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

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Francis Card, a captive, escaped, and made his way to Blackpoint
and thence to Boston, where he made an interesting statement of
the condition of things at the Eastward ;
told the story of his escape,
stated the location and strength of the enemy, putting their entire
fighting force at not above one hundred and fifty fighting men ; he
described the country and explained the best places to land a force,
and urged that an expedition be sent at once before they removed
higher up the river. The details of all the matters referred to above
are to be given in another chapter. The statement made by Card,
and especially his implication of Mog as a " Rogue " who came
back among the Indians, and laughed at the English and their
" kinde Entertainment," and saying he had found a way to burn
Boston, seems to have renewed the determination of the Council to
send an expedition immediately to attempt the recovery of their forts
and the captive English. Other things also moved them, such as
the discovery that the Narraganset Indians were abroad in these
Eastward parts, three being captured by Major Walderne's Indians
in the woods near Dover ; and when several of the chief men about
Portsmouth, &c, came to Boston advising the expedition, it was
determined, and Major Walderne was made commander in chief.
The expedition consisted of two companies of sixty men from
Boston and Salem ; the first, sixty Natick Indians under Capt.
Samuel Hunting ; the second, sixty men under Lieut. Thomas
Fiske of Wenham, whose commission for this service is preserved
in the Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 69, p. 106, and is dated February
5th, 1676. These sailed from Salem the first week in February,
directly to Blackpoint, where Major Walderne met them
with the forces raised by him and Capt. Frost in their parts. The
Council gave Major Walderne instruction and commission as follows
:
Instructions for Major Rich. Walderne.
You shal repaire to Blacke point w th the 60 soukliers under capt. frost
that you are authorized by y e Council to raise in Dover Portsmouth &
yorkshire by y e 8 of feb r
where you are to take under your command the
other forces from Boston & Salem under the command of Capt. Hunting
& Leiftenant Fiske & other sea officers, from whence w th all expedition
w th the advice of your commanders you shall advance towards the enemy
at Kinneheck or elsewhere, & according to the proposed designe, endeavour
w th all silence & secresy to surprize them in their quarters wherein if
it please God to succeed you, you shall do your utmost endeavour to save
and secure the English prisoners. If you fail in this designe you shall
assay by alle means in your power to disturb & destroy the enemy unless
you have such overtures from them as may give some competent assurance
that an honorable and safe peace may be concluded with them wherein you
must avoyd all trifling & delayes & w th all possible speed make despatch of
the affaire not trusting them without first delivery of all the Captives & ves-
sels in their hands. If you should in conclusion find it necessary to leave
a garrison in Kinnebeck, wee must leave it to your discretion. You shall