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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

DDDmflDSHDO

'A

I

Book iJjpl^

•Csi

HISTORY ~^

OF

PHILIP'^ WAR,

COMMONLY CALLED

THE GREAT IUDIA3J VTAR; OF 1675 AND 1676.

ALSO, OF THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS AT THE EASTWARD,

IN 1689, 1690, 1692, 1696, and 1704.

Bt THOMAS CHURCH, Es<i.

WITH

NUMEROUS NOTES

TO EXPLAIN THE SITUATION OF THE PLACES OF BATTLES, THB

PARTICnLAR GEOGRAPHV OF THE RAVAGED COUNTRY,

AND THE LIVES OF THE PRINCIPAL PERSONS

ENGAGED IN THOSE WARS.

ALSO,

AN APPENDIX,

Containing an account of the treatment of the natives by the early voyag- ers, the settlement of N. England by the forefathers, the Pequot War, narratives of persons carried into captivity, anecdotes of the Indians, and the most important late Indian' wars to the time of the Creek War.'

'^'.'7^.

By SAMUEL G. DRAKE.

.^1

SECOND EDITION WITH PLATES.

The unexampled achievements of our fathers should not be forgotten.

Washingtok. What wars they wag'd, what seas, what dangers past, %Vhat glorious empire crown'd their toils at last Camoens.

BOSTON: PRINTED BY J. H. A. FROST

1827.

DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS— TO wit :

District Clerk's Office.

Be it remembered, That on the eighth day of January, A. D.

(L. S.) 1827, in the fifty-first year of the Independence of the United

States of America, Samuel G. Drake, of the said District, has

deposited in this office tlie title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as

proprietor in the words fallowing, to wit :

" The History of Philip's War, commonly called the Great Indian War of 1675 and 1676. Also, of the French and Indian Wars at the Eastward, in 1689, 1690, 1692,1696, and 1704. By Thomas Church, Esq.— With nu- merous notes to explain the situation of the places of Battles, the particular Geography of the ravaged Country, and the lives of the principal persons engaged in those wars. Also, an Appendix, containing an account of the Treatment of the Natives by the early voyagers, the settlement of N. England by the Forefathers, the Pequot War, narratives of persons carri- ed into captivity, anecdotes of the Indians, and the most important late Indian Wars to the time of the Creek War. By Samuel G. Drake. Se- cond Edition with plates.

The unexampled achievements of our fathers should not be forgotten.

Washington, What wars they wag'd, what seas, what dangers past, What glorious empire crown'd their toils at last. Camoens."

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled ♦' An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Cop- ies, during the times therein mentioned:" and also to an Act entitled "An Act supplementary to an Act entitled. An Act for the Encourage- ment of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts and Books to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies during the times therein mentioned : and extending the benefits thereof to the Arts of Designing, Engraving and Etching Historical and other prints."

TOHV W DAVIS I ^^^^^ ^f^^^ District JOHN W, DAVife,^ of Massachusetts,

i> i

THE EDITOR'S PREFACE

\^HURCH*s History of " King Philip's War," &c. was first published at Boston, in 1716, in quarto. It was reprinted in Newport, in 1772, in octavo. I have never met with a copy of the first edition, therefore I copy from the second. This is now very scarce and rarely to be met with. It is however preserved in some private libraries in the old colony, in the Athe- neum at Boston, and other literary institutions there and elsewhere.

*'■ The lamentable manner in which Hutchinson in his History of Massachusetts passed over the Indian wars, causes us much regret, and a desire to catch at every thing that can give any light upon tliem. He is particular in relating the witch affairs of the co- lony, but when we have followed him into Philip's war, being led at first with interesting particulars, he stops short and says, " It is not my design to enter into every minute circumstance of the war." But does not tell us why. This is the more to be la- mented, as his means were more ample for such his- tory than can now be had.

In 1825 I published a small edition of this history, containing however but few additions to the old, which bemg immediately taken up, occasioned the early appearance of this. In an early period it was designed to publish the work as it now appears. Ac- cordingly many valuable papers and rare works had been collected, but not used in the first edition, on

IV THE EDITOR'S PREFACE.

account of the magnitude and early promise of the work.

The papers had been much forwarded previous to the Courtstreet fire, of 10 November, 1825, in the time of which a trunk was stolen, containing many of the manuscript notes, relating particularly to the biography of the principal persons that figured in the Indian wars. These in many instances I could not restore, which is very much regretted ; though not more than my want of information on subjects in general. But a consciousness is felt, that some- thing though small, is redeemed froii^ oblivion, which will be thought valuable by posterity.

Of such gentlemen as have had the opportunities of many years to examine the history of our country, together with every advantage from access to all pub- lick and private documents, I have every indulgence to ask.

In regard to the accurate performance of the work, I can only observe, that a scrupulous regard to accuracy has been paid ; yet, errours may have been committed, but in no case inadvertently. And as our most authentick historians have failed in many of these points, perfection will not be expected in me.

The same indulgence for the commission of literal errours, as for others, is solicited, though the excuse for such cannot be so good ; but if every thing be found simple, and easy to be understood, my chief aim is answered. For so " all historical memoirs (says Dr. Colman) should be written." In a number of parti- culars I have deviated from common usage ; but in none without good reasons, and to me satisfactory. As one instance it is observed, that compound names of places, in general, are written like simple names. For this deviation from general custom, no apology will be expected of me, as it has been proved to be preferable by a writer of great eminence.*

*Joel Barlow, Esq. See his Columbiad, printed 1807, Philadelphia, 4to,

THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. V

In correcting the text, superfluous words are some- times left out ; but this [ — ] sign is substituted, and the word or words omitted are given in the margin included by the same marks. When a word is al- tered, it is also included in brackets, and the word given in the margin as it stood in the original, and included in the same way. All words, presumed to be wanting, are inserted between brackets without reference to the margin, and are by the present editor. All notes included by the parenthesis were by the former editor, and attached to the old edition.

I should take it as a great kindness, should any person communicate to me any information where it is presumed to be wanting in the notes to this work ; or point out any errours in what is already done, that future editions may be more perfect.

It being the particular design of this edition to render it uniform and consistent with respect to ar- rangement and " originality" of expression, few lib- erties have been taken with the composition ; few in- deed, unless pointed out as above expressed. In some instances however, some connective particles have been dropped and the signs omitted. But in such cases what is omitted was superfluous tautology. Therefore the reader may be assured that the text is correctly copied. From the present appearance of the work, its former erroneous composition is too easily discovered ; yet it is some consolation, that in- numerable errours have been detected, and general- ly, inasmuch as the design of the subject would admit.

It was thought advisable to accompany the work with an Appendix, wherein something new, or of later date might be given, as young persons generally prefer new things to old. It was rather difficult to make the selection for this part, not for want of ma- terials, but because they were so numerous ; and so many seem to deserve the same attention. But the articles are authentick, and as interesting, it is pre- sumed, as can be found. 1*

VI

THE EDITOR'S PREFACE.

As there are different editions of many of the au- thors cited in this work, for the convenience of re- ference, a table, containing the chief of them, is here given.

Title	Author	Where print- ed	When	No. of voh.	Form
American Annals	A. Holmes	Cambridge	1805	2	8 vo
American Biography	J. Belknap	Boston	1794,1798	2	8
American Biography	W. Allen	Cambridge	1809	i	a
AnnaU of Newengland	T. Prince	Boston	1826	8
Antiquarian Researches	E. Hoyt	Greenfield	1824	1	8
Annals of the Revolution	.7. Morse	Hartford	1824	1	8
History of America	W. Robertson	Philadelphia	1821	2	8
History of Connecticut	B. Trumbull	Newhaven	18IR	2	8
History of Massachusetts	T. Hutchinson	Salem	1795	2	8
History of Maine	J. Sullivan	Boston	1795	1	8
History of Massachusetts	G. R. Minot	Boston	1798,1803	2	8
History of Maryland	J. L. Bozman	Baltimore	1811	1	8
History of Newengland	J. Winthrop	Boston	1^25,182'	2	8
History of Newengland	H. Adams	Boston	1799	1	8
History of Newengland	Morse & Parish	Chariestown	1804	1	12 mo
History of Newhampshire	.1. Belknap	Phil. & Boston	1812,1813	3	8 vo
Hbtory of Newyork	W. Smith	Albany	I8H	1	8
History of Pennsylvania	R. Proud	Philadelphia	1797, 1798	2	8
History of Northcarolina	H. Williamson	Philadelphia	1812	2	8
Histoiy of U. States	B. Trumbull	Boston	1810	1	8
History of Vermont	S. Williams	Burlington	1809	2	8
Hist. CoH. Mass. Hist. Soc.		Boston	from 1792	20	8
Hist. Col. N. Y. Hist. Soc.		Newyork	1811 to 14	2	8
Hist. Col. Newhampshire	Farmer & Moore	Concord	1822,3,4	3	8
Hist. Col. N. H. Hia. Soc.		Concord	1st in 1824	1	8
Humphreys' Works	D. Humphreys	Newyork FI art ford	1804	1	8
Magnalia C. A.	C. Mather	1820	2	8
Nar. of Indian Wars	W. Hubbard	Brattleboro.	1814	1	12 mo
Newengland Biography	J. Eliot	Boston	1809	1	8vo
Newengland's Memorial	N. Morton	Newport	1772	1	8
Newhampshire Gazetteer	Farmer k Moore	Concord	1823	1	12 mo
Sum. Hist. Mass. bay Travels throughout N. A.	W. Douglass	Boston	1749	2	8 vo
J. Carver	London	1781	1	8
Wonders Invisible World.	R. Calef	Salem	179H	1	12 mo
Wars of Newengland. S. Penhallow 1	Boston	172G	1	" J

In addition to the above list, many works have been consulted, but the assistance from them has been smaller. Some of the most important are Hub- bard's History of Newengland, Stiles' History of the Judges, Whitney's History of Worcester, and the Histories of several of the southern states. The free use I have made of every author's works is amply ac- knowledged in the notes. Reference is made to some late editions of works in preference to the first, not only as they are more uniform, but because they will now be oftener met with. But in most cases such

' THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. Vll

have been compared with the originals. To two works in particular, it was thought most advisable ; namely, Penhallow's "Wars of N. England," and Prince's Annals. The first of these is now reprinted in the I Vol. of the N. H. Hist. Soc. Col., which, though not so perfect as it might have been, is, on the whole, a work to be prized. A handsome edition in octavo of the valuable Annals was published last year, by Messrs. Cummings, Hilliard, and Company, Boston. Though this is not exactly reprinted, yet, no- thing is altered, that I have met with, but for the bet- ter ; and, excepting a few typographical errours, is splendidly executed.

Having already drawn out my preface to too great a length, the whole is submitted without any apolo- gy. And the publisher takes this opportunity of giving his grateful respects to all his patrons, and with pleasure subscribes himself, their much obliged and singere friend.

SAMUEL G. DRAKE.

Boston, 2 January, 1827.

[The following is an exact copy of the title page of the old edition.]

ENTERTAINING

HISTORY

OF

KING PHILIP'S WAR,

WHICH BEGAN IN THE MONTH OF JUNE, 1675. AS ALSO OF

EXPEDITIONS

MORE LATELY MADE

AGAINST THE COMMON ENEMY, AND INDIAN REBELS, IN THE EASTERN PARTS OF NEW-ENGLAND:

WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF THE DIVINE PROVIDENCE TOWARDS

COL. BENJAMIN CHURCH:

By THOMAS CHURCH, Esq,, his son.

SECOND EDITION. BOSTON : PRINTED, 1716.

NEWPORT, RHODE-ISLAND : REPRINTED AND SOLD BY SOLOMON SOUTHWICK, IN tlUEEN-STREET, 1772.

TO THE READER.

J_ HE subject of this following narrative, offering it- self to your friendly perusal, relates to the former and later wars of Newengland, which I myself was not a little concerned in: For in the year 1675, that unhappy and bloody Indian war broke out in Plymouth colo- ny, where I was then building, and beginning a plantation, at a place called by the Indians, Sog- konate, and since, by the English, Little Compton. I was the first Englishman that built upon that neck, which was full of Indians. . My head and hands were full about settling a new plantation, where nothing was brought to; no preparation of dwelling house, or outhouses, or fencing made; horses and cattle were to be provided, ground to be cleared and broken up ; and the utmost caution to be used, to keep myself free from offending my Indian neighbours all round about me. While I was thus busily employed, and all my time and strength laid out in this laborious undertaking, I received a commission from the go- vernment to engage in their defence : And with my commission I received another heart, inclining me to put forth my strength in military service : And through the grace of God I was spirited for that work, and direction in it was renewed to me day by day. And although many of the actions that I was concerned in were very difficult and dangerous, yet, myself, and those who went with me voluntarily in the service, had our lives, for the most part, wonder- fully preserved by the overruling hand of the Al- mighty from first to last ; which doth aloud bespeak our praises : And to declare his wonderful works is our indispensable duty.

X TO THE READER.

I was ever very sensible of my own littleness, and unfitness to be employed in such great services. But calling to mind that God is strong, 1 endeavoured to put all my confidence in him, and by his Almighty power, was carried through every difficult action; and my desire is, that his name may have the praise. ;, It was ever my intent, having laid myself under a solemn promise, that the many and repeated favours of God to myself and those with me in the service might be pujjlished for generations to come. And now my great age requiring my dismission from ser- vice in the militia, and to put off my armour, I am willing that the great and glorious works of Almighty God, to us, children of men, should appear to the world : And having my minutes by me, my son has taken the care and pains to collect from them the en- suing narrative of many passages relating to the former and latter wars ; which I have had the perusal of, and find nothing amiss, as to the truth of it, and with as little reflection upon any particular person, as might be, either alive or dead.

And seeing every particle of historical truth is precious, I hope the reader will pass a favourable censure upon an old soldier, telling of the many ren- counters he has had, and yet is come off alive.

It is a pleasure to remember what a great number of families, in this and the neighbouring provinces, in Newengland, did, during the war, enjoy a great measure of liberty and peace by the hazardous sta- tions and marches of those engaged in military exer- cises; who were a wall unto them on this side and on that side.

I desire prayers, that I may be enabled well to accomplish my spiritual warfare, and that I may be more than conqueror through Jesus Christ's loving me.

BENJAMIN CHURCH.

THE LIFE OF COL. CHURCH.*

VyoLONEL Benjamin Church was bom in 1639, at Duxbury, near Plymouth, of reputable parents, who lived and died there. His father's name was Joseph, who, with two of his brethren, came early into New- england, as refugees from the religious oppression of the parent state. Mr. Joseph Church, among other children, had three sons, Joseph, Caleb, and Benja- min. Caleb settled at Watertown, the other two at Seconet, or Little Compton. Benjamin, the hero of this history, was of a good stature, his body well proportioned, and built for hardiness and activity. Although he was very corpulent and heavy in the latter part of his life, yet, when he was a young man he was not so ; being then active, sprightly and vigorous. He carried dignity in his countenance — thought and acted with a rational and manly judg- ment— which, joined with a naturally generous, obli- ging and hospitable disposition, procured him both authority and esteem. He married Mrs. Alice South- v/orth, by whom he had a daughter, Mrs. Rothbotham, and five sons, viz., Thomas Church, the author or publisher of this history, and father of the honourable Thomas Church, Esq., now living in Little Compton; Constant Church a Captain under his father in the eastern expedition, and in the militia; and of a mili-

* The life of Church was not added to the first edition. — But to the second it was, and was the last article in the book; excepting a Latin ode of one page, which is now omit- ted. This life containing some prefatory remarks, it was thought proper to place it at the beginning of the work. It was judge<l best to omit the above mentioned Latin ode to give place to more interesting article?. What folic avs was

? laced at the head of th'^ page. Ode Heroica (a nepoU lerois composita) Biographice pracedenli dijjigenda sit.

X" LIFE OF COL. CHURCH.

tary and enterprising spirit ; Benjamin Church, who died a bachelor ; Edward Church,* whose only son now living, is Deacon Benjamin Churchf of Boston, who furnishes these memoirs of the family; and Charles Church, who had a numerous issue.

Colonel Church was a man of integrity, justice, and uprightness, of piety and serious religion.J He was a member of the church of Bristol at its foundation, in the Rev. Mr. Lee's§ day. He was constant and de- vout in family worship, wherein he read and often ex- pounded the scriptures to his household. He was ex- emplary in observing the Sabbath, and in attending the worship and ordinances of God in the sanctuary. He lived regularly, and left an example worthy of

* He was also a Captain under his father in the last eastern expedition.

t Prohably the same whose name is found associated with the venerable James 0«j^, Samuel Adams, Joseph War- ren, and others, as a " Committee of correspondence" in the memorable revolution, and to which he probably belonged when he Avrote this account of the family. See American Annals, TI, 300. Also the standing which he appears to have maintained among the fraternity of Masons, speaks his emi- nence.

ijiWhat is here said of the Colonel, is placed after his son Edward, by a writer in Farmer and Moore's Collections , where this account appears to be copied. It must be an er- rour in the copyist, and one, too, which it required some pains to commit ; not but that the son (for aught I know) deserved as high encomiums, but we have no right to bestow such upon the son, at the father's expense. But thus much were it intentional.

§ Rev. Samuel Lee, the first minister of Bristol, R. L He was born in London, 16*25, came to this country in 1686; but in two or three years came to thp conclusion to return to his native country. Before he sailed, he told his wife that he had discovered a star, which, according to the laws of As- trology, presaged captivity, which unfortunately came to pass. He sailed in 1691, and in his paissage was taken by the French, and carried into France, where he died the same year. See Allen's Biog. 381. Dr. C. Mather repre- sents him as possessing very extraordinary learning. See Magnalia Christi Americana, I, 548.

LIFE OF COL. CHURCH. Xiil

the imitation of his posterity. He was a friend to the civil and religious liberties of his country, and great- ly rejoiced in the revolution.* He was Colonel of the militia in the county of Bristol. The several offices of civil and military trust, with which he was entrusted from time to time, through a long life, he discharged with fidelity and usefulness.

The war of 1675, was the most important Indian war, that Newengland ever saw. Philip or Meta- cometf (a son of good old M ASS ASOIT, J and his se- cond successor) had wrought up the Indians of all the tribes through Newengland, into a dangerous com-

* By William and Mary.

t Though the chiefs of savage nations are generally called Kings, yet says Smith, they " have no such dignity or office omong them." Hist. N. Y. 197. Philip, at different periods of his life, was known by different names, as at first, he was called Metacomet or Metacom. See Morton, 171, 172. This celebrated chief has been called by some, though wrongly I contend, King of the Narragansets. He was King or chief of the Wampanoags, or Pokanokets, the situa- tion of whose country will be described in my first note to "• Philip's War." It is true that these Indians as well as the Narragansets themselves inhabited about the bay of that name, but they had their King as well as the Pokanokets, and were independent of each other.

Different opinions seem to have prevailed with regard to this chief's pedigree; that is, whether he were a son or grandson of Massassoit, Prince and Trumbull inform us that he was his grandson; Hutchinson and Belknap, that he was his son. Why these respectable authors saw cause to differ, and not inform us, is not easy to tell. These are not all the authors on each side, but most readers are apprised of this, no doubt, before I had taken this trouble to inform them.

t Prince, in his text, writes Ma^assoit ; but adds this note. " The printed accounts generally spell him Massasoit ; Gov- ernour Bradford writes him Massasoyt, and Massasoyet ; but I find the ancient people from their fathers in Plvmouth col- ony, pronounce his name Ma-sas-so-it." N, E. Chron. 187. However, the most preferahle way seems to be Massassoit. Some account of the life of this constant friend of the Pil- grims will be found in the course of this history. 2

XIV LIFE OF COL. CHURCH.

bination to extirpate the English. It was one of the last works of the commissioners of the united colonies, (a council [in] which subsisted the great security of Newengland, from 1643 to 1G78) to break up this confederacy. An army of one thousand Eng- lish was on foot at once, under the command of Governour Winslow. Whoever desires further in- formation concerning this war, may consult Mr. Hub- bard's* history of it. The part Colonel Church acted in it is exhibited in this plain narrative, given by his son, two years before his father's death.

