the river to catch fish. As the division on the west side of Book I. the river was advancing to surround the enemy, he discovered them, and roared out, "Awannux, Awannux." Upon 1676, this, one of the party fired, and killed him on the spot. The other division, on the east bank of the river, supposing this to be the signal gun, discharged upon the enemy, as they were rising in surprise, or lay upon the ground, and killed and wounded a great number of them. Those who were not killed, or disabled by wounds, instantly fled, leaving their camp, baggage, provisions, and many of their arms. As the division on the west side, had not advanced to the ground designed, before the alarm was given, the enemy made their escape with much less damage, than otherwise they could have done. The troops pursued them some distance, but the woods were so extremely thick, that they soon disappeared, and the army returned. The sachem of Quabaug or Brookfield was killed, and 44 other Sachem of Indians were killed and taken. Among the killed were killed. 25 warriors.* Brookfield Several brave captains and officers in the Massachusetts, in July and August, were very successful. Captain Church, of Plymouth, afterwards major Church, a famous partisan, took several small parties of the enemy. The Indians, who were taken or came in to the English to save their own lives, betrayed their friends, and led the English captains to their haunts and hiding places. Thus assisted, the Massachusetts and Plymouth soldiers hunted Philip from week to week, and from place to place. They killed and captured his brother, his counsellors, and chief men, his wife and family; but his mind continued firm and unbroken. In the midst of all this misfortune and distress, he would hear no proposals of peace. At length, on the 12th of August, captain Church, led by one of Philip's men, whom he had disaffected, by shooting his brother, only for proposing to him to make peace with the colonies, surprised this famous sachem, in a swamp, near Mount Hope. As he was flying to make his escape, the Indian who had been guide to the party, shot him through Philip kiltthe heart. Thus fell a brave enemy, who had defended ed, Aug. himself and his country, and what he imagined to be his own, and the just rights of his countrymen, to the last extremity. The Indians in this part of the country, now generally submitted to the English, or fled and incorporated with distant and strange nations. After this time, very little damage was done. * Manuscripts of the Rev. Thomas Ruggles and Hubbard's Narrativer 12th. BOOK I. Connecticut offered the same conditions to the enemy, upon their submission, which had been given to the Pe1676. quots: That they should have life, liberty, protection, and ground to plant. Some principal incendiaries and murderers, however, were excepted. They disdained to accept the terms, and generally fled their country. The Nipmucks, Nashawas, Pocomtocks, the Hadley and Springfield Indians, fled to the French and their Indians, in Canada. About 200 of them, after their surprise at Housatonick river, fled to the Moheaganders, upon Hudson's river, incorporated and became one with them. the war. When Philip began the war, he, and his kinswoman, Wetamoe, had about 500 warriors, and the Narragansets nearly 2000. The Nipmuck, Nashawa, Pocomtock, Hadley, and Springfield Indians, were considerably numerous. It is probable, therefore, that there were about 3000 warriors combined for the destruction of the New-England colonies, exclusive of the eastern Indians. The war terminated in their entire conquest, and almost total extinction. At the same time, it opened a wide door to extensive settlement and population. This, however, in its connection with the war with the Losses in eastern Indians, which commenced about the same time, was the most impoverishing and distressing, of any which New-England has ever experienced, from its first settlement to the present time.. The war with the eastern Indians continued until the spring of the year 1678. The enemy killed and captivated great numbers of the people, captured nearly twenty fishing vessels, with their crews, and rioted in plunder and devastation, until most of the settlements in those parts were swept away, and the country was reduced to their domination.* About 600 of the inhabitants of New-England, the greatest part of whom were the flower and strength of the country, either fell in battle, or were murdered by the enemy. A great part of the inhabitants of the country were in deep mourning. There were few families or individuals who had not lost some near relative or friend. Twelve or thirteen towns, in Massachusetts, Plymouth, and Rhode-Island, were utterly destroyed, and others greatly damaged. About 600 buildings, chiefly dwelling houses, were consumed with fire. An almost insuperable debt was con* Dr. Belknap's hist. vol. i. p. 157, 159. + This statement of the loss of lives, towns, and buildings, is made from an accurate enumeration of the various numbers mentioned, in the ancient histories, of the lives lost, and of the towns and buildings burned. But as there were, doubtless, many persons killed, and others who died of their wounds, not mentioned in those accounts, they must have exceeded the tracted by the colonies, when their numbers, dwellings, Book I. goods, cattle, and all their resources, were greatly diminished. Connecticut, indeed, had suffered nothing, in comparison with her sister colonies. Her towns and inhabitants had been preserved from the ravages of the enemy; but about a seventh part of the whole militia was out upon constant service, besides the volunteers. A large proportion was obliged to watch and guard the towns at home. The particular towns were necessitated to fortify themselves. with an inclosure of pallisades, and to prepare and fortify particular dwellings for garrison houses, which might, in the best manner, command the respective towns; and to which the aged people, women, and children might repair, and be in safety, in the time of danger. For three years after the war commenced, the inhabitants paid eleven pence on the pound, upon the grand list, exclusive of all town and parish taxes. After the war was finished, they had a considerable debt to discharge. The colony, nevertheless, was highly distinguished and favoured in many respects. The numerous Indians within it, were not only peaceable, but the Moheagans and Pequots were of great service in the war. They were not only a defence to the eastern towns, but especially advantageous in discovering and harassing the enemy, and in preventing a surprise by them. Connecticut had not