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

SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1SS6. 169
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plantation, but not the gospel ; and the words of Pynchon to his son
Joseph, written October 20 of this dreadful year, were the words of
Springfield: "How sweet is our interest in Jesus Christ in these
distracting t^^mes I
"
John P3'nchon was of a sensitive nature, and he was a great suf-
ferer, personally, under this affliction. When he first began his ap-
peals to Boston to be relieved of his military post, he had referred
among other things to the " lashes of the tongues of men" against
him, and his sharp sense of the foolishness of the Hadley expedition
was not a bit lessened by the plea that he had done a i-asli thing even
thougli under strict orders. A bolder man — his father, for example
— would have chosen rather to stand the ordeal of explaining to his
superiors how he saved the town by disobeying orders.
Captain Api)leton received from Lieutenant Upham the news of his
promotion to the command of the valley forces, and on the I'itli re-
turned to Hadley, where he wrote Governor Leverett that he proposed
to use his own judgment about garrisoning the towns. He spoke feel-
ingly of Major Pynchon's misfortunes, but opposed the idea of abandoning
Springfield. He continued : "As to the state of poor desolate
Springfeild, to whose relief we came (though with a march that had
put all our men into a most violent sweat, and was more than they
could well bear) too late, their condition is indeed most afflictive . . .
I have in regard to y" present distress of y'' poor people, adventured
to leave Capt. Sill there, to l»e ordered by the Hon. jMajor until further
order be received. What hazard I run, I am not insensible, but do
rather choose to adventure hazard to myself than to the public, and so
throw myself on 3'our worship's mercy in so doing ... In the account
of Springfeild houses we onl}^ presented the number of them on the
East side of the river, and that in the town flatt ; for in all on the
West side, and in the outskirts on the East side, there are about sixt}'
houses standing, and much room in and about them : which coming
into the Indians' hands will yield great support to them. We had
been considering the making of a boat or lioats, and find it not de-