was paid to their advice. Notwithstanding, Mr. Gookin, in his MS. history,* says, that, previous to the war, none of the Christian Indians had "been justly charged, either with unfaithfulness or treachery towards the English." But, on the contrary, some of them had discovered the treachery, particularly Walcut the ruler, of Philip before he began any act of hostility." In another place the same author says, that, in April, 1675, Wauban “came to one of the magistrates on purpose, and informed him that he had ground to fear that sachem Philip, and other Indians his confederates, intended some mischief shortly." Again in May, about six weeks before the war, he came and said the same, adding that Philip's men were only waiting for the trees to get leaved out, that they might prosecute their design with more effect. To return to Sassamon:

In the mean time, some circumstances happened that gave further grounds of suspicion, that war was meditated, and it was intended that messengers should be sent to Philip, to gain, if possible, the real state of the case. But before this was effected, much of the winter of 1674 had passed away, and the Rev. Sassamon still resided with the Namaskets, and others of his countrymen in that neighborhood. And notwithstanding he had enjoined the strictest secrecy upon his English friends at Plimouth, of what he had revealed, assuring them that if it came to Philip's knowledge, he should be immediately murdered by him, yet it by some means got to the chief's knowledge, and Sassamon was considered a traitor and an outlaw; and, by the laws of the Indiahs, he had forfeited his life, and was doomed to suffer death. The manner of effecting it was of no consequence with them, so long as it was brought about, and it is probable that Philip had ordered any of his subjects who might meet with him, to kill him.

Early in the spring of 1675, Sassamon was missing, and, on search being made, his body was found in Assawomset Pond, in Middleborough. Those that killed him not caring to be known to the English, left his hat and gun upon the ice, that it might be supposed that he had drowned himself; but from several marks upon his body, and the fact that his neck was broken, it was evident he had been murdered. Several persons were suspected, and, upon the information of one called Patuckson, Tobias § one of Philip's counsellors, his son, and Mattashinnamy, were apprehended, tried by a jury, consisting of half Indians, and in June, 1675, were all executed at Plimouth; "one of them before his execution confessing the murder," but the other two denied all knowledge of the act, to their last breath. The truth of their guilt may reasonably be called in question, if the circumstance of the bleeding of the dead body at the approach of the murderer, had any influence upon the jury. And we are fearful it was the case, for, if the most learned were misled by such hallucinations in those days, we are not to suppose that the more ignorant were free from them. Dr. Increase Mather wrote within two years of the affair, and he has this passage: "When Tobias (the suspected murderer) came near the dead body, it fell a bleeding on fresh, as if it had been newly slain; albeit, it was buried a considerable time before that."¶

Nothing of this part of the story is upon record among the manuscripts, as we can find, but still we do not question the authenticity of Dr. Mather, who, we believe, is the first that printed an account of it. Nor do the records of Plimouth notice Sassamon until some time after his death. The first record is in these words: "The court seeing cause to require the per

Not yet published, but is now, (April, 1836,) printing with notes by the author of this work, under the direction of the American Antiquarian Society. It will form a lasting monument of one of the best men of those days. The author was, as Mr. Eliot expresses himself, a pillar in our Indian work." He died in 1687, aged 75.

Some would like to know, perhaps, on what authority Mr. Grahame (Hist. N. Amer. i. 402.) states that Sassamon's body was found in a field.

Gookin's MS. Hist. of Christian Indians. This author says, "Sassamand was the first Christian martyr," and that "it is evident he suffered death upon the account of his Christian profession, and fidelity to the English."

His Indian name was Poggapanossoo.

Mather's Relation, 74. Judge Davis retains the same account, (Morton's Memorial 289.) which we shall presently show to be erroneous.

Mather's Relation, 75.

222

PHILIP.-SUDEURY FIGHT.

¡BOOK III Philip had for some time directed matters with such address that his enemies could not tell where or how to meet him, or whether he actually were in the vicinity of the frontiers or not. But there can be little doubt of his special agency and direction in all the important enterprises. On the 18 March, Northampton was assaulted, but not with quite as good success as was anticipated by the besiegers; for they lost eleven men, while the whites had but three killed and six wounded.

On the 27 March, a large body of 300 Indians, as was supposed, were discovered encamped not far from Marlborough, which they had burnt the day before. A company of men belonging to that town, attached themselves to a number of soldiers under one Lieutenant Jacobs, who, falling upon them in the night while they were asleep in their wigwams, killed and wounded about 40 of them, without any loss to themselves.

The Indians seem to have resolved that this midnight assassination should not go long unrequited, and events so determined, as what we are about to relate will fully exemplify. On the morning of the 20 April, the largest body of Indians which had at any time appeared, attacked Sudbury, and before resistance could be made, set fire to several buildings, which were consumed. The inhabitants, however, made a brave stand, and were soon joined by some soldiers from Watertown, under Captain Hugh Mason; and the Indians retreated over the bridge, and were prevented from doing any further mischief during the day, against Sudbury.

