Soldiers in King Philip's war. Containing lists of the soldiers of ...

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September & to deliver them unto the order of Maio r John Pincheon Comander
in Cheefe in the County of Hampshire & it is further ordered y' in
case Capt. Samuel Appleton should bee com away from those parts then
the said Capt. Wait is ordered to take the conduct and chardge of a Company
of 100 men under Maio r John Pincheon but in case Capt Apleton do
abide there then Capt. Wait is forthwith to returne Backe unles Maio r
Pincheon see cause to detyne him upon y e service of the country
past. E. R. S. 24 Sept. 1675
On the same paper is the following
It is ordered that there be a comission issued forth to Capt. Samuel Appleton
to Comand a foot Company of 100 men In the service of y e country.
But in case bee should be com away from those parts then that Capt.
Waite is to have (a) like comission. past 24 Sept. 1675
By y e Council E R S
4
Ordered y y e Commissary Jn° Morse deliver Mr Thomas Welden snap-
haut musket.
The Indians were gathered in great numbers on the west side of
the river, and were probably under the direction of Philip, although
it is doubtful if he was personally present in any of the assaults.
Small parties were constantly lurking near the frontier towns, Hatfield,
Northampton, and as far as Springfield, where, on September
26th, they burned the farm-house and barns of Major Pynchon on
the west side of the river. Major Pynchon says, in a letter to the
Council, Sept. 30th :
" We are endeavouring to discover the enemy and daily send out sconts,
but little is effected. Our English are somewhat awk and fearful in scouting
and spying, though we do the best we can. We have no Indian
friends here to help us. We find the Indians have their scouts out. Two
days ago two Englishmen at Northampton being gone out in the morning
to cut wood, and but a short distance from the house, were both shot down
dead, having two bullets apiece shot into each of their breasts. The Indians
cut off their scalps, took their arms and were off in a trice."
According to Russell's list of killed, these men were Praisever
Turner and Uzacaby Sbakspeer. Up to this time the Springfield
Indians had been friendly and remained quietly in their large fort
on the east side of the river towards Longmeadow. Some uneasiness
had been felt of late in regard to them, and Major Pynchon had consulted
the commissioners about disarming them. The Connecticut
Council advised against the measure, and recommended rather to receive
hostages from them, to be sent to Hartford for security. This
plan was adopted and the hostages sent ; but the Indians, excited
by the successes of the hostiles, and probably urged by secret agents
of Philip, resolved to join the war against the fmglish. They managed
the escape of their hostages, and waited the opportunity to
strike their blow. On Monday, Oct. 4th, a large body of the enemy
had been reported some five or six miles from Hadley, and immediately
all the soldiers were withdrawn from Springfield to Hadley,
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