CHAPTER X. KING PHILIP'S WAR. 1675-6. "BLACK REVENGE LOOKED FROM THE HEAVENS- THE FOREST ECHOED IT IN THE WILD STORM! THE WINTER SNOWS WERE PILED AND THEY OBEYED THE CALL; FIRE, STEEL COMBINED MARCHED THRO' THE WOODS AND FILLED THE DEPTHS WITH RUIN." For nearly forty years the New England settlements had enjoyed a season of almost uninterrupted quiet and prosperity. Providence had smiled upon their labors, the wilderness had begun "to bud and blossom as the rose," and there was scarce a cloud upon the horizon of their condition. But suddenly the warwhoop of the Indian rang through the length and breadth of the land, and they awoke from this "sweet dream of peace" to find themselves involved in all the horrors and uncertainties of savage warfare. King Philip and his warriors had appeared on the eastern borders, and their course was marked by mangled corpses and burning villages. In the general consternation. which followed, apprehensions were felt of a general rising of all the New England tribes.1 1 In the better light which time and historic investigation throw upon this subject, we find that this apprehension was unfounded. King Philip himself inherited a strong friendship for the whites from his father Massasoit, the first to welcome the Pilgrims of the Mayflower—and was faithful to that We, of the present day, can scarcely realize the terror which filled the hearts of our ancestors as they found themselves again on the eve of an Indian war. The crisis, however, was boldly and promptly met. A momentary blanching of the cheek there might have been, but there was no flinching of the heart among those brave men of Connecticut. The safety of their families, the preservation of their property, the hopes of religious freedom depended on them, and they bravely prepared to defend the trust committed to them. Fortunately and unexpectedly to them, the war did not reach the lower towns on the Connecticut, Simsbury being the nearest approach that the enemy made. Yet from the suddenness of the war, as well as the exposed condition of Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield, those towns were in a continual state of dread and alarm. The inhabitants literally slept on their arms, in constant expectation of an attack. Windsor, particularly, from its widely extended limits, was more exposed than its neighbors; and from its situation on the great thoroughfare between Hartford and Springfield, was constantly alive with the hurrying "to and fro" of troops and munitions of war, on their way to the aid of the less fortunate towns above the falls. To all of the numerous levies drafted during the war, Windsor contributed a large proportion of troops; having in the service at different times not far from 125, mostly dragoons. These dragoons, from their greater facility of movement, and better adaptedness to the nature of the service, were constantly employed in rapid marches, bearing despatches and scouting parties. In an old book of rates we find the following names of Windsor troopers, who were in actual service, and received 6s 8d each "on war account." trust. He was hurried into the war by the rash and unauthorized acts of some of his young men, and being thus compromised and proscribed by the English, was obliged in self defence to take up the hatchet. Few characters in Indian history are more worthy of study and admiration than that of the talented and brave, but unfortunate King Philip. The action of the different tribes in this war was by no means concerted or similar, and we can not consider it as a general emeute. Capt. John Bissell, John Hosford, Capt. Sam. Marshall, Anth'y Hoskins, John Moses, Thos. Moore, Mr. John Porter, Mr. Henry Sanders, Immediately on the receipt of the news (July 1st) from Massachusetts, the governor and assistants at Hartford, ordered a detachment of thirty dragoons to the defence of New London and Stonington, which were considered most exposed to attack. On this service were fifteen dragoons and five troopers from Windsor. The next month (August) she contributed fourteen dragoons to a relief party to Maj. Pyncheon of Springfield; and also twenty-five dragoons to a levy of two hundred and thirty from Hartford, New Haven and Fairfield counties, ordered by the council "to be in readiness for the march upon an hour's warning, and to have their arms well fixed and fitted for service." Capt. Benjamin Newberry of Windsor commanded the Hartford County troops. On the 31st of the same month, Major Treat moving with his army toward Northampton, learned on his march that Christopher Crow of Windsor, while traveling between that town and Simsbury, had been shot at by four out of a party of eight Indians. Halting at Windsor, he sent back to the council for advice, who ordered him to leave thirty (of the Hartford Co.) troops there, and to move on with the remainder of his force. On the same day John Colt of Windsor was shot at by an Indian, and a party of Indians were seen that evening, skulking around the North Meadow at Hartford. These facts induced the council the next day (Sept. 1) to order the immediate return of Maj. Treat with his command to Hartford; requesting him also to send out three detachments of dragoons of thirty each, one party to