Some of the people of Concord hearing of the distress at Sudbury, sallied forth for its protection. As they approached a garrison house, they discovered a few Indians, and pursued them. These, as it proved, were a decoy, and they soon found themselves ambushed on every side. They fought with desperation, but were all, except one, cut off, being eleven in number. This affair took place immediately after Captain Wadsworth had marched from Sudbury with 70 men to strengthen the garrison at Marlborough; and the news of the situation of the place he had just left reached his destination as soon as he did; and although he had marched all the day and night before, and his men almost exhausted with fatigue, yet, taking Captain Brocklebank and about ten men from the garrison at Marlborough, he marched directly back for Sudbury. On the morning of the 21st, they arrived within about a mile and a half of the town, near where a body of about 500 Indians had prepared an ambush behind the hills. From thence they sent out two or three of their party, who crossed the march of the English, and, being discovered by them, affected to fly through fear, to decoy them into a pursuit. This stratagem succeeded, and with great boldness the Indians began the attack. For some time the English maintained good order, and, having retreated to an adjacent hill, lost but five men for near four hours. Meantime the Indians had lost a great number, which so increased their rage that they resolved to put in practice another stratagem, which it seems they had not before thought of. They immediately set the woods on fire to windward of the English, which spread with great rapidity, owing to an exceeding high wind and the dryness of the grass and other combustibles. This stratagem likewise succeeded, even better than the first; that, although it served to bring on the attack, was near proving fatal to its originators, but this was crowned with complete success. The fury of the flames soon drove the English from their advantageous position, which gave the Indians an opportunity to fall upon them with their tomahawks! Many were now able to fall upon one, and resistance fast diminished. All but about twenty were killed or fell into the hands of the conquerors; among the former were the two captains; some of those that escaped took shelter in a mill not far off, and were saved by the arrival of a few men under Captain Prentice, and a company under Captain Crowell. Both of these officers and their men very narrowly escaped the fate of Wadsworth.* As the former was about to fall into a fatal

house was burnt first, and that "afterwards they destroyed 65 more there, leaving but six houses standing in the whole town."

"So insolent were the Indians grown upon their first success against Captain Wadsworth, that they sent us word, to provide store of good cheer; for they intended to dine with us [at Boston] on the election day," Chronicle, 95.

snare, he was rescued by a company from a garrison; and as the latter approached Sudbury, he saved himself by pursuing an unexpected route; and, though attacked, he succeeded in fighting his way through the Indians with a loss only of six or seven of his men. Captain Crowell's arrival at this time was accidental, though fortunate; being on his return from Quabaog, whither he had been sent to reinforce that garrison.* With this great achievement ended the chief operations in Massachusetts; and we have now to return towards Plimouth.

When success no longer attended Philip in Massachusetts, those of his allies whom he had seduced into the war, upbraided and accused him of bringing all their misfortunes upon them; that they had no cause of war against the English, and had not engaged in it but for his solicitations; and many of the tribes scattered themselves in different directions. With all that would follow him, as a last retreat, Philip returned to Pokanoket. The Pecomptuck or Deerfield Indians were among the first who abandoned his cause, and many of the other Nipmucks and Narragansets soon followed their example.

On the 11th of July, he attempted to surprise Taunton, but was repulsedț. His camp was now at Matapoiset. The English came upon him here, under Captain Church, who captured many of his people, but he escaped over Taunton River, as he had done a year before, but in the opposite direction, and screened himself once more in the woods of Pocasset. He used many stratagems to cut off Captain Church, and seems to have watched and followed him from place to place, until the end of this month; but he was continually losing one company of his men after another. Some scouts ascertained that he, and many of his men, were at a certain place upon Taunton River, and, from appearances, were about to repass it. His camp was now at this place, and the chief of his warriors with him. Some soldiers from Bridgewater fell upon them here, on Sunday, July 30, and killed ten warriors; but Philip, having disguised himself, escaped. His uncle, Akkompoin, was among the slain, and his own sister taken prisoner.

