Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

162 SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1S86.
and I hope they be there." The Agawams could not be called pray-
ing Indians, but faith in them was quite as strong at first.
On Monday morning, October 4, 167o, Major Pynchon, following
the direction of the commissioners, rode at the head of a company of
troopers to Hadley, where he proposed, with others, to arrange for a
hot pursuit of the enemy. But King Philip was not longing for a
pitched battle. He undoubtedly knew of this move, and may have
been Avaiting for it, as over two weeks had passed in silence since the
Bloody Brook fight.
But the Agawam Indians had been secretly prevailed upon to join
in the war of extermination. At the dead of night a large num-
ber of warriors stole into the fort of the Agawams on Long Hill.
Historians doubt very much whether King Philip commanded this
expedition in person. Mosely said at the time that he did, but upon
what evidence is not known. The fort may have been filling up for
some nights, or runners may have brought the news before, for some
Agawams had been down to Hartford and effected the escape of the
hostages held there. Upon their way back the word was passed
among the Indians that Springfield was doomed. Toto, an Indian
living with a Windsor family, l)ecame agitated on the night of the
4th, and the famil}^ succeeded in extracting from him the terrible
secret. It was long after dark when Toto made the confession, and
in post-haste a man was sent to carry the news to Springfield. He
rode into town at the dead of night, and roused the inhabitants, who
were doubly terrified, the soldiers having gone off on the Hadley campaign.
The alarm was sounded at every door in the village. What
few men there were seized their guns and ammunition, and with all
haste escorted the women and children to the three garrison-houses
of the place, which had been recently repaired and fortified. It was
a night of dramatic consternation. Among the men known to have
been in Springfield at that time were the disabled Deacon Chapin,
Jonathaii Burt, Rev. Mr. Glover, David Morgan, Lieutenant Cooper,
and Thomas Miller. Messengers were at once despatched to Pynchon,