house so full that we + could scarce get in, though they used their best diligence + to make way for us. They were in the midst of their charms + for him, making such a fiendlike noise that it distempered + us who were well, and therefore was unlike to ease him that + was sick. About him were six or eight women, who chafed his + arms, legs, and thighs, to keep heat in him. When they had + made an end of their charming, one told him that his friends + the English were come to see him. Having understanding left, + but his sight was wholly gone, he asked _who was come_. They + told him _Winsnow_, for they can not pronounce the letter + _l_, but ordinarily _n_ in the place thereof. He desired to + speak with me. When I came to him, and they told him of it, + he put forth his hand to me, which I took. Then he said + twice, though very inwardly, _Keen_ _Winsnow?_ which is to + say, Art thou Winslow? I answered _Ahhe_, that is, _yes_. + Then he doubled these words: _Matta neen wonckanet namen + Winsnow;_ that is to say, _O Winslow, I shall never see thee + again!_" + +Mr. Winslow immediately prepared some refreshing broth for the sick +man, and, by careful nursing, to the astonishment of all, he +recovered. Massasoit appeared to be exceedingly grateful for this +kindness, and ever after attributed his recovery to the skill and +attentions of his English friends. His unquestionable sincerity won +the confidence of the English, and they became more fully convinced of +his real worth than ever before. Mr. Winslow wished for a chicken to +make some broth. An Indian immediately set out, at two o'clock at +night, for a run of forty miles through the wilderness to Plymouth. In +a surprisingly short time, he returned with two live chickens. +Massasoit was so much pleased with the fowls--animals which he had +never seen before--that he would not allow them to be killed, but kept +them as pets. The kind-hearted yet imperial old chieftain manifested +great solicitude for the welfare of his people. He entreated Mr. +Winslow to visit all his villages, that he might relieve the sick and +the suffering who were in them. Mr. Winslow remained several days, +and his fame as a physician spread so rapidly that great crowds +gathered in an encampment around Mount Hope to gain relief from a +thousand nameless ills. Some came from the distance of more than a +hundred miles. + +While at Mount Hope, Massasoit informed Mr. Winslow that Wittuwamet, a +sachem of one of the Massachusetts tribes of Indians near Weymouth, +and several other Indian chiefs, had formed a plot for the purpose of +cutting off the two English colonies. Massasoit stated that he had +been often urged to join in the conspiracy, but had always refused to +do so, and that he had done every thing in his power to prevent it. +Mr. Winslow very anxiously inquired into all the particulars, and +ascertained that the Weymouth men had so thoroughly aroused the +contempt as well as the indignation of the neighboring Indians, that +their total massacre was resolved upon. The Indians, however, both +respected and feared the colonists at Plymouth; and, apprehensive that +they might avenge the slaughter of their countrymen, it was resolved, +by a sudden and treacherous assault, to overwhelm them also, so that +not a single Englishman should remain to tell the tale. + +With these alarming tidings, Mr. Winslow, with Mr. Hampden and +Hobbomak, left Mount Hope on his return. Corbitant, their +outwardly-reconciled enemy, accompanied them as far as his house in +what is now Swanzey. + + "That night," writes Mr. Winslow, "through the earnest + request of Corbitant, we lodged with him at Mattapoiset. On + the way I had much conference with him, so likewise at his + house, he being a notable politician, yet full of merry + jests and squibs, and never better pleased than when the + like are returned upon him. Among other things, he asked me + that, if _he_ were thus dangerously sick, as Massasoit had + been, and should send to Plymouth for medicine, whether the + governor would send it; and if he would, whether I would + come therewith to him. To both which I answered yes; whereat + he gave me many joyful thanks." + +"I am surprised," said Corbitant, after a moment's thought, "that two +Englishmen should dare to venture so far into our country alone. Are +you not afraid?" + +"Where there is true love," Mr. Winslow replied, "there is no fear." + +"But if your love be such," said the wily Indian, "and bear such +fruit, how happens it that when we come to Plymouth, you stand upon +your guard, with the mouth of your pieces pointed toward us?" + +"This," replied Mr. Winslow, "is a mark of respect. It is our custom +to receive our best friends in this manner." + +Corbitant shook his head, and said, "I do not like such salutations." + +Observing that Mr. Winslow, before eating, implored a blessing, +Corbitant desired to know what it meant. Mr. Winslow endeavored to +explain to him some of the primary truths of revealed religion, and +repeated to him the Ten Commandments. Corbitant listened to them very +attentively, and said that he liked them all except the seventh. "It +must be very inconvenient," he said, "for a man to be tied all his +life to one woman, whether she pleases him or not." + +As Mr. Winslow continued his remarks upon the goodness of God, and the +gratitude he should receive from us, Corbitant added, "I believe +almost as you do. The being whom you call God we call Kichtan." + +Mr. Winslow and his companions passed a very pleasant night in the +Indian dwelling, receiving the most hospitable entertainment. The +next morning they hastened on their way to Plymouth. They immediately +informed the governor of the alarming tidings they had heard +respecting the conspiracy, and a council of all the men in the colony +was convened. It was unanimously decided that action, prompt, +vigorous, and decisive, was necessary. + +The bold Captain Standish was immediately placed in command of an army +of _eight men_ to proceed to Weymouth. He embarked his force in a +squadron of _one boat_, to set sail for Massachusetts--for +Massachusetts and Plymouth were then distinct colonies. The captain +was an intrepid, impulsive man, who rarely took counsel of prudence. +He would wrong no man, and, let the consequences be what they might, +he would submit to wrong from no man. The Pilgrims valued him highly, +and yet so deeply regretted his fiery temperament that they were +unwilling to receive him to the communion of the Church. + +When they arrived at Weymouth they found a large number of Indians +swaggering around the wretched settlement, and treating the humiliated +and starving colonists with the utmost insolence. The colonists dared +not exhibit the slightest spirit of retaliation. The Indians had been +so accustomed to treat the godless race at Weymouth with every +indignity, that they had almost forgotten that the Pilgrims were men +of different blood. As Captain Standish and his eight men landed, they +were met by a mob of Indians, who, by derision and insolence, seemed +to aim to provoke a quarrel. Wittuwamet, the head of the conspirators, +was there. He was a stout, brawny savage, vulgar, bold, and impudent, +almost beyond the conception of a civilized mind. Accompanied by a +gang of confederates, he approached Captain Standish, whetting his +knife, and threatening his death in phrase exceedingly contemptuous +and insulting. By the side of this chief was another Indian named +Peksuot, of gigantic stature and Herculean strength, who taunted the +captain with his inferior size, and assailed him with a volley of +barbarian blackguardism. All this it would be hard for a meek man to +bear. Captain Standish was not a meek man. The hot blood of the +Puritan Cavalier was soon at the boiling point. Disdaining to take +advantage even of such a foe, he threw aside his gun, and springing +upon the gigantic Peksuot, grasped at the knife which was suspended +from his neck, the blade of which was double-edged, and ground to a +point as sharp as a needle. There was a moment of terrific conflict, +and then the stout Indian fell dead upon the ground, with the blood +gushing from many mortal wounds. Another Englishman closed with +Wittuwamet, and there was instantly a general fray. Wittuwamet and +another Indian were killed; another was taken prisoner and hung upon +the spot, for conspiring to destroy the English; the rest fled. +Captain Standish followed up his victory, and pursued the fugitives. A +few more were killed. This unexpected development of courage and power +so overwhelmed the hostile Indians that they implored peace. + +The Weymouth men, thus extricated from peril, were afraid to remain +there any longer, though Captain Standish told them that he should not +hesitate to stay with one half their number. Still they persisted in +leaving. Captain Standish then generously offered to take them with +him to Plymouth, where they should share in the now almost exhausted +stores of the Pilgrims. But they decided, since they had a small +vessel in which they could embark, to go to Monhegan, an island near +the mouth of the Kennebec River, where many English ships came +annually to fish. The captain helped them on board the vessel, +provided for them a supply of corn, and remained until their sail was +disappearing in the distant horizon of the sea. He then returned to +Plymouth, and all were rejoiced that the country was delivered from +such a set of vagabonds. + +The Pilgrims regretted the hasty and violent measures adopted by +Captain Standish, and yet they could not, under the circumstances, +severely condemn him. The Rev. Mr. Robinson, father of the Plymouth +Church, wrote from Holland: + + "Due allowance must be made for the warm temper of Captain + Standish. I hope that the Lord has sent him among you for + good, if you will but use him as you ought. I fear, however, + that there is wanting that tenderness for the life of man, + made after God's own image, which we ought to cherish. It + would have been happy if some had been converted before any + had been killed." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE PEQUOT WAR. + +1630-1637 + +Prosperity of the colonies.--Massachusetts Colony.--Settlement of +Boston.--Motives actuating the settlers.--Correspondence with the +Dutch governor.--Dutch colonies.--Taking possession.--Opposition to +their settlement.--Beauty of Connecticut.--The Pequots.--Sassacus.--The +three powers.--Continual wars.--Power of Sassacus.--Trading +expedition.--Murder of the company.--Diplomatic skill.--Indians' +account of the affair.--Friendly alliance.--Planting new +colonies.--Indications of meditated hostility.--Roger Williams.--Mr. +Williams sent as embassador.--His mission.--His success.--Enmity of +the Pequots.--Acts of violence.--Discovery of the murder of Captain +Stone and his men.--Trading expedition to the Pequots.--John +Gallop.--Valiant behavior of Captain Gallop.--Victory over the +Indians.--The body of Captain Oldham.--Loss of the +pinnace.--Retribution.--The expedition.--The first attack.--The +English victorious.--The work of devastation.--Inefficiency of the +punishment.--Exultation of Sassacus.--Scenes of blood.--Energy of +Sassacus.--Vigilance of the enemy.--Siege of Saybrook.--Necessity +for energetic action.--Raising an army.--Uncas sachem of +the Mohegans.--Departure of the troops.--Torture of a +captive.--Fortresses.--Plan of attack.--Delight of +the Pequots.--Detentions.--Landing.--Cordial +reception.--Re-enforcements.--Determination to +proceed.--Boasting.--Continued re-enforcements.--Rapid +march.--Plan of attack changed.--Ardor of the Indians +cooled.--Desertions.--Repose.--Devotions of the English.--Address to +the Indians.--The fort.--Negligence of the enemy.--The attack.--The +conflict.--The wigwams burned.--Massacre.--Horrors of the +scene.--Extermination.--Number of those escaping.--Amazement of the +Indians.--Destitution of the English.--The vessels seen.--Attack from +the Indians.--Valor of the English.--Desertion of the +Narragansets.--Retreat of the English.--Grief of Sassacus.--Journey to +Saybrook.--Effects of the victory.--News of the victory dispatched to +Massachusetts.--New expedition.--Fugitives.--Pursuit.--Sachem's +Head.--Arrival at New Haven.--News of a camp in a swamp.--Surrender of +Indians.--Escape of the Pequots.--Death of Sassacus.--Children sold +into slavery.--Extermination of the tribe.--The motives for the +deed.--The sunshine of peace and plenty. + + +The energetic, yet just and conciliatory measures adopted by the +Pilgrims at Plymouth, in their intercourse with the Indians, were +productive of the happiest results. For several years there was a +period of peace and prosperity. The colony had now become firmly +established, and every year emigrants, arriving from the mother +country, extended along the coasts and into the interior the comforts +and the refinements of civilization. + +In the year 1630, ten years after the landing of the Pilgrims, a +company of gentlemen of fortune and of social distinction organized a +colony, upon a much grander scale than the one at Plymouth, to +emigrate to Massachusetts Bay, under the name of the Massachusetts +Colony. The leaders in this enterprise were men of decidedly a higher +cast of character, intellectual and social, than their brethren at +Plymouth. On the 12th of June this company landed at Salem, and before +the close of the year their number amounted to seventeen hundred. The +tide of emigration now began to flow very rapidly, and eight or ten +towns were soon settled. Toward the close of this year a few families +moved to the end of the peninsula now called Boston. The dense +wilderness spread around them. They reared their log huts near the +beach, at the north end, and by fishing, hunting, and raising Indian +corn, obtained a frugal existence. In the five following years very +great accessions were made to this important colony. Thriving +settlements sprang up rapidly all along the coast. The colonists +appear to have been conscientious in their dealings with the natives, +purchasing their lands of them at a fair price. Nearly all these men +came to the wilderness of this new world inspired by as lofty motives +as can move the human heart. Many of them were wealthy and of high +rank. At an immense sacrifice, they abandoned the luxuries and +refinements to which they had been accustomed at home, that they might +enjoy in New England that civil and religious liberty which Old +England no longer afforded them. + +The Dutch had now established a colony at the mouth of the Hudson +River, and were looking wistfully at the fertile meadows which their +traders had found upon the banks of the Connecticut. The English were +apprehensive that the Dutch might anticipate them in taking possession +of that important valley. In 1630 the Earl of Warwick had obtained +from Charles I. a patent, granting him all the land extending west +from Narraganset Bay one hundred and twenty miles. This grant +comprehended the whole of the present state of Connecticut and +considerable more, reaching west to the Dutch settlements on the +Hudson River. Preparations were immediately made for the establishment +of a small company on the Connecticut River. Governor Winthrop sent a +message to the Dutch governor at New Netherlands, as New York was then +called, informing him that the King of England had granted all the +region of the Connecticut River to his own subjects, and requesting +that the Dutch would not build there. Governor Van Twiller returned a +very polite answer, stating that the authorities in Holland had +granted the same country to a Dutch company, and he accordingly +requested the English not to settle there. + +Governor Winthrop immediately dispatched some men through the +wilderness to explore the country, and several small vessels were +sent to ascend the river, and, by trade, to establish friendly +relations with the Indians. The Plymouth colony also sent a company of +men with a frame house and boards for covering. When William Holmes, +the leader of this company, had sailed up the Connecticut as far as +the present city of Hartford, he found that the Dutch were before him, +and had erected a fort there. The Dutch ordered him to go back, and +stood by their cannon with lighted torches, threatening to fire upon +him. + +Mr. Holmes, an intrepid man, regardless of their threats, which they +did not venture to execute, pushed boldly by, and established himself +at the mouth of Little River, in the present town of Windsor. Here he +put up his house, surrounded it with palisades, and fortified it as +strongly as his means would allow. Governor Van Twiller, being +informed of this movement, sent a band of seventy men, under arms, to +tear down this house and drive away the occupants. But Holmes was +ready for battle, and the Dutch, finding him so well fortified that he +could not be displaced without a bloody conflict, retired. + +The whole region of the State of Connecticut was at this time a +wilderness, covered with a dense and gloomy forest, which +overshadowed both mountain and valley. There were scattered here and +there a few spots where the trees had disappeared, and where the +Indians planted their corn. The Indians were exceedingly numerous in +this lovely valley. The picturesque beauty of the country, the genial +climate, the fertile soil, and the vast variety of fish and fowl which +abounded in its bays, ponds, and streams, rendered Connecticut quite +an elysium for savage life. + +These Indians were divided into very many tribes or clans, more or +less independent, each with its sachem and its chief warriors. The +Pequots were by far the most powerful and warlike among them. Their +territory spread over the present towns of New London, Groton, and +Stonington. Just north of them was a branch of the same tribe, called +the Mohegans, under their distinguished sachem Uncas. The Pequots and +the Mohegans, thus united, were resistless. It is said that, a few +years before the arrival of the English in this country, the Pequots +had poured down like an inundation from the forests of the north, +sweeping all opposition before them, and had taken possession of the +sea-coast as a conquered country. + +Sassacus was the sovereign chief of this nation. The present town of +Groton was his regal residence. Upon two commanding and beautiful +eminences in this town, from which the eye ranged over a very +extensive prospect of the Sound and the adjacent country, Sassacus had +erected, with much barbarian skill, his royal fortresses. The one was +on the banks of the Mystic; the other, a few miles west, on the banks +of the Pequot River, now called the Thames. His sway extended over all +the tribes on Long Island, and along the coast from the dominions of +Canonicus, on Narraganset Bay, to the Hudson River, and spreading into +the interior as far as the present county of Worcester in +Massachusetts. Thus there seem to have been, in the days of the +Pilgrims, three dominant nations, with their illustrious chieftains, +who held sway over all the petty tribes in the south and easterly +portions of New England. The Wampanoags, under Massasoit, held +Massachusetts generally. The Narragansets, under Canonicus, occupied +Rhode Island. The Pequots, under Sassacus, reigned over Connecticut. +These powerful tribes were jealous of each other, and were almost +incessantly engaged in wars. + +Sassacus had twenty-six sachems under him, and could lead into the +field four thousand warriors. He was shrewd, wary, and treacherous, +and with great jealousy watched the increasing power of the English, +who were now spreading rapidly over the principal parts of New +England. + +In the autumn of the year 1634, just after William Holmes had put up +his house at Windsor, two English traders, Captains Norton and Stone, +ascended the Connecticut River in a boat, with eight men, to purchase +furs of the Indians. They had a large assortment of those goods which +the natives prized, and for which they were eager to barter any thing +in their possession. The Indians one night, as the vessel was moored +near the shore, rushed from an ambush, overpowered the crew, murdered +every individual, and plundered and sunk the vessel. The Massachusetts +colony, which had then become far more powerful than the Plymouth, +demanded of Sassacus redress and the surrender of the murderers. The +Pequot chieftain, not being then prepared for hostilities, sent an +embassy to Massachusetts with a present of valuable furs, and with an +artfully contrived story in justification of the deed. + +The barbarian embassadors, with diplomatic skill which Talleyrand or +Metternich might have envied, affirmed that the English had seized two +peaceable Indians, bound them hand and foot, and were carrying them +off in their vessel, no one knew where. As the vessel ascended the +river, the friends of the two captives followed cautiously through the +forest, along the banks, watching for an opportunity to rush to their +rescue. The Indians were well acquainted with the treachery of the +infamous Englishmen in stealing the natives, and transporting them to +perpetual slavery. One night the English adventurers, according to the +representation of the Indians, drew their vessel up to the shore, and +all landed to sleep. At midnight, the friends of the captives watched +their opportunity, and made a rush upon the English while they were +asleep, killed all, and released their friends. They also stated that +all the Indians engaged in the affray, except two, had since died of +the small-pox. + +This was a plausible story. The magistrates of Massachusetts, men of +candor and justice, could not disprove it; and as, admitting this +statement to be true, but little blame could be attached to the +Indians, the governor of Massachusetts accepted the apology, and +entered into friendly alliance with the Pequots. In the treaty into +which he at this time entered with the Indian embassadors, the Pequots +conceded to the English the Connecticut River and its immediate +shores, if the English would establish settlements there and open +trade with them. + +Accordingly, arrangements were immediately made for the planting of a +colony in the valley of the Connecticut. In the autumn of 1635, five +years after the establishment of the Massachusetts colony at Salem, +and fifteen years after the establishment of the Plymouth colony, a +company of sixty persons, men, women, and children, left the towns of +Dorchester, Roxbury, Watertown, and Cambridge, and commenced a journey +through the pathless wilderness in search of their future home. It was +the 12th of October when they left the shores of Massachusetts Bay. +For fourteen days they toiled along through the wilderness, driving +their cattle before them, and enduring incredible hardships as they +traversed mountains, forded streams, and waded through almost +impenetrable swamps. On the 9th of November they reached the +Connecticut at a point near the present city of Hartford. The same +journey can now be taken with ease in two and a half hours. In less +than a year three towns were settled, containing in all nearly eight +hundred inhabitants. A fort was also erected at the entrance of the +river, to exclude the Dutch, and it was garrisoned by twenty men. + +The Indians now began to be seriously alarmed in view of the rapid +encroachments of the English. They became sullen, and annoyed the +colonists with many acts of petty hostility. There were soon many +indications that Sassacus was meditating hostilities, and that he was +probably laying his plans for a combination of all the tribes in a +resistless assault upon the infant settlements. + +The Wampanoags, under Massasoit, were still firm in their friendship; +but it was greatly feared that the Narragansets, whose power was very +formidable, might be induced to yield to the solicitations of the +Pequots. + +Roger Williams, who had taken refuge in Rhode Island to escape from +his enemies in Massachusetts, was greatly beloved by the Indians. He +had become quite a proficient in the Indian language, and by his +honesty, disinterestedness, and courtesy, had particularly won the +esteem of the Narragansets, in the midst of whom he resided. The +governor and council of Connecticut immediately wrote to Mr. +Williams, soliciting him to visit the Narragansets, and exert his +influence to dissuade them from entering into the coalition. + +This great and good man promptly embarked in the humane enterprise. +Bidding a hurried farewell to his wife, he started alone in a +dilapidated canoe to sail along the shores of Narraganset Bay upon his +errand of mercy. A violent tempest arose, tumbling in such a surf upon +the shore that he could not land, while he was every moment threatened +with being swallowed up in the abysses which were yawning around him. +At length, after having encountered much hardship and surmounted many +perils, he arrived at the imperial residence of Canonicus. The +barbarian chieftain was at home, and it so happened that some Pequot +embassadors had but a short time before arrived, and were then +conferring with the Narragansets in reference to the coalition. All +the arts of diplomacy of civilized and of savage life, of the wily +Indian and of the sincere and honest Christian, were now brought into +requisition. With heroism which was the more signal in that it was +entirely unostentatious, this bold man remained three days and three +nights with the savages, encountering the threats of the Pequots, and +expecting every night that they would take his life before morning. +Grandeur of character always wins applause. The Indians marveled at +his calm, unboastful intrepidity, and Canonicus, who was also a man of +heroic mould, was so influenced by his arguments, that he finally not +only declined to enter into an alliance with the Pequots, but pledged +anew his friendship for the English, and engaged to co-operate with +them in repelling the threatened assault. + +This was an achievement of immense moment. Other distant tribes, who +were on the eve of joining the coalition, intimidated by the +withdrawal of the Narragansets, and by their co-operation with the +English, also refused to take part in the war, and thus the Pequots +were left to fight the battle alone. But the Pequots, with their four +thousand merciless warriors, were a fearful foe to rush from their +inaccessible retreats, with torch and tomahawk, upon the sparse and +defenseless settlements scattered along the banks of the Connecticut +River. + +Various acts of individual violence were perpetrated by the savages +before war broke out in all its horrors. The English were anxious to +avert hostilities, if possible, as they had nothing to gain from war +with the natives, and their helpless families would be exposed to +inconceivable misery from the barbarism of the foe. + +The colonists now learned that the excuse which had been offered for +the assault upon Captains Norton and Stone was a fabrication, and +false in all its particulars. These men had engaged several Indians to +pilot them up the river. They often stopped to trade with the natives. +One night, as they were moored alongside of the shore, while many of +the men had gone upon the land, and the captain was asleep in the +cabin, a large number of Indians made a premeditated assault, and +murdered all on board. The rest, as they returned in the darkness and +unsuspicious of danger, were easily dispatched. + +This new evidence of the treachery of the Pequots exasperated the +colonists. Still, they did not think it best to usher in a war with +such powerful foes by any retaliation. The Pequots, encouraged by this +forbearance, became more and more insolent. In July, 1635, John Oldham +ventured on a trading expedition to the Pequot country; for the +Pequots, notwithstanding all the appearances against them, still +pretended to friendship, and solicited trade. One object of sending +Captain Oldham upon this expedition was to ascertain more definitely +the real disposition of the savages. + +A few days after his departure, a man by the name of John Gallop was +in a small vessel of about twenty tons, on his passage from +Connecticut to Massachusetts Bay. A strong northerly wind drove him +near Manisses, or Block Island. This island is about fourteen miles +from Point Judith. It is eight miles long, and from two to four wide. +To his surprise, he saw near the shore an English vessel, which he +immediately recognized as Captain Oldham's, filled with Indians, and +evidently in their possession. Sixteen savages, well armed with their +own weapons, and with the guns and swords which they had taken from +the English, crowded the boat. + +Captain Gallop was a man of lion heart, inspirited by that Puritan +chivalry which ever displayed itself in the most amazing deeds of +daring, without the slightest apparent consciousness that there was +any thing extraordinary in the exploit. His little vessel was +considerably larger than the boat which the Indians had captured. His +crew, however, consisted of only one man and two boys. And yet, +without the slightest hesitancy, he immediately decided upon a naval +fight with the Indians. Loading his muskets and spreading all sail, he +bore down upon his foe. The wind was fair and strong, and, standing +firmly at the helm, while his crew were protected by the bulwarks from +the arrows and bullets of the Indians, and were ready with their +muskets to shoot any who attempted to board, he guided his vessel so +skillfully as to strike the smaller boat of the foe fairly upon the +quarter. The shock was so severe that the boat was nearly capsized, +and six of the Indians were knocked into the sea and drowned. + +Captain Gallop immediately stood off and prepared for another similar +broadside. In the mean time, he lashed the anchor to the bows of the +vessel in such a way that the fluke should pierce the side of the +boat, and serve as a grappling iron. As there were now only ten +Indians to be attacked, he decided to board the boat in case it should +be grappled by the fluke of his anchor. Having made these +arrangements, he again came running down before a brisk gale, and, +striking the boat again, tore open her side with his anchor, while at +the same moment he poured in a heavy discharge of buckshot upon the +terrified savages. Most of them, however, had plunged into the hold of +the little pinnace, and the shot effected but little execution. A +third time he ran down upon the pinnace, and struck her with such +force that five more, in their turn, leaped overboard and were +drowned. There were now but five savages left, and the intrepid Gallop +immediately boarded the enemy. Three of the savages retreated to a +small cabin, where, with swords, they defended themselves. Two were +taken captive and bound. Having no place where he could keep these two +Indians apart, and fearing that they might get loose, and, in +co-operation with the three savages who had fortified themselves in +the cabin, rise successfully upon him, Captain Gallop threw one of the +Indians overboard, and he was drowned. This was rough usage; but the +savages, who had apparently rendered it necessary by their previous +act of robbery and murder, could not complain. + +The pinnace was then stripped of her rigging and of all the goods +which remained. The body of Captain Oldham was found, awfully +mutilated, beneath a sail. The rest of the crew, but two or three in +number, had been carried as captives by the savages on the shore. +Captain Gallop buried the corpse as reverently as possible in the sea, +and then took the pinnace in tow, with the three savages barricaded in +the cabin. Night came on, dark and stormy; the wind increased to a +tempest, and it was necessary to cut the pinnace adrift. She was never +heard of more. + +Block Island, where these scenes occurred, belonged to the +Narragansets; but many who were engaged in the murder, as if fearful +of the vengeance of Canonicus, their own chieftain, fled across the +Sound to the Pequot country, and were protected by them. The Pequots +thus became implicated in the crime. Canonicus, on the other hand, +rescued the captives taken from the boat, and restored them to their +friends. The English now decided that it was necessary for them so to +punish the Indians as to teach them that such outrages could no longer +be committed with impunity. It was a fearful vengeance which was +resolved upon. An army of one hundred men was raised, commissioned to +proceed to Block Island, burn every wigwam, destroy all the corn, +shoot every man, and take the women and children captive. Thus the +island was to be left a solitude and a desert. + +On the 25th of August, 1636, the detachment sailed from Boston. The +Indians were aware of the punishment with which they were threatened, +and were prepared for resistance. Captain John Endicott, who was in +command of the expedition, anchored off the island, and seeing a +solitary Indian wandering upon the beach, who, it afterward appeared, +had been placed there as a decoy, took a boat and a dozen armed men, +and rowed toward the shore. When they reached within a few rods of the +beach, suddenly sixty warriors, picked men, tall, athletic, and of +established bravery, sprang up from behind the sand-hills, rushed to +the water's edge, and poured in upon the boat a volley of arrows. +Fortunately, the boat was so far from the land that not much injury +was done, though two were seriously wounded. As the water was shoal, +the colonists, musket in hand, sprang from the boat and waded toward +the shore, piercing their foes with a well-directed volley of bullets. +Had the Indians possessed any measure of the courage of the English, +the sixty savages might have closed upon the twelve colonists, and +easily have destroyed them all; but they had no disciplined courage +which would enable them to stand a charge. With awful yells of fury +and despair, they broke and fled into the forests and the swamps. + +Captain Endicott now landed his force and commenced the work of +destruction. There were two Indian villages upon the island, +containing about sixty wigwams each. The torch was applied, and they +were all destroyed. Every canoe that could be found was staved. There +were also upon the island about two hundred acres of standing corn, +which the English trampled down. But not an Indian could be found. The +women and children had probably been removed from the island, and the +warriors who remained so effectually concealed themselves that the +English sought them in vain. After spending two days upon the island, +the expedition again embarked, and sailed across the Sound to the +mouth of the Thames, then called Pequot Harbor. As the vessel entered +the harbor, about three hundred warriors assembled upon the shore. +Captain Endicott sent an interpreter to inform them that he had come +to demand the murderers of the English, and to obtain compensation for +the injuries which the Indians had inflicted. To this the Pequots +defiantly replied with a shower of arrows. Captain Endicott landed on +both sides of the harbor where New London now stands. The Indians +sullenly retired before him to the adjacent rocks and fastnesses, +rendering it necessary for the English to keep in a compact body to +guard against assault. Two Indians were shot, and probably a few +others wounded. The wigwams along the shore were burned, and the +canoes destroyed, and then the expedition again spread its sails and +returned to Boston, having done infinitely more harm than good. They +had merely exasperated their haughty foes. They had but struck the +hornets' nest with a stick. The Connecticut people were in exceeding +terror, as they knew that savage vengeance would fall mercilessly upon +them. + +Sassacus was a stern man of much native talent. He laughed to scorn +this impotent revenge. To burn an Indian wigwam was inflicting no +great calamity. The huts were reared anew before the expedition had +arrived in Boston. The Pequots now despised their foes, and, gathering +around their council fires, they clashed their weapons, shrieked their +war-whoop, and excited themselves into an intensity of rage. The +defenseless settlers along the banks of the Connecticut were now at +the mercy of the savages, who were roused to the commission of every +possible atrocity. No pen can describe the scenes of woe which, during +the autumn and winter of 1636 and 1637, transpired in the solitudes of +the wilderness. The Indians were every where in marauding bands. At +midnight, startled by the yell of the savage, the lonely settler +sprang to his door but to see his building in flames, to be pierced +with innumerable arrows, to fall upon his floor weltering in blood, +and to see, as death was stealing over him, his wife and his children +brained by the tomahawk. The tortures inflicted by the savages upon +their captives were too horrible to be narrated. Even the recital +almost causes the blood to chill in one's veins. + +Sassacus was indefatigable in his endeavors to rouse all the tribes to +combine in a war of extermination. + +"Now," said he, "is our time. If we do not now destroy the English, +they will soon prove too powerful for us, and they will obtain all our +lands. We need not meet them in open battle. We can shoot and poison +their cattle, burn their houses and barns, lay in ambush for them in +the fields and on the roads. They are now few. We are numerous. We can +thus soon destroy them all." + +Why did they not succeed in this plan? The only answer is that God +willed otherwise. The Indians planned their campaign with great +skill, and prosecuted it with untiring vigor. Not a boat could pass up +or down the river in safety. The colonists were compelled to keep a +constant guard, to huddle together in block-houses, and could never +lie down at night without the fear of being murdered before morning. +Almost every night the flame of their burning dwellings reddened the +sky, and the shriek of the captives expiring under demoniac torture +blended with the hideous shout of the savages. + +At the mouth of the Connecticut River the fort of Saybrook had been +erected. It was built strongly of timber, to resist the approaches of +the Dutch as well as of the Indians, and was garrisoned by about fifty +men. As this point commanded the entrance of the river, it was deemed +of essential importance that it should be effectually fortified. But +the Pequots were now so emboldened that they surrounded the fort, and +held the garrison in a state of siege. They burned every house in the +vicinity, razed all the out-houses of the fort, and burned every stack +of hay and every useful thing which was not within reach of the guns +of the fortress. The cattle were all killed, and no person could +venture outside of the fort. The Indians, keeping beyond the reach of +gun-shot, danced with insulting and defiant gestures, challenging the +English to come out, and mocking them with the groans and pious +invocations which they had extorted from their victims of torture. + +This awful state of affairs rendered it necessary to prosecute the war +with a degree of energy which should insure decisive results. The +story of Indian atrocities caused every ear in the three colonies to +tingle, and all united to punish the common enemy. Plymouth furnished +a vessel, well armed and provisioned, and manned by fifty soldiers +under efficient officers. Massachusetts raised two hundred men to send +promptly to the theatre of conflict. Connecticut furnished ninety men +from the towns of Hartford, Windsor, and Wethersfield. This was an +immense effort for the feeble colonists to make. + +The Mohegans dwelt in the interior of the country, and were +consequently nearer the English settlements. Their sachem, Uncas, had +his royal residence in the present town of Norwich. He was a stern, +reckless man, and quite ambitious of claiming independence of +Sassacus, with his powerful section of the tribe. The Mohegans, +Pequots, and Narragansets all spoke the same language, with but a +slight diversity in dialect. The Mohegans, with apparent eagerness, +united with the English. The Narragansets also continued firm in their +pledged friendship to the Massachusetts and Plymouth colonists, and +promised a liberal supply of warriors to aid them in punishing the +haughty Pequots. Sassacus had now raised a storm which he well might +dread. The doom of his tribe was sealed. + +On Wednesday, the 10th of May, 1637, the Connecticut troops, +consisting of ninety Englishmen and seventy Mohegans, embarked at +Hartford in three vessels, and sailed down the river to the fort at +Saybrook. The expedition was commanded by Captain John Mason. Uncas, +the Mohegan sachem, led the Indian warriors. When they arrived near +the mouth of the river, the Indians desired to be set on shore, that +they might advance by land to the fort, and attack the Pequots by +surprise. The English were very apprehensive that their unreliable +allies were about to prove treacherous, and to desert to the Pequots. +But, as it was desirable to test them before the hour of battle +arrived, they were permitted to land. The Mohegans, however, proved +faithful. On their way to the fort they fell in with forty Pequots, +whom they attacked fiercely and put to rout, after having killed seven +of their number, and taken one a captive. Their wretched prisoner they +bound to a stake, and put to death with every barbarity which demoniac +malice could suggest. + +The two parties met at Fort Saybrook. Sassacus was strongly +intrenched, about twenty miles east of them, in two forts, or, rather, +fortified towns. These Pequot fortresses were about five miles distant +from each other, on commanding hills, one on the banks of the Thames, +and the other on the banks of the Mystic. It was the original plan to +sail directly into the mouth of the Thames, then called Pequot Harbor, +and attack the savage foe in his concentrated strength. But these +fortresses were so situated as to command an extensive view of the +ocean, as well as of the adjacent country. The vessels, consequently, +could not enter Pequot Harbor without being seen by the Indians, and +thus giving them several hours' warning. + +After long and anxious deliberation, the chaplain of the expedition, +Rev. Mr. Stone, having been requested to pass the night in prayer for +Divine guidance, it was decided to sail directly by the mouths of +Pequot Harbor and the Mystic, and to continue along the shore to +Narraganset Bay. Here they hoped to meet with the troops dispatched +from Plymouth and Massachusetts. They could then march across the +country about forty miles, and, approaching the Pequot forts in the +night and through the forest, could attack them by surprise. + +On Friday, the 19th of May, the expedition sailed from the mouth of +the Connecticut. The Pequots, through their runners, kept themselves +informed of every movement, and when they descried the vessels +approaching, they felt that the decisive hour had come, and prepared +for battle. But when they saw the vessels pass directly by without +entering the harbor, they were exceedingly elated, supposing the +English were afraid to attack them. They shouted, and danced, and +clashed their weapons, and assailed their foes with all the artillery +of barbarian derision. But the colonists, unconscious of the ridicule +to which they were exposed, continued their course, and came to anchor +in Narraganset Bay just as the twilight of Saturday evening was +darkening into night. It was too late then to land, and the next day +being the Sabbath, they all remained on board their vessels, in the +sacred observance of the day. All of Monday, and until late in the +afternoon of Tuesday, a fearful gale swept the ocean, so that no boat +could pass to the shore. Tuesday evening, however, Captain Mason +landed, and had an interview with Miantunnomah, a chief very high in +rank, who seems to have shared with his uncle Canonicus in the +government of the Narragansets. + + "Two mighty chiefs--one cautious, wise, and old; + One young, and strong, and terrible in fight-- + All Narraganset and Coweset hold; + One lodge they build, one council-fire they light." + +The fiery-spirited young sachem, hating the Pequots, and eager for a +fight with them in conjunction with such powerful allies as the +English, cordially received Captain Mason, granted him a passage +through his country, and immediately called out a re-enforcement of +two hundred men to join the expedition. That night an Indian runner +arrived in the camp, and informed Captain Mason that Captain Patrick, +with forty men, who had been sent in advance of the Massachusetts and +Plymouth contingent, had reached Mr. Roger Williams's plantation in +Providence, and were hastening to meet him. Desirable as this +junction was deemed, after mature deliberation, it was decided not to +wait for Captain Patrick, as it was very important to strike a sudden +and unexpected blow. The Narragansets stood in great dread of the +Pequots, and it was feared that their zeal might grow cold. It was +also feared that if they did not proceed immediately, the Pequots +might receive tidings of their approach. + +The little army, therefore, the very next morning, Wednesday, May +24th, commenced its march. The force consisted of seventy-seven +Englishmen, sixty Mohegans, and two hundred Narragansets. The +Narragansets were great braggarts. They made the forest resound with +their vainglorious boasts, and, with the most valiant gestures, +declared that they would now show the English how to fight. Guided by +Indians through the forest, they pressed along rapidly through the +day, and at night, having traversed about twenty miles, bivouacked +upon the banks of a small