Some

The late attempt by Philip upon Taunton had caused the people of Bridgewater to be more watchful, and some were continually on the scout. time in the day, Saturday, 29 July, four men, as they were ranging the woods, discovered one Indian, and, rightly judging there were more at hand, made all haste to inform the other inhabitants of Bridgewater of their discovery. Comfort Willis and Joseph Edson were "pressed" to go "post" to the governor of Plimouth, at Marshfield, who "went to Plimouth with them, the next day, [30 July,] to send Captain Church with his company. And Captain Church came with them to Monponset on the sabbath, and came no further that day, he told them he would meet them the next day." Here Willis and Edson left him, and arrived at home in the evening. Upon hearing of the arrival of Church in their neighborhood, 21 men "went out on Monday, supposing to meet with Captain Church; but they came upon the enemy and fought with them, and took 17 of them alive, and also much plunder. And they all returned, and not one of them fell by the enemy; and received no help from Church." This account is given from an old manuscript, but who its author was is not certain.§ Church's account differs considerably from it. He says, that on the evening of the same day he and his company marched from Plimouth, "they heard a smart firing at a distance from them, but it

* Old Indian Chronicle 79, 92, 93.-Hubbard, 80.-Gookin's MS. Hist.-A son of Captain Wadsworth caused a monument to be erected upon the place of this fight, with an inscription upon it, which time has discovered to be erroneous in some of its historical particulars. It was recently standing to the west of Sudbury causeway, about a quarter of a mile from the great road that leads from Boston to Worcester. Hoyt, 122. Holmes, i. 380.

A captive negro made his escape from Philip's men, and gave notice of their intention; "whereupon the inhabitants stood upon their guard, and souldiers were timously sent in to them for their relief and defence." Prevalency of Prayer, 8.

"Tis said that he had newly cut off his hair, that he might not be known." Hubbard, Nar. 101.

It is published by Mr. Mitchell, in his valuable account of Bridgewater, and supposed to have been written by Comfort Willis, named above. See 2 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. vii. 157.

224

LIFE OF KING PHILIP.

[BOOK III eing near night, and the firing of short continuance, they missed the place, and went into Bridgewater town."

On the 1 August, the intrepid Church came upon Philip's head-quarters, killed and took about 130 of his people, Philip himself very narrowly escap ing. Such was his precipitation, that he left all his wampum behind, and his wife and son fell into the hands of Church.

No sooner had the story of the destruction of the Indians begun to attract attention, (which, however, was not until a long time after they had been destroyed,) much inquiry was made concerning the fate of this son of the famous Metacomet; and it was not until considerable time had elapsed, that it was discovered that he was sold into slavery! It is gratifying to learn what did become of him, although the knowledge of the fact must cause pain in every humane breast; not more for the lot of young Metacomet, than for the wretched depravity of the minds of those who advised and executed the decree of slavery upon him.

Great numbers of Philip's people were sold for slaves in foreign countries. In the beginning of the war Captain Mosely captured 80, who were confined & Plimouth. In September following, 178 were put on board a vessel commanded by Captain Sprague, who sailed from Plimouth with them for Spain. Church relates the attack of Aug. 1 upon the flying chief as follows:"Next morning, [after the skirmish in which Akkompoin was killed,] Capt. Church moved very early with his company, which was increased by many of Bridgewater that listed under him for that expedition, and, by their piloting, he soon came, very still, to the top of the great tree which the enemy had fallen across the river; and the captain spied an Indian sitting upon the stump of it, on the other side of the river, and he clapped his gun up, and had doubtless despatched him, but that one of his own Indians called hastily to him not to fire, for he believed it was one of his own men; upon which the Indian upon the stump looked about, and Capt. Church's Indian, seeing his face, perceived his mistake, for he knew him to be Philip; clapped up his gun and fired, but it was too late; for Philip immediately threw himself off the stump, leaped down a bank on the side of the river, and made his escape. Capt. Church, as soon as possible, got over the river, and scattered in quest of Philip and his company, but the enemy scattered and fled every way; but he picked up a considerable many of their women and children, among which were Philip's wife and son of about nine years old." The remainder of the day was spent in pursuing the flying Philip, who, with his Narragansets, was still formidable. They picked up many prisoners, from whom they learned the force of those of whom they were in pursuit. At night, Church was under obligation to return to his men he had left, but commissioned Lightfoot, captain, to lead a party on discovery. Lightfoot returned in the morning with good success, having made an important discovery, and taken 13 prisoners. Church immediately set out to follow up their advantage. He soon came where they had made fires, and shortly after overtook their women and children, who "were faint and tired," and who informed them "that Philip, with a great number of the enemy, were a little before." It was almost sunset when they came near enough to observe them, and "Philip soon came to a stop, and fell to breaking and chopping wood, to make fires; and a great noise they made." Church, concentrating his followers, formed them into a circle, and set down "without any noise or fire." Their prisoners showed great signs of fear, but were easily put in confidence by the conciliatory conduct of Church. Thus stood matters in Church's camp through the night of the 2 August, 1676. At dawn of day, he told his prisoners they must remain still where they were, until the fight was over, (for he now had every reason to expect a severe one shortly to follow,) "or, as soon as the firing ceased, they must follow the tracks of his company, and come to them. (An Indian is next to a bloodhound to follow a track.)"†

It being now light enough to make the onset, Church sent forward two soldiers to learn Philip's position. Philip, no less wary, had, at the same time, sent out two spies, to see if any were in pursuit of him. The re