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

SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886. 171
Hartford sent up some ammunition to Springfield just in the nick of
time, the stock up tlie river being very h>w.
The destruction of the mills forced Springfield to go to Westfield
for flour, which was a very dangerous journey at that time, and the
withdrawal of Treat and his Connecticut soldiers added to Appleton's
embarrassment. Appleton sent to Hartford calling upon the author-
ities once more to send him reenforcements. It appears that besides
the alarm over a reported advance of savages in that colony, there
was a disposition to look out for number one, because Plymouth had
neglected to send its quota of troops.
Scouts were sent in all directions from Hadley, to secure some trace
of the enemy. The men were affected with " timorousness," as they
had been when Major Pynchon was in command, and nothing came of
it. After two da^'s Appleton became very uneasy. On the 14th of
October, Mosel}' at Hatfield, and Seeley at Northampton, were or-
dered to report at Hadley for action. Mosely, with his companj^,
were soon on the ground, and Seeley came alone and doubted the le-
gality of the order. A new one was made out, to appear on the loth.
That night he sent a message from Northampton to Hadley, saj^ing
that Major Treat had ordered him to remain at Northampton until
further orders. Seeley was a Connecticut officer, and his force Con-
necticut men. Here was a conflict of authorit3% growing out of the
apparent refusal of Connecticut to fight in Massachusetts because
Plymouth had failed to respond.
On the 16th Appleton started with some Massachusetts troops
for Northfield, but a messenger overtook him with word that the In-
dians had appeared on the west side of the river. He immediately
crossed, marched to Hatfield, and pushed on north by night. The
report of a gun showed that the enemy was near. Appleton proposed
to advance to Deerfield. Mosely did not want to get so far from the
towns. A thunder-storju finally forced them back to Hatfield. It
seemed that Philip was at Deerfield, and that his scouts were lurking
about Hadley, Hatfield, and Northampton, watching a chance for an