so that they were all day getting down from Maquait to Perpodack,* and the masters of the vessels thinking it not safe putting out in the night, so late in the year, anchored there. [-] The vessels being much crowded, the Major ordered that three companies should go on shore, and no more. Himself with Captain Converset went with them to order their lodging. And finding just houses convenient for them, viz., two barns and one house; [and]2 seeing them all settled, and their watches out, the Major and Captain Converse returned to go on board. And coming near where the boat was, it - was pretty dark, they discovered some men, but did not know what or who they were. The Major ordered those that were with him, all to clap down and cock their guns, and he called out, and asked them who they were? And they said, "Indians." He asked them whose men they were? They said, "Captain Southworth's." He asked them where they intended to lodge? They said, "In those little huts that the enemy had made when they took that garrison."+ The Major told them [that] they must not make any fires, for if they did, the enemy would be upon them before day. They laughed, and said, “Our Major is afraid." Having given them their directions, he; with Captain Converse, went on board the 2 [so] 1 [at Perpodack] * In the town of Cape Elizabeth, 6 or 8 miles from Portland. It is also known by the name of Spring point. † Captain James Converse. A distinguished partizan. No commander deserved better of their country than be. Beside his singular bravery in defending the garrison at Wells, mentioned in note 3, on page 189, the history of this war abounds with his exploits; to enumerate which would far exceed the limits of this note. See Magnalia, II, 529, &c. I can find no account of the Indians taking a garrison here until after this. In Queen Ann's or Villebon's war several persons were killed and some families carried into captivity. Sullivan, 195. Mary sloop, designing to write home, and send away in the morning the two sloops which had the small pox on board, &c. But before day our Indians began to make fires, and to sing and dance. So the Major called to Captain Southworth to go ashore and look after his men, for the enemy would be upon them by and by. He ordered the boat to be hauled up, to carry him ashore, and called Captain Converse to go with him; and just as the day, began to appear, as the Major was getting into the boat to go ashore, the enemy fired upon our men, (the Indians) notwithstanding that one Philip, an Indian of ours, who was out upon the watch, heard a man cough, and the sticks crack, [and]1 gave the rest an account, that he saw Indians, which they would not believe; but said to him, "You are afraid." His answer was, that they might see them come creeping. They laughed and said, [that] they were hogs. "Ah," said he, "and they will bite you by and by." So presently they did fire upon our men. But the morning being misty, their guns did not go off quick, so that our men had all time to fall down before their guns went off, and saved themselves from that volley, except one man, who was killed. This sudden firing upon our Indian soldiers, surprised them [so,] that they left their arms, but soon recovered them again, and got down the bank, which was but low. The Major, with all the forces on board landed as fast as they could, the enemy firing smartly at them; however all got safe ashore. The enemy had a great advantage of our forces, who were between the sun's rising and the enemy, so that if a man put up his head or hand they could see it, and would fire at it. However, some, with the Major, got up the bank, behind stumps and rocks, to have the advantage of firing at the enemy But when the sun was risen, the Major slipped 1 [who] down the bank again, where all the forces were ordered to observe his motion, viz., that he would give three shouts, and then all of them should run with him up the bank. So, when he had given the third shout, [he] ran up the bank, and Captain Converse with him, but when the said Converse perceived that the forces did not follow, as commanded, called to the Major, and told him [that] the forces did not follow. [He,]1 notwithstanding the enemy fired smartly at him, got safe down the bank again; and rallying the forces up the bank, soon put the enemy to flight. And following them so close, that they took thirteen canoes, and one lusty mar., who had Joseph Ramsdel's scalp by his side. [He]2 was taken by two of our Indians, and having his deserts, was himself scalped. This being a short and smart fight, some of our men were killed and several wounded. Sometime after, an Englishman, who was prisoner amongst them, gave an account, that our forces had killed and wounded several of the enemy, for they killed several prisoners according to