CHAP. III.

PHILIP'S WAR CONT NUED.-HOSTILITIES COMMENCED BY THE INDIANS BORDERING ON THE RIVER MERRIMACK.

THE Nipnet and Narraganset tribes being by the late action nearly exterminated, the few who survived, by the direction of Philip, fled in small parties to different parts of the country, improving every opportunity that presented to revenge the untimely fate of their brethren. On the 10th February, 1678, about one hundred of them surprised the inhabitants of Lancaster, a part of whom, as a place of greater safety, had the day previous resorted to the dwelling of the Rev. Mr. Rowland; this, however, being constructed of dry logs, was set on fire by the Indians, which the unfortunate English within being unable to extinguish, they fell victims to the devouring flames. On the 21st, the enemy attacked the inhabitants of Medfield, twelve of whom they killed, and the remainder made captive.

On the 3d March, the Indians still continuing their depredations, two companies of cavalry, under the command of Capts. Pierce and Watkins, were ordered out for the purpose of affording protection to the defenceless inhabitants of towns most exposed to their incursions. On the 5th, they marched to Patuxet, near where there was a considerable body of Indians encamped, whom, on the morning of the 6th, they fell in with and attacked. The enemy at first appeared but few in number, but these were only employed to decoy the English, who on a sudden found themselves surrounded by near five hundred Indians; they with their tomahawks and scalping knives rushed furiously upon them, threatening them with instant destruction. The English acted on the defensive, and though surrounded by five times their number, fought with their usual spirit, and were resolved to sell their lives at as

dear a rate as possible. They were very soon, however, compelled to yield to the superior force of their savage enemies. Only five escaped. Though this victory was of considerable importance to the savages, it cost a number of their bravest warriors, ninety-three of whom were the next day found dead on the field of action. There were in this engagement about twenty friendly Indians with the English, who fought like desperadoes. One of them, observing Capt. Pierce unable to stand, in consequence of the many wounds he had received, for nearly two hours bravely defended him; when, perceiving his own imminent danger, and that he could afford the captain no farther assistance, by blacking his face as the enemy had done, he escaped unnoticed.

On the 25th March, a party of Indians attacked and burnt the towns of Weymouth and Warwick, killing a great number of the inhabitants. On the 10th of April following, they pillaged and burnt Rehobeth and Pro

vidence.

On the 1st of May, a company of English and one hundred and fifty Mohegans, under the command of Capt. George Dennison, were sent in pursuit of a body of the enemy, commanded by a son of Miantinomi. On the 8th of May, they met with and attacked them near Groton. The Indians appeared determined on victory or death, displaying an unusual degree of courage, but the English and Mohegans proved too strong for them; after destroying a greater part with their muskets and tomahawks, they drove the remainder into a neighboring river, where they soon perished.

On the 23d, Cononchet, sachem of the few scattered remains of the Narragansets, proposed to his council that the lands bordering on Connecticut river, not inhabited by the English, should be planted by them with corn, for their future subsistence; which being approved of by the latter, two hundred of the Narra gansets were despatched for that purpose. The governor, being apprized of their intentions, sent three companies of cavalry to intercept them. About one hun

dred of the Mohegans, under the command of Oneco, accompanied the English. The enemy were commanded by Cononchet in person, who first proceeded to Seekonk to procure seed-corn. It was in the neighborhood of this place that they were first engaged by the English and Mohegans. With becoming bravery, the enemy for a long time withstood the attack; but, being poorly provided with weapons, were at length overpowered and compelled to yield to the superior force of their enemies. In the midst of the action, Cononchet, being fearful of the issue, deserted his men, and attempted to seek shelter in a neighboring wood; but being recognised by the Mohegans, they pursued him. Cononchet, perceiving himself nearly overtaken by his pursuers, to facilitate his flight, first threw away his blanket, then his silverlaced coat, with which he had been presented by the English a few weeks previous; but finding that he could not escape from his pursuers by flight, he plunged into a river, where he was even followed by half a dozen resolute Mohegans, who laid hold of him, forced him under water, and there held him until drowned. The loss of the English and Mohegans in this engagement was twelve killed and twenty-one wounded; that of the enemy was forty-three killed, and about eighty wounded.