Colonel Church perfectly understood the manner of the Indians in fighting, and was thoroughly ac- quainted' with their haunts, swamps, and places of refuge, on the territory between Narraganset and cape Cod. Tliere he was particularly successful ; on that held he gathered his laurels. The surprisal and seizure of Annawon was an act of true boldness and heroism. Had the eastern Indians been sur- rounded with English settlements, there is reason to think that he would have been more successful among them. But on a long and extended frontier, open to immense deserts, little more has ever been done by troops of undoubted courage, than to arouse and drive off the Indians into a wide howling wilderness,

* Mr. William Hubbard, minister of Ipswich, the best his- torian in Newengland, of the age, unless we except Mr. Prince. The truth of which his works abundantly prove. Although some labour has been done to detract from him some of his justly acquired fame, yet, it does and ever will remain unimpaired. This would be true had he never writ- ten any thing but his Narrative. To his " History of New- england," Mather is chiefly indebted for what is correct in his renowned book of jargons, the MagnaUa Cbristi Ameri- cana. See president Alien's Biog. Dictionary. He died Sept. 1704, aged 83 years. Gov. Hutchinson remarks on the character of him, that " he was a man of learning, of a candid and benevolent mind, accompanied, as it generally is, with a good degree of Catholicism ; which, I think, was not ac- counted the most valuable part of his character in the age m which he lived." Hist. Mass. II, 136.

LIFE OF COL. CHURCH. XV

where it was as much in vain to seek them, as for Csesar to seek the Gauls in the Hircinian forests.

The present edition"^ of this liistory is given without alteration in the body of it ; being thought ])est to let it go down to posterity, (like the Periplus of Han- wof) with its own internal marks of originality. How- ever the editor in the margin hath given the English names of places described by Indian names in the narrative ; and also some fev/ notes and illustra- tions.

After Philip's war Colonel Church settled ; and at first at Bristol, then at Fallriver, (Troy) lastly at Seconet. At each of which places he acquired, and left a large estate. Having served his genera- tion faithfully, by the will of God he fell asleep, and was gathered unto his fathers. He died and was bu- ried at Little Compton.

The morning before his death, he went about two miles on horse back to visit his only sister, Mrs. Irish, to sympathise with her on the death of her only child. After a friendly and pious visit, in a mov- ing and affecting manner, he took his leave of her, and said, it was a last farewell. Telling her, [that] he was persuaded he should never see her more ; but hoped to meet her in heaven. Returning home- ward, he had not rode above half a mile, before his horse stum.bled, and threw him over his head. And the Colonel being exceeding fat and heavy, fell with

* The edition from which this is taken.

t Hanno was "the famous Carthaginian," who in a re- mote age of navigation, made a voyage into the Atlantick ocean, and "sailed seeking for thirty days the western parts," taking his departure from the pillars of Hercules (straits of Gibraltar.) Hence some infer that he must have discovered some parts of America, because Columbus did in about the same length of time. He wrote a book containing an ac- count of his discoveries, which he entitled Periplum or Peri- plus. See a work lettered " America Known to the An- cients," Dr. Robertson's Hist, America, I, i. Belknap's Biog. I, 16.

XVI LIFE OF COL. CHURCH.

such force, that a blood vessel was broken, and the blood gushed out of his mouth like a torrent. His wife was soon brought to him. He tried but was unable to speak to her, and died in about twelve hours. He was carried to the grave with great fune- ral pomp, and was buried under arms, and with mili- tary honours. On his tomb stone is this inscrip- tion.

HERE LIETH INTERRED THE BODY OF THE HONOURABLE

COL. BENJAMIN CHURCH, Esq.;

WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE,

JANUARY 17th, 1717 18,

IN THE 78 YEAR OF HIS AGE.*

JVewport April 8, 1772.

* " High in esteem among the great he stood ; His wisdom made him lovely, great and good. Tho' he be said to die, he will survive ; Thro' future time his memory shall live."

See a poem called " A description of Pennsylvania, Anno 1729," by Thomas Makin, in Proud's Hist. II, 361. The above though appliedtothefounder of that province, as good, at least, is deserved by the venerated Church ; who, through the foul intrigue, and lovp caprice of office seekers, and the blind zeal of ambitious bigots, suffered much, both as to fame and fortune, in his time. The truth of this remark Avill fully appear in the ensuing history.

THE

ENTERTAINING HISTORY

OP

PHILIP'S WAR,

I BEGAN IN THE YEAR 1675. WITH THE PRO INGS OF

BENJAMIN CHURCH, Esq.*

J.N the year 1674, Mr. Benjamin Church of Duxbury, being providentially at Plymouthf in the time of the

* As the author does not begin with the causes and first events of this war, it may be proper to introduce the most important here. His intention appears to have been to give an account of this war, so far, only, as his father was engag- ed in it, as himself observes in another place.

Although not a year had passed since the settlement of Plymouth without some difficulties with the Indians, I will go so far back, only, as immediately concerns Philip's War.

After the close of the Pequot war, in 1637, it was conjec- tured by the English, that the Narragansets took some af- front on account of the division of the captive Pequots, among themselves and the Mohegans ; and that the English showed partiality. These tribes had assisted in the con- (^uest of the Pequots, and were in a league with the Eng- lish, and each other. For some time the Narragansets prac- ticed secret abuses upon the Mohegans ; but at length they were so open in their insults, that complaints were made to the English, whose interest it was to preserve peace between them. In 1642, it was thought that they were plotting to cut oflf the English. They so pressed upon the Mohegans,

in

t Some authors, both ancient and modern wrote this word Plimouth, but custom has adopted the manner as used in the text. 2*

18 PHILIP'S WAR.

court, fell into acquaintance with Captain John Almv of Rhodeisland. Captain Almy with great impor-

in 1645, that the colonies were obliged to interfere with an armed force.

The Wampanoags, or Pokanokets, of which Philip was King, inhabited the tract of country where Bristol now is, then called Pokanoket, thence north around Mounthope bay, thence southerly, including the country of considerable width, to Seconet. At the head of this tribe was Massassoit, when the pilgrims arrived at Plymouth, who always lived in friendship with them. He had two sons, Avho were called Alexander and Philip, which names they received from Gov. Prince of Plymouth, while there rencAving a treaty, proba- bly from Philip and Alexander of Macedon. Alexander be- ing the elder assumed the power on the death of his father, and it was soon found that he was plotting with the Narra- gansets against the English ; but his reign was short. On being sent for to answer to the court at Plymouth, to certain allegations, he was so exasperated, it is said, that he fell into a fever, and died before he reached home. This was about 1657. Philip succeeded, and his plottings were continual. But he frequently renewed treaties and affected friendships until 1671, when he made a loud complaint that some of the English injured his land, which in the end proved to be false. A meeting was held at Taunton, not long after in conse- quence of the hostile appearance of Philip's men, by Gov. Prince of Plymouth, and deputies from Massachusetts. Phi- lip was sent for to give reasons for suchw*arlike appearances. He discovered extreme shyness, and for some time would not come to the town, and then with a large band of bis warriours with their arms. He would not consent to go into the meet- inghouse, where the delegates were, until it was agreed that his men should be on one side of the house, and the English on the other. On being questioned, he denied having any ill designs upon the English, and said that he came with his men armed to prevent any attacks from the Narragansets ; but this falsehood was at once detected, and it was evident that they were united in their operations. It was also prov- ed before him, that he had meditated an attack on Taunton, which he confessed. These steps so confounded him that he consented to deliver all his arms into the hands of the Eng- lish as an indemnity for past damages. All of the guns which he brought with him, about 70, were delivered, and the rest were to be sent in, but never were. What would have been the fate of Newengland had Philip's warriours possessed those arms in the war that ensued .'' This prevented immediate war, and it required several years to repair their loss. Philip

PHILIP'S WAR. 19

tunity invited him to ride with him and view that part of Plymouth colony that lay next to Rhodeisland, known then by their Indian names of Pocasset and Sogkonate.* Among other arguments to persuade him, he told him the soil was very rich, and the situa- tion pleasant : Persuades him by all means to pur- chase of the company some of the court grant rights. He accepted his invitation, views the country and was pleased with it, makes a purchase, settled a farm, found the gentlemen of the islandf very civil and obliging. And being himself a person of uncommon activity and industry, he soon erected two buildings upon his farm, and gained a good acquaintance with the natives ; got much into their favour, and was in a little time in great esteem among them.J

The next spring advancing, while Mr. Church was diligently settling his new farm, stocking, leasing and disposing of his affairs, and had a fine prospect of doing no small things; and hoping that his good suc- cess would be inviting unto other good men to be- come his neighbours : Behold ! the rumour of a war between the English and the natives, gave check to

was industrious to do this, and, at the same time, used his endeavours to cause other tribes to engage in his cause. He was not ready when the war did begin, to which, in some measure, we may attribute his failure. Three of his men were tried and hanged for the alleged murder of John Sas- samon, whom Philip had condemned as a traitor. It so exas- perated Philip and his men that their friends should be pun- ished by the English, that they could no longer restrain their violence. Thus are some of the most prominent events sketched which led to this bloody war. The history of John Sassamon or Sausaman, will be found in a succeeding note.

* Pocasset, now Tiverton, was the name of the main land against the north part of Rhodeisland. Sogkonate, after- wards Seconet, now Little Compton, extends from Fogland ferry to the sea ; in length between 7 and 8 miles.

t Rhodeisland, which was now quite well inhabited. It was settled in 1638. Its Indian name was Aquetneck, and afterwards called the Isle of Rodes by the English.

I Mr. Church moved here in the autumn of 1674.

20 PHILIP'S WAR.

his projects. People began to be very jealous of the Indians, and indeed they had no small reason to sus- pect that they had formed a design of war upon the English." Mr. Church had it daily suggested to him that the Indians were plotting a bloody design. That Philip the great Mounthope Sachem, was leader there- in, and so it proved. He was sending his messengers to all the neighbouring Sachems, to engage them into a confederacy with him in the war.f Among the rest

* It may be dlA'^erting to some, to introduce here what Cotton Mather calls an omen of the war that followed. " Things," says he, " began by this time to have an ominous aspect. Yea, and now we speak of things ominous, we may add, some time before this, [before those were executed for the murder of Sass-amon] in a clear, still, sunshiny morning, there were divers persons in Maiden who heard in the air» on the southeast of them, a great gun go off, and presently (hereupon the report of small guns like musket shot, very thick discharging, as if there had been a battle. This wa^ at a time when there was nothing visible done in any part of the colony to occasion such noises; but that which mosi of all astonished them was the flying of bullets, which camp singing over their heads, and seemed very near to them, af ter which the sound of drums passing along westward wai very audible ; and on the same day, in Plymouth colony ir? several places, invisible troops of horse were heard riding to and fro," &c. Magnalia, II, 486. This is quite as credibk as many witch accounts in that marvellous work.

t The following is a statement of the probable numbers ol the Indians in Newengland at the time of Philip's war, alsc of the English.

Dr. Trumbull in his Hist. U. States, I, 36, supposes there were in Newengland at the time of settlement about 36,000 Indian inhabitants ; one third of which were warriours. Their numbers gradually diminished as the whites increased, so that we may conclude that there were not less than 10,000 warriours at the commencement of Philip's war. Hutchinson, I, 406, says that the Narragansets alone were considered to amount to 2000 fighting men, in 1675. Hubbard, Nar. 67. says they promised to rise with 4000 in the Avar. Governoui' Hinkley states the number of Indians in Plymouth county, in 1685, at 4000 or upwards. Hist. U. States, I, 35. Beside these there were in different towns about 2000 praying In- dians, as those were called who adhered to the English reli- gion; they took no part in the war. In

PHILIP'S WAR. 21

he sent six men to Awashonks, squaw sachem of the Sogkonate Indians, to engage her in his interest f Awashonks so far listened unto them, as to call her subjects together, to make a great dance, which is the custom of that nationf when they advise about momentous affairs. But what does Awashonks do, but sends away two of her men that well understood the English language, (SassamonJ and George§ by

In 1673, the inhabitants of Newengland amounted to about 120,000 souls, of whom, perhaps, 16,000 were able to bear arms. Holmes' American Annals, I, 416.

* Dr. Belknap, in his Hist. N. Hampshire, I, 108, says, on the authority of Callender, that " The inhabitants of Bristol shew" a particular spot where Philip received the news of the first Englishmen that were killed, with so much sorrow as to cause him to weep." This he observes was very different from the current opinion. No doubt the consternation of the people, caused by an approaching war, had great effect in establishing every thing unfavourable of Philip,

t It is the custom of most, if not all, the N. American In- dians. See Capt. Carver's Travels in America, 269.

J John Sassamon, or as others spell it, Sausaman, was in- structed in English by the celebrated Indian apostle, John Eliot, and pretended to believe in the christian religion. But for some reason he neglected its duties, and returned to a savage life. About this time, or perhaps before, he advised the English of some of Philip's plots, which so enraged him, that he sought Sassamon's death, whom he considered as a rebel and traitor. And this is the principle on which the English themselves acted ; yet, they would not suffer it in another people, who, indeed, were as free as any other. The partic- ulars were thege: Sassamon was met on "a great pond," which I suppose to be Assawomset, by some of Philip's men, who killed him and put him under the ice, leaving his hat and gun on the ice, where they were found soon after ; and also the dead body. See Hubbard's Narrative, 70, 71. This must have been late in the spring of 1675, but there was ice. Marks were found upon the body of Sassamon, that indicated murder, and an Indian soon appeared, who said that he saw some of Philip's Indians in the very execution of it. Three were immediately apprehended, and tried at the court in

Plymouth,

§ An Indian, who from this time, was very friendly to Mr, Church. All I can find concerning him is in this history.

22 PHILIP'S WAR.

name) to invite Mr. Church to the dance.* Mr. Church, upon the invitation, immediately takes }vith him Charles Hazelton, his tenant's son, who well understood the Indian language, and rode down to the place appointed, where they found hundreds of Indians gathered together from all parts of her dominion. Awashonks herself in a foaming sweat, was leading the dance ; but she was no sooner sen- sible of Mr. Church's arrival, but she broke off, sat down, calls her nobles around her, [and] orders Mr. Church to be invited into her presence. Compli- ments being passed, and each one taking seat, she told him [that] King Philip had sent six men of his, with two of her people, f that had been over at Mounthope,J to draw her into a confederacy with

Plymouth, in June, by a jury, says Mather, consisting of half Indians, and half English, and brought in guilty of the murder. Two of them persisting in their innocence to the end, and the third denied that he had any hand in the murder, but said that he saw the others commit it. Perhaps he made this confession in hopes of pardon, but it did not save him. Mag- nalia, II, 486. Mather places the death of Sassamon in 1674, this was old style, hence it was previous to the 25th of March 1675. Hubbard, 69, says that Sassam^on had been Philip's secretary, and chief counsellor. To what tribe he lirst be- longed I have not ascertained, but from this history it appears that he belonged to the Sogkonate Indians, in the spring of 1675.

* One might conclude this transaction to have been about the middle of June, by its connexion with the commence- ment of the war, but by the death of Sassamon it must be placed much earlier.

t These tw^o I conclude, were those, or among those men- tioned by Hubbard, 69, who discovered the plots of Philip, one of whom might be Sassamon.

J (Or Mont-haup, a mountain in Bristol.)

Why the author writes this word so I do not know, un- less it were so pronounced in his day. Its ancient name was Pokanoket. It is quite an eminence about two miles east from the village of Bristol, very steep on all sides and termi- nates in a large rock, which at a distance has the appearance of a large dome of an amphitheatre. It is apparently com- posed of pebbles and sand. On this now stands a small oc- tagoaal building. From many places on the east shore, par-^

PHILIP'S WAR. 23

him, in a war with the English; [and] desired him to give her his advice in the case; and to tell her the truth, whether the Umpame^ men, (as Philip had told her) were gathering a great army to invade Philip's country. He assured her he would tell her the truth, and give her his best advice. Then he told her it was but a few days since he came from Plymouth, and [that] the English were then making no prepa- rations for war ; that he was in company with the principal gentlemen of the government, who had no discourse at all about war, and he believed no thoughts about it. He asked her whether she thought he would have brought up his goods to settle in that place, if he apprehended an entering into [a] war with so near a neighbour. She seemed to be somewhat convinced by his talk, and said she believed he spoke the truth. Then she called for the Mounthope men, who made «i formidable appearance, with their faces painted, and their hairs trimmed up in comb fashion, with their powderhorns and shot bagsf at their backs

ticularly at the little village of Fallriver, this mount forms a beautiful acclivity in the landscape ; very nearly resem- bling a view of the State house at Boston from a distance. On an excursion there in the summer of 1824, many gratify- ing objects were discovered, relating to the times of which we treat. A most beautiful prospect of Providence and the surrounding country and bay appears from this mount.

* The Indian name for Plymouth.

t It has been a question among many, how the Indians be- came furnished, so soon, with our implements of war. It is not probable that every source is known ; but they no doubt, liad a large supply from the French in the east of Neweng- land. A man by the name of Morton, who came to this coun- try in 1622, is said to have been the first that supplied the Indians with arms and ammunition, and taught them their use, in the country adjacent to Cape Cod. This he done that the Indians might hunt and procure furs for him. Sec- retary Morton, in his Newengland's Memorial, 76, says, " he had been a petty-fogger at Furnival's Inn, having more craft than honesty ;" but in justice to him it may be observed, that the Memorialist has made every circumstance appear in the darkest dress, and not only of him, but others, whom, in-

24 PrilLIP'vS WAR.

which among that nation is the posture and figure of preparedness for war. She told Mr. Church these were the persons that had brought her the report of the English preparations for war, and then told them what Mr. Church had said in answer to it. Upon this began a warm talk among the Indians, but it was soon quashed, and Awashonks proceeded to tell Mr.

deed, we had rather speak in praise. All historians, with whom I am conversant, agree that he was a disorderly per- son, of bad morals, and gave people much trouble. He re- sided first in Mr. Weston's Plantation at Wessagusset, noAv Weymouth; but that breaking up the next year, 1623, he next settled with Captain Wallaston at or near the same place in 1625, and the place being near the hill that separates Weymouth from Quincy, Avas called Mount Wallaston. Capt. Wallaston with most of his company abandoned the plantation, and Morton usurped the government. They soon found themselves involved in difficulties with the In- dians and with one another. They erected a Maypole, and practiced their excesses about it. Selling arms to the na- tives being a breach of the laws among others, he was seized by order of the court, and soon after, 1628, sent to England. No notice of the complaints against him being taken, he re- turned the next year. He was afterwards imprisoned for his writings. He died at Agamenticus in 1644 or 5, according to Allen, American Biog. 441. He has been ac- cused of giving currency to the story of " hanging the wea- ver instead of the cobbler." The author of Hudibras get- ting hold of the story, has, in that work, Part II, Canto II, line 403, &c., set it off to the no small expense of the zeal of the Pilgrims. See Belknap, Amer. Biog. II, 318, Prince Chron. 212, and Savage's edition of Winthrop, I, 34, 35, 36, where the passage may be seen. The latter author says it was not so, on the authority of Morton himself ; but as the affair happened at Weston's plantation, where Morton was concerned, it is natural that he should say the right one Avas hanged. In a note to line 413, in the passage above referred to, is the following positive assertion: "The history of the Cobbler had been attested by persons of good credit, who were upon the place when it was done." Early authors hinted at the affair, and late ones have enlarged upon it. The truth no doubt is as follows: The people of that planta- tion were in a state of starvation, and by stealing from the Indians had incurred their vengeance, which to satisfy, they hanged one ; who, Hudibras says, was a bedrid weaver, whereas the right one was a useful cobblei*, whom they could not so well spare.

PHILIP'S WAR. 2o

Church, that Philip's message to her was, that unless she would forthwith enter into a confederacy with him in a war against the English, he would send his men over privately, to kill the English cattle, and burn their houses on that side of the river, which would provoke the English to fall upon her, whom, they would without doubt, suppose the author of the mischief. Mr. Church told her he was sorry to see so threatening an aspect of affairs ; and stepping to the Mount-hopes, he felt of their bags, and finding them fiUed with bullets, asked them what those bullets were for. They scoffingly replied, " To shoot j)igeons with." Then Mr. Church turned to Awa- shonks, and told her, [that] if Philip were resolved to make war, her best way would be to knock those six Mounthopes on the head, and shelter herself under the protection of the English. Upon which the Mount- hopes were for the present dumb. But those two of Awashonks' men, who had been at Mounthope, expressed themselves in a furious manner against his advice. And Littleeyes,* one of the Queen's coun- sel joined with them, and urged Mr. Church to go aside with him among the bushes, that he might have some private discourse with him, which other Indians immediately forbid; being sensible of his ill design. But the Indians began to side, and grow very w^arm. Mr. Church, with undaunted courage, told the Mount- hopes, [that] they were bloody wretches, and thirsted after the blood of their English neighbours, who had never injured them, but had always abounded in their kindness to them. That for his own part, though he desired nothing more than peace, yet, if nothing i)ut war v/ould satisfy them, he believed he should prove a sharp thorn in their sides : Bid the company r)bserve those men that were of such bloody disposi- tions, whether providence would suffer them to live

* He was afterward taken in the war that followed, by Church, and treated very kindly, as will be seen in the prO' gress of this history.

