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

172 SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1SS6.
attack. On the evening of the 17th Appleton, then at Haclle}', was
beset with couriers. Seeley sent from Northampton for aid, as the
enemy had been seen there ; INIosely reported the Indians within a
mile of Hatfield ; and word came from Connecticut that troops would
be sent up the river at once. Detachments were sent to Hatfield
and Northampton that night. Tlie Indians failed to attack, but on
October ll>th the forces of the great Pokanoket chief, flushed with
the destruction of four towns and almost unlimited plunder, closed
in upon Hatfield with a large force. Mosely and Poole bravely de-
fended the town, and Appleton, hearing the sound of battle from
Hadley, dashed to the rescue. The Indians outnumbered the whites
three to one, but the place was saved. Only about nine of the
Plnglish fell.
The figliting season was now over. The winter closed in earl}', and
many Springfield families probably were forced to live in closed cellars
and dug-outs. Some of the Indians went east ; many, especially the
aged, wintered above Northfield ; and Philip, with a band of about
five hundred, pushed over to the Hudson river. He was a sick man,
and although he survived to do much harm, his career was drawing
to a close.
The second year in King Philip's war is in the main but re-
motel}' connected with Springfield. The new board of selectmen were
Ensign Cooley, Jonathan Burt, John Keep, John Hitchcock, and Eli-
zur Holyoke. The winter wns passed in a state of practical irapins-
onment for fear of skulking Indians. Mr. Pynchon visited AVestfield,
where the mills were, with Goodman Dumbleton and two young men,
and three men were killed by Indians. Mr. Pynchon attended the ^lay
General Court, and was chairman of a committee to consult with
Captain Mosely as to the military situation.
A new valuation for Springfield was ordered on account of the fire,
and later in the year £150 was taken from the colon}' tax on account
of Springfield's losses. In February the town met to elect a select-
man, " God having taken away Captain Holyoke." Samuel Marsh-
'