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

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were Joseph Tuckapawillin's wife, who left an infant behind, in her
panic ; their son, a lad of twelve years, following with his mother ;
also another woman, a widow, who had cared for Job's children in
their captivity, and her daughter. All these fugitives were brought
in by Tom Dublet a few weeks later, when he went into the woods
to negotiate with the enemy for the return of prisoners. The lad
died in the woods from hunger and exposure. These were sent
down to Deer Island, where their companions had already been sent.
Capt. Nicholas Paige entertained these poor Indians at his house in
Boston, as they passed through the town on their way to the Island.
He was a firm friend to the Christian Indians and a very independent
man. Job afterwards married the woman who had so faithfully
cared for his children in their captivity.
The six Indians who went as guides to the army acted their part
with courage and fidelity, and were commended by Major Savage
while Mr. No well, the chaplain of the army in this expedition, wrote
of them :
I look at it as a great rebuke of God that we should miss our enemy
as we did when we were at Menuniesse. If we had barkened to those six
Indians whom we took from Deer Island, we might have prevented that
error. They have behaved themselves like sober honest men since they
abode with us, which hath made me look after them more carefully.
The whole testimony of the better-minded tends to show that the
chief cause of the great disappointment and disaster of this expedi-
tion was the fanatical prejudice and violent insubordination of
Mosely and his adherents ; and there is little doubt that if a
company of the Indians at Deer Island had been raised (as Capt.
Henchman, who was in charge of them, had often proposed, as he
had found them ready and willing to serve) , the campaign would
have been far different in its event.
The six Indians were so insulted and abused by their enemies in
the army, who taunted them with having been the cause of the de-
feat, etc., that they returned to the Island utterly discouraged; so
that when a messenger was needed to go out to the enemy to treat
for the return of Mrs. Rowlandson, not one could be found for a long
time, until finally Tom Dublet, mentioned above, consented, and
upon April 3d, 1676, went into the woods and returned on the 12th,
bringing a letter of agreement from the enemy.
The Council determined at last to stem the tide of popular opposi-
tion and equip and send forth a company of Christian Indians, to
try if the devastations of the enemy along the frontiers could be
checked. In pursuance of this order, April 21st, 1676, Capt.
Samuel Hunting and Lieut. James Richardson drew up and furnished
their company of forty Indians at Charlestown. They were
ordered first to march up to the Merrimack near Chelmsford, and
there to build a fort and settle a garrison at the great falls, which
was a famous fishing place ; they were to scout and guard, etc.
; ;