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 repulsedf. 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.

VA

страну, and come to them. (An indian 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

is next to a bloodhound to follow a track.)"

224

LIFE OF KING PHILIP.

[BOOK III.

being 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 escaping. 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 at 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