buscade of about a dozen Indians, as they were afterward discovered to be. When they drew off, the pilot* was mortally wounded, Mr. Belcher received a shot in his knee, and his horse was killed under him. Mr. Gill was struck with a musket ball on the side of his body; but being clad with a buff coat,† and some thickness of paper under it, it never broke his skin. The troopers were surprised to see both their commanders wounded and wheeled off; but Mr. Church persuaded, at length stormed and stamped, and told them it was a shame to run, and leave a wounded man there to become a prey to the, barbarous enemy; for the pilot yet sat on his horse, though amazed with the shot as not to have sense to guide him. Mr. Gill seconded him, and offered, though much disabled, to assist in bringing him off. Mr. Church asked a stranger, who gave him his company in that action, if he would go with him and fetch off the wounded man. He readily consented, and they with Mr. Gill went; but the wounded man fainted, and fell off his horse before they came to him. But Mr. Church and the stranger dismounted, took up the man, dead, and laid him before Mr. Gill on his horse. Mr. Church told the other two, [that] if they would take care of the dead man, he would go and fetch his horse back, which was going off the causeway toward the enemy; but before he got over the causeway he saw the enemy run to the right into the neck. He brought back the horse, and called earnestly and repeatedly to the army to come over and fight the enemy; and while he stood calling and persuading, the skulking enemy returned to their old stand, and all discharged their guns at him at one clap; [and] though every shot missed him, yet, one

* William Hammond.

A buff coat, and kind of cuirass or breastplate of iron or steel formed their armour; swords, carabines, and pistols, their weapons.

June 28. This action took place the same day that the other troops arrived,

of the army on the other side of the river, received one of the balls in his foot. Mr. Church now began, (no succour coming to him) to think it time to retreat. Saying, "The Lord have mercy on us, if such a handful of Indians shall thus dare such an army. 22*

Upon this it was immediately resolved, and orders were given to march down into the neck,+ and having passed the bridge and causeway, the direction was to extend both wings, which not being well heeded by those that remained in the centre, some of them mistook their friends for their enemies, made a fire upon them in the right wing, and wounded that noble heroick youth, Ensign Savage, in the thigh, but it happily proved but a flesh wound. They marched until they came to the narrow of the neck, at a place called Keekamuit,|| where they took down

and

* Thus ended the 28 June, 1675, according to Hubbard, 75; but by the text, the next transaction would seem under the same date, which from the fact that most of the army did not arrive until after noon, and that the action did not take place until it had arrived, it is plain that it was not. Hutchinson, I, 262, is as indistinct with regard to the dates in question, as our author, but Holmes considered it as I do. Annals, I, 421. The next morning, Hubbard, 75, says, that the Indians, at half a mile's distance, shouted twice or thrice, and 9 or 10 showing themselves at the bridge, the army immediately went in pursuit of them.

† June 29.

I cannot find as any historian takes notice of this bad management of the army. The reason is obvious as Hubbard says nothing of it, whom they all follow. Hence it appears that Savage was wounded by his own companions, and not by 10 or 12 of the enemy discharging upon him at once. See next note.

§" He had at that time one bullet lodged in his thigh, another shot through the brim of his hat, by ten or twelve of the enemy discharging upon him together, while he boldly held up his colours in the front of his company. Hubbard, 76. Our author or Mr. Hubbard is in a great mistake about the manner in which he was wounded, but the former ought not to be mistaken.

(Upper part of Bristol.)

Now the upper part of Warren, which has been taken

the heads of eight Englishmen that were killed at the head of Matapoiset neck, and set upon poles, after the barbarous manner of those savages. There Philip had staved all his drums and conveyed all his canoes to the east side of Matapoiset river. Hence it was concluded by those, that were acquainted with the motions of those people, that they had quitted the neck. Mr. Church told them that Philip was doubtless gone over to Pocasset side to engage those Indians in a rebellion with him, which they soon found to be true. The enemy were not really beaten out of Mounthope neck, though it was true [that] they fled from thence; yet it was before any pursued them. It was but to strengthen themselves, and to gain a more advantageous post. However, some, and not a few, pleased themselves with the fancy of a mighty conquest.

A grand council was held, and a resolve passed, to build a fort there, to maintain the first ground they had gained, by the Indians leaving it to them. And to speak the truth, it must be said, that as they gained not that field by their sword, nor their bow, so it was rather their fear than their courage that obliged them to set up the marks of their conquest.*

Mr. Church looked upon it, and talked of it with contempt, and urged hard the pursuing [of] the enemy on Pocasset side; and with the greater earnestness; because of the promise made to Awashonks, before mentioned.

