HAving presumed in Two former Letters to give you a faithfull Account, of the Original Occasion (as near as I could Discover) and sad Progresse of the Cruel Wars between us and our Barbarous Enemies, the Indians; I thought (having this other Opportunity) your Curiosity might expect, at least (from that knowledge I have for many years had of your Courteous Disposition) was assured your Good-nature would Pardon, the trouble, of a Further Relation of material Occurrences which have since happened amongst us, the rather for that I remember my self under the voluntary Obligation of a promise so to do.

My last (which I hope you Received) was of the 9th of February, 1675/6: And seriously at that time my hand trembled, and my heart almost fainted, when my minde reflected on our present miseries, and revolved for the future what might be the Issue of that Deluge of Calamity which threatned us; The Dispensation we lay under was Cloudy and affrighting, Fresh Messengers (like Jobs servants) howrly arriving to bring the Dolefull Tidings of New Massacres, Slaughters and Devastations committed by the Brutish Heathens; and certainly it cannot but deserve both Wonder and Commiseration, that these parts which were not many Moneths since hardly to be Parral­lel'd for plenty and security, are now almost destroyed and laid waste by the savage Cruelties of a bloody (and sometimes despicable) Ene­my; who are now become so well-furnisht with Arms and Ammu­nition (by the base treachery we fear of some of our Neighbours) so instructed in Discipline by Experience, and heightned in Pride by unexpected successe, That unlesse our God (whose tender mercies are over all his works) in compassion to the English Nation in this Wil­dernesse, wonderfully appear for our deliverance, nothing could be expected but an utter Desolation; And of this his gracious dealing to­wards us, we have lately had severall Instances, our Forces being crowned with successe, and the Enemy put to flight, or so far divi­ded [Page 2] and discouraged, that great Numbers have surrendred themselves, when by our own strength or outward Circumstances we could least expect it. But that I may set down things in some Method, I shall re-assume the Narritive of our Troubles, where I left off in my last Letter, and relate the most considerable Actions from that time, in the same Order as they happened.

After that sharp Eight on the 19. of November, whereof I formerly gave you the Particulars, our wounded men (in number about 150.) being drest, were sent into Rhode-Island, as the best place for their Acommodation, where accordingly they were kindely received by the Governour, and others, only some churlish Quakers were not free to entertain them, untill compelled by the Governour: Of so inhu­mane, peevish and untoward a disposition are these Nabals, as not to Vouchsafe Civility to those that had ventured their Lives, and received dangerous wounds in their defence. As for the Indians that survived the battell, they forsook their New-built Fort, and that Swamp where the Fight hapned, and posted themselves in a Swamp twenty miles distant from thence; The Weather being extreme cold, and the snow so deep, that we could not for some time march in pursuit of them; yet still kept Scouts abroad daily to observe their Motions, and thereby hin­dred them from coming to the Sea-side; killed and took Prisoners divers of them, as they were found stragling; and burnt great Num­bers of their Wigwams (or houses:) And being re-inforced with some Additionall Forces from Boston and Plimouth, together with a Bark la­den with Provision, we resolved to set upon them again with the first opportunity; And in order thereunto marched to Potuxit, where we understood, That two nights before the Indians had assaulted a Gentlemans House about break of day with much Violence, and wounded Two men in it, striving to Fire the House several times, by tying Pine-splinters or long Poles in a Bunch fired, and held upon the Shingles; but those within prevented that stratagem from taking effect, beat off the Assailants, and found one of them left dead upon the place; But the Out-houses and Hay the Indians burnt, and drove a­way all the sheep and cattel: We marched after them with all con­venient expedition, and came to the Swamp, where they had been, but most of them were then fled, having by their Scouts discovered the advance of our men; yet our Horse killed, and took many of them, following the pursuit, till our Horses were tired, our men faint, and our victuals spent; Insomuch that several horses were killed and eaten, whereof the General (the worthy Josiah Winslow Esquire, Gover­nour of New-London) eat his part, and in all as well hardships as dan­gers, was not wanting to encourage his men by his own valiant ex­ample: But finding it both vain and hazardous to march farther after this flying rabble of barbarous Heathens, who we heard were then got together, about 5000. men women and children, towards Quobage; Our Army left the Chace, and having placed a Garison of about Se­venty men, in Captain Smiths (a strong) house, within four Miles of the Narragansets Dwellings, marched homewards to Marleborough. and from [Page 3] thence to Boston, where they were disbanded in December.

