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

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27<br />

is known <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> affair. Some special act <strong>of</strong> outrage or treachery on<br />

her part may have drawn upon her this fearful sentence.<br />

Hatfield, 16 th October 1675<br />

I have skarse aney Strang news to acqua<strong>in</strong>t y r Honn r withall at present<br />

yesterday wee thought to go <strong>in</strong> pursuit <strong>of</strong> y e Enemies at Hadly side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

river and as wee marched out from Hadly Some The<strong>in</strong>ge better than a mile,<br />

e<br />

<strong>the</strong> Skoutes y was send from this towue Did Speye some Indians and <strong>the</strong>re-<br />

e upon we came this side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> river and did march out last night y whole<br />

body or strenght <strong>of</strong> men that we have heare ; but at Last we took it to Consideration<br />

that it was very Dangerous to leave <strong>the</strong> townes impteye without<br />

any Souldiers. This Day be<strong>in</strong>g a very blustrous and very high w<strong>in</strong>ds, I<br />

have sent out some skoutes and <strong>the</strong>y discover some Indians, some three<br />

miles <strong>of</strong>. And last night I have send <strong>of</strong> my men 4 to Deerfield and some<br />

two miles from <strong>the</strong> towne wheare thare was some railes ye enemy have<br />

weaged <strong>the</strong>m up and made <strong>the</strong>m very fast. I know not whe<strong>the</strong>r it be to trapanu<br />

<strong>the</strong> skoutes or else to faight <strong>the</strong>re if we go <strong>in</strong> pursueth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m ;<br />

but I<br />

<strong>in</strong>tend to bourn all <strong>the</strong>ir rails up, please God to grant me life and health.<br />

Wee are told by an Indian that was taken at Spr<strong>in</strong>gfeeld y* <strong>the</strong>y <strong>in</strong>tended<br />

to set upon <strong>the</strong>se 3 townes <strong>in</strong> one Day. The body <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m y' waites<br />

this exploite to do is about 600 Indians, as wee are <strong>in</strong>formed by <strong>the</strong> aforesaid<br />

Indian ; and far<strong>the</strong>r wee are <strong>in</strong>formed that <strong>the</strong>y are mak<strong>in</strong>g a fort some<br />

60 miles from this Place up <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> woods, Pray sir be pleased to present<br />

my humble service to your lady and all <strong>the</strong> rest <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> family.<br />

I make no question but <strong>the</strong> enemys will make an tempt with<strong>in</strong> a short<br />

space <strong>of</strong> Time upon those Tounes, hav<strong>in</strong>g noth<strong>in</strong>g else skarse worth your<br />

r read<strong>in</strong>g I rema<strong>in</strong>e Sir y most Humble &<br />

Ready Servant, whilst [?]<br />

Samuel Mosley.<br />

" This aforesaid Indian was ordered to be torn <strong>in</strong> peeces by Doggs and<br />

she was soe dealt with all."<br />

On <strong>the</strong> 19th Philip with his whole force fell upon <strong>the</strong> town, but<br />

was soon "beaten <strong>of</strong>t without do<strong>in</strong>g much harm." Just before <strong>the</strong><br />

fight seven <strong>of</strong> Mosely's men and three o<strong>the</strong>rs were sent out to scout<br />

and seven <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> number were cut <strong>of</strong>f and killed. The Indians made<br />

no fur<strong>the</strong>r general attack after this repulse, and withdrew to w<strong>in</strong>ter<br />

quarters. Capt. Mosely's forces, however, still rema<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> western<br />

towns with o<strong>the</strong>r troops, under Major Appleton, until as late as<br />

November 20th, for on <strong>the</strong> 16th <strong>the</strong> Court authorized a letter to<br />

Appleton direct<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> withdrawal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ma<strong>in</strong> force, and urg<strong>in</strong>g<br />

especially <strong>the</strong> dismissal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> troops <strong>of</strong> Capt. Mosely. The United<br />

Colonies were now <strong>in</strong> full preparation for <strong>the</strong> grand movement<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> Narragansetts ; and <strong>the</strong> Privateers with <strong>the</strong>ir dash<strong>in</strong>g<br />

leaders were needed. The western and outly<strong>in</strong>g towns were garrisoned<br />

as securely as might be, and all available " veterans " hurried<br />

<strong>in</strong> to swell <strong>the</strong> army <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> three colonies to 1000 men for this spe-<br />

cial service to Narragansett. Much <strong>of</strong> great <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> organi-<br />

zation <strong>of</strong> this army must be passed over here.<br />

The quota <strong>of</strong> Massachusetts was to be 527 men, Plymouth 158,<br />

,

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