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

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who were in the Narragansett campaign were not paid off till the
general settlement, June 24th, 1676. And though many of the
credits represent later service, yet I judge the oft-repeated amount,
£02 14 00, represents the "Fort" campaign. This will hold in
nearly every case, though not all. Thomas May was in that campaign
and received no credit until September 23, 1676. The credits
in other companies confirm this theory.
I can only briefly sketch in outline the chief events of this campaign,
and refer the reader to the very full accounts of the march
and battle given in Hubbard, Church, Mather, &c, and Mr. Drake's
Book of Indians.
The forces under Gen. Winslow marched on the afternoon of December
9th to Woodcock's Garrison, and December 10th to Seaconk.
From thence Capt. Mosely and his men sailed with Mr.
Richard Smith 42 across the bay, and then marched to his Garrison-
House at Wickford in Narragansett, arriving in the evening, having
taken a party of thirty-six Indians on the way.
Gen. Winslow with the other forces ferried over to Providence,
and marched through " Pomham's " territory, in hopes to capture
that sachem, to the rendezvous at Smith's Garrison, on the evening
of Dec. 12th. Mosely had captured one Peter, an Indian, who
betrayed Philip, and becomes invaluable to the army as a faithful
guide, actuated probably by desire of revenge. On December
14th the General marched out with his forces to explore the surrounding
country, and Sergt. (John) Bennet, 43 with thirty men of Capt.
Oliver's company, went out scouting, and killed two Indians and
captured eight more.
On the 15th occurred a skirmish at a certain stone-wall, where
twenty or thirty Indians discharged their guns at Capt. Mosely at
once without effect. On the same evening the Garrison-House of
Jireh (Jerry) Bull at Petequanscut was destroyed, and seventeen per-
sons killed, of which news was brought next day by Capt. Prentice's
troop, and on the 17th the Connecticut forces, 300 English and 150
Mohegans, arrived at the same place, and on the 18th the whole
force of Massachusetts and Plymouth met them there about 5 P.M.
Bull's Garrison had been intended for the general rendezvous, and
its loss was severely felt, as the army was forced to spend the entire
night without shelter. At 5 A.M. the next morning, December
42 Mr. Church relates that he went across to Wickford with Mr. Smith, hut omits any
mention of Capt. Mosely and his company, and their capture of 36 Indians in the march to
W r ick ford, but tells of 18 that himself took with the " Eldridges and some other brisk hands."
Church never omits to tell of his own exploits at full length. Mosely was the most popular
officer of the army, and undoubtedly excited Church's anger and perhaps jealousy
by ignoring and opposing him. Mosely, the successful captain at the head of a strong company
of veterans, would not readily accept commands from one without title or company,
whose best service hitherto had been only in scouting and skirmishing with small irregular
parties. Church writes his own adventures. Mosely'scan never be known fully, but what
we have shows him to be brave, popular with both the army and at home, and wonderfully
successful.
4a Doubtless John Bennet the scout, who had been among the Narragansetts in the summer
with Hutchinson. A John Bennett is in the list of slain at Bloody Brook.