But upon this, the Indians began to appear abroad again as mischie­vous as ever; For the very next week they set upon Lancaster Town, killed several people, and carried away many prisoners; Such houses as were fortified, defended themselves, but the greatest part of the Town they fired and plundered; and had destroyed the whole place, had not Captain Wadsworth upon hearing of the Guns come with great expedition from Sudbury, with a party to their relief; After this they cut off a farm-house near Sudbury, killed seven people in a barbarous manner, and carried some away captive: Three hundred of them set upon the Town of Maidesfield, and burnt at least fifty Houses, killed and took divers of the Inhabitants, being all surprised before they were aware: For the subtle Indians near day-break, came about the Houses privately, and lay close in the Fences; and as people came out of their Houses, shot them down: Upon this the Governour of Mas­sachuset sent out about Five hundred or Six hundred men under the Conduct of Major Thomas Savadge and Captain Mosely, as next in Com­mand to him, who having intelligence by a girl that had made her escape, that the Indians were in Three Towns beyond Quoboge, march­ed thither, where they joyned Major Treat with the Connecticot Forces; but the Enemy were fled; only skulkingly out of the Woods, they shot one of Captain Moseleys men, and wounded one or two more: But their main body being closely pursued, dispersed and ran into Woods and Swamps, so that it was impossible for our men to come up with them, and therefore marched away for Hadley and Northampton, to secure them and the other Towns in those parts, and by a special Providence came very seasonably; For within two days after his Arrival, Nor­thampton (though fortified round) was assaulted, the Centinel surprised and slain, and the Enemy entred the Fortifications: Being ignorant (as it is supposed) of any Recruits newly come thither, but found such warm entertainment, that though they had kindled their fire, they durst not stay to roast their break-fast, but were forced to fly with great confusion; we having lost only three men, and the Enemy above twenty, as was judged, though the number could not be cer­tainly known; it being their Custome to carry off their dead always with them, if possible: The next day they appeared about a thousand strong, whereupon the Major drew out his Forces, and pursued them to their usuall place of Rendevouz near Deerfield; But they would not abide his coming up with them, but fled dispersedly into the Woods, where he was able to do little or no Execution upon them.

The Councill of Boston (to the great surprize of many people) refusing to maintain the Narraganset Garrison, raised by the United Colonies, lodged as aforesaid in Mr Smiths house, they having eat and destroyed what they could, quitted the said House, those of the Soldiers that belonged to Connecticot hiring a Boat to transport them to Pawcatucke, fearing to March through the Narraganset Countrey, and those of the Massachusets and Plimmouth went to Seacunicke; But [Page 4] the very next day after their Departure, the Indians came and burnt the said Garrison-house (one of the most delightfull seats in New-Eng­land) and another house of the said Capt. Smiths at Sawgaw, together with all the Houses at Narraganset; and the day following assaulted Warwick with so unhappy a successe, that they burnt most of the Houses there, and indeed ruined all but four, which during the pre­sent danger were kept by their owners with their friends and ser­vants as Garrisons; Out of which there was a sally made with Twenty men, who with the losse of one of their number killed ten of the Indians, yet could not preserve the rest of the Town, nor hinder them from carrying from thence a Considerable booty of Cattel.

The 14th of March the savage Enemy set upon a Considerble Town called Groughton, and burnt Major Wilberds House first (who with his Family removed to Charls Town) and afterwards destroyed sixty Five dwelling-houses more there, leaving but six houses stand­ing in the whole Town, which they likewise furiously attempted to set on fire; But being fortified with Arms and Men as Garisons, they with their shot, killed several of the Enemy, and prevented so much of their designe; Nor do we hear that any person on our side was here either slain or taken captive; But the very next day two men co­ming from Malbury to Sudbury, were set upon in the Woods by a great Number of Indian Women, armed with Clubs, pieces of Swords, and the like, who by their numbers having over-mastered the two poor Travellers, that had nothing but small sticks to defend themselves with, beat out their brains, and cut off their privy members, which they carried away with them in triumph; so vain it is to expect any thing but the most barbarous usages from such a people amongst whom the most milde and gentle sex delight in cruelties, and have utterly a­bandoned at once the two proper Virtues of Womankinde, Pity and Modesty.

