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

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declare it. This witness also identified the murderer as Tobias, one
of the councillors of Philip, who was tried at Plymouth, March,
1674-5, and that session bound over to the next and was bailed out
by Tuspaquin, who gave bonds for a hundred pounds by a mortgage
on his lands at Namasket. He was brought up again at the June
session, and with him now were two more accused of the crime as
accomplices; these were Tobias's son, Wampapaquan, and Mattashunannamoo.
At this trial four Indians were added as advisers
to the twelve English jurymen, and concurred in the verdict of
murder against the three prisoners. The indictment declares that
the crime was committed upon January 29, 1674-5. Two of the
prisoners were executed June 8, 1675, at Plymouth. The son of
Tobias, for some reason, was reprieved for one month, but having
made full confession that the two already executed had done the
deed, himself looking on, was shot within the month. It was this
conviction and execution of the murderers of Sassamon undoubtedly
which precipitated the war at least a year before Philip had planned its
beginning. In the meantime several of the Christian Indians had
expressed their belief that a plan was on foot for the general destruction
of the English in the colonies ; and among these was Waban,
a Nipmuck, at whose tent, amongst that people, Mr. Eliot had first
preached to them in their own tongue. Waban himself having been
the first of his tribe to be converted, became afterwards the principal
ruler of the Christian Indians at Natick. In April, 1675, Waban
came to Gen. Gookin and warned him of Philip's intention shortly
to attack the English ; and again in May he came and urged the
same, and said that "just as soon as the trees were leaved out " the
Indians would fall upon the towns. Very little attention was paid to
these reports by the Governor and Council at Boston, and within a
month the despatch came from Plymouth that the war had begun,
account of which has been given.
When the forces marched out to Mount Hope first, June 24th,
1675, Capt. Prentice took with him as guides three Christian
Indians, viz. : James Quanapohit ; Thomas Quanapohit, alias
"Rumneymarsh," his brother; and Zachary Abram, all of whom,
in that campaign, acquitted themselves bravely and well, despite the
bitter hostility of many of the officers and soldiers, and their threats
and open insults. If our soldiers had not been blinded by the
popular clamor against all Indians, they would have seen in their
experience with these scouts, and in the success of Uncas and his
Indians a few days later, the utter uselessness of the noisy and
clumsy infantry tactics of the English, in Indian warfare, whenever
it was a march of invasion or pursuit. The enemy were always
apprised of the coming of the troops for miles ahead. The Connecticut
officers and soldiers were readier to learn of their Indian
allies, and were thus saved from many disasters and secured many
substantial victories. It is related that in one of their marches into