stream. The next morning they resumed their +march, and, crossing the stream, approached the territory of the +Pequots. As they had advanced, large numbers of Narraganset warriors +had flocked to join them, and they had now five hundred of these +boastful savages in the advance leading them on. + +The day was intensely hot, and, in their rapid march, several of the +troops fainted by the way. But, conscious that much depended upon +taking the Pequots by surprise, Captain Mason urged his men forward, +and about noon reached the banks of the Pawcatuck River, about twelve +miles from the previous night's encampment. The Indians led them to a +point in the river where they could pass it by a ford. They halted +here for an hour, and refreshed themselves, and then moved on with +much caution, as they were now almost in the country of their foe. It +was but twelve miles from the ford to the first Pequot fort on the +banks of the Mystic. + +It had been the intention to attack both the forts, the Mystic and the +Pequot, at once; but Wequash, a Pequot sachem, who had revolted from +Sassacus, and, treacherous to his tribe, acted as their guide, here +gave them such information respecting the situation and strength of +these fortresses as induced them to alter their resolution, and to +decide to make a united attack upon the fort at Mystic. When the +Narragansets found that Captain Mason was actually intending to march +directly up to the very palisades of the fort, and assail those +fierce and terrible warriors in their strongholds, they were filled +with amazement and consternation. Many deserted and returned to +Narraganset. All who remained lingered irresolutely in the rear. The +English now found that their Indian allies could render them but very +little service. Undaunted, however, by the great odds against which +they would have to contend, they pressed vigorously and silently on, +followed by a vagabond train of two or three hundred savages. The sun +had gone down, and the shades of night were descending upon the forest +when they reached the banks of the Mystic. + +They were now within three miles of one of the great Pequot forts, on +what is still called Pequot Hill, in the present town of Groton. +Crossing the stream, here narrow and shallow, by a ford, they crept +cautiously along, in the deepening darkness, until they came to a +smooth and level plot of ground between two craggy bluffs now called +Porter's Rocks. + +The troops, excessively fatigued by travel and the heat of the sultry +day, threw themselves upon the ground for a few hours' repose, +intending to advance and make the attack upon the fort just before the +break of day. The night was serene and cloudless, and a brilliant +moon illumined the couch of the weary soldiers. They were now so near +the fort that they could hear the shouts of the savages in their +barbaric carousals. A few moments after midnight they were all aroused +from their sleep to march to the perilous assault. Devoutly these +Christian heroes gathered around their chaplain, the Reverend Mr. +Stone, and, with uncovered heads, united with him in fervent prayer +that God would bless their enterprise. They were not going into the +battle inspired by ambition, or the love of conquest, or the greed of +gain. They were contending only to protect their wives and their +children from the vengeance of a savage and a merciless foe. The +Narragansets, now that the stern hour of trial had come, were in such +a state of consternation that Captain Mason gathered them around him +and said, + +"We ask no aid from you. You may stand at any distance you please, and +look on, and see how Englishmen can fight." + +The fort was on the summit of a heavy swell of land, and consisted of +a village of seventy wigwams, surrounded by a palisade. These +palisades consisted of posts planted side by side, and so high that +they could not be climbed over. The warriors stationed behind them +were safe apparently from assault, for even a musket ball would not +pass through the posts. There were but two entrances to the fort, one +on the northeastern and the other on the southwestern side. Between +six and seven hundred Indians were within the fort. + +The English troops were divided into two parties, one headed by +Captain Mason, and the other by Captain Underhill, who had been in +command of the fort at Saybrook. They decided to make a simultaneous +attack upon each of the entrances. Though the moon shone very +brilliantly, rendering it almost as light as day, yet the Indians, +unsuspicious of danger and soundly asleep, gave not the slightest +indication of alarm until the two parties had each silently approached +within a rod of the entrances. A dog was then heard to bark, and +immediately one solitary voice shouted frantically, "Englishmen! +Englishmen!" The entrances were merely blocked up with bushes about +breast high. The assailants instantly poured a volley of bullets in +upon their sleeping foes, and, sword in hand, rushed over the feeble +barriers. Notwithstanding the surprise and the appalling thunder of +the guns, the Pequots sprang to arms and made a fierce resistance. +The two parties, advancing from the opposite entrances, forced their +way along the main street, firing to the right and the left, and +making fearful slaughter of their foes. They speedily swept the street +clear of all opposition. The savages, however, who still vastly +outnumbered their assailants, retreated into their wigwams, and, +taking advantage of every covert, almost overwhelmed the compact bands +of the English with a shower of arrows and javelins. The conflict was +now fierce in the extreme, and for a time the issue was very doubtful. +Several of the colonists were already killed, and many severely +wounded. + +The wigwams, composed of the boughs and bark of trees, and covered +with mats, were as dry as powder. Captain Mason, at this critical +moment, shouted to his exhausted men, "Set fire to the wigwams." +Torches were immediately applied; the flames leaped from roof to roof, +and in a few moments the whole village was as a furnace of roaring, +crackling flame. The savages, forced by the fire from their +lurking-places, presented a sure mark for the bullet, and they were +shot down and cut down without mercy. It was no longer a fight, but a +massacre. The Indians, bewildered with terror, threw down their arms, +and rushed to and fro in vain attempts to escape. Some climbed the +palisades, only to present a sure target for innumerable bullets; +others plunged into the eddying flames which were fiercely devouring +their dwellings. For a moment their dark bodies seemed to tremble and +vibrate in the glowing furnace, and then they fell as crisped embers. + +The heat soon became so intense and the smoke so smothering that the +English were compelled to retire outside of the fort. But they +surrounded the flaming fortress, and every Indian who attempted to +escape was shot. In one short hour the awful deed was accomplished. +The whole interior of the fort was in ashes, and all the inmates were +destroyed with the exception of seven only who escaped, and seven who +were taken captives. The English knew that at a short distance from +them there was another fort filled with Pequot warriors. It +consequently was not safe to burden their little band with prisoners +whom they could neither guard nor feed. They also wished to strike a +blow which would appall the savages and prevent all future outrages. +Death was, therefore, the doom of all. + +The Mohegans and Narragansets, who had timidly followed the English, +and who had not ventured into the fort of the dreaded Pequots, stood +tremblingly at a distance, gazing with dismay upon their swift and +terrible destruction. The morning was cold, and a strong wind swept +the bleak hills. The little army was entirely destitute of provisions, +for no baggage-wagons could accompany them through the wilderness. +They had hoped to obtain corn from the Indian fort, but the +conflagration to which they had been unexpectedly compelled to resort +had consumed every thing. Several of their number had been killed; +more than twenty were severely wounded. Their surgeon and all their +necessaries for the wounded were on board the vessels, which were to +have sailed the night before from Narraganset Bay for Pequot Harbor. +Nearly all their ammunition was consumed. At a short distance from +them there was another still more formidable fort filled with fierce +Pequot warriors, where Sassacus himself commanded. Thus, even in this +hour of signal victory, starvation and ruin stared them in the face. + +The officers met together in anxious consultation. Just then the sun +rose brilliantly, and revealed the vessels but a few miles distant, +sailing before a fair wind toward Pequot Harbor. These strange men, +of cast-iron mould, gave expression to their joy, not in huzzas, but +in prayers and thanksgivings. But in the midst of this joy their +attention was arrested by another spectacle. Three hundred Pequots, +like a pack of tumultuous, howling wolves, came rushing along from the +other fort. They had heard the guns and seen the flames, and were +hurrying to the rescue. + +As soon as the savages came in sight of the fort, and saw its utter +destruction, they stopped a moment, as if aghast with rage and +despair. They howled and tore out their hair, and, by their phrensied +gestures, appeared to be in a delirium of fury. They then made a +simultaneous rush upon the English, resolved to take revenge at +whatever sacrifice of their own lives. There were now but forty-four +Englishmen in a condition to fight. Three hundred savages--seven to +one--rushed upon them in demoniac rage. But European weapons, and the +courage and discipline of civilized life, were equal to the emergency. + +Captain Mason promptly led forward a body of chosen men, who gave the +savages so warm a reception as to check their advance and cause them +to recoil. These intrepid colonists, with cool, unerring aim, wasted +not a bullet. Every report of the musket was the death of an Indian. +The savages, thus repulsed, took refuge behind trees and rocks, and +with great bravery pressed and harassed the English with every missile +of savage warfare. A rear-guard was now appointed, under Captain +Underhill, which kept the savages at a distance, while the whole party +marched slowly toward the vessels, which were now entering Pequot +Harbor. + +Several of the English had been slain. Five were so severely wounded +that they were utterly helpless, and had to be carried in the arms of +their friends. Twenty others were also so disabled that, though they +could with difficulty hobble along, they were unable to bear the +burden of their own weapons. Nearly all the Narraganset Indians had +now abandoned the English, and, with cowardice which it is difficult +to explain, had retired precipitately through the woods to their own +country. But the Mohegans had no place of refuge; their only safety +was in clinging to the English. Captain Mason, that he might avail +himself of the energies of all his men who were able to fight, +employed these panic-stricken and impotent allies in carrying the +wounded, four taking in their arms one man. The Indians also bore the +weapons of those who were too weak to carry them themselves. In this +way the colonists marched in an uninterrupted battle for several miles +to their vessels. The Pequots pressed them closely, assailing them +with great fierceness and bravery, sending parties in advance to form +ambushes in the thickets, and shooting their barbed and poisoned +arrows from behind every rock and tree. At last the colonists reached +the water's side in safety, and the Pequots, with yells of rage, +retired. + +Sassacus was quite overwhelmed by this disaster. All his warriors were +terror-stricken, and feared to remain in the fort, lest they should +experience the same doom which had overwhelmed their companions. In +their desultory wars, the loss of a few men was deemed a great +disaster. To have six or seven hundred of their warriors, hitherto +deemed invincible, in one hour shot or burned to ashes, was to them +inexpressibly awful. In dismay, they set fire to the royal fortress +and to all the adjacent wigwams, and fled into the fastnesses of the +forest. Captain Mason placed his wounded on board the vessels, +obtained a supply of food and a slight re-enforcement, and then +commenced his march for the fort at Saybrook, which was about twenty +miles distant. The Indians, whose wigwams were scattered here and +there through the forest, fled in terror before him. The English, +however, burned every dwelling, and destroyed all the corn-fields. At +Saybrook the victorious party were received with great exultation. +They then ascended the river to Hartford, and the men returned to +their several families, having been absent but three weeks. + +It is impossible for us to conceive, in these days of abundance and +security, the rapture which this signal victory excited through all +the dwellings on the banks of the Connecticut. One half of the +effective men of the colony had gone forth to the battle, while the +rest remained at home, armed, and sleeplessly vigilant, to protect the +women and the children from a foe demoniac in mercilessness. The +issues of the conflict were doubtful. Defeat was death to all--more +than death: midnight conflagration, torture, and hopeless captivity of +mothers and daughters in the dark wilderness and in the wigwams of the +savage. Tears of gratitude gushed from the eyes of parents and +children; heartfelt prayers and praises ascended from every family +altar and from every worshiping assembly. + +An Indian runner was immediately dispatched to Massachusetts to carry +the news of the decisive victory gained by the Connecticut troops +alone. To complete the work thus auspiciously begun, Connecticut +raised another band of forty men, and Massachusetts sent one hundred +and twenty to meet them at Pequot Harbor. The latter part of June, +four weeks after the destruction of the forts there, these two bodies +met, in strong martial array, upon the ruins of the empire of +Sassacus, resolved to prosecute the war to the utter extermination of +the Pequots. The despairing fugitives had retired into the wilderness +toward the west. The Indians, encumbered with their women and +children, and destitute of food, could move but slowly. They were +compelled to keep near the shore, that they might dig clams, which +food was almost their only refuge from starvation. + +The English vigorously pursued them, occasionally shooting a straggler +or picking up a few captives, whom they retained as guides. When they +arrived at Saybrook, one party followed along the coast in boats, +while the others, accompanied by Uncas and a band of Mohegan Indians, +scoured the shore. They came at length to Menunkatuck, now called +Guilford. The south side of the harbor here is formed by a long +peninsula. Some Pequots, pursued by the English, ran down this neck of +land, hoping that their tireless enemies would miss their track and +pass by. But Uncas, with Indian sagacity, led the party on the trail. +The Pequots, finding their foes upon them, plunged into the water and +swam across the narrow mouth of the harbor. But another party of +English was already there, who seized them as they waded to the shore. +The chief of this little band of Pequots was sentenced to be shot. He +was bound to a tree, and Uncas, with nervous arm, sent an arrow +through his heart. The head of the savage was then cut off and placed +in the crotch of a large oak tree, where it remained for many years, +dried and shriveled in the sun, a ghastly memorial of days of violence +and blood. From this extraordinary incident, the bluff, to the present +day, bears the name of _Sachem's Head_. + +The little army pressed vigorously on, by land and by sea, some twenty +miles farther west, to a place called Quinnipiac, now New Haven. Here +they found a good harbor for their vessels, and they remained several +days for rest. They saw the smokes of great fires in the woods, and +sent out several expeditions in search of the Indians, but could find +none. A Pequot, a traitor to his tribe, came in and informed them that +a hundred Pequot warriors, with some two hundred men, women, and +children of an adjacent tribe, had taken refuge in a large swamp about +twenty-five miles west. This swamp was in the present town of +Fairfield, directly back of the village. The army immediately advanced +with all dispatch to the swamp. The bog was so deep and wet, and +tangled with underbrush, that it seemed impossible to enter it. A few +made the attempt, but they sank in the mire, and were sorely wounded +by arrows shot from an invisible foe. + +The English, with their Indian allies, surrounded the swamp. They were +enabled to do this by placing their men at about twelve feet distance +from each other. Several skirmishes ensued, in which a number of +Indians were shot. At length the Indians who lived in that vicinity, +and who had taken no part in the outrages committed against the +colonists, but who, in their terror, had followed the Pequots into +the swamp, sent a delegation to the English imploring quarter. The +poor creatures were perishing of starvation. The fierce and haughty +Pequots, however, scorned to ask for mercy. They resolved to cut their +way through the enemy, or to sell their lives as dearly as possible. +The English promised life to all who would surrender, and who had +never shed the blood of the colonists. Two hundred men, women, and +children immediately emerged from the swamp. The sachem declared that +neither he nor his people had ever done any harm to the English. They +were accordingly left unmolested. + +There were now nearly two hundred Pequots in the swamp. Night came on, +and the English watched with sleepless vigilance lest they should make +their escape. Toward morning a dense fog rose, adding to the gloom and +darkness of the dreary scene. Availing themselves of this, the shrewd +savages made several feints at different points, and then, with a +simultaneous rush, made a desperate effort to break through. About +seventy of the most vigorous of the warriors effected their escape; +all the rest were either killed or taken prisoners. + +Sassacus, with this remnant of his once powerful tribe, fled over the +mountains and beyond the Hudson to the land of the Mohawks. The fierce +Mohawks, regarding him and his companions as intruders, fell upon +them, and they were all slain but one, who, bleeding with his wounds, +made his escape. They cut off the head of Sassacus, and sent his +scalp, as evidence of his death, to Connecticut. A part of his skin +and a lock of his hair was sent to Boston. During these conflicts many +women and children were taken prisoners. We blush to record that the +boys were all sent to the West Indies, and sold into bondage. The +women and girls were divided about among the colonists of Connecticut +and Massachusetts as servants. + +The Narragansets and the Mohegans now became very valiant, and eagerly +hunted through the woods for the few straggling Pequots who remained. +Quite a number they killed, and brought their gory heads as trophies +to Windsor and to Hartford. The Pequots had been so demoniac in their +cruelty that the colonists had almost ceased to regard them as human +beings. The few wretched survivors were so hunted and harassed that +some fled far away, and obtained incorporation into other tribes. +Others came imploringly to the English at Hartford, and offered to be +their servants, to be disposed of at their pleasure, if their lives +might be spared. + +Such is the melancholy recital of the utter extermination of the +Pequot tribe. Deeply as some of the events in this transaction are to +be condemned and deplored, much allowance is to be made for men +exasperated by all the nameless horrors of Indian war. A pack of the +most ferocious of the beasts of the forest was infinitely less to be +dreaded than a marauding band of Pequots. The Pequots behaved like +demons, and the colonists treated them as such. The man whose son had +been tortured to death by the savages, whose house and barns had been +burned by the midnight conflagration, whose wife and infant child had +been brained upon his hearthstone, and whose daughters were, perhaps, +in captivity in the forest, was not in a mood of mind to deal gently +with a foe so fiendlike. We may deplore it, but we can not wonder, and +we can not sternly blame. + +This destruction of the Pequots so impressed the New England tribes +with the power of the English, and struck them with so much terror, +that for nearly forty years the war-whoop was not again heard. The +Indian tribes had conflicts with each other, but the colonists, +blessed with ever-increasing prosperity, slept in peace and safety. + +In view of the exploits of the Pequot warriors, Dr. Dwight, with some +poetic license, exclaims: + + "And O, ye chiefs! in yonder starry home, + Accept the humble tribute of this rhyme. + Your gallant deeds in Greece or haughty Rome, + By Maro sung, or Homer's harp sublime, + Had charm'd the world's wide round, and triumph'd over + time." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +COMMENCEMENT OF THE REIGN OF KING PHILIP. + +1640-1674 + +Continued prosperity.--Establishment of Harvard College.--Acts of +violence.--Death of Miantunnomah.--The war-whoop resumed.--The +United Colonies of New England.--A confederacy.--Indian +conspiracy.--Indian outrages.--Opposition of the English +to war.--Death of Massasoit.--Changing names.--Sons of +Massasoit.--Wetamoo.--Decline of Indian power.--Mutual +wrongs.--Alexander summoned to court.--He promises to attend.--Departure +of Major Winslow.--He finds Alexander.--Preparations for the +arrest.--Rage of Alexander.--The forced compliance.--The return to +Plymouth.--The royal prisoner.--Sickness of Alexander.--The king taken +by his followers.--Death of Alexander.--King Philip.--Enmity of +Wetamoo.--Her power.--Endowments of Philip.--His religious +beliefs.--His opposition to changing his religion.--Alleged justice +of the English.--The discontent of Philip noticed.--Mutual +suspicions.--Decline of the Narragansets.--The fidelity of the +Mohegans.--Indian vengeance.--Escape of the victim.--Summons to +Philip.--Philip appears with his warriors.--His caution.--The +commissioners.--Desire to attack the Indians.--Equitable +arrangements.--Philip's adroitness.--Charge for charge.--Result of +the conference.--Extraordinary pledge.--Desires in regard to the +Indians.--Uselessness of Indian treaties.--The English violate their +pledge.--Philip for "law and order."--Decision of the referee.--A +general council.--Complaints.--A new treaty.--Philip desires +peace.--Rumors of trouble.--The cloud of terror.--Independence of +Philip.--The close of the year 1674. + + +With peace came abundant prosperity. Emigrants flocked over to the New +World. In ten years after the Pequot war the colonists had settled +fifty towns and villages, had reared forty churches, several forts and +prisons, and the Massachusetts colony, decidedly pre-eminent, had +established Harvard College. The wilderness indeed began to blossom, +and gardens, orchards, rich pastures, fields of grain, and verdant +meadows cheered the eye and filled the dwellings with abundance. + +There were now four English colonies, Plymouth, Massachusetts, +Connecticut, and New Haven. There were also the germs of two more, one +at Providence and the other on Rhode Island. The Indians, with the +exception of illustrious individuals, were a vagabond set of +perfidious and ferocious savages. They were incessantly fighting with +each other, and it required all the efforts of the English to keep +them under any degree of restraint. The utter extirpation of the +Pequots so appalled them, that for forty years no tribe ventured to +wage war against the English. Yet during this time individual Indians +committed many enormous outrages of robbery and murder, for which the +sachems of the tribes were not responsible. The Mohegans, under Uncas, +had become very powerful. They had a fierce fight with the +Narragansets. Miantunnomah was taken captive. Uncas put him to death +upon Norwich plain by splitting his head open with a hatchet. The +Mohegan sachem tore a large piece of flesh from the shoulder of his +victim, and ate it greedily, exclaiming, "It is the sweetest meal I +ever tasted; it makes my heart strong." + +Marauding bands of Indians often committed murders. The efforts of the +English to punish the culprits would exasperate others, and provoke +new violence. Indications of combinations among the savages were +frequently developed, and the colonists were often thrown into a +general state of alarm, in anticipation of the horrors of another +Indian war. + +In the year 1644, a Massachusetts colonist visiting Connecticut was +murdered on the way by an Indian. The English demanded the murderer. +The Indians, under various subterfuges, refused to give him up. The +English, in retaliation, seized upon eight or ten Indians, and threw +them into prison. This so exasperated the savages that they raised the +war-whoop, grasped their arms, and threatened dire revenge. By +boldness and moderation the English accomplished their ends, and the +murderer was surrendered to justice. A few weeks after this an Indian +entered a house in Stamford. He found a woman there alone with her +infant child. With three blows of the tomahawk he cut her down, and, +plundering the house, left her, as he supposed, dead. She, however, so +far recovered as to describe the Indian and his dress. With great +difficulty, the English succeeded in obtaining the murderer. The +savages threw every possible impediment in the way of justice, and +assumed such a threatening attitude as to put the colonists to great +trouble and expense in preparing for war. + +In view of such perils, in the year 1645, the colonies of +Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven formed a +confederacy, under the name of the _United Colonies of New England_. +They thus entered into an alliance offensive and defensive. Each +colony retained, in its domestic concerns, its own government and +jurisdiction. Two commissioners from each colony formed a board for +managing the common affairs of the Confederacy. This was the germ of +the present Congress of the United States. + +In the year 1646 a large number of Indians formed a conspiracy to set +fire to Hartford and murder the inhabitants. An Indian who was engaged +to assassinate the governor, terrified, as he remembered that every +one who had thus far murdered an Englishman had been arrested and +executed, revealed the plot. The Indians generally, at this time, +manifested a very hostile spirit, and many outrages were perpetrated. +The English did not deem it prudent to pursue and punish the +conspirators, but overlooked the offense. + +In the wars which the savages waged with each other, the hostile +parties would pursue their victims even into the houses of the +English, and cut them down before the eyes of the horror-stricken +women and children. In a very dry time the Indians set fire to the +woods all around the town of Milford, hoping thus to set fire to the +town. With the greatest difficulty the inhabitants rescued their +dwellings from the flames. + +In the year 1648, marauding bands of the Narragansets committed +intolerable outrages against the people of Rhode Island, killing their +cattle, robbing their houses, and insulting and even beating the +inmates. The colonists were exceedingly perplexed to know what to do +in these emergencies. The whole wilderness of North America was filled +with savages. If they commenced a general war, it was impossible to +predict how far its ravages might extend. The colonists were eminently +men of peace. They wished to build houses, and cultivate fields, and +surround their homes with the comforts and the opulence of a high +civilization. They had bought their lands of the Indians fairly, and +had paid for them all that the lands then were worth. + +Massasoit died about the year 1661. He remained firm in his fidelity +to the English until his death, though very hostile to the conversion +of the Indians to Christianity. At one time, when treating for the +sale of some of his lands in Swanzey, he insisted very pertinaciously +upon the condition that the English should never attempt to draw off +any of his people from their religion to Christianity. He would not +recede from this condition until he found that the treaty must be +broken off unless he yielded. + +As the English found many of the Indian names hard to remember and to +pronounce, they were fond of giving English names to those with whom +they had frequent intercourse. The Indians in general were quite proud +of receiving these names. Massasoit, with that innate dignity which +pertained to his imperial state, disdained to receive any other name +but the one which he proudly bore as his ancestral legacy. A few years +before his death, however, he brought his two sons, Wamsutta and +Pometacom, to Plymouth, and requested the governor, in token of +friendship, to give them English names. They were very bright, +attractive young men, of the finest physical development. The governor +related to Massasoit the history of the renowned kings of Macedon, +Philip and Alexander, and gave to Wamsutta, the oldest, the name of +Alexander, the great warrior of Asia, and to Pometacom, the younger, +the less renowned name of Philip. These two young men had married +sisters, the daughters of the sachem of Pocasset. The name of the wife +of Alexander was Wetamoo, an unfortunate princess who became quite +illustrious in subsequent scenes. The wife of Philip had the +euphonious name of Wootonekanuske. + +Upon the death of Massasoit, his eldest son Alexander was invested +with the chieftainship. The lands of the Indians were now very rapidly +passing away from the native proprietors to the new-comers, and +English settlements were every where springing up in the wilderness. +The Indian power was evidently declining, while that of the white man +was on the increase. With prosperity came avarice. Unprincipled men +flocked to the colonies; the Indians were despised, and often harshly +treated; and the forbearance which marked the early intercourse of the +Pilgrims with the natives was forgotten. The colonists had generally +become exasperated with the outrages of lawless vagabond savages, whom +the sachems could not restrain, and who ranged the country, shooting +their cattle, pillaging their houses, and often committing murder. A +hungry savage was as ready to shoot a heifer in the pasture as a deer +in the forest, if he could do so and escape detection. There thus very +naturally grew up, upon both sides, a spirit of alienation and +suspicion. + +Alexander kept aloof from the English, and was cold and reserved +whenever he met them. Rumors began to float through the air that the +Wampanoags were meditating hostilities. Some of the colonists, who had +been called by business to Narraganset, wrote to Governor Prince, at +Plymouth, that Alexander was making preparations for war, and that he +was endeavoring to persuade the Narragansets to unite with him in a +general assault upon the English settlements. Governor Prince +immediately sent a messenger to Alexander, at Mount Hope, informing +him of these reports of his hostile intentions which were in +circulation, and requesting him to attend the next court in Plymouth +to vindicate himself from these charges. + +Alexander apparently received this message in a very friendly spirit. +He assured Captain Willet, the messenger, that the accusation was a +gross slander; that the Narragansets were his unrelenting foes; and +that they had fabricated the story that they might alienate from him +his good friends the English. He promised that he would attend the +next meeting of the court at Plymouth, and prove the truth of these +declarations. + +Notwithstanding this ostensible sincerity and friendliness, various +circumstances concurred to increase suspicion. When the court +assembled, Alexander, instead of making his appearance according to +his agreement, was found to be on a visit to the sachem of the +Narragansets, his pretended enemies. Upon this, Governor Prince +assembled his counselors, and, after deliberation, ordered Major +Winslow, afterward governor of the colony, to take an armed band, go +to Mount Hope, seize Alexander by surprise before he should have time +to rally his warriors around him, and take him by force to Plymouth. +Major Winslow immediately set out, with ten men, from Marshfield, +intending to increase his force from the towns nearer to Mount Hope. +When about half way between Plymouth and Bridgewater, they came to a +large pond, probably Monponsett Pond, in the present town of Halifax. +Upon the margin of this sheet of water they saw an Indian hunting +lodge, and soon ascertained that it was one of the several transient +residences of Alexander, and that he was then there, with a large +party of his warriors, on a hunting and fishing excursion. + +The colonists cautiously approached, and saw that the guns of the +Indians were all stacked outside of the lodge, at some distance, and +that the whole party were in the house engaged in a banquet. As the +Wampanoags were then, and had been for forty years, at peace with the +English, and as they were not at war with any other people, and were +in the very heart of their own territories, no precautions whatever +were adopted against surprise. + +Major Winslow dispatched a portion of his force to seize the guns of +the Indians, and with the rest entered the hut. The savages, eighty in +number, manifested neither surprise nor alarm in seeing the English, +and were apparently quite unsuspicious of danger. Major Winslow +requested Alexander to walk out with him for a few moments, and then, +through an interpreter, informed the proud Indian chieftain that he +was to be taken under arrest to Plymouth, there to answer to the +charge of plotting against the English. The haughty savage, as soon as +he fully comprehended the statement, was in a towering rage. He +returned to his companions, and declared that he would not submit to +such an indignity. He felt as the President of the United States would +feel in being arrested by a sheriff sent from the Governor of Canada, +commanding him to submit to be taken to Quebec to answer there to +charges to be brought against him. The demand was of a nature to +preclude the exercise of courtesy. As there were some indications of +resistance, the stern major presented a pistol to the breast of the +Indian chieftain, and said, + +"I am ordered to take you to Plymouth. God willing, I shall do it, at +whatever hazard. If you submit peacefully, you shall receive +respectful usage. If you resist, you shall die upon the spot." + +The Indians were disarmed. They could do nothing. Alexander was almost +insane with vexation and rage in finding himself thus insulted, and +yet incapable of making any resistance. His followers, conscious of +the utter helplessness of their state, entreated him not to resort to +violence, which would only result in his death. They urged him to +yield to necessity, assuring him that they would accompany him as his +retinue, that he might appear in Plymouth with the dignity befitting +his rank. + +The colonists immediately commenced their return to Plymouth with +their illustrious captive. There was a large party of Indian warriors +in the train, with Wetamoo, the wife of Alexander, and several other +Indian women. The day was intensely hot, and a horse was offered to +the chieftain that he might ride. He declined the offer, preferring to +walk with his friends. When they arrived at Duxbury, as they were not +willing to thrust Alexander into a prison, Major Winslow received him +into his own house, where he guarded him with vigilance, yet treated +him courteously, until orders could be received from Governor Prince, +who resided on the Cape at Eastham. At Duxbury, Alexander and his +train were entertained for several days with the most scrupulous +hospitality. But the imperial spirit of the Wampanoag chieftain was so +tortured by the humiliation to which he was exposed that he was thrown +into a burning fever. The best medical attendance was furnished, and +he was nursed with the utmost care, but he grew daily worse, and soon +serious fears were entertained that he would die. + +The Indian warriors, greatly alarmed for their beloved chieftain, +entreated that they might be permitted to take Alexander home, +promising that they would return with him as soon as he had recovered, +and that, in the mean time, the son of Alexander should be sent to the +English as a hostage. The court assented to this arrangement. The +Indians took their unhappy king, dying of a crushed spirit, upon a +litter on their shoulders, and entered the trails of the forest. +Slowly they traveled with their burden until they arrived at Tethquet, +now Taunton River. There they took canoes. They had not, however, +paddled far down the stream before it became evident that their +monarch was dying. They placed him upon a grassy mound beneath a +majestic tree, and in silence the stoical warriors gathered around to +witness the departure of his spirit to the realms of the Red Man's +immortality. + +What a scene for the painter! The sublimity of the forest, the glassy +stream, meandering beneath the overshadowing trees, the bark canoes of +the natives moored to the shore, the dying chieftain, with his +warriors assembled in stern sadness around him, and the beautiful and +heroic Wetamoo, holding in her lap the head of her dying lord as she +wiped his clammy brow, nursing those emotions of revenge which finally +desolated the three colonies with flame, blood, and woe. + +[Illustration: THE DEATH OF ALEXANDER.] + +The tragic death of Alexander introduced to the throne his brother +Pometacom, whom the English named King Philip. + +Much has been written respecting the Indian's disregard for woman. The +history of Wetamoo proves that these views have been very greatly +exaggerated, or that they admit of very marked exceptions. Wetamoo +immediately became the unrelenting foe of the English. With all the +fervor of her fresh nature, she studied to avenge her husband's death. +This one idea became the controlling principle of her future life. +That Wamsutta's death was caused by the anguish of a wounded spirit no +colonist doubted; but Wetamoo believed, and most of the Indians +believed, that poison had been administered to the captive monarch, +and that he thus perished the victim of foul murder. Wetamoo was an +energetic, and, for a savage, a noble woman. All the energies of her +soul were aroused to avenge her husband's death. She was by birth the +princess of another tribe, and it appears that she had power, woman +though she was, to lead three hundred warriors into the field. + +Philip was a man of superior endowments. He clearly understood the +power of the English, and the peril to be encountered in waging war +against them. And yet he as distinctly saw that, unless the +encroachments of the English could be arrested, his own race was +doomed to destruction. At one time he was quite interested in the +Christian religion; but apparently foreseeing that, with the +introduction of Christianity, all the peculiarities of manners and +customs in Indian life must pass away, he adopted the views of his +father, Massasoit, and became bitterly opposed to any change of +religion among his people. Mr. Gookin, speaking of the Wampanoags, +says: + + "There are some that have hopes of their greatest and + chiefest sachem, named Philip. Some of his chief men, as I + hear, stand well-inclined to hear the Gospel, and himself is + a person of good understanding and knowledge in the best + things. I have heard him speak very good words, arguing that + his conscience is convicted. But yet, though his will is + bound to embrace Jesus Christ, his sensual and carnal lusts + are strong bands to hold him fast under Satan's dominion." + +Some time after this, Rev. Mr. Elliot records that, in conversation +with King Philip upon the subject of religion, the Wampanoag chieftain +took hold of a button upon Mr. Elliot's coat, and said, very +deliberately, + +"Mr. Elliot, I care no more for the Gospel of Jesus Christ than I do +for that button." + +For nine years Philip was probably brooding over the subject of the +encroachments of the English, and the waning power of the Indians. +This was the inevitable result of the idle, vagabond life of the +Indians, and of the industry and energy of the colonists. The Indians +had not thus far been defrauded. Mr. Josiah Winslow, governor of +Plymouth Colony, writes, in a letter dated May 1, 1676: + + "I think I can truly say that, before these present troubles + broke out, the English did not possess one foot of land in + this colony but what was fairly obtained by honest purchase + of the Indian proprietors." + +The discontent of Philip did not, however, escape the notice of the +English, and for a long time they saw increasing indications that a +storm was gathering. The wary monarch, with continued protestations of +friendship, was evidently accumulating resources, strengthening +alliances, and distributing more extensively among the Indians guns +and other weapons of Indian warfare. His warriors soon rivaled the +white men in skill as sharp-shooters, and became very adroit in the +use of their weapons. They were carefully laying up stores of powder +and bullets, and Philip could not conceal the interest with which he +endeavored to learn how to manufacture gunpowder. + +Under this state of affairs, it is easy to perceive that mutual +suspicions and recriminations must have rapidly ensued. The Indians +and the colonists, year after year, became more exasperated against +each other. The dangers of collision were constantly growing more +imminent. Many deeds of violence and aggression were perpetrated by +individuals upon each side. Still, candor compels us to admit, as we +carefully read the record of those days, that the English were very +far from being patterns of meekness and long-suffering. Haughtiness +and intolerance when in power has marked the career of our venerated, +yet far from faultless ancestors in every quarter of the globe. + +The Narraganset tribe had now lost its pre-eminence. Canonicus had +long since died, at the age of eighty years. Miantunnomah had been +taken prisoner by the Mohegans, and had been executed upon the plain +of Norwich. Ninigret, who was now sovereign chief of the Narragansets, +was old, infirm, and imbecile. His character illustrates the saying of +Napoleon, that "_better is it to have an army of deer led by a lion, +than an army of lions led by a deer_." + +Philip, by his commanding genius and daring spirit, had now obtained +a great ascendency over all the New England tribes excepting the +Mohegans. They, under Uncas, were strongly attached to the English, to +whom they were indebted for their very existence. The character of +Philip is illustrated by the following incident. In 1665, he heard +that an Indian had spoken disrespectfully of his father, Massasoit. To +avenge the insult, he pursued the offender from place to place, until, +at last, he tracked him to the island of Nantucket. Taking a canoe, +Philip proceeded to the island. Assasamooyh, who, by speaking ill of +the dead, had, according to Indian law, forfeited his life, was a +Christian Indian. He was sitting at the table of one of the colonists, +when a messenger rushed in breathlessly, and informed him that the +dreaded avenger was near the door. Assasamooyh had but just time to +rush from the house when Philip was upon him. The Indian fled like a +frighted deer, pursued by the vengeful chieftain. From house to house +the pursued and his pursuer rushed, while the English looked with +amazement at this exhibition of the energy of Indian law. According to +their code, whoever spoke ill of the dead was to forfeit life at the +hand of the nearest relative. Thus Philip, with his brandished +tomahawk, considered himself but the honored executor of justice. +Assasamooyh, however, at length leaped a bank, and, plunging into the +forest, eluded his foe. The English then succeeded, by a very heavy +ransom, in purchasing his life, and Philip returned to Mount Hope, +feeling that his father's memory had been suitably avenged. + +In the year 1671, the English, alarmed by the threatening aspect of +affairs, and seeing increasing indications that Philip was preparing +for hostilities, sent an imperious command to him to come to Taunton +and explain his conduct. For some time Philip made sundry rather weak +excuses for not complying with this demand, at the same time +reiterating assurances of his friendly feelings. He was, as yet, quite +unprepared for war, and was very reluctant to precipitate hostilities, +which he had sufficient sagacity to foresee would involve him in ruin, +unless he could first form such a coalition of the Indian tribes as +would enable him to attack all the English settlements at one and the +same time. At length, however, he found that he could no longer refuse +to give some explanation of the measures he was adopting without +giving fatal strength to the suspicions against him. + +Accordingly, on the 10th of April of this year, he took with him a +band of warriors, armed to the teeth, and painted and decorated with +the most brilliant trappings of barbarian splendor, and approached +within four miles of Taunton. Here the proud monarch of the Wampanoags +established his encampment, and, with native-taught punctiliousness, +sent a message