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History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

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154 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1747.<br />

fully repulsed the enemy, were several men <strong>from</strong> Nortlianij^ton.<br />

Lieut, William Lyman was second <strong>in</strong> command,<br />

Noah Clapp was Sergeant, and John Birge, John Pomeroj',<br />

Ithamar Strong, and Zadoc Danks, were privates. They<br />

were soldiers who had enlisted for the expedition aga<strong>in</strong>st<br />

Canada. After this defeat the enemy on their homeward<br />

march, killed several men <strong>in</strong> the vic<strong>in</strong>ity <strong>of</strong> Northfield, and<br />

destroyed much abandoned property. ^<br />

Soldiers at Fort Lieut. Lyman, after tlie desperate fight at<br />

<strong>Massachusetts</strong>. Cliarlestowu, was put <strong>in</strong> command <strong>of</strong> Fort<br />

<strong>Massachusetts</strong> dur<strong>in</strong>g the autumn and w<strong>in</strong>-<br />

ter follow<strong>in</strong>g, serv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> that capacity <strong>from</strong> November to<br />

January. His company consisted <strong>of</strong> forty-five men, <strong>of</strong><br />

whom the follow<strong>in</strong>g eleven were <strong>from</strong> <strong>Northampton</strong> :<br />

Sergt. Elisha Hawley, Ebenezer Clapp, Ebenezer Harvey,<br />

Joseph Marchants, John Pomeroy, Elisha Warner, Elisha<br />

Baker, Bildad Wright, Silas Clark, Joseph Root, and<br />

Nathaniel Edwards. Lieut. Elisha Hawley succeeded<br />

Lieut. Lyman and was <strong>in</strong> command <strong>of</strong> the fort dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />

February and March. Concern<strong>in</strong>g his appo<strong>in</strong>tment. Col.<br />

Stoddard writes <strong>in</strong> March, as follows — " : We could at first<br />

get no better <strong>of</strong>ficer than a serg-nt, afterwards I gave a<br />

Lieut"^^ commission to Mr. Elisha Hawley, who is the only<br />

<strong>of</strong>ficer there at present." "^<br />

Vaudreuirs Futile 111 J^-^ly, ^ force <strong>of</strong> oiie tliousaud Lidians<br />

Expedition. ^iid two hundred Frenchmen, commanded<br />

by Mons. Rigaud de Vaudreuil, was dispatched<br />

<strong>from</strong> Canada to protect Fort St. Frederick (Crown<br />

Po<strong>in</strong>t). F<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g the fort <strong>in</strong> no danger, he pushed on and<br />

made a demonstration aga<strong>in</strong>st Fort Saratoga, but was<br />

driven away, and returned, without attempt<strong>in</strong>g further<br />

damage, to Fort St. Frederick. A scout<strong>in</strong>g party, led by<br />

Lieut. Matthew Clesson, was sent out <strong>from</strong> Fort <strong>Massachusetts</strong><br />

to ascerta<strong>in</strong> the whereabouts <strong>of</strong> the enemy. They<br />

were absent twenty-two days and reported that Vaudreuil<br />

1 "On their return they burnt with<strong>in</strong> .30 or 40 leagues, 5 small forts that were<br />

abandoned, 3 meet<strong>in</strong>g-houses, about 100 dwell<strong>in</strong>gs mostly <strong>of</strong> two stories, furnished<br />

even to chests <strong>of</strong> drawers, the decorations <strong>of</strong> which the Indians carried <strong>of</strong>f ; several<br />

f<strong>in</strong>e barns, and killed 5 or 000 sheep and hogs, and about 30 horned cattle. This devastation<br />

is well worth a few prisoners or scalps."—N. Y. Colonial MSS., vol. X., p. 97.<br />

3 Judd MSS.<br />

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