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Books of special ^ER-W^DBT value and gift books, when the giver wishes it, are not allowed to circulate. iftiN - z your Readers are asked to report all cases of books marked or muti- lated. Do not deface books by marks and writing. Library ! Cornell University E 83.67.E47 I King Philips war 331 3 1924 028 671 B Cornell University f Library The original of tliis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028671331 THE GRAFTON HISTORICAL SERIES Edited by HENRY R. STILES, A.M., M.D. The Grafton Historical Series Edited by Henry R. Stiles.A. M., M.D. In Olde Connecticut By Charles Burr Todd 12mo. Cloth, S1.25 net (postage 10c.) Historic Hadley By Alice Morehouse Walker 12mD. Cloth, illustrated, $1.00 net (postage 10c.) King Philip's War By George W. Ellis and John E. Morris 12mo. Cloth, illustrated, $2.00 net (postage 15c.) KING PHILIP'S WAR BASED ON THE ARCHIVES AND RECORDS OF RIASSACHUSETTS, PLYMOUTH, RHODE ISLAND AND CONNECTICUT, AND CON- TEMPORARY LETTERS AND ACCOUNTS WITH BIOGRAPHICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL NOTES BY GEORGE W. ELLIS AND JOHN E. MORRIS OP THE CONNECTTICUT HISTOBICAI. SOCIETY THE GRAFTON PRESS PUBLISHERS NEW YORK CopyrigU, 1906, I Bt the GRAFTON PRESS. PREFACE THE period marked by the Indian wars of 1675 and 1676, known as King Philip's War, is one of the most interesting and epochal in the early history of the New England colonies. It was the first great test to which the New England Commonwealths were subjected, and it enforced upon them in blood and fire the necessity of a mutual pohcy and active co-operation. The lesson that union is strength was learned at that time and was never forgotten. New England after the war, free from fear of any Indian attacks, was able to turn her attention to her own peace- ful industrial and poUtical development undisturbed. However much we must condemn the arbitrary ag- gressions which drove the Indian tribes into revolt, the historic fact must be accepted that between peoples the fittest only survive, and that as between races ethics rarely exist. The importance of this conflict in the minds of the early New England people is attested by the great atten- tion paid to it by contemporary New England historians like Mather and Hubbard, and by the voluminous cor- respondence of the chief men in the colonies. The correspondence between the Governors and Coun- cils and the commanders in the field in the records and archives of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Con- vi Preface necticut, serve as a vast mine for careful exploration of the conflict ia almost all its details. We do not claim for this work that it is an absolutely true history; no absolutely true history is possible on any subject. All the authors claim is that it is the result of a wide and discriminative study of the published and unpublished archives of the New England colonies, and of the contemporary letters found in the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Historical Society collections. Among other works consulted have been the contem- porary accounts of Hubbard, Mather, and the Old In- dian Chronicle, Captain Church's Narrative, the Journals of Mrs. Rowlandson and John Easton, Major Gookin's Christian Indians, Wheeler's True Narrative of the Lord's Providence, etc. Liberty has been taken occa- sionally to abridge involved and verbose quotations. The authors wish to acknowledge their great indebted- ness to the work of Rev. George Bodge, the late Sam- uel Drake, Sydney S. Rider, and the constant courtesy and help of Mr. Albert C. Bates, librarian of the Con- necticut Historical Society, and to the authors of many of the valuable town histories. The narrative and references are the work of Mr. George W. Ellis, while the biographical and local notes have been supplied by Mr. John E. Morris. Acknowl- edgment is herewith made to many local antiquarians for their co-operation and courtesy. CONTENTS CHAPTER I Survey of New England in the year 1675. The course of settlement —social and economic aspects of the English settlements. Topography of the scene of war. The Indian tribes, their customs and divisions. CHAPTER n 19 Intercourse and relations between English and Indians. Irreoon- cilable points of view. Unsympathetic attitude of the English. Their harsh and high-handed interference. The result of Christian proselytiz- ing. The question of lands of minor importance. Growing estrange- ment between the races. The Tripartite Treaty. The