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

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284<br />

Dur<strong>in</strong>g August <strong>of</strong> 1676, Capt. Scottow was evidently at Boston,<br />

leav<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> conduct <strong>of</strong> affairs to Jocelyn and Tippen with<br />

Walter Grendal as a third on <strong>the</strong> "committee <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> militia." Serjeant<br />

Tippen, who appears to have been a very efficient <strong>of</strong>ficer,<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g called away also, <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs found <strong>the</strong>mselves unable to control<br />

<strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>habitants who were act<strong>in</strong>g as garrison <strong>soldiers</strong>, and <strong>the</strong>y wrote<br />

this letter to Capt. Scottow.<br />

Capt. Joshua Scottow.<br />

We underwritten be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> y e committee with Serjeant Tippen, and both<br />

<strong>of</strong> you now be<strong>in</strong>g absent, shall desire you to acqua<strong>in</strong>t y e Governor & Councill<br />

<strong>of</strong> y e averseness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> generality <strong>of</strong> y e Inhabitants to obey Military<br />

orders ; y' <strong>the</strong>y would be pleased to direct some especial order to such <strong>in</strong><br />

this town' as may br<strong>in</strong>g y e Inhabitants to y e obedience <strong>of</strong> y e Military Laws<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Government y* we may be <strong>in</strong> some capacity to defend ourselves<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>st y e common enemy ; and we shall rema<strong>in</strong>,<br />

Y r friends to serve you<br />

Black Po<strong>in</strong>t, Aug. 9 th , 1676. Henry Jocelyn,<br />

Walter Gendall.<br />

The Blackpo<strong>in</strong>t garrison was recognized by <strong>the</strong> Indians as <strong>the</strong><br />

strongest fortification <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Eastern Towns, and it had <strong>the</strong>refore<br />

escaped any assault <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> general destruction which fell upon Casco<br />

and <strong>the</strong> Kennebec towns. In <strong>the</strong> letter <strong>of</strong> Capt. Hathorne <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

last chapter, we f<strong>in</strong>d some account <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> discontent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> people at<br />

Blackpo<strong>in</strong>t and <strong>the</strong>ir determ<strong>in</strong>ation to abandon <strong>the</strong> garrison and be-<br />

take <strong>the</strong>mselves to <strong>the</strong> safer towns to <strong>the</strong> West. The letter <strong>in</strong>dicates<br />

also that Capt. Scottow was <strong>the</strong>re when Capt. Hathorne visited <strong>the</strong><br />

place, but evidently withdrew soon after ; as upon October 12th <strong>the</strong><br />

Indians appeared at <strong>the</strong> garrison, a hundred strong, with <strong>the</strong> chief<br />

" Mugg" (or Mog Hegon, Whittier's Mog Megone) at <strong>the</strong>ir head ;<br />

<strong>the</strong>y found <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>habitants all with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> fort and Mr. Jocelyn <strong>in</strong><br />

command. The Indians did not attack, know<strong>in</strong>g that even a small<br />

number could hold it aga<strong>in</strong>st any assault <strong>the</strong>y could make. Mugg<br />

was well acqua<strong>in</strong>ted with all <strong>the</strong> affairs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> English, and immediately<br />

sought a parley with Mr. Jocelyn, which lasted a long time. In<br />

<strong>the</strong> meantime all <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>habitants had taken <strong>the</strong> opportunity to get<br />

out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> house and to <strong>the</strong>ir boats and away to <strong>the</strong> West<strong>war</strong>d towns,<br />

—Wells, Portsmouth, &c. How <strong>the</strong>y could have thus effected <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

escape <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> presence <strong>of</strong> so large a body <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> enemy, must be<br />

expla<strong>in</strong>ed by <strong>the</strong> advantageous position <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> garrison, and <strong>the</strong> overconfidence<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Indians. Mr. Jocelyn and his family were taken<br />

with <strong>the</strong> house and its contents, which was at once surrendered,<br />

when Mr. Jocelyn found only his own family left with<strong>in</strong>. Mugg was<br />

highly elated with this great and easy success, and Jocelyn was<br />

treated k<strong>in</strong>dly, and with his family soon restored to <strong>the</strong>ir friends.<br />

It is said that he after<strong>war</strong>ds removed to Plymouth, where he spent<br />

<strong>the</strong> rest <strong>of</strong> his days. Blackpo<strong>in</strong>t garrison was not destroyed, perhaps<br />

because Mugg, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> flush <strong>of</strong> his success, believed <strong>the</strong> English would

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