3

26 PHILIP'S WAR.

to see the event of the war, which others, more peaceably disposed, might do. Then he told Awas- honks, [that] he thought it might be most advisable for her to send to the Governour of Plymouth,* and shelter herself and people under his protection. She liked his advice, and desired him to go on her be- half to the Plymouth government, which he consent- ed to. And at parting advised her, [that] whatever she did, not to desert the English interest to join with her neighbours in a rebellion, f which would certainly prove fatal to her. (He moved none of his goods from his house, that there might not be the least umbrage from such an action. J) She thanked him for his advice, and sent two of her men to guard him to his house, [who]' when they came there, urged him to take care to secure his goods, which he refused, for the reasons before mentioned ; but desired the Indians, that if what they feared, should happen, they would take care of what he left, and directed them to a place in the woods where they should dispose of them, which they faithfully observed. He J [which]

* The Honourable Josiah Winslow, Esq., who was after- wards commander in chief of the forces in this war. He was a son of the distinguished Mr. Edward Winslow, who was also Governour of Plymouth many years. He was born in 1629, and was the first Governor born in Newengland, which office he filled 7 years. He died 18 Dec. 1680, aged 52.

t This war was called a rebellion, because the English fancied them under the King of England, but that did not make them so. As well might emigrants from the United States land on the coast of France, and because they were disputed by the inhabitants, of their right so to do, call them rebels ; yet, when the country was neither claimed nor im- proved, certainly, to take possession and improve was not wrong. Our author is by no means so lavish of ill names as many early writers. Hellhounds, fiends, serpents, caitiffs, dogs, &c., were their common appellations. The ill fame of Mather, in this respect, will be celebrated as long as the marvellous contents of the Magnalia are read.

I This sentence was included in brackets in the copy but as I have appropriated that mark to my own use, I substi- tute the parenthesis.

PHILIP'S WAR. 27

took his leave of his guard, [after bidding]^ them tell their mistress, [that] if she continued steady in her dependence on the English, and kept within her own limits of Sogkonate, ho would see her again quickly ; and then hastened away to Pocasset ;* where he met with Peter Nunnuit, the husband of the dueenf of Pocasset, who was just then come over in a canoe from Mounthope. Peter told him that there would certainly be war, for Philip had held a dance of several weeks continuance, and had entertained the young men from all parts of the country. And added, that Philip expected to be sent for to Ply- mouth, to be examined about Sassamon's J death, who was murdered at Assawomset ponds,§ knowing him- self guilty of contriving that murder. The same Peter told him that he saw Mr. James Brown, || of 1 [and bid]

* (Tiverton shore over against the north end of Rhodeisl- and.)

t Weetamore or Wetamoe, "Philip's near kinswoman." Hub. 224. The same mentioned in another place, as ** Squaw Sachem of Pocasset." She was drowned in cross- ing a river or arm of the sea at Swanzey, 6 August, 1675, by attempting to escape from a party of English. lb, 224. Her head was cut off, and set upon a pole. Ibid.

I The same of whom the history is given in note 3 on page 21.

§ (Middleborough.)

Three large ponds about 40 miles from Boston, and 16 from Newbedford. In passing from the latter place to the former we have the largest on the right, which now bears the name of Assawomset, or Assawamset, and two others on the left. They are all very near together. The road passes be- tween two, separated only by a narrow neck of' flat land, about a stone's throw over.

II " One of the magistrates of Plymouth jurisdiction." Hubbard, 12. This gentleman was very active in the war. He was a magistrate between the years 1670 and 1675. Morton, 208. A minister of Sivanzey is mentioned by Ma- ther in his third clasis of Newengland ministers by this name.

28 PHILIP'S WAR.

Svvanzey,* and Mr. Samuel Gorton,f who was an interpreter, and two other men, J w^ho brought a letter

* A town on the west side of Taunton river in the bottom of Mounthope bay, about 15 miles from Taunton, and in the vicinity of Mounthope, distance by the road about 11 miles.

fAccounts of this gentleman may be seen in Morton's Me- morial, 117, &c., which, perhaps, are not impartial. That author partaking of the persecuting spirit of the times- accuses him of all manner of outrages against religion and go- vernment. " Not only," he observes, " abandoning and re- iecting all civil power and authority, (except moulded accord- ing to his own fancy) but belching out errours, &c." Seve- ral pages in that work are filled up to this eftect. Dr. Eliot, N. E. Biog. 227, says, " It is evident that he was not so ba(i a man as his enemies represented." The reader is referred to that excellent work, for an interesting account of him. Allen, also, 314, seems inclined to do him justice, and is more particular. It appears evident that he was rather wild in his views of religion, and went too far, perhaps, in persuad- ing others to fall in with him. He came to Boston in 1636, from London, and was soon suspected of heresy, on which he was examined. But from his aptness in evading questions, nothing was found against him. He went to Plymouth, but did not stay long there, having got into difficulty with their minister. From thence he went to Rhodeisland of his oAvn accord; or as some say, was banished there. Here, it is said, he underw^ent corporeal punishment for his contempt of civil authority. Leaving this place he went to Providence in 1649, where he was very humanely treated b}' Mr. Roger Williams, who also had been banished on the score of tenets. He began a settlement at Patuxet, 4 or 5 miles south of Providence in 1641, but was soon complained of to the gov- ernment of Massachusetts, for encroaching upon the lands of others. The Governour ordered him to answer to the same which he refused, treating the messenger with con- tempt. But he was arrested, carried to Boston and had his trial. A cruel sentence was passed upon him, being confin- ed a whole winter at Charlestown in heavy irons, and then banished out of the colony. In 1644, he Avent to England, and in 1648, returned to his possessions by permission of par- liament.

:|: Who these two men were I have not been able to ascer- tain. Mention is made in the histories of this war of messen- gers being sent, but in none more than two, and their names are not mentioned. Two were also sent from Massachu- setts. See Hub. Nar. 72, 73. Hutch. I, 262. They were sent 16 June, 1675.

PHILIP'S WAR. 29

from the Governour of Plymouth to Philip. He observed to him further, that the young men were very eager to begin the war, and would fain have killed Mr. Brown, but Philip prevented it; telling them that his father had charged him to show kind- ness to Mr. Brown. In short, Philip was forced to promise them, that, on the next Lord's day, when the English were gone to meeting they should rifle their houses, and from that time forward, kill their cattle.

Peter desired Mr. Church to go and see his wife, who was but [just] up the hill f he went and found but few of her people with her. She said they were all gone against her will to the dances, and she much feared [that] there would be a war. Mr. Church advised her to go to the island and secure herself, and those that were with her, and send to the Gover- nour of Plymouth, who she knew was her friend; and so left her, resolving to hasten to Plymouth, and wait on the Governour. And he was so expeditious that he was with the Governour early next morning,f though he waited on some of the magistrates by the way, who were of the council of war, and also met him at the Governour's. He gave them an account of his observations and discoveries, which confirmed their former intelligences, and hastened their prepa- ration for defence.

Philip, according to his promise to his people, per- mitted them to march out of the neckj on the next Lord's day,§ when they plundered the nearest hou-

liament. He was a minister, and a man of talents and abili- ty. His defence against the charges in Morton's Memorial, shows him to be a man of learning, and is worthy perusing. It is in Hutchinson, Hist. Mas. I, 467 to 470. Ite lived to an advanced age, but the time of his death is not known.

* I conclude this hill to be that a little north of Howland's ferry.

t June 16.

j The neck on which Bristol and Warren now are, mak- ing the ancient Pokanoket.

§ June 20. See Trumbull, Hist. Con. I, S27. Ibid. U. States, I, 139.

3*

30 PHILIP'S WAR.

ses that the inhabitants had deserted, but as yet of- fered no violence to the people, at least none were killed.^ However the alarm was given by their num- bers and hostile equipage, and by the prey they made of what they could find in the forsaken houses. An express came the same day to the Governour,f who immediately gave orders to the captains of the towns, to march the greatest part of their companies, and to rendezvous at Taunton on Monday night, J where Major Bradford was to receive them, and dis- pose them under Captain (now made Major) Cut- worthy of Scituate. The Governour desired Mr. Church to give them his company, and to use his in- terest in their behalf, with the gentlemen of Rhode- island. He complied with it, and they marched the next day. Major Bradford desired Mr. Church, witlt a commanded party, consisting of English and some friend Indians, to march in the front at some distance from the main body. Their orders were to keep so far before as not to be in sight of the army. And so they did, for by the way they killed a deer, flayed, roasted, and eat the most of him before the army came up with them. But the Plymouth forces soon

* But an Indian was fired upon and Avounded, which was a sufficient umbrage for them to begin the work. See Hub. Nar. 72, and Hutch. I, 261. It appears that Philip waitert for the English to begin, and to that end, had suffered his men to provoke them to it ; yet, it was thought that Philif> tried to restrain them from beginning so soon, as is observed in note 1 to page 17. At this time a whimsical opinion prevailed, that the side which first began would finally be conquered. Hutch. Ibid.

t In consequence of this intelligence Governour Winslow proclaimed a fast. H. Adams, 120. I June 21.

§ James Cudworth, several years a magistrate of Plymouth colony. Other historians style him Captain, but do not take notice of this advancement. See Hubbard, Nar. 75, 79, 84. Also in the continuation of Morton, 208, where it appears he was an assistant in the government between 1670 and 1675.

PHILIP'S WAR. 31

arrived at Swanzey,* and were chiefly posted at Ma- jor Brown'sf and Mr. Miles'f garrisons, and were there soon joined with those that came from Massa- chusetts, who had entered into a confederacy with their Plymouth brethren against the perfidious hea- thens.

The enemy, who began their hostilities with plun- dering and destroying cattle,§ did not long content themselves with that game ; they thirsted for English blood, and they soon broached it ; killing two men in the way not far from Mr. Miles' garrison, and

* Whether the Plj^mouth forces Avere at Swanzey when the first English were killed does not appear, though it is presumed that they were not. We are certain that they had sufficient time to arriA^e there. It appears from the text that they marched from Plymouth on Monday, Avhich Avas the 21 June, and the first English Avere killed the 24.

The author seems to be a little before his story concerning the Massachusetts' men, for we know that they did not ar- ri\'e till the 28 June, and their arrival is related before the first men Avere killed.

Dr. Morse, in his late history of the Revolution, has run OA-er this history without any regard to dates. Nor has he thought it worth his while to tell us there ever was such an author as Church, but copies from him as though it were his OAvn Avork, which, at best he makes a mutilated mass.

t See note 5 on page 27.

I The Rev, John Miles, as I find in Allen, Biog. 429, Avas minister of the first Baptist church in Massachusetts ; that in 1649 he Avas a settled minister near Swansea in South Wales. Hence, perhaps, the name of SAvanzey in Mass. is derived, Mr. Miles being ejected in 1662, came to this country, and formed a church at Rehoboth. He removed to Swanzey a feAV years after, Avhich town was granted to the baptists by the government of Plymouth. Hutchinson, I, 209, speaks of him as a man discovering christian unity, &c. He died in 1683.

§ It appears that an Indian was wounded while in the act of killing cattle ; or as tradition informs us, the Indian who was wounded, after killing some animals in a man's field, went to his house and demanded liquor, and being refused attempted to take it by violence, threatening at the same time to be revenged for such usage, this caused the English- man to fire on him.

32 PHILIP'S WAR.

soon after eight more* at Matapoiset :f Upon whose bodies they exercised more than brutish barbarities ; beheading, dismembering and mangUng them, and exposing them in the most inhuman manner, which gashed and ghostly objects struck a damp on all be- holders.J

The enemy flushed with these exploits, grew yet bolder, and skulking every where in the bushes, shot at all passengers, and killed many that ventured abroad. They came so near as to shoot two sen- tinels at Mr. Miles' garrison, under the very noses of our forces. These provocations drew out [ — Y some of Captain Prentice's troops,§ who desired they might have liberty to go out and seek the ene- my in their own quarters. Quartermasters Gill and Belcher II commanded the parties drawn out, who earnestly desired Mr. Church's company. They pro- vided him a horse and furniture, (his own being out of the way.) He readily complied with their desires, and was soon mounted. This party was no sooner over Miles' bridge,ir but were fired upon by an am- 1 [the resentment of]

* It was the same day, 24 June, on Thursday, being a fast, appointed by the Governour of Plymouth, on hearing what took place the 20. See H. Adam's Hist. N. England, 120. At Rehoboth a man was fired upon the same day. Hutchinson, I, 261.

t (In Swanzey.)

Several places bore this name. The word is now general- ly pronounced Matapois. It appears too, that the pronunci- ation tended thus, at first, as I find it spelt in Winslow's Nar- rative, Matapuyst. See Belknap, Biog. II, 292.

ifThe sight must have been dreadful, hut yet, it did not hinder the English from the like foul deeds. Weetamore-s head was cut off and set upon a pole. See note 2 on page 27.

§ Capt. Thomas Prentice of the Boston troops. Twelve was the number that went over at this time. Hubbard, 75. Hutchinson, I, 262.

II Hubbard, 75, calls him Corporal Belcher. He makes no mention of any person by the name of Gill.

IT There is a bridge over Palmer's river, which bears this name. It is about 4 miles north of Warren.

4

PHILIP'S WAR. S3

buscade of about a dozen Indians, as they were af- terward discovered to be. When they drew off, the pilot^ was mortally wounded, Mr. Belcher received a shot in his knee, and his horse was killed under him. Mr. Gill was struck with a musket ball on the side of his body ; but being clad with a buff coat,f and some thickness of paper under it, it never broke his skin. J The troopers were surprised to see both their commanders wounded and wheeled off; but Mr. Church persuaded, at length stormed and stamp- ed, and told them it was a shame to run, and leave a wounded man there to become a prey to the barbarous enemy; for the pilot yet sat on his horse, though amazed with the shot as not to have sense to guide him. Mr. Gill seconded him, and oflered, though much disabled, to assist in bringing him off, Mr. Church asked a stranger, who gave him his com- pany in that action, if he would go with him and fetch off the wounded man. Pie readily con.sented, and they with Mr. Gill went ; but the wounded man fainted, and fell off his horse before they came to him. But Mr. Church and the stranger dismounted, took up the man, dead, and laid him before Mr. Gill on his horse. Mr. Church told the other two, [that] if they would take care of the dead man, he would go and fetch his horse back, which was going off the cause- way toward the enemy ; but before he got over the causeway he saw the enemy run to the right into the neck. He brought back the horse, and called ear- nestly and repeatedly to the army to come over and fight the enemy ; and while he stood calling and persuading, the skulking enemy returned to their old stand, and all discharged their guns at him at one clap ; [and] though every shot missed him, yet, one

* William Hammond,

t A buff coat, and kind of cuirass or breastplate of iron or steel foimed their armour ; swords, carabines, and pistols, their weapons.

t June 28. This action took place the same day that the other troops arrived.

34 PHILIP'S WAR.

of the army on the other side of the river, received one of the balls in his foot. Mr. Church now began, (no succour coming to him) to think it time to retreat. Saying, "T/te Lord have mercy on us, if such a handful of Indians shall thus dare such an army."*

Upon this it was immediately resolved, and orders were given to march down into the neck,f and hav- ing passed the bridge and causeway, the direction was to extend both wings, which not being well heed- ed by those that remained in the centre, some of them mistook their friends for their enemies,{ and made a fire upon them in the right wing, and wound- ed that noble heroick youth, Ensign Savage, in the thigh,§ but it happily proved but a flesh wound. They marched until they came to the narrow of the neck, at a place called Keekamuit,|| where they took down

*Thus ended the 28 June, 1G75, according to Hubbard, 75 ; but by tbe text, the next transaction would seem under the same date, which from the fact that most of the army did not arrive until after noon, and that the action did not take place until it had arrived, it is plain that it was not. Hutch- inson, I, 262, is as indistinct with regard to the dates in question, as our author, but Holmes considered it as I do. Annals, I, 421. The next morning, Hubbard, 75, says, that the Indians, at half a mile's distance, shouted twice or thrice, and 9 or 10 showing themselves at the bridge, the army immediately went in pursuit of them.

t June 29.

X I cannot find as any historian takes notice of this bad management of the army. The reason is obvious as Hub- bard says nothing of it, whom they all follow. Hence it ap- pears that Savage was wounded by his own companions, and not by 10 or 12 of the enemy discharging upon him at once See next note.

§ " He had at that time one bullet lodged in his thigh, . another shot through the brim of his hat, by ten or twelve of the enemy discharging upon him together, while he bold- ly held up his colours in the front of his company." Hubbard, 76. Our author or Mr. Hubbard is in a great mistake about the manner in which he was wounded, but the, former ought not to be mistaken.

II (Upper part of Bristol.)

?fow the upper part of Warren, which has been taken

PHILIP'S WAR. 35

the heads of eight Englishmen that were killed at the head of Matapoiset neck, and set upon poles, after the barbarous manner of those savages. There Philip had staved all his drums and conveyed all his canoes to the east side of Matapoiset river. Hence it was concluded by those, that were acquainted with the motions of those people, that they had quitted the neck. Mr. Church told them that Philip was doubt- less gone over to Pocasset side to engage those In- dians in a rebellion with him, which they soon found to be true. The enemy were not really beaten out of Mounthope neck, though it was true [that] they fled from thence ; yet it was before any pursued them. It was but to strengthen themselves, and to gain a more advantageous post. However, some, and not a few, pleased themselves with the fancy of a mighty conquest.

A grand council was held, and a resolve passed, to build a fort there, to maintain the first ground they had gained, by the Indians leaving it to them. And to speak the truth, it must be said, that as they gained not that field by their sword, nor their bow, so it was rather their fear than their courage that obliged them to set up the marks of their conquest.*

Mr. Church looked upon it, and talked of it with contempt, and urged hard the pursuing [of] the en- emy on Pocasset side; and with the greater earnest- ness; because of the promise made to Awashonks, be- fore mentioned.

The council adjourned themselves from Mount-

from Bristol. It is called on the map of Rhodeisland, Kicke- muet, or rather the bay which makes this neck on one side, is so called. Warren river makes the other side.

* Major Savage and Major Cudworth commanded the forces in this expedition, at whom, of course, this reflection is directed. But chiefly, I suppose, at Major Cudworth: For I find, Hubbard, 79, that Captain Cudworth, as he de- nominates him, " left a garrison of 40 men upon Mount- hope neck," which is all that he says about this fort.

36 PHILIP'S WAR.

hope to Rehoboth,* where Mr. Treasurer South- worth, being weary of his charge of Commissary General, (provision being scarce and difficult to be obtained for the army,f that now lay still to co- ver the people from nobody, while they were build- ing a fort for nothing) retired, and the power and trouble of that post was left to Mr. Church, who still urged the commanding officers to move over to Pocasset side, to pursue the enemy and kill Philip, which would in his opinion be more probable to keep possession of the neck, than to tarry to build a fort. J He was still restless on that side of the river, and the rather, because of his promise to the squaw Sa- chem of Sogkonate. And Captain Fuller§ also urg- ed the same, until at length there came further or-

* A town in Massachusetts, about 10 miles from where they then were, and about 38 from Boston.

t Hubbard says, 77, that the forces under Major Savage returned to Swanzey, and those under Capt. Cudworth pass- ed over to Rhodeisland the same day, as the weather looked likely to be tempestuous, and that night there fell abundance cf rain. But it is presumed that Captain Cudworth soon re- turned to build said fort, as he arrived at Swanzev the 5 July.

I While these things were passing, Capt. Hutchinson was despatched with a letter from the Governour of Massachu- setts, bearing date July 4, 1675, constituting him commis- sioner to treat with the Narragansets, who now seem openly to declare for Philip. He arrived the 5 at Swanzey, and on the 6, a consultation was held, wherein it was resolved " to -.reat with the Narragansets sword in hand." Accordingly the forces marched into their country, and after several cere- monious days, a treaty, as long as it was useless, was signed on the 15. It maybe seen at large in Hubbard, Nar. 81 to 83, and Hutchinson, I, 263, 264. By which the Narragan- sets agreed, to harbour none of Philip's people, ik.c. ; all which was only forced upon them, and they regarded it no longer than the army was present. The army then returned to Taunton, 17 June.

