neighbours, united their forces together, and inade an army of about six or seven hundred men; and marched into the Mohawks' country, to take revenge of them. This enterprise was contrived and undertaken without the privity, and contrary to the advice, of their English friends. Mr. Eliot and myself, in particular, dissuaded them, and gave them several reasons against it, but they would not hearus: but the praying Indians were so cautioned by our advice, that not above five of them went; and all of them were killed but one. The chiefest general in this expedition, was the principal sachem of Massachusetts, named Josiah, alias Chekatabutt, a wise and stout man of middle age, but a very vitious person. He had considerable knowledge in the Christian religion; and sometime, when he was younger, seemed to profess it for a time;-for he was bred up by his uncle, Kuchamakin, who was the first sachem, and his people to whom Mr. Eliot preached, as we shall afterwards declare ;-and was a catechised Indian, and kept the sabbath several years; but after turned apostate, and for several years last past, separated from the praying Indians, and was but a back friend to religion. This man, as I said, was the chief; but there were divers other sagamores and stout men that assisted.

"Their march unto the Mohawks' forts was about two hundred miles and the Indians are ill accommodated for such an undertaking, having no other carriages for their arms, ammunition, and victuals, but their backs: and they are slow in their marches, when they are in a body; for they are fain to provide food, as they travel, by hunting, fishing, and gathering roots and if, in their march, they are to pass any Indian towns or plantations; which they will go out of their way to visit and find quarters in, rather than pass them; at such places they will stay several days, until they devour all they can get; boasting, vapouring, and prating of their valour. Hereby their designs are known, and their enemies better prepared; and their provisions, especially their ammunition, wasted; for they are, when they have opportunity, much addicted to vapour, and shoot away their powder in the air.

"This Indian army at last came to the Mohawks', or Maquas' nearest fort; which their enemies had by this time well strengthened, fortified, and furnished with men and victuals, to endure a longer siege than they knew the other could make. The Massachusetts, or sea coast army, set down before the fort, besieging it some days; they within and those without, firing at each other, without any considerable loss, except the expenses of powder and shot. Once a stout party of the Mohawks sallied out upon the besiegers; and they fought stoutly on both sides, and several men were slain on both sides. At length, when the besieged saw cause, they retired again into their hold.

"After some days, the army lying in this posture, their provision being exhausted, and their munition well spent, and some of their people sick, and that they saw the impossibility to get the hold by

assault, they broke up the siege, and retreated homewards about twenty or thirty miles. Shortly after they were gone, a strong party of the Mohawks issued forth to pursue them; and fetching a compass, got before them,-for the army marched slowly, many being sick, and the best, not very strong, and placed themselves in ambushment at a pass opportune for their purpose, where were thick swamps on each side their way. Here the Mohawks lodged themselves very near to them, as was most advantageous to their design; and then the Mohawks fired upon them, and killed and wounded many at the first firings. Our Indians did what they could for their defence, and to offend the enemies: and many of the principal men fought valiantly, especially their general before named, and several others yea almost all their stoutest leaders and sagamores, that accompanied him, pursued the Mohawks into the thickets; and under such great disadvantage, most of these valiant men lost their lives, and the general also. About fifty of their chief men, they confess, were slain in this fight; but I suppose, more; but how many the Mohawks lost, is not known. At last, night coming on, the Mohawks contenting themselves with this victory, retreated; and the remainder of the army hastened, as fast as they could, homeward.

"This was the last and most fatal battle, fought between the Mohawks and our Indians; who returned home ashamed, with lamentations and mourning for the loss of most of their chief men. Then were they effectually convinced of their folly, in attempting this design contrary to the counsel of their best friend.