custom,* &c. After this action was over, our forces embarked for Piscataqua. The Major went to Wells, and removed the Captain there, and put in Captain Andros, who had been with him; and knew the discourse left with the two old squaws at Amerascogen, for Hakins and Worumbos to come there in fourteen days, if they had a mind to hear of their wives and children; who did then, or soon after come with a flag of truce to said Wells garrison, and had leave to come in, and more appearing came in, to the number of eight, (without any terms) being all chief Sachems. [They] were very glad to hear of the women and children, viz., Hakins and Worumbos' wives and children. [They] all said three several times that they would 2 [who] 3 [and] 4 [who] 1 [who] * It was said to be a custom among most of the Indian nations, to kill as many prisoners as they lost in battle. never fight against the English any more, for the French made fools of them, &c. They saying as they did, the said Andros let them go. Major Church being come to Piscataqua, and two of his transports having the small pox on board, and several of his men having got great colds by their hard service, pretended [that] they were going to have the small pox; thinking by that means to be sent home speedily. The Major being willing to try them, went to the gentlemen there, and desired them to provide a house; for some of his men expected [that] they should have the small pox; which [they] readily did, and told him, that the people belonging to it were just recovered of the small pox, and had been all at meeting, &c. The Major returning to his officers, ordered them to draw out all their men that were going to have the small pox, for he had provided an hospital for them. So they drew out seventeen men, that had as they said all the symptoms of the small pox. He ordered them all to follow him, and coming to the house, he asked them how they liked it? They said, "Very weil." Then he told them that the people in the said house, had all had the small pox, and were recovered; and that if they went in, they must not come out till they [had] all had it. Whereupon they all presently began to grow better, and to make excuses, except one man who desired to stay out till night before he went in, &c. The Major going to the gentlemen, told them, that one thing more would work a perfect cure upon his men, which was to let them go home; which did work a cure upon all, except one, and he had not the small pox. So he ordered the plunder to be divided forthwith, and sent away all the Plymouth forces. But the gentlemen there desired him to stay, and they would be assisting to him in raising new forces, to the number of what was sent away; and that they would send to Boston for provisions, which they did and sent Captain Plaisted* to the Governour and council at Boston, &c. And in the mean time, the Major with those gentlemen went into all those parts, and raised a sufficient number of men, both officers and soldiers. [They all met at the bank† on the same day that Captain Plaisted returned from Boston. [The]2 return from the Boston gentlemen was, that the Canada expedition had drained them so that they could do no more. So that Major Church, notwithstanding he had been at considerable expenses in raising said forces to serve his King and country, was obliged to give them a treat and dismiss them. Taking his leave of them, [he] came home to Boston in the Mary sloop, Mr. Alden‡ master, and Captain Converse with him, on a Saturday. And waiting upon the Governour, and some of the gentlemen in Boston, they looked very strange upon them, which not only troubled them, but put them in some consternation; [wondering] what the matter should be, that after so much toil and hard service, [they] could not have 1 [who] 2 [whose] The name of Plaisted is found in the earlier and later wars as well as in this. A letter from Roger Plaisted to Maj. Waldron, who was killed at Salmon falls, 1675, showing his desperate situation, is printed in Hubbard, 281. Whether this was a son or not is not known to me, but from the author just cited should conclude that it was not. Perhaps he was a near connexion. In 1712, a Mr. Plaisted was taken at Wells, and ransomed for 300 pounds. † By the bank I suppose is meant, that part of the town of Portsmouth, including Church hill, formerly called Strawberry bank, and was a general appellation for the town. The same mentioned further on, as old Mr. Alden, and Capt. Alden. He lived at Boston, and was one of the accused in the celebrated witch age, and was committed to prison by Hawthorn and Gidney, 31 May, 1692, where he remained 15 weeks; at the end of which time he made his escape. He afterwards returned, and none appearing against him, was cleared. See Calef's "More Wonders of the Invisible World," 210 to 214. |