Their next Attempt (I mean of any considerable Body of the Indi­ans) was upon a Town called Nashaway, which they set fire to, and burnt down to the ground; There was little resistance made here, people endeavouring rather to escape their Fury by flight then oppo­sition; and yet they killed many, burnt the Town down to the ground, and took no lesse then five and fifty persons into their merci­lesse Captivity: And that you may perceive the malicious hatred these Infidels have to Religion and Piety, it may be observed, how they endeavour to signalize their Cruelty, and gratifie their enraged spleen, chiefly on the promoters of it; For of these 55. Captives, the Mini­ster of the Towns Relations made up no lesse then seventeen, viz. Mrs Rowlinson the Ministers Wife, and his three Children, and two Sisters of her own, with seven, and the other with four Children; As they were leading them away in this lamentable condition, one of the Si­sters being big with childe, going into the Woods to be privately de­livered, the Indians followed, and in a jeering manner, they would help her, and be her Midwives, and thereupon they barbarously ript [Page 5] up [...], and burnt the childe before her face, and then in a mer­cifull cruelty, to put her out of her pain, knockt her o'th head; There was a Report that they had forced Mrs Rowlinson to marry the one-eyed Sachem, but it was soon contradicted; For being a very pious Woman, and of great Faith, the Lord wonderfully supported her un­der this affliction, so that she appeared and behaved her self amongst them with so much courage and majestick gravity, that none durst of­fer any violence to her, but on the contrary (in their rude manner) seemed to shew her great respect; But who can expresse the sorrows of her Husband, the Minister, and his Brother, when returning from Boston, presently after the Engagement, they found all their Goods de­stroyed, their Houses laid in ashes, and their dear Wives and Children thus miserably captivated: This was a fit Scene for Faith and Patience to be exercised in; In such a juncture of affairs a man had need have a God to go to for support, and an Interest in Christ to yield him Consolation: Mr Rowlinson after much pains and trouble ransomed his Wife for Twenty Pounds, and got her out of their hands, but his chil­dren and the rest (if living) remain still in that most Wretched Slavery.

About the same time one Mr. Clarks Wife, Children, and all his Family at his Farm-house two miles from Plimouth, were surprized and killed, ex­cept one Boy, who was knockt down, and left for dead, but afterwards taken up and revived; The house they plundred of provision and goods to a great value, Eight compleat Arms, 30 l. of Powder, with an an­swerable Quantity of Lead for Bullets, and 150 l. in ready money, The said Mr. Clark himself narrowly escaping their Cruelty by being at that Instant at a Meeting.

Sunday the 26th of March was sadly remarkable to us for the Tidings of a very deplorable disaster brought unto Boston about 5 a Cloak that after­noon by a Post from Dedham, viz. That Captain Peirce scituate in Plim­mouth Colony, having Intelligence in his Garrison at Seaconicke, that a Party of the Enemy lay near Mr. Blackstones, went forth with 63 English, and 20 of the Cape Indians, (who had all along continued faithful, and joyned with them); and upon their march, discovered rambling in an obscure woody place, 4 or 5. Indians, who in getting away from us hal­ted as if they had been Lame or wounded; But our men had pursued them but a little way into the woods, before they found them to be only De­coys to draw them into their Ambuscade; For on a sudden, they discovered above 500 Indians, who in very good order furiously at­tacqued them, being as readily received by ours; So that the Fight began to be very fierce and dubious, and our men had made the Enemy begin to retreat, but so slowly, that it scarce deserved that name; when a fresh company of about 400. Indians, came in, so that the English and their few Indian friends were quite surrounded, and beset on every side; Yet they made a brave resistance for above Two hours; During all which time, they did great execution upon the Enemy, whom they kept at a distance, and themselves in order; For Captain Pierce cast his 63. English and 20 Indians into a Ring, and [Page 6] fought back to back, and were double-double distance all in one Ring whilst the Indians were as thick as they could stand Thirty deep: Over power'd with whose Numbers, the said Captain, and 55. of his English, and ten of their Indian friends were slain upon the place; which in such a Cause, and upon such disadvantages may certainly be stiled, The Bed of Honour: However they sold their worthy Lives at a gallant rate; It being affirmed by those few that (not without wonderfull difficulty, and many wounds) made their escape, that the Indians lost as many Fighting men (not counting women and chil­dren) in this Engagement, as were killed at the battle in the Swamp near Narraganset, mentioned in our last Letter, which were gene­rally computed to be above Three hundred.