§ I loarn nothing more of this gentleman than is found in this history. The name is common in Massachusetts and elsewhere. He had 6 files each containing 6 men, therefore their whole number consisted of 36 men only.

PHILIP'S WAR. 37

IcTS^ concerning the fort, and withal an order for Captain Fuller with six files to cross the river to the side so much insisted on, and to try if he could get speech with any of the Pocasset or Sogkonate In- dians, and that Mr. Church should go [as] his second.

Upon the Captain's receiving his orders, he asked Mr. Church whether he were willing to engage in this enterprise ; to whom it was indeed too agreeable to be declined; though he thought the enterprise was hazardous enough for them to have [had] more men assigned them. Captain Fuller told him, that for his own part, he was grown ancient and heavy, [and] he feared the travel and fatigue would be too much for him. But Mr. Church urged him, and told him [that] he would cheerfully excuse him his hardship ;ind travel, and take that part to himself, if he might but go ; for he had rather do any thing in the world, than to stay there to build the fort.

Then they drew out the number assigned them, and marched the same nightf to the ferry, J and were

* From Major Cudworth, who did not go with the rest of the army into the country of the Narragansets. Hub. 84.

1 No author that I have seen, excepting Mr. Hubbard, fixes any date to this memoralile part of Philip's War. Nei- ther Hutchinson nor Trumbull takes any notice of it. Hub- bard, 84, say?, "Upon Thursday, July 7, Captain Fuller and Lieutenant Church went into Pocasset to seek after the ene- my," &c. But he is in an errour about the day of the week or month, and perhaps both ; for I find that the 7 July falls on Wednesday ; an errour which might easilj^have happened in some former edition of his Narrative. Though this scru- tiny may seem unimportant, yet, the transaction, it must be allowed, merits particular attention ; for history without vhronology may be compared to the trackless desert over which we may wander in vain for relief. Most authors since Mr. Hubbard's time, pass lightly over this event, and either think it not worth fixing a date to, or doubting the authority of Mr. Hubbard. But I am induced- to believe, that the day of the month is right, and that the day of the week is wrong. If this be the case, we are able to fix the date of the battle of the Peaslieldon July 8.

X Bristol ferry. 4

38 PHILIP'S WAR.

transported to llhodeisland, from whence, the next night they got passage over to Pocasset side in Rhode- island boats, and concluded there to dispose them- selves in two ambuscades before day, hoping to sur- prise some of the enemy by their falling into one or other of their ambushments. But Captain Fuller's party being troubled with the epidemical plague of lust after tobacco, must needs strike fire to smoke it.* And thereby discovered themselves to a party of the enemy coming up to them, who immediately fled with great precipitation.

This ambuscade drew off about break of day, per- ceiving [that] they were discovered, the other con- tinued in their post until the time assigned them, and the light and heat of the sun rendered their sta- tion both insignificant and troublesome, and then re- turned unto the place of rendezvous ; where they were acquainted with the other party's disappoint- ment, and the occasion of it. Mr. Church calls for the breakfast he had ordered to be brought over in the boat, but the man that had the charge of it, con- fessed that he was asleep when the boat's men call- ed him, and in haste came away and never thought of it. It happened that Mr. Church had a few cakes of rusk in his pocket, that Madam Cranston, f (the

* It is customary with many to this day in Rhodeisland, to use this phrase. If a person tells another that he smoked to- bacco at any particular time, he will say that he smoked it, or " / have smoJd it.^''

1 1 am sorry to acknowledge the want of information of so conspicuous a character as a Governour of Rhodeisland, but the histories of Newengland do not tell us there ever Avas such a Governour. Probably the town of Cranston perpetu- ates his name. From Allen, Biog. 196, it appears that Mr. William Coddingion was Governour this year, 1675 ; yet there may be no mistake in the text, though this name has been written with variation. From Trumbull's Conn. I, 856, I find that " John Cranston, Esq., Governour of Rhodeisland, [in 1679] held a court in Narraganset, in Sep- tember, and made attempts to introduce the authority and officers of Rhodeisland, into that part of Connecticut. The general assembly therefore, in October, protested against

PHILIP'S WAR. 39

Governour's Lady of Rhodeisland) gave him when he came off the island, which he divided among the company, which was all the provisions they had.

Mr. Church, after their slender breakfast, proposed to Captain Fuller, that he would march in quest of the enemy, with such of the company as would be Jvilling to march with him, which he complied with, though with a great deal of scruple ; because of his small numbers, and the extreme hazard he foresaw must attend them.*

But some of the company reflected upon Mr. Church, that notwithstanding his talk on the other side of the river, he had not shown them any In- dians since they came over ; which now moved him to tell them, that, if it were their desire to see In- dians, he believed he should now soon show them what they should say was enough.

The number allowed himf soon drew off to him, which could not be many ; because their whole com- pany consisted of no more than thirty-six.

They moved towards Sogkonate, until they came to the brookj that runs into Nunnaquahqat§ neck, where they discovered a fresh and plain track, which

his usurpation, and declared his acts to be utterly void." Thus the spirit of feeling between the two colonies at this period is discovered.

* Captain Fuller had not proceeded far, before he fell in with a large number of the enemy, but fortunately he was in the vicinity of the water, and more fortunately, near an old house, in which he sheltered himself and men until a vessel discovered and conveyed them off, with no other loss, than having two men wounded. He had 17 men in his com- pany.

t Nineteen. Hubbard, 85, says, that Mr. Church had not above 15 men.

I This brook is that which empties into the bay nearly a mile southward from Rowland's ferry. The road to Little Compton, here, follows the shore of the bay, and crosses said brook where it meets the bay.

§ Now called Quaucut, a small strait near the brook just mentioned.

40 PHILIP'S WAR.

they concluded to be from the great pine swamp, about a mile from the road that leads to Sogkonate, "Now," says Mr. Church, to his mon, "if we follow this track, no doubt but we shall soon see Indiana enough." They expressed their willingness to fol- low the track, and moved [on] in it ; but [they] had not gone far, before one of them narrowly escaped being bit with a rattlesnake ; and the woods that the track led them through was haunted much with those snakes, which the little company seemed more to be afraid of, than the black serpents they were in quest of; and therefore bent their course another way to a place where they thought it probable to find some of the enemy. Had they kept the track to the pine swamp, they had been certain of meet- ing Indians enough, but not so certain that any of them should have returned to give [an] account hon many.

Now they passed down into Punkatees* neck, and in their march discovered a large wigwam full of Indian truck, which the soldiers were for loading themselves with, until Mr. Church forbid it ; telling them they might expect soon to have their hand^s full and business without caring for plunder. Then crossing the head of the creek into the neck, they again discovered fresh Indian tracks ; [which had] very lately passed before them into the neck. They then got privately and undiscovered unto the fence of Captain Almy'sf peas field, and divided into twt> parties ; Mr. Church keeping the one party with

* A point of land running south nearly two miles between the bay and Little Compton, and a little more than a mile wide. On Lockwood's map o^ Rhodeisland it is called Pun- catest. It is the southern extremity of Tiverton, and has been known by the name of Poca*?set neck,

t Captain John Almy, w'ho lived on Rhodeisland ; the same, I presume, mentioned in the beginning of this history. The land is now owned by people of the same name, and Mr. Sanford Almy, an aged gentleman, lives near the spot.

PHILIPS WAR. 41

himself, sent the other with Lake,^ who was ac- quainted with the ground, on the other side. Two Indians were soon discovered coming out of the peas field towards them, when Mr. Church and those that were with him, concealed themselves from them by falling flat on the ground, but the other division, not using the same caution, was seen by the enemy, which occasioned them to run, which, when Mr. Church perceived, he showed himself to them, and called ; telling them he desired but to speak with them, and would not hurt them. But they ran and Church pursued. The Indians climbed over a fence, and one of them facing about, discharged his piece, but without effect, on the English. One of the Eng- lish soldiers ran up to the fence and fired upon him that had discharged his piece, and they concluded by the yelling they heard, that the Indian was wound- ed. But the Indians soon got into the thickets, whence they saw them no more for the present.

Mr. Church then marching over a plane piece of ground where the woods were very thick on one side, ordered his little company to march at a double distance to make as big a show, (if they should be discovered,) as might be. But before they saw any body they were saluted with a volley of fifty or six- ty guns. Some bullets came very surprisingly near Mr. Church, who starting, looked behind him to see what was become of his men, expecting to have seen half of them dead ; but seeing them all upon their legs, and briskly firing at the smokes of the enemies' guns ; (for that was all that was then to be seen.)f He blessed God, and called to his men

* As the name of Lake is not mentioned any where else in this history, I cannot determine who this was.

t This was indeed very remarkable, as it appears that nothing prevented the Inclians from taking deliberate aim. The truth of the text must not be doubted, but certainly Jove never worked a greater miracle in favour of the Trojans At the siege of Troy, than Hesper now did for our heroes.

4*

42 PHILIP'S WAR.

not to discharge all their guns at once, lest the ene- my should take the advantage of such an opportuni- ty to run upon them with their hatchets.

Their next motion was immediately into the peas field.* When they came to the fence, Mr. Church bid as many as had not discharged their guns to clap under the fence and lie close, while the others, at some distance in the field, stood to charge ; hop- ing, that if the enemy should creep to the fence, (to gain a shot at those that were charging their guns,) they might be surprised by those that lie un- der the fence. But casting his eyes to the side of the hill above them, the hill seemed to move, being covered over with Indians, with their bright guns glittering in the suuj and running in a circumference with a design to surround them.

Seeing such multitudes surrounding him and his little company, it put him upon thinking what was become of the boats that were ordered to attend him, and looking up, he spied them ashore at Sandy- point,f on the island side of the river,{ with a num- ber of horse and foot by them, and wondered what should be the occasion ; until he was afterwards in- formed that the boats had been over that morning from the island, and had landed a party of men at Fogland, that were designed in Punkatees neck to fetch off some cattle and horses, but were am-

* (Tiverton shore about half a mile above Fogland ferry.)

The situation of Punkatees is given in a preceding note.

It contains nearly two square miles, and it is sufficient to

know that it contained the ground on which this battle was

fought.

t There are two Sandy points on the Rhodeisland shore, one above and the other below Fogland ferry; this was that above. Fogland ferry connects the island with Punkatees and is near the middle of it.

I The bay is meant. It being narrow, or from three fourths to a mile wide, is sometimes called a river, and in the old charters, Narraganset river. See Douglass, I, 398.

PHILIP'S WAR. 43

buscaded, and many of them wounded by the ene- my.*

Now our gentleman's courage and conduct were both put to the test. He encouraged his men, and orders some to run and take a wall for shelter be- fore the enemy gained it. It was time for them now to think of escaping if they knew which way. Mr. Church orders his men to strip to their white shirts, that the islanders might discover them to be Eng- lishmen, and then orders three guns to be fired dis- tinctly, hoping [that] it might be observed by their friends on the opposite shore. The men that were ordered to take the wall being very hungry, stop- ped a while among the peas to gather a few, be- ing about four rods from the wall. The enemy from behind, hailed them with a shower of bullets. But soon all but one came tumbling over an old hedge, down the bank, where Mr. Church and the rest were, and told him, that his brother, B. Southworth,f who was the man that was missing, was killed ; that they saw him fall. And so they did indeed see him fall, but it was without a shot, and lay no longer than till he had an opportunity to clap a bullet into one of the enemies' foreheads, and then came running to his company.

The meanness of the English powder was now their greatest misfortune. When they were inmie- diately upon this beset with multitudes of Indians, who possessed themselves of every rock, stump, tree or fence, that was in sight, firing upon them without

* It is mentioned in a later part of this history, that Mr. Church's servant was wounded at Pocasset, while there after cattle. This is the time alluded to. Hubbard, 86, says that '« five men coming from Rhodeisland, to look up their cattle upon Pocasset neck, were assaulted by the same Indians ; one of the five was Captain Church's servant, who had his leg broken in the skirmish, the rest hardly escaping with their lives ;" and, that " this was the first time that ever any mischief was done by the Indians upon Pocasset neck.^ This was on the same day of the battle of Punkatees,

t Brother in law to Mr. Church.

44 PHILIP'S WAR.

ceasing ; while they had no other shelter but a small bank, and bit of a water fence. ^ And yet, to add to the disadvantage of this little handful of distressed men, the Indians also possessed themselves of the ruins of a stone house, that overlooked them. So that, now, they had no way to prevent lying quite open to some or other of the enemy, but to heap up stones before them, as they did ; and still bravely and won- derfully defended themselves against all the num- bers of the enemy.

At length came over one of the boats from the isl- and shore, but the enemy plied their shot so warmly to her, as made her keep at some distance. Mr. Church desired them to send their canoe ashore, to fetch them on board ; but no persuasions nor argu- ments could prevail with them to bring their canoe to shore ; which some of Mr. Church's men per- ceiving, began to cry out, for God's sake to take them off, for their ammunition was spent ! &c. Mr. Church being sensible of the danger of the enemy's hearing their complaints, and being made acquaint- ed with the weakness and scantiness of their ammuni- tion, fiercely called to the boat's master, and bid him either send his canoe ashore, or else be gone presently, or he would tire upon him.

Away goes the boat, and leaves them still to shift for themselves. But then another difficulty arose; the enemy, seeing the boat leave them, were reani- mated, and fired thicker and faster than ever. Up- on which, some of the men, that were lightest of foot, began to talk of attempting an escape by flight, un- til Mr. Church solidly convinced them of the im- practicableness of it, and encouraged them yet. [He] told them, that he had observed so much of the re- markable, and wonderful providence of God, [in]

* This indeed will compare with Lovewell's Fight. That hero, to prevent being quite encompassed, retreated to the shore of a pond. The particulars of which will be found in the continuation of this history. See Appendix, XL

PHILIP'S WAR. 45

hitherto preserving them, that it encouraged hhn to beheve, with much confidence, that God would yet preserve them ; that not a hair of their heads should fall to the ground ; bid them be patient, courageous, and prudently sparing of their ammunition, and he made no doubt but they should come well off yet, &.C. [Thus] until his little army again resolved, one and all, to stay with, and stick by him. One of them, by Mr. Church's order, was pitching a flat stone up on end before him in the sand, when a bul- let from the enemy with a full force, struck the stone while he was pitching it on end, which put the poor fellow to a miserable start, till Mr. Church called upon him to observe how God directed the bullets, that the enemy could not hit him when in the same place, [and] yet could hit the stone as it was erected.

While they were thus making the best defence they could against their numerous enemies, that made the woods ring with their constant yelling and shouting. And night coming on, somebody told Mr. Church, [that] they spied a sloop up the river as far as Goldisland,"^ that seemed to be coming down towards them. He looked up and told them, that, succour was now coming, for he believed it was Captain Golding,f whom he knew to be a man for business, and would certainly fetch them off if he came. The wind being fair, the vessel v.as soon with them, and Captain Golding it was. Mr. Church (as soon as they came to speak with one another) desired him to come to anchor at such a distance from the shore, that he might veer out his cable, and ride afloat ; and let slip his canoe, that it might

* A very small ledgy island a little to the south of the stone bridge, near the middle of the stream, and about 4 or 5 miles from where they were.

1 1 find nothing relating to this gentleman excepting what is found in this history. We may infer that he was a man of worth and confidence, by Mr. Church's entrusting him with an important post at the fight when Philip was killed.

46 PHILIP'S WAR.

drive a shore ; which directions Captain Golding observed. But the enemy gave him such a warm salute, that his sails, colours and stern were full of bullet holes.

The canoe came ashore, but was so small that she would not bear above two men at a time ; and when two were got aboard they turned her loose to drive a shore for two more. And the sloop's compa- ny kept the Indians in play the while. But when at last it came to Mr. Church's turn to go aboard, he had left his hat and cutlass at the well, where he went to drink when he first came down ; he told his company, [that] he would never go off and leave his hat and cutlass for the Indians, [that] they should never have that to reflect upon him. Though he was much dissuaded from it, yet he would go and fetch them. He put all the powder he had left into his gun, (and a poor charge it was) and went pre- senting his gun at the enemy, until he took up what he went for. At his return he discharged his gun at the enemy, to bid them farewell for that time ; but had not powder enough to carry the bullet half way to them. Two bullets from the enemy struck the canoe as he went on board, one grazed the hair of his head a little before, another stuck in a small stake that stood right against the middle of his breast.*

Now this gentleman with his army, making in all twenty men, himself and his pilot being numbered with them, got all safe on board, after six hours en- gagement with three hundred Indians; [of] whose numbers we were told afterwards by some of them-

* The lofty and elegant lines of Barlow, on the conduct of Gen. Putnam at the battle of Bunker's hill, will admirably apply to our hero.

" There strides bold Putnam, and from all the plains Calls the tired troops, the tardy rear sustains, And mid the whizzing balls that skim the lowe Waves back his swordj defies the following foe."

Columbiad, B. V. 562, &c,

PHILIP'S WAR. 47

selves.* A deliverance which that good gentleman often mentions to the glory of God, and his protect- ing providence.

The next day,f meeting with the rest of his little company,! whom he had left at Pocasset, (that had also a small skirmish with the Indians and had two men wounded) they returned to the Mounthope gar- rison, which Mr. Church used to call the losing fort.

Mr. Church then returned to the island, to seek provision for the army. [There he] meets with AI- derman,§ a noted Indian, that was just come over from the squaw Sachem's cape of Pocasset, having deserted from her, and brought over his family, who gave him an account of the state of the Indians, and where each of the Sagamore's headquarters was. Mr. Church then discoursed with some, who knew the spot well, where the Indians said Weeta- more's|| headquarters were, and offered their service to pilot him [to it.]

With this news he hastened to the Mounthope garrison, [and] the army expressed their readiness to embrace such an opportunity.

All the ablest soldiers were now im-mediately drawn off, equipped and despatched upon this design, un- der the command of a certain officer. IT And having marched about two miles, viz., until they came to

• Hubbard 85, says that there were seven or eight scores. Mather, following him, says there were " an hundred and almost five times fifteen terrible Indians." Magnalia, II, 488.

t July 19.

X On Rhodeisland. Mr. Church and his company were transported there, as were Capt. Fuller and his company be- fore. See note 1 on page 39.

§ The Indian that killed Philip.

li (Squaw Sachem of Pocasset.)

An account of this " old Queen" has been given. See note 2 on page 27.

IT I have not learned this officer's name, but it was Capt. Henchman's Lieutenant.

48 PHILIP'S WAR.

the cove that lies southwest from the Mount where orders were giv«n for a halt. The commander in chief told them [that] he thought it proper to take advice before he went any further ; called Mr. Church and the pilot and asked them how they knew that Philip and all his men were not by that time got to Weetamore's camp; or that all her own men were not by that time returned to her again, with many more frightful questions. Mr. Church told him [that] they had acquainted him with as much as they knew, and that for his part he could discover nothing that need to discourage them from proceed- ing; that he thought it so practicable, that he with the pilot, would willingly lead the way to the spot, and hazard the brunt. But the chief commander in- sisted on this, that the enemy's numbers were so great, and he did not know Vv^hat numbers more might be added unto them by that time ; and his company so small, that he could not think it practi- cable to attack them ; adding moreover, that if he were sure of killing all the enemy and knew that he must lose the life of one of his men in the action, he would not attempt it. " Pray sir, then," replied Mr. Church, [ — ]^ " lead your company to yonder windmill on Rhodeisland, and there they will be out of danger of being killed by the enemy, and we shall have less trouble to supply them with provi- sions."^ But return he would and did unto the gar- rison until more strength came to them, and a sloop to transport them to Fallriver,f in order to visit Weetamore's camp.

1 [Please to.]

*The action related in the next paragraph was not until they returned ; though it might be understood that Church went " out on a discovery" before.

t (^South part of Freetown.)

It IS in the town of Troy, which was taken from Freetown. Fallriver is a local name, derived from a stream that empties into the bay about a mile above Tiverton line. Probably no place in the United States contains so many factories in 60 small a compass as this.

PHILIP'S WAR. 49

Mr. Church, one Baxter, and Captain Hunter, an Indian, proffered to go out on the discovery on the left wing, which was accepted. They had not marched above a quarter of a mile before they start- ed three of the enemy. Captain Hunter wounded one of them in the knee, who when he came up [to him] he discovered to be his near kinsman. The captive desired favour for his squaw, if she should fall into their hands, but asked none for himself; ex- cepting the liberty of taking a whiff of tobacco ; and while he was taking his whiff his kinsman, with one blow of his hatchet, despatched him.

