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

SPRINGFIELD, 16S6-1SS6. 581
farther up the river, where lie had tlie sympathy of the Indians. So the inhabi-
tants of Springfield retired to their rest on the evening of Monday, the 4th of Octo-
ber, l()7o, with a feeling of security. In the night they were aroused by a mes-
senger from Windsor, with information that an Indian there, who lived in the
family of Mr. Wolcott, had revealed the fact that a plot had been formed to de-
stroy Springfield, and that a large body of Philip's men had been admitted by the
Springfield Indians to their fort on Long hill, about a luile south from the town,
for this purpose. The alarm was immediately given to all the inhabitants, and
messengers were sent to Major Pynchon and Major Treat. The villagers fled
at once to the fortified liouses with such of their more valuable effects as they
could readily remove. At that time tliere were three fortified houses. One was
the brick house of Major Pynchon, Iniilt by him in 1G60, standing near the head
of Fort street, and known since, for many years, as the Old Fort. The other
fortified liouses were nearer the south end of the main street.
Every preparation was made for defence that the nature of the case would
allow. But there was a painful consciousness of immediate danger. The peo-
ple of the fortified houses awaited with sleepless anxiety the coming of day.
The night wore away, and the morning of Tuesday, October 5, dawned upon the
watchers. It brought no confirmation of the fears. The risen sun disclosed no
savage foes. The houses stretched along the street showed no signs of having
been disturbed. Some of the inhabitants began to doubt the truth of the report
from Windsor. Of this number was Thomas Cooper, who had been lieutenant
of the Springfield Company, a brave and experienced officer. He determined to
test the truth of the report from Windsor by making himself a i>ersonal visit to
the Indian fort. Taking with him Thomas Miller, the two set out on horseback
down Main street toward Long hill. They had just entered the woods which
skirted the settlement in that direction, but had not crossed Mill river, when they
were fired upon by some unseen foes. Miller was instantly killed. Cooper was
mortally wounded and fell from his horse, but succeeded in mounting again and
rode to the nearest fort, before reaching which he received a second shot and
soon after died.
The Indians then burst upon the town with the greatest fury. Unable to
gratify their thirst for blood by the slaughter of the people, who had taken re-
fuge in the forts, they applied the torch to the buildings. About thirty-two
houses and twenty-five barns with their contents were destroyed. Major
jPynchon's corn-mill and saw-mill Avere consumed.
While this work of destruction was going on. Major Treat arrived with his
forces on the other side of the river, but was unable to cross for want of boats.
Ifothing effectual for the relief of the town could be accomplished until al)0ut