The same day some Christians going to a Meeting at Springfield with a small Guard, were ambuscaded by Eight Indians, and a man and woman slain; and the rest (supposing the Enemies number to have been greater then it was, for in truth our men were twice as many, yet struck with terrour, fled, and left two women and two Chil­dren to the Enemies mercy, whom they carried away captive, great­ly insulting, that so few of them should make so many English fly: Of this accident Major Savage at Hadly being immediatly advertised by a Post, sent specially on that occasion, dispatcht a Party of Horse to pursue the Enemy, and the next morning found their Track, and soon after discovered them; who seeing our men approach, took the two poor Infants, and in the sight both of their Mothers and our men, tossed them up in the air, and dasht their brains out against the Rocks, and with their hackets knockt down the women, and forth­with fled: The place being exceeding rocky and a Swamp just by, our horse could not follow them, and on foot were not able to overtake them; So that the bloudy Villains for the present escaped deserved vengeance; Yet it pleased God, that both the women revived, and being come again to their understanding, one of them declared, that she knew every particular person of these Eight Indians, and that they advised them to put all the men they could light upon to death, but to save as many women and houses as they could for them, &c.

On Tuesday following, the barbarous Infidels destroied sixty and six Houses, besides Barns and Buildings in Seaconicke; but we do not hear of any person there slain: On Wednesday they stormed Providence, and consumed the greatest part of the Houses, but without taking away the life of any person, except one Wright, of whom it is reported, That he was a man of a singular and sordid humour; of great know­ledge in the Scriptures, but of no particular professed sect or perswa­sion; one that derided Watches, Fortifications, and all publick en­deavours and administrations for the common safety; Insomuch that after all alarms round about, he refused to bring in any of his Goods (which were of considerable value) or to shelter himself in any Ga­rison, but presumed he should be safe in his own house, where the E­nemy found and butchered him: It is further credibly related con­cerning him, that he had a strange confidence or rather conceit, that [Page 7] whilest he held his Bible in his hand, he looked upon himself as se­cure from all kinde of violence; and that the Enemy finding him in that posture, deriding his groundlesse apprehension or folly therein, ript him open, and put his Bible in his belly.

But indeed the reason that the Inhabitants of the Towns of Seaconick and Providence generally escaped with their lives, is not to be attribu­ted to any compassion or good-nature of the Indians, (whose very mer­cies are inhumane cruelties), but (next to Gods providence) to their own prudence in avoiding their fury, when they found themselves too weak and unable to resist it, by a timely Flight into Rhode-Island, which now became the common Zoar, or place of Refuge for the Distressed; yet some remained till their coming to destroy the said Towns; as in particular Mr Williams at Providence, who knowing several of the chief Indians that came to fire that Town, discoursed with them a conside­rable time, who pretended, their greatest quarrel was against Plim­mouth; and as for what they attempted against the other Colonies, they were constrained to it, by the spoil that was done them at Narraganset; They told him, that when Captain Pierce engaged them near Mr. Black­stones, they were bound for Plimouth; They gloried much in their successe, promising themselves the Conquest of the whole Country, and root­ing out of all the English: Mr. Williams reproved their confidence, minded them of their Cruelties, and told them, that the Bay, viz. Boston, could yet spare Ten thousand men; and if they should destroy all them, yet it was not to be doubted, but our King would send as many every year from Old England, rather then they should share the Countrey; they answered proudly, That they should be ready for them, or to that effect, but told Mr. Williams, that he was a good man, and had been kinde to them formerly, and therefore they would not hurt him.

