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

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it is his place to recommend any officer for promotion to the Coun-
cil to receive his commission at their behest.
On November 10th Capt. Appleton had not received any further
advices from the Council and writes them for orders, and gives explanation
of his action in regard to appointing Poole, that he acted
from necessity, and as is evident very wisely. He then details his motions
since October 2 ( Jth, when two men and a boy at Northamp-
ton were attacked. (These were Joseph Baker, Joseph Baker, Jr.,
and Thomas Salmon, and Mr. Russell puts with them John Roberts,
a wounded soldier who died there soon after.) On the 30th,
at night, upon an alarm from Hatfield, Capt. Appleton was called
out of his bed and pushed his troops across the river, where he remained
over the next day, Sunday. On Monday he marched ten
or twelve miles out through the " Chestnutt Mountains," scouting,
without avail. Tuesday he consulted with Major Treat, and agreed
to march on Wednesday night with their whole force towards Deer-
field, which they did without finding the enemy, and returned late
at night. On the 5th an alarm at Northampton, and another fruit-
less search. Upon a request of Major Treat on the 6th for permission
to withdraw his soldiers from Westfield to seek the enemy down
the river, a council of war was appointed for Monday the 8th, at
which meeting Capt. Appleton took the ground that he had no authority
from the commissioners to grant them leave to withdraw.
Major Treat took a very frank and manly position, by no means hostile
to Capt. Appleton. The trouble seems to have been the unwillingness
of the Connecticut soldiers to remain in garrison a^ Westfield.
The report of the council-of-war is submitted to the Massachusetts
Council for the orders of the commissioners. He says they
are at loss to find out the present location or intention of the enemy,
but fear they may be upon them in force at any moment. He suggests
that if the army be drawn off for the winter and the towns
garrisoned, Connecticut troops might more conveniently be placed
and supplied at Westfield and Northampton, and the other three
towns garrisoned with Massachusetts men. He reports a council-atwar,
at which David Bennet, chirurgion, was expelled from the
army for " quarrelsome and rebellious Carriage," and submits the action
for ratification to the Council. He sends down as posts, Serg.
James Johnson, Serg. John Throp, and Nathaniel Warner of Hadley,
and with them Capt. Poole, to whom he refers them for a more
detailed account of matters.
While awaiting the long delayed instructions of the Council,
Capt. Appleton stood in a very difficult position, the Connecticut
officers and soldiers in great impatience and almost open mutiny at
being kept in garrison ; and the people, crowded into the garrisonhouses
in fear that Philip's whole force might at any hour fall upon
them, were threatening to abandon their towns. The Council of
Connecticut, too, were apparently interfering with his command of