to the English governor, informing him of his arrival +at that spot, and requiring him to come and treat with him there. The +governor, either afraid to meet these warriors in their own +encampment, or deeming it beneath his dignity to attend the summons of +an Indian chieftain, sent Roger Williams, with several other +messengers, to assure Philip of his friendly feelings, and to entreat +him to continue his journey to Taunton, as a more convenient place for +their conference. Philip, with caution which subsequent events proved +to have been well timed, detained these messengers as hostages for his +safe return, and then, with an imposing retinue of his painted braves, +proudly strode forward toward the town of Taunton. + +When he arrived at a hill upon the outskirts of the village, he again +halted, and warily established sentinels around his encampment. The +governor and magistrates of Massachusetts, apprehensive that the +Plymouth people might get embroiled in a war with the Indians, and +anxious, if possible, to avert so terrible a calamity, had dispatched +three commissioners to Taunton to endeavor to promote reconciliation +between the Plymouth colony and Philip. These commissioners were now +in conference with the Plymouth court. When Philip appeared upon the +hill, the Plymouth magistrates, exasperated by many outrages, were +quite eager to march and attack him, and take his whole party +prisoners, and hold them as hostages for the good behavior of the +Indians. With no little difficulty the Massachusetts commissioners +overruled this rash design, and consented to go out themselves and +persuade Philip to come in and confer in a friendly manner upon the +adjustment of their affairs. + +Philip received the Massachusetts men with reserve, but with much +courtesy. At first he refused to advance any farther, but declared +that those who wished to confer with him must come where he was. At +length, however, he consented to refer the difficulties which existed +between him and the Plymouth colony to the Massachusetts +commissioners, and to hold the conference in the Taunton +meeting-house. But, that he might meet his accusers upon the basis of +perfect equality, he demanded that one half of the meeting-house +should be appropriated sacredly to himself and his followers, while +the Plymouth people, his accusers, should occupy the other half. The +Massachusetts commissioners, three gentlemen, were to sit alone as +umpires. We can not but admire the character developed by Philip in +these arrangements. + +Philip managed his cause, which was manifestly a bad one, with great +adroitness. Talleyrand and Metternich would have given him a high +position among European diplomatists. He could not deny that he was +making great military preparations, but he declared that this was only +in anticipation of an attack from the Narraganset Indians. But it was +proved that at that moment he was on terms of more intimate friendship +with the Narragansets than ever before. He also brought charge for +charge against the English; and it can not be doubted that he and his +people had suffered much from the arrogance of individuals of the +domineering race. Philip has had no one to tell his story, and we have +received the narrative only from the pens of his foes. They tell us +that he was at length confounded, and made full confession of his +hostile designs, and expressed regret for them. + +As a result of the conference, all past grievances were to be buried +in oblivion, and a treaty was entered into in which mutual friendship +was pledged, and in which Philip consented to the extraordinary +measure of disarming his people, and of surrendering their guns to the +governor of Plymouth, to be retained by him so long as he should +distrust the sincerity of their friendship. Philip and his warriors +immediately gave up their guns, seventy in number, and promised to +send in the rest within a given time. + +It is difficult to conceive how the Indians could have +understandingly, and in good faith, have made such a treaty. The +English had now been fifty years in the country. The Indians had +become familiar with the use of guns. Bows and arrows had long since +been laid aside. As game was with them an important element of food, +the loss of their guns was apparently a very serious calamity. It is +not improbable that the English magistrates humanely hoped, by taking +away the guns of the Indians, to lead them from the precarious and +vagabond life of hunters to the more refining influences of +agriculture. But it is very certain that the Indians cherished no such +views. It was also agreed in the council that, in case of future +troubles, both parties should submit their complaints to the +arbitration of Massachusetts. + +This settlement, apparently so important, amounted to nothing. The +Indians were ever ready, it is said, to sign any agreement whatever +which would extricate them from a momentary difficulty; but such +promises were broken as promptly as they were made. Philip, having +returned to Mount Hope, sent in no more guns, but was busy as ever +gaining resources for war, and entering into alliances with other +tribes. Philip denied this, but the people of Plymouth thought that +they had ample evidence that such was the case. + +The summer thus passed away, while the aspect of affairs was daily +growing more threatening. As Philip did not send in his guns according +to agreement, and as there was evidence, apparently conclusive, of his +hostile intentions, the Plymouth government, late in August, sent +another summons, ordering the Wampanoag sovereign to appear before +them on the 13th of September, and threatening, in case he did not +comply with this summons, to send out a force to reduce him to +subjection. At the same time, they sent communications to the colonies +of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, stating their complaints against +Philip, and soliciting their aid in the war which they thought +evidently approaching. + +In this movement Philip gained a manifest advantage over the Plymouth +colonists. It will be remembered that, according to the terms of the +treaty, all future difficulties were to be referred to the arbitration +of Massachusetts as an impartial umpire. But Plymouth had now, in +violation of these terms, imperiously summoned the Indian chieftain, +as if he were their subject, to appear before their courts. Philip, +instead of paying any regard to this arrogant order, immediately +repaired to Boston with his councilors, and thus manifestly placed +himself in the position of the "law and order" party. It so happened +that he arrived in Boston on the very day in which the Governor of +Massachusetts received the letter from the Plymouth colony. The +representations which Philip made seemed to carry conviction to the +impartial umpires of Massachusetts that he was not severely to be +censured. They accordingly wrote a letter to Plymouth, assuming that +there was perhaps equal blame on both sides, and declaring that there +did not appear to be sufficient cause for the Plymouth people to +commence hostilities. In their letter they write: + + "We do not understand how Philip hath subjected himself to + you. But the treatment you have given him, and your + proceedings toward him, do not render him such a subject as + that, if there be not a present answering to summons, there + should presently be a proceeding to hostilities. The sword + once drawn and dipped in blood, may make him as independent + upon you as you are upon him." + +Arrangements were now made for a general council from the united +colonies to assemble at Plymouth on the 24th of September. King Philip +agreed to meet this council in a new attempt to adjust all their +difficulties. At the appointed time the assembly was convened. King +Philip was present, with a retinue of warriors, all decorated in the +highest style of barbaric splendor. Bitter complaints were entered +upon both sides, and neither party were disposed to draw any very +marked line of distinction between individual acts of outrage and the +measures for which the two governments were responsible. Another +treaty was, however, made, similar to the Taunton treaty, and the two +parties again separated with protestations of friendship, but quite +hostile as ever at heart. The colonists were, however, all anxious to +avoid a war, as they had every thing to lose by it and nothing to +gain. Philip, on the contrary, deemed the salvation of the Indians was +depending upon the extermination of the colonists. He was well aware +that he was quite unprepared for immediate hostilities, and that he +had much to do in the way of preparation before he could hope +successfully to encounter foes so formidable as the English had now +become. + +Three years now passed away of reserved intercourse and suspicious +peace. The colonists were continually hearing rumors from distant +tribes of Philip's endeavors, and generally successful endeavors, to +draw them into a coalition. The conspiracy, so far as it could be +ascertained, included nearly all the tribes of New England, and +extended into the interior of New York, and along the coast to +Virginia. The Narragansets agreed to furnish four thousand warriors. +Other tribes, according to their power, were to furnish their hundreds +or their thousands. Hostilities were to be commenced in the spring of +1676 by a simultaneous assault upon all the settlements, so that none +of the English could go from one portion of the country to aid +another. + +The English, month after month, saw this cloud of terror increasing in +blackness; yet measures were so adroitly adopted by King Philip that, +while the air was filled with rumors, it was difficult to obtain any +positive proof, and still more difficult to decide what course to +pursue to avert the calamity. As these deep-laid plans of the shrewd +Wampanoag chieftain were approaching maturity, Philip became more +independent and bold in his demeanor. The Massachusetts colonists now +began to feel that the danger was indeed imminent, and that their +Plymouth brethren had more cause for complaint than they had supposed. +The evidence became so convincing that this dreadful conspiracy was in +progress, that the Governor of Massachusetts sent an embassador to +Philip, demanding an explanation of these threatening appearances, and +soliciting another treaty of peace and friendship. The proud sachem +haughtily replied to the embassador, + +"Your governor is but a subject of King Charles of England. I shall +not treat with a subject. I shall only treat with the king, my +brother. When he comes, I am ready." + +Such was the alarming aspect of affairs at the close of the year 1674. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES. + +1675 + +Enthusiasm of the young Indians.--John Sassamon.--Betty's +Neck.--Private secretary of Philip.--The conspiracy.--Incredulity of +the English.--Sassamon to be murdered.--Death of Sassamon.--Indians +arrested.--Proof of the murder.--Execution of the +Indians.--Superstitious notions.--Insolence of the Indians.--They +capture a settler.--The first blood.--Day of fasting.--Letter of +Governor Winslow.--Murders by the Indians.--Flight of the +colonists.--Energy of Philip.--Assistance implored.--Flight of +Philip.--March of the army.--The Soykonate tribe.--Awashonks.--Captain +Church.--The embassadors of Philip.--The council.--Appearance of the +embassadors.--Exciting conference.--Rage of Captain Church.--Awashonks +to remain friendly.--The Pocasset tribe.--Wetamoo joins Philip.--Indian +warfare.--The colonists much scattered.--An illustration.--Heroic +woman.--Dispatching the Indians.--Succor arrives.--Defiance of the +English.--Horrible sight.--Destruction of corn.--An ambush.--Attempt +to surround them.--A retreat.--Apparent hopeless situation.--Bravery +long continued.--Relief at hand.--All rescued.--Narrow escape of Captain +Church.--Dartmouth burned.--Perfidy of the English.--Attempts to capture +Philip.--An unfortunate ambush.--Lesson of caution dearly +purchased.--Indian allies.--Preaching politics.--Escape of Philip.--A +conference agreed upon.--Suspicions of treachery.--Furious +attack.--Escape to Brookfield.--Attack upon the town.--Brookfield +consumed.--Attempts to burn the garrison.--Relief comes.--A +shower.--The garrison saved.--The Indians elated by victory. + + +The old warriors, conscious of the power of the foe whose fury they +were about to brave, were not at all disposed to precipitate +hostilities, but Philip found it difficult to hold his young men under +restraint. They became very insolent and boastful, and would sharpen +their knives and tomahawks upon the door-sills of the colonists, +vaporing in mysterious phrase of the great deeds they were about to +perform. + +There was at this time a Christian Indian by the name of John +Sassamon, who had learned to read and write, and had become quite an +efficient agent in Christian missions to the Indians. He was esteemed +by the English as truly a pious man, and had been employed in aiding +to translate the Bible into the Indian language, and also in preaching +to his countrymen at Nemasket, now Middleborough. He lived in +semi-civilized style upon Assawompset Neck. He had a very pretty +daughter, whom he called Assowetough, but whose sonorous name the +young Puritans did not improve by changing it into Betty. The noted +place in Middleborough now called Betty's Neck is immortalized by the +charms of Assowetough. This Indian maiden married a warrior of her +tribe, who was also in the employment of the English, and in all his +interests had become identified with them. Sassamon was a subject of +King Philip, but he and his family were on the most intimate and +friendly relations with the colonists. + +Philip needed a private secretary who could draw up his deeds and +write his letters. He accordingly took John Sassamon into his +employment. Sassamon, thus introduced into the court and cabinet of +his sovereign, soon became acquainted with the conspiracy in all its +appalling extent and magnitude of design. He at once repaired to +Plymouth, and communicated his discovery to the governor. He, however, +enjoined the strictest secrecy respecting his communication, assuring +the governor that, should the Indians learn that he had betrayed them, +his life would be the inevitable forfeit. There were many who had no +faith in any conspiracy of the kind. Rumors of approaching perils had +been rife for many years, and the community had become accustomed to +them. Most of the Massachusetts colonists thought the Plymouth people +unnecessarily alarmed. They listened to the story of Sassamon with +great incredulity. "His information," says Dr. I. Mather, "because it +had an Indian original, and one can hardly believe them when they do +speak the truth, was not at first much regarded." + +Sassamon soon after resigned his situation as Philip's secretary, and +returned to Middleborough, where he resumed his employment as a +preacher to the Indians and teacher of a school. + +By some unknown means Philip ascertained that he had been betrayed by +Sassamon. According to the Indian code, the offender was deemed a +traitor and a renegade, and was doomed to death; and it was the duty +of every subject of King Philip to kill him whenever and wherever he +could be found. But Sassamon had been so much with the English, and +had been for years so intimately connected with them as their friend +and agent, that it was feared that they would espouse his cause, and +endeavor to avenge his death. It was, therefore, thought best that +Indian justice should be secretly executed. + +Early in the spring of 1675 Sassamon was suddenly missing. At length +his hat and gun were found upon the ice of Assawompset Pond, near a +hole. Soon after his body was found beneath the ice. There had been an +evident endeavor to leave the impression that he had committed +suicide; but wounds upon his body conclusively showed that he had been +murdered. The English promptly decided that this was a crime which +came under the cognizance of their laws. Three Indians were arrested +under suspicion of being his murderers. These Indians were all men of +note, connected with the council of Philip. An Indian testified that +he happened to be upon a distant hill, and saw the murder committed. +For some time he had concealed the knowledge thus obtained, but at +length was induced to disclose the crime. The evidence against Tobias, +one of the three, is thus stated by Dr. Increase Mather: + +"When Tobias came near the dead body, it fell a bleeding on fresh, as if +it had been newly slain, albeit it was buried a considerable time before +that." In those days of darkness it was supposed that the body of a +murdered man would bleed on the approach of his murderer. + +The prisoners were tried at Plymouth in June, and were all adjudged +guilty, and sentenced to death. The jury consisted of twelve +Englishmen and four Indians. The condemned were all executed, two of +them contending to the last that they were entirely innocent, and knew +nothing of the deed. One of them, it is said, when upon the point of +death, confessed that he was a spectator of the murder, which was +committed by the other two. + +The summary execution of three of Philip's subjects enraged and +alarmed the Wampanoags exceedingly. As the death of Sassamon had been +undeniably ordered by Philip, he was apprehensive that he also might +be kidnapped and hung. The young Wampanoag warriors were roused to +phrensy, and immediately commenced a series of the most intolerable +annoyances, shooting the cattle, frightening the women and children, +and insulting wayfarers wherever they could find them. The Indians had +imbibed the superstitious notion, which had probably been taught them +by John Sassamon, that the party which should commence the war and +shed the first blood would be defeated. They therefore wished, by +violence and insult, to provoke the English to strike the first blow. +The English established a military watch in every town; but, hoping +that the threatening storm might blow over, they endured all these +outrages with commendable patience. + +On the 20th of June, eight Indian desperadoes, all armed for fight, +came swaggering into the town of Swanzey, and, calling at the door of +a colonist, demanded permission to grind their hatchets. As it was the +Lord's day, the colonist informed them that it would be a violation of +the Sabbath for them to do such work, and that God would be +displeased. They replied, "We care neither for your God nor for you, +but we will grind our hatchets." They then went to another house, and, +with insulting carousals, ransacked the closets, helping themselves +abundantly to food. The barbarian roisterers then proceeded blustering +along the road, when they chanced to meet a colonist. They immediately +took him into custody, kept him for some time, loading him with taunts +and ridicule, and then dismissed him, derisively telling him to be a +good man, and not to tell any lies or work on the Lord's day. + +Growing bolder and more insolent as they advanced, they began to shoot +the cattle which they saw in the fields. They encountered no +opposition, for the houses were at some distance from each other, and +most of the men were absent at public worship. At last they came to a +house where the man chanced to be at home. They shot his cattle, and +then entered the house and demanded liquor. Being refused, they became +very boisterous in threats, and attempted to get the liquor by +violence. The man at last, provoked beyond endurance, seized his gun +and shot one of them, inflicting a serious but not mortal wound. The +first blood was now shed, and the drama of war was opened. The young +savages retired, bearing their wounded companion with them, and +breathing threatenings and slaughter. + +The next Thursday, June 24th, had been set apart by the colonists as a +day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, in view of the alarming state +of affairs. Upon an impartial review of all the transactions, it is +difficult to see how the colonists could have avoided the war. + + "I do solemnly protest," says Governor Winslow, in a letter + written July 4th, 1675, "we know not any thing from us which + might have put Philip upon these motions, nor have heard + that he pretends to have suffered any wrong from us, save + only that we had killed some Indians, and intended to send + for himself for the murder of John Sassamon." + +As the people in Swanzey were returning from church on fast-day, a +party of Indians, concealed in a thicket by the road side, fired upon +them, killing one instantly, and severely wounding many others. Two +men who set off in haste for a surgeon were waylaid and murdered. At +the same time, in another part of the town, a house was surrounded by +a band of Indians, and eight more of the colonists were shot. These +awful tidings spread rapidly, causing indescribable alarm. One man, +afraid to remain in his unprotected dwelling, hastily sent his wife +and only son to the house of the Rev. Mr. Miles, which was fortified, +and could be garrisoned. He remained a few moments behind to take some +needful things. The wife had gone but a short distance when she heard +behind her the report of a gun. True to woman's heroic love, she +instantly returned to learn the fate of her husband. + +He was lying in his blood on the threshold of his door, and the +savages were ransacking the house. The wretches caught sight of her, +pursued her, killed both her and her son, and took their scalps. In +this terrible state of alarm, the scattered and helpless colonists +fled with their families, as rapidly as they could, to the garrison +house. Two men went from the house to the well for water. They fell, +pierced by bullets. The savages rushed from their concealment, seized +the two still quivering bodies, and dragged them into the forest. They +were afterward found scalped, and with their hands and feet cut off. +Such were the opening acts of the tragedy of blood and woe. + +With amazing energy and with great strategetic skill, the warriors of +Philip, guided by his sagacity, plied their work of destruction. It +was their sole, emphatic mission to kill, burn, and destroy. The +savages, flushed with success, were skulking every where. No one could +venture abroad without danger of being shot. Runners were immediately +sent, in consternation, from all the frontier towns, to Plymouth and +Boston, to implore assistance. In three hours after the arrival of the +messenger in Boston, one hundred and twenty men were on the march to +attack Philip at Mount Hope. But the renowned chieftain was too wary +to be caught in the trap of Mount Hope Neck. He had sent his women and +children to the hospitality of distant tribes, and, abandoning the +Neck, which was nearly surrounded by water, traversed with his +warriors the country, where he could at any time plunge into the +almost limitless wilderness. + +The little army from Massachusetts moved promptly forward, pressing +into its service all the available men to be found by the way. They +marched to Swanzey, and established their head-quarters at the +garrison house of the Rev. Mr. Miles, a Baptist clergyman of exalted +character and of fervent piety, who was ready to share with his +parishioners in all the perils of protecting themselves from the +border ruffians of that day. About a dozen of the troops, on a +reconnoitring party, crossed the bridge near the garrison house. They +were fired upon from an ambush, and one killed and one wounded. The +Indians fled, hotly pursued by the English, and took refuge in a +swamp, after having lost sixteen of their number. + +Upon the eastern shore of Narraganset Bay, in the region now occupied +by Little Compton and a part of Tiverton, there was a small tribe of +Indians in partial subjection to the Narragansets, and called the +Soykonate tribe. Here also a woman, Awashonks, was sachem of the +tribe, and the bravest warriors were prompt to do homage to her power. +Captain Benjamin Church and a few other colonists had purchased lands +of her, and had settled upon fertile spots along the shores of the +bay. Awashonks was on very friendly terms with Captain Church. Though +there were three hundred warriors obedient to her command, that was +but a feeble force compared with the troops which could be raised both +by Philip and by the English. She was therefore anxious to remain +neutral. This, however, could not be. The war was such that all +dwelling in the midst of its ravages must choose their side. + +Philip sent six embassadors to engage Awashonks in his interest. She +immediately assembled all her counselors to deliberate upon the +momentous question, and also took the very wise precaution to send for +Captain Church. He hastened to her residence, and found several +hundred of her subjects collected and engaged in a furious dance. The +forest rang with their shouts, the perspiration dripped from their +limbs, and they were already wrought to a pitch of intense excitement. +Awashonks herself led in the dance, and her graceful figure appeared +to great advantage as it was contrasted with the gigantic muscular +development of her warriors. + +Immediately upon Captain Church's arrival the dance ceased. Awashonks +sat down, called her chiefs and the Wampanoag embassadors around her, +and then invited Captain Church to take a conspicuous seat in the +midst of the group. She then, in a speech of queenly courtesy, +informed Captain Church that King Philip had sent six of his men to +solicit her to enter into a confederacy against the English, and that +he stated, through these embassadors, that the English had raised a +great army, and were about to invade his territories for the +extermination of the Wampanoags. The conference was long and intensely +exciting. Awashonks called upon the Wampanoag embassadors to come +forward. + +They were marked men, dressed in the highest embellishments of +barbaric warfare. Their faces were painted. Their hair was trimmed in +the fashion of the crests of the ancient helmets. Their knives and +tomahawks were sharp and glittering. They all had guns, and horns and +pouches abundantly supplied with shot and bullets. + +Captain Church, however, was manifestly gaining the advantage, and the +Wampanoag embassadors, baffled and enraged, were anxious to silence +their antagonist with the bludgeon. The Indians began to take sides +furiously, and hot words and threatening gestures were abundant. +Awashonks was very evidently inclined to adhere to the English. She at +last, in the face of the embassadors, declared to Captain Church that +Philip's message to her was that he would send his men over privately +to shoot the cattle and burn the houses of the English who were within +her territories, and thus induce the English to fall in vengeance upon +her, whom they would undoubtedly suppose to be the author of the +mischief. This so enraged Captain Church that he quite forgot his +customary prudence. Turning to the Wampanoag embassadors, he +exclaimed, + +"You are infamous wretches, thirsting for the blood of your English +neighbors, who have never injured you, but who, on the contrary, have +always treated you with kindness." + +Then, addressing Awashonks, he very inconsiderately advised her to +knock the six Wampanoags on the head, and then throw herself upon the +protection of the English. The Indian queen, more discreet than her +adviser, dismissed the embassadors unharmed, but informing them that +she should look to the English as her friends and protectors. + +Captain Church, exulting in this success, which took three hundred +warriors from the enemy and added them to the English force, set out +for Plymouth. At parting, he advised Awashonks to remain faithful to +the English whatever might happen, and to keep, with all her warriors, +within the limits of Soykonate. He promised to return to her again in +a few days. + +Just north of Little Compton, in the region now occupied by the upper +part of Tiverton, and by Fall River, the Pocasset tribe of Indians +dwelt. Wetamoo, the former bride of Alexander, was a princess of this +tribe. Upon the death of her husband and the accession of Philip to +the sovereignty of the Wampanoags, she had returned to her parental +home, and was now queen of the tribe. Her power was about equal to +that of Awashonks, and she could lead three or four hundred warriors +into the field. Captain Church immediately proceeded to her court, as +he deemed it exceedingly important to detach her, if possible, from +the coalition. + +He found her upon a high hill at a short distance from the shore. But +few of her people were with her, and she appeared reserved and very +melancholy. She acknowledged that all her warriors had gone across the +water to Philip's war-dance, though she said that it was against her +will. She was, however, brooding over her past injuries, and was eager +to join Philip in any measures of revenge. Captain Church had hardly +arrived at Plymouth before the wonderful successes of Philip so +encouraged the Indians that Wetamoo, with alacrity and burning zeal, +joined the coalition; and even Awashonks could not resist the +inclinations of her warriors, but was also, with reluctance, compelled +to unite with Philip. + +War was now raging in all its horrors. A more harassing and merciless +conflict can hardly be imagined. The Indians seldom presented +themselves in large numbers, never gathered for a decisive action, +but, dividing into innumerable prowling bands, attacked the lonely +farm-house, the small and distant settlements, and often, in terrific +midnight onset, plunged, with musket, torch, and tomahawk, into the +large towns. These bands varied in their numbers from twenty to thirty +to two or three thousand. The colonists were very much scattered in +isolated farm-houses through the wilderness. In consequence of the +gigantic growth of trees, which it was a great labor to cut down, and +which, when felled, left the ground encumbered for years with +enormous stumps and roots, the colonists were eager to find any smooth +meadow or natural opening in the forest where, for any unknown cause, +the trees had disappeared, and where the thick turf alone opposed +the hoe. They often had neither oxen nor plows. Thus these +widely-scattered spots upon the hill-sides and the margins of distant +streams were eagerly sought for, and thus these lonely settlers were +exposed, utterly defenseless, to the savage foe. + +The following scene, which occurred in a remote section of the country +at a later period, will illustrate the horrible nature of this Indian +warfare. Far away in the wilderness, a man had erected his log hut +upon a small meadow, which had opened itself in the midst of a +gigantic forest. The man's family consisted of himself, his wife, and +several children, the eldest of whom was a daughter fifteen years of +age. At midnight, the loud barking of his dog alarmed him. He stepped +to the door to see what he could discover, and instantly there was a +report of several muskets, and he fell upon the floor of his hut +pierced with bullets, and with a broken leg and arm. The Indians, +surrounding the house, now with frightful yells rushed to the door. +The mother, frantic with terror, her children screaming around her, +and her husband groaning and weltering in his blood, barred the door +and seized an axe. The savages, with their hatchets, soon cut a hole +through the door, and one of them crowded in. The heroic mother, with +one blow of the axe, cleft his head to the shoulder, and he dropped +dead upon the floor. Another of the assailants, supposing, in the +darkness, that he had made good his entrance, followed him. He also +fell by another well-directed stroke. Thus four were slain before the +Indians discovered their mistake. + +They then clambered upon the house, and were soon heard descending +through the capacious flue of the chimney. The wife still stood with +the axe to guard the door. The father, bleeding and fainting, called +upon one of the little children to roll the feather bed upon the fire. +The burning feathers emitted such a suffocating smoke and smell that +the Indians were almost smothered, and they tumbled down upon the +embers. At the same moment, another one attempted to enter the door. +The wounded husband and father had sufficient strength left to seize a +billet of wood and dispatch the half-smothered Indians. But the mother +was now so exhausted with terror and fatigue that her strength failed +her, and she struck a feeble blow, which wounded, but did not kill her +adversary. The savage was so severely wounded, however, that he +retreated, leaving all his comrades, six in number, dead in the house. +We are not informed whether the father recovered of his wounds. Some +distant neighbors, receiving tidings of the attack, came with succor, +and the six dead Indians, without much ceremony, were tumbled into a +hole. + +Volumes might be filled with such terrible details. No one could sleep +at night without the fear of an attack from the Indians before the +morning. In the silence of the wilderness, many a tragedy was enacted +of terror, torture, and blood, which would cause the ear that hears of +it to tingle. + +The day after the arrival of the English force in Swanzey the Indians +again appeared in large numbers, and with defiant shouts dared them to +come out and fight. Philip himself was with this band. A party of +volunteers rushed furiously upon the foe, killed a number, and pursued +the rest more than a mile. The savages retired to their fastnesses, +and the English traversed Mount Hope Neck until they came to the +imperial residence of Philip. Not an Indian was to be found upon the +Neck. But here the English found the heads of eight of their +countrymen, which had been cut off and stuck upon poles, ghastly +trophies of savage victory. They took them down and reverently buried +them. + +It was now the 29th of June, and the Indian corn-fields were waving in +luxuriant growth. Philip had not anticipated so early an outbreak of +the war, and had more than a thousand acres planted with corn. These +fields the English trampled down, and destroyed all the dwellings of +the Indians, leaving the Neck barren and desolate. This was a heavy +blow to Philip. The destruction of his corn-fields threatened him with +starvation in the winter. The Indians scattered in all directions, +carrying every where terror, conflagration, and death. + +Captain Church, with twenty men, crossed the Taunton River, and then +followed down the eastern shores of the bay, through Pokasset, the +territory of Wetamoo, toward Sogkonate Neck, where Awashonks reigned. +At the southern extremity of the present town of Tiverton they came to +a neck of land called Punkateeset. Here they discovered a fresh trail, +which showed that a large body of Indians had recently passed. +Following this trail, they came to a large pea-field belonging to +Captain Almy, a colonist who had settled there. They loitered a short +time in the field, eating the peas. The forest, almost impenetrable +with underbrush, grew very densely around. Just as they were emerging +from the field upon an open piece of ground, with the woods growing +very thickly upon one side, a sudden discharge of musketry broke in +upon the silent air, and bullets were every where whistling fiercely +around them. Instantly three hundred Indians sprang up from their +ambush. Captain Church "casting his eyes to the side of the hill above +him, the hill seemed to move, being covered with Indians, with their +bright guns glistening in the sun, and running in a circumference, +with a design to surround them." Captain Church and his men slowly +retreated toward the shore, where alone they could prevent themselves +from being surrounded. The Indians, outnumbering them fifteen to one, +closely pressed them, making the forest resound with their hideous +outcries. + +As the savages emerged from their ambush, they followed at a cautious +distance, but so directed their steps as to cut off all possibility of +retreat from the Neck. They felt so sure of their victims that they +thought that all could be killed or captured without any loss upon +their own part. + +The situation of the English now seemed desperate. They had no means +of crossing the water, and the exultant foe, in overwhelming numbers +and with fiendlike yells, were pressing nearer and nearer, and +overwhelming them with a storm of bullets. + +But the colonists resolved to sell their lives as dearly as possible. +It was better to die by the quick ministry of the bullet, than to fall +as captives into the hands of the savages, to perish by lingering +torment. Fortunately, the ground was very stony, and every man +instantly threw up a pile for a breastwork. The Indians were very +cautious in presenting their bodies to the unerring aim of the white +men, and did not venture upon a simultaneous rush, which would have +secured the destruction of the whole of Captain Church's party. + +For six hours the colonists beat back their swarming foes. The Indians +availed themselves of every stump, rock, or tree in sight, and kept up +an incessant firing. Just as the ammunition of the colonists was about +exhausted, and night was coming on, a sloop was discerned crossing +the water to their rescue. Captain Golding, a man of great resolution +and fearlessness, had heard the firing, and was hastening to their +relief. The wind was fair, and as the vessel approached the shore the +Indians plied their shot with such effect that the colors, sails, and +sides of the sloop were soon pierced full of bullet holes. The water +was so shoal that they dropped anchor, and the vessel rode afloat +several rods from the beach. Captain Golding had a small canoe, which +would support but two men. Attaching a cord to this, he let it drift +to the shore, driven by the fresh wind. Two men entered the canoe, and +were drawn on board. The canoe was then returned, and two more were +taken on board. Thus the embarkation continued, covered by the muskets +of those on board and those on the shore, until every man was safe. +Not one of their number was even wounded. The English, very skillful +with the musket, kept their innumerable foes at a distance. It was +certain death for any Indian to step from behind his rampart. The +heroic Church was the last to embark. As he was retreating backward, +boldly facing his foes, presenting his gun, which all the remaining +powder he had did but half charge, a bullet passed through his hat, +cutting off a lock of his hair. Two others struck the canoe as he +entered it, and a fourth buried itself in a stake which accidentally +stood before the middle of his breast. Discharging his farewell shot +at the enemy, he was safely received on board, and they were all +conveyed to the English garrison which had been established at Mount +Hope. Many Indians were killed or wounded in this affray, but it is +not known how many. + +[Illustration: THE BATTLE IN TIVERTON.] + +Captain Church then went, with a small army, to ravage the territories +of Wetamoo. When he arrived at the spot where Fall River now stands, +he found that Wetamoo, with her warriors, had taken refuge in a +neighboring swamp. Just then news came that a great part of the town +of Dartmouth was in flames, that many of the inhabitants were killed, +and that the survivors were in great distress. Captain Church marched +immediately to their rescue. But the foe had finished his work of +destruction, and had fled into the wilderness, to emerge at some other +spot, no one could tell where, and strike another deadly blow. The +colonists, however, took one hundred and sixty Indians prisoners, who +had been induced by promises of kind treatment to come in and +surrender themselves. To the extreme indignation of Captain Church, +all these people, in most dishonorable disregard of the pledges of the +capitulation, were by the Plymouth authorities sold into slavery. This +act was as impolitic as it was criminal. It can not be too sternly +denounced. It effectually deterred others from confiding in the +English. + +The colonists, conscious of the intellectual supremacy of King Philip +as the commanding genius of the strife, devoted their main energies to +his capture, dead or alive. Large rewards were offered for his head. +The barbarian monarch, with a large party of his warriors, had taken +refuge in an almost impenetrable swamp upon the river, about eighteen +miles below Taunton. All the inhabitants of Taunton, in their terror, +had abandoned their homes, and were gathered in eight garrison houses. +On the 18th of July, a force of several hundred men from Plymouth and +Taunton surrounded the swamp. They cautiously penetrated the tangled +thicket, their feet at almost every step sinking in the mire and +becoming shackled by interlacing roots, the branches pinioning their +arms, and the dense foliage blinding their eyes. Philip, with +characteristic cunning, sent a few of his warriors occasionally to +exhibit themselves, to lure the English on. The colonists gradually +forgot their accustomed prudence, and pressed eagerly forward. +Suddenly from the dense thicket a party of warriors in ambush poured +upon their pursuers a volley of bullets. Fifteen dropped dead, and +many were sorely wounded. The survivors precipitately retired from the +swamp, "finding it ill," says Hubbard, "fighting a wild beast in his +own den." + +The English, taught a lesson of caution by this misadventure, now +decided to surround the swamp, guarding every avenue of escape. They +knew that Philip had no stores of provisions there, and that he soon +must be starved out. Here they kept guard for thirteen days. In the +mean time, Philip constructed some canoes and rafts, and one dark +night floated all his warriors, some two hundred in number, across the +river, and continued his flight through the present towns of Dighton +and Rehoboth, far away into the unknown wilderness of the interior of +Massachusetts. Wetamoo, with several of her warriors, accompanied +Philip in his flight. He left a hundred starving women and children +in the swamp, who surrendered themselves the next morning to the +English. + +A band of fifty of the Mohegan Indians had now come, by direction of +Uncas, to proffer their services to the colonists. A party of the +English, with these Indian allies, pursued the fugitives. They +overtook Philip's party not far from Providence, and shot thirty of +their number, without the loss of a single man. Rev. Mr. Newman, +pastor of the church in Rehoboth, obtained great commendation for his +zeal in rousing his parishioners to pursue the savages. + +Philip had now penetrated the wilderness, and had effected his escape +beyond the reach of his foes. He had the boundless forest around him +for his refuge, with the opportunity of emerging at his leisure upon +any point of attack along the vast New England frontier which he might +select. + +The Nipmuck Indians were a powerful tribe, consisting of many petty +clans spread over the whole of the interior of Massachusetts. They +appear to have had no sachem of distinction, and at one time were +tributary to the Narragansets, but were now tributary to the +Wampanoags. They had thus far been living on very friendly terms with +the inhabitants of the towns which had been settled within the limits +of their territory. The court at Boston, apprehensive that the +Nipmucks might be induced to join King Philip, sent some messengers to +treat with them. The young warriors were very surly, and manifestly +disposed to fight; but the old men dreaded the perils of war with foes +whose prowess they appreciated, and were inclined to a renewal of +friendship. + +It was agreed that a conference should be held at a certain large +tree, upon a plain about three miles from Brookfield, on the 2d of +August. At the appointed time, the English commissioners were there, +with a small force of twenty mounted men. But not an Indian was to be +seen. Notwithstanding some suspicions of treachery, the English +determined to advance some miles farther, to a spot where they were +assured that a large number of Indians were assembled. They at length +came to a narrow pass, with a steep hill covered with trees and +underbrush on one side, and a swamp, impenetrable with mire and +thickets, upon the other. Along this narrow way they could march only +in single file. The silence of the eternal forest was around them, and +nothing was to be seen or heard which gave the slightest indication of +danger. + +Just as they were in the middle of this trail, three hundred Indians +rose up on either side, and showered upon them a storm of bullets. +Eight dropped dead. Three were mortally, and several others severely +wounded. Captain Wheeler, who was in command, had his horse shot from +under him, and a bullet also passed through his body. His son, who +rode behind him, though his own arm was shattered by a ball, +dismounted, and succeeded in placing his father in the saddle. A +precipitate retreat was immediately commenced, while the Indians +pursued with yells of exultation. But for the aid of three Christian +Indians who accompanied the English party, every Englishman must have +perished. One of these Indians was taken captive. The other two, by +skill and bravery, led their friends, by a by-path, back to +Brookfield. + +This town was then a solitary settlement of about twenty houses, alone +in the wilderness, half way between the Atlantic shore and the +settlements on the Connecticut. The terrified inhabitants had but just +time to abandon their homes and take refuge in the garrison house when +the savages were upon them. With anguish they saw, from the loop-holes +of their retreat, every house and barn consumed, their cattle shot, +and all their property of food, clothing, and furniture destroyed. +They were thus, in an hour, reduced from competence to the extreme of +want. + +The inhabitants of Brookfield, men, women, and children, amounted to +but eighty. The nearest settlement from whence any help could come was +at Lancaster, some forty miles northeast of Brookfield. The Indians +surrounded the garrison, and for two days exerted all their ingenuity +in attempting to destroy the building. They wrapped around their +arrows hemp dipped in oil, and, setting them on fire, shot them upon +the dry and inflammable roof. Several times the building was in +flames, but the inmates succeeded in arresting the conflagration. It +was now the evening of the 4th of August. The garrison, utterly +exhausted by two days and two nights of incessant conflict, aware that +their ammunition must soon be exhausted, and knowing not from what +quarter to hope for relief, were in despair. The Indians now filled a +cart with hemp, flax, and the resinous boughs of firs and pines. They +fastened to the tongue a succession of long poles, and then, setting +the whole fabric on fire, as it rolled up volumes of flame and smoke, +pushed it back against the log house, whose walls were as dry as +powder. Just then, when all hope of escape was abandoned, relief came. + +Major Willard had been sent from Boston to Lancaster with a party of +dragoons for the defense of that region. By some chance, probably +through a friendly Indian, he was informed of the extreme distress of +the people at Brookfield. Taking with him forty-eight dragoons, he +marched with the utmost possible haste to their relief. With Indian +guides, he traversed thirty miles of the forest that day, and arrived +at the garrison in the evening twilight, just as the Indians, with +fiendish clamor, were all engaged in their experiment with the flaming +cart. Though the Indian scouts discovered his approach, and fired +their guns and raised shouts of alarm, there was such a horrid noise +from the yells of the savages and the uproar of musketry that the +scouts could not communicate intelligence of the approach of the +English, and the re-enforcement, with a rush, entered the garrison. At +the same moment a very heavy shower arose, which aided greatly in the +extinguishment of the flames. + +The savages, thus balked of their victims, howled with rage, and, +after firing a few volleys of bullets into the walls of the fortress, +retired to their fastnesses. During this siege many of the whites were +wounded, and about eighty of the Indians were killed. The day after +the defeat, Philip, with forty-eight warriors, arrived at the Indian +encampment at Brookfield. Though the Indians had not taken the +garrison, and though they mourned the loss of many warriors, they were +not a little elated with success. They had killed many of their +enemies, and had utterly destroyed the town of Brookfield. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +AUTUMN AND WINTER CAMPAIGNS. + +1675 + +Philip's influence.--Simultaneous attacks.--Deerfield +burned.--Re-enforcement.--An ambuscade.--Dreadful slaughter and +tortures.--Rescue of Northfield.--Northfield abandoned.--Attempts +to save some corn.--Unsuspicious of danger.--Sudden attack.--A +scene of carnage.--The English overpowered.--Captain Mosely attempts +a rescue.--A prolonged fight.--The Indians vanquished.--Burial of +the dead.--Deerfield destroyed.--Plot against Springfield.--A +timely warning.--Lieutenant Cooper shot.--The attack.--The +conflagration.--Loss of books.--Alarm of the inhabitants.--Decree +of the general court.--Arrangement of forces.--Attack upon +Hatfield.--The Indians defeated.--Narrow escape of Major Appleton.--The +Indian rendezvous.--Philip's employments.--Attempts to secure +the Narragansets.--Mission to the Narragansets.--Compulsory +treaty.--Erection of an Indian fort.--Advantages of the Indians.--Indian +warfare.--Endurance of the Indians.--Losses of the colonists.--Anxious +deliberations.--Arguments pro and con.--The Indians to be attacked.--A +day of fasting.--John Woodcock.--Mode of collecting debts.--March of +the army.--Skirmishes.--Fortifications of the Indians.--The Indian +fort.--Deplorable condition of the colonists.--A friendly +traitor.--Terrible march.--Entrance to the swamp.--Appearance of the +fort.--Fearless bravery.--Terrible slaughter.--An entrance +effected.--Capture of the fort.--A scene of carnage.--Continuance of +the battle.--The houses fired.--Flight of the Indians.--Helplessness +of the English.--Necessity for a retreat.--A second retreat from +Moscow.--Horrors of the night.--Want of provisions.--Disappointment +at not finding food.--Arrival of a vessel. + + +Philip now directed his steps to the valley of the Connecticut, and +gave almost superhuman vigor to the energy which the savages were +already displaying in their attack upon the numerous and thriving +settlements there. Even most of the Christian Indians, who had long +lived upon terms of uninterrupted friendship with the English, were so +influenced by the persuasions of Philip that they joined his warriors, +and were as eager as any others for the extermination of the +colonists. + +Attacks were made almost simultaneously upon the towns of Hadley, +Hatfield, and Deerfield, and also upon several towns upon the Merrimac +River, in the province of New Hampshire. In these conflicts, the +Indians, on the whole, were decidedly the victors. As Philip had fled +from Plymouth, and as the Narragansets had not yet joined the +coalition, the towns in Plymouth colony enjoyed a temporary respite. + +On the 1st of September the Indians made a rush upon Deerfield. They +laid the whole town in ashes. Most of the inhabitants had fortunately +taken refuge in the garrison house, and but one man was slain. They +then proceeded fifteen miles up the river to Northfield, where a small +garrison had been established. They destroyed much property, and shot +eight or ten of the inhabitants. The rest were sheltered in the +garrison. The next day, this disaster not being known at Hadley, +Captain Beers was detached from that place with thirty-six mounted +infantry and a convoy of provisions to re-enforce the feeble garrison +at Northfield. They had a march before them of thirty miles, along the +eastern bank of the river. The road was very rough, and led through +almost a continued forest. + +When they arrived within a few miles of Northfield, they came to a +wide morass, where it was necessary to dismount and lead their horses. +They were also thrown into confusion in their endeavors to transport +their baggage through the swamp. Here the Indians had formed an +ambuscade. The surprise was sudden, and disastrous in the extreme. The +Indians, several hundred in number, surrounded the doomed party, and, +from their concealment, took unerring aim. Captain Beers, a man of +great valor, succeeded, with a few men, in retreating to a small +eminence, since known as Beers's Mountain, where he bravely maintained +the unequal fight until all his ammunition was expended. A ball then +pierced his bosom, and he fell dead. A few escaped back to Hadley to +tell the mournful tidings of the slaughter, while all the rest were +slain, and all their provisions and baggage fell into the hands of the +exultant savages. The barbarian victors amused themselves in cutting +off the heads of the slain, which they fixed upon poles at the spot, +as defiant trophies of their triumph. One man was found with a chain +hooked into his under jaw, and thus he was suspended on the bough of a +tree, where he had been left to struggle and die in mortal agony. The +garrison at Northfield, almost destitute of powder and food, was now +reduced to the last extremity. + +Major Treat was immediately dispatched with a hundred men for their +rescue. Advancing rapidly and with caution, he succeeded in reaching +Northfield. His whole company, in passing through the scene of the +disaster, were most solemnly affected in gazing upon the mutilated +remains of their friends, and appear to have been not a little +terror-stricken in view of such horrid barbarities. Fearing that the +Indians were too numerous in the vicinity to be encountered by their +small band, they brought off the garrison, and retreated precipitately +to Hadley, not tarrying even to destroy the property which they could +not bring away. It is said that Philip himself guided the Indians in +their attack upon Captain Beers. + +Hadley was now the head-quarters of the English army, and quite a +large force was assembled there. Most of the inhabitants of the +adjoining towns in tumult and terror had fled to this place for +protection. At the garrison house in Deerfield, fifteen miles above +Hadley, on the western side of the river, there were three thousand +bushels of corn standing in stacks. + +On the 18th of September, Captain Lothrop, having been sent from +Hadley to bring off this corn, started with his loaded teams on his +return. His force consisted of a hundred men, soldiers and teamsters. +As no Indians had for some time appeared in that immediate vicinity, +and as there was a good road between the two places, no particular +danger was apprehended. The Indians, however, from the fastnesses of +the forest, were all the time watching their movements with eagle eye, +and with consummate cunning were plotting their destruction. + +After leaving Deerfield, the march led for about three miles through a +very level country, densely wooded on each side of the road. The march +was then continued for half a mile along the borders of a morass +filled with large trees and tangled underbrush. Here a thousand +Indians had planted themselves in ambuscade. It was a serene and +beautiful autumnal day. Grape-vines festooned the gigantic trees of +the forest, and purple clusters, ripe and juicy, hung in profusion +among the boughs. Captain Lothrop was so unsuspicious of danger that +many of his men had thrown their guns into the carts, and were +strolling about gathering grapes. + +The critical moment arrived, and the English being in the midst of the +ambush, a thousand Indians sprang up from their concealment, and +poured in upon the straggling column a heavy and destructive fire. +Then, with savage yells, which seemed to fill the whole forest, they +rushed from every quarter to close assault. The English were scattered +in a long line of march, and the Indians, with the ferocity of +wolves, sprang upon them ten to one. A dreadful scene of tumult, +dismay, and carnage ensued. + +The tragic drama was soon closed. The troops, broken and scattered, +could only resort to the Indian mode of fighting, each one skulking +behind a tree. But they were so entirely surrounded and overpowered +that no one could discharge his musket more than two or three times +before he fell. Some, in their dismay, leaped into the branches of +the trees, hoping thus to escape observation. The savages, with shouts +of derision, mocked them for a time, and then pierced them with +bullets until they dropped to the ground. All the wounded were +indiscriminately butchered. But eight escaped to tell the awful story. +Ninety perished upon this bloody field. The young men who were thus +slaughtered constituted the flower of Essex county. They had been +selected for their intrepidity and hardihood from all the towns. Their +destruction caused unspeakable anguish in their homes, and sent a wave +of grief throughout all the colonies. The little stream in the south +part of Deerfield, upon the banks of which this memorable tragedy +occurred, has in consequence received the name of Bloody Brook. + +Captain Mosely had been left in the garrison at Deerfield with seventy +men, intending to go the next day in search of the Indians. As he was +but five miles from the scene of the massacre, he heard the firing, +and immediately marched to the rescue of his friends. But he was too +late. They were all, before his arrival, silent in death. As the +Indians were scalping and stripping the dead, Captain Mosely, with +great intrepidity, fell upon them, though he computed their numbers at +not less than a thousand. Keeping his men in a body, he broke through +the tumultuous mass, charging back and forth, and cutting down all +within range of his shot. + +Still, aided by the swamp and the forest, and being so overwhelmingly +superior to the English in numbers, the savages maintained the fight +with much fierceness for six hours. Captain Mosely and all his men +might perhaps also have perished, had not another party providentially +and very unexpectedly come to their relief. + +Major Treat, from Connecticut, was ascending the river with one +hundred and sixty Mohegan Indians, on his way to Northfield, in +pursuit of the foe in that vicinity. It was so ordered by Providence +that he approached the scene of action just as both parties were +exhausted by the protracted fight. Hearing the firing, he pressed +rapidly forward, and with fresh troops fell vigorously upon the foe. +The Indians, with yells of disappointment and rage, now fled, plunging +into the swamps and forests. They left ninety-six of their number dead +by the side of the English whom they had so mercilessly slaughtered in +the morning. It is supposed that Philip himself commanded the Indians +on this sanguinary day. The Indians, though in the end defeated, had +gained a marvelous victory, by which they were exceedingly encouraged +and emboldened. + +Captains Mosely and Treat encamped in the vicinity for the night, and +the next morning attended to the burial of the dead. They were +deposited in two pits, the English in one and the Indians in another. +A marble monument now marks the spot where this battle occurred, and a +slab is placed over the mound which covers the slain. + +Twenty-seven men only had been left in the garrison at Deerfield. The +next morning the Indians appeared in large numbers before the +garrison, threatening an attack. They tauntingly exhibited the +clothes they had stripped from the slain, and shouted messages of +defiance and insult. But the captain of the garrison, making a brave +show of resistance, and sounding his trumpets, as if to call in forces +near at hand, so alarmed the Indians that they retired, and soon all +disappeared in the pathless forest. Deerfield was, however, utterly +destroyed, and the garrison, abandoning the fortress, retired down the +river to afford such protection as might be in their power to the +lower towns. + +About thirty miles below Hadley, upon the river, was the town of +Springfield, a very flourishing settlement, containing forty-eight +dwelling-houses. A numerous tribe of Indians lived in the immediate +vicinity, having quite a spacious Indian fort at Long Hill, a mile +below the village. These Indians had for forty years lived on terms of +most cordial friendship with their civilized neighbors. They now made +such firm protestations of friendliness that but few doubted in the +least their good faith. But, while thus protesting, they had yielded +to the potent seductions of King Philip, and, joining his party +secretly, were making preparations for the destruction of Springfield. + +On the night of the 4th of October, three hundred of King Philip's +warriors crept stealthily through the forest, and were received into +the Indian fort at Long Hill. A friendly Indian by the name of Toto, +who had received much kindness from the whites, betrayed his +countrymen, and gave information of the conspiracy to burn the town +and massacre the inhabitants. The people were thrown into +consternation, and precipitately fled to the garrison houses, while a +courier was dispatched to Hadley for aid. + +Still, many had so much confidence in the sincerity of the Springfield +Indians that they could not believe in their treachery. Lieutenant +Cooper, who commanded there, was so deceived by their protestations +that he the next morning, taking another man with him, rode toward the +fort to ascertain the facts. He had not advanced far before he met the +enemy, several hundred in number, marching to the assault. The savages +immediately fired upon him. His companion was instantly shot, and +several bullets passed through his body. He was a man of Herculean +strength and vigor, and, though mortally wounded, succeeded, by +clinging to his horse, in reaching the garrison and giving the alarm +before he died. + +The savages now came roaring on like ferocious wild beasts. The town +was utterly defenseless. Thirty-three houses and twenty-five barns +were almost instantly in flames. Fortunately, nearly all of the +inhabitants were in the block-houses, and but five men and one woman +were killed. The Indians kept cautiously beyond the reach of gun-shot, +vigorously plundering the houses and applying the torch. The wretched +inhabitants, from the loop-holes of the garrison, contemplated with +anguish the conflagration of their homes and all their earthly goods. +The Reverend Mr. Glover, pastor of the church in this place, was a man +of studious habits, and had collected a valuable library, at an +expense of five thousand dollars. He had, for some time, kept his +library in the garrison house for safety; but, a short time before the +attack, thinking that Philip could not venture to make an assault upon +Springfield, when it was surrounded by so many friendly Indians, he +removed the books to his own house. They were all consumed. The loss +to this excellent man was irreparable, and a source of the keenest +grief. In the midst of the conflagration and the plunder Major Treat +appeared with a strong force from Hadley, and the Indians, loaded down +with booty, retreated into their forest fastnesses. Fifteen houses +only were left unburned. + +This treachery on the part of the Springfield Indians caused very +great alarm. There were, henceforward, no Indians in whom the +colonists could confide. The general court in Boston ordered: + + "That no person shall entertain, own, or countenance any + Indian, under penalty of being a betrayer of this + government. + + "That a guard be set at the entrance of the town of Boston, + and that no Indian be suffered to enter, upon any pretense, + without a guard of two musketeers, and not to lodge in + town." + +Animated by his success, Philip now planned a still bolder movement. +Hatfield was one of the most beautiful and flourishing of the towns +which reposed in the fertile valley of the Connecticut. Its +inhabitants, warned by the disasters which had befallen so many of +their neighbors, were prepared for a vigorous defense. They kept a +constant watch, and several garrison houses were erected, to which the +women and children could fly in case of alarm. All the male +inhabitants were armed and drilled, and there were three companies of +soldiers stationed in the town; and Hadley, which was on the opposite +side of the river, was the head-quarters of the Massachusetts and +Connecticut forces, then under the command of Major Appleton. An +attack upon Hatfield would immediately bring the forces of Hadley to +its relief. + +On the 19th of October, Philip, at the head of eight hundred warriors, +boldly, but with Indian secrecy, approached the outposts of Hatfield. +He succeeded in cutting off several parties who were scouring the +woods in the vicinity, and then made an impetuous rush upon the town. +But every man sprang to his appointed post. Every avenue of approach +was valiantly defended. Major Appleton immediately crossed with his +force from Hadley, and fell furiously upon the assailants, every man +burning with the desire to avenge the destruction of Northfield, +Deerfield, and Springfield. Notwithstanding this determined defense, +the Indians, inspired by the energies of their indomitable leader, +fought a long time with great resolution. At length, repulsed at every +point, they retreated, bearing off with them all their dead and +wounded. They succeeded, however, in burning many houses, and in +driving off many cattle. The impression they made upon the English may +be inferred from the fact that they were not pursued. In this affair, +six of the English were killed and ten wounded. A bullet passed +through the bushy hair of Major Appleton, cutting a very smooth path +for itself, "by that whisper telling him," says Hubbard, "that death +was very near, but did him no other harm." + +Winter was now approaching, and as Philip found that the remaining +settlements upon the Connecticut were so defended that he could not +hope to accomplish much, he scattered his forces into winter quarters. +Most of his warriors, who had accompanied him from the Atlantic coast +to the Connecticut, returned to Narraganset, and established their +rendezvous in an immense swamp in the region now incorporated into the +town of South Kingston, Rhode Island. Upon what might be called an +island in this immense swamp, they constructed five hundred wigwams, +and surrounded the whole with fortifications admirably adapted to +repel attack. Three thousand Indians were soon assembled upon this +spot. + +There is some uncertainty respecting the movements of Philip during +the winter. It is generally supposed that he passed the winter very +actively engaged in endeavors to rouse all the distant tribes. It is +said that he crossed the Hudson, and endeavored to incite the Indians +in the valley of the Mohawk to fall upon the Dutch settlements on the +Hudson. It is also probable that he spent some time at the Narraganset +fort, and that he directed several assaults which, during this season +of comparative repose, fell upon remote sections of the frontier. + +Straggling parties of Indians lingered about Northampton, Westfield, +and Springfield, occasionally burning a house, shooting at those who +ventured into the fields, and keeping the inhabitants in a state of +constant alarm. + +At the commencement of the war, just before the discomfiture of Philip +in the swamp near Taunton, a united force of the Massachusetts, +Plymouth, and Connecticut colonies had been sent into the Narraganset +country to persuade, and, if they could not persuade, to compel the +Narraganset Indians to declare for the English. It was well known that +the Narragansets in heart espoused the cause of Philip; for the +Wampanoag chieftain, to relieve himself from embarrassment, had sent +his old men, with his women and the children, into the Narraganset +territory, where they were received and entertained with much +hospitality. + +In this mission to the Narraganset country, a part of the troops +crossed the bay in boats, while others rode around by land, entering +the country by the way of Providence. The two parties soon met, and +advanced cautiously together to guard against ambush. They could, +however, for some time find no Indians. The wigwams were all deserted, +and the natives, men, women, and children, fled before them. At length +they succeeded in catching some Narraganset sachems, and with them, +after a conference of two or three days, concluded a treaty of peace. +It was virtually a compulsory treaty, in which the English could place +very little reliance, and to which the Narragansets paid no regard. + +According to the terms of this treaty, which was signed on the 15th of +July, 1675, the Narragansets agreed, + + 1st. To deliver to the English army every subject of King + Philip, either living or dead, who should come into their + territories. + + 2dly. To become allies of the English, and to kill and + destroy, with their utmost ability, all the subjects of King + Philip. + +There were several other articles of the treaty, but they were all +comprehended in the spirit of the two first. But now, in three months +after the signing of this treaty, Philip, with the aid of the +Narragansets, was constructing a fort in the very heart of their +country, and was making it the general rendezvous for all his +warriors. The Narragansets could bring a very fearful accumulation of +strength to the cause of Philip. They could lead two thousand warriors +into the field, and these warriors were renowned for ferocity and +courage. Dwelling so near the English settlements, they could at any +time emerge from their fastnesses, scattering dismay and ruin along +their path. + +The Indians enjoyed peculiar advantages for the rude warfare in which +they engaged. They were not only perfectly acquainted with the +wilderness, its morasses, mountains, and impenetrable thickets, but, +from their constant intercourse with the settlements, were as well +acquainted with the dwellings, fields, and roads of the English as +were the colonists themselves. They were very numerous and widely +scattered, and could watch every movement of their foe. Stealthily +approaching through the forest under cover of the night, they could +creep into barns and out-houses, and lie secreted behind fences, +prepared for murder, robbery, and conflagration. Often they concealed +themselves before the very doors of their victims. The first warning +of their presence would be the ring of the musket, as the lonely +settler, opening his door in the morning, dropped down dead upon his +threshold. The house was then fired, the mother and her babes scalped, +and the work of destruction was accomplished. Like packs of wolves +they came howling from the wilderness, and, leaving blood and +smouldering ruins behind them, howling they disappeared. While the +English were hunting for them in one place, they would be burning and +plundering in another. They were capable of almost any amount of +fatigue, and could subsist in vigor where a civilized man would +starve. A few kernels of corn, pounded into meal between two stones, +and mixed with water, in a cup made from rolling up a strip of birch +bark, afforded a good dinner for an Indian. If to this he could add a +few clams, or a bird or a squirrel shot from a neighboring tree, he +regarded his repast as quite sumptuous. + +The storms of winter checked, but by no means terminated the +atrocities of the savages. Marauding bands were wandering every where, +and no man dwelt in safety. Many persons were shot, houses and barns +were burned, and not a few men, women, and children were taken captive +and carried into the wilderness, where they miserably perished, often +being subjected to the most excruciating torture. The condition of the +colonies was now melancholy in the extreme. Their losses had been very +great, as one company after another of their soldiers had wasted away. +Industry had been paralyzed, and the harvest had consequently been +very short, while at the same time the expenses of the war were +enormous. The savages, elated with success, were recruiting their +strength, to break forth with new vigor upon the settlements in the +early spring. + +The commissioners of the united colonies deliberated long and +anxiously. The all-important question was whether it were best to +adopt the desperate enterprise of attacking the Narraganset fort in +the dead of winter, or whether they should defer active hostilities +until spring. Should they defer, the warriors now collected upon one +spot would scatter every where in the work of destruction. The +Narragansets, who had not as yet engaged openly in the conflict, would +certainly lend all their energies to King Philip. Another year of +disaster and blood might thus be confidently anticipated. + +On the other hand, the severity of the winter was such that a whole +army, houseless, on the march, might perish in a single night. Storms +of snow often arose, encumbering the ground with such drifts and +masses that it might be quite impossible to force a march through the +pathless expanse. + +But, in view of all the circumstances, it was at length decided best +to make the attack. A thousand men were to be raised. Of these, +Massachusetts contributed five hundred and twenty-seven. Plymouth +furnished one hundred and fifty-eight. Connecticut supplied three +hundred and fifteen, and also sent one hundred and fifty Mohegan +Indians. Josiah Winslow, governor of the Plymouth colony, was +appointed commander-in-chief. The choicest officers in the colonies +were selected, and the men who filled the ranks were all chosen from +those of established reputation for physical vigor and bravery. All +were aware of the perilous nature of the enterprise. In consequence of +the depth of the snow, it would probably be impossible to send any +succor to the troops by land in case of reverse. "It was a humbling +providence of God," wrote the commissioners, "that put his poor +people to be meditating a matter of war at such a season." The second +of December was appointed as a solemn fast to implore God's aid upon +the enterprise. + +The Massachusetts troops rendezvoused at Dedham, and on the morning of +the 9th of December commenced their march. They advanced that day +twenty-seven miles, to the garrison house of John Woodcock, within the +limits of the present town of Attleborough. Woodcock kept a sort of +tavern at what was called the Ten Mile River, which tavern he was +enjoined by the court to "keep in good order, that no unruliness or +ribaldry be permitted there." He was a man of some consequence, +energetic, reckless, and not very scrupulous in regard to the rights +of the Indians. An Indian owed him some money. As Woodcock could not +collect the debt, he paid himself by going into the Indian's house and +taking his child and some goods. For this crime he was sentenced to +sit in the stocks at Rehoboth during a training day, and to pay a fine +of forty shillings. + +At this garrison house the troops encamped for the night, and the next +day they advanced to Seekonk, and were ferried across the river to +Providence. On the morning of the twelfth they resumed their march, +and followed down the western shore of the bay until they arrived at +the garrison house of Mr. Smith, in the present town of Wickford, +which was appointed as their head-quarters. Here, in the course of a +few days, the Connecticut companies, marching from Stonington, and the +Plymouth companies were united with them. As the troops were +assembling, several small parties had skirmishes with roving bands of +Indians, in which a few were slain on both sides. A few settlers had +reared their huts along the western shores of the bay, but the +Indians, aware of the approach of their enemies, had burned their +houses, and the inhabitants were either killed or dispersed. Nearly +the whole region was now a wilderness. + +The Indians, three thousand in number, were strongly intrenched, as we +have before mentioned, in a swamp, which was in South Kingston, about +eighteen miles distant from the encampment of the colonists. It is +uncertain whether Philip was in the fort or not; the testimony upon +that point is contradictory. The probability, however, is that he was +present, sharing in the sanguinary scene which ensued. + +The swamp was of immense extent and quite impenetrable, except through +two or three paths known only to the Indians. In the centre of the +swamp there were three or four acres of dry land, a few feet higher +than the surrounding morass. Here Philip had erected his houses, five +hundred in number, and had built them of materials far more solid and +durable than the Indians were accustomed to use, so that they were +quite bullet-proof. They were all surrounded by a high palisade. In +this strong encampment, in friendly alliance with the Narragansets, +Philip and his exultant warriors had been maturing their plans to make +a terrible assault upon all the English settlements in the spring. +Whether Philip was present or not when the fort was attacked, his +genius reared the fortress and nerved the arms of its defenders. + +The condition of the colonial army seemed now deplorable. Their +provisions were nearly consumed, and they could hardly hope for any +supply except such as they could capture from the savages. They knew +nothing of the entrances to the swamp, and were entirely unacquainted +with the nature of the fortification and the points most available for +attack. The ground was covered with snow, and they huddled around the +camp-fires by night, with no shelter from the inclemency of frost and +storm. + +The morning of the 19th dawned cold and gloomy. The supper of the +previous night had utterly exhausted their stores. At break of day +they commenced their march. A storm was then raging, and the air was +filled with snow. But for the treachery of one of Philip's Indians, +they would probably have been routed in the attack and utterly +destroyed. A Narraganset Indian, who, for some cause, had become +enraged against his countrymen, deserted their cause, and, entering +the camp of the colonists, acted as their guide. + +Early in the afternoon of the cold, short, and stormy winter's day, +the troops, unrefreshed by either breakfast or dinner, after a march +of eighteen miles, arrived at the borders of the swamp. An almost +impenetrable forest, tangled with every species of underbrush, spread +over the bog, presenting the most favorable opportunity for +ambuscades, and all the stratagems of Indian warfare. The English, +struggling blindly through the morass, would have found themselves in +a helpless condition, and exposed at every point to the bullets of an +unseen foe. The destruction of this army would have so emboldened the +savages and paralyzed the English that every settlement of the +colonists might have been swept away in an inundation of blood and +flame. The fate of the New England colonies trembled in the balance. + +The Narraganset deserter guided them to the entrance of a narrow and +intricate foot-path which led to the island. The Indians, watching +their approach, were lying in ambush upon the edge of the swamp. They +fired upon the advancing files, and retreated. The English, returning +the fire, vigorously pursued. Led by their guide, they soon arrived at +the fort. It presented a formidable aspect. In addition to the +palisades, a hedge of fallen trees a rod in thickness surrounded the +whole intrenchment; outside the hedge there was a ditch wide and deep. +There was but one point of entrance, and that was over the long and +slender trunk of a tree which had been felled across the ditch, and +rested at its farther end upon a wall of logs three or four feet high. +A block-house, at whose portals many sharp-shooters were stationed in +vigilant guard, commanded the narrow and slippery avenue. It was thus +necessary for the English, in storming the fort, to pass in single +file along this slender stem, exposed every step of the way to the +muskets of the Indians. Every soldier at once perceived that the only +hope for the army was in the energies of despair. + +There is no incident recorded in the annals of war which testifies to +more reckless fearlessness than that which our ancestors displayed on +this occasion. The approaches to the Malakoff and the Redan were not +attended with greater peril. Without waiting a moment to reconnoitre +or for those in the rear to come up, the Massachusetts troops, who +were in the van, made a rush to cross the tree. They were instantly +swept off by Philip's sharp-shooters. Again and again the English +soldiers, led by their captains, rushed upon the fatal bridge to +supply the places of the slain, but they only presented a fair target +for the foe, and they fell as grass before the scythe. In a few +moments six captains and a large number of common soldiers were dead +or dying in the ditch. The assaulting party, in dismay, were beginning +to recoil before certain death, when, by some unexplained means, a +bold party succeeded in wading through the ditch at another place, +and, clambering through the hedge of trees and over the palisades, +with great shoutings they assailed the defenders of the one narrow +pass in the rear. + +The Indians, in consternation, were for a moment bewildered, and knew +not which way to turn. The English, instantly availing themselves of +the panic, made another rush, and succeeded in forcing an entrance. A +hand to hand fight ensued of almost unparalleled ferocity; but the +English, with their long swords, hewed down the foe with immense +slaughter, and soon got possession of the breastwork which commanded +the entrance. A passage was immediately cut through the palisades, and +the whole army poured in. + +[Illustration: CAPTURE OF THE INDIAN FORTRESS.] + +The interior was a large Indian village, containing five hundred +houses, stored with a great abundance of corn, and crowded with women +and children. An awful scene of carnage now ensued. Though the savages +fought with the utmost fury, they could oppose no successful +resistance to the disciplined courage of the English. Flying from +wigwam to wigwam, men, women, and children were struck down without +mercy. The exasperated colonists regarded the children but as young +serpents of a venomous brood, and they were pitilessly knocked in the +head. The women they shot as readily as they would the dam of the wolf +or the bear. It was a day of vengeance, and awfully did retribution +fall. The shrieks of women and children blended fearfully with the +rattle of musketry and the cry of onset. For four hours the terrible +battle raged. The snow which covered the ground was now crimsoned +with blood, and strewed with the bodies of the slain. + +The battle was so fierce, and the defense so determined and prolonged, +the Indians flying from wigwam to wigwam, and taking deadly aim at the +English from innumerable places of concealment, that at length the +assailants were driven to the necessity of setting fire to the houses. +They resorted to this measure with great reluctance, since they needed +the shelter of the houses after the battle for their own refreshment +in their utterly exhausted state, and since there were large +quantities of corn stored in the houses in hollow trees, cut off about +the length of a barrel, which would be entirely consumed by the +conflagration. But there was no alternative; the torch was applied, +and in a few moments five hundred buildings were in flames. + +No language can describe the scene which now ensued. The awful tragedy +of the Pequot fort was here renewed upon a scale of still more +terrific grandeur. Old men, women, and children, no one can tell how +many, perished miserably in the wasting conflagration. The surviving +warriors, utterly discomfited, leaped the flaming palisades and fled +into the swamp. But even here they kept up an incessant and deadly +fire upon the victors, many of whom were shot after they had gained +entire possession of the fort. The terrible conflict had now lasted +four hours. Eighty of the colonists had been killed outright, and one +hundred and fifty wounded, many of whom subsequently died. Seven +hundred Indian warriors were slain, and many hundred wounded, of whom +three hundred soon died. + +The English were now complete masters of the fort, but it was a fort +no longer. The whole island of four acres, houses, palisades, and +hedge, was but a glowing furnace of roaring, crackling flame. The +houses were so exceedingly combustible that in an hour they were +consumed to ashes. The English, unprotected upon the island, were thus +exposed to every shot from the vanquished foe, who were skulking +behind the trees in the swamp. + +Night was now darkening over this dismal scene, a cold, stormy +winter's night. The flames of the blazing palisades and hedge enabled +the savages, who were filling the forest with their howlings of rage, +to take a surer aim, while they themselves were concealed in +impenetrable darkness. It was greatly feared that the Indians, still +much more numerous than their exhausted assailants, might, in the +night, make another onset to regain their lost ground. Indeed, the +bullets were still falling thickly around them as the Indians, +prowling from hummock to hummock, kept up a deadly fire, and it was +necessary, at all hazards, to escape from so perilous a position. It +was another conquest of Moscow. In the hour of the most exultant +victory, the conquerors saw before them but a vista of terrible +disaster. After a few moments' consultation, a precipitate retreat +from the swamp was decided to be absolutely necessary. + +The colonists had marched in the morning, breakfastless, eighteen +miles, over the frozen, snow-covered ground. Without any dinner, they +had entered upon one of the most toilsome and deadly of conflicts, and +had continued to struggle against intrenched and outnumbering foes for +four hours. And now, cold, exhausted, and starving, in the darkness of +a stormy night, they were to retreat through an almost pathless +swamp, bearing in their arms one hundred and fifty of their bleeding +and dying companions. There was no place of safety for them until they +should arrive at their head-quarters of the preceding night, upon the +shores of Narraganset Bay, eighteen miles distant. + +The horrors of that midnight retreat can never be told; they are +hardly surpassed by the tragedy at Borodino. The wind blew fiercely +through the tree-tops, and swept the bleak and drifted plains as the +troops toiled painfully along, breasting the storm, and stumbling in +exhaustion over the concealed inequalities of the ground. Most +fortunately for them, the savages made no pursuit. Many of the wounded +died by the way. Others, tortured by the freezing of their unbandaged +wounds, and by the grating of their splintered bones as they were +hurried along, shrieked aloud in their agony. It was long after +midnight before they reached their encampment. But even here they had +not a single biscuit. Vessels had been dispatched from Boston with +provisions, which should have arrived long before at this point, which +was their designated rendezvous. But these vessels had been driven +into Cape Cod harbor by a storm. The same storm had driven in immense +masses of ice, and for many days they were hopelessly blocked up. +Suffering excessively from this disappointment, the soldiers marched +to the assault, hoping, in the capture of the fort, to find food +stored up amply sufficient to supply the whole army until the spring +of the year, and also to find good warm houses where they all might be +lodged. The conflagration, to which they were compelled to resort, had +blighted all these hopes, and now, though victorious, they were +perishing in the wilderness of cold and hunger. + +The storm, during the night, increased in fury, and the snow, in +blinding, smothering sheets, filled the air, and, in the course of the +ensuing day, covered the ground to such a depth that for several weeks +the army was unable to move in any direction. But on that very +morning, freezing and tempestuous, in which despair had seized upon +every heart, a vessel was seen approaching, buffeting the icy waves of +the bay. It was one of the vessels from Boston, laden with provisions +for the army. Joy succeeded to despair. Prayers and praises ascended +from grateful hearts, and hymns of thanksgiving resounded through the +dim aisles of the forest. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +MRS. ROWLANDSON'S CAPTIVITY. + +1675-1676 + +Winter quarters.--Building a village.--Indignation of the Indians.--The +Narragansets disheartened.--Determination of Philip.--Diplomacy.--A +new fort.--A new army raised.--Sufferings of the troops.--Two names +for the Indians.--Their degraded nature.--Colonel Benjamin's mode +of making proselytes.--Philip betrayed.--His flight.--Return of +the troops.--Attack on Lancaster.--Precautions to guard against +surprise.--The torch applied.--Massacre of the inhabitants.--Mr. +Rowlandson's house.--Burning the building.--The inmates shot.--Mrs. +Rowlandson wounded.--Scalping a child.--Indian bacchanals.--Wastefulness +of the Indians.--Mrs. Rowlandson's narrative.--Her sufferings.--Her +wounded child.--Friendly aid from an Indian.--Arrival at +head-quarters.--Mrs. Rowlandson a slave.--Reciprocal barbarity.--Actions +of the Christian Indians.--Meeting of the captives.--Return of the +warriors.--Exultation of the Indians.--A captive murdered.--Journey to +the interior.--Comfort obtained.--Fear of the English.--The flight.--The +burden.--Crossing the river.--Want of food.--Compelling the captive +to work.--The Indian village.--Numbers of the Indians.--Difficulty +of obtaining food.--Mrs. Rowlandson meets her son.--Regal +repast.--Preparations for an attack.--The queen invited to dinner.--An +interview between the captives.--Unaccountable conduct.--A journey +commenced.--Hardships endured.--Kindness from an old Indian.--False +report about her son.--Dismal life.--Visions of liberty.--Slow +march.--Gentlemanly conduct of Philip.--Queen Wetamoo.--Wampum, +and how made.--Kindness to the captive.--Proposition for her +ransom.--Evidence of slaughter.--A great feast.--Endeavors to see her +children.--Bravery of Mr. John Hoar.--Assurance of freedom.--Dress +for a grand dance.--Dress of Wetamoo.--Interview with Philip.--Her +release.--Appearance of the country.