About the latter end of March, came advice from New-York, That the Indians in a bravado had released two English Captives, and sent them down thither to give Information of what they had seen, which was, That being carried with a Party three days Journey towards the North East, from the place where King Philip lay (which was between thirty and fourty English miles from Albany; He came up to an Indian Rendevouz made by a mighty Sachem near Hossicke-River towards Cana­da, where one of them told one and Twenty hundred men compleat, and the Indians themselves drawing out into three ranks, that he might view them the better) made him tell them over three times, who he said were generally well-armed with good fire-arms, and most of them young men, few so old as forty; And that amongst them there were a­bout 500. of those with straws about their noses, commonly called French-Indians; That neither King Philip, nor that party, consisting of about four hundred, were then with them, and that the said Philips own men were not above one hundred; himself being very sickly, and having but little esteem or authority amongst them.

One of the said released prisoners declared further, that from that ren­devouz he returned with the rest towards Albany, being afterwards given by the North-Indians to the Mahicanders or River-Indians (who have been [Page 8] always suspected to be too kinde to those bloody ones of the North;) And also affirms, that the said North-Indians at the said rendevouz in a vapour­ing manner declared, that their intent was first to destroy Connecticot this Spring, then Boston in the Harvest, and afterwards the Dutch (meaning what the Dutch had here.)

About the same time also, there was much discourse and consultation about a project for giving these Northern Indians that thus infested and harassed New-England, a diversion, by engaging the Mohucks (another sort of Indians, inhibiting towards New-York and formerly inveterate enemies to these) [...]ainst them on the other side; and it was certainly reported, that th [...] [...]vernour of New-York, would upon request and rea­sonable proposalls freely make use of his interest amongst that people (which is very great) for effecting so good a designe; Yea, the Pequod Sachem (who always has continued freindly and faithful to the English, venturing his men on all occasions, who have done very good service) seemed much to wonder, that we did not carry it on, affirming, that the said Mohucks were the only persons likely to put an end to the war, by hindring the Enemy from planting, and forcing them down upon us; but this counsell (for I know not what good reasons of some amongst us) was not thought fit (at least for the present) to be so vigourously pursued as some expected: But to proceed with the Narrative.

On the second of April, Maj. Savage, Capt. Mosely, Capt. William Turner and Capt. Whitpoll with 300 men marched from Marleborow to Quoboge, where they had ordered the Connecticot Forces to attend their com­ing, and accordingly the parties being joined, endeavoured to finde out the Enemy and give them battel; But these Heathens being like wolves and other beasts of prey, that commonly do their mischiefs in the Night, or by stealth, durst not come forth out of the woods and Swamps where they lay skulking in small companies; being so light of foot, that they can run away when they list, and passe boggs, rocky mountains and thickets where we could by no means pursue them; only now and then we met with some straglers before they were aware; and one time march­ing towards Northampton, had a brisk dispute with a small party, who fell upon our rear, but we quickly repelled them, and killed about 20. in a hot pursuit after them, without the losse of one man on our side, and but one wounded.

About the same time Maj. Palmer having been scouring the Narragan­sets Country, brought in 30. of the Enemy, and 60. of Ninnicrofts people, which were about 30. fighting men, who delivered up themselves to our protection; we kept their wives and children safely as hostages, and made the men go abroad with our parties, who did us great service in clearing the woods; likewise the Pequods and Mohegins (who proved a good guard to New London, Norwich, and the Rivers mouth) brought in 27. of the Enemy and much plunder.

April the 6. John Winthrope Esq a member of the Royal Society, and Governour of Connecticot Colony, having like a faithfull patriot served his Country, dyed at Boston of a natural distemper after about 8. days sick­nesse, and was there interred in his fathers Tomb, with an Universal la­mentation, and all the Honours that our distresses and distractions would [Page 9] allow; And though it be usually said, Inter arma silent Musae, yet could not all our martial confusions wholly strike our Muses dumb upon so worthy an occasion (enough to make our Countrey bathe it self in tears, as it hath late­ly done in bloud) but they appeared in publique to pay a Funeral Tribute to his Honourable dust, in a no lesse ingenious then passionate and mournfull Elegy upon him, Printed here at Boston.

