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

153
extract relating to the occasion is from a "Letter of Major Palmer
of New London to the Governor and Council of Connecticut."
New London y e 26 th Jan ua: 1675-6
I having tin's oportunity by Mr Plom, could not omitt acquainting
you of Maj r Treat's departure this day, with all his forces, who is accompanied
with Mr. Fitch, Mr Buckley & Mr Wise. They expected to reach
Badcock's this night and so get to Mr Smith's tomorrow: For Major
Treate hath had two late ord from the General] one rece d on Lord's day,
the other this morning, to hasten his coming; the Indyabs being seated 8
or 10 miles northwest of Providence, and about 25 miles from Mr Smith's.
The information was gayned by two Indyans taken by a party of Capt
Prentis' troope, which killed nyne more one escaped there being 12 in that
party.
The Barke with the Provitions went out last night and hath had a fay re
wind to cary her in today. They have added tenn barrels of meate to the
twenty you ordered from Milford : which doth afflict our people more than
the trouble of quartering both well and wounded men, which have so impoverished
them that sundry will much suffer, without y c speedy supply of
corne for their releife
In the margin of this letter is added the item,
" Unkas has gone forth in person."
It will be seen by the letter that the march from headquarters was
begun on the 26th of January. James Babcock's place was in what
is now Westerly, R. I. By good marching they could have reached
Smith's Garrison and joined the main army on the evening of the
27th ; and thus January 28th must be the earliest date at which
we can place the general forward movement of the whole army.
The Council orders and references and letters in the Connecticut
Colonial Records serve to confirm the account of Mr. Hubbard,
although derived from independent sources, and as they give very
few items besides, it seems evident that we have all of importance
that happened. On January 23d Major Treat wrote to the Connecticut
Council, quoting a letter from General Winslow, which he
says lie has lost, but which contained nothing of importance except
to hasten their coming and " grateing on our disorderly retreat,"
and the good news of the taking of Joshua Tift 118 by Capt. Fenner, of
Providence. From some Indian prisoners which the Connecticut
scouts had taken, it was found that the Narragansetts were lying in
small parties along the way leading into the Nipmuck country, and
with scouting parties so posted that our army could not surprise
their main body.
From a letter of Roger Williams to Governor Leverett, dated
Providence, 14 January, 1675, and published in the "Winthrop
Papers," vol. 36, p. 307, Coll. Mass. Hist. Society, we learn much
about this Joshua Tift, different from the accounts of contemporary
1,8 Capt. Oliver's letter previously given, as to its facts, was "attested" by this Joshua
" Teffe."