--Return to her friends. + + +The little army was now supplied with food, but the vast masses of +snow extending every where around them through the pathless wilderness +rendered it impossible to move in any direction. The forest afforded +ample materials for huts and fuel. A busy village speedily arose upon +the shores of the frozen bay. Many of the wounded were, for greater +safety and comfort, sent to the island of Rhode Island, where they +were carefully nursed in the dwellings of the colonists. In their +encampment at Wickford, as the region is now called, the soldiers +remained several weeks, blockaded by storms and drifts, waiting for a +change of weather. It was a season of unusual severity, and the army +presented a spectacle resembling, upon a small scale, that of the +mighty hosts of Napoleon afterward encamped among the forests of the +Vistula--a scene of military energy which arrested the gaze and +elicited the astonishment of all Europe. + +As the English evacuated the Indian fort, the warriors who had escaped +into the swamp returned to their smouldering wigwams and to the +mangled bodies of their wives and children, overwhelmed with +indignation, rage, and despair. The storm of war had come and gone, +and awful was the ruin which it had left behind. The Rev. Mr. Ruggles, +recording the horrors of the destruction of the Narraganset fort, +writes: + + "The burning of the wigwams, the shrieks and cries of the + women and children, and the yells of the warriors, exhibited + a most horrible and affecting scene, so that it greatly + moved some of the soldiers. They were in much doubt then, + and often very seriously inquired whether burning their + enemies alive could be consistent with humanity and the + benevolent principles of the Gospel." + +The Narragansets, who were associated with the warriors of Philip in +this conflict, and in whose territory the battle had been fought, were +exceedingly disheartened. This experience of the terrible power and +vengeance of the English appalled them, and they were quite disposed +to abandon Philip. But the great Wampanoag chief was not a man to +yield to adversity. This calamity only nerved him to more undying +resolution and to deeds of more desperate daring. He had still about +two thousand warriors around him, but, being almost entirely destitute +of provisions, they for a time suffered incredibly. + +To gain time, Philip sent deputies to the English commander-in-chief +to treat of peace. The colonists met these advances with the utmost +cordiality, for there was nothing which they more earnestly desired +than to live on friendly terms with the Indians. War was to them only +impoverishment and woe. They had nothing to gain by strife. It was, +however, soon manifest that Philip was but trifling, and that he had +no idea of burying the hatchet. While the wary chieftain was occupying +the colonists with all the delays of diplomacy, he was energetically +constructing another fort in a swamp about twenty miles distant, where +he was again collecting his forces, and all the materials of barbarian +warfare. In this fortress, within the territorial limits of the +Nipmuck Indians, he also assembled a feeble train of women and +children, the fragments of his slaughtered families. The Nipmuck +tribe, then quite powerful, occupied the region now included in the +southeast corner of Worcester county. + +Hardly a ray of civilization had penetrated this portion of the +country. The gloomy wilderness frowned every where around, pathless +and savage. From the tangled morass in which he reared his wigwams he +dispatched runners in all directions, to give impulse to the torrent +of conflagration and blood with which he intended to sweep the +settlements in the spring. + +It was now manifest that there could be no hope of peace. An army of a +thousand men, early in January, was dispatched from Boston to +re-enforce the encampment at Wickford. Their march, in the dead of +winter, over the bleak and frozen hills, was slow, and their +sufferings were awful. Eleven men were frozen to death by the way, and +a large number were severely frostbitten. Immediately after their +arrival there came a remarkable thaw. The snow nearly all disappeared, +and the ground was flooded with water. This thaw was life to the +Indians. It enabled them to traverse the forests freely, and to gather +ground-nuts, upon which they were almost exclusively dependent for +subsistence. + +The army at Wickford now numbered sixteen hundred. They decided upon a +rapid march to attack Philip again in his new intrenchments. There +were _friendly Indians_, as the English called them--_traitors_, as +they were called by King Philip--who were ever ready to guide the +colonists to the haunts of their countrymen. There were individual +Indians who had pride of character and great nobility of nature--men +who, through their virtues, are venerated even by the race which has +supplanted their tribes. They had their Washingtons, their Franklins, +and their Howards. But Indian nature is human nature, with all its +frailty and humiliation. The great mass of the common Indians were low +and degraded men. Almost any of them were ready for a price, and that +an exceedingly small one, to betray their nearest friends. + +An Indian would sometimes be taken prisoner, and immediately, in the +continuance of the same battle, with his musket still hot from the +conflict, he would guide the English to the retreats of his friends, +and engage, apparently with the greatest zeal, in firing upon them. In +the narrative given by Colonel Benjamin Church, one of the heroes of +these wars, he writes, speaking of himself in the third person, + + "When he took any number of prisoners, he would pick out + some, and tell them that he took a particular fancy to + them, and had chosen them for himself to make soldiers of, + and if any would behave themselves well he would do well by + them, and they should be his men, and not sold out of the + country. + + "If he perceived they looked surly, and his Indian soldiers + called them treacherous dogs, as some of them would + sometimes do, all the notice he would take of it would only + be to clap them on the back and say, 'Come, come, you look + wild and surly, and mutter; but that signifies nothing. + These, my soldiers, were a little while ago as wild and + surly as you are now. By the time you have been one day with + me, you will love me too, and be as brisk as any of them.' + + "And it proved so; for there was none of them but, after + they had been a little while with him, and seen his + behavior, and how cheerful and successful his men were, + would be as ready to pilot him to any place where the + Indians dwelt or haunted, though their own fathers or + nearest relations should be among them, as any of his own + men." + +Such a character we can not but despise, and yet such, with +exceptions, was the character of the common Indian. That magnanimity +which at times has shed immortal brilliance upon humanity is a rare +virtue, even in civilized life; in the savage it is still more rare. + +Philip, in the retreat to which he had now escaped, was again betrayed +by one of his renegade countrymen. The English, numbering sixteen +hundred, immediately resumed active hostilities, and after having +ravaged the country directly around them, burning some wigwams, +putting some Indians to death, and taking many captives, broke up +their encampment and commenced their march. It was early in February +that Major Winslow put his army in motion to pursue Philip. As the +English drew near the swamp, Philip, conscious of his inability to +oppose so formidable a force, immediately set his wigwams on fire, +and, with all his warriors, disappeared in the depths of the +wilderness. As it was entirely uncertain in what direction the savages +would emerge from the forest to kindle anew the flames of war, the +troops retraced their steps toward Boston. The Connecticut soldiers +had already returned to their homes. + +On the 10th of February, 1676, the Indians, with whoop and yell, burst +from the forest upon the beautiful settlement of Lancaster. This was +one of the most remote of the frontier towns, some fifty miles west of +Boston, on the Nashua River. The plantation, ten miles in length and +eight in breadth, had been purchased of the Nashaway Indians, with the +stipulation that the English should not molest the Indians in their +hunting, fishing, or planting places. For several years the colonists +and the Indians lived together in entire harmony, mutually benefiting +each other. There were between fifty and sixty families in the town, +embracing nearly three hundred inhabitants. They had noticed some +suspicious circumstances on the part of the Indians who were dwelling +around them, and they had sent their pastor, the Rev. Mr. Rowlandson, +to Boston, to seek assistance for the defense of the town. He had +taken the precaution before he left to convert his house into a +bullet-proof fortress, and had garrisoned it for the protection of his +family during his absence. + +The savages, fifteen hundred in number, during the darkness of the +night stationed themselves at different points, from whence they +could, at an appointed signal, attack the town at the same moment in +five different quarters. There were less than a hundred persons in the +town capable of bearing arms, the remainder being women and children. +The savages thus prepared to overpower them fifteen to one, and, +making the assault by surprise, felt sure of an easy victory. + +Just as the sun was rising the signal was given. In an instant every +heart was congealed with terror as the awful war-whoop resounded +through the forest. It was a cold winter's morning, and the wind swept +bleakly over the whitened plains. Every house was immediately +surrounded, the torch applied, and, as the flames drove the inmates +from their doors, they fell pierced by innumerable bullets, and the +tomahawk and the scalping-knife finished the dreadful work. There were +several garrison houses in the town, where most of the inhabitants had +taken refuge, and where they were able, for a time, to beat off their +assailants. All who were not thus sheltered immediately fell into the +hands of their foes. Between fifty and sixty were either slain or +taken captive. The unhappy inmates of the garrisons looked out through +their port-holes upon the conflagration and plunder of their homes, +the mutilated corpses of their friends, and the wretched band of +captives strongly bound and awaiting their fate. + +There were forty-one persons in the Rev. Mr. Rowlandson's house. They +all defended it valiantly, and no Indian dared expose himself within +gun-shot of their port-holes. Still, the savages, in a body, prepared +for the assault. The house was situated upon the brow of a hill. Some +of the Indians got behind the hill, others filled the barn, and others +sheltered themselves behind stones and stumps, and any other +breastwork, from which they could reach the house with their bullets. +For two hours, fifteen hundred savages kept up an incessant firing, +aiming at the windows and the port-holes. Several in the house were +thus wounded. + +After many unsuccessful attempts to fire the house, they at length +succeeded in pushing a cart loaded with hay and other combustible +materials, all in flames, against the rear of the house. All the +efforts of the garrison to extinguish the fire were unavailing, and +the building was soon in a blaze. As the flames rapidly rolled up the +wall and over the roof, the savages raised shouts of exultation, which +fell as a death-knell upon the hearts of those who had now no +alternative but to be consumed in the flames or to surrender +themselves to the merciless foe. The bullets were still rattling +against the house, and fifteen hundred warriors were greedily +watching to riddle with balls any one who should attempt to escape. +The flames were crackling and roaring around the besieged, and their +only alternative was to perish in the fire, or to go out and meet the +bullet and the tomahawk of the savage. When the first forks of flame +touched the flesh, goaded by torture to delirium, they rushed from the +door. A wild whoop of triumph rose from the savages, and, pouring a +volley of bullets upon the group, they fell upon them with gleaming +knives. + +Many were instantly killed and scalped. All the men were thus +massacred; twenty of the women and children were taken captives. Mrs. +Rowlandson had two children, a son and a daughter, by her side, and +another daughter about six years of age, sick and emaciate, in her +arms. Her sister was also with her, with several children. No less +than seventeen of Rev. Mr. Rowlandson's family and connections were in +this melancholy group. + +As many dropped dead around Mrs. Rowlandson, cut down by the storm of +bullets, one bullet pierced her side, and another passed through the +hand and the bowels of the sick child she held in her arms. One of her +sister's children, a fine boy, fell helpless upon the ground, having +his thigh-bone shattered by a ball. A sturdy Indian, seeing that the +poor child was thus disabled, buried his tomahawk in his brain and +stripped off his scalp. The frantic mother rushed toward her child, +when a bullet pierced her bosom, and she fell lifeless upon his +mangled corpse. The savages immediately stripped all the clothing from +the dead, and, having finished their work of conflagration and +plunder, plunged into the wilderness, dragging their wretched captives +along with them. The beautiful town was left in ruins. + +The victors, with shouts of exultation, marched about a mile, and +encamped for the night upon a hill which overlooked the smouldering +dwellings of their foes. Here was enacted one of the wildest scenes of +barbarian bacchanals. Enormous fires were built, which, with roaring, +crackling flame, illumined for leagues around the sombre forest. +Fifteen hundred savages, delirious with victory, and prodigal of their +immense booty of oxen, cows, sheep, swine, calves, and fowl, reveled +in such a feast as they had hardly dreamed of before. Cattle were +roasted whole and eagerly devoured, with dances and with shouts which +made the welkin ring. With wastefulness characteristic of the +Indians, they took no thought for the morrow, but slaughtered the +animals around them in mere recklessness, and, when utterly satiated +with the banquet, the ground was left strewed with smoking and savory +viands sufficient to feed an army. + +The night was cold; the ground was covered with snow, and a piercing +wind swept the icy eminence. Mrs. Rowlandson, holding her wounded and +moaning child in her arms, and with the group of wretched captives +around her, sat during the long hours of the dreadful night, shivering +with cold, appalled at the awful fate which had befallen her and her +family, and endeavoring in vain to soothe the anguish of her dying +daughter. "This was the dolefullest night," she exclaims in her +affecting narrative, "that my eyes ever saw. Oh, the roaring and +singing, dancing and yelling of those black creatures in the night, +which made the place a lively resemblance of hell." + +The next morning the Indians commenced their departure into the +wilderness. Mrs. Rowlandson toiled along on foot, with her dying child +in her arms. The poor little girl was in extreme anguish, and often +cried out with pain. At length the mother became so exhausted that +she fell fainting to the ground. The Indians then placed her upon a +horse, and again gave her her child to carry. But the horse was +furnished with neither saddle nor bridle, and, in going down a steep +hill, stumbled, and they both were thrown over his neck. This incident +was greeted by the savages with shouts of laughter. To add to their +sufferings, it now began to snow. All the day long the storm wailed +through the tree-tops, and the snow was sifted down upon their path. +The woe-stricken captives toiled along until night, when the Indians +again encamped upon the open ground. + + "And now," writes Mrs. Rowlandson, "I must sit in the snow + by a little fire, and a few boughs behind me, with my sick + child in my lap, and calling much for water, being now, + through the wound, fallen into a violent fever. My own + wound, also, growing so stiff that I could scarce sit down + or rise up, yet so it must be that I must sit all this cold + winter's night upon the cold snowy ground, with my sick + child in my arms, looking that every hour would be the last + of its life, and having no Christian friend near me either + to comfort or help me." + +In the morning the Indians resumed their journey, marching, as was +their custom, in single file through trails in the forest. A humane +Indian mounted a horse and took Mrs. Rowlandson and her child behind +him. All the day long the poor little sufferer moaned with pain, while +the savages were constantly threatening to knock the child in the head +if she did not cease her moaning. In the evening they arrived at an +Indian village called Wenimesset. Here, upon a luxuriant meadow upon +the banks of the River Ware, within the limits of the present town of +New Braintree, the savages had established their head-quarters. It was +about thirty-six miles from Lancaster. A large number of savages were +assembled at this place, and they remained here for several days, +gathering around their council fires, planning new expeditions, and +inflaming their passions with war dances and the most frantic revels. +The Indians treated their captives with comparative kindness. No +violence or disrespect was offered to their persons. They reared a +rude wigwam for Mrs. Rowlandson, where she sat for five days and +nights almost alone, watching her dying child. At last, on the night +of the 18th of February, the little sufferer breathed her last, at the +age of six years and five months. The Indians took the corpse from the +mother and buried it, and then allowed her to see the grave. + +[Illustration: CAPTIVITY OF MRS. ROWLANDSON.] + +When Mrs. Rowlandson was driven from the flames of her dwelling, a +Narraganset Indian was the first to grasp her; he consequently claimed +her as his property. Her children were caught by different savages, +and thus became the slaves of their captors. The Indians, by the law +of retaliation, were perfectly justified in making slaves of their +captives. The human mind can not withhold its assent from the justice +of the verdict, "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." The +English made all their captives slaves, and women and children were +sold to all the horrors of West Indian plantation bondage. The +Narraganset Indian who owned Mrs. Rowlandson soon sold her to a +celebrated chieftain named Quinnapin, a Narraganset sachem, who had +married, for one of his three wives, Wetamoo, of whom we have +heretofore spoken. Quinnapin is represented as a "young, lusty sachem, +and a very great rogue." It will be remembered that Wetamoo, queen of +the Pocasset Indians, was the widow of Alexander and sister of +Wootonekanuske, the wife of Philip. The English clergyman's wife was +assigned to Queen Wetamoo as her dressing-maid. The Indian +slaveholders paid but little regard to family relations. Mrs. +Rowlandson's daughter Mary was sold for a gun by a _praying Indian_, +who first chanced to grasp her. The Christian Indians joined in this +war against the whites, and shared in all the emoluments of the slave +traffic which it introduced. Mary was ten years of age, a child of +cultured mind and lovely character. She was purchased by an Indian who +resided in the town where the Indian army was now encamped. When the +poor slave mother met her slave child, Mary was so overwhelmed with +anguish as to move even the sympathies of her stoical masters; their +several owners consequently forbade their meeting any more. + +After a few days, the warriors scattered on various expeditions of +devastation and blood. Mrs. Rowlandson was left at Wenimesset. Her +days and nights were passed in lamentations, tears, and prayers. One +morning, quite to her surprise, her son William entered her wigwam, +where she was employed by her mistress in menial services. He belonged +to a master who resided at a small plantation of Indians about six +miles distant. His master had gone with a war party to make an attack +upon Medfield, and his mistress, with woman's tender heart, had +brought him to see his mother. The interview was short and full of +anguish. + +The next day the Indians returned from the destruction of Medfield. +Their approach through the forest was heralded by the most demoniac +roaring and whooping, as the whole savage band thus announced their +victory. All the Indians in the little village assembled to meet them. +The warriors had slain twenty of the English, and brought home several +captives and many scalps. Each one told his story, and recapitulated +the numbers of the slain; and, at the close of each narrative, the +whole multitude, with the most frantic gestures, set up a shout which +echoed far and wide over mountain and valley. + +There were now at Wenimesset nine captives, Mrs. Rowlandson, Mrs. +Joslin, and seven children from different families. Mrs. Joslin had an +infant two years old in her arms, and was expecting every hour to give +birth to another child. + +The Indians now deemed it necessary to move farther into the +wilderness. The poor woman, in her deplorable condition, did nothing +but weep, and the Indians, deeming her an incumbrance, resolved to +get rid of her. They placed her upon the ground with her child, +divested her entirely of clothing, and for an hour sang and danced +around their victim with wildest exultation. One then approached and +buried his hatchet in her brain. She fell lifeless. Another blow put +an end to the sufferings of her child. They then built a huge fire, +placed the two bodies upon it, and they were consumed to ashes. All +the captive children were assembled to witness this tragedy, and were +assured that if they made any attempt to escape from slavery, a +similar fate awaited them. The unhappy woman, during all this awful +scene, shed not a tear, but with clasped hands, meekly praying, she +silently and almost joyfully surrendered herself to her fate. + +All the day long, the Indians, leading their captives with them, +traveled through the desolate wilderness. A drizzling rain was +falling, and their feet slumped through the wet snow at every step. +Late in the afternoon they encamped, with no protection from the +weather but a few boughs of trees. Mrs. Rowlandson was separated from +her children; she was faint with hunger, sore, and utterly exhausted +with travel, and she sat down upon the snowy ground and wept +bitterly. She opened her Bible for solace, and her eye fell upon the +cheering words, + + "Refrain thy voice from weeping and thine eyes from tears, + for thy work shall be rewarded, and they shall come again + from the land of the enemy." + +Here, in this wretched encampment, the Indians, their families being +with them, remained for four days. But some of their scouts brought in +intelligence that some English soldiers were in the vicinity. The +Indians immediately, in the greatest apparent consternation, packed up +their things and fled. They retreated farther into the wilderness in +the most precipitate confusion. Women carried their children. Men took +upon their shoulders their aged and decrepit mothers. One very heavy +Indian, who was sick, was carried upon a bier. Mrs. Rowlandson +endeavored to count the Indians, but they were in such a tumultuous +throng, hurrying through the forest, that she was quite unable to +ascertain their numbers. It will be remembered that Mrs. Rowlandson's +side had been pierced by a bullet at the destruction of Lancaster. The +wound was much inflamed, and, being worn down with pain and +exhaustion, she found it exceedingly difficult to keep pace with her +captors. In the distribution of their burdens they had given her two +quarts of parched meal to carry. Fainting with hunger, she implored of +her mistress one spoonful of the meal, that she might mix it with +water to appease the cravings of appetite. Her supplication was +denied. + +Soon they arrived at Swift River, somewhere probably within the limits +of the present town of Enfield. The stream was swollen with the +melting snows of spring. The Indians, with their hatchets, immediately +cut down some dry trees, with which they made a raft, and thus crossed +the stream. The raft was so heavily laden that many of the Indians +were knee deep in the icy water. Mrs. Rowlandson, however, sat upon +some brush, and thus kept her feet dry. For supper they made a broth +by boiling an old horse's leg in a kettle of water, filling up with +water as often as the kettle was emptied. Mrs. Rowlandson was in such +a starving condition that a cupful of this wretched nutriment seemed +delicious. + +Feeling that they were now safe from attack, they reared some rude +wigwams, and rested for one day. It so happened that the next day was +the Sabbath. The English who were pursuing came to the banks of the +river, saw the smoke of their fires, but for some reason decided not +to attempt to cross the stream. During the day, Wetamoo compelled her +slave to knit some stockings for her. When Mrs. Rowlandson plead that +it was the Sabbath, and promised that if she might be permitted to +keep the sacred day she would do double work on Monday, she was told +to do her work immediately, or she should have her face smashed. The +smashing of a face by an Indian's bludgeon is a serious operation. + +The next morning, Monday, the Indians fired their wigwams, and +continued their retreat through the wilderness toward the Connecticut +River. They traveled as fast as they could all day, fording icy +brooks, until late in the afternoon they came to the borders of a +gloomy swamp, where they again encamped. + + "When we came," writes Mrs. Rowlandson, "to the brow of the + hill that looked toward the swamp, I thought we had come to + a great Indian town. Though there were none but our company, + the Indians appeared as thick as the trees. It seemed as if + there had been a thousand hatchets going at once. If one + looked before there were nothing but Indians, and behind + nothing but Indians, and from either hand, and I myself in + the midst, and no Christian soul near me." + +The next morning the wearisome march was again resumed. Early in the +afternoon they reached the banks of the Connecticut at a spot near +Hadley, where they found the ruins of a small English settlement. Mrs. +Rowlandson had for her food during the day an ear of corn and a small +piece of horse's liver. As she was roasting the liver upon some coals, +an Indian came and snatched half of it away. She was forced to eat the +rest almost raw, lest she should lose that also; and yet her hunger +was so great that it seemed a delicious morsel. They gathered a little +wheat from the fields, which they found frozen in the shocks upon the +icy ground. + +The next morning they commenced ascending the river for a few miles, +where they were to cross to meet King Philip, who, with a large party +of warriors, was encamped on the western bank of the stream. Indians +from all quarters were assembling at that rendezvous, in preparation +for an assault on the Connecticut River towns. When Mrs. Rowlandson's +party arrived at the point of crossing, they encamped for the night. +The opposite shore seemed to be thronged with savage warriors. Mrs. +Rowlandson sat upon the banks of the stream, and gazed with amazement +upon the vast multitude, like swarming bees, crowding the shore. She +had never before seen so many assembled. While she was thus sitting, +to her great surprise, her son approached her. His master had brought +him to the spot. The interview between the woe-stricken mother and her +child was very brief and very sad. They were soon again separated. + +The next morning they commenced crossing the river in canoes. When +Mrs. Rowlandson had crossed, she was received with peculiar kindness. +One Indian gave her two spoonfuls of meal, and another brought her +half a pint of peas. The half-famished captive now thought that her +larder was abundantly stored. She was then conducted to the wigwam of +King Philip. The Wampanoag chieftain received her with the courtesy of +a gentleman, invited her to sit down upon a mat by his side, and +presented her a pipe to smoke with him. He requested her to make a +shirt for his son, and, like a gentleman, paid her for her work. He +invited her to dine with him. They dined upon pancakes made of +parched wheat, beaten and fried in bear's grease. The dinner, though +very frugal, was esteemed very delicious. + +The Indians remained here for several days, preparing for a very +formidable attack on the town of Northampton. During all the time that +Mrs. Rowlandson remained near King Philip, though she was held as a +captive, she was not treated as a slave. She was paid for all the work +that she did. She made a shirt for one of the warriors, and received +for it a generous sirloin of bear's flesh. For another she knit a pair +of stockings, for which she received a quart of peas. With these +savory viands Mrs. Rowlandson prepared a nice dinner, and invited her +master and mistress, Quinnapin and Wetamoo, to dine with her. They +accepted the invitation; but Mrs. Rowlandson did not appreciate the +niceties of Indian etiquette. Wetamoo was a queen, Quinnapin was only +her husband--merely the Prince Albert of Queen Victoria. As there was +but one dish from which both the queen and her husband were to be +served, the haughty Wetamoo deemed herself insulted, and refused to +eat a morsel. + +Philip and his warriors soon departed to make attacks upon the +settlements. The Indians who remained took Mrs. Rowlandson and +several other captives some six miles farther up the river, and then +crossed to the eastern banks. Here they remained for some days, and +here Mrs. Rowlandson had another short interview with her son, which +lacerated still more severely her bleeding heart. The poor boy was +sick and in great pain, and his agonized mother was not permitted to +remain with him to afford him any relief. Of her daughter she could +learn no tidings. Wetamoo, Quinnapin, and Philip were all absent, and +the Indians treated her with great inhumanity, with occasional +caprices of strange and unaccountable kindness. + +One bitter cold day, the Indians all huddled around the fire in the +wigwam, and would not allow her to approach it. Perishing with cold, +she went out and entered another wigwam. Here she was received with +great hospitality; a mat was spread for her, and she was addressed in +words of tender sympathy by the mother of the little barbarian +household, in whose bosom woman's loving heart throbbed warmly. But +soon the Indian to whose care she was intrusted came in search of her, +and amused himself in kicking her all the way home. + +The next day the Indians commenced, for some unknown reason, +wandering back again toward Lancaster. They placed upon this poor +captive's back as heavy a burden as she could bear, and goaded her +along through the wilderness. She forded streams, and climbed steep +hills, and endured hardships which can not be described. Her hunger +was so great that six acorns, which she picked up by the way, she +esteemed a great treasure. + +The night was cold and windy. The Indians erected a wigwam, and were +soon gathered around a glowing fire in the centre of it. The interior +presented a bright, warm, and cheerful scene, as Mrs. Rowlandson +entered to warm her shivering frame. She had been compelled to search +around to bring dry fuel for the fire. She was, however, ordered +instantly to leave the hut, the Indians saying that there was no room +for her at the fire. Mrs. Rowlandson hesitated about going out to pass +the night in the freezing air, when one of the Indians drew his knife, +and she was compelled to retire. There were several wigwams around; +the poor captive went from one to another, but from all she was +repelled with abuse and derision. + +At last an old Indian took pity upon her, and told her to come in. +His wife received her with compassion, gave her a warm seat by the +fire, some ground-nuts for her supper, and placed a bundle under her +head for a pillow. With these accommodations the English clergyman's +wife felt that she was luxuriously entertained, and passed the night +in comfort and sweet slumbers. The next day the journey was continued. +As the Indians were binding a heavy burden upon Mrs. Rowlandson's +shoulders, she complained that it hurt her severely, and that the skin +was off her back. A surly Indian delayed not strapping on the load, +merely remarking, dryly, that it would be of but little consequence if +her head were off too. + +The Indians now entered a region of the forest where there was a very +heavy growth of majestic trees, and the underbrush was so dense as to +be almost impenetrable. Plunging into this as a covert, they reared +their wigwams, and remained here, in an almost starving condition, for +fourteen days. The anxious mother inquired of an Indian if he could +inform her what had become of her boy. The rascal very coolly told +her, that he might torture her by the falsehood, that his master had +roasted the lad, and that he himself had been furnished with a steak, +and that it was very delicious meat. They also told her, in the same +spirit, that her husband had been taken by the Indians and slain. + +Thus the Indians continued for several weeks wandering about from one +place to another, without any apparent object, and most of the time in +a miserable, half-famished condition. A more joyless, dismal life +imagination can hardly conceive. One day thirty Indians approached the +encampment on horseback, all dressed in the garments which they had +stripped from the English whom they had slain. They wore hats, white +neckcloths, and sashes about their waists. They brought a message from +Quinnapin that Mrs. Rowlandson must go to the foot of Mount Wachusett, +where the Indian warriors were in council, deliberating with some +English commissioners about the redemption of the captives. "My heart +was so heavy before," writes Mrs. Rowlandson, "that I could scarce +speak or go in the path, and yet now so light that I could run. My +strength seemed to come again, and to recruit my feeble knees and +aching heart. Yet it pleased them to go but one mile that night, and +there we staid two days." + +They then journeyed along slowly, the whole party suffering extremely +from hunger. A little broth, made from boiling the old and dry feet of +a horse, was considered a great refreshment. They at length came to a +small Indian village, where they found in captivity four English +children, and one of them was a child of Mrs. Rowlandson's sister. +They were all gaunt and haggard with famine. Sadly leaving these +suffering little ones, the journey was continued until they arrived +near Mount Wachusett. Here King Philip met them. Kindly, and with the +courtesy of a polished gentleman, he took the hand of the unhappy +captive, and said, "In two weeks more you shall be your own mistress +again." In this encampment of warriors she was placed again in the +hands of her master and mistress, Quinnapin and Wetamoo. Of this +renowned queen Mrs. Rowlandson says: + + "A severe and proud dame she was, bestowing every day, in + dressing herself, nearly as much time as any of the gentry + in the land, powdering her hair and painting her face, going + with her necklaces, with jewels in her ears. When she had + dressed herself, her work was to make girdles of wampum and + beads." + +Wampum was the money in use among the Indians. It consisted of +beautiful shells very curiously strung together. "Their beads," says +John Josselyn, "are their money. Of these there are two sorts, blue +beads and white beads. The first is their gold, the last their silver. +These they work out of certain shells so cunningly that neither Jew +nor Devil can counterfeit. They drill them and string them, and make +many curious works with them to adorn the persons of their sagamores +and principal men and young women, as belts, girdles, tablets, borders +of their women's hair, bracelets, necklaces, and links to hang in +their ears." + +Our poor captive, having returned to the wigwam of her master and +mistress, was treated with much comparative kindness. She was received +hospitably at the fire. A mat was given to her for a bed, and a rug to +spread over her. She was employed in knitting stockings and making +under garments for her mistress. While here, two Indians came with +propositions from the government at Boston for the purchase of her +ransom. The news overwhelmed Mrs. Rowlandson with emotions too deep +for smiles, and she could only give utterance to her feelings in sobs +and flooding tears. + +The sachems now met to consult upon the subject. They called Mrs. +Rowlandson before them, and, after a long and very serious +conference, agreed to receive twenty pounds ($100) for her ransom. One +of the praying Indians was sent to Boston with this proposition. + +While this matter was in progress, the Indians went out on several +expeditions, and returned with much plunder and many scalps. One of +the savages had a necklace made of the fingers of the English whom he +had slain. + +It was the custom of the Indians not to remain long in any one place, +lest they should be overtaken by the bands of the colonists which were +every where in pursuit of them. The latter part of April, after having +perpetrated enormous destruction in Sudbury and other towns, the +warriors returned to their rendezvous elated, yet trembling, as they +knew that the English forces were in search of them. Immediately +breaking up their encampment, they retreated several miles into the +wilderness, and there built an enormous tent of boughs, sufficient to +hold one hundred men. + +Here the Indians gathered from all quarters, and they had a feast and +a great dance. Mrs. Rowlandson learned from a captive English woman +whom she found here that her sister and her own daughter were with +some Indians at but a mile's distance. Though she had seen neither +for ten weeks, she was not permitted to go near them. The poor woman +plead with anguish of entreaty to be permitted to see her child, but +she could make no impression upon their obdurate hearts. + +One Sabbath afternoon, just as the sun was going down, a colonist, Mr. +John Hoar, a man of extraordinary intrepidity of spirit, with a firm +step approached the encampment, guided by two friendly Indians, and +under the very frail protection of a barbarian flag of truce. The +savages, as soon as they saw him, seized their guns, and rushed as if +to kill him. They shot over his head and under his horse, before him +and behind him, seeing how near they could make the bullets whistle by +his ears without hitting him. They dragged him from his horse, pushed +him this way and that way, and treated him with all imaginable +violence without inflicting any bodily harm. This they did to frighten +him; but John Hoar was not a man to be frightened, and the savages +admired his imperturbable courage. + +The chiefs built their council fire, and held a long conference with +Mr. Hoar. They then allowed him a short interview with Mrs. +Rowlandson. He brought her messages of affection from her distracted +husband, and cheered her with the hope that her release would +eventually, though not immediately, be obtained. She plead earnestly +with the Indians for permission to return with Mr. Hoar, promising to +send back the price of her ransom; but they declared that she should +not go. + +After dinner the Indians made arrangements for one of their most +imposing dances. It was a barbarian cotillon, performed by eight +partners in the presence of admiring hundreds. Queen Wetamoo and her +husband, Quinnapin, were conspicuous in this dance. He was dressed in +a white linen shirt, with a broad border of lace around the skirt. To +this robe silver buttons were profusely attached. He wore white cotton +stockings, with shillings dangling and clinking from the garters. A +turban composed of girdles of wampum ornamented his head, while broad +belts of wampum passed over his shoulders and encircled his waist. + +Wetamoo was dressed for the ball in a horseman's coat of coarse, +shaggy cloth. This was beautifully decorated with belts of wampum from +the waist upward. Her arms, from the elbows to the wrist, were clasped +with bracelets. A great profusion of necklaces covered her +well-rounded shoulders and ample bosom. Her ears were laden with +jewels. She wore red stockings and white shoes. Her face was painted a +brilliant crimson, and her hair powdered white as snow. For music the +Indians sang, while one beat time upon a brass kettle. + +Soon after the dance, King Philip, who was there with his warriors, +but who appears to have taken no part in the carousals, sent for Mrs. +Rowlandson, and said to her, with a smiling face, "Would you like to +hear some good news? I have a pleasant word for you. You are to go +home to-morrow." Arrangements had been finally made through Mr. Hoar +for her ransom. + +On the next morning Mrs. Rowlandson, accompanied by Mr. Hoar and the +two friendly Indians, commenced her journey through the wilderness +toward Lancaster. She left her two children, her sister, and many +other friends and relatives still in captivity. "In coming along," she +says, "my heart melted into tears more than all the while I was with +them." + +Toward evening they reached the spot where Lancaster once stood. The +place, once so luxuriant and beautiful, presented a dreary aspect of +ruin. The storm of war had swept over it, and had converted all its +attractive homes into smouldering embers. They chanced to find an old +building which had escaped the flames, and here, upon a bed of straw, +they passed the night. With blended emotions of bliss and of anguish, +the bereaved mother journeyed along the next day, and about noon +reached Concord. Here she met many of her friends, who rejoiced with +her in her rescue, and wept with her over the captives who were still +in bondage. They then hurried on to Boston, where she arrived in the +evening, and was received to the arms of her husband, after a +captivity in the wilderness of three months. By great exertions, their +son and daughter were eventually regained. We now return from the +incidents of this captivity to renew the narrative of Philip's war. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE INDIANS VICTORIOUS. + +1677 + +Spies.--Attack upon Medfield.--Suspicions.--Energy of Philip.--An +unpleasant surprise.--A conflagration.--The Indians retire.--Philip's +letter.--Indian warfare.--An ambuscade.--A decoy.--The town +burned.--Monoco's threats.--Monoco hung.--Destruction of Warwick.--Alarm +from the Indians.--Exultation of the Indians.--Defeat of the Plymouth +army.--Nanuntenoo.--Plan of action.--A stratagem, and its +success.--Defeat certain.--Heroic defense.--An escape.--Escape of the +Indians.--Their mode of accomplishing it.--Terrible slaughter.--Storming +of Providence.--Roger Williams.--Nanuntenoo's reply.--Cowardly +sentinels.--Alarm of the chief.--Flight of Nanuntenoo.--His +capture.--Young America rebuked.--Execution of the sachem.--Statement +of Cotton Mather.--Character of Nanuntenoo.--Peril of the +settlers.--Mutual disasters.--Philip's affection for Taunton.--A +family save a town.--Captain Wadsworth.--Attempt to save Sudbury.--The +woods fired.--The English conquered.--A monument erected.--Delight +in torture.--Mode of torture.--Attack upon Scituate.--Heroism of +Mrs. Ewing.--Attack upon Bridgewater.--Valor of the English +triumphs.--Deplorable condition of the English.--Sudden attack.--The +Indians vanquished.--Escape of two boys.--A surprise party.--Its perfect +success.--Slaughter of the Indians.--Burning the wigwams.--Refreshment +after battle.--Alarm of the party.--Terrible peril.--Bravery of Captain +Holyoke.--Heroic action.--Dawn of hope.--Escape.--Rage of the +Indians.--Assault upon Hatfield.--Unexpected assistance.--Heroism.--A +sudden appearance.--Attack upon Hadley.--Superstition.--General +Goffe.--Old tradition.--Union of forces.--Philip's stratagem.--It +recoils.--Hostility of the Mohawks.--Turn of the tide.--Dismay of +the Indians.--Extract from Cotton Mather.--Search for King Philip.--An +interview with the Indians.--The Indians desire peace.--Interview with +the governor.--Captain Church visits Awashonks.--A perilous +interview.--Rage of a warrior.--Proposals for an alliance.--Embassadors +to the governor.--The journey interrupted.--Awashonks visits Major +Bradford.--Proposals for an alliance.--Indian festivities.--Sagacious +care.--Captain Church to visit the queen.--A luxurious supper.--Bill +of fare.--A huge bonfire.--Indian dance.--Oath of fidelity.--Selection +of warriors.--Grief of Philip.--Undying resolution.--Capture of +Indians.--Continued success.--Approach of Philip's army.--Preparations +for his reception.--He is received by Bridgewater lads.--Narrow escape +of Philip.--His wife and child captured.--The Saconets continue the +pursuit.--Treachery of the Indians.--The reconnoitering +parties.--Description by Captain Church.--Captain Church's +adventures.--Capture of prisoners.