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

:
46
with all speed to both Narraganset and Nipmuck. This answer is
dated June 21, "at 5 o'clock."
On the same day an order was passed in the Council to Capt.
Edward Hutchinson, Seth Perry and William Towers, giving commission
and instruction for taking a warning message to the Narragansets,
and to leave a letter for Roger Williams at Providence.
This message is in Mass. Archives, vol. 67, page 201, in a paper
directed to " Moosucke [Mootucke], Ninigret & Squa Sachem, of
the Narraganset & Nyantic Indians." A paper containing the
agreements of the Nipmuck chiefs is in vol. 80, page 169, of the
Mass. Archives. Upon June 24th came news of the general outbreak,
and further appeal from Plymouth. The Council hastily
despatched two messengers to Philip, who, arriving at Swansey, discovered
the two men who were slain that day lying in the road, and
thus warned of the futility of their peaceful mission, returned to
Boston without speaking with Philip. I find by a letter 69 from the
Council to Gov. Winthrop of Connecticut, that these two messen-
gers were Capt. Savage and Mr. Brattle.
Extract of the Massachusetts Council's letter of June 28, 1675,
to the governor of Connecticut
" and dayly wee heare of the Increase of trouhle the Gov r of y'
Colony [Plymouth] hath frequently solicited us for Ayde w ch as soone as wee
could possibly Raise wee have sent to y em . It's certified from Plymouth
and Swansey that both the Narragansets and Monhegins have sent ayd to
Phillip. We sent messengers to the Narragansets & Nipmucks to warn &
caution them not to Assist Phillip or if any were Gon to command their returne,
our messengers are returned from both those places, the Nipmucks
speake faire and say that they are faithful to the English and will not Assist
Phillip, the Narragansets say they will notmedle but there is more reason to
suspect the latter and wee believe Uncas is not unconcerned in this matter,
all our intelligence gives us ground to believe that the poore people in
those parts are in a very distressed condition in many respects, their houses
burned, their people kild & wounded they not able to make any Attempt
upon the Indians wanting both victuall ammunition and arms w c h hath occasioned
us to send greatt forces for their reliefe, we have sent above three
hundred foot and about eighty horse besides several carts laden with munition
and with goods and provisions and armes, moreover we are sending
two vessels with provision and munition to suply y e forces, y e vessells to
serve as there shall be cause, We sent Capt. Savage and Mr Brattle 4 days
69 This letter is of great importance in several respects in the light it throws upon those
few busy days. It is in the Mass. Archives, vol. 67, page 209, and is the original draft, containing
many erasures and corrections. It is judged to be in the handwriting of Thomas
Danfortli, who was then First Commissioner of the United Colonies. It is endorsed
by Edw. Rawson, as follows: "Rough draft of Council's letter to Connecticut Gov.
Ent. June 28, 1675." The figure 8 in the date is somewhat obscure, but the reference in
the letter to the Fast appointed for " tomorrow " (which fast we know to have been on the
29th) proves the date of writing to have been on the 28th.
It is hoped to print this letter in full hereafter, but in this present article there is not
room. The first half of the contents refers to a detailed account of the troubles at Plymouth
Colony, and relates their situation and appeal for aid, and then goes on with what the Massachusetts
Colony has done to help them. This copy here given is mostly from a partially
revised copy of the draft in the hand of Mr. Rawson, on page 210.