The council adjourned themselves from Mount

from Bristol. It is called on the map of Rhodeisland, Kicke nuet, or rather the bay which makes this neck on one side, is so called. Warren river makes the other side.

*

Major Savage and Major Cudworth commanded the forces in this expedition, at whom, of course, this reflection is directed. But chiefly, I suppose, at Major Cudworth: For I find, Hubbard, 79, that Captain Cudworth, as he denominates him, "left a garrison of 40 men upon Mounthope neck," which is all that he says about this fort.

hope to Rehoboth,* where Mr. Treasurer Southworth, being weary of his charge of Commissary General, (provision being scarce and difficult to be obtained for the army,† that now lay still to cover the people from nobody, while they were building a fort for nothing) retired, and the power and trouble of that post was left to Mr. Church, who still urged the commanding officers to move over to Pocasset side, to pursue the enemy and kill Philip, which would in his opinion be more probable to keep possession of the neck, than to tarry to build a fort.‡

He was still restless on that side of the river, and the rather, because of his promise to the squaw Sachem of Sogkonate. And Captain Fullers also urged the same, until at length there came further or

* A town in Massachusetts, about 10 miles from where they then were, and about 38 from Boston.

† Hubbard says, 77, that the forces under Major Savage returned to Swanzey, and those under Capt. Cudworth passed over to Rhodeisland the same day, as the weather looked likely to be tempestuous, and that night there fell abundance of rain. But it is presumed that Captain Cudworth soon returned to build said fort, as he arrived at Swanzey the 5 July.

While these things were passing, Capt. Hutchinson was despatched with a letter from the Governour of Massachusetts, bearing date July 4, 1675, constituting him commissioner to treat with the Narragansets, who now seem openly to declare for Philip. He arrived the 5 at Swanzey, and on the 6, a consultation was held, wherein it was resolved "to reat with the Narragansets sword in hand." Accordingly the forces marched into their country, and after several ceremonious days, a treaty, as long as it was useless, was signed on the 15. It may be seen at large in Hubbard, Nar, 81 to 83, and Hutchinson, I, 263, 264. By which the Narragansets agreed, to harbour none of Philip's people, &c.; all which was only forced upon them, and they regarded it no longer than the army was present. The army then returned to Taunton, 17 June.

§ I learn nothing more of this gentleman than is found in this history. The name is common in Massachusetts and elsewhere. He had 6 files each containing 6 men, therefore their whole number consisted of 36 men only.

ders* concerning the fort, and withal an order for Captain Fuller with six files to cross the river to the side so much insisted on, and to try if he could get speech with any of the Pocasset or Sogkonate Indians, and that Mr. Church should go [as] his second.

Upon the Captain's receiving his orders, he asked Mr. Church whether he were willing to engage in this enterprise; to whom it was indeed too agreeable to be declined; though he thought the enterprise was hazardous enough for them to have [had] more men assigned them. Captain Fuller told him, that for his own part, he was grown ancient and heavy, [and] he feared the travel and fatigue would be too much for him. But Mr. Church urged him, and told him [that] he would cheerfully excuse him his hardship and travel, and take that part to himself, if he might but go; for he had rather do any thing in the world, than to stay there to build the fort.

Then they drew out the number assigned them, and marched the same night to the ferry, and were

* From Major Cudworth, who did not go with the rest of the army into the country of the Narragansets. Hub. 84.

No author that I have seen, excepting Mr. Hubbard, fixes any date to this memorable part of Philip's War. Neither Hutchinson nor Trumbull takes any notice of it. Hubbard, 84, says, "Upon Thursday, July 7, Captain Fuller and Lieutenant Church went into Pocasset to seek after the enemy," &c. But he is in an errour about the day of the week or month, and perhaps both; for I find that the 7 July falls on Wednesday; an errour which might easily have happened in some former edition of his Narrative. Though this scrutiny may seem unimportant, yet, the transaction, it must be allowed, merits particular attention; for history without chronology may be compared to the trackless desert over which we may wander in vain for relief, Most authors since

Mr. Hubbard's time, pass lightly over this event, and either think it not worth fixing a date to, or doubting the authority of Mr. Hubbard. But I am induced to believe, that the day of the month is right, and that the day of the week is wrong. If this be the case, we are able to fix the date of the battle of the Peasfield on July 8.

+ Bristol ferry.

4