scout on the east side of the river from Hoccanum River to Scantic, another to scout on the west side from Hartford to Wethersfield, and a third to search on the west side from Hartford to Windsor and the troops having fulfilled these orders rendezvoused at Hartford on the following evening, when the Major proceeded again on his march to Westfield. Sept. 3. "It is ordered by the Council, that in the several plantations of this Colony there be kept a sufficient watch in the night, which watch is to be continued from the shutting in of the evening till the sun rise; and that one fourth part of each town be in arms every day by turns, to be a guard in their respective plantations." "All soldiers from 16 to 70 years of age (magistrates, ministers, commissioners, commission officers, school masters, physicians and millers excepted) are to attend their course of watch and ward as they shall be appointed. It is also ordered, that, during these present commotions with the Indians, such persons as have occasion to work in the fields shall work in companies; if they be half a mile from town, not less than six in a company, with their arms and ammunition well fixed and fitted for service." A heavy fine was also imposed on any one who should "shoot off a gun without command from some magistrate or military commander," except in self-defence, or "for the destroying of some wolf or such ravenous beast." Sept. 4. "For the prevention of danger to travelers upon the road between town and town in this County," said towns were ordered to keep scouting parties of mounted men on the roads. "Windsor each other day, shall send four men to clear the roads to Simsbury, and two each other day, to clear the roads between Hartford and Windsor; Windsor to begin Monday next to Hartford, and Tuesday to Simsbury." Hartford was also to send two men each other day, to clear the road to Windsor." The men were to be taken out of the town guard, "and to be upon their work by sun an hour high each day." Sept. 6. "Sgt. Joseph Wadsworth of Hartford, and John Grant of Windsor, were ordered to take twenty men each and pass up to Westfield and Springfield which were threatened. The following is a copy of their instructions: "To John Grant In His Majesty's name you are required to take under your conduct those dragoons now present, and lead them forth up to Springfield, there to assist against the common enemy, and there to continue till you receive farther orders from the council here, or are called forth to the army by Maj. Treat, or some of the chief commanders of our army. Also, in case you hear that any of our plantations are assaulted by the enemy, you are forthwith to post away to relieve the place or plantation assaulted; and in case you should be assaulted in the way, you are to use your endeavor to defend yourself and destroy the enemy. This signed pr. the Secretary." These troops returned home in a few days by order of the council. Sept. 28. Two hundred bushels of wheat were ordered for the supply of the army, ground and baked into biscuit. Windsor was to furnish 50 pounds. The Springfield Indians, who had hitherto been considered friendly to the English, now treacherously received some 300 of Philip's Indians into their fort, intending to attack and burn the town which was a mile distant. The plot was fortunately disclosed by one Toto, a friendly Indian at Windsor, on the evening preceding the expected attack, and expresses were immediately sent to Springfield, and to Major Treat at Westfield, to warn them of the danger. The Springfield people however were incredulous, and suffered a surprise. They were only saved from utter destruction by the timely arrival of the Connecticut forces under Treat, who had promptly marched from Westfield to their relief, on receipt of the message from Wind sor. This was bringing the war pretty close home, and the council at Hartford, at its session of Oct. 5, "Upon occasion of the dangerous and destructive assault of the enemy so near as Springfield, which may increase their insolency to attempt upon our towns suddenly"—"saw cause" to order the immediate preparation in each town of places for defence, to which women and children might repair for refuge, upon any alarm. They also ordered “that the inhabitants of Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield do forthwith set themselves in their several quarters to join together to gather in their Indian corn, and to bring it and their English corn on the east side of the Great River, into places of best security in their respective towns." All persons were ordered to lend every assistance in their power, and the magistrates were authorized to impress men and teams, "this being a time for all private interest to be laid. aside to preserve the public good." (Col. Rec.) Nov. 4. "It is also ordered, that at Windsor, the town being so scattered as it is, it is difficult to maintain and keep a military watch, do recommend it to the military officers of that town to continue a double walking watch, as hath been formerly attended there since these present troubles have broke forth." (Col. Rec.) About this time, the commissioners of the United Colonies becoming convinced that the Narragansetts, were deeply impli |