quarrel between Miantonomah and Uncas. The alliance between Connecticut and Uncas. Attitude of Massachusetts toward Miantonomah. Miantono- mah becomes involved in the quarrel behveen Massachusetts and the Gortonists through the sale of the Shawamut lands. Miantonomah makes war on Uncas and is captured. The commissioners of New England hand over Miantonomah to Uncas to be put to death. A clerico-judiciil murder. Its far-reaching results. Confidence in Eng- lish justice shattered among the tribes. CHAPTER m 36 Alexander, son of Massasoit. His death. Philip becomes sachem of the Wampanoags. Aggressive attitude of Plymouth. Many com- plaints. A conference at Taunton. Continued suspicions. The mterference of Massachusetts. The charges against Philip and his de- fense. A dangerous situation. The arbitrary aggressiveness of Plym- outh continues. The suUen distrust of the Wampanoags. Phihp no longer subservient. CHAPTER IV 47 Sassamon, Indian convert and informer. His character. He is found dead. Philip's subjects accused of murder. Their declaration as to the evidence. Their trial and execution. Indignation of the vii viii Contents Wampanoags. Rhode Island's proposal of arbitration. The Indian reply. Captain Church visits Awashonks. Alarming news. The comparative numbers and advantages of the two races. The out- break at Swansea. The call to arms. The concentration of the Plym- outh and Massachusetts forces at Swansea. The first skirmish. The English march toward Mt. Hope. Philip outmaneuvers them and passes over to the eastern shore. CHAPTER V . .... .69 Failure of the campaign. The English become suspicious of the Narragansetts. Invasion of the Narragansett country. A treaty ex- horted by force. Philip devastates Plymouth colony. The adventures of Captain Church. Concentration of the EngUsh forces against Philip. He slips away to the north. The fight at Nipsachick. Energetic measures taken by Connecticut. CHAPTER VI . ... 84 The conditions in the Connecticut valley. The embassy of Ephraim Curtis. His adventures. The march of Hutchinson and Wheeler against the Quabaugs. The fatal ambuscade of Winnimisset. The siege of Brookfield. Brookfield reUeved by Major Willard. Philip joins the Quabaugs. Brookfield abandoned. The Eujglish concentra- tion at Hadley. Harsh treatment of the Christian Indians by Mosley. The English at Hadley. Attempt to disarm the Nonatucks. Escape of the Nonatucks. Pursuit by Lathrop and Beers. The English ambushed at Wequomps. Revolt of the Pocumtucks at Deerfield. Panic in the valley. CHAPTER VII ... 103 The alarm at Hadley. Legendary appearance of General Goffe, the regicide. Northfield surprised by the Nashaways. Captain Beers sets out from Hadley to the rescue. His inexcusable lack of precau- tions. He marches into an ambuscade. The last stand. His force wiped out. The survivors reach Hadley. Major Treat with the Con- necticut forces to the rescue. He reaches Northfield. His abandon- ment of Northfield and demoralized retreat. Perilous condition of the English settlements in the Connecticut valley. Conflict of opinions. Captain Lathrop at Deerfield. He sets out with convoy of corn for Hadley. His carelessness. The Battle of Bloody Brook. The anni- hilation of Lathrop's force. The arrival of Mosley and Treat too late. The abandonment of Deerfield. Confusion and demoralization of the English commanders. Depredations of the Indians. Springfield threatened. A warning at the last moment. Springfield attacked Contents Ix and burned. Major Pynchon and Captain Appleton to the rescue. Discouragement and gloom. Major Pynchon resigns as commander- in-chief in the valley. Governor Andros of New York warns Con- necticut that Hartford is to be attacked. CHAPTER VIII 125 Appleton in command. His unavailing marches. No safety with- out the stockades. The attack on Hatfield. The Indians driven off. Widespread devastation. The English in the valley face famine. Cap- tain Henchman at Mendon. Disastrous failure of the valley campaign through lack of co-operation, hampering commands from the commis- sioners and the absence of a definite plan of operation. The distressful position of the friendly Indians. Their wigwams plundered, their women and children murdered. Torture of Indian prisoners. Captive women and children sold mto slavery by the English. The demand of Major Gookin and Rev. John Elliot for humane treatment. Their lives are threatened. The disbandment of the friendly Indian com- panies. Its evil consequences. The Narragansetts. They wish to remain neutral.