--The captives make merry in the +pound. + + +The Massachusetts government now employed two friendly Indians to act +as spies. With consummate cunning they mingled with the hostile +Indians, and made a faithful report to their employers of all the +anticipated movements respecting which they could obtain any +information. + +Eleven days after the destruction of Lancaster, on the 21st of +February, the Indians made an attack upon Medfield. This was a very +bold measure. The town was but seventeen miles from Boston. Several +garrison houses had been erected, in which all the inhabitants could +take refuge in case of alarm. Two hundred soldiers were stationed in +the town, and sentinels kept a very careful watch. On the Sabbath, as +the people were returning from public worship, one or two Indians were +seen on the neighboring hills, which led the people to suspect that an +assault was contemplated. The night was moonless, starless, and of +Egyptian darkness. The Indians, perfectly acquainted with the +location of every building and every inch of the ground, crept +noiselessly, three hundred in number, each to his appointed post. They +spread themselves over all parts of the town, skulking behind every +fence, and rock, and tree. They concealed themselves in orchards, +sheds, and barns. King Philip himself was with them, guiding, with +amazing skill and energy, all the measures for the attack. Not a +voice, or a footfall, or the rustling of a twig was heard, as the +savages stood in immovable and breathless silence, waiting the signal +for the onset. The torch was ready to be lighted; the musket loaded +and primed; the knife and tomahawk sharp and gleaming. + +At the earliest dawn of day one shrill war-whoop was heard, clear and +piercing. It drew forth the instant response of three hundred voices +in unearthly yells. Men, women, and children sprang from their beds in +a phrensy of terror, and, rushing in their night-clothes from their +homes, endeavored to reach the garrison houses. But the leaping savage +was every where with his torch, and soon the blaze of fifty houses and +barns shed its lurid light over the dark morning. Fortunately, many of +the inhabitants were in the garrisons. Of those who were not, but few +escaped. The bullet and the tomahawk speedily did their work, and but +a few moments elapsed ere fifty men, women, and children were +weltering in blood. Though they promptly laid one half of the town in +ashes, the garrison houses were too strong for them to take. During +the progress of this awful tragedy King Philip was seen mounted on a +splendid black horse, leaping the fences, inspiriting his warriors, +and exulting in the havoc he was accomplishing. + +At length the soldiers, who were scattered in different parts of the +town, began gradually to combine their strength, and the savages, +learning that re-enforcements were also approaching from Sudbury, were +compelled to retire. They retreated across a bridge in the southwest +part of the town, in the direction of Medway, keeping up a resolute +firing upon their foes who pursued them. Having passed the stream, +they set fire to the bridge to cut off pursuit. In exultation over +their victory, Philip wrote, probably by the hand of some Christian +Indian, the following letter to his enemies, which he attached to one +of the charred and smouldering posts of the bridge. + + "Know by this paper that the Indians that thou hast provoked + to wrath and anger will war this twenty-one years, if you + will. There are many Indians yet. We come three hundred at + this time. You must consider the Indians lose nothing but + their life. You must lose your fair houses and cattle." + +The Indians now wandered about in comparatively small bands, making +attacks wherever they thought that there was any chance of success, +and marking their path with flames and blood. Without a moment's +warning, and with hideous yells, they would dash from the forest upon +the lonely settlements, and as suddenly retreat before the least +effectual show of resistance. Weymouth, within eleven miles of Boston, +was assailed, and several houses and barns burnt. They ventured even +into the town of Plymouth, setting fire to a house and killing eleven +persons. + +On the 13th of March, the Indians, in a strong party four hundred in +number, made an attack upon Groton. The inhabitants, alarmed by the +fate of Lancaster, had retreated into five garrison houses. Four of +these houses were within musket-shot of each other, but one was more +than a mile distant from the rest. The savages very adroitly formed, +in the night, two ambuscades, one before and one behind the four +united garrisons. Early in the morning they sent a small party of +Indians to show themselves upon a hill as a decoy. The inhabitants, +supposing that the Indians, unaware of their preparations for +resistance, had come in small numbers, very imprudently left two of +the garrisons and pursued them. The Indians retreated with +precipitation. The English eagerly pursued, when suddenly the party in +ambush rose and poured a deadly fire upon them. In the mean time, the +other party in ambush in rear of the garrison rushed to the palisades +to cut off the retreat of the English. Covered, however, by the guns +of the two other garrisons, they succeeded in regaining shelter. A +similar attempt was made to destroy the solitary garrison, but it was +alike unsuccessful. The Indians, however, had the whole town except +the garrisons to themselves. They burned to the ground forty +dwelling-houses, the church, and all the barns and out-houses. The +cattle were fortunately saved, being inclosed within palisades under +the protection of the garrisons. + +A notorious Nipmuck chief, Monoco, called by the English _One-eyed +John_, led this expedition. While the church was in flames, Monoco +shouted to the men in the garrison, assailing them with every variety +of Indian vituperative abuse. He had been so much with the English +that he understood their language very well. + +"What will you do for a place to pray in," said he, "now that we have +burned your meeting-house? We will burn Chelmsford, Concord, +Watertown, Cambridge, Charlestown, Roxbury, and Boston. I have four +hundred and eighty warriors with me; we will show you what we will +do." + +But a few months after this Monoco was taken prisoner, led through the +streets of Boston with a rope round his neck, and hanged at the town's +end. + +On the 17th of March, Warwick, in Rhode Island, was almost entirely +destroyed. The next day another band of Indians attacked Northampton, +on the Connecticut. But by this time most of the towns had fortified +themselves with palisades and garrison houses. The Indians, after a +fierce conflict, were repelled from Northampton with a loss of eleven +men, while the English lost but three. + +On the Sabbath of the 26th of March, as the people of Marlborough +were assembled at public worship, the alarming cry was shouted in at +the door, "The Indians! the Indians!" An indescribable scene of +confusion instantly ensued, as the whole congregation rushed out to +seek shelter in their garrison. The terror and confusion were awfully +increased by a volley of bullets, which the Indians, as they came +rushing like demons over the plain, poured in upon the flying +congregation. Fortunately, the savages were at such a distance that +none were wounded excepting one man, who was carrying an aged and +infirm woman. His arm was broken by a ball. All, however, succeeded in +gaining the garrison house, which was near at hand. The meeting-house +and most of the dwelling-houses were burned. The orchards were cut +down, and all other ruin perpetrated which savage ingenuity could +devise. + +The Indians, exultant with success, encamped that night in the woods +not far from Marlborough, and kept the forest awake with the uproar of +their barbarian wassail. The colonists immediately assembled a small +band of brave men, fell upon them by surprise in the midst of their +carousals, shot forty and dispersed the rest. + +On the same day in which Marlborough was destroyed, a very disastrous +defeat befell a party of soldiers belonging to the old Plymouth +colony. Nanuntenoo, son of the renowned Miantunnomah, was now the head +chief of the Narragansets. He was fired with a terrible spirit of +revenge against the English, and could not forget the swamp fight in +which so many of his bravest warriors had perished, and where hundreds +of his women and children had been cut to pieces and burned to ashes +in their wigwams. He himself had taken a large share in this fierce +fight, and with difficulty escaped. This chieftain, a man of great +intrepidity and sagacity, had gathered a force of nearly two thousand +Indians upon the banks of the Pawtucket River, within the limits of +the present town of Seekonk. They were preparing for an overwhelming +attack upon the town of Plymouth. + +The colonists, by no means aware of the formidableness of the force +assembled, dispatched Captain Pierce from Scituate with seventy men, +fifty of whom were English and twenty Indians, to break up the +encampment of the savages. Nanuntenoo, informed of their movements, +prepared with great strategetic skill to meet them. He concealed a +large portion of his force in ambush on the western side of the river; +another body of warriors he secreted in the forest on the eastern +banks. As Captain Pierce approached the stream, a small party of +Indians, as a decoy, showed themselves on the western side, and +immediately retreated, as if surprised and alarmed. The colonists +eagerly crossed the stream and pursued them. + +The stratagem of the wily savage was thus perfectly successful. The +colonists had advanced but a few rods from the banks, near Pawtucket +Falls, when the Indians, several hundreds in number, rose from their +ambush, and rushed like an avalanche upon them. With bravery almost +unparalleled in Indian warfare, they sought no covert, but rushed upon +their foes in the open field face to face. They knew that the +colonists were now drawn into a trap from which there was no possible +escape. As soon as the battle commenced, the Indians who were in the +rear, on the eastern bank of the narrow stream, sprang up from their +ambush, and, crowding the shore, cut off all hope of retreat, and +commenced a heavy fire upon their foe. Utter defeat was now certain. +The only choice was between instantaneous death by the bullet or +death by lingering torture. Captain Pierce was a valiant man, and +instantly adopted his heroic resolve. He formed his men in a circle, +back to back, and with a few words inspired them with his own +determination to sell his life as dearly as possible. Thus they +continued the fight until nearly every one of the colonial party was +slain. But one white man escaped, and he through the singular sagacity +of one of the friendly Indians. + +Captain Pierce soon fell, having his thigh bone shattered by a bullet. +A noble Indian by the name of Amos would not desert him; he stood +firmly by his side, loading and firing, while his comrades fell +thickly around him. When nearly all his friends had fallen, and the +survivors were mingled with their foes in the smoke and confusion of +the fight, he observed that all the hostile Indians had painted their +faces black. Wetting some gunpowder, he smeared his own face so as to +resemble the adverse party; then, giving the hint to an Englishman, he +pretended to pursue him with an uplifted tomahawk. The Englishman +threw down his gun and fled, but a few steps in advance of his +pursuer. The Narragansets, seeing that the Indian could not fail to +overtake and dispatch the unarmed fugitive, did not interfere. Thus +they entered the forest, and both escaped. + +A friendly Indian, pursued by one of Nanuntenoo's men, took shelter +behind the roots of a fallen tree. The Indian who had pursued him +waited, with his gun cocked and primed, for the fugitive to start +again from his retreat, knowing that he would not dare to remain there +long, when hundreds of Indians were almost surrounding him. The roots +of the tree, newly-turned up, contained a large quantity of adhering +earth, which entirely covered the fugitive from view. Cautiously he +bored a small hole through the earth, took deliberate aim at his +pursuer, shot him down, and then escaped. + +Another of the Indian allies, in his flight, took refuge behind a +large rock. This was a perfect shelter for a moment, but certain death +awaited him in the end. His pursuer, with loaded musket, sure of his +victim, quietly waited to see him start again. In this deplorable +condition the beleaguered Indian thought of the following shrewd +expedient. Putting his cap upon his gun, he raised it very gradually +above the rock, as if he were endeavoring to peep over to discover the +situation of his enemy. The sharp-eyed Narraganset instantly leveled +his gun and sent a bullet through the cap, and, as he supposed, +through the head of his foe. The fugitive sprang from his covert, and, +advancing toward his unarmed enemy, shot him dead. Thus was escape +effected. With the exception of one Englishman and five or six +friendly Indians, all the rest were cut down. The wounded were +reserved for the horrible doom of torture. + +The Indians were exceedingly elated by this signal victory, and their +shouts of exultation were loud and long-repeated. The next morning, +with yells of triumph, they crossed the river, made a rush upon +Seekonk, and burned seventy buildings. The next day they stormed +Providence, and burned thirty houses. These devastations, however, +were not accompanied with much bloodshed, as most of the inhabitants +of Providence and of Seekonk had previously fled to the island of +Rhode Island for protection. + +The heroic Roger Williams, however, remained in Providence. He had +ever been the firm friend of the Indians, and was well acquainted with +the leading chiefs in this war-party. The Indians, while setting fire +to the rest of the town, left his person and property unharmed. +Flushed with success, they assured him that they were confident of +the entire conquest of the country, and of the utter extermination of +the English. Mr. Williams reproached them with their cruelties, and +told them that Massachusetts could raise ten thousand men, and that +even were the Indians to destroy them all, Old England could send over +an equal number every year until the Indians were conquered. +Nanuntenoo proudly and generously replied, + +"We shall be ready for them. But you, Mr. Williams, shall never be +injured, for you are a good man, and have been kind to us." + +Nanuntenoo had about fifteen hundred warriors under his command. +Thinking that the English were very effectually driven from the region +of Seekonk, he very imprudently took but thirty men and went to that +vicinity, hoping to obtain some seed-corn to plant the fields upon the +Connecticut from which the English had been expelled. But the English, +alarmed by the ravages which the Indians were committing in this +region, sent a force consisting of forty-seven Englishmen and eighty +Indians to scour the country. Most of the Indians were Mohegans, under +the command of Oneco, a son of Uncas. + +As this force was approaching Seekonk they encountered two Indians +with their squaws. They instantly shot the Indians and took the squaws +captive. Their prisoners informed them that Nanuntenoo was in a wigwam +at a short distance, with but seven Indians around him. His hut was +erected at the bottom of a hill, upon the brow of which he had +stationed two sentinels. These cowardly savages, when they saw the +English approaching in such force, precipitately fled, without giving +their chieftain any warning. The sachem, from his wigwam, saw their +flight, and sent a third man to the hill-top to ascertain the cause. +As soon as he arrived upon the brow of the hill he saw the glittering +array of more than a hundred men almost directly upon him. Appalled by +the sight, he also fled like his predecessors. Nanuntenoo, amazed by +this conduct, dispatched two more to solve the mystery. These last +proved more faithful to their trust. They came running back in +breathless haste, shouting, "_The English are upon you._" + +Not a moment was to be lost in deliberation. The enemy was already in +sight. Nanuntenoo leaped from his wigwam, and, with the agility of a +deer, bounded over the ground in a hopeless attempt to escape. Nearly +the whole army, English and Indians, like hounds in full cry, eagerly +pressed the chase. + +With amazing speed, the tall, athletic sachem fled along the bank of +the river, seeking a place to ford the stream. In his rapid flight he +threw off his blanket, his silver-laced coat, and his belt of wampum, +so that nothing remained to obstruct his sinewy and finely-moulded +limbs. A Mohegan Indian was in advance of all the rest of the company +in the pursuit. Nanuntenoo plunged into the narrow stream to cross. +His foot slipped upon a stone, and he fell, immersing his gun in the +water. This calamity so disheartened him that he lost all his +strength. His swift-footed pursuer, Monopoide, was immediately upon +him, and grasped him almost as soon as he reached the opposite shore. +The naked and unarmed chief could make no resistance, and, with +stoicism characteristic of his race, submitted to his fate. + +Nanuntenoo was a man of majestic stature, and of bearing as lofty as +if he had been trained in the most haughty of European courts. A young +Englishman, but twenty-one years of age, Robert Staunton, following +Monopoide, was the first one who came up to the Narraganset chieftain +after his capture. Young Staunton, in the pert spirit of Young +America, ventured to question the proud monarch of the Narragansets. +Nanuntenoo, looking disdainfully upon his youthful face, after a short +silence, said, + +"You are too much of a child--you do not understand matters of war. +Let your chief come; him I will answer." + +He was offered life upon condition that he would submit to the +English, and deliver up to them all the Wampanoags in his territory. + +"Let me hear no more of this," he replied, nobly. "I will not +surrender a Wampanoag, nor the paring of a Wampanoag's nail." + +He was taken to Stonington, where he was sentenced to be shot. When +informed of his doom, he replied, in the spirit of an old Roman, + +"I like it well. I shall die before my heart is soft, or before I have +said any thing unworthy of myself." + +He was shot by one of the Indians who were in alliance with the +English; his head was cut off by them, and his body quartered and +burned. The Indians who aided the colonists were always eager for any +work of blood, and considered it a great privilege to enjoy the +pleasures of executioners. They often implored permission to torture +their enemies, and several times the English, to their shame be it +recorded, allowed them to do so. In this case, "The mighty sachem of +Narraganset," writes Cotton Mather, "the English wisely delivered unto +their tawny auxiliaries for them to cut off his head, that so the +alienation between them and the wretches in hostility against us might +become incurable." + +His head, a ghastly trophy of victory, was sent by the Mohegans to the +Common Council at Hartford, in token of their love and fidelity to the +English. The spirit of the times may be inferred from the following +comments upon this transaction in the narrative written by Hubbard: +"This was the confusion of that damned wretch that had often opened +his mouth to blaspheme the name of the living God and those that made +profession thereof." + +We can not take leave of Nanuntenoo without a tribute of respect to +his heroic and noble character. "His refusal," writes Francis Baylies, +"to betray the Wampanoags who had sought his protection is another +evidence of his lofty and generous spirit, and his whole conduct after +his capture was such that surely, at this period, we may be allowed to +lament the unhappy fate of this noble Indian without incurring any +imputation for want of patriotism." + +The inhabitants of New London, Norwich, and Stonington, being in great +peril in consequence of their near vicinity to the enemy, raised +several parties of volunteers and ranged the country. They succeeded +in these expeditions in killing two hundred and thirty-nine of the +enemy without incurring the loss of a single man. As most of the +inhabitants of the towns had found it necessary to take refuge in +garrison houses, prowling bands of Indians experienced but little +difficulty in setting fire to the abandoned dwellings and barns, and +the sky was every night illumined with conflagrations. + +On the ninth of April a small party made an attack upon Bridgewater. +They plundered several houses, and were commencing the conflagration, +when the inhabitants sallied forth and put them to flight. It is said +that Philip had given orders that the town of Taunton should be spared +until all the other towns in the colony were destroyed. A family by +the name of Leonard resided in Taunton, where they had erected the +first forge which was established in the English colonies. Philip, +though his usual residence was at Mount Hope, had a favorite summer +resort at a place called Fowling Pond, then within the limits of +Taunton, but now included in the town of Raynham. In these excursions +he had become acquainted with the Leonards. They had treated him and +his followers with uniform kindness, repairing their guns, and +supplying them with such tools as the Indians highly prized. Philip +had become exceedingly attached to this family, and in gratitude, at +the commencement of the war, had given the strictest orders that the +Indians should never injure a Leonard. Apprehending that in a general +assault upon the town his friends the Leonards might be exposed to +danger, he spread the shield of his generous protection over the whole +place. This act certainly develops a character of more than ordinary +magnanimity. + +[Illustration: THE DESTRUCTION OF SUDBURY.] + +On the 18th of April an immense band of savages, five hundred in number, +made an impetuous assault upon Sudbury. The inhabitants, warned of their +approach, had abandoned their homes and taken refuge in their garrisons. +The savages set fire to several of the dwellings, and were dancing +exultingly around the flames, when a small band of soldiers from +Watertown came to the rescue, and the inmates of the garrison, +sallying forth, joined them, and drove the Indians across the river. + +Captain Wadsworth, from Boston, chanced to be in the vicinity with +about seventy men. Hearing of the extreme peril of Sudbury, although +he had marched all the day and all the night before, and his men were +exhausted with fatigue, he instantly commenced his march for that +place. Painfully toiling on through the night by the road leading from +Marlborough, early on the morning of the 19th he arrived within a mile +and a half of the town. Here the Indians, who by their scouts had kept +themselves informed of his approach, prepared an ambush. As the +English were marching along with great caution, a band of about a +hundred Indians crossed their path some distance in advance of them, +and fled, feigning a panic. The English pursued them impetuously about +a mile into the woods, when the fugitives made a stand, and five +hundred Indians sprang up from their concealment, and hurled a storm +of lead into the faces of their foes. + +The English, with singular intrepidity, formed themselves into a +compact mass, and by unerring aim and rapid firing kept their foes at +bay while, slowly retreating, they ascended an adjacent hill. Here +for five hours they maintained the conflict against such fearful odds. +The superior skill of the English with the musket rendered their fire +much more fatal than that of their foes. Many of the savage warriors +were struck down, and they bit the dust in their rage and dying agony, +while but five or six of the English had been slain. + +[Illustration: THE INDIAN AMBUSH.] + +The wind was high, and a drought had rendered the leaves of the forest +dry as powder. Some shrewd savage thought of the fatal expedient of +setting the forest on fire to the windward of their foes. The +stratagem was crowned with signal success. A wide sheet of flame, +roaring and crackling like a furnace, and emitting billows of +smothering smoke, rolled toward the doomed band. The fierceness of the +flames, and the blinding, suffocating smoke, soon drove the English in +confusion from their advantageous position. The Indians, piercing them +with bullets, rushed upon them with the tomahawk, and nearly every man +in the party was slain. Some accounts say that Captain Wadsworth's +company was entirely cut off; others say that a few escaped to a mill, +where they defended themselves until succor arrived. President +Wadsworth, of Harvard College, was the son of Captain Wadsworth. He +subsequently erected a modest monument over the grave of these heroes. +It is probably still standing, west of Sudbury causeway, on the old +road from Boston to Worcester. The inscription upon the stone is now +admitted to be incorrect in many of its particulars. It is said that +one hundred and twenty Indians were slain in this conflict. + +These successes wonderfully elated the Indians. They sent a defiant +and derisive message to Plymouth: + +"Have a good dinner ready for us, for we intend to dine with you on +election day." + +In this awful warfare, every day had its story of crime and woe. +Unlike the movement of powerful armies among civilized nations, the +Indians were wandering every where, burning houses and slaughtering +families wherever an opportunity was presented. They seemed to take +pleasure in wreaking their vengeance even upon the cattle. They would +cut out the tongues of the poor creatures, and leave them to die in +their misery. They would shut them up in hovels, set fire to the +buildings, and amuse themselves in watching the writhings of the +animals as they were slowly roasted in the flames. Nearly all the men +who were taken captive they tortured to death. "And that the reader +may understand," says Cotton Mather, "what it is to be taken by such +devils incarnate, I shall here inform him. They stripped these unhappy +prisoners, and caused them to run the gauntlet, and whipped them after +a cruel and bloody manner. They then threw hot ashes upon them, and, +cutting off collops of their flesh, they put fire into their wounds, +and so, with exquisite, leisurely, horrible torments, roasted them out +of the world." + +On the 20th of April a band of fifty Indians made an attack upon +Scituate, and, though the inhabitants speedily rallied and assailed +them with great bravery, they succeeded in plundering and burning +nineteen houses and barns. They proceeded along the road, avoiding the +block-houses, and burning all that were unprotected. They approached +one house where an aged woman, Mrs. Ewing, was alone with an infant +grandchild asleep in the cradle. As she saw the savages rushing down +the hill toward her dwelling, in a delirium of terror she fled to the +garrison house, which was about sixty rods distant, forgetting the +child. The savages rushed into the house, plundered it of a few +articles, not noticing the sleeping infant, and then hastened to make +an assault upon the garrison. A fierce fight ensued. In the midst of +the horrid scene of smoke, uproar, and blood, Mrs. Ewing, with heroism +almost unparalleled, stole from the garrison unperceived, by a +circuitous path reached the house, rescued the babe, still +unconsciously sleeping, and bore it in safety to the garrison. Soon +after this, the savages, repelled from their assault, set fire to her +house, and it was consumed to ashes. All the day long the battle and +the destruction continued in different parts of the town. There were +several garrisoned houses which the Indians attacked with great +spirit, but in every case they met with a repulse. Many of the savages +were shot, and a few of the English lost their lives. + +On the 8th of May a band of three hundred Indians made a very fierce +attack upon Bridgewater. The inhabitants had fortunately received +warning of the contemplated assault, and had most of them repaired to +their garrisoned houses. The savages, hoping to take the place by +surprise, with fearful yells rushed from the forest upon the south +part of the town. Disappointed in finding all the inhabitants +sheltered in their fortresses, they immediately commenced setting +fire to the buildings. But the inhabitants boldly sallied forth to +protect their property, and the Indians, though greatly outnumbering +them, fled before their determined valor. They succeeded, however, in +burning some thirteen houses. + +The condition of the colonists was at this time deplorable in the +extreme. During the campaign thus far the Indians had been signally +successful, and had effected an inconceivable amount of destruction +and suffering. The sun of spring had now returned; the snow had +melted, and the buds were bursting. It was time to plow the fields and +scatter the seed; but universal consternation and despair prevailed. +Every day brought its report of horror. Prowling bands of savages were +every where. No one could go into the field or step from his own door +without danger of being shot by some Indian lying in ambush. It was an +hour of gloom into which scarcely one ray of hope could penetrate. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE VICISSITUDES OF WAR. + +1677 + +An ambush discovered.--Information given.--Preparation for a +surprise.--Sudden attack.--The Indians vanquished.--Escape of two +boys.--A surprise party.--Its perfect success.--Slaughter of the +Indians.--Burning the wigwams.--Refreshment after battle.--Alarm of +the party.--Terrible peril.--Bravery of Captain Holyoke.--Heroic +action.--Dawn of hope.--Escape.--Rage of the Indians.--Assault +upon Hatfield.--Unexpected assistance.--Heroism.--Attack upon +Hadley.--A sudden appearance.--Superstition.--General Goffe.--Old +tradition.--Union of forces.--Phillip's strategem.--It +recoils.--Hostility of the Mohawks.--Turn of the tide.--Dismay of +the Indians.--Extract from Cotton Mather.--Search for King Philip.--An +interview with the Indians.--The Indians desire peace.--Interview with +the Governor.--Captain Church visits Awashonks.--A perilous +interview.--Rage of a warrior.--Proposals for an alliance.--Embassadors +to the governor.--The journey interrupted.--Awashonks visits Major +Bradford.--Proposals for an alliance.--Search for Philip.--Cordial +reception.--Indian festivities.--Sagacious care.--Captain Church to +visit the queen.--A luxurious feast.--Bill of fare.--A huge +bonfire.--Indian dance.--Oath of fidelity.--Selection of +warriors.--Grief of Philip.--Undying resolution.--Capture of +Indians.--Continued success.--Approach of Philip's army.--Preparations +for his reception.--He is received by Bridgewater lads.--Narrow escape +of Philip.--His wife and child captured.--The Saconets continue the +pursuit.--Treachery of the Indians.--The reconnoitering +parties.--Description by Captain Church.--Captain Church's +adventures.--Capture of prisoners.--The captives make merry in the +pound. + + +During this terrible war there were many deeds of heroic courage +performed which merit record. A man by the name of Rocket, in the town +of Wrentham, was in the woods searching for his horse. Much to his +alarm, he discovered, far off in the forest, a band of forty-two +Indians, in single file, silently and noiselessly passing along, +apparently seeking a place of concealment. They were all thoroughly +armed. Mr. Rocket without difficulty eluded their observation, and +then, at some distance behind, cautiously followed in their trail. It +was late in the afternoon, and, just before twilight was fading into +darkness, the Indians found a spot which they deemed safe, but a short +distance from the town, in which to pass the night. It was a large +flat rock, upon the brow of a steep hill, where they were quite +surrounded by almost impenetrable bushes. + +Rocket, having marked the place well, hastened back to the town. It +was then near midnight. The inhabitants were immediately aroused, +informed of their peril, and the women and children were all placed +safely in the garrison house, and a small party was left for their +defense. The remaining men capable of bearing arms, but thirteen in +number, then hastened through the forest, guided by Rocket, and +arrived an hour before the break of day at the encampment of the +Indians. With the utmost caution, step by step, they crept within +musket shot of their sleeping foes. Every man took his place, and +endeavored to single out his victim. It was agreed that not a gun +should be fired until the Indians should commence rising from their +sleep, and the morning light should give the colonists fair aim. + +An hour of breathless and moveless silence passed away. In the +earliest dawn of the morning, just as a few rays of light began to +stream along the eastern horizon, the Indians, as if by one volition, +sprang from their hard couch. A sudden discharge of musketry rang +through the forest, and thirteen bullets pierced as many bodies. +Appalled by so sudden an attack and such terrible slaughter, the +survivors, unaware of the feebleness of the force by which they were +assailed, plunged down the precipitous hill, tumbling over each +other, and rolling among the rocks. The adventurous band eagerly +pursued them, and shot at them as they would at deer flying through +the forest. Many more thus fell. One keen marksman struck down an +Indian at the distance of eighty rods, breaking his thigh bone. In +this short encounter twenty-four of the Indians were slain. The +remainder escaped into the depths of the forest. The heroes of this +adventure all returned in safety to their homes, no one having been +injured. It was undoubtedly the intention of this prowling band to +have attacked and fired the town as soon as the inhabitants had been +scattered in the morning in their fields at work. + +Soon after this, two English boys, who had been captured by the +Indians and taken to the upper waters of the Connecticut, escaped, +and, following down the river, succeeded in reaching the settlements. +They gave information that the Indians, in large numbers, were +encamped upon the banks of the river, just above the present site of +Deerfield. Supposing that all the energies of the colonists were +employed in endeavoring to arrest the ravages which were taking place +in the towns nearer the seaboard, they were indulging in careless +security. + +The inhabitants of Hadley, Hatfield, and Northampton promptly raised a +force of one hundred and fifty mounted men to attack them. On the +night of the 18th of May they left Hadley, and, traveling as fast as +they could about twenty miles, through the dead of night, arrived a +little after midnight in the vicinity of the Indian encampment. Here +they alighted, tied their horses to some young trees, and then +cautiously crept through the forest about half a mile, when, still in +the gloom of the rayless morning, they dimly discerned the wigwams of +the savages. Concealing themselves within musket shot, they waited +patiently for the light to reveal their foes. The Indians were in a +very dead sleep from a great debauch in which they had engaged during +the early part of the night. The night had been warm, and they were +sleeping upon the ground around their wigwams. At an appointed signal, +every gun was discharged upon the slumberers, and a storm of bullets +fell upon them and swept through their wigwams. Many were instantly +killed, and many wounded. The survivors, in a terrible panic, men, +women, and children, sprang from the ground and rushed to the river, +attempting to escape to the other shore. + +They were just above some rapids, where the current was very swift and +strong. Numbers attempted to swim across the stream, but were swept by +the torrent over the falls. Some sprang into canoes and pushed from +the shore. They presented but a fair mark for the bullets of the +colonists. Wounded and bleeding, and whirled by the eddies, they were +dashed against the rocks, and perished miserably. Many endeavored to +hide in the bushes and among the rocks upon the shore. Captain Holyoke +killed five with his own hand under a bank. About three hundred +Indians were slain or drowned in the awful tumult of these midnight +hours. Several of the most conspicuous of the Indian chiefs were +killed. Only one white man lost his life. In the midst of the +confusion the wigwams of the Indians were set on fire, and the black +night was illumined by the lurid conflagration. The flashing flames, +the dark billows of smoke, the rattle of musketry, the shouts of the +assailants, the shrieks of women and children, and the yells of the +savage warriors, presented a picture of earthly woe which neither the +pen nor the pencil can portray. + +At last the morning dawned. The sun of a serene and beautiful May day +rose over the spectacle of smouldering ruins and blood. The victors, +weary of sleeplessness, of their night's march, and of the carnage, +sat down among the smoking brands and amid the bodies of the slain to +seek refreshment and repose in this exultant hour of victory. + +But disaster, all unanticipated, came upon them with the sweep of the +whirlwind. It so happened that Philip himself was near with a thousand +warriors. A captured Indian informed them of this fact, and instantly +the victors were in a great panic. They were but one hundred and fifty +in number. Their only retreat was by a narrow trail through the woods +of more than twenty miles. A thousand savage warriors, roused to the +highest pitch of exasperation, and led by the terrible King Philip, +were expected momentarily to fall upon them. It was known that the +fugitives, who had scattered through the woods, would speedily +communicate the tidings of the attack to Philip's band. + +The colonists, in much confusion, immediately commenced a precipitate +retreat. They had hardly mounted their horses ere the whole body of +savages, like famished wolves, with the most dismal yells and +howlings, came rushing upon them. The peril was so terrible that +there seemed to be no hope of escape. But there are no energies like +the energies of despair. Every man resolved, in the calmness of the +absolute certainty of death, to sell his life as dearly as possible. +Captain Holyoke was a man equal to the emergency, and every member of +his heroic little band had perfect confidence in his courage and his +skill. Silently, sternly, sublimely, in a mass as compact as possible, +they moved slowly on. Every eye was on the alert; every man had his +finger to the trigger. Their guns were heavily loaded, that the balls +might be thrown to a great distance. Not an Indian could expose his +body but that he fell before the unerring aim of these keen marksmen. + +Captain Holyoke exposed himself to every danger in front, on the +flanks, and in the rear. His own lion-like energy was infused into the +spirit of his men, and he animated them to prodigious exertions. His +horse was at one time shot, and fell beneath him. Before he could +extricate himself from his entanglement, a band of Indians threw +themselves upon him. Two of them he shot down with his pistols, and +then with his sword cut his way through the rest, aided by a single +soldier who came to his rescue. + +As they toiled along, pursued by the infuriate foe and harassed by a +merciless fire, many were wounded, and every few moments one would +drop lifeless upon the ground. The survivors could do nothing to help +the dead or the dying. Hour after hour passed, and at length +unexpected hope began to dawn upon them. They were evidently holding +the Indians at bay. Could they continue thus for a few hours longer, +they would be so near the settlements that the Indians, in their turn, +would be compelled to retreat. Though it was evident that their loss +must be great, there was now hope that the majority would escape. Thus +animated, they accelerated their march, and at length, having lost +about forty by the way, they emerged upon the clearings of the +settlements, where the savages dared to pursue them no longer. With +howls of disappointment and rage, the discomfited Indians returned to +their forest fastnesses, and the heroic band, having lost about one +third of their number, and with nearly all of the survivors exhausted, +wounded, and bleeding, were received by their friends with throbbing +hearts, and with blended tears of bliss and woe. Those who, while +still living, fell into the hands of the Indians, were put to death by +tortures too horrible to be described. + +A fortnight after this, on the 30th of May, the men of Hatfield were +all at work in the fields, having, as usual, established a careful +watch to guard against surprise. All the houses in the centre of the +town were surrounded by a palisade, but there were several at a +distance which could not be included. One old man only was left within +the palisades to open and bar the gate. + +Suddenly a band of Indians, between six and seven hundred in number, +plunged into the town between the palisades and the party at work in +the fields, thus effectually cutting off the retreat of the colonists +to their fortress. They immediately commenced a fierce attack upon the +palisades, that they might get at the women, the children, and the +booty. The people of Hadley, on the opposite side of the river, +witnessed the assault. Twenty-five young men of Hadley promptly +crossed the river, threw themselves unexpectedly and like a +thunderbolt upon the band of seven hundred savages, cut their way +through them, and gained an entrance within the palisades, having lost +but five of their number. Where has history recorded a deed of nobler +heroism? In their impetuous rush they cut down twenty-five of their +foes. The Indians, intimidated by so daring an act, feared to +approach the palisades thus garrisoned, and sullenly retired. The men +in the fields took refuge in a log house. The savages spread +themselves over the meadows, drove off all the oxen, cows, and sheep, +and burned twelve houses and barns which were beyond the reach of +protection. + +On the 12th of June, the Indians, seven hundred in number, made an +attack upon Hadley, and hid themselves in the bushes at its southern +extremity, while they sent a strong party around to make an assault +from the north. At a given signal, when the first light of the morning +appeared, with their accustomed yells, they leaped from their +concealment, and rushed like demons upon the town. The English, +undismayed, met them at the palisades. The battle raged for some time +with very great fury. + +In the midst of this scene of tumult and blood, when the battle seemed +turning against the English, there suddenly appeared a man of gray +hairs and venerable aspect, and dressed in antique apparel, who, with +the voice and manner of one accustomed to command, took at once the +direction of affairs. There was such an air of authority in his words +and gestures, the directions he gave were so manifestly wise, and he +seemed so perfectly familiar with all military tactics, that, by +instinctive assent, all yielded to his command. Those were days of +superstition, and the aspect of the stranger was so singular, and his +sudden appearance so inexplicable and providential, that it was +generally supposed that God had sent a guardian angel for the +salvation of the settlement. When the Indians retreated the stranger +disappeared, and nothing further was heard of him. + +The supposed angel was General Goffe, one of the judges who had +condemned Charles I. to the block. After the restoration, these judges +were condemned to death. Great efforts were made to arrest them. Two +of them, Generals Goffe and Whalley, fled to this country. They were +both at this time secreted in Hadley, in the house of the Rev. Mr. +Russell. Mr. Whalley was aged and infirm. General Goffe, seeing the +village in imminent peril, left his concealment, joined the +inhabitants, and took a very active part in the defense. It was not +until after the lapse of fifteen years that these facts were +disclosed. The tradition is that both of these men died in their +concealment, and that they were secretly buried in the minister's +cellar. Their bodies were afterward privately conveyed to New Haven. + +It so happened that the Connecticut colony had just raised a standing +army of two hundred and fifty English and two hundred Mohegan Indians, +and had sent them to Northampton, but a few miles from Hadley, for the +protection of the river towns. A force of several hundred men also +marched from Boston to co-operate with the Connecticut troops. The +settlements upon the river were thus so effectually protected that +Philip saw that it would be in vain for him to attempt any farther +assaults. + +He therefore sent most of his warriors to ravage the towns along the +sea-coast. It is generally reported that, about this time, Philip took +a party of warriors and traversed the unbroken wilderness extending +between the Connecticut and the Hudson. He went as far as the present +site of Albany, and endeavored to rouse the Mohawks, a powerful tribe +in that vicinity, to unite with him against the English. It is said, +though the charge is not sustained by any very conclusive evidence, +that Philip, in order to embroil the Mohawks with the English, +attacked a party of Mohawk warriors, and, as he supposed, killed them +all. He then very adroitly arranged matters to convince the Mohawks +that their countrymen had been murdered by the English. But one of the +Mohawks, who was supposed to be killed, revived, and, covered with +blood and wounds, succeeded in reaching his friends. The story he told +roused the tribe to rage, and, allying themselves with the English, +they fell fiercely upon Philip. + +Whether the above narrative be true or not, it is certain that about +this time the Mohawks became irreconcilably hostile to King Philip, +and fell upon him and upon all of his allies with great fury. + +And now suddenly, and almost miraculously, the tide of events +seemed to turn in favor of the English. It is very difficult to +account for the wonderful change which a few weeks introduced. The +Massachusetts Indians, for some unknown cause, became alienated +from the sovereign of the Wampanoags, and bitterly reproached him +with having seduced them into a war in which they were suffering +even more misery than they created. All the Indians in the vicinity +of the English settlements had been driven from their corn-fields +and fishing-grounds, and were now in a famishing condition. They +had sufficient intelligence to foresee that absolute starvation +was their inevitable doom in the approaching winter. At the same +time, a pestilence, deadly and contagious, swept fearful desolation +through their wigwams. The Indians regarded this as evidence that +the God of the white men had enlisted against them. The colonial +forces in the valley of the Connecticut penetrated the forest in +every direction, carrying utter ruin into the homes of the natives. +In this horrible warfare but little mercy was shown to the women +and the children. The English did not torture their foes, but they +generally massacred them without mercy. + +This sudden accumulation of disasters appalled Philip and all his +partisans. They were thrown into a very surprising state of confusion +and dismay. Cotton Mather, speaking of this constant terror which +bewildered them, writes: + + "They were just like beasts stung with a hornet. They ran + they knew not whither, they knew not wherefore. They were + under such consternation that the English did even what they + would upon them. I shall never forget the expressions which + a desperate, fighting sort of fellow, one of their generals, + used unto the English after they had captured him. 