one party of men surprised and cut off during the war; nor did the colony sustain any considerable loss of men, at any time, except in taking the fort in Narraganset. At the same time, the legislature and people were happy, in giving seasonable and powerful assistance to their confederates, and in repeatedly rescuing whole towns and parties, when in the most imminent danger. number here stated. The histories of those troubles, rarely mention the barns, stores, and out houses burned; and sometimes there is notice of the burning of part of a town, and of the buildings in such a tract, without any specification of the number. All the buildings in Narraganset, from Providence to Stonington, a tract of about fifty miles, were burned, or otherwise destroyed, by the enemy, but the number is not mentioned. The loss of buildings must, therefore, have been much greater than has been mentioned. The militia of Connecticut, in 1675, amounted to 2,250 men. Of these, the commissioners required 315, as their proportion of the 1,000 men then to be raised. If the proportion was just, there were about 7,150 of the militia of the united colonies. Reckoning every fifth man a soldier, and five persons to every family, there were 7,150 families, and 35,750 inhabitants, at that time in the united colonies. According to this estimation, about one fencible man in eleven was killed, and every eleventh family was burnt out; or an eleventh part of the whole militia, and of all the buildings of the united colonies were swept away by this predatory war. This greatly exceeded the loss in the late war with Great-Britain, in proportion to the numbers and wealth of the United States. 1676. BOOK I 1676. CHAPTER XV. Measures adopted to discharge the public debt, and settle the country in peace. The reasons of the colony's claim to Narraganset. The former settlers and owners of land there apply to Connecticut for protection. Major Treat goes to the upper towns upon Connecticut river, to treat with the Indians. Fasts appointed through New-England. Act concerning the conquered lands in Narraganset. Navigation act grievous to the colonies. Governor Leet takes the oath respecting trade and navigation. Answers to queries from the lords of trade and plantations. Protest against Sir Edmund Andross's claim to Fisher's Island. Character of Governor Leet. Commissioners appointed, by his majesty, to examine and make report, concerning all claims to the Narraganset country, or king's province. They report in favour of Connecticut. Answers to the renewed claim of the Duke of Hamilton, and opinions on the case. Connecticut congratulates the arrival of Colonel Dungan, governor of New-York, and agree with him respecting the boundary line between that colony and Connecticut. Petition to King James II. Settlement of Waterbury. Quo warrantos against the colony. The assembly petition his majesty to continue their charter privileges. Sir Edmund Andross made governor of New-England. Arrives at Hartford, and takes the government, by order of his majesty. The oppression and cruelty of his administration. Distressed and sorrowful state of the people. CON ONNECTICUT had now conquered the Narraganset country, and, in conjunction with the other confederates, terminated the war in this part of New-England. Oct. 12th. The legislature, therefore, addressed themselves to discharge the public debt; to settle the friendly Indians in a state of peace among themselves, and with the colonies; and to extend their settlements in the Narraganset country, as well as in other parts of their jurisdiction. To discharge the public debt, they levied a tax of eight pence on the pound, upon the whole list of the colony, in October annually, during the term of two years. They appointed a committee to hear all affairs, which the Moheagans, Pequots, and Narragansets, under Ninigrate, or Ninicraft, had to lay before them; and to do whatever they should judge expedient to promote peace among them, and to pre serve their friendship and attachment to the English. For Book I. their encouragement, the legislature granted liberty for them to hunt, in all the conquered lands, during their plea- 1677. sure. They were also authorised to kill and destroy any of the enemy, who should return to their country, without submitting to the colony and accepting the terms which had been offered them. At the election, in May, 1677, there was no alteration in Court of the legislature, excepting the choice of Andrew Leet, Esq. election, May 10, into the magistracy, instead of captain John Mason, who 1677. died, the September before, of the wounds he had received in taking the Narraganset fort. The same governor, deputy governor, and magistrates were re-elected for seve ral years successively. A committee was appointed, by the assembly, to settle all affairs of government in the Narraganset. country, and to report what places there were there adapted to the purpose of planting new towns. Connecti As the Rhode-Islanders had deserted the country, in Determithe war, and had done nothing in the defence of it, and as nation of the Connecticut volunteers had driven the enemy entirely cut to setfrom that extensive tract, the legislature determined to tle and plant and govern it, as part of this colony. govern Narragan tion. For various reasons they viewed the act of his majes- set. ty's commissioners, determining that Rhode-Island and Reasons of Narraganset should be a province for the king, as a mere their denullity. Their commission gave them no power to make terminanew colonies. It required that colonel Nichols should always be one of the council, that any of its acts might be valid; but he was not present at that determination. Further, colonel Nichols, with two or three of his council, afterwards reversed that judgment. In the same point of light they viewed the agreement with Mr. Clark, as it was after Mr. Winthrop had obtain ed the Connecticut charter, and sent it to the colony, at which time his agency was terminated. Further, that agreement was entirely alien from the business of his agency, and without any instructions or authority from the colony. The agreement with Mr. Clark was considered as a nullity, in another point of light, as the charter to RhodeIsland recognized and had reference to one article of the agreement only, and as Rhode-Island had never submitted to one of the other articles. In direct contravention of them, they had invaded the property of the settlers named in it, wantonly carried off the productions of their lands and fruits of their labors, driven off their cattle, forced the inhabitants from their possessions, burned their fences, |