But the Commissioners of the United Colonies, duly reflecting on the deplorable situation of their defenceless brethren throughout the country, aware that there were then a much greater number of their savage enemies embodied, than at any former period, who, if suffered peaceably to retire into winter quarters, might prove too powerful for them the spring ensuing, resolved to attack the whole force under PHILIP in their winter encampment-for the purpose of which, every Englishman capable of bearing arms, was commanded (by Proclamation of the Governor) to hold himself in readiness to march at the shortest notice.-The 10th of December, was the day appointed by the Commissioners on which the decisive blow was to be given-six companies were immediately raised in Massachusetts, consisting in the whole of 527 men, to the command of which were appointed Captains MOSELY, GARDENER, DAVENPORT, Oliver, and JOHNSON-five companies were raised in Connecticut, consisting of 450 men, to the command of which were appointed Captains SIELY,Mason, Gallop, Watts, and MARSHALL-two companies were likewise raised in Plymouth, consisting of 150 men, who were commanded by Captains RICE and GORAM ;-three Majors of the three respective division, were also appointed, to wit: Major APPLETON, of Massachusetts-Major TREAt, of Connecticut-and Major BRADFORD, of Plymouth-the whole force, consisting of 1127 men, were commanded by Major General WINSLOW, late Governor of the colonies. On the 7th December, the combined forces com's menced their march for the head-quarters of the enemy -at this inclement season, it was with the utmost difficulty that the troops were enabled to penetrate through a wild and parthless wood-on the morning of the 9th (having travelled all the preceding night) they arrived at the border of an extensive swamp, in which they were

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informed by their guides the enemy were encamped to the number of 4000.-The English (after partaking of a little refreshment) formed for battle.-Capt. MOSELY, and Capt. DAVENPORT, led the van, and Major Appleton, and Capt. OLIVER, brought up the rear of the Massa chusetts forces-General WINSLOW, with the Plymouth troops formed the centre-the Connecticut troops under the command of their respective captains, together with about 200 of the Mohegans, commanded by ONECO, (the son of UNCUs) brought up the rear.

It was discovered by an Indian sent for that purpose, that in the centre of the swamp the enemy had built a very strong fort, of so wise construction, that it was with difficulty that more than one person could enter at one time. About 10 o'clock, A. M. the English with the sound of the trumpet entered the swamp, and when within about fifty rods of their fort, were met and attacked by the enemy-the Indians in their usual manner, shouting and howling like beasts of prey, commenced the attack with savage fury; but with a hedious noise, the English were not to be intimidated; charging them with unequalled bravery, the enemy were soon glad to seek shelter within the walls of their fort ;-the English having closely pressed upon the enemy, as they retreated, now in turn found themselves in a very disagreeable situation, exposed to the fire of the Indians (who were covered by a high breastwork) they were not even enabled to act on the defensive.-At this critical juncture the lion-hearted ONECO, with the assent of Gen. WINS. zow, offered (with the men under his command) to scale the walls of the fort, which being approved of by the English commanders, ONECO, with about sixty picked men, in an instant ascended to the top of the fort; where having a fair chance at the enemy, they hurled their tomahawks and discharged their arrows with such suc

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cess among them, as in a very short time to throw them into the utmost confusion; those who attempted to escape from the fort, were instantly cut to pieces by the troops without the enemy finding themselves thus hemmed in, and attacked on all sides, in the most abject terms begged for quarter, which was denied them by the English-a great proportion of the troops being now mounted on the walls of the fort, they had nothing to do but load and fire, the enemy being penned up and hud. dled together in such a manner, that there was scarcely a shot lost. This bloody contest was of near six hours continuance, when the English perceiving the fort filled with nought but dead, or such as were mortally wounded of the enemy, closed the bloody conflict.

The scene of action at this instant was indeed such as could not fail to shock the stoutest hearted!-the huge logs of which the fort was constructed, were completely crimsoned with the blood of the enemy, while the surrounding woods resounded with the dying groans of the. wounded.-The number of slain of the enemy in this severe engagement, could not be ascertained, it was however immense; of 4000 which the fort was sup posed to contain at the commencement of the action, not 200 escaped! among whom unfortunately was the treacherous Philip.

After the close of this desperate action, the troops (having destroyed all in their power) left the enemy's ground, and carrying about 300 wounded men marched back to the distance of sixteen miles to head-quarters; -the night proved cold and stormy, the snow fell deep, and it was not until midnight or after that the troops were enabled to reach their place of destination-many of the wounded, who probably otherwise might have recovered, perished with the cold and inconvenience of a march so fatiguing.

Although the destruction of so great a number of the enemy was considered of the greatest importance to the English, yet it proved a conquest dearly bought-it was obtained at the expence of the lives of not only a great number of privates, but a great proportion of their most valuable officers; among whom were Captains DavenPORT, GARDNER, JOHNSON, SIELY, and MARSHALL-ON enumerating their number of slain and wounded, it was found as follows:-

Of the companies commanded by

Captains MOSELY,

OLIVER,

GARDNER,

JOHNSON,

DAVENPORT,

GALLOP,

10 killed, 40 wounded.

20

48

SIELY,

The courage displayed during the action by every part of the army-the invincible heroism of the officers the firmness and resolution of the soldiers, when they saw their captains falling before them--and the hardships endured before and after the engagement, are hardly. credible, and rarely find a parallel in ancient or modern ages!-the cold (the day preceding the action) was extreme, and in the night of which, the snow fell so deep as to render it extremely difficult for the army to move the day succeeding;-four hundred of the soldiers were so completely frozen as to be unfit for duty!-the Connecticut troops were the most disabled, having endured a tedious march without halting from Stonington to the

place of public rendezvous-they sustained too a much greater loss in the action, in proportion to their numbers, than the troops of the other colonies-the bold and in. trepid Capt. MASON (who received a fatal wound in the action, of which he died in about three months after) was the first after the Mohegans to mount the walls of the fort, nor did the troops under his command fail to follow the noble example.

The loss of the troops from Connecticut was so great that Major TREAT conceived it absolutely necessary to return immediately home-such of the wounded as were not able to travel were put on board a vessel and conveyed to Stonington-the troops on their return killed and captured about 30 of the enemy.

The Massachusetts and Plymouth forces kept the field the greater part of the winter-they ranged the country, took a number of prisoners, destroyed about 300 wigwarms, but achieved nothing brilliant or decisive.

The Nipnet and Narraganset tribes being by the late action nearly exterminated, the few that survived (by the direction of PHILIP) fled in small parties to different parts of the country, improving every opportunity that presented to revenge the untimely fate of their brethren. On the 10th February, 1678, about 100 of them surprised the inhabitants of Lancaster (Mass.) a part of whom, as a place of greater safety, had the day previous resorted to the dwelling of the Rev. Mr. RowLAND; this however being constructed of dry logs, was set fire to by the Indians, which the unfortunate English, within being unable to extinguish, they fell victims to the deyouring flames.-On the 21st the enemy attacked the inhabitants of Medfield, 32 of whom they killed and of the remainder made captives,

On the 3d March, the Indians still continuing their depredations, two companies of cavalry, under the com