'You + could not have subdued us,' said he, striking upon his + breast, 'but the Englishman's God made us afraid here.'" + +The latter part of July, Captain Church, the General Putnam of these +Indian wars, was placed in command of a force to search for Philip, +who, with a small band of faithful followers, had returned to the +region of Mount Hope. Captain Church went from Plymouth to Wood's Hole +in Falmouth, and there engaged two friendly Indians to paddle him in a +canoe across Buzzard's Bay, and along the shore to Rhode Island. As he +was rounding the neck of land called Saconet Point, he saw a number of +Indians fishing from the rocks. Believing that these Indians were in +heart attached to the English, and that they had been forced to unite +with Philip, he resolved to make efforts to detach them from the +confederacy. The Indians on the shore seemed also to seek an +interview, and by signs invited them to land. Captain Church, who was +as prudent as he was intrepid, called to two of the Indians to go down +upon a point of cleared land where there was no room for an ambush. He +then landed, and, leaving one of the Indians to take care of the +canoe, and the other to act as a sentinel, advanced to meet the +Indians. One of the two Indians, who was named George, could speak +English perfectly well. He told Captain Church that his tribe was +weary of the war; that they were in a state of great suffering, and +that they were very anxious to return to a state of friendly alliance +with the English. He said that if the past could be pardoned, his +tribe was ready not only to relinquish all acts of hostility, but to +take up arms against King Philip. Captain Church promised to meet them +again in two days at Richmond's Farm, upon this long neck of land. He +then hastened to Rhode Island, procured an interview with the +governor, and endeavored to obtain authority to enter into a treaty +with these Indians. The governor would not give his consent, affirming +that it was an act of madness in Captain Church to trust himself among +the Saconets. Nevertheless, Church, true to his engagement, took with +him an interpreter, and, embarking in a canoe, reached the spot at the +appointed time. + +Here he found Awashonks, the queen of the tribe, with several of her +followers. As his canoe touched the shore, she advanced to meet him, +and, with a smile of apparent friendliness, extended her hand. They +walked together a short distance from the shore, when suddenly a +large party of Indians, painted and decorated in warlike array, and +armed to the teeth, sprang up from an ambush in the high grass, and +surrounded them. Church, undismayed, turned to Awashonks, and said, +indignantly, + +"I supposed that your object in inviting me to this interview was +peace." + +"And so it is," Awashonks replied. + +"Why, then," Captain Church continued, "are your warriors here with +arms in their hands?" + +Awashonks appeared embarrassed, and replied, + +"What weapons do you wish them to lay aside?" + +The Indian warriors scowled angrily, and deep mutterings were passing +among them. Captain Church, seeing his helpless situation, very +prudently replied, "I only wish them to lay aside their guns, which is +a proper formality when friends meet to treat for peace." + +Hearing this, the Indians laid aside their guns, and quietly seated +themselves around their queen and Captain Church. An interesting and +perilous interview now ensued. Awashonks accused the English of +provoking her to hostilities when she had wished to live in friendship +with them. At one moment these children of nature would seem to be in +a towering rage, and again perfectly pleasant, and almost +affectionate. Captain Church happened to allude to one of the battles +between the English and the Indians. Immediately one of the savages, +foaming with rage, sprang toward him, brandishing his tomahawk, and +threatening to sink it in his brain, declaring that Captain Church had +slain his brother in that battle. Captain Church replied that his +brother was the aggressor, and that, if he had remained at home, as +Captain Church had advised him to do, his life would have been spared. +At this the irate savage immediately calmed down, and all was peace +again. + +As the result of the interview, Awashonks promised to ally herself in +friendship with the English upon condition that Church should obtain +the pardon of her tribe for all past offenses. The chief captain of +her warriors then approached Captain Church with great stateliness, +and said, "Sir, if you will please to accept of me and my men, and +will be our captain, we will fight for you, and will help you to the +head of King Philip before the Indian corn be ripe." At this all the +other warriors clashed their weapons and murmured applause. + +Church then proposed that five Indians should accompany him through +the woods to the governor to secure the ratification of the treaty. +Awashonks objected to this, saying that the party would inevitably be +intercepted on the way by Philip's warriors, and all would be slain. +She proposed, however, that Captain Church should go to Rhode Island, +obtain a small vessel, and then take her embassadors around Cape Cod +to Plymouth. + +Captain Church obtained a small vessel in Newport Harbor, and sailed +for the point. When he arrived there the wind was directly ahead, and +blowing almost a gale. As the storm increased, finding himself quite +unable to land, he returned to Newport. Being a man of deep religious +sensibilities, he considered this disappointment as an indication of +divine disapproval, and immediately relinquished the enterprise. + +Just at this time Major Bradford arrived in the vicinity of the +present town of Fall River with a large force of soldiers. This region +was then called Pocasset, and was within the territory of Queen +Wetamoo. Captain Church immediately then took a canoe, and again +visited Awashonks. He informed her of the arrival of Major Bradford, +urged her to keep all her people at home lest they should be assailed +by these troops, and assured her that if she would visit Major +Bradford in his encampment she should be received with kindness, and a +treaty of peace would be concluded. The next morning, Major Bradford, +with his whole force, marched down the Tiverton shore, and encamped at +a place called Punkatese, half way between Pocasset and Saconet Point. + +Awashonks collected her warriors and repaired to Punkatese to meet the +English. Major Bradford received her with severity and suspicion, +which appears to have been quite unjustifiable. Awashonks offered to +surrender her warriors to his service if they could be under the +command of Captain Church, in whom both she and they reposed perfect +confidence. This offer was peremptorily declined, and she was +haughtily commanded to appear at Sandwich, where the governor resided, +within six days. The queen, mortified by this unfriendly reception, +appealed to Captain Church. He, also, was much chagrined, but advised +her to obey, assuring her that the governor would cordially assent to +her views. The Indians, somewhat reassured, now commenced their march +to Sandwich, under the protection of a flag of truce. + +The next morning Major Bradford embarked his army in canoes, and +crossed to Mount Hope in search of King Philip. It was late at night +before they reached the Mount, and the fires blazing in the woods +showed that the Indians were collecting in large numbers. Meeting, +however, with no foe, they marched on to Rehoboth. Here Captain +Church, taking an Indian for a guide, set out for Plymouth to +intercede for his friends, the Saconet Indians. The governor received +him with great cordiality. Captain Church, highly gratified, took with +him three or four men as a body-guard, and hastened to Sandwich. +Disappointed in not finding Awashonks there, he went to Agawam, in the +present town of Wareham; still not finding her, he crossed Mattapoiset +River, and ascended a bluff which commanded a wide prospect of +Buzzard's Bay. + +As they stood upon the bluff, they heard a loud murmuring noise coming +from the concealed shore at a little distance. Creeping cautiously +along, they peered over a low cliff, and saw a large number of +Indians, of all ages and sexes, engaged upon the beach in the wildest +scene of barbarian festivities. Some were running races on horseback; +some playing at football; some were catching eels and flat-fish; and +others plunging and frolicking in the waves. + +Captain Church was uncertain whether they were enemies or friends. +With characteristic sagacity and intrepidity, he retired some distance +into a thicket, and then hallooed to them. Two young Indians, hearing +the shout, left the rest of their company to see from whence it came. +They came close upon Captain Church before he discovered himself to +them. As soon as they saw Captain Church, with two or three men around +him, all well armed, they, in a panic, endeavored to retreat. He +succeeded, however, in retaining them, and in disarming their fears. + +From them he learned that the party consisted of Awashonks and her +tribe. He then sent word to Awashonks that he intended to sup with her +that evening, and to lodge in her camp that night. The queen +immediately made preparations to receive him and his companions with +all due respect. Captain Church and his men, mounted on horseback, +rode down to the beach. The Indians gathered around them with shouts +of welcome. They were conducted to a pleasant tent, open toward the +sea, and were provided with a luxurious supper of fried fish. The +supper consisted of three courses: a young bass in one dish, eels and +flat-fish in a second, and shell-fish in a third; but there was +neither bread nor salt. + +By the time supper was over it was night, serene and moonless, yet +brilliant with stars. The still waters of Buzzard's Bay lay like a +burnished mirror, reflecting the sparkling canopy above in a +corresponding arch below. The unbroken forest frowned along the shore, +sublime in its solitude, and from its depths could only be heard the +lonely cry of the birds of darkness. + +The Indians collected an enormous pile of pine knots and the resinous +boughs of the fir-tree. Men, women, and children all contributed to +enlarge the gigantic heap, and when the torch was touched, a bonfire +of amazing splendor blazed far and wide over the forest and the bay. +This was the introductory act to a drama where peace and war were +blended. All the Indians, old and young, gathered around the fire. +Queen Awashonks, with the oldest men and women of the tribe, kneeling +down in a circle, formed the first ring; next behind them came all +the most distinguished warriors, armed and arrayed in all the gorgeous +panoply of barbarian warfare; then came a motley multitude of the +common mass of men, women, and children. + +At an appointed signal, Awashonks' chief captain stepped forward from +the circle, danced with frantic gesture around the fire, drew a brand +from the flames, and, calling it by the name of a tribe hostile to the +English, belabored it with bludgeon and tomahawk. He then drew out +another and another, until all the tribes hostile to the English had +been named, assailed, and exterminated. Reeking with perspiration, and +exhausted by his phrensied efforts, he retired within the ring. +Another chief then came out and re-enacted the same scene, endeavoring +to surpass his predecessor in the fierceness and fury of his efforts. +In this way all the chiefs took what they considered as their oath of +fidelity to the English. The chief captain then came forward to +Captain Church, and, presenting him with a fine musket, informed him +that all the warriors were henceforth subject to his command. Captain +Church immediately drew out a number of the ablest warriors, and the +next morning, before the break of day, set out with them for +Plymouth, where he arrived in the afternoon. + +It is said that when King Philip, in the midst of his accumulating +disasters, learned that the Saconet tribe had abandoned his cause and +had gone over to the English, he was never known to smile again. He +knew that his doom was now sealed, and that nothing remained for him +but to be hunted as a wild beast of the forest for the remainder of +his days. Though a few tribes still adhered to him, he was well aware +that in these hours of disaster he would soon be abandoned by all. +Proudly, however, the heroic chieftain disdained all thoughts of +surrender, and resolved to contend with undying determination to the +last. We can not but respect his energy and deplore his fate. + +Receiving a commission from the governor, Captain Church that same +evening took the field, with a company of eighteen Englishmen and +twenty-two Indians. They saw gleaming in the distant forest the +camp-fires of the Indians. Creeping stealthily along, they surrounded +a small band of savages, took them by surprise, and captured every +one. From one of his prisoners he learned there was another party at +Monponsett Pond. Carrying his prisoners back to Plymouth, he set out +again the next night, and was equally successful in capturing every +one of this second band. Thus for some days he continued very +successfully harassing the Indians in the vicinity of the +Middleborough Ponds. From one of his prisoners he ascertained that +both Philip and Quinnapin, the husband of Wetamoo, were in the great +cedar swamp, which was full of Indian warriors, and that a hundred +Indians had gone on a foray down into Sconticut Neck, now Fair Haven. + +The main body of the Plymouth forces was at Taunton. Philip did not +dare attempt the passage of the Taunton River, as it was carefully +watched. He was thus hemmed in between the river and the sea. Church, +with amazing energy and skill, drove his feeble bands from point to +point, allowing them not one moment of rest. One Sabbath morning a +courier was sent to the governor of the Plymouth colony, who happened +to be at Marshfield, informing him that Philip, with a large army, was +advancing, with the apparent intention of crossing the river in the +vicinity of Bridgewater, and attacking that town. The governor +immediately hastened to Plymouth, sent for Captain Church, who was in +the meeting-house attending public worship, and requested him to +rally all the force in his power, and march to attack the Indians. +Captain Church immediately called his company together, and, running +from house to house, collected every loaf of bread in town for the +supply of his troops. + +Early in the afternoon he commenced his march, and early in the +evening arrived at Bridgewater. As they were advancing in the +darkness, they heard a sharp firing in the distance. It afterward +appeared that Philip had felled a tree across the stream, which was +there quite narrow, as a bridge for his men. Some energetic +Bridgewater lads had watched the movements of the Indians, and had +concealed themselves in ambush on the Bridgewater side of the stream. +As soon as the Indians commenced passing over the tree, they poured in +upon them a volley of bullets. Many dropped from the slender bridge, +dead and wounded, into the river. The rest precipitately retreated. +This was on the evening of the 31st of July. + +Early the next morning, Captain Church, having greatly increased his +force by the inhabitants of Bridgewater, marched cautiously to the +spot where Philip had attempted to effect a passage. Accompanied by a +single Indian, he crept to the banks of the stream where the tree had +been. He saw upon the opposite side an Indian in a melancholy, musing +posture, sitting alone upon a stump. He was within short musket shot. +Church clapped his gun to his shoulder, and was just upon the point of +firing, when the Indian who accompanied him hastily called out for him +not to fire, for he believed it was one of their own men. The Indian +heard the warning, and, startled, looked up. Captain Church instantly +saw it was King Philip himself. In another instant the report of a gun +was heard, and a bullet whistled through the thin air, but Philip, +with the speed of an antelope, was gone. + +Captain Church immediately rallied his company, crossed the river, and +pursued the Indians. The savages scattered and fled in all directions. +Church and his men picked up a large number of women and children +flying in dismay through the woods. Among the rest, he captured the +wife of Philip and their only son, a bright boy nine years of age. +Quinnapin, the husband of Wetamoo, with a large band of the Indians, +retreated down the eastern bank of the river, looking anxiously for a +place where they might ford the stream. Captain Church followed upon +their trail, pursued them across the stream, and continued the chase +until he thought it necessary to return and secure the prisoners. + +The Saconet Indians begged permission to continue the pursuit. They +returned the next morning, having shot several of the enemy, and +bringing with them thirteen women and children as prisoners. The +prisoners were all sent to Bridgewater, while bands of soldiers +scoured the woods in all directions in pursuit of the fugitives. Every +now and then the shrill report of the musket told that the bullet was +accomplishing its deadly work. Another night came. It was dark and +gloomy. Some of the captives informed the English that Philip, with a +large party of his warriors, had sought refuge in a swamp. The heroic +chief had heard of the capture of his wife and son, and his heart was +broken. Dejected, disheartened, but unyielding, he still resolved to +bid defiance to fate, and to contend sternly to the last. The Indian +captives, with their accustomed treachery, guided the English to all +the avenues of the swamp. Here Captain Church placed his well-armed +sentinels, cutting off all escape, and watching vigilantly until the +morning. + +As soon as it was light, he sent two scouts to enter the swamp +cautiously, and ascertain the position of the enemy. At the same +moment Philip sent two of his warriors upon a tour of reconnoissance. +The two opposite parties met, and the Indians, with loud yells to give +the alarm, fled toward their camp. Terrified with the apprehension +that the whole English force was upon them, the Indians plunged like +affrighted deer into the deeper recesses of the swamp, leaving their +kettles boiling and their meat roasting upon their wooden spits. But +they were surrounded, and there was no escape. The following scene, +described by Captain Church himself, gives one an idea of the nature +of this warfare. + + "In this swamp skirmish, Captain Church, with his two men, + who always ran by his side as his guard, met with three of + the enemy, two of whom surrendered themselves, and the + captain's guard seized them; but the other, being a great, + stout, surly fellow, with his two locks tied up with red, + and a great rattlesnake's skin hanging to the back part of + his head, ran from them into the swamp. Captain Church in + person pursued him close, till, coming pretty near up with + him, he presented his gun between his shoulders, but it + missing fire, the Indian perceived it, turned, and presented + at Captain Church, and missing fire also, their guns taking + wet from the fog and dew of the morning. But the Indian + turning short for another run, his foot tripped in a small + grape-vine, and he fell flat on his face. Captain Church was + by this time up with him, and struck the muzzle of his gun + an inch and a half into the back part of his head, which + dispatched him without another blow. + + "But Captain Church, looking behind him, saw another Indian, + whom he thought he had killed, come flying at him like a + dragon. But this happened to be fair within sight of the + guard that was set to keep the prisoners, who, spying this + Indian and others who were following him in the very + seasonable juncture, made a shot upon them, and rescued + their captain, though he was in no small danger from his + friends' bullets, for some of them came so near him that he + thought he felt the wind of them. The skirmish being over, + they gathered their prisoners together, and found the number + they had taken to be one hundred and seventy-three." + +With these prisoners the English returned to Bridgewater. Captain +Church drove the captives that night into the pound, and placed an +Indian guard over them. They were abundantly supplied with food and +drink. These poor wretches were so degraded, and so regardless of +their fate, that they passed the night in hideous revelry. Philip had +by some unknown means escaped. With grief and shame we record that his +wife and son were sent to Bermuda and sold as slaves, and were never +heard of more. One of the Indian captives said to Captain Church, + +"Sir, you have now made Philip ready to die. You have rendered him as +poor and miserable as he used to make the English. All his relatives +are now either killed or taken captive. You will soon have his head. +This last bout has broken his heart." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +DEATH OF KING PHILIP. + +1677 + +Fallen fortunes of Philip.--Execution of Sam Barrow.--Character +of Wetamoo.--The queen drowned.--Deplorable condition of +Philip.--Indomitable resolution.--Summary punishment.--Disposition +of the army.--Confident of the capture of Philip.--The carnage +commenced.--Rushing into danger.--Death of Philip.--Delight of +Alderman.--Reception of the news.--Ignoble treatment of the body.--An +Indian executioner.--Noble character of Philip.--His reluctance to +commence war.--His foresight.--His humanity.--His mode of +warfare.--Do justice to his memory.--Feelings for him in 1677.--Cotton +Mather's record.--"In his fate, forget his crimes."--Annawan.--Plan for +his capture.--The march.--A violent gale.--Resolution.--Reluctance of +the Indians.--Uncomfortable night.--Successful decoy.--The plan +repeated.--Making proselytes.--Advantages to be gained.--A feast.--The +Indians in good-humor.--Women captured.--Capture of an old man.--His +story.--A new enterprise proposed.--Energetic resolve of Captain +Church.--Enthusiasm aroused.--The old man a guide.--Arrival at +Annawan's retreat.--Drake's description of the place.--Annawan's +retreat.--Annawan's retreat.--Employments of the Indians.--Precipitous +descent.--Mode of entering the retreat.--Annawan captured.--A quiet +surrender.--A grand repast.--Attempted repose.--Effect of +excitement.--Disappearance of Annawan.--A magnificent present.--Address +to Captain Church.--Relation of early adventures.--Attempt to save +Annawan's life.--Tuspaquin.--His exploits.--Superstitious +belief.--Discovery of the Indians.--Capture of Tuspaquin's +relatives.--Outrageous violation of faith. + + +The heroic and unfortunate monarch of the Wampanoags was now indeed a +fugitive, and almost utterly desolate. A few of the more noble of the +Indians still adhered faithfully to the fortunes of their ruined +chieftain. The colonists pursued the broken bands of the Indians with +indefatigable energy. A small party sought refuge at a place called +Agawam, in the present town of Wareham. Captain Church immediately +headed an expedition, pursued them, and captured the whole band. A +notorious Indian desperado called Sam Barrow was among the number. He +was a bloodthirsty wretch, who had filled the colony with the terror +of his name. He boasted that with his own hand he had killed nineteen +of the English. Captain Church informed him that, in consequence of +his inhuman murders, the court could allow him no quarter. The stoical +savage, with perfect indifference, said that he was perfectly willing +to die, and only requested the privilege of smoking a pipe. He sat +down upon a rock, while his Indian executioner stood by his side with +his gleaming tomahawk in his hand. The savage smoked a few whiffs of +tobacco, laid aside his pipe, and calmly said, "I am ready." In +another instant the hatchet of the executioner sank deep into his +brain. He fell dead upon the rock. + +On the 6th of August one of Philip's Indians deserted his master and +fled to Taunton. To make terms for himself, he offered to conduct the +English to a spot upon the river where Wetamoo had secreted herself +with a party of Pocasset warriors. Twenty of the inhabitants of +Taunton armed themselves and followed their Indian guide. He led them +to a spot now called Gardiner's Neck, in the town of Swanzey. + +At the beginning of the war, Wetamoo, flushed with hope, had marched +to the conflict leading three hundred warriors in her train. She was +now hiding in thickets, swamps, and dens, with but twenty-six +followers, and they dejected and despairing. Next to King Philip, +Wetamoo had been the most energetic of the foes of the English. She +was inspired with much of his indomitable courage, and was never +wanting in resources. The English came upon them by surprise, and +captured every one but Wetamoo herself. The heroic queen, too proud to +be captured, instantly threw off all her clothing, seized a broken +piece of wood, and plunged into the stream. Worn down by exhaustion +and famine, her nerveless arm failed her, and she sank beneath the +waves. Her body, like a bronze statue of marvelous symmetry, was soon +after found washed upon the shore. As faithful chroniclers, we must +declare, though with a blush, that the English cut off her head, and +set it upon a pole in their streets, a trophy ghastly, bloody, +revolting. Many of her subjects were in Taunton as captives. When they +beheld the features of their beloved queen, they filled the air with +shrieks of lamentation. + +The situation of Philip was now indescribably deplorable. All the +confederate tribes had abandoned him; the most faithful of his +followers had already perished. His only brother was dead; his wife +and only son were slaves in the hands of the English, doomed to +unending bondage; every other relative was cold in death. The few +followers who still, for their own protection, accompanied him in his +flight, were seeking in dismay to save their own lives. His domain, +which once spread over wide leagues of mountain and forest, was now +contracted to the dark recesses and dismal swamps where, as a hunted +beast, he sought his lair. There was no place of retreat for him. All +the Connecticut Indians had become his bitter foes, because he had +embroiled them in a war which had secured their ruin. The Mohawks, +upon the Hudson, were thirsting for his blood. + +Still, this indomitable man would not think of yielding. He +determined, with a resolution which seemed never to give way, to fight +till a bullet from the foe should pierce his brain. In this hour of +utter hopelessness, one of Philip's warriors ventured to urge him to +surrender to the English. The haughty monarch immediately put the man +to death as a punishment for his temerity and as a warning to others. +The brother of this Indian, indignant at such severity, deserted to +the English, and offered to guide them to the swamp where Philip was +secreted. The ruined monarch had returned to the home of his childhood +to fight his last battles and to die. + +Captain Church happened to be at this time, with a party of +volunteers, at Rhode Island, having crossed over by the ferry from +Tiverton. Here he met the Indian traitor. "He was a fellow of good +sense," says Captain Church, "and told his story handsomely." He +reported that Philip was upon a little spot of upland in the midst of +a miry swamp just south of Mount Hope. It was now evening. Half of the +night was spent in crossing the water in canoes. At midnight Captain +Church brought all his company together, and gave minute directions +respecting their movements. They surrounded the swamp. With the +earliest light of the morning they were ordered to creep cautiously +upon their hands and feet until they came in sight of their foes. As +soon as anyone discovered Philip or any of his men, he was to fire, +and immediately all were to rise and join in the pursuit. To make sure +of his victim, Captain Church also formed a second circle surrounding +the swamp, placing an Englishman and an Indian behind trees, rocks, +etc., so that no one could pass between them. He also stationed small +parties in selected places in ambuscade. + +Having completed all his arrangements, he took his friend Major +Sandford by the hand, and said, + +"I have now so posted my men that I think it impossible that Philip +should escape us." + +He had hardly uttered these words ere the report of a musket was heard +in the swamp, and this was instantaneously followed by a whole volley. +Some of the Indians had been discovered, and the murderous work was +commenced. The morning had as yet but just dawned. An awful scene of +dismay, tumult, and blood ensued. Philip, exhausted by days and nights +of the most harassing flight and fighting, had been found soundly +asleep. The few warriors still faithful to him, equally exhausted, +were dozing at his side. A party of the English crept cautiously +within musket shot of their sleeping foes, discharged a volley of +bullets upon them, and then rushed into their encampment. + +[Illustration: THE DEATH OF KING PHILIP.] + +The dreams of the despairing fugitive were disturbed by the crash of +musketry, the whistling of bullets, and the shout and the onset of his +foes. He leaped from his couch of leaves, and, like a deer, bounded +from hummock to hummock in the swamp. It so happened that he ran +directly upon an ambush which Captain Church had warily established. +An Englishman and the Indian deserter, whose name was Alderman, stood +behind a large tree, with their guns cocked and primed. As Philip, +bewildered and unconscious of his peril, drew near, the Englishman +took deliberate aim at him when he was but at the distance of a few +yards, and sprung his lock. The night dews of the swamp had moistened +the powder, and his gun missed fire. The life of Philip was thus +prolonged for one half of a minute. The traitor Alderman then eagerly +directed his gun against the chief to whom but a few hours before he +had been in subjection. A sharp report rang through the forest, and +two bullets, for the gun was double charged, passed almost directly +through the heart of the heroic warrior. For an instant the majestic +frame of the chieftain, as he stood erect, quivered from the shock, +and then he fell heavy and stone dead in the mud and water of the +swamp. + +Alderman, delighted with his exploit, ran eagerly to inform Captain +Church that he had shot King Philip. Church ordered him to be +perfectly silent about it, that his men might more vigorously pursue +the remaining warriors. For some time the pursuit and the carnage +continued. Captain Church then, by a concerted signal, called his army +together, and informed them of the death of their formidable foe. The +tidings were received with a simultaneous shout of exultation, which, +repeated again and again, reverberated through the solitudes of the +forests. The whole army then advanced to the spot where the sovereign +of the Wampanoags lay gory in death. They had but little reverence for +an Indian, and, seizing the body, they dragged it, as if it had been +the carcass of a wild beast, through the mud to an upland slope, where +the ground was dry. Here, for a time, they gazed with exultation upon +the great trophy of their victory, and spurned the dishonored body as +if it had been a wolf or a panther which had been destroying their +families and their flocks. Captain Church then said, + +"Forasmuch as he has caused many an Englishman's body to lie unburied +and to rot above the ground, not one of his bones shall be buried." + +An old Indian executioner, a vulgar, bloodthirsty wretch, was then +called to cut up the body. With bitter taunts he stood over him with +his hatchet, and cut off his head and quartered him. Philip had one +remarkable hand, which was much scarred by the explosion of a pistol. +This hand was given to Alderman, who shot him, as his share of the +spoil. Alderman preserved it in rum, and carried it around the +country as a show, "and accordingly," says Captain Church, "he got +many a penny by it." We would gladly doubt the statement, if we could, +that the head of this ill-fated chief was sent to Plymouth, where it +was for a long time exposed on a gibbet. The four quarters of the +mangled body were hung upon four trees, and there they remained +swinging in the moaning wind until the elements wasted them away. + +Thus fell Pometacom, perhaps the most illustrious savage upon the +North American continent. The interposition of Providence alone seems +to have prevented him from exterminating the whole English race upon +this continent. Though his character has been described only by those +who were exasperated against him to the very highest degree, still it +is evident that he possessed many of the noblest qualities which can +embellish human nature. + +It is said that with reluctance and anguish he entered upon the war, +and that he shed tears when the first English blood was shed. His +extraordinary kindness to the Leonards, inducing him to avert +calamities from a whole settlement, lest they, by some accident, might +be injured, develops magnanimity which is seldom paralleled. He was a +man of first-rate abilities. He foresaw clearly that the growth of +the English power threatened the utter extermination of his race. War +thus, in his view, became a dire necessity. No man could be more +conscious of its fearful peril. With sagacity which might excite the +envy of the ablest of European diplomatists, he bound together various +heterogeneous and hostile tribes, and guided all their energies. +Though the generality of the Indians were often inhuman in the +extreme, there is no evidence that Philip ever ordered a captive to be +tortured, while it is undeniable that the English, in several +instances, surrendered their captives to the horrid barbarities of +their savage allies. + + "His mode of making war," says Francis Baylies, "was secret + and terrible. He seemed like the demon of destruction + hurling his bolts in darkness. With cautious and noiseless + steps, and shrouded by the deep shade of midnight, he glided + from the gloomy depths of the woods. He stole on the + villages and settlements of New England, like the + pestilence, unseen and unheard. His dreadful agency was felt + when the yells of his followers roused his victims from + their slumbers, and when the flames of their blazing + habitations glared upon their eyes. His pathway could be + traced by the horrible desolation of its progress, by its + crimson print upon the snows and the sands, by smoke and + fire, by houses in ruins, by the shrieks of women, the + wailing of infants, and the groans of the wounded and the + dying. Well indeed might he have been called the 'terror of + New England.' Yet in no instance did he transcend the + ordinary usages of Indian warfare. + + "We now sit in his seats and occupy his lands; the lands + which afforded a bare subsistence to a few wandering savages + can now support countless thousands of civilized people. The + aggregate of the happiness of man is increased, and the + designs of Providence are fulfilled when this fair domain is + held by those who know its use; surely we may be permitted + at this day to lament the fate of him who was once the lord + of our woods and our streams, and who, if he wrought much + mischief to our forefathers, loved some of our race, and + wept for their misfortunes!" + +There was, however, but little sympathy felt in that day for Philip or +any of his confederates. The truly learned and pious but pedantic +Cotton Mather, allowing his spirit to be envenomed by the horrid +atrocities of Indian warfare, thus records the tragic end of +Pometacom: + + "The Englishman's piece would not go off, but the Indians + presently shot him through his venomous and murderous heart. + And in that very place where he first contrived and + commenced his mischief, this Agag was now cut in quarters, + which were then hanged up, while his head was carried in + triumph to Plymouth, where it arrived on the very day that + the church was keeping a solemn thanksgiving to God. God + sent them in the head of a Leviathan for a thanksgiving + feast." + +We must remember that the Indians have no chroniclers of their wrongs, +and yet the colonial historians furnish us with abundant incidental +evidence that outrages were perpetrated by individuals of the +colonists which were sufficient to drive any people mad. No one can +now contemplate the doom of Pometacom, the last of an illustrious +line, but with emotions of sadness. + + "Even that he lived is for his conqueror's tongue; + By foes alone his death-song must be sung. + No chronicles but theirs shall tell + His mournful doom to future times. + May these upon his virtues dwell, + And in his fate forget his crimes!" + +The war was now virtually at an end. Still there were many broken bands +of Indians wandering through the wilderness in a state of utter +desperation; they knew that to surrender doomed them to death or to +hopeless slavery. Though they were unable to wage any effective warfare, +they could desolate the settlements with murders and with terrible +depredations. + +A few days after the death of King Philip, intelligence was brought to +Plymouth that Annawan, Philip's chief captain, a man of indomitable +energy, was ranging the woods with a band of warriors in the vicinity of +Rehoboth and Swanzey, and doing great mischief. + +Annawan was now commander-in-chief of all the remaining Indian forces. +His death or capture was accordingly esteemed a matter of great +moment. Captain Church immediately gathered around him a band of +his enthusiastic troops. They were so devoted to their successful +commander that they declared their readiness to follow him as long as +an Indian was left in the woods. They immediately commenced their +march, and ranged the woods along the Pocasset shore. Not finding any +Indians, they crossed the arm of the bay in canoes to Rhode Island, +intending to spend the next day, which was the Sabbath, there in +religious rest. Early the next morning, however, a messenger informed +the captain that a canoe filled with Indians had been seen passing +from Prudence Island to the west side of Bristol, which was then +called Poppasquash Neck. Captain Church, thinking that these men were +probably going to join the band of Annawan, resolved immediately to +pursue them. He had no means of transporting his troops but in two or +three frail birch canoes. He crossed himself, however, with sixteen of +his Indian allies, when the gale increased to such severity, and hove +up such a tumultuous sea, that the canoes could no longer pass. +Captain Church now found himself upon Bristol Neck with but sixteen +Indian allies around him, while all the rest of his force, including +nearly all of his English soldiers, were upon Rhode Island, and cut +off from all possibility of immediately joining him. Still, the +intrepid captain adopted the resolve to march in pursuit of the enemy, +though he was aware that he might meet them in overwhelming numbers. + +The Indians expressed some reluctance to go unaccompanied by English +soldiers; finally, however, they consented. Skulking through almost +impenetrable thickets, they came to a salt meadow just north of the +present town of Bristol. It was now night, and though they had heard +the report of two guns in the woods, they had met no Indians. A part +of their company, who had been sent out on a skulk, had not returned, +and great anxiety was felt lest they had fallen into an ambush and +been captured. The night was dark, and cold, and dreary. They had not +a morsel of bread, and no food to cook; they did not dare to build a +fire, as the flame would be sure to attract their wakeful enemies. +Hungry and solitary, the hours of the night lingered slowly away. In +the earliest dawn of the morning, the Indian scouts returned with the +following extraordinary story, which proved to be true. They said that +they had not advanced far when they discovered two Indians at a +distance approaching them upon one horse. The scouts immediately hid +in the brush in parallel lines at a little distance from each other. +One of the Indians then stationed himself as a decoy, and howled like +a wolf. The two Indians immediately stopped, and one, sliding from the +horse, came running along to see what was there. The cunning Indian, +howling lower and lower, drew him on between those lying in wait for +him, until they seized and instantly gagged him. The other, seeing +that his companion did not return, and still hearing the faint +howlings of the wolf, also left his horse, and soon experienced the +same fate. + +The two captives they then examined apart, and found them to agree in +the story that there were eight more Indians who had come with them +into the Neck in search of provisions, and that they had all agreed to +meet at an old Indian burying-place that evening. The two captives +chanced to be former acquaintances of the leader of the scouting +party. He told them enticing stories of the bravery of Captain Church, +and of the advantages of fighting with him and for him instead of +against him. The vagabond prisoners were in a very favorable condition +to be influenced by such suggestions. They heartily joined their +victors, and aided in entrapping their unsuspecting comrades. The +eight were soon found, and, by a continuance of the same stratagem, +were all secured. All these men immediately co-operated with Captain +Church's company, and aided in capturing their remaining friends. In +this perhaps they were to be commended, as there was nothing before +them but misery, starvation, and death in the wilderness, while there +was at least food and life with Captain Church. + +With their band thus strengthened there was less fear of surprise. A +horse was killed, roaring fires built, and the Indians, roasting the +meat upon wooden spits, exulted for a few hours in a feast of steaks +which, to them at least, were savory and delicious. The Indians +usually carried salt in their pockets: with this alone they seasoned +their horse-flesh. As there was not a morsel of bread to be obtained, +Captain Church had no better fare than his savage companions. + +The Indians were now in exceeding good-humor. All having eaten their +fill, and loading themselves with a sufficient supply for the day, +they commenced their march, under the guidance of the captives, to the +place where they had left their women and children. All were surprised +and captured. But no one could tell where Annawan was to be found. All +agreed in the declaration that he was continually roving about, never +sleeping twice in the same place. + +One of the Indian prisoners entreated Captain Church to permit him +to go into a swamp, about four miles distant, where his father was +concealed with his young wife. He promised to bring them both in. +Captain Church, thinking that he might, perhaps, obtain some +intelligence respecting Annawan, decided to go with him. Taking with +him one Englishman and a few Indians, and leaving the rest to remain +where they were until his return, he set out upon this enterprise. + +When they arrived on the borders of the swamp, the Indian was sent +forward in search of his father. Pretty soon they heard a low howling, +which was promptly responded to by a corresponding howl at a distance. +At length they saw an old man coming toward them with his gun upon +his shoulder, and followed by a young Indian girl, his daughter. +Concealing themselves on each side of the narrow trail, Captain +Church's party awaited their approach, and seized them both. +Threatening them with terrible punishment if they deceived him with +any falsehood, he examined them apart. + +Both agreed that they had been lately in Annawan's camp; that he had +with him about sixty Indians, and that he was at but a few miles' +distance, in Squannaconk Swamp, in the southeasterly part of Rehoboth. +"Can I get there to-night?" inquired Captain Church. "If you set out +immediately," the old Indian replied, "and travel stoutly, you can +reach there by sunset." + +Just then the young Indian who had been in search of his father +returned with his father and another Indian. Captain Church was now in +much perplexity. He was very desirous of going in pursuit of Annawan +before the wary savage should remove to other quarters. He had, +however, but half a dozen men with him, and it was necessary to send a +messenger back to acquaint those who had been left of his design. +Collecting his little band together, he inquired if they were ready to +go with