"It was two years and more after this battle, before a peace was made between our Indians and the Mohawks. But little or no action was done of either side: only both parties kept in fear of each other; our Indians retiring close under the wings of the English; the Mohawks, not over forward to invade; for I apprehend, that in these wars they felt damage, and lost many men, and were willing to be quieter than formerly they were. In the year 1671, as I take it, by the mediation of one Captain Salisbury, commander in chief at fort Albany, and other English and Dutch living there, being solicited thereunto by some of the English magistrates of the English colonies, there was a peace concluded between the Mohawks and our Indians; who have been much frighted, scattered, impoverished, and discouraged by this war; but now are quiet, and are returned to their plantations, some whereof during this war were deserted; and the Indians of several places gathered together in forts, to their great suffering and inconveniences.

"To sum up all concerning these Mohawks,-you may see in the foregoing discourse, that they are a stout, yet cruel people; much addicted to bloodshed and cruelty; very prone to vex and spoil the peaceable Indians. Therefore it were a most desirable thing, to put forth our utmost endeavours to civilize, and convert these Indians to the knowledge of the gospel; which is the only means to turn this curse into a blessing. Then those gracious promises will be fulfilled

to this people, that are mentioned in Isaiah xi. 6—9; in Is. lxv. 25 ; and again in Is. xxxv. 4-9. These and abundance of other gracious promises shall be fulfilled to these poor Indians, when they receive the gospel in truth and power; which the Lord grant for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen."*

3. PHILIP'S WAR.

This war began in Plymouth Colony,† about the year 1675, and spread through Massachusetts, New-Hampshire, and the Province of Maine, in extent about 300 miles. In the compass of one year, the numerous tribes of Indians within the limits of New-England, with few exceptions, were drawn into this war, against the colonies. Some doubted whether the English would not be exterminated, so formidable was the combination against them. It was a season of general and deep distress.

This was the first hostile attack from the natives, which had been really alarming to the country. In 1637, the troops of Massachusetts and Connecticut had destroyed the Pequots. In 1643, there were some disturbances with the Narragansets; but matters were settled without shedding blood. In 1646, a plot was formed by Sequesson, a sachem near New-Haven, to assassinate the magistrates of that colony; but he effected nothing. In 1647, there were some transient difficulties with the Narragansets and Mohegans. The next year, the Narragansets hired the Mohawks to assist them against the Mohegans, but were detected. The following year, some persons were murdered by the Indians at New-Haven and Long Island.

In the year 1653, the public mind was agitated, a general panic seized the couutry, from an apprehension that there was a conspiracy of the Indians through the country to cut off the English. These rumours and terrors of the day appeared, afterward, to have had no just foundation.

In 1657, Alexander, the son of Massasoit, invited the Narragansets to join with him in revolting from the English. Gen Winslow went with only ten men, and brought him to Plymouth, where, though he was treated very civilly, his vexation and madness threw him into a fever, of which he died. His brother Philip succeeded him, and renewed his covenant with the English in 1662; yet, in 1671, he commenced hostilities against the English, but was soon subdued, and promised never to begin war again, before he had made complaint himself to Plymouth colony. Except these slight difficulties, for almost forty years the English had enjoyed peace with the Indians. Early in the year 1675, John Sausaman, an Indian whom the English had employed as a missionary to instruct his brethren, in

*Hist. Coll. vol. i. p. 160 to 168.

The Head Quarters of Philip were at Mount Hope, now Bristol, R. Island.

formed the governor of Plymouth, that Philip, with several other tribes, was plotting the destruction of the English. Soon after this, Sausaman was found murdered; three Indians were arrested, tried, convicted, and hung for the murder. Philip, now more offended, sent away his women, armed his men, and robbed several houses in the vicinity of his own dwelling.

June 24, 1675, the colony observed, as a day of humiliation and prayer. As the people of Swansey were returning from public worship, the Indians, lying in ambush, fired a volley, killed one man and wounded another. Two men, who went for a surgeon, were shot; and at the same time, in another part of the town, six other persons were killed. Immediately a company of horse and foot marched from Boston, and another company of foot from Plymouth, and arrived the 28th near Philip's seat; twelve men the same evening reconnoitered his camp, were fired upon, one was killed, and one wounded; the next morning a resolute assault was made, when the savages fled, leaving their camp and their country to the conquerors. The troops of Massachusetts then marched into the country of the Narragansets, to renew the treaty with them, sword in hand, and engage them not to join in the war with Philip. This they effected, and returned home. Philip fled to the Nipmuck Indians, in Worcester county, who were persuaded to assist him. August 2, captains Wheeler and Hutchinson went into that country to renew a treaty with them, according to an appointment; but the Nipmucks, instead of attending the treaty, from an ambush fired on them, killed eight men, and mortally wounded Captain Hutchinson. The rest fled to Quaboag, where all the inhabitants had collected in one house.