The next day the Governour intended to have marched out with about 300 English of his own Colony, and 50 Cape-Indians, and all things were in a readiness accordingly, but not being supplied with any assistance from us, he wanted Soldiers to secure his own Towns if they should be attacqued sud­denly by the Indians (who lie in wait for such opportunities) during his ab­sence, and therefore was forced to let fall his designe, and continue at home.

The 11. of April Cap. Denison with an 100. English Volunteers belonging to Connecticot Colony and as many Indians, of whom some were Mohegins, some Pequods, and some of Ninnicrofts men that had revolted from him; the said friendly Indians being commanded by the young Sachem Unkus whose Father (the only Christian Sagamore) hath during all this War continued faithful; Upon their March, ranging the Narraganset Countrey near Potuxit, they fell upon a Party of the Enemy, Commanded by that famous but very bloudy and cruel Sachem, Quononshot, otherwise called Myantonomy, whom the English for­merly presented with a rich Lac't Coat; they fought very obstinately a con­siderable time, but at last our men with very small losse obtained the victory, killed above 50 of the Enemy on the place, and took 40. more alive, and a­mongst the rest that insolent Sachem Myantonomy himself, together with ano­ther Sachem, and several other of his chief Counsellors and friends; The said Myantonomys carriage was strangely proud and lofty after he was taken; be­ing examined why he did foment that War which would certainly be the de­struction of him and all the Heathen Indians in the country, &c. He would make no other reply to any Interrogatories, but this; That he was born a Prince, and if Princes came to speak with him he would answer, but none present being such, he thought himself obliged in honour to hold his tongue, and not hold discourse with such persons below his birth and quallity; He told them, he wisht rather to die then to continue under confinement; that all he desired was not to be tortured, but presently put to death, which he requested might be done by young Unkus that aided us, as acknowledging him his fellow Prince, yet withall threatned, he had 2000. men would revenge his death severely; wherefore our Forces fearing an escape, put the stoutest men to the Sword, but preserved Myantonomy till they returned to Stoneing­ton, where our Indian friends and most of the English Soldiers, declaring to the Commanders their fear, that the English should upon conditions release him, and that then he would (though the English might have peace with him) be very pernicious to those Indians that now assisted us, the said Indians (on these considerations, and the mischiefs and murthers he had done, during this war) permitted to put him to death; and that all might share in the glory of destroying so great a Prince, and come under the obligation of fidelity each to other, the Pequods shot him, the Mohegins cut off his head, and quartered his body, and the Ninnicrofts men made the fire, and burned his quarters; and as a token of their love and fidelity to the English, presented his head to the Council at Hartford.

[Page 10]About the same time we had information from an Indian spy taken by our Army, that the Enemy had a designe on the next day to fall upon the Garison, and some few houses that remained at Marleborough, to revenge the death of one of their eminent men that was slain when they were last there (his name being concealed): Upon which our Major Generall, who was sent to meet Major Savage, and accompany him and his Forces to Boston, commanded Capt. Moseley and another Captain with their Companies thither, to abide and ex­pect the Enemy 24 hours, but they not coming in that time, our said Forces were called home and disbanded, to the dissatisfaction of some people who thereupon feared the like fatall consequences, that but a little before attended the like occasion. Nor were such their apprehensions vain, for within 4 days afterwards news arrived at Boston, that all the houses at the said Town of Marleborough (except the Garison) were destroied.