Proceeding to Weetamore's camp they were dis- covered by one of the enemy, who ran in and gave information. Upon which a lusty young fellow left his meat upon his spit,* running hastily out, told his companions [that] he would kill an Englishman be- fore he ate his dinner ; but failed of his design ; being no sooner out than shot down. The enemies' fires, and what shelter they had, were by the edge of a thick cedar swamp, into which on this alarm they betook themselves, and the English as nimbly pursu- ed ; but were soon commanded back by their chief- tain, [but not until]^ they were come within [the] hearing of the cries of their women and children ; and so ended that exploit. But returning to their sloop the enemy pursued them, and wounded two of their men. The next day they returned to the Mounthope garrison. f

1 [after]

* (Probably a wooden spit.)

t These operations took up about four or five days, hence M-e have arrived to the 13 or 14 July. In the course of which time, fourteen or fifteen of the enemy were killed. See Hubbard, 87. Holmes, I, 422. These individual efforts ^vere of far more consequence than the manoeuvres of the main army during the same time ; yet Hutchinson, H. Adams, and some others since, thought them not worth men- doning.

6

50 PHILIP'S WAR.

Soon after this was Pliilip's headquarters visitecP by some other English forces, but Philip, and his gang had the very fortune to escape, that Weetamore and hers (but now mentioned) had. They took into a swamp, and their pursuers were commanded back.

After this Dartmouth'sf distresses required succour, [a] great part of the town being laid desolate, and many of the inhabitants killed. The most of Ply-

* A particular account of this affair from our author, would have been gratifying. But most other historians before anrt since him, have been elaborate upon it.

In consequence of the intelligence gained by Mr. Church, the army, after finishing the treaty with the Narragansets, before named, moved to Taunton, where they arrived the 17 Jul)'', in the evening ; and on the 18, marched to attack Philip, who was now in a great swamp, adjacent to, and on the east side of Taunton river. The army did not arrive until late in the day, but soon entered resolutely into the swamp, The underwood was thick, and the foe could not be seen."" The first that entered were shot down, but the rest rushing on, soon forced them from their hiding places, and took possession of their wigwams, about 100 in number. Night coming on, each was in danger from his fellow ; firing at every bush that seemed to shake. A retreat was now or- dered. Concluding that Philip was safely hemmed in, the Massachusetts forces marched to Boston, and the Connecti- cut troops, being the greatest sufferers, returned home ; leav- ing tliose of Plymouth to starve out the enemy. Trumbull's Connecticut, l', 332. Ibid. U. S. I, 140. This movement of the army has been very much censured. Had they pressed upon the enemy the next day, it is thought they would have been easily subdued. But Philip and his warriours, on the 1 Augu-t, before day, passed the river on rafts, and in great triumph, marched oil into the country of the Nipmucks. About 16 of the English were killed. Ibid. Mather, II 488, says that Philip ieft a hundred of his people behind who fell into the hands of the English. It is said that Philip had a brother killed in this light, who was a chief Captain, and had beon etlucaled at Harvard College. Hutch. I, 265. > t That part of Dartmouth which was destroyed is about 5 miles vS. W. from Newbedford, and known by the name of Aponai>;anset. The early histories give us no particulars about the atVair, and few mention it at all. Many of the in- habitant-^, moved to Rhodeisland. Middleborougii, then call- ed Ncin t k?t, about this time was mostly burned ; probably, while the treaty was concluding with the Narragansets.

PHILIP'S WAR. 51

mouth forces were ordered thither. And coming to Russell's garrison^ at Ponaganset,f they met with a number of the enemy, that had surrendered them- selves prisoners on terms promised by Captain Eels of the garrison, and Ralph Earl, J who persuaded them (by a friend Indian he had employed) to come in. And had their promise to the Indians been kept, and the Indians fairly treated, it is probable that,

* The cellars of this old garrison are still to be seen. They are on the north bank of the Aponaganset about a mile from its mouth. I was informed by an inhabitant on the spot» that considerable manoeuvring went on here in those days. The Indians had a fort on the opposite side of the river, and used to show themselves, and act all manner of mockery, to aggravate the English ; they being at more than a common gunshot off. At one time one made his appearance, and turned his backside in defiance, as usual ; but some one hav- ing an uncommonly long gun fired upon him and put an end to his mimic kry.

A similar story is told by the people of Middleborough, which took place a little north of the town house, across the Nemasket. The distance of the former does not render the story so improbable as that of the latter, but circumstances are more authentick. The gun is still shown vvliich performed the astonishing feat. The distance, some say is nearly half a mile, which is considerable ground of improbability. That a circumstance of this kind occurred at both these places, too, is a doubt- But it is true that a fight did take place across the river at Middleborough. The Indians came to the river and burned a grist mill which stood near the pre- sent site of the lower factory, and soon after drew off. The affair has been acted over by the inhabitants as a celebration not many years since.

t (In Dartmouth.)

The word is generally pronounced as it is spelled in the text, but is always, especially of late, written Aponaganset. Mr.. Douglass, it appears learned this name Polyganset, when he took a survey of the country. See his Summary, I, 403.

^ 1 can find no mention of these two gentlemen in any of the histories. But their names are sufficiently immortalized by their conduct in opposing the diabolical acts of govern raent for selling prisoners as slaves. It is possible that they might decline serving any more in tlie war, after being so much abused ; and hence were not noticed by the historians, who also pass over this black page of our history, as Ughtly as possible.

62 PHILIP'S WAR.

most, if not all, the Indians in those parts had soon followed the example of those, who had now surren- dered themselves, which would have been a good step towards finishing the war. But in spite of all that Captain Eels, Church or Earl could say, argue, plead or beg, somebody else that had more power in their hands, improved it. And without any regard to the promises made them on their surrendering them- selves, they were carried away to Plymouth, there sold, and transported out of the country, being about eight score persons.* An action so hateful to Mr. Church, that he opposed it, to the loss of the good will and respects of some that before were his good friends. But while these things were acting at Dartmouth, Philip made his escape ;f leaving his country, fled over Taunton river, and Rehoboth plain, and Patux- etf river, where Captain Edmunds^ of Providence, made some spoil upon him, and had probably done more, but was prevented by the coming of a superi-* our oflicer, that put him by.||

* With regret it is mentioned that the venerable John Winthrop was Governour of Connecticut, (Connecticut and Nevvhaven now forming but one colony) the Hon. John Leverett of Massachusetts, and the Hon. Josiah Winslow of Plymouth. Rhodeisland, because they chose freedom rather than slavery^ had not been admitted into the Union. From this history it would seem that one Cranston was Governour of Rhodeisland at this time ; but that colony appears not to be implicated in this as well as many other acts of malead- ministration. See note 2 on page 38.

t An account of which is given in note 1, page 50.

X Douglass wrote this word Patuket, as it is now pronounc- ed. Summary, I, 400. It is now often written Patuxet. It is Blackstone river, or was so called formerlj^

6 I find no other account of this officer in the Indian wars, only what is hinted at in this history ; from which it appears that he was more than once employed, and was in the east- ern war.

II Hubbard, 91, says that Philip had about thirty of his party killed ; but he takes no notice of Capt. Edmunds' be- m^put by. He said that Capt. Henchman came up to themj

PHILIP'S WAR. 53

And now another fort was built at Pocasset,* that proved as troublesome and chargeable as that at Mounthope ; and the remainder of the summer was improved in providing for the forts and forces there maintained ; while our enemies were fled some hun- dreds of miles into the country near as far as Alba- ny-t

but not till the skirmish was over. " But why Philip was followed no further," he says, " is better to suspend than too critically to inquire into." Hence we may conclude that the pursuit was countermanded by Capt. Henchman, who when too late followed after the enemy without any success.

» The fort here meant was built to prevent Philip's escape from the swamp before mentioned. See note 1, on page 50. Mr. Church appears early to have seen the folly of fort building under such circumstances. While that at Mount- hope was building, he had seen Philip gaining time ; and while this was building to confine him to a swamp, he was marching off in triumph.

t Here appears a large chasm in our history including about four months, namely, from the escape of Philip on the 1 Au- gust, to December ; during Avhich time many circumstances transpired worthy of notice, and necessary to render this history more perfect. Mr. Church appears to have quitted the war, and is, perhaps, with his family.

Philip having taken up his residence among the Nipmucks or Nipnets, did not fail to engage them in his cause.

On the 14 July a party killed 4 or 5 people at Mendon a town 37 miles southwest of Boston.

August 2, Capt. Hutchinson with 20 horsemen went to re- nev/ the treaty with those Indians at a place appointed, near Quabaog, (now Brookfield) a town about 60 miles nearly west from Boston ; but on arriving at the place appointed, the Indians did not appear. So he proceeded 4 or 5 miles beyond, towards their chief town, when all at once, some hundreds of them fired upon the company. Eight were shot down, and 8 others were wounded. Among the latter was Capt. Hutchinson who died soon after. The remainder escap- ed to Quabaog, and the Indians pursued them. But the Eng- lish arrived in time to warn the inhabitants of the danger, who with themselves crowded into one house. The other houses (about 20) were immediately burned down. They next besieged the house containing the inhabitants (about 70) and the soldiers. This they exerted themselves to fire 5^

54 PHILIP'S WAR.

And now strong suspicions began to arise of the Narraganset^ Indians, that they were ill affected and

also, with various success for two days, and on the third they nearly effected their object by a stratagem. They filled a cart with combustibles and set it on fire, and by means of splicing poles together had nearly brought the flames in con- tact with the house, when Major Willard arrived with 48 dragoons and dispersed them. See American Ann. I, 4^23. 424.

The Indians about Hadley, who had hitherto kept up the show of friendship, now deserted their dwellings and drew off after Philip. Toward the last of August, Capt. Beers and Capt. Lothrop pursued and overtook them,and a fierce battle was fought, in which 10 of the English and 26 Indians were killed.

September 1, they burned Deerfield and killed one of the inhabitants. The same day (being a fast) they fell upon Hadley while the people were at meeting, at which they were overcome with confusion. At this crisi*^! a venerable gentleman in singular attire appeared among them, and put- ting himself at their head, rushed upon the Indians and dis- persed them, then disappeai^ J. The inhabitants thought an angel had appeared, and led them to victory. But it was General Goffe, one of the Judges of King Charles I, who was secreted in the town. See President Stiles' history of the Judges, 109, and Holmes, I, 424.

About 11 September Capt. Beers with 36 men went up the river to observe how things stood at a new plantation called Squakeag, now Northfield. The Indians a few days before (but unknown to them) had fallen upon the place and killed 9 or 10 persons, and now laid in ambush for the P^nglish, whom it appears they expected. They had to march nearly 30 miles through a hideous forest. On arriving within three miles of the place, they were fired upon by a host of enemies, and a large proportion of their number fell. The others gained an eminence and fought bravely till their Captain was slain, when they fled in every direction. Sixteen only escaped. Hubbard, 107.

On the 18th following, as Capt. Lothroj) with 80 men was guarding some carts from Deerfield to Hadley, they were

fallen

* It was believed that the Indians generally returned from the western frontier along the Connecticut, and took up their winter quarters among the Narragansets ; but whether Philip did is uncertain. Some suppose that he visited the Mohawks and Canada Indians for assistance.

PHILIP'S WAR. 65

designed mischief. And so the event soon disco- vered. The next winter they began their hostilities upon the English. The united colonies then agreed to send an army to 'suppress them : Governour Wins- low to command the army.*

He undertaking the expedition, invited Mr. Church to command a company, [ — ]^ which he declined ; 1 [in the expedition]

fallen upon, and, including teamsters, 90 were slain j 7 or 8 only escaped. Ibid. 108.

October 5, the Springfield Indians having been joined by about 300 of Philip's men began the destruction of Spring- field. But the attack being expected, Major Treat was sent for, who was then at Westfield, and arrived in time to save much of the town from the flames, but, 32 houses were consumed. Holmes, I, 425.

October 19, Hatfield was assaulted on all sides by 7 or 800 Indians, but there being a considerable number of men well pve])ared to receive them, obliged them to flee without doing much damage. A few out buildings were burned, and some of the defenders killed, but we have no account how many. Holmes, I, 425, says this aff'air took place at Hadlev ; but Hubbard wliom he cites, 116, says it was at Hatfield. The places are only separated by a bridge over the Con- necticut, and were formerly included uncler the same name.

Mr. Hoyt in his Antiquarian Researches, 136, thinks that it was in this attack that Gen. Goife made his appearance, because Mr. Hubbard takes no notice of an attack upon that place in Sept. 1675, which, if there had been one, it would not have escaped his notice. But this might have been un- noticed by Mr. Hubbard as well as some other affairs of the war.

Thus are some of the most important events sketched in our hero's absence, and we may now add concerning him what Homer did of Achilles' return to the siege of Troy. Then great Achilles, terrour of the plain, Long lost to battle, shone in arms again.

Iliad, II, B. XX, 57.

* It was to consist of 1000 men and what friendly Indians would join them. Massachusetts was to furnish 527, Ply- mouth 158, Connecticut 315. Major Robert Treat with those of Connecticut, Maj. Bradford with those of Plymouth, and Maj. Samuel Appleton with those of Massachusetts. The whole under Gen. Josiah Winslow. American Annals, I, 426.

56 PHILIP'S WAR.

craving excuse from taking [a] commission, [but] he promises to wait upon him as a Reformado [a vo- lunteer] through the expedition. Having rode with the General to Boston, and from thence to Rehoboth, upon the General's request he went thence the near- est way over the ferries, with Major Smith,* to his garrison in the Narraganset country, to prepare and provide for the coming of General Winslow, who marched round through the country with his army, proposing by night to surprise Pumham,t a certain Narraganset sachem, and his town ; but being aware of the approach of our army, made their escape in- to the desertsf. But Mr. Church meeting with fair winds, arrived safe at the Major's garrison in the evening,§ and soon began to inquire after the ene- my's resorts, wigwams or sleeping places ; and hav- ing gained some intelligence, he proposed to the EI- dridges and some other brisk hands that he met with, to attempt the surprising of some of the enemy, to make a present of, to the General, when he should arrive, which might advantage his design. Being brisk blades they readily complied with the mo- tion, and were soon upon their march. The night was very cold, but blessed with the moon. Before

* This gentleman, Mr. Hubbard informs us, Nar. 123 lived in Wickford Avhere the army was to take up its head- quarters. Wickford is about 9 miles N. W. from Newport on Narraganset bay.

t (Sachem of Shawomot or Warwick.)

This Sachem had signed the treaty in July, wherein su^h great faith and fidelity were promised. See note 3 on page 36. A few days before the great swamp fight at Narraganset Capt. Prentice destroyed his town after it was deserted. But in July, 1676, he was killed by some of the Massachusetts men, near Dedham. A grandson of his was taken before this, by a party under Capt. Denison, who was esteemed the best soldier and most warlike of all the Narraganset chiefs. Trumbull, I, 345.

J It appears that all did not escape into the deserts. The heroick Capt. Mosely captured 36 on his way to Wickford. § December 11.

PHILIP'S WAR. 57

the day broke they effected their exploit ; and, by the rising of the sun, arrived at the Major's garrison, where they met the General, and presented him with eighteen of the enemy, [which] they had captivated. The General, pleased with the exploit, gave them thanks, particularly to Mr. Church, the mover and chief actor of the business. And sending two of them (likely boys) [as] a present to Boston ; [and] smiling on Mr. Church, told him, that he made no doubt but his faculty would supply them with In- dian boys enough before the war was ended.

Their next move was to a swamp,* which the In- dians had fortified with a fort.f Mr. Church rode in the General's guard when the bloody engagement

* Hubbard, 136, says that the army was piloted to this place by one Peter, a fugitive Indian, who fled from the Nar- ragansets, upon some discontent, and to him they were in- debted, in a great measure for their success. How long be- fore the army would have found the enemy, or on what part of the fort they would have fallen, is uncertain. It appears, that had they come upon any other part, they must have been repulsed. Whether this Peter was the son of Awash- onks, or Peter Nunnuit, the husband of Weetamore, the Queen of Pocasset, is uncertain. But Mr. Hubbard styles him a fugitive from the Narragansets. If he were a Narra- ganset, he was neither.

t Before this, on the 14, a scout under Sergeant Bennet kill- ed two and took four prisoners. The rest of the same compa- ny, in ranging the country, came upon a town, burned 150 wigwams, killed 7 of the enemy and brought in eight priso- ners. On the 15, some Indians came under the pretence of making peace, and on their return killed several of the Eng- lish, who were scattered on their own business. Captain Mosely, while escorting Maj, Appleton's men to quarters, was fired upon by 20 or 30 of the enemy from behind a stone wall, but were immediately dispersed, leaving one dead. On the 16, they received the news that Jerry Bull's garrison at Petty quamscot, was burned, and 15 persons killed. On the 18, the Connecticut forces arrived, who on their way had taken and killed 11 of the enemy. The united forces now set out, Dec. 19, for the headquarters of the enemy. The wea- ther was severely cold and much snow upon the ground. They arrived upon the borders of the swamp about one Q'clock. Hubbard, 128 to 130.

58 PHILIP'S WAR.

began. But being impatient of being out of the heat of the action, importunately begged leave of the General, that he might run down to the assistance of his friends. The General yielded to his request, provided he could rally some hands to go with him. Thirty men immediately drew out and followed him. They entered the swamp, and passed over the log, that was the passage into the fort, where they saw many men and several valiant Captains lie slain.* Mr. Church spying Captain Gardner of Salem, amidst the wigwams in the east end of the fort, made towards him ; but on a sudden, while they were looking each other in the face, Captain Gardner set- tled down. Mr. Church stepped to him, and seeing the blood run down his cheek lifted up his cap, and calling him by his name, he looked up in his face but spake not a word ; being mortally shot through the head. And observing his wound, Mr. Church found the ball entered his head on the side that was next the upland, where the English entered the swamp. Upon which, having ordered some care to be taken of the Captain, he despatched information to the General, that the best and forwardest of his army, that hazarded their lives to enter the fort upon the muzzles of the enemy's guns, were shot in their backs, and killed by them that lay behind. Mr. Church with his small company, hastened out of the fort (that the English were now possessed of) to get a shot at the Indians that were in the swamp, and kept firing upon them. He soon met with a broad and bloody track where the enemy had fled with their wounded men. Following hard in the track, he soon spied one of the enemy, who clapped his gun across his breast, made towards Mr. Church, and beckoned to him with his hand. Mr. Church immediately commanded no man to hurt him, hop-

* Six Captains were killed. Captains Davenport, Gardi- aer and Johnson of Massachusetts ; Gallop, Siely and Mar- shall of Connecticut. No mention is made that any officers were killed belonging to Plymouth,

PHILIP'S WAR. 69

ing by him to have gained some intelligence of the enemy, that might be of advantage. But it unhappi- ly fell out, that a fellow that had lagged behind, coming up, shot down the Indian ; to Mr. Church's great grief and disappointment. But immediately they heard a great shout of the enemy, which seem- ed to be behind them or between them and the fort ; and discovered them running from tree to tree to gain advantages of firing upon the English that were in the fort. Mr. Church's great difficulty now was, how to discover himself to his friends in the fort ; using several inventions, till al length he gained an opportunity to call to, and informed a Sergeant in the fort, that he was there and might be exposed to their shots, unless they observed it. By this time he discovered a number of the enemy, almost within shot of him, making towards the fort. Mr. Church and his company were favoured by a heap of brush that was between them, and the enemy, and pre- vented their being discovered to them. Mr. Church had given his men their particular orders for firing upon the enemy. And as they were rising up to make their shot, the aforementioned Sergeant in the fort, called out to them, for God's sake not to fire, for he believed they were some of their friend In- dians. They clapped down again, but were soon sensible of the Sergeant's mistake. The enemy got to the top of the tree, the body whereof the Sergeant stood upon, and there clapped down out of sight of the fort ; but all this while never discovered Mr. Church, who observed them to keep gathering unto that place until there seemed to be a formidable black heap of them. " Now brave boys," said Mr. Church to his men, " if we mind our hits we may have a brave shot, and let our sign for firing on them, be their rising to fire into the fort." It was not long before the Indians rising up as one body, designing to pour a volley into the fort, when our Church nimbly started up, and gave them such a round vol-