him to endeavor to take Annawan. The enterprise appeared to +them all very perilous. They replied, + +"We are willing to obey your commands. But Annawan is a renowned and +veteran warrior. He served under Pometacom's father, and has been +Pometacom's chief captain during this war. He is a very subtle man, a +man of great energy, and has often said that he would never be taken +alive by the English. Moreover, the warriors who are with him are very +resolute men. We therefore fear that it would be impossible to take +him with so small a band. We should but throw away our lives." + +Still, Captain Church, relying upon his own inexhaustible resources, +and upon the well-known despondency and despair of the Indians, +resolved to go, and with a few words roused the enthusiasm of his +impulsive and fickle followers. He sent the young Indian, with his +father and the young squaw, back to the camp, while he took the other +old man whom he had captured as his guide. "You have given me my +life," said the Indian, "and it is my duty to serve you." + +Energetically they commenced their march through the woods, the old +man leading off with tremendous strides. Occasionally he would get so +far in advance that the party would lose sight of him, when he would +stop until they came up. He might easily have escaped had he wished to +do so. Just as the sun was setting, the old man made a full stop and +sat down. The rest of the company came up, all being very weary, and +sat down around him. + +"At this hour," said the old man, "Annawan always sends out his +scouts. We must conceal ourselves here until after dark, when the +scouts will have returned." + +As soon as the darkness of night had settled over the forest, the old +man again rose to resume the march. Captain Church said to him, + +"Will you take a gun and fight for us?" + +The faithful guide bowed very low, and nobly said, "I pray you not to +impose upon me such a thing as to fight Annawan, my old friend. I will +go along with you and be helpful to you, and will lay hands on any man +who shall offer to hurt you." + +In the gloom of the wilderness it was now very dark, and all kept +close together, and moved cautiously and silently along. Soon they +heard a noise as of a woman pounding corn. All stopped and listened. +They had arrived at Annawan's retreat. Captain Church, with one +Englishman and half a dozen Indians, most of whom had been taken +captive that very day, were about to attack one of the fiercest and +most redoubtable of Philip's chieftains, surrounded by sixty of his +tribe, many of whom were soldiers of a hundred battles. Drake, in his +Book of the Indians, gives the following description of this noted +place: + + "It is situated in the southeasterly corner of Rehoboth, + about eight miles from Taunton Green, a few rods from the + road which leads to Providence, and on the southeasterly + side of it. If a straight line were drawn from Taunton to + Providence, it would pass very nearly over this place. + Within the limits of an immense swamp of nearly three + thousand acres there is a small piece of upland, separated + from the main only by a brook, which in some seasons is dry. + This island, as we may call it, is nearly covered with an + enormous rock, which to this day is called Annawan's Rock. + Its southeast side presents an almost perpendicular + precipice, and rises to the height of twenty-five or thirty + feet. The northwest side is very sloping and easy of ascent, + being at an angle of not more than thirty-five or forty + degrees. A more gloomy and hidden recess, even now, although + the forest-tree no longer waves over it, could hardly be + found by any inhabitant of the wilderness." + +Creeping cautiously to the summit of the rock, Captain Church looked +down over its precipitous edge upon the scene presented below. The +spectacle which opened to his view was wild and picturesque in the +extreme. He saw three bands of Indians at short distances from each +other, gathered around several fires. Their pots and kettles were +boiling, and meat was roasting upon the spits. Some of the Indians +were sleeping upon the ground, others were cooking, while others were +sitting alone and silent, and all seemed oppressed and melancholy. +Directly under the rock Annawan himself was lying, apparently asleep, +with his son by his side. The guns of the Indians were stacked at a +little distance from the fires, with mats spread over them to protect +them from the weather. It seemed impossible to descend the precipitous +face of the rock, and Captain Church accordingly crept back and +inquired of his guide if they could not approach by some other way. + +"No," answered the guide. "All who belong to Annawan's company are +ordered to approach by that entrance, and none can from any other +direction without danger of being shot." + +The old man and his daughter had left the encampment of Annawan upon +some mission; their return, therefore, would excite no suspicion. They +both had tule baskets bound to their backs. Captain Church directed +them to clamber down the rocks to the spot where Annawan was reposing. +Behind their shadow Church and two or three of his soldiers crept +also. The night was dark, and the expiring embers of Annawan's fire +but enabled the adventurers more securely to direct their steps. The +old chief, in a doze, with his son by his side, hearing the rustling +of the bushes, raised his eyes, and seeing the old Indian and his +daughter, suspected no danger, and again closed his eyes. In this +manner, supporting themselves by roots and vines, the small party +effected its descent undiscovered. Captain Church, with his hatchet in +his hand, stepped directly over the young man's head, and seized his +weapons and those of his father. The young Annawan, discovering +Captain Church, whipped his blanket over his head, and shrunk up in a +heap. Old Annawan, starting from his recumbent posture, and supposing +himself surrounded by the English army, exclaimed, "Ho-woh," _I am +taken_, and sank back upon the ground in despair. Their arms were +instantly secured, and perfect silence was commanded on pain of +immediate death. The Indians who had followed Captain Church down over +the rock, having received previous instructions, immediately hastened +to the other fires, and informed the Indians that their chief was +taken a captive; that they were surrounded by the English army, so +that escape was impossible; and that, at the slightest resistance, a +volley of bullets would be poured in upon them, which would mow them +all down. They were assured that if they would peacefully submit they +might expect the kindest treatment. + +As Church's Indians were all acquainted with Annawan's company, many +of them being relatives, the surprised party without hesitancy +surrendered both their guns and hatchets, and they were carried to +Captain Church. His whole force of six men was now assembled at one +spot, but the Indians still supposed that they were surrounded by a +powerful army in ambush, with loaded muskets pointed at them. Matters +being thus far settled, Annawan ordered an abundant supper to be +prepared of "cow beef and horse beef." Victors and vanquished partook +of this repast together. It was now thirty-six hours since Captain +Church and his men had had any sleep. Captain Church, overwhelmed with +responsibility and care, was utterly exhausted. He told his men that +if they would let him have a nap of two hours, he would then keep +watch for all the rest of the night, and they might sleep. He laid +himself down, but the excitement caused by his strange and perilous +position drove all slumber from his eyelids. He looked around him, and +soon the whole company was soundly sleeping, all excepting Annawan +himself. The Indian and the English chieftain lay side by side for an +hour, looking steadfastly at each other, neither uttering a word. +Captain Church could not speak Indian, and he supposed that Annawan +could not speak English. At length Annawan arose, laid aside his +blanket, and deliberately walked away. Almost before Captain Church +had time to collect his thoughts, he had disappeared in the midnight +gloom of the forest. Though all the arms of the Indians had been taken +from them, Captain Church was apprehensive that Annawan might by some +means obtain a gun and attempt some violence. He knew that pursuit +would be in vain in the darkness of the night and of the forest. + +Placing himself in such a position by the side of young Annawan that +any shot which should endanger him would equally endanger the son, he +remained for some time in great anxiety. At length he heard the sound +of approaching footsteps. Just then the moon broke from among the +clouds, and shone out with great brilliance. By its light he saw +Annawan returning, with something glittering in his hand. The +illustrious chieftain, coming up to Captain Church, presented him with +three magnificent belts of wampum, gorgeously embroidered with +flowers, and pictures of beasts and birds. They were articles of court +dress which had belonged to King Philip, and were nearly a foot wide +and eight or ten feet long. He also had in his hands two powder-horns +filled with powder, and a beautiful crimson blanket. Presenting these +to Captain Church, he said, in plain English, + +"Great captain, you have killed King Philip. I believe that I and my +company are the last that war against the English. I suppose the war +is ended by your means, and therefore these things belong to you. They +were Philip's royalties, with which he adorned himself when he sat in +state. I think myself happy in having an opportunity to present them +to you." + +Neither of these illustrious men could sleep amid the excitements of +these eventful hours. Annawan was an intelligent man, and was fully +conscious that a further continuance of the struggle was hopeless. +With the most confiding frankness, he entertained his conqueror with +the history of his life from his earliest childhood to the present +hour. The whole remainder of the night was spent in this discourse, in +which Annawan, with wonderfully graphic skill, described his feats of +arms in by-gone years, when, under Massasoit, Philip's father, he led +his warriors against hostile tribes. + +As soon as day dawned, Captain Church collected his men and his sixty +prisoners, and, emerging from the swamp, took up their march for +Taunton. They soon gained the Taunton road, about four miles from the +town, and there, according to appointment, met Lieutenant Howland, +with the men who had been left behind. They lodged at Taunton that +night. The next morning all the prisoners were sent forward to +Plymouth excepting Annawan. Captain Church was anxious to save his +life, and took the old chieftain with him to Rhode Island. After a few +days he returned with him to Plymouth. Captain Church plead earnestly +that Annawan's life might be spared, and supposing, without any doubt, +that this request would not be denied him, set out, after a few days, +in pursuit of another small band of Indians who were committing +robberies in the vicinity of Plymouth. + +The leader of this band was Tuspaquin, sachem of Namasket. At the +beginning of the conflict he had led three hundred warriors into the +field. He led the band which laid nineteen buildings in ashes in +Scituate on the twentieth of April, and which burned seventeen +buildings in Bridgewater on the eighth of May. Also, on the eleventh +of May, he had burned eleven houses and five barns in Plymouth. The +English were consequently exceedingly exasperated against him. +Tuspaquin had great renown among his soldiers. He had been in +innumerable perils, and had never been wounded. The Indians affirmed +that no bullet could penetrate his body; that they had often seen them +strike him and glance off. + +Intelligence had been brought to Plymouth that Tuspaquin was in the +vicinity of Sippican, now Rochester, doing great damage to the +inhabitants, killing their horses, cattle, and swine. + +Monday afternoon Captain Church set out in pursuit of him. The next +morning they discovered a trail in the forest, and, following it +noiselessly, they came to a place called Lakenham, where the thicket +was almost impenetrable. Smoke was discovered rising from this +thicket, and two Indians crept in to see what could be discovered. +They soon returned with a report that quite a party of Indians, mostly +women and children, were sitting silently around the embers. Captain +Church ordered every man to creep on his hands and feet until they had +formed a circle around the Indians, and then, at a given signal, to +make a rush, and take them all prisoners. The stratagem was entirely +successful. + +Captain Church found, to his extreme satisfaction, that he had +captured the wife and children of Tuspaquin, and most of his +relatives. They said that he had gone, with two other Indians, to +Wareham and Rochester to kill horses. Captain Church took all his +prisoners back to Plymouth except two old squaws. They were left at +the encampment with a good supply of food, and were directed to inform +Tuspaquin on his return that Captain Church had been there, and had +captured his wife and his children; that, if he would surrender +himself and his companions at Plymouth, they should be received +kindly, be well provided for, and he would employ them as his +soldiers. + +The next day Captain Church had occasion to go to Boston. Upon his +return after a few days, he found, to his extreme chagrin and grief, +that Tuspaquin had come in and surrendered; that both he and Annawan +had been tried as murderers, and had been condemned and executed. This +transaction can not be too severely condemned. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. + +1677-1678 + +End of the war in the Middle States.--Devastation in Maine.--Character +of Squando.--News of the war sent to York.--Attempt to release a +captive.--Unfulfilled promises.--Thomas Purchas.--Dislike of the +Indians.--His house plundered.--Narrow escape of his son.--A captive +child released by Squando.--Proceedings about Brunswick.--Attack upon +Saco.--Long-continued siege.--The assailants retire.--Attack upon +Scarborough.--Repulse of the Indians.--Sagadahock.--Behavior of the +Indians.--Absurdity.--Exertions to obtain a treaty.--Temporary +respite.--Route of the English.--Bravery of Lieutenant +Plaisted.--Sufferings of the Indians.--Atrocious conduct.--Just +complaints of the Indians.--They are refused ammunition.--War +resumed.--Capture of a fortress.--Mr. Lake killed.--Destruction of the +establishment.--Unprotected condition of the settlements.--Outrages on +the islands.--Aid sent from Massachusetts.--Arrival of friendly +Indians.--Perplexity of Major Waldron.--A stratagem.--Was it +right?--Disposition of the prisoners.--Massacre of scouts.--Treaty +concluded.--Expedition to Casco Bay.--Landing at Maquoit.--The party +sail for the Kennebec.--A conference.--Treachery discovered.--A fierce +fight.--Renewed depredations.--Peace implored.--Terms of the +treaty.--Terrible amount of misery created. + + +The war was now at an end in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, +as nearly all the hostile Indians were either killed, captured, or had +submitted to the mercy of their victors. A few hundred desperate +warriors, too proud to yield and too feeble to continue the fight, +fled in a body through the wilderness, beyond the Hudson, and were +blended with the tribes along the banks of the Mohawk and the shores +of the great lakes. There were also many bloody wretches, who, +conscious that their crimes were quite unpardonable, fled to the +almost impenetrable forests of the north and the east. + +In the remote districts of New Hampshire and Maine the war still raged +with unabated violence. Bands of savages were roving over the whole +territory, carrying conflagration and blood to the homes of the lonely +settlers. There were no large gatherings for battle, but prowling +companies of from two or three to a hundred spread terror and +devastation in all directions. + +At this period the towns and plantations in the State of Maine were +but thirteen. The English population was about six thousand; the +Indians, divided into many petty tribes, were probably about eighteen +thousand in number. These Indians had for some time been rather +unfriendly to the English, and an act of gross outrage roused them to +combine in co-operation with King Philip. An illustrious Indian, by +the name of Squando, was sachem of the Sokokis tribe, which occupied +the region in the vicinity of Saco. He was a man of great strength of +mind, elevation of character, and of singular gravity and +impressiveness of address. One day his wife was paddling down the +River Saco in a canoe, with her infant child. Some English sailors, +coming along in a boat, accosted her brutally, and, saying that they +had understood that Indian children could swim as naturally as young +ducks, overset the canoe. The infant sank like lead. The indignant +mother dove to the bottom and brought up her exhausted child alive, +but it soon after died. Squando was so exasperated by this outrage, +that, with his whole soul burning with indignation, he traversed the +wilderness to rouse the scattered tribes to a war of extermination +against the English. + +Just then the appalling tidings came of the breaking out of Philip's +war. The Plymouth colony sent a messenger to York to inform the +inhabitants of their danger, and to urge them to disarm the Indians, +and to sell them no more powder or shot. A party of volunteers was +immediately sent from York to ascend the Kennebec River, inform the +settlers along its banks of their impending danger, and ascertain the +disposition of the Indians. With a small vessel they entered the mouth +of the river, then called the Sagadahock, and ascended the stream for +several miles. Here they met twelve Indians, and, strange to relate, +induced them to surrender their guns. One of the Indians, more +spirited than the rest, was not disposed to yield to the demand, and, +becoming enraged, struck at one of the English party with his hatchet, +endeavoring to kill him. He was promptly arrested, bound, and confined +in a cellar. + +The Indians plead earnestly for his release, offering many apologies +for his crime. They said that he was subject to fits of insanity, and +that he was intoxicated. They offered to pay forty beavers' skins for +his ransom, and to leave hostages for his good behavior in the hands +of the English. Upon these terms the prisoner was released. They then, +in token of amity, partook of an abundant repast, smoked the pipe of +peace, and the Indians had a grand dance, with shouts and songs which +made the welkin ring. The promises of the Indians, however, were not +fulfilled. The hostages all run away, and not a beaver skin was ever +paid. + +A man by the name of Thomas Purchas had built him a hut in the lonely +wilderness, just below the Falls of the Androscoggin, in the present +town of Brunswick. His family dwelt alone in the midst of the +wilderness and the Indians. He purchased furs of the natives, and took +them in his canoe down to the settlements near the mouth of the +Sagadahock, from whence they were transported to England. He is +reputed to have been a hard-hearted, shrewd man, always sure to get +the best end of the bargain. The Indians all disliked him, and he +became the first sufferer in the war. + +On the 5th of September, a few months after the commencement of +hostilities in Swanzey, twenty Indians came to the house of Purchas +under the pretense of trading. Finding Purchas and his son both +absent, they robbed the house of every thing upon which they could +lay their hands. They found rum, and soon became frantically drunk. +There was a fine calf in the barn, and a few sheep at the door. The +Indians were adroit butchers. The veal and the mutton were soon +roasting upon their spits. They danced, they shouted, they clashed +their weapons in exultation, and the noise of the Falls was drowned in +the uproar of barbarian wassail. One of their exploits was to rip open +a feather bed for the pleasure of seeing the feathers float away in +the air. They, however, inflicted no violence upon Mrs. Purchas or her +children. + +In the midst of the scene, a son of Mr. Purchas was approaching home +upon horseback. Alarmed by the clamor, he cautiously drew near, and +was in consternation in view of the savage spectacle. Conscious that +his interposition could be of no possible avail, he fled for life. The +Indians caught sight of him, and one pursued him for some distance +with his gun, but he escaped. Soon after the Indians left, telling +Mrs. Purchas that others would soon come and treat them worse. + +There was an old man by the name of Wakely, who had settled near the +mouth of Presumpscot River, in Falmouth. His family consisted of nine +persons. A week after the robbery of Mr. Purchas's house, a band of +savages made a fierce onset upon this solitary cabin. They burnt the +house and killed all the family, except the youngest daughter, who was +about eleven years of age. This unfortunate child was carried away +captive, and for nine months was led up and down the wilderness, in +the endurance of all the horrors of savage life. At one time she was +led as far south as Narraganset Bay, which led to the supposition that +some of the Narraganset Indians were engaged in the capture. The +celebrated Squando, in whose character humanity and cruelty were most +singularly blended, took pity upon the child, rescued her, and +delivered her to the English at Dover. + +A family living several miles distant from Falmouth, at Casco Neck, +saw the smoke of the burning house, and the next day a file of men +repaired to the place. A scene of horror met their eye in the +smouldering ruins and the mangled corpses. The bodies of the slain the +savages had cut up in the most revolting manner. The tidings of these +outrages spread rapidly, and the settlers, in their solitary homes, +were plunged into a state of great dismay. + +There were at this time in Brunswick two or three families who had +erected their houses upon the banks of New Meadows. A party of +twenty-five English set out from Casco in a sloop and two boats, +sailed along the bay, and entered the river. The inhabitants had +already fled, and the Indians were there, about thirty in number, +rifling the houses. Seeing the approach of the English, they concealed +themselves in an ambush. When the English had advanced but a few rods +from their boats, the savages rushed upon them with hideous yells, +wounded several, drove them all back to their sloop, and captured two +boat-loads of Indian corn. + +Emboldened by their success, a few days after, on the 18th of +September, they made a bold attack upon Saco. A friendly Indian +informed Captain Bonython, who lived on the east side of the river, +about half a mile below the Lower Falls, that a conspiracy was formed +to attack the town. The alarm was immediately communicated to all the +settlers, and in a panic they abandoned their houses, and took refuge +in the garrison house of Major Phillips, which was on the other side +of the river. The Indians, unaware that their plot was discovered, +came the same night and established themselves in ambush. The +assailants were not less than one hundred in number. There were fifty +persons, men, women, and children, in the garrison, of whom but ten +were effective men. At eleven o'clock in the morning they commenced +the assault. The besieged defended themselves with great energy, and +many of the savages fell before their unerring aim. The savages at +length attempted to set fire to the house, after having assailed it +with a storm of shot all the day, and through the night until four in +the morning. They filled a cart with birch bark, straw, and powder, +and, setting this on fire, endeavored to push it against the house +with long poles. They had ingeniously constructed upon the cart a +barricade of planks, which protected those who pushed it against the +fire of the house. When they had got within pistol shot, one wheel +became clogged in a rut, and the other wheel going, whirled the cart +around, so as to expose the whole party to a fatal fire. Six men +almost instantly fell dead, and before the rest could escape, fifteen +of them were wounded. Disheartened by this disaster, the rest sullenly +retired. + +Soon after this, Phillips abandoned his exposed situation, and his +house was burned down by the savages. On the 20th the Indians attacked +Scarborough, destroyed twenty-seven houses, and killed several of the +inhabitants. The principal settlement in Saco was at Winter Harbor. +Many families in the vicinity had fled to that place for refuge. They +were all in great danger of being cut off by the savages. A party of +sixteen volunteers from South Berwick took a sloop and hastened to +their rescue. As they were landing upon the beach, they were assailed +by one hundred and fifty of their fierce foes. The English, +overpowered by numbers, were in great danger of being cut off to a +man, when they succeeded in gaining a shelter behind a pile of logs. +From this breastwork they opened such a deadly fire upon their +thronging foes that the Indians were compelled to retire with a loss +of many of their number. The inhabitants of the garrison, hearing the +report of the guns, sent a party of nine to aid their friends. These +men unfortunately fell into an ambush, and by a single discharge every +one was cut down. This same band then ravaged the settlements in +Wells, Hampton, Exeter, and South Berwick. + +Great exertions had been made to prevent the Indians upon the Kennebec +from engaging in these hostilities. About ten miles from the mouth of +the Sagadahock is the beautiful island of Arrowsic. It is so called +from an Indian who formerly lived upon it. Two Boston merchants, +Messrs. Clark and Lake, had purchased this island, which contains many +thousand acres of fertile land. They had erected several large +dwellings, with a warehouse, a fort, and many other edifices near the +water-side. It was a very important place for trade, being equally +accessible by canoes to all the Indians on the Androscoggin, Kennebec, +and Sheepscot. Captain Davis was the general agent for the proprietors +upon this island. + +The Indians in all this region were daily becoming more cold and +sullen. Captain Davis, to conciliate them, sent a messenger up all +these rivers to invite the Indians to come down and live near him, +assuring them that he would protect them from all mischief, and would +sell them every needed supply at the fairest prices. The messenger, +thinking to add to the force of the invitation, overstepping his +instructions, threatened them that if they did not accede to his +request the English would come and kill them all. This so alarmed the +Indians that they fled to the banks of the Penobscot, which was then +in possession of the French. Here they held a general council. + +Mr. Abraham Shurte was chief magistrate of the flourishing plantation +of Pemaquid. He was a man of integrity, of humanity, and of great good +sense. By indefatigable exertions, he succeeded in obtaining an +interview with the sachems, and entered into a treaty of peace with +them. In consequence of this treaty, the general court of Boston +ordered considerable sums of money to be disbursed to those Indians +who would become the subjects or allies of the colony. There was thus +a temporary respite of hostilities in this section of the country. +Upon the banks of the Piscataquis, however, the warfare still +continued unabated. On the 16th of October, one hundred Indians +assailed a house in South Berwick, burned it to the ground, killed the +master of the house, and carried his son into captivity. Lieutenant +Plaisted, commander of the garrison, viewing the massacre from a +distance, dispatched nine men to reconnoitre the movements of the +enemy. They fell into an ambuscade, and three were shot down, and the +others with difficulty escaped. + +The next day Lieutenant Plaisted ordered out a team to bring in the +bodies for interment. He himself led twenty men as a guard. As they +were placing the bodies in a cart, a party of one hundred and fifty +savages rushed upon them from a thicket, showering a volley of bullets +upon the soldiers. The wounded oxen took fright and ran. A fierce +fight ensued. Most of the soldiers retreated and regained the +garrison. Lieutenant Plaisted, too proud to fly or to surrender, +fought till he was literally hewn in pieces by the hatchets of the +Indians. His two sons also, worthy of their father, fought till one +was slain, and the other, covered with wounds of which he soon died, +escaped. The Indians then ravaged the regions around, plundering, +burning, and killing. + +The storms of winter now came with intense cold, and the snow covered +the ground four feet deep upon a level. The weather compelled a truce. +Though the Indians, during this short campaign, had killed eighty of +the English, had burned many houses, and had committed depredations to +an incalculable amount, still they themselves were suffering perhaps +even more severely. They had no provisions, and no means of purchasing +any. There was but little game in these northern forests, and the snow +was too deep for hunting. Their ammunition was consumed, and they knew +not how to obtain any more. Thus they were starving and almost +helpless. Under these circumstances, they manifested a strong desire +for peace. There were, however, individuals of the English who, by the +commission of the most infamous outrages, fanned anew the flames of +war. + +Early in the spring, one Laughton had obtained a warrant from the +court in Massachusetts to seize any of the Eastern Indians who had +robbed or murdered any of the English. This Laughton, a vile +kidnapper, under cover of this warrant, lured a number of Indians at +Pemaquid on board his vessel. None of them were accused of any crime, +and it is not known that they had committed any. He enticed them +below, fastened the hatches upon them, and carried them to the West +Indies, where they were sold as slaves. This fact was notorious; and, +though the government condemned the deed, and did what it could to +punish the offender, still the unenlightened Indians considered the +whole white race responsible for the crimes of the individual +miscreant. + +Some of the Indian chiefs went to Pemaquid to confer with Mr. Shurte, +in whom they reposed much confidence. Their complaint was truly +touching. + +"Our brothers," said they, "are treacherously caught, carried into +foreign parts, and sold as slaves. Last fall you frightened us from +our corn-fields on the Kennebec. You have withholden powder and shot +from us, so that we can not kill any game; and thus, during the +winter, many have died of starvation." + +Mr. Shurte did what he could to conciliate them, and proposed a +council. It was soon convened. The Indians appeared fair and +honorable, but they said they must have powder and shot; that, without +those articles, they could have no success in the chase, and they must +starve. + +"Where," exclaimed Madockawando, earnestly and impatiently, "shall we +buy powder and shot for our winter's hunting when we have eaten up all +our corn? Shall we leave Englishmen and apply to the French, or shall +we let our Indians die? We have waited long to have you tell us, and +now we want yes or no." + +To this the English could only reply, "You admit that the Western +Indians do not wish for peace. Should you let them have the powder we +sell you, what do we better than to cut our own throats? This is the +best answer we can return to you, though you should wait ten years." + +At this the chiefs took umbrage, declined any farther talk, and the +conference was broken up angrily. War was soon resumed in all its +horrors. + +Early in August a numerous band of savages made an incursion upon +Casco Neck and swept it of its inhabitants. Thirty-four of the +colonists were either killed or carried into captivity. On the 14th of +August, two days after King Philip was slain in the swamp at Mount +Hope, a party of Indians landed from their canoes upon the southeast +corner of the island of Arrowsic, near the spot where the fort stood. +They concealed themselves behind a great rock, and, with true Indian +cunning, notwithstanding the sentinels, succeeded in creeping within +the spacious inclosure which constituted the fortress. They then +opened a sudden and simultaneous fire upon all who were within sight. +The garrison, thus taken by midnight surprise, were in a state of +terrible consternation. A hand to hand fight ensued of the utmost +ferocity. The Indians, however, soon overpowered their opponents and +applied the torch. Captain Davis, who was in command of the fort, with +Mr. Lake, who was one of the owners of the island, escaped with two +others from the massacre by a back passage, and, rushing to the +water's edge, sprang into a canoe and endeavored to reach another +island. The savages, however, pursued them, and, taking deliberate aim +as they were paddling to the opposite shore, killed Mr. Lake, and +wounded Mr. Davis, so as to render him helpless, just as he was +stepping upon the shore. The savages then took a canoe and crossed in +pursuit of their victims. Captain Davis succeeded in hiding himself in +the cleft of a rock, and eluded their search. Here he remained for two +days, until after the savages had left, and then, finding an old canoe +upon the beach, he succeeded in paddling himself across the water to +the main land, where he was rescued. The other two who were not +wounded, plunging into the forest, also effected their escape. + +The exultant savages rioted in the destruction of the beautiful +establishment upon Arrowsic. The spacious mansion house, the +fortifications, the mills, and all the out-buildings, were burned to +the ground. Works which had cost the labor of years, and the +expenditure of thousands of pounds, were in an hour destroyed, and the +whole island was laid desolate. Thirty-five persons were either killed +or carried into captivity. The dismay which now pervaded the +plantations in Maine was terrible. The settlers were very much +scattered; there was no place of safety, and it was impossible, under +the circumstances, for the court in Massachusetts to send them any +effectual relief. Most of the inhabitants upon the Sheepscot River +sought refuge in the fort at Newagen. The people at Pemaquid fled on +board their vessels; some sailed for Boston; others crossed over to +the island of Monhegan, where they strongly fortified themselves. They +had hardly left their flourishing little village of Pemaquid ere dark +columns of smoke informed them that the savages were there, and that +their homes were in a blaze. In one month, fifty miles east of Casco +Bay were laid utterly desolate. The inhabitants were either massacred, +carried into captivity, or had fled by water to the settlements in +Massachusetts. + +Many of the beautiful islands in Casco Bay had a few English settlers +upon them. The Indians paddled from one to another in their canoes, +and the inhabitants generally fell easy victims to their fury. A few +families were gathered upon Jewell's Island, in a fortified house. On +the 2d of September a party of Indians landed upon the island for +their destruction. Several of the men were absent from the island in +search of Indian corn, and few were left in the garrison excepting +women and children. A man was in his boat at a short distance from the +shore fishing, while his wife was washing clothes by the river side, +surrounded by her children. Suddenly the savages sprang upon them, and +took them all captives before the eyes of the husband and father, who +could render no assistance. One of the little boys, shrieking with +terror, ran into the water, calling upon his father for help. An +Indian grasped him, and, as the distracted father presented his gun, +the savage held up the child as a shield, and thus prevented the +father from firing. A brave boy in the garrison shot three of the +Indians from the loop-holes. Soon assistance came from one of the +neighboring islands, and the Indians were driven to their canoes, +after having killed two of the inhabitants and taken five captives. + +In this state of things, Massachusetts sent two hundred men, with +forty Natick Indians, to Dover, then called Cocheco, from whence they +were to march into Maine and New Hampshire, wherever they could be +most serviceable. Here they met unexpectedly about four hundred +Indians, who had come from friendly tribes professedly to join them +in friendly coalition. The English had offered to receive all who in +good faith would become their allies. Many, however, of these men were +atrocious wretches, whose hands were red with the blood of the +English. Others were desperate fellows, who had ravaged Plymouth, +Connecticut, and Massachusetts under King Philip, and, upon his +discomfiture, had fled to continue their barbarities in the remote +districts of New Hampshire and Maine. + +Major Waldron, who had command of the English troops, was in great +perplexity. Many of the Indians of this heterogeneous band had come +together in good faith, relying upon his honor and fidelity. But the +English soldiers, remembering the savage cruelties of perhaps the +majority, were impatient to fall upon them indiscriminately with gun +and bayonet. In this dilemma, Major Waldron adopted the following +stratagem, which was by some applauded, and by others censured. + +He proposed a sham fight, in which the Indians were to be upon one +side and the English upon the other. In the course of the +manoeuvres, he so contrived it that the Indians gave a grand +discharge. At that moment, his troops surrounded and seized their +unsuspecting victims, and took them all prisoners, without the loss of +a man on either side. He then divided them into classes with as much +care as, under the circumstances, could be practiced, though doubtless +some mistakes were made. All the fugitives from King Philip's band, +and all the Indians in the vicinity who had been recently guilty of +bloodshed or outrage, were sent as prisoners to Boston. Here they were +tried; seven or eight were executed; the rest, one hundred and +ninety-two in number, were transported to the West Indies and sold as +slaves. + +This measure excited very earnest discussion in the colony. Many +condemned it as atrocious, others defended it as a necessity; but the +Indians universally were indignant. Even those, two hundred in number, +who were set at liberty as acting in good faith, declared that it was +an act of infamy which they would never forget nor forgive. The next +day these troops proceeded by water to Falmouth, touching at important +points by the way. + +On the 23d of September, a scouting party of seven visited Mountjoy's +Island. An Indian party fell upon them, and all were massacred. These +men were all heads of families, and their deaths occasioned +wide-spread woe. Two days after this, on the 25th, a large party of +Indians ravaged Cape Neddock, in the town of York, and killed or +carried into captivity forty persons. The cruelties they practiced +upon the inhabitants are too revolting to be described. + +Winter now set in again with tremendous severity. All parties +experienced unheard-of sufferings. An Indian chieftain by the name of +Mugg, notorious for his sagacity and his mercilessness, now came to +the Piscataqua River and proposed peace. The English were eager to +accept any reasonable terms. On the 6th of November the treaty was +concluded. Its terms were these: + + 1. All acts of hostility shall cease. + + 2. English captives and property shall be restored. + + 3. Full satisfaction shall be rendered to the English for + damages received. + + 4. The Indians shall purchase ammunition only of those whom + the governor shall appoint. + + 5. Certain notorious murderers were to be surrendered to the + English. + + 6. The sachems included in the treaty engaged to take arms + against Indians who should still persist in the war. + +Notwithstanding this treaty, the aspect of affairs still seemed very +gloomy. The Indians were sullen, the conduct of Mugg was very +suspicious, threats of the renewal of hostilities were continually +reaching the English, and but few captives were restored. Appearances +continued so alarming that, on the 7th of February, 1677, a party of +one hundred and fifty English and sixty Natick Indians sailed for +Casco Bay and the mouth of the Kennebec, to overawe the Indians and to +rescue the English captives who might be in their hands. On the 18th +of February, Captain Waldron, who commanded this expedition, landed +upon Mair Point, about three miles below Maquoit, in Brunswick. They +had hardly landed ere they were hailed by a party of Indians. After a +few words of parley, in which the Indians appeared far from friendly, +they retired, and the English sought for them in vain. About noon the +next day a flotilla of fourteen canoes was discovered out in the bay +pulling for the shore. The savages landed, and in a few moments a +house was seen in flames. The English party hastened to the rescue, +fell upon the savages from an unexpected quarter, and killed or +wounded several. A flag of truce was presented, which produced another +parley. + +"Why," inquired Captain Waldron, "do you not bring in the English +captives as you promised, and why do you set fire to our houses, and +begin again the war?" + +"The captives," the Indians replied, "are a great way off, and we can +not bring them through the snow; and your soldiers fired upon us +first; the house took fire by accident. These are our answers to you." + +Captain Waldron, unwilling to exasperate the Indians by useless +bloodshed, and finding that no captives could be recovered, sailed to +the mouth of the Kennebec, then the Sagadahock. Here he established a +garrison on the eastern bank of the river, opposite the foot of +Arrowsic Island. With the remainder of his force he proceeded in two +vessels to Pemaquid. Here he met a band of Indians, and sending to +them a flag of truce, which they respected, the two parties entered +into a conference. The Indians, under the guise of peace, were +plotting a general massacre. Though both parties had agreed to meet +without arms, the savages had concealed a number of weapons, which at +a given signal they could grasp. + +Captain Waldron, suspecting treachery, was looking around with an +eagle eye, when he saw peering from the leaves the head of a lance. +Going directly to the spot, he saw a large number of weapons +concealed. He immediately brandished one in the air, exclaiming, + +"Perfidious wretches! You intended to massacre us all." + +A stout Indian sprang forward and endeavored to wrest the weapon from +Waldron's hand. Immediately a scene of terrible confusion ensued. All +engaged in a hand to hand fight, with any weapons which could be +grasped. The Indians were soon overcome, and fled, some to the woods +and others to their canoes. Eleven Indians were killed in this fray, +and five were taken captive. The expedition then returned to Arrowsic, +where they put on board their vessels some guns, anchors, and other +articles which had escaped the flames, and then set sail for Boston. + +As soon as the snow melted, the savages renewed their depredations, +but Maine was now nearly depopulated. With the exception of the +garrison opposite Arrowsic, there was no settlement east of Portland. +There was a small fort at Casco, and a few people in garrison at Black +Point and Winter Harbor. A few intrepid settlers still remained in the +towns of York, Wells, Kittery, and South Berwick. The Indians +harassed them during the whole summer with robberies, conflagrations, +and murders. Winter again came with its storms and its intensity of +cold. The united sagamores now, with apparent sincerity, implored +peace. On the 12th of February, 1678, Squando, with all the sachems of +the tribes upon the Androscoggin and the Kennebec, met the +commissioners from Massachusetts at the fort at Casco. The English +were so anxious for peace that they agreed to the following terms, +which many considered very humiliating, but which were nevertheless +vastly preferable to the longer continuance of this horrible warfare. + + 1. The captives were to be immediately released, without + ransom. + + 2. All offenses on both sides, of every kind, were to be + forgiven and forgotten. + + 3. The English were to pay the Indians, as rent for the + land, a peck of corn for every English family, and for Major + Phillips, of Saco, who was a great proprietor, a bushel of + corn. + +Thus this dreadful war was brought to a close. It is estimated that +during its continuance six hundred men lost their lives, twelve +hundred houses were burned, and eight thousand cattle destroyed. But +the amount of misery created can never be told or imagined. The +midnight assault, the awful conflagration, the slaughter of women and +children, the horrors of captivity in the wilderness, the +impoverishment and moaning of widows and orphans, the diabolical +torture, piercing the wilderness with the shrill shriek of mortal +agony, the terror, universal and uninterrupted by day or by +night--all, all combined in composing a scene in the awful tragedy of +human life which the mind of Deity alone can comprehend. + + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +1. Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors and to +ensure consistent spelling and punctuation in this etext; otherwise, +every effort has been made to remain true to the original book. + +2. 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