Immediately they were surrounded by a host of enemies, Nipmucks, and Philip, with the men who had fled with him. They soon burned every house in the place, except the one in which the people and soldiers were collected. Here they directed their whole force; upon this cottage they poured a storm of musket balls for two days; countless numbers pierced through the walls, yet only one person was killed ;* with long poles they thrust against it brands and rags dipped in brimstone; they shot arrows of fire; they loaded a cart with flax and tow, and with long poles fastened together, they pushed it against the house. Destruction seemed inevitable. The house was kindling, the surrounding savages stood ready to destroy the first that opened the door to escape. In this awful moment of terror, God sent a " mighty" shower of rain, which extinguished the kindling flames. August 4, Major Willard came to their relief, and raised the siege, destroying many of the enemy.

The Indians went to Deerfield and burned most of the houses; the next day they were at Northfield, where they killed eight men ;

*Fisk, Hubbard, Mather.

Capt. Beers went, with thirty-six men, to bring off the inhabitants; on his march he was assaulted by the enemy, himself and twenty of his men were killed. Sept. 18, Capt. Lathrop, with a number of teams and eighty young men, the flower of Essex county, went to bring a quantity of grain from Deerfield; on their return they stopped to gather grapes at Muddy Brook; when, instantly, 7 or 800 Indians rushed upon them, and dreadful was the slaughter; confined among the trees, resistance was almost in vain; 70 sons of NewEngland fell and were buried in one grave; never had the country seen such a bloody hour. Captain Mosely, hearing the report of the guns, flew to the scene of action, with a few men, renewed the conflict, killed ninety-six of the enemy, and wounded forty, losing only two of his own men.

The enemy soon after burnt 32 houses in Springfield. The general court, then sitting in Boston, appointed a committee, who, with the ministers of the vicinity, might suggest what were the sins, which brought these heavy judgments, and what laws could be enacted for the prevention of those sins. Their report was received October 19, and measures were taken to carry the design into effect. The same day, at Hatfield, the New-England troops obtained a decisive victory over the enemy. Seven or eight hundred of them assaulted the town, but were repulsed in such a vigorous manner, that they fled in every direction; numbers of them were drowned in attempting to cross the river; others reached the Narraganset country before they rested. The English, on this important day, lost but one man. Those in Narraganset retired to a small piece of dry land, in a great swamp, seven miles west of the south ferry that goes over to Newport. Here they collected stores, and built the strongest fort they ever had in this country. A circle of pallisadoes was surrounded by a fence of trees, a rod in thickness. The entrance was on a long tree over the water, that only one person could pass at a time. This was guarded in such a manner that every attempt to enter would have been fatal. By the help of Peter, an Indian prisoner, but now a necessary guide, one vulnerable spot was discovered; at one corner the fort was not raised more than 4 or 5 feet in height, but here a block-house was erected, so that a torrent of balls might be poured into this gap.

Gen. Winslow, with 1500 men from Massachusetts, and 300 from Connecticut, with 160 Indians, having arrived near the place about 1 o'clock, after travelling 18 miles without refreshment or rest, discovered a party of the enemy, upon whom they instantly poured a shower of balls; the Indians returned the fire and fled into the fort. The English pursued, and without waiting to reconnoitre, or even to form, rushed into the fort after them; but so terrible was the fire from the enemy, they were obliged to retire. The whole army then made a united onset; hardly were they able to maintain their ground; some of their bravest captains fell. In this awful crisis, while the scale of victory hung doubtful, some of the Connecticut men, who