60 PHILIP'S WAR.

ley, and unexpected clap on their backs^ that they, who escaped with their lives, were so surprised, that they scampered, they knew not whither themselves. About a dozen of them ran right over the log into the fort, and took into a sort of hovel that was built with poles, after the manner of a corn crib. Mr. Church's men having their cartridges fixed, were soon ready to obey his orders, which were immedi- ately to charge and run [ — ]^ upon the hovel and over- set it ; calling as he ran on, to some that were in the fort, to assist him in oversetting it. They no sooner came to face the enemy's shelter, but Mr. Church discovered that one of them had found a hole to point his gun through right at him. But however [he] encouraged his company, and ran right on, till he was struck with three bullets ; one in his thigh, which was near half cut off as it glanced on the joint of his hip bone ; another through the gather- ings of his breeches and drawers with a small flesh wound ; a third pierced his pocket, and wounded a. pair of mittens that he had borrowed of Captain Prentice ; being wrapped up together, had the mis- fortune of having many holes cut through them with one bullet. But however he made shift to keep on his legs, and nimbly discharged his gun at them that had wounded him. Being disabled now to go a step, his men would have carried him off, but he forbid their touching of him, until they had perfected their project of oversetting the enemy's shelter ; bid them run, for now the Indians had no guns charged. While he was urging them to run on, the Indians be- gan to shoot arrows, and with one pierced through the arm of an Englishman that had hold of Mr. Church's arm to support him. The English, in short, were discouraged and drew back. And by this time the English people in the fort had begun to set fire to the wigwams aud houses in the fort, which Mr. Church laboured hard to prevent. They told him i[pn]

PHILIP'S WAR. 61

[that] they had orders from the General to burn them. He begged them to forbear until he had dis- coursed with the General. And hastening to him, he begged to spare the wigwams, &c., in the fort from fire. [And] told him [that] the wigwams were musket proof; being all lined with baskets and tubs of grain and other provisions, sufficient to supply the whole army, until the spring of the year, and every wounded man might have a good warm house to lodge in, who otherwise would necessarily perish with the storms and cold ; and moreover that the army had no other provisions to trust unto or depend upon; that he knew that the Plymouth forces had not so much as one [biscuit]^ left, for he had seen their last dealt out, &c.^ The General advising a few words with the gentlemen that were about him moved towards the fort, designing to ride in himself, and bring in the whole army ; but just as he was en- tering the swamp one of his Captains met him, and asked him, whither he was going ^ He told him "In- to the fort." The Captain laid hold of his horse, and told him, [that] his life was v/orth an hundred of theirs, and [that] he should not expose himself. The General told him, tliat, he supposed the brunt was over, and that Mr. Church had informed him that the fort was taken, &c. ; and as the case was cir- cumstanced, he was of the mind, that it was most practicable for him and his army to shelter them- selves in the fort. The Captain in a great heat re- plied, that Church lied; and told the General, that, if he moved another step, towards the fort he would shoot his horse under him. Then [bristled]^ up 1 [biskake] 2 [brasled]

*Thus the heroick Church discovered not only great bravery in battle, but judgment and forethought. Had his advice been taken, no doubt many lives would have been saved. It may be remarked, that notwithstanding' Mr. Church so distinguished himself in this fight, his name is not mentioned by our chief historians. 6

62 PHILIP'S WAR,

another gentleman, a certain Doctor,* and opposed Mr. Church's advice, and said, [that] if it were com- phed with, it would kill more men than the enemy had killed. " For (said he) by tomorrow the wound- ed men will be so stiff, that there will be no moving of them." And looking upon Mr. Church, and see- ing the blood flow apace from his wounds, told him, that if he gave such advice as that was, he should bleed to death like a dog, before they would endea- vour to stanch his blood. Though after they had prevailed against his advice they were sufliciently kind to him. And burning up all the houses and provisions in the fort, the army returned the same night in the storm and cold. And I suppose that every one who is acquainted with that night's march, deeply laments the miseries that attended them ; especially the wounded and dying men.f But it mercifully came to pass that Captain Andrew Bel- cherj arrived at Mr. Smith's that very night from Boston with a vessel laden with provisions for the army, which must otherwise have perished for want. Some of the enemy that were then in the fort have since informed us that, near a third of the Indians belonging to all the Narraganset country, were kill-

* I have not been able to learn the name of the beforemen- tioned Captain nor Doctor. Perhaps it is as well if their memories be buried in oblivion. Trumbull says that, they had the best surgeons which the country could produce. Hist. Con. I, 340. In another place, I, 346, Mr. Gershom "Bulkley, he says, " was viewed one of the greatest physicians and surgeons then in Connecticut."

t What rendered their situation more intolerable, was, beside the severity of the cold, a tremendous storm filled the atmosphere with snow ; through Avhich they had 18 miles to march before they arrived at their headquarters. See Hist. Connecticut, I, 340.

I The father of Governour Belcher. He lived at Cam- bridge, and was one of his Majesty's council. No one was more respected for integrity, and it is truly said, that he was " an ornament and blessing to his country." He died October 31, 172B, aged7l. Eliot, 52.

PHILIJP'S WAR. 63

ed by the English, and by the cold of that night;* that they fled out of their fort so hastily, that they carried nothing with them, that if the English had kept in the fort, the Indians would certainly have been necessitated, either to surrender themselves to them, or to have perished by hunger, and the seve- rity of the season. f

Some time after this fort fight, a certain Sogkon- ate Indian, hearing Mr. Church relate the manner of his being wounded, told him, [that] he did not know but he himself was the Indian that wounded him, for that he was one of that company of Indians that Mr. Church made a shot upon, when they were rising to make a shot into the fort. They were in number about sixty or seventy that just then came down from Pumham's town J and never before then fired a gun against the English. That when Mr.

* Mr. Hubbard, 135, mentions, that one Potock, a great counsellor anriong them, confessed on being taken, that the Indians lost 700 fighting men, besides 3G0, who died of their wounds- Many old persons, children and wounded, no <loubt perished in the flames. But letters from the army, at the time, may be seen in Hutchinson, I, 272, 273, in which the enemy's loss is not so highly rated. They compare better with the account given by our author in the next note.

t (The swamp fight happened on December 19,* 1675, in which about 50 English were killed in the action, and died of their wounds ; and about 300 or 350 Indians, men, womesi and children were killed, and as many more captivated. f It is said 500 wigwams were burned with the fort, and 200 more in other parts of Narraganset. The place of the fort was an elevated ground, or piece of upland, of, perhaps, 3 or 4 acres, in the middle of a hideous swamp, about 7 miles nearly due west from Narraganset, south ferry.:{:)

I What is now Warwick. See note 2, page 56.

♦ The old copy of this history, from which I print this, gives the date, Dec. 29, but it must be a misprint.

t Perhaps later writers are more correct with regard to the loss of the English, than our author. It is said that there were above 80 slain, and 150 wounded, who afterwards recovered. Hist. Con. I, 340.

X The swamp where this battle was fought is in Southki;;«gston, Rhode- island, situated as mentioned abo««j.

64 PHILIP'S WAR.

Church fired upon them he killed fdurteen dead upon the spot, and wounded a greater number than he killed. Many of which died afterwards of their wounds, in the cold and storm [of] the following night.

Mr. Church was moved with other wounded men, over to Rhodeisland, where in about three months* time, he was in some good measure recovered of his wounds, and the fever that attended them ; and then went over to the General^ to take his leave of him, with a design to return home.f But the Gene-

* General Winslow, with the Plymouth and Massachusetts forces, remained in the Narraganset country most of the winter, and performed considerable against the enemy. The Connecticut men under Major Treat, being much cut to pieces, returned home.

t While our hero is getting better of his wounds we will take a short view of what is transacting abroad.

The enemy, toward the end of January, left their country and moved off to the Nipmucks. A party, in their way, drove off 15 horses, 50 cattle and 200 sheep, from one of the inhabitants of Warwick. On the 10 Feb., several hundreds of them fell upon Lancaster ; plundered and burned a great part of the town, and killed or captivated forty persons. (Philip commanded in this attack, it was supposed.) Feb. 21, nearly half of the town of Medfield was burned, and on the 25^ seven or eight buildings were also burned at Wey- mouth. March 13, Groton was all destroyed excepting four garrison houses. O n the 17, Warwick had every house burned save one. On the 26, Marlborough was nearly all destroyed, and the inhabitants deserted it. The same day Capt. Pierce, of Scituate with fifty English and twenty friendly Indians, was cut off with most of his men. (For the particulars of this affair see note further onward.) On the 28, forty houses and thirty barns were burned at Rehoboth ; and the day following, about 30 houses in Providence. The main bod}- of the enemy >Mas supposed now to be in the Avoods between Brookfield and Marlborough, and Connecticut river. Capt. Denison of Connecticut with a few brave volunteers per- formed signal services. In the tirst of April he killed and took 44 of the enemy, and before the end of the month 76 more were killed and taken, all without the loss of a man. In the beginning oT April the Wamesit Indians did some mischief at Chelmsford, on Merrimack river, to which it appears they had been provoked. On the 17, the remaining houses at

PHILIP'S WAR. 65

ral's great importunity again persuaded him to ac- company him in a long march* into the Nipmuckf country, though he had then tents in his wounds, and so lame as not [to be] able to mount his horse without two men's assistance.

In this march, the first thing remarkable was, they came to an Indian town, where there were many wig- wams in sight, but an icy swamp, lying between them and the wigwams, prevented their running at once upon it as they intended. There was much firing upon each side before they passed the swamp. But at length the enemy all fled and a certain Mohegan, that was a friend Indian, pursued and seized one of the enemy that had a small wound in his leg, and brought him before the General, where he was ex- amined. Some were for torturing him to bring him

Marlborough were consumed. The next day, 18 April, they came furiously upon Sudbury. (Some account of which will be given in an ensuing note.) Near the end of April, Scitu- ate about 30 miles from Boston, on the bay, had 19 houses and barns burned. The inhabitants made a gallant resist- ance and put the enemy to flight. May 8, they burned 17 houses and barns at Bridgewater, a large town about 20 miles south of Boston. Mather, Magnalia, II, 497, says that, " not an inhabitant was lost by this town during the war, neither young nor old ; that when their dwellings were fired at this time, God, from heaven, fought for them with a storm of lightning, thunder and rain, whereby a great part of their houses were preserved." On the 11, the town of Plymouth had 16 houses and barns burned ; and two days after 9 more. Middleborough, 38 miles from Boston, had its few remaining houses burned the same day.

These were the most distressing days that Newen^- land ever beheld. Town after town fell a sacrifice to their fury. All was fear and consternation. Few there were, who were not in mourning for some near kindred, and no- thing but horrour stared them in the face. But we are now to see the affairs of Philip decline.

* I cannot find as any other historian has taken notice of this expedition of the commander in chief. It appears from what is above stated that it was in March, 1676.

t (Country about Worcester, Oxford, Grafton, Dudley,

6*

66 PHILIP'S WAR.

to a more ample confession of what he knew con- cerning his countrymen. Mr. Church, verily believ- ing [tliat] he had been ingenuous in his confession, interceded and prevailed for his escaping torture. But the army being bound forward in their march, and the Indian's wound somewhat disenabling him for travelling, it was concluded [that] he should be knocked on the head. Accordingly he was brought before a great fire, and the Mohegan that took him was allowed, as he desired to be, his executioner. 'Mr. Church taking no delight in the sport, framed an errand at some distance among the baggage horses, and when he had got ten rods, or thereaboutSy from the fire, the executioner fetching a blow with a hatchet at the head of the prisoner, he being aware of the blow, dodged his head aside, and the execu- tioner missing his stroke, the hatchet flew out of his hand, and had like to have done execution where it was not designed. The prisoner upon his narrow escape broke from them that held him, and notwith- standing his wound, made use of his legs, and hap- pened to run right upon Mr. Church, who laid hold on him, and a close scuffle they had ; but the Indian having no clothes on slipped from him and ran again, and Mr. Church pursued [him,]^ although being lame there was no great odds in the race, until the Indian stumbled and fell, and [then] they closed again — scuffled and fought pretty smartly, until the Indian, by the advantage of his nakedness, slipped from his hold again, and set out on his third race, with Mr. Church close at his heels, endeavouring to lay hold on the hair of his head, which was all the hold could be taken of him. And running through a swamp that was covered with hollow ice, it made so loud a noise that Mr. Church expected (but in vain) that some of his English friends would follow the noise and come to his assistance. But the In- dian happened to run athwart a large tree that lay I [the Indian]

PHILIP'S WAR. 67

fallen near breast high, where he stopped and cried out aloud for help. But Mr. Church being soon upon him again, the Indian seized him fast by the hair of his head, and endeavoured by twisting to break his neck. But though Mr. Church's wounds had somewhat weakened him, and the Indian a stout fellow, yet he held him in play and twisted the In- dian's neck as well, and took the advantage of many opportunities, while they hung by each other's hair, gave him notorious bunts in the face with his head. But in the heat of the scuffle they heard the ice break, with somebody's coming apace to them, which when they heard. Church concluded there was help for one or other of them, but was doubtful which of them must now receive the fatal stroke — anon some- body comes up to them, who proved to be the In- dian that had first taken the prisoner ; [and] with- out speaking a word, he felt them out, (for it was so dark he could not distinguish them by sight, the one being clothed and the other naked) he felt where Mr. Church's hands were fastened in the Ne- top's* hair and with one blow settled his hatchet in between them, and [thus] ended the strife. He then spoke to Mr. Church and hugged him in his arms, and thanked him abundantly for catching his prison- er. [He then]^ cut off* the head of his victim and carried it to the camp, and [after] giving an account to the rest of the friend Indians in the camp how Mr. Church had seized his prisoner, &c., they all joined in a mighty shout.

Proceeding in this march they had the success of killing many of the enemy ; until at length their provisions failing, they returned home.

King Philipt (as was before hinted) was fled to a 1 [and]

* The Netop Indians were a small tribe among the Sogko- nates.

t It was supposed by many that Philip was at the great swamp fight at Narraganset in December, 1675. See note 1, page 54.

68 PHILIP'S WAR.

place called Scatiacook,* betwef^n York and Albany, where the Moohagsf made a descent upon him and killed many of his men, which moved him from

thence. t

His next kennelling place was at the fall§ of Con- necticut river, where, sometime after Captain Tur- ner found him, [and] came upon him by night, kill- ed him a great many men, and frightened many more into the river, that were hurled down the falls and drowned. II

* It is above Albany, on the east side of the north branch of the Hudson, now called Hoosac river, about 15 miles from Albany. Smith wrote this word Scaghtahook. History N. York, 307.

t (Mohawks.)

This word according to Roger Williams, is derived from the word moho, which signifies to eat. Or Mohawks signifi- ed cannibals or man eaters among the other tribes of Indians. Trumbull, U. States, I, 47. Hutchinson, I, 405. This tribe tvas situated along the Mohawk river, from whom it took its name, and was one of the powerful Fivenations, who in 1713, were joined by the Tuskarora Indians, a large tribe from N. Carolina, and thence Unown by the name of the Sixna- lions. Williamson, N. Carohna, I, 203. Hon. De Witt Clinton, in N. Y. Hist. Soc. Col. II, 48, says the Tuskaroras joined the other nations in 1712.

I Philip despairing of exterminating the English with his Newengland Indians resorted to me Mohawks to persuade them to engage in his cause. They not being willing, he had recourse to a foul expedient. Meeting with some Mo- hawks in the woods, hunting, he caused them to be murdered ; and then informed their friends, that the English had done it. But it so happened that one, which was left for dead, revived and returned to his friends, and informed them of the truth. The Mohawks in just resentment fell upon him and killed many of his men. Adams, Hist. N. Eng. 125.

§ (Above Deerfield.)

It has been suggested, and it is thought very appropriate- ly to call that cataract, where Capt. Turner destroyed the Indians, Turner's Falls. See Antiquarian Researches, 131.

|{ Philip with a great company of his people had taken a stand at the fall in Connecticut river for the convenience of getting a supply of fish, after the destruction of their pro- visions at the great swamp fight in Narraganset. Some

PHILIP'S WAR. 69

Philip got over the river, and on the back side of Wetuset* hills, meets witli all the remnants of the Narraganset and Nipmuckf Indians, that were there gathered together, and became very numerous; and [then] made their descent on SudburyJ and the adjacent parts of the country, where they met with,

prisoners deserted and brought news to Hadley, Hatfield and Northampton of the Indians' situation at the falls. On the 18 May, 160 men under Capt. Turner arrived near their quarters at day break. The enemy were in their wigwams asleep, and without guards. The English rushed upon them and fired as they rose from sleep, which so terrified them that they fled in every direction; crying out "Mohawks! Mohawks!" Some ran into the river, some took canoes, -and in their fright forgot the paddles, and were precipitated doAvn the dreadful fall and dashed in pieces. The enemy is supposed to have lost 300. The English having finished the work, began a retreat ; but the Indians, on recovering from their terror fell upon their rear, killed Capt. Turner and 38 of his men. See American Annals, I, 430. Why is the name of Turner not found in our Biographical Dictionaries?

* In the north part of the present town of Princetown in Worcester county, about 50 miles W. of Boston. Mr. Hub- bard wrote this word Watchuset, and Dr. Morse, Wachusett, and calls it a mountain. See Univ. Gaz. But in this, as well as many other words, the easiest way is the best way ; hence Wachuset is to be preferred.

t (About Rutland.)

It was just said that the Nipmuek country was about Wor- cester, Oxford, &c. See note 2 on page 65. Nipmuek was a general name for all Indians beyond the Connecticut to- ward Canada.

I On the 27 March, 1676, some persons of Marlbo- rough joined others of Sudbury, and went in search of the enemy. They came upon nearly 300 of them before day a sleep by their fires, and within half a mile of a garrison house. The English though but 40 in number, ventured to fire upon them; and before they could arouse and es- cape, they had several well directed fires, killing and wounding about 30. On 18 April, as has been before noted, they furiously fell upon Sudbury, burned several houses and barns and killed several persons. Ten or 12 persons that came from Concord, 5 miles distant, to assist their friends, were drawn into an ambush, and all killed or taken, Hub- bard, 182, 184.

70 PHILIP'S WAR.

and swallowed up [the] valiant Captain Wadsworth* and his company ; and many other doleful desolations in those parts. The news whereof coming to Ply- mouth, and they expecting [that,] probably, the ene- my would soon return again into their colony, the council of war were called together, and Mr. Church was sent for to them ; being observed by the whole , colony to be a person extraordinarily qualified for, and adapted -to the affairs of war. It was proposed in coun- cil, that lest the enemy in their return, should fall on Rehoboth, or some other of their out towns, a com- pany consisting of sixty or seventy men, should be sent into those parts, and [that] Mr. Church [be] in- vited to take the command of them. He told them that if the enemy returned into that colony again, they

* Capt. Samuel Wadsworth, father of president Wads- worth of Harvard College. Capt. Wadsworth was sent from Boston with 50 men to relieve Marlborough. After march- ing 25 miles, they were informed that the enemy had gone toward Sudbury ; so without stopping to take any rest, they pursued after them. On coming near the town, a party of the enemy were discovered, and pursued about a mile into the woods, when on a sudden they were surrounded on all sides by 500 Indians, as was judged. No chance of escape appeared. This little band of brave men now resolved to fight to the last man. They gained an eminence, which they maintained for some time ; at length, night approach- ing, they began to scatter, which gave the enemy the advan- tage, and nearly every one was slain. This was a dreadful blow to the country. It is not certain that any ever escaped to relate the sad tale. President Wadsworth erected a monu- ment where this battle was fought with this inscription.

^' Captain Samuel Wadsworth of Milton, his Lieutenant Sharp of Brookline, Captain Broclebank of Rowley, with about Twenty Six* other souldiers, fighting for the defence of their country, were slain by the Indian enemy April 18th, 1676, and lye buried in this place."

" This monument stands to the west of Sudbury causeway, about one mile southward of the church in old Sudbury, and about a quarter of a mile from the great road, that leads from Worcester to Boston." Holmes, I, 429. Sudbury is about 22 miles from Boston.

* Supposed to be the number of bodies found.

PHILIP'S WAR. 71

might reasonably expect that they would come very numerous, and if he should take the command of men he should not lie in any town or garrison with them, but would lie in the woods as the enemy did — and that to send out such small companies against such multitudes of the enemy that were now mustered together, would be but to deliver so many men into their hands, to be destroyed, as the worthy Captain Wadsworth and his company were. His advice upon the whole was, that, if they sent out any forces, to send no less than three hundred sol- diers ; and that the other colonies should be asked to send out their quotas also ; adding, that, if they intended to make an end of the war by subduing the enemy, they must make a business of the war as the enemy did ; and that for his own part, he had wholly laid aside all his own private business and concerns, ever since the war broke out.* He told them that, if they would send forth such forces as he should direct [them] to, he would go with them for six weeks march, which was long enough for men to be kept in the woods at once ; and if they might be sure of liberty to return in such a space, men would go out cheerfully; and he would engage [that] one hundred and fifty of the best soldiers should imme- diately list, voluntarily, to go with him, if they would please to add fifty more ; and one hundred of the friend Indians. And with such an army, he made no doubt, but he might do good service, but on other terms he did not incline to be concerned.

