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

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198<br />

Sleep, without any Scouts abroad, or watch<strong>in</strong>g about <strong>the</strong> Wigwams at<br />

Home ; for <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Even<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>y had made <strong>the</strong>mselves merry with new<br />

Milk and roast Beef hav<strong>in</strong>g lately driven away many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir milch Cows,<br />

as an English Woman confessed that was made to milk <strong>the</strong>m."<br />

" When <strong>the</strong>y came with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Indians Rendezvouze <strong>the</strong>y allighted <strong>of</strong>f<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir Horses and tyed <strong>the</strong>m to some young Trees at a quarter <strong>of</strong> a Miles<br />

Distance, so march<strong>in</strong>g up <strong>the</strong>y fired ama<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong>ir very Wigwams, kill-<br />

<strong>in</strong>g many upon <strong>the</strong> Place, and fright<strong>in</strong>g o<strong>the</strong>rs with <strong>the</strong> sudden Alarm <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong>ir Guns, and made <strong>the</strong>m run <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> River, where <strong>the</strong> Swiftness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Stream carry<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m down a steep Fall, <strong>the</strong>y perished <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Waters,<br />

some gett<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to Canoes (small Boats made <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Bark <strong>of</strong> birchen Trees)<br />

which proved to <strong>the</strong>m a Charons Boat, be<strong>in</strong>g sunk, or overset, by <strong>the</strong><br />

Shoot<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> our Men, delivered <strong>the</strong>m <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> like Danger <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Waters,<br />

giv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m <strong>the</strong>reby a Passport <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r World ; o<strong>the</strong>rs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m<br />

creep<strong>in</strong>g for Shelter under <strong>the</strong> Banks <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> great River were espyed by<br />

our Men and killed by <strong>the</strong>ir Swords ; Capt. Holiohe kill<strong>in</strong>g five, young and<br />

old with his own Hands from under a Bank. When <strong>the</strong> Indians were first<br />

awakened by <strong>the</strong> thunder <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir Guns <strong>the</strong>y cried out Mohawks, Mohawks,<br />

as if <strong>the</strong>ir own native enemies had been upon <strong>the</strong>m ; but <strong>the</strong> dawn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Light, soon notified <strong>the</strong>ir error, though it could not prevent <strong>the</strong> Danger."<br />

The o<strong>the</strong>r extract is from one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> letters written from Boston,<br />

July 22d, 1676, and published <strong>in</strong> London <strong>the</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g October.<br />

The writer signs himself " N. S.," but has never been identified.<br />

" About a Fortnight after<strong>war</strong>ds, <strong>the</strong> forementioned Capt. Turner, by<br />

Trade a Taylor, but one that for his Valour has left beh<strong>in</strong>de him an Honourable<br />

Memory, hear<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Indians be<strong>in</strong>g about Twenty Miles above<br />

<strong>the</strong>m at Connecticut River drew out a Party at Hadley and Northampton,<br />

where <strong>the</strong>re was a Garrison, and 'march<strong>in</strong>g all Night, came upon <strong>the</strong>m before<br />

Day-break, <strong>the</strong>y hav<strong>in</strong>g no Cent<strong>in</strong>els or Scouts abroad, as th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>the</strong>mselves secure, by Reason <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir remote Distance from any <strong>of</strong> our Plantations<br />

; Ours tak<strong>in</strong>g this Advantage <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir Negligence, fell <strong>in</strong> amongst<br />

<strong>the</strong>m, and killed several Hundreds <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m upon <strong>the</strong> Place ; <strong>the</strong>y be<strong>in</strong>g<br />

out <strong>of</strong> any Posture or Order to make any formidable Resistance, though<br />

<strong>the</strong>y were six Times superior <strong>in</strong> Number : But that which was almost as<br />

much, nay <strong>in</strong> some respects more considerable than <strong>the</strong>ir Lives, We <strong>the</strong>re<br />

destroied all <strong>the</strong>ir Ammunition and Provision, which we th<strong>in</strong>k <strong>the</strong>y can<br />

hardly be so soon and easily recruited as possibly <strong>the</strong>y may be with Men.<br />

We likewise here demolisht Two Forges <strong>the</strong>y had to mend <strong>the</strong>ir Arms ;<br />

took away all <strong>the</strong>ir Materialls and Tools, and drove many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong><br />

River, where <strong>the</strong>y were drowned, and threw two great Piggs <strong>of</strong> Lead <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong>irs (<strong>in</strong>tended for mak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> Bullets) <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> said River. But this great<br />

Success was not altoge<strong>the</strong>r without Alloy, as if Providence had designed<br />

to Checquer our Joys and Sorrows ; and lest we should Sacrifice to our own<br />

Nets, and say, Our own Armes or Prowesse hath done this, to permit <strong>the</strong><br />

Enemy presantly after to take an advantage aga<strong>in</strong>st us ; For as our Men<br />

were return<strong>in</strong>g to Hadley, <strong>in</strong> a dangerous Passe, which <strong>the</strong>y were not sufficiently<br />

a<strong>war</strong>e <strong>of</strong>, <strong>the</strong> skulk<strong>in</strong>g Indians (out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Woods) killed at one<br />

Volley <strong>the</strong> said Capta<strong>in</strong> and Eight and Thirty <strong>of</strong> his Men ; but immedi-<br />

ately after <strong>the</strong>y had discharged, <strong>the</strong>y fled."

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