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

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learn the position and movements of the Indians to the westward,
towards the Connecticut River. Major Gookin was requested to
enlist two of the Indians at Deer Island to go as spies amongst the
enemies. He selected Job Kattenanit and James Quanapohit.
These two were sent away into the woods and got among the Indians
at Brookfield about January 3d, and by a plausible story of escape
from Deer Island and of their sufferings there and their wish to re-
lease their friends from that place, were received, and remained for
a month amongst the enemies, and the story of their sojourn contains
nearly all that is known of the events during that important
time, when the Narragansets were coming northward and all the
tribes were gathering for the struggle of the coming Spring. Upon
January 24th James returned, fearing mischief from Philip, who
had 'sent for Mautampe to bring James up to him. James escaped
with the assistance of Job, who wished to remain until able to bring
off his children. James came into the house of Isaac Williams at
the Falls of the Charles River, and came with him the next day to
Major Gookin and to the Council, to whom he made report of his
sojourn, and the position and numbers, disposition and purpose of
the Indians allied with Philip. His report was communicated to
Connecticut Colony and is preserved in their archives. James told
of the plan of the Indians to assault the frontier towns, beginning
with Lancaster, in about three weeks time. Job Kattenanit escaped
and came in on February 9th, confirming James's account and reporting
the war-party already marching upon Lancaster. Acting
upon his report, messengers were despatched to Marlborough, Concord
and Lancaster, and Capt. Wadsworth with forty menmarched
from Marlborough, in time to find the bridge burned, as James had
said the Indians planned, but escaping the ambush laid by the regular
road, the English were guided around by another bridge and
were able to beat the enemy off from the garrison-house owned by
Mr. Cyprian Stevens, and thus to secure the town from entire
destruction. If the warning of James had been heeded the destruc-
tion of the Rowlandson garrison-house and the death and captivity
of its occupants might easily have been averted. But for all the
hardships and fidelity of these two, the vulgar prejudice was so great
that the Governor and Council were again forced to yield, and these
faithful men returning from their service were sent down again to
Deer Island to share the privations of their brethren. And not only
against these but against their friends, Eliot, Gookin and Danforth,
the blind fury raged, and the lives of these true men were attempted
in a cowardly manner on several occasions. In February the
Warnesits, fearing the hostile Indians on the one hand and their
English neighbors on the other, petitioned to be removed to some
safer place within the Colony. The Court promised, but neglected
to take care of them, and the great body of them fled to Pennacook,
to Wannalancet, being forced to leave behind for the time some