Their reply was, that, they were already in debt, and so big an army would bring such a charge upon them, that they should never be able to pay. And as for sending out Indians, they thought it no ways advisable; and in short, none of his advice practi- cable.

* It will be discoverable in almost every step onward, how shamefully Mr. Church was treated by government for all

his services.

72 PHILIP'S WAR.

Now Mr. Church's consort, and his then only son were till this time* remaining at Duxbury; and his fearing their safety there, (unless the war were more vigorously engaged in) resolved to move to Rhode- island, though it was much opposed, both by govern- ment and relations. But at length the Governour, considering that he might be no less serviceable, by being on that side of the colony, gave his permit, and wished [that] he had twenty more as good men to send with him.

Then preparing for his removal he went with his small family to Plymouth to take leave of their friends, where they met with his wife's parents, who much persuaded that she might be left at Mr. Clark's garrison, (which they supposed to be a mighty safe place) or at least that she might be there, until her soon expected lying in was over ; (being near her time.) Mr. Church no ways inclining to venture her any longer in those parts, and no arguments prevail- ing with him, he resolutely set out for Taunton, and many of their friends accompanied them. There they found Captain Peircef with a commanded

*The beginning of March, 1676.

t This gentleman belonged to Scituate, as is seen in note to page 64. I have learned no particulars of him, except what are furnished in the Indian wars. It appears that he was now on his march into the Narraganset country, having heard that many of the enemy had collected at Pawtuxet, a few miles to the southward of Providence. He being a man of great courage, and willing to engage the enemy on any ground, was led into a fatal snare. On crossing the Paw- tuxet river he found himself encircled by an overwhelming number. He retreated to the side of the river to prevent being surrounded ; but this only alternative failed: For the enemy crossing the river above, came upon their backs with the same deadly effect as those in front. Thus they had to contend with triple numbers, and a double disadvantage. Means was found to despatch a messenger to Providence for succour, but through some unaccountable default in him, or them to whom it was delivered, none arrived until too late. The scene was horrid beyond description! Some say that all the English were slain, others, that one only escaped, which

PHILIP'S WAR. 73

party, who offered Mr. Church to send a relation of his with some others to guard him to Rhodeisland. But Mr. Church thanked him for his respectful offer, but for some good reasons refused to accept it. In short, they got safe to Captain John Almy's* house upon Rhodeisland where they met with friends and good entertainment. But by the way let me not forget this remarkable providence, viz., that within twentyfour hours, or thereabouts, after their arrival at Rhodeisland, Mr. Clark's garrison, that Mr. Church was so much importuned to leave his wife and chil- dren at, was destroyed by the enemy. f

Mr. Church being at present disabled from any particular service in the war, began to think of some other employ. But he no sooner took a tool to cut

was effected as follows. A friendly Indian pursued him with an uplifted tomahawk, in the face of the enemy, who consid- ering his fate certain, and that he was pursued by one of their own men, made no discovery of the stratagem, and both escaped. Another friend Indian seeing that the battle was lost, blackened his face with powder and ran among the enemy, whom they took to be one of themselves, who also were painted black, then presently escaped into the woods. Another was pursued, who hid behind a rock, and his pursu- er lay secreted near to ghoot him when he ventured out. But he behind the rock put his hat or cap upon a stick, and raising it up in sight, the other fired upon it. He dropping his stick ran upon him before he could reload his gun and shot him dead. See Hubbard, Nar. 151, &c. It appears that Canonchet, a Narraganset chief, who afterwards fell into the hands of the brave Capt. Denison commanded in this battle. See Hist. Connect. 844.

* See note 2 on page 40.

t On the 12 March Mr. Clark's house was assaulted by the Indians, who after barbarously murdering 11 persons, belong- ing to two families, set it on fire. Mr. Hubbard, 155, says, that •' The cruelty was the more remarkable, in that they had often received much kindness from the said Clark." Philip is supposed to have conducted this affair. Abou' the time (hat that chief fell, 200 Indians delivered themselves prison- ers at Plymouth, 3 of whom were found to have been among those wIm) murdered Mr. Clark's family and were executed. The rest were taken into favour. Ibid. 216. 7

74 PHILIP'S WAR.

a small stick, but he cut off the top of his fore fin- ger, and the next to it half off; upon which he smilingly said, that he thought he was out of his way to leave the war, and resolved he would [go] to war again.

Accordingly his second son being born on the 12th of May, and his wife and son [likely]^ to do well, Mr. Church embraces the opportunity of a pas- sage in a sloop bound to Barnstable, [which]^ land- ed him at Sogkonesset,* from whence he rode to Plymouth, and arrived there the first Tuesday in June.f

The General Court then sitting, welcomed him, and told him [that] they were glad to see him alive. He replied, [that] he was as glad to see them alive ; for he had seen so many fires and smokes towards their side of the country, since he left them, that he could scarce eat or sleep with any comfort, for fear they had all been destroyed. For all travelling was stopped, and no news had passed for a long time together.

He gave them an account, { that the Indians had made horrid desolations at Providence, Warwick, Pawtuxet, and all over the Narraganset country } and that they prevailed daily against the English on that side of the country. [He] told them [that] he longed to hear what methods they designed [to take] in the war. They told him [that] they were par- 1 [Uke] 2 [who]

* Knawn now by the name of Wood's hole. It is in the town of Falmouth, not far to the eastward of Sogkonate point. Douglass wrote this name Soconosset, and Hutchinson Suca- nesset. A small clan of Indians resided here from whom it took its name.

t Namely the 8.

J We should not suppose that this was the first intelligence that the people of Plymouth received of the destruction of those places, as Ihi^ visit was nearly 3 months after the des- truction of Warwick, Providence, &c.,and about 4 from the cutting off of Capt. Pierce j yet it might be the case.

PHILIP'S WAR. 75

ticularly glad that providence had brought him there at that juncture ; for they had concluded the very next day to send out an army of two hundred men ; two thirds English, and one third Indians ; in some measure agreeable to his former proposal — expect- ing Boston and Connecticut to join with their quotas.

In short, it was so concluded, and that Mr. Church should return to the island, and see what he could muster there, of those who had moved from Swan- zey, Dartmouth, &c. ; so returned the same way [that] he came. When he came to Sogkonesset, he had a sham put upon him about a boat [which] he had bought to go home in, and was forced to hire two of the friend Indians to paddle him in a canoe from Elizabeth's* to Rhodeisland.

It fell out, that as they were on their voyage pass- ing by Sogkonate point,f some of the enemy were upon the rocks a fishing. He bid the Indians that managed the canoe, to paddle so near the rocks, as that he might call to those Indians ; [and] told them, that he had a great mind ever since the war broke out to speak with some of the Sogkonate Indians, and that they were their relations, and therefore they need not fear their hurting of them. And he add- ed, that, he had a mighty conceit, that if he could get a fair opportunity to discourse [with] them, that he could draw them oif from Philip, for he knew [that] they never heartily loved him. The enemy hallooed, and made signs for the canoe to come to them ; but when they approached them they skulked and hid in the clefts of the rocks. Then Mr. Church ordered the canoe to be paddled off again, lest, if he came too near, they should fire upon him. Then the Indians appearing again, beckoned and

* From Woods hole or Sogkonesset to this island is 1 mile.

t A little north of this point is a small bay called Church's cove, and a small cape about 2 miles further north bears the name of Church's point.

76 PHILIP'S WAR.

called in the Indian language, and bid them come ashore, for they wanted to speak with [them.]'' The Indians in the canoe answered them again, but they on the rocks told them, that the surf made such a noise against the rocks, [that] they could not hear any thing they said. Then Mr. Church by signs with his hands, gave [them] to understand, that he would have two of them go down upon the point of the beach. (A place where a man might see who was near him.) Accordingly two of them ran along the beach, and met him there without their arms ; excepting, that one of them had a lance in his hand. They urged Mr. Church to come ashore, for they had a great desire to have some discourse with him. He told them, [that] if he, that had his weapon in his hand, would carry it up some distance upon the beach, and leave it, he would come ashore and dis- course [with] them. He did so, and Mr. Church went ashore, hauled up his canoe, ordered one of his In- dians to stay by it, and the other to walk above on the beach, as a sentinel, to see that the coasts were clear. And when Mr. Church came up to the In- dians, one of them happened to be honest George, one of the two that Awashonks formerly sent to call him to her dance, and was so careful to guard him back to his house again. [This was] the last Sogko- nate Indian he spoke with before the war broke out. He spoke English very well. Mr. Church asked him where Awashonks was ^ [He said]^ " In- a swamp about three miles off." Mr. Church asked him what it was [that] he wanted, that he hallooed and called him ashore '^ He answered, that he took him for Church as soon as he heard his voice in the canoe, and that he was very glad to see him alive ; and he believed his mistress would be as glad to see him, and speak with him. He told him further, that he believed she was not fond of maintaining a war with the English, and that she had left Philip and did not 1 [him] 2 [He told him]

PHILIP'S WAR. 77

intend to return to him any more. He was mighty earnest with Mr. Church to tarry there while he would run and call her; but he told him "No, for he did not know but the Indians would come down and kill him before he could get back again." He said that, if Mounthope, or Pocasset Indians could catch him, he believed they would knock him on the head; but all Sogkonate Indians knew him very well, and he believed none of them would hurt him. In short, Mr. Church refused, then, to tarry; but pro- mised that he would come over again and speak with Awashonks, and some other Indians that he had a mind to talk with.

Accordingly he [directed]^ him to notify Awa- shonks, her son Peter,* their chief Captain, and one Nompashf (an Indian that Mr. Church had, former- ly, a particular respect for) to meet him two days after, at a rock at the lower end of Captaui Rich- mond'sj farm, which was a very noted place. And if that day should prove stormy, or windy, they were to expect him the next moderate day ; Mr. Church telling George, that he would have him come with the persons mentioned, and no more. They gave each other their hands upon it, [and] parted.

Mr. Church went home, and the next morning to

Newport ; and informed the government of what had

passed between him and the Sogkonate Indians ; and

desired their permit for him, and Daniel Wilcox^ (a

i [appointed]

* See note 1, on page 57.

t In another place his name is spelt Numposh. He was Captain of the Sogkonate or Seconate Indians in " the first expedition east."

I This rock is near the water a little north of where they then were.

§ The fatal 10 November, 1825, allows me only to say of this person that descendants in the fourth generation (1 think) are found in Newbedford. See page iv, of my pre- face.

7* ;

78 PHILIP'S WAR.

man that well understood the Indian language,) to go over to them. They told him, that they thought he was mad ; after such service as he had done, and such dangers that he [had] escaped, now to throw away his life; for the rogues would as certainly kill him as ever he went over. And utterly refused to grant his permit, or to be willing that he should run the risk.

Mr. Church told them, that it ever had been in his thoughts, since the war broke out, that if he could discourse the Sogkonate Indians, he could draw them off from Philip, and employ them against him ; but could not, till now, never have an opportunity to speak with any of them, and was very loath to lose it, &c. At length they told him, [that] if he would go, it should be only with the two Indians that came with him ; but they would give him no permit under their hands.

He took his leave of them, resolving to prosecute his design. They told him, they were sorry to see him so resolute, nor if he went did they ever expect to see his face again.

He bought a bottle of rum, and a small roll of tobacco, to carry with him, and returned to his family.

The next day, being the day appointed for the meeting, he prepared two light canoes for the de- sign, and his own man with the two Indians for his company. He used such arguments with his tender and now almost broken hearted wife, from the expe- rience of former preservations, and the prospect of the great service he might do, (might it please God to succeed his design, &c.,) that he obtained her consent to his attempt. And committing her, the babes, and himself to heaven's protection, he set out.

They had, from the shore, about a league to pad- dle. Drawing near the place, they saw the Indians sitting on the bank, waiting for their coming. Mr.

PHILIP'S WAR. 79

Church sent one of his Indians ashore in one of the canoes to see whether they were the same Indians whom he had appointed to meet him, and no more : And if so, to stay ashore and send George to fetch liim. Accordingly George came and fetched Mr. Church ashore, while the other canoe played off to see the event, and to carry tidings, if the Indians should prove false.

Mr. Church asked George whether Awashonks and the other Indians [that] he appointed to meet him were there*? He answered [that] they were. He then asked him if there were no more than they, whom he appointed to be there *? To which he would give no direct answer. However, he went ashore ; when he was no sooner landed, but Awa- shonks and the rest that he had appointed to meet him there, rose up and came down to meet him; and each of them successively gave him their hands, and expressed themselves glad to see him, and gave him thanks for exposing himself to visit them. They walked together about a gun shot from the water, to a convenient place to sit down, where at once rose up a great body of Indians, who had lain hid in the grass, (that was [as] high as a man's waist) and gathered round them, till they had closed them in ; being all armed with guns, spears, hatchets, &c., with their hairs trimmed, and faces painted, in their warlike appearance.

It was doubtless somewhat surprising to our gen- tleman at first, but without any visible discovery of it, after a small silent pause on each side, he spoke to Awashonks, and told her, that George had inform- ed him that she had a desire to see him, and dis- course about making peace with the English. She answered "Yes." "Then," said Mr. Church, " it is customary when people meet to treat of peace, to lay aside their arms, and not to appear in such hos- tile form as your people do." [He] desired of her, that if they might talk about peace, which he desir-

80 PHILIP'S WAR.

ed they might, her men might lay aside their arms, and appear more treatable. Upon which there be- gan a considerable noise and murmur among them in their own language, till Awashonks asked him what arms they should lay down, and where *? He (perceiving the Indians looked very surly and much displeased) replied, "Only their guns at some small distance, for formality'^s sake." Upon which with one consent, they laid aside their guns and came and sat down.

Mr. Church pulled out his calabash, and asked Awashonks whether she had lived so long at Wetu- set,* as to forget to drink occapeches9f and drink- ing to her, he perceived that she watched him very diligently, to see (as he thought) whether he swal- lowed any of the rum. He offered her the shell, but she desired him to drink again first. He then told her, [that] there was no poison in it ; and pour- ing some into the palm of his hand, sipped it up. And took the shell and drank to her again, and drank a good swig, which indeed was no more than he needed. Then they all standing up, he said to Awashonks, " You wont drink for fear there should be poison in it," and then handed it to a little ill looking fellow, who catched it readily enough, and as greedily would have swallowed the liquor when he had it at his mouth. But Mr. Church catched him by the throat, and took it from him, asking him whether he intended to swallow shell and all *? and then handed it to Awashonks. She ventured to take a good hearty dram, and passed it among her atten- dants. •

The shell being emptied, he pulled out his to- bacco; and having distributed it, they began to talk.

Awashonks demanded of him the reason, why he had not (agreeable to his promise when she saw him

* Wachuset. See note 1, on p. 69,

t Commonly heard as though written okape, or ochape.

PHILIP'S WAR. 81

last) been down at Sogkonate before now 1- Saying, that probably if he had come then, according to his promise, they had never joined with Philip against the English.

He told her [that] he was prevented by the war's breaking out so suddenly ; and yet, he was after- wards coming down, and came as far as Punkatees, where a great many Indians set upon him, and fought him a whole afternoon, though he did not come pre- pared to fight, [and] had but nineteen men with him, whose chief design was to gain an opportunity to discourse some Sogkonate Indians. Upon this there at once arose a mighty murmur, confused noise and talk among the fierce looking creatures, and all ris- ing up in a hubbub. And a great surly looking fel- low took up his tomhog, or wooden cutlass to kill Mr. Church, but some others prevented him.

The interpreter asked Mr. Church, if he under- stood what it was that the great fellow (they had hold of) said'? He answered him "No." "Why" said the interpreter, " he says [that] you killed his brother at Punkatees, and therefore he thirsts for your blood." Mr. Church bid the interpreter teU him that his brother began first ; that if he had kept at Sogkonate, according to his desire and order, he should not have hurt him.

Then the chief Captain commanded silence; and told them that they should talk no more about old things, &c., and quelled the tumult, so that they sat down again, and began upon a discourse of making peace with the English. Mr. Church asked them what proposals they would make, and on what terms they would break their league with Philip '? Desiring them to make some proposals that he might carry to his masters ; telling them that it was not in his pow- er to conclude a peace with them, but that he knew that if their proposals were reasonable, the govern- ment would not be unreasonable ; and that he would use his interest with the government for them ; and

83 PHILIP'S WAR.

to encourage them to proceed, put them in mind that the Pequots* once made war with the English, and that after they subjected themselves to the Eng- lish, the English became their protectors, and de- fended them against other nationsf that would other- wise have destroyed them, &c.

After some further discourse and debate he brought them at length to consent, that if the government of Plymouth would firmly engage to them, that they and all of them, and their wives and children should have their lives spared, and none of them transport- ed out of the country, they would subject themselves to them, and serve them, in what they were able.

Then Mr. Church told them, that he was well satisfied the government of Plymouth would readily concur with what they proposed, and would sign their articles. And complimenting them upon it, how pleased he was with the thoughts of their re- turn, and of the former friendship that had been be- tween them, &c.

The chief Captain rose up, and expressed the great value and respect he had for Mr. Church ; and bowing to him, said, " Sir, if you will please to ac- cept of me and my men, and will head us, we will fight for you, and will help you to Philip's head be- fore the Indian corn be ripe." And when he had ended, they all expressed their consent to what he said, and told Mr. Church [that] they loved him, and were willing to go with him, and fight for him as long as the English had one enemy left in the country.

Mr. Church assured them, that if they proved as good as their word, they should find him theirs, and their children's fast friend. And (by the way) the friendship is maintained between them to this day.|

* See a history of this war in the Appendix, No. IV.

t The Narragansets. See first note to Philip's war.

1 1716. They consisted now, probably of no more than 200 persons.

PHILIP'S WAR.

Then he proposed unto them, that they should choose five men to go strait with him to Plymouth. They told him " No, they would not choose, but he should take which five he pleased." Some compli- ments passed about it, at length it was agreed, [that] they should choose three, and he two. Then he agreed that he would go back to the island that night, and would come to them the next morning, and go through the woods to Plymouth. But they afterwards objected, [for]^ his travelling through the woods would not be safe for him ; [that] the enemy might meet with them and kill him, and then they should lose their friend and the whole design [would be] ruined beside. And therefore proposed that he should come in an English vessel, and they would meet him, and come on board at Sogkonate point, and sail from thence to Sandwich, which in fine was concluded upon.

So Mr. Church promising to come as soon as he could possibly obtain a vessel, and then they parted.

He returned to the island and was at great pains and charge to get a vessel ; but with unaccountable disappointments, sometimes by the falseness, and sometimes by the faintheartedness of men that he bargained with, and something by wind and weather, &c. : Until at length Mr. Anthony Low* put in to the harbour with a loaded vessel bound to the westward, and being made acquainted with Mr. Church's case, told him, that he had so much kind- ness for him, and was so pleased with the business he was engaged in, that he would run the venture of his vessel and cargo to wait upon him.

Accordingly, next morning they set sail with a wind that soon brought them to Sogkonate point. But coming there they met with a contrary wind, and a great swelling sea.

1 [that]

* After much search I can ascertain nothing of this person. The name is common in our country at this day.

84 PHILIP'S WAR.

The Indians were there waiting upon the rocks, but had nothing but a miserable broken canoe to get aboard in ; yet Peter Awashonks ventured off in it, and with a great deal of difficulty and danger got aboard. And by this time it began to rain and blow exceedingly, and forced them up the sound ; and then [they] went away through Bristol ferry, round the island to Newport, carrying Peter with them.

Then Mr. Church dismissed Mr. Low, and told him, that inasmuch as Providence opposed his going by water, and he expected that the army would be up in a few days, and probably, if he should be gone at that juncture, it might ruin the whole design ; [he] would therefore yield his voyage.

Then he writ the account of his transactions with the Indians, and drew up the proposals, and articles of peace, and despatched Peter with them to Ply- mouth, that his honour the Governour, if he saw cause, might sign them.

Peter was sent over to Sogkonate on Lord's day* morning, with orders to take those men that were chosen to go down, or some of them, at least, with him. The time being expired that was appointed for the English army to come, there was great look- ing for them. Mr. Church, on the Monday morning, (partly to divert himself after his fatigue, and partly to listen for the army) rode out with his wife, and some of his friends to Portsmouth, f under a pre- tence of cherrying ; but came home without any news from the army. But by midnight, or sooner, he was roused with an express from Major Bradford, who was arrived with the army at Pocasset, to whom he forthwith repaired,{ and informed him of the

* July 9.

t The island of Rhodeisland is divided into 3 towns ; New- port in the south, Middletown, and Portsmouth in the north, t Julyll.