April 20. Capt. Wadsworth of Dorchester, being designed with an 100. men to repair to Marlborough, to strengthen the Garison, and remove the goods, &c. there, did accordingly this Evening march with about 70 men from Sudbury, the rest of his men not appearing; The Enemy who were about a 1000 strong lay near his passage, but kept themselves undiscovered, and permitted him to passe them in the night, but in the morning assaulted and burned most of the Houses in Sudbury (save those that were ingarison'd:) Upon which the Town of Concord receiving the Alarm, 12 resolute young men hastened from thence to their Neighbours relief, but were way-laid, and 11. of them cut off; But by the time Capt. Wadsworth was come to Marlborough, the alarm and news of this disaster overtook him, and although he had marched all the day and night before, and his men much wearied, yet he hastned back again and was accompanied by Capt. Brocklebank Commander of the Garison at Marlebo­rough, with what small number he durst spare out of his Garison, when they arrived within a mile and a half of Sudbury; The Enemy having hid themselves behind the hills, sent forth 2 or 3 to cross the March of our forces, and being seen, to counterfeit themselves affrighted, and fly, thereby to trapan our men into their ambuscade, which mischievous designe succeed­ed according to their wishes; for our men pursuing them, and being not above 80 in number, and those miserably tired as well with tedious marches as for want of sleep, were suddenly set upon, and on every side encompassed with the Enemy, being about a 1000. strong; yet not at all dismaied with their numbers, nor dismal shouts, and horrid yellings, ours made a most couragious resistance; and having gained the top of a hill, they from thence gallantly defended themselves with the loss of 5 men near 4 hours; The cowardly Savages disheartned with the sight of so many of their fellows slain in the first attacque, not daring to ven­ture close upon them, yet (that we may not think these barbarians alto­gether unacquainted with stratagems, nor so silly as to neglect any ad­vantages,) at last they set the woods on fire to the windward of our men, which by reason of the winde blowing very hard and the grass being exceeding dry, burnt with a terrible fierceness, and with the smoak and heat was like to choak them, so that being no longer able at once to re­sist the approaching fire, and the cruel enemy, they were forced to quit that advantagious post in disorder; which the Indians taking advantage of, came on upon them like so many tigers, and dulling their active swords [Page 11] with excessive numbers, obtained the dishonour of a victory, our two Captains, after incomparable proofs of their resolution and gallantry, being slain upon the place; together with most of their men; but those few that remained, escaped to a Mill, which they defended till night, when they were hapily rescued by Capt. Prentice, who coming in the day hastily, though somewhat too late to the relief of Capt. Wadsworth, having not aboue Six Troopers that were able to keep way with him: fell into a pound, or place near Sudbury Towns end, where all passages were stopt by the Indians; and had not Captain Cowell (who in his return from Quoboge had avoided the Common Rode providentially, at that instant come thither with about thirty Dragoons (who were forced to fight their way through) and two Files of men sent from a Garison to secure ano­ther passage, which the Enemy hastned to stop against Captain Cowell, both the said Captain Prentice and his men, and the remainder of the said Captain Wadsworths men in the Mill, had been all kill'd or taken a­live: Nor did Captain Cowell lose above six or seven of his men in this Engagement; But so insolent were the Indians grown upon their first Successe against Captain Wadsworth, that they sent us word, to provide store of good chear, for they intended to Dine with us upon the Ele­ction-Day.

But for preventing any Danger that might happen on that Occasion, the following Order was Printed and Published.

April 26. Captain Hinskman having received Commission and Instru­ction, did then march for Major Wilberds Funerall (who died in his bed in peace, though God had honoured him with severall signal Victories over our Enemys in war) to Charles-Town, and from thence to Concord, the place of Rendevouz. From Mr. Woodcocks Garison we hear, that himself and two of his Sons, and some other men being gone out to labour in the field were about this time surprised, one of his Sons and another man being killed, and himself and the other Son dangerously (though as it pleased God, not mortally) wounded, so that there were only five sound persons left to keep Garison, besides the old woman and three daughters, and yet (through mercy) it has always held out.

May the First, Captain Dennison with his Volunteers and Indians fell upon a Party of the Enemy, and killed Six and twenty of them, and took fifty Captives; Also we had advice, that the Pequods and other Friendly Indians, had carried many Prisoners to New London, that some had voluntarily surrendred themselves to the Magistrates of Connecticot-Colony, and more came in from the Sachem of Penny-cook.