The inhabitants of New London, Norwich, and Stonington, having frequently discovered a number of the enemy lurking about in small bodies in the adjacent woods, by joint agreement voluntarily enlisted themselves, to the number of three hundred, under the command of Maj. Palmer, and Capts. Dennison and Avery, who, with the assistance of the Mohegans and a few friendly Narragansets, in three expeditions destroyed nearly one thousand of the enemy.

On the 8th of June, the Indians assaulted and burnt Bridgewater, a small settlement in the colony of Massachusetts. Forty of its inhabitants fell victims to savage barbarity.

The governor and council of Massachusetts colony,

aware of the danger to which many of the inland set tlements were exposed, by frequent incursions of the enemy, and finding it extremely difficult to raise a sufficient force to oppose them in the many parts to which the fragments of the broken tribes had resorted, adopted the policy of sending among them as spies such Indians as were friendly and could be depended upon; which plan had its desired effect. These Indians, representing the force of the English much greater than it really was, and warning the enemy of danger which did not exist, deterred them from acting in many instances on the offensive. One of the friendly Indians, returning to Boston on the 10th of July, reported that a large body of Indians were embodied in a wood near Lancaster, which village they intended to attack and burn in a few days; that they had been encouraged to continue the war with the English by Frenchmen from the great lake, who had supplied them with fire-arms and ammunition.

On the receipt of this important information, the governor despatched three companies of cavalry, under command of Maj. Savage, for the defence of Lancaster, who, by mistaking the road, unfortunately fell into an ambush of about three hundred and fifty Indians, by whom they were instantly surrounded. The English exhibited great presence of mind, and repelled the attack of the enemy in a very heroic manner. savages, being, however, well provided with fire-arms, soon gained a complete victory over the English, whose loss in this unfortunate engagement was fiftyfour. The number of killed and wounded of the enemy could not be ascertained, as they remained masters of the field of action.

The

On the 15th, a severe engagement took place between a company of English cavalry and about three hundred of the enemy near Groton. The latter were not perceived by the former until they were within a few paces of them, the Indians having concealed themselves in the bushes, when suddenly issuing forth with a hideous yell, the cavalry were thrown into confusion;

but instantly forming and charging the enemy with great spirit, they fled in every direction. The cavalry, in attempting to pursue them, were once more ambushed. The contest now became close and severe. The Indians, having succeeded in decoying the English into a thick wood, attacked them with fury and success. The commander of the English being killed, every man sought his own safety. Of ninety-five, of which the company was composed, but twelve escaped. The loss of the enemy was supposed to be much greater.

On the 12th of August, a party of Indians entered the town of Westfield, killed and took a number of the inhabitants prisoners, and burnt several houses. Three of them soon after made their appearance at a house near said town, and fired at a man at his door, who fell. They ran towards him, and one of them, stooping to scalp him, was assaulted by the man's wife with a stroke from a hatchet, which went so completely into his body that with three different efforts she could not disengage it, and the Indian made off with it sticking in him. A second also made an attempt, when she, by a well-directed blow with a stick she had found, laid him on the ground. The third then ran, and as soon as the other had recovered his feet, he followed the example; on which the woman took her husband in her arms and carried him into the house, when he soon recovered.

On the 17th, a party of Indians commenced an attack on Northampton, but there being a number of soldiers stationed there, the enemy was repulsed.

On the 20th, a number of the inhabitants of Springfield were attacked by a party of Indians, as they were returning from divine service. Although the former were provided with fire-arms, the enemy succeeded in making prisoners of two women and several children, whom they soon after tomahawked and scalped; in which situation they were the next day found by a party of English sent out in pursuit of the enemy. One of the unfortunate women, although shockingly mangled, was found still alive, and so far recovered as