marched to Narraganset bay. Here they engaged a large body of the Narragansets, as auxiliaries, and then proceeded to Nihantic,* where they arrived, May twentyfourth.

The next morning they were joined by another body of the Narragansets, which made their Indian force amount to near five hundred men. After marching twelve miles, to Pawcatuck river, Captain Mason halted to refresh his men. The weather was ex

tremely hot, and the men suffered very much. His Narraganset men now learning that they were going to attack the Pequot's chief fort, were greatly amazed, and the most of them returned home. One Wequash, a deserter from the Pequots, now piloted the army to a fort at Mystic. At night they encamped by two large rocks,† and two hours before day, made ready to attack the fort. They yet had two miles to march, which took them until near the dawn of day The fort was on the top of a hill, and no time must be lost in making the attack. Their friend Indians now chiefly deserted them, and they divided themselves into two divisions, for the benefit of attacking them in two particular points. The party under Mason pressed on to the east side, while that under Captain Underhill gained the west. As Mason ap

proached the palisades, a dog gave the alarm, and an Indian cried out "Owanux! Owanux!" that is, "Englishmen! Englishmen !" Being now discovered, they instantly discharged through the palisades, and then rushed into the fort sword in hand. Here the battle was severe, and for some time doubtful. As the moment grew more critical, Mason thought of the last expedient, and cried out, "We must burn them! We must burn them!" and taking a brand of fire, communicated it to the mats, with which the wigwams were covered, they were all in a blaze in a * In Lyme.

+"Between two large rocks in Groton, since called Porter's rocks." Trumbull, I, 83.

moment, The English then formed a circ.e about the fort, and all that ventured out to escape the flames, were immediately shot down. Dreadful now was the work of death. Some perishing in the flames, others climbing over the palisades, were no -sooner up than shot down. Uncas, in the mean time, had come up and formed a circle in the rear, and in a little more than an hour, the work was complete. Six or seven hundred Indians were slain, and but two of the English, and sixteen wounded.

The army now began the retreat, and a body of the enemy were soon seen in pursuit; but a few shot kept them at a distance. This body of the enemy had not been in the battle, and on arriving at the fort, and beholding the dismal spectacle, beat the ground with rage, and tore their hair in despair.

The English arrived at their homes in about three weeks from the time they set out, and the people were greatly rejoiced at their success.

Sassacus, the chief of the Pequots, and most of his people, now fled and left their country. But after some time, it was discovered, that a great body of them were in a swamp to the westward. Troops, therefore, were sent from Massachusetts, who joined others from Connecticut, and they immediately marched under the command of the valiant Mason, in pursuit of them. On the thirteenth of July they arrived at the fatal swamp. Some of the English rushed in, but were badly wounded, and rescued with difficulty. At length they surrounded the swamp, and the fight continued through the most of the night. By the help of a thick fog, many of the warriours escaped.. About twenty were killed, and one hundred and eighty captivated, who were divided among the Narragansets and Mohegans. Sassacus, with a few of his chief men, fled to the Mohawks, who, at the request of the Narragansets, cut off his

No

head; and thus terminated the Pequot war. thing of great moment occurred until the time of Philip.

V.-REMAINS OF PHILIP'S WAR.

Ir is intended here, to narrate the most important circumstances in the progress of that war at the eastward, in Maine and Newhampshire.

It was generally thought, that Philip had excited all of the Indians throughout Newengland, to rise with him in the war. While this has been doubted by some, others think it probable, that his endeavours were used even among the distant tribes of Virginia.† However this might have been, it is certain, that within twenty days from the time the war began in Swanzey, it began to blaze at the distance of two hundred miles, even at the northeasterly extremity of Newengland. But the war at the eastward is said to have grown out of the foolish conduct of some of the inhabitants. An insult was offered to the wife of Squando, a chief Sachem on the river Saco. Some irregular sailors, having heard that young Indians could swim naturally, like those of the brute creation, met the wife of Squando with an infant child in a canoe, and to ascertain the fact, overset it. The child sunk to the bottom, but the mother diving down, immediately brought it up without apparent injury. However, it fell out, that the child died shortly after, and its death was imputed to the treatment it had received from the sailors. This so enraged the chief, that he only waited a fit time to commence hostilities. Other causes of the war were not wanting all along the eastern frontier. A letter was received at

* It was the reflection upon the fate of this once famous nation, that gave rise to those beautiful and sympathetick lines in Dwight's Greenfield hill, Part the fourth, which see in note 3 to page 146 of Philip's war.

† See Hubbard, Nar. 262.

Kennebeck, from York, the eleventh July, 1675, giv ing account of the war at the westward, and that means were using to disarm the natives along the shore. Had the Indians entertained no ideas of war before, they certainly would be justified in making war upon any that were about to deprive them of the means of self defence. How much have the Spartans, under Leonidas been celebrated for their answer to Xerxes, when he endeavoured to persuade them to give up their arms. But the English were not so generous as the Persian monarch, for he promised the Spartans a far better country than theirs, if they would comply. To which they replied, that no country was worth having unless won by valour; and, as to their arms, they should want them in any country. Perhaps the despised Indians deserve as much honour, in some instances, as the defenders of Thermopyla.

In an attempt to force the Indians to deliver up their arms at Kennebeck, one belonging to the English came near being killed. This caused considerable tumult, but at length was settled, by promises and hostages on the part of the Indians. But through the supineness of their keepers, the hostages found means to escape; and, meeting with some of their fellows, proceeded to Pejepscot, where they plundered the house of one Purchase, an early planter, and known as a trader among them. The men were not at home, but no incivility was offered to the women. This was in September, 1675.

About twentyfive of the English marched out to take revenge for what had been done. They went up Casco bay, and landed near the mouth of the Androscoggin, where they had farms. On coming near the houses, "they heard a knocking," and presently saw some Indians; who it appears, were doing no harm; but without waiting to know, the English rushed on them, and some were killed. The Indians rallied, and wounded many of them before they could

gain their vesesls. Some it appears, even in those days, stood a little for the rights of the natives, and ventured to question the virtue of this action. "But," says Mr. Hubbard, "if this happened after the murder of old Mr. Wakely and family, the English can be blamed for nothing but their negligence." But whether it was or not, does not appear. The destruction of this family was horrid. Six persons, namely, the old gentleman, his son, and daughter in law, who was far advanced in pregnancy, and three grandchildren were killed, and mangled in a shock ing manner. Some of them, when found the next day, were partly consumed in the flames of their dwelling, to which the Indians set fire when they drew off.

At Saco they met with a severe repulse, in an endeavour to take Major Phillips' garrison. Captain Benython had got information by a friendly Indian, that something was intended against the place, so he retired into the garrison with Phillips. His house had not been deserted above an hour, when he saw it in flames. The savages soon crossed the river, and were seen skulking by the fences to get a shot at some about the garrison. Major Phillips went into a chamber to look out for the enemy, and was wounded. The Indians thought they had killed him, and openly began the attack; but their Captain being immediately shot down, they drew a little further off, They now employed a stratagem to fire the garrison. They took the large wheels, (used for lumbering, at a mill near by, which they burned) and erected a battery upon the axletree, then they ran it back by taking hold of the tongue or spear, very near the garrison; when one wheel stuck in the mud, and the * Narrative, 269.

† Sullivan, Hist. Maine, 199, says it was in July 1675, and that the name of the family was Wakefield.

On Saturday, 18 September.