About a fortnight afterwards, the fore-mentioned Captain Turner, by Trade a Taylor, but one that for his Valour has left behinde him an Honourable Memory, hearing of the Indians being about Twenty miles a­bove them at Connecticot River; drew out a Party at Hadly and Nor­thampton, where there was a Garrison; and marching all night, came upon them before day-break, they having no Centinels or Scouts abroad, as thinking themselves secure, by reason of their remote distance from any of our Plantations; ours taking this advantage of their negligence, fell in amongst them, and killed several hundreds of them upon the place, they being out of any posture or order to make any formidable resistance, though they were six times superiour to us in number; But that which was almost as much, nay in some respect more considerable then their lives, we there destroied all their Ammunition and Provisi­on, which we think they can hardly be so soon and easily recruited with, as possibly they may be with men: We likewise here demolisht Two Forges they had to mend their Armes, took away all their mate­rialls and Tools, and drove many of them into the River, where they were drowned, and threw two great Piggs of Lead of theirs, (intended for making of bullets) into the said River: But this great successe was not altogether without its allay, as if Providence had designed to chec­quer our joys and sorrows; and lest we should sacrifice to our own Nets, and say, Our own Arms or prowesse hath done this, to permit the Enemy presently after to take an advantage against us; For as our men were returning to Hadly in a dangerous Passe, which they were not sufficiently aware of, the skulking Indians (out of the Woods) killed, at one Volley, the said Captain, and Eight and Thirty of his men, but immediatly after they had discharged, they fled.

In June Major Talkot slew and took captive Four and Twenty of the Enemies in one Weeks time, and also killed the Old Queen of Narra­ganset, and an arch Villain of their Party, that had been with them at the sacking of Providence, famously known by the Name of Stone-wall or Stone-Layer John, for that being an active ingenious Fellow, he had learnt [Page 13] the Masons Trade, and was of great use to the Indians in building their Forts, &c. Likewise Potucke the Great Indian Counsellour (a man consi­dering his Education, of a wonderfull subtlety) was brought Prisoner into Rhode-Island.

In July we had very considerable Forces abroad, who took and killed above 200. of the barbarous bloudy Indians, and that cruell Infidel Pun­cham amongst the rest.

The Squaw Sachem King Philips Sister, who at first so much promoted this Warr, and was since by Treaty with Ninnicroft Sachem of the Nar­ragansets to be delivered up, hath lately surrendred her self, and is come into the Plimmouth Army, having submitted to the mercy of Major Brad­ford, who with a small Party some time since separated himself from the rest of his Narragansets, pretending (when he found they could not prosper) that he disapproved of their doings, in breaking their Treaty with the English, hath likewise taken shelter under our Forces at Sto­neington, to secure his Life at present; For not only those of his men that continue in Rebellion still, but likewise those that formerly surren­dred themselves to us, threaten to cut off his Head; the first pretending that by his treacherous Councils he drew them into this Warr, and then basely deserted them; and the second, charging him as a Traytor and Truce-breaker to the English; Thus abominable is Treachery and Violation of ones Faith even amongst the most barbarous and savage In­fidels.

King Philip and some of these Northern Indians being wandred up to­wards Albany, the Mohucks marched out very strong, in a warlike po­sture upon them, putting them to flight, and pursuing them as far as Hossicke-River, which is about two days march from the East-side of Hud­sons-River to the N.E. killing diverse, and bringing away some priso­ners with great pride and triumph, which ill successe on that side where they did not expect any enemy, having lately endeavoured to make up the ancient animofities, did very much daunt and discourage the said Northern Indians, so that some hundreds came in and submitted them­selves to the English at Plimmouth-Colony; and Philip himself is run skul­king away into some Swamp, with not above ten men attending him; Nor doubt we shortly to have a good account given of that Prime In­cendiary, there being severall of our Troops daily abroad in Quest of him.

It is Computed by most Judicious men, That the Indians that were killed, taken, sent away, and now of late come in by way of submissi­on, cannot in all (Men, Women and Children) amount to fewer then Six Thousand, besides vast quantities of their Corn, Houses, Ammuni­tion, and other Necessaries, without which they cannot long subsist, in Hostility taken and destroyed.