PHILIP'S WAR. 85

whole of his proceedings with the Sogkonate In- dians.

With the Major's consent and advice, he returned again next morning to the island in order to go over that way to Awashonks, to inform her that the army was arrived, &,c.

Accordingly from Sachueeset neck* he went in a canoe to Sogkonate. [He] told her that Major Bradford was arrived at Pocasset with a great army, whom he had informed of all the proceedings with her ; that if she would be advised, and observe order, she nor her people need not to fear being hurt by them ; told her [that] she should call all her people down into the neck, lest if they should be found straggling about, mischief might light on them; that on the morrow they would come down and receive her and give her further orders.

She promised to get as many of her people to- gether as possibly she could ; desiring Mr. Church to consider that it would be difficult for to get them together at such short warning.

Mr. Church returned to the island and to the army the same night.

The nextmorningf the whole army marched to- wards Sogkonate, as far as Punkatees, and Mr. Church with a few men went down to Sogkonate to call Awashonks and her people, to come up to the English camp. As he was going down they met with a Pocasset Indian, who had killed a cow, and got a quarter of her on his back, and her tongue in his pocket. [He]^ gave them an account, that he came from Pocasset two days since in company with his mother, and several other Indians, now hid in a swamp above Nonquid.f Disarming of him, he sent him by two men to Major Bradford, and proceeded 1 [who]

* (The southeast corner of Rhodeisland.) t July 13. t (In Tiverton.)

8

S6 PHILIP'S WAR.

to Sogkonate. They saw several Indians by the way skulking about but let them pass.

Arriving at Awashonks camp, [he] told her [that] he was come to invite her and her people up to Pun- katees,* where Major Bradford now was with the Plymouth army, expecting her and her subjects to receive orders, until further order could be had from the government. She complied, and soon sent out orders for such of her subjects as were not with her, immediately to come in. And by twelve o'clock of next day, she with most of her number appeared before the English camp at Punkatees. Mr. Church tendered [himself to] the Major to serve under his commission, provided the Indians might be accepted with him, to fight the enemy. The Major told him, [that] his orders were to improve him if he pleased, but as for the Indians he would not be concerned with them. And presently gave forth orders for Awashonks, and all her subjects, both men, women and children, to repair to Sandwich ;f and to be there upon peril, in six days. Awashonks and her chiefs gathered round Mr. Church, (where he was walked off from the rest) [and] expressed themselves concerned that they could not be confided in, nor improved. He told them, [that] it was best to obey orders, and that if he could not accompany them to Sandwich, it should not be above a week before he would meet them there ; that he was confident the Governour would commission him to improve them.

The Major hastened to send them away with Jack Havens (an Indian who had never been in the wars) in the front, with a flag of truce in his hand.

* (Adjoining Fogland ferry.)

The geography of this place, with respect to extent and situation, has been given on j'age 40, note 1,

t A town between Plymouth and Barnstable, on Cape Cod. If the Major were arbitrary in giving this order, he was lib- eral with the time, as the distance was not above 50 miles by way of Plymouth, and perhaps no more than 30 through the wootls.

PHILIP'S WAR. 87

They being gone, Mr. Church by the help of his man Toby, (the Indian whom he had taken prisoner as he was going down to Sogkonate) took said To- by's mother, and those that were with her, prisoners.

Next morning the whole army moved back to Po- casset. This Toby informed them that there were a great many Indians gone down to Wepoiset* to eat clams ; (other provisions being very scarce with them) that Philip himself was expected within three or four days at the same place. Being asked what Indians they were !■ he answered, " Some Weeta^ more's Indians ; some Mounthope Indians ; some Narraganset Indians ; and some other upland In- dians ; in all, about three hundred."

The Rhodeisland boats, by the Major's order, meeting them at Pocasset, they were soon embarked. It being just in the dusk of the evening, they could plainly discover the enemies' fires at the place the Indian directed to, and the army concluded no other, but [that] they were bound directly thither, until they came to the north end of the island and heard the word of command for the boats to bear away.

Mr. Church was very fond of having this probable opportunity of surprising that whole company of In- dians embraced; but orders, it was said must be obeyed, which were to go to Mounthope, and there to fight Philip.

This with some other good opportunities of doing- spoil upon the enemy, being unhappily missed, f Mr. Church obtained the Major's consent to meet the Sogkonate Indians, according to his promise. He was offered a guard to Plymouth, but chose to go with one man only, who was a good pilot.

About sunsetjj he, with Sabin§ his pilot, mounted

* In Swanzey.

t The cause of fhis ill timed manoeuvre of the army must remain a mystery. | July 20.

§ As this name does not occur any where else in this histo- ry, it is not probable that he served regularly in that capa- city.

88 PHILIP'S WAR.

their horses at Rehoboth, where the army now wag, and by two hours by sun next morning, arrived safe at Plymouth. And by that time they had refreshed themselves, the Governour and Treasurer* came to town. Mr. Church gave them a short account of the affairs of the army, &c. His honour was pleased to give him thanks for the good and great service he had done at Sogkonate ; [and] told him, [that] he had confirmed all that he had promised Awashonks^ and had sent the Indian back again that [had] brought his letter.f He asked his honour whether he had any thing later from Awashonks *? He told him [that] he had not. Whereupon he gave his honour an account of the Major's orders relating to her and hers, and what discourse had passed pro and con, about them ; and that he had promised to meet them, and that he had encouraged them that he thought he might obtain of his honour a commission to lead them forth to fight Philip. His honour smi- lingly told him, that he should not want commission if he would accept it, nor yet good Englishmen enough to make up a good army.

But in short he told his honour [that] the time had expired that he had appointed to meet the Sogko- nates at Sandwich. The Governour asked him when he would go 9 He told him, that afternoon by his honour's leave. The Governour asked him how many men he would have with him^ He answered, not above half a dozen; with an order to take more at Sandwich, if he saw cause, and horses provided. He no sooner moved it, but had his number of men tendering to go with him ; among [whom] ^ were Mr. 1 [which]

* Mr. Southworth.

t This letter contained an answer to the account of his meeting Awashonks, before related, which was sent from the island by Peter,

PHILIP'S WAR. 89

JabezHowland,*and Nathaniel Southworth.f They went to Sandwich that night, where Mr. Church (with need enough) took a nap of sleep. The next morn- ing, with about sixteen or eighteen men, he proceed- ed as far as Agawom,t where they had great expec- tation of meeting the Indians, but met them not. His men being discouraged, about half of them re- turned. Only half a dozen stuck by him, and pro- mised so to do until they should meet with the In- dians.

When they came to Sippican§ river, Mr. How- land began to tire, upon which Mr. Church left him and two more, for a reserve, at the river; that if he should meet with enemies, and be forced back, they might be ready to assist them in getting over the river. Proceeding in their march, they crossed another river, and opened a great bay,|| where they might see many miles along shore, where were sands and flats ; and hearing a great noise below them, to- wards the sea, they dismounted their horses ; left them, and creeped among the bushes, until they came near the bank, and saw a vast company of In-

* Little more than the pages of this history furnish, am I able to communicate of the worthy Howland. More, but for the fatal winds, or more fatal flames of Courtstreet might have been told. He was a son of the venerable John How- land of Carver's family, (whose name is the ISth to that memorable instrument, or first foundation of government in Newengland, which may be seen in Appendix, HI, with the other signers.) As I am informed by my worthy friend, Mr. Isaac Howland of Westport, who is also a descendant.

t This gentleman was with Mr. Church in his first and second expeditions to the eastward, as will be seen in those expeditions. I learn nothing more of him.

I A small riv er in Rochester. Several places were known by this name. Our Plymouth fathers proposed to go to a place about twenty leagues to the northward, known to them by the name of Agawam, (now Ipswich.) Morton, 20.

§ (Rochester.)

il Buzzard's bay.

8*

90 PHILIP'S WAR.

dians, of all ages and sexes ; some on horseback running races; some at football ; some catching eels and flat fish in the water ; some clamming, &c. ; but, which way, with safety, to find out what Indians they were, they were at a loss.

But at length, retiring into a thicket, Mr. Church hallooed to them. They soon answered him, and a couple of smart young fellows, well mounted, came upon a full career to see whom it might be that call- ed, and came just upon Mr. Church before they dis- covered him. But when they perceived themselves so near Englishmen, and armed, were much surpris- ed; and tacked short about to run as fast back as they came forward, until one of the men in the bushes called to them, and told them his name was Church, and [they] need not fear his hurting of them. Upon which after a small pause, they turned about their horses, and came up to him. One of them that could speak English, Mr. Church took aside and ex- amined ; who informed him, that the Indians below were Awashonks and her company, and that Jack Havens was among them ; whom Mr. Church imme- diately sent for to come to him, and ordered the mes- senger to inform Awashonks that he was come to meet her. Jack Havens soon came, and by that time Mr. Church had asked him a few questions, and had been satisfied by him, that it was Awashonks and her company that were below, and that Jack had been kindly treated by them, a company of Indians all mounted on horseback, and well armed, came riding up to Mr. Church, but treated him with all due respects. He then ordered Jack to go [and] tell Awashonks, that he designed to sup with her in the evening, and to lodge in her camp that night. Then taking some of the Indians with him, he went back to the river to take care of Mr. Howland.

Mr. Church having a mind to try what mettle he was made of, imparted his notion to the Indians that were with him, and gave them directions how to act

PHILIP'S WAR. 91

their parts. When he came pretty near the place, he and his Englishmen pretendedly fled, firing on their retreat towards the Indians that pursued them, and they firing as fast after them. Mr. Howland being upon his guard, hearing the guns, and by and by seeing the motion both of the English and In- dians, concluded [that] his friends were distressed, and was soon on the full career on horseback to meet them ; [when]^ he [perceived]^ their laughing, [and] mistrusted the truth.

As soon as Mr. Church had given him the news, they hastened away to Awashonks. Upon their ar- rival, they were immediately conducted to a shelter open on one side whither Awashonks and her chiefs soon came, and paid their respects ; and the multi- tudes gave shouts as made the heavens to ring.

It being now about sunsetting, or near the dusk of the evening, the Netops* came running from all quarters loaden with the tops of dry pines, and the like combustible matter, making a huge pile there- of, near Mr. Church's shelter, on the open, side thereof. But by this time supper was brought in, in three dishes ; viz., a curious young bass in one dish ; eels and flat fish in a second ; and shell fish in a third. But neither bread nor salt to be seen at table. But by that time supper was over, the mighty pile of pine knots and tops, &.C., was fired ; and all the Indians, great and small, gathered in a ring round it, Awashonks, with the oldest of her people, men and women mixed, kneeling down, made the first ring next the fire; and all the lusty stout men, 1 [until] 2 [perceiving]

* This name is used by our author, I suspect, in the same sense as other writers use that of sannop. See Winthrop's Journal, sub anno 1630, and Hubbard, Nar. 30, where it ap- pears to bean Indian word employed by the sachems as a common name for their men. The latter author spelt it sannap. Nipnet was a general name for all inland Indians between the Massachusetts and Connecticut river. Ibid. 15.

^2 PHILIP'S WAR.

J^tanding up, made the next, and then all the rabble in a confused crew, surrounded, on the outside.

Then the chief Captain stepped in between the rings and the fire, with a spear in one hand, and a hatchet in the other ; danced round the lire, and be- gan to fight with it; making mention of all the seve- ral nations ai.J companies of Indians in the coun- try, that were enemies to the English. And at naming of every particular tribe of Indians, he would draw out and fight a new firebrand; and at finishing his fight with each particular firebrand, would bow to him, and thank him ; and when he had named all the several nations and tribes, and fought them all, he stuck down his spear and hatchet, and came out, and another sj<ept in, and acted over the same dance, with more fury, if possible, than the first ; and when about half a dozen of their chiefs had thus acted their parts, the Captain of the guard stept up to Mr. Church, and told him, [that] they were making sol- diers for him, and what they had been doing was all one [as] swearing of them. And having in that manner engaged all the stout lusty men, Awashonks and her chiefs came to Mr. Church, and told him, that now they were all engaged to fight for the Eng- lish, and [that] he might call forth all, or any of them, at any time, as he saw occasion, to fight the enemy. And [then] presented him with a very fine firelock.

Mr. Church accepts their offer, drew out a num- ber of them, and set out next morning before day for Plymouth, where they arrived the same day.

The Governour being informed of it, came early to town* next morning ;f and by that time, he had Englishmen enough to make a good company, when joined with Mr. Church's Indians, that ofiered their

* The Governour resided at Marshfield a few miles north of Plymouth, t July 23.

PHILIP'S WAR. 93

voluntary service, to go under his command in quest of the enemy. The Governour then gave him a commission vv^hich is as follows.

" Captain Benjamin Church, you are hereby no- minated, ordered, commissioned, and empowered to raise a company of volunteers of about two hundred men, English and Indians ; the English not exceed- ing the number of sixty, of which company, or so many of them as you can obtain, or shall see cause at present to improve, you are to take the command. conduct, and to lead them forth now and hereafter, at such time, and unto such places within this colony, or elsewhere within the confederate colonies, as you shall think fit ; to discover, pursue, fight, surprise, destroy, or subdue our Indian enemies, or any part or parties of them, that by the providence of God you may meet with, or them, or any of them, by treaty and composition to receive to mercy, if you see reason, (provided they be not murderous rogues, or such as have been principal actors in those villanies.) And forasmuch as your company may be uncertain, and ^e persons often changed, you are also here- by empowered with the advice of your company, to choose and commissionate a Lieutenant, and to es- tablish Sergeants, and Corporals as you see cause. And you herein improving your best judgment and discretion, and utmost ability, faithfully to serve the interest of God, his Majesty V interest, and the inter- est of the colony ; and carefully governing your said company at home and abroad. These shall be unto you full and ample commission, warrant and dis- charge. Given under the publick seal, this 24th day of July, 1676.

Per JOS. WINSLOW, Governour:'

Receiving commission, he marched the same night into the woods, got to Middlcborough^ before day ;

* About 15 milos from Plymouth. The fruitful waters in this town and the plenty of game in its woods, caused it to be a principal residence for Indians. Mourt says (in Prince,

94 PHILIP'S WAR.

and as soon as the light appeared, took into the woods and swampy thickets, towards a place where they had some reason to expect to meet with a par- cel of Narraganset Indians, with some others that belonged to Mounthope. Coming near to where they expected them, Captain Church's Indian scout discovered the enemy ; and well observing their fires, and postures, returned with the intelligence to their Captain ; who gave such directions for the surround- ing of them, as had the desired effect ; surprising them from every side, so unexpectedly, that they were all taken, not so much as one escaped.*

And upon a strict examination, they gave intelli- gence of another parcel of the enemy, at a place called Munponset pond.f Captain Church hastening with his prisoners through the woods to Plymouth,

Chron. 191,) " thousands of men have lived here, who died of the great plague, about 3 years before our arrival." It was subject to Massassoit, and was first visited by the Eng- lish, 3 July, 1621. Mr. Edward Winslow, and Mr. Stephen Hopkin^^ passed through there, on their way to visit Massas- soit. They saw the bones of many that died of the plague, where their habitations had been. Ibid, Relicks oi- anti- quity are often found to this day. A gentleman lately dig- ging to set posts for a front yard, near the town house, discov- ered an Indian sepulchre. It contained a great quantity of beads of different kinds, with many other curiosities. A remnant of a tribe of Indians now lives on the northeast side of the great Assawomset. They have mixed with the blacks, and none remain of clear blood. The last that remained un- mixed, was a man who died a few years since, at the age. it was supposed, of 100 years. He went by the name of Cv- mon. What is known of the troubles of tlie inhabitants in this war is found scattered through Mr. Hubbard's Narra- tive, in Bachus' Hist. Middleborough, and note 1, for page 51, of this work.

* We have to regret that our author does not tell us the number which he took, and the place where he took them. But his indefinite mode of writing, may, in part, be account- ed for, by the consideration, that it is given after nearly forty years, mostly from recollection ; especially this part of the history.

t A small pond in the north part of the present town of Hahfax.

PHILIP'S WAR. Of)

disposed of them all, excepting, only one, Jeffrey, who proving very ingenuous and faithful to him, in informing where other parcels of Indians harboured, Captain Church promised him, that if he continued to be faithful to him, he should not be sold out of the country, but should be his waiting man, to take care of his horse, &.c. ; and accordingly he served him faithfully as long as he lived.

But Captain Church was forthwith sent out again, and the terms for his encouragement being conclud- ed on, viz., that the country should find them am- munition'and provision, and have half the prisoners and arms *[that] they took : The Captain and his English soldiers to have the other half of the prison- ers and arms ; and the Indian soldiers the loose plunder. Poor encouragement ! But after some time it was mended.

They soon captivated the Munponsets,* and brought them in, not one escaping.

This stroke he held several weeks, never returning empty handed. When he wanted intelligence of their Jienneling places, he would march to some place, likely to meet with some travellers or ramblers, and scattering his company, would lie close ; and seldom lay above a day or two, at most, before some of them would fall into their hands ; whom he would compel to inform where their company were. And so by his method of secret and sudden surprises, took great numbers of them prisoners.

The government observing his extraordinary courage and conduct, and the success from heavenf

* A small tribe of Indians that resided near Munponset

pond.

t Whether Heaven had any thing to do with making slaves of the Indians after they were made prisoners, may be doubted by scepticks, on the same principles that every feel- ing man now doubts of the justness of our southern breth- ren to make slaves of Negroes. But to the commendation of our hero be it spoken, that his voice was always against en-

96 PHILIP'S WAR.

added to it, saw cause to enlarge his commission ; gave him power to raise and dismiss his forces, as he should see occasion ; to commissionate officers un- der him, and to march as far as he should see cause, within the limits of the three united colonies ; to re- ceive to mercy, give quarter, or not ; excepting some particular and noted murderers, viz., Philip, and all that were at the destroying of Mr. Clark's garrison, and some few others.

Major Bradford being now at Taunton with his army, and wanting provisions, some carts were or- dered from Plymouth for their supply, and Captain Church to guard them. But he obtaining other guards for the carts, as far as Middleborough, ran before with a small company, hoping to meet with some of the enemy ; appointing the carts and their guards to meet with them at Nemascut,* about an hour after sun's rising, next morning.

He arrived there about the breaking of the day- light, and discovered a company of the enemy ; but his time was too short to wait for gaining advantage, and therefore ran right in upon them, surprised and captivated about sixteen of them, who upon exami- nation, informed that Tispaquinf a very famous Cap- slaving mankind. What greater proof can we have of his humanity, considering the age in which he lived? Seepage 52, and note 1.

* (Near Raynham.)

That part of Middleborough along the river of that name. This name like many others was written differently by the early contemporary writers. It is generally spelt Namasket ; but more properly Nemasket. Holmes, I, 211, from 1 Mass. Hist. Coll. Ill, 148, says, it was that part of Middleborough, which the English first planted. Hutchinson, I, 262, says, that Philip sometimes resided here. See note 1, on page 93. Savage, in Winthrop, I, 55, says, " This name belonged to

fiart of the tract now included in Middleborough ; but the ines of Indian geography were probably not very precise, or are forgotten."

t He was at the destroying of Mr. Clark's house at Ply- mouth. After his wife and child were taken by Captain Church, he came and delivered himself up at Plymouth, as a

PHILIP'S WAR. 97

tain among the enemy was at Assawompset* with a numerous company.

But the carts must now be guarded, and the op- portunity of visiting Tispaquin must now be laid aside; the carts are to be faithfully guarded, lest Tispaquin should attack them.

Coming towards Taunton, Captain Church taking two men with him, made all speed to the town. And coming to the river side, he hallooed, and inquiring of them that came to the river, for Major Bradford or his Captains. He was informed [that] they were in the town, at the tavern. He told them of the carts that were coming, that he had the cumber of guarding them, which had already prevented his im- proving opportunities of doing service ; prayed, therefore, that a guard might be sent over to receive the carts, that he might be at liberty — refusing all invitations and persuasions to go over to the tavern to visit the Major. He at length obtained a guard to receive the carts, by whom also he sent his prison- ers to be conveyed with the carts, to Plymouth ; di- recting them not to return by the way they came, but by Bridgewater.

prisoner of war ; but was afterward barbarously murderedhy the government for his confidence in them, as will be seen in the progress of this history.

To