Bristol County, Massachusetts - Chapter 41, 1883

The peaceful regions which we now inhabit once resounded with the shrill and terrible war-whoop of the Indian. These fields and woods, these hills and vales were once trod by the wild hunters of the forest. They were the domains of another race of men, who have long since passed away, and are known only by the brief histories and scattered relics which their conquerors have preserved. But whatever relates to them is interesting. They were distinguished by many peculiarities. They had their savage vices, but possessed at the same time their savage virtues. They were hardy, bold, and warlike.

The most important and critical period in the history of the colony was the Indian war of 1675-76. This was a gloomy and fearful period to these infant settlements. The hour of their destruction seemed to be drawing nigh. They were a scattered people, spreading over a wide extent of territory, peculiarly exposed in their lives and property to Indian depredations. The approaching contest required all the patience, fortitude, and courage which men are ever called to exercise. They had to contend against fearful odds. Nearly all the New England tribes, embracing many thousand warriors, had combined for their destruction, guided by the matchless genius of a chief versed in all the arts of savage warfare. It was a war of extermination, a contest for victory in which there was no quarter, no mercy.

In April, 1676, the Indians, having suffered several severe defeats in a body, adopted a new mode of warfare, and dispersed themselves in small parties over the country, burning, killing, and destroying wherever opportunity offered. Among other outrages they attacked Woodcock's garrison, " killed one man and one of Woodcock's sons, and wounded another, and burnt the son's house." Some circumstances connected with this event appear to have been accurately preserved by tradition, from which and other sources are gathered the following particulars:

His sons were at work in a cornfield near the house. The Indians, concealed in a wood 1 adjoining the field, approached to its borders and suddenly fired upon them. The workmen fled to the garrison, leaving the dead body on the field. The Indians, to gratify their spite against the family, cut off the soil's head, stuck it on a long pole which they set up on a hill at some distance in front of the house and in full view of the family, to aggravate their feelings as much as possible. From this time Woodcock swore never to make peace with the Indians. He ever after hunted them like wild beasts. He was a man of resolute and determined character, and tradition says that not a few fell victims to his vengeance and a sacrifice to the manes of his murdered son.

This attack was in April. The body of his son (whose name was Nathaniel) was buried on the spot where he fell, nearly in the centre of the yard, which has ever since been reserved for a burying-ground.

This attack was in all probability between the date of Pierce's fight, March 26th, and April 26, 1676, and after the attack on Wrentham, when the town was burnt.

His son Nathaniel, as already mentioned, and a sonin-law were killed, and one of his sons was severely wounded by several bullets in both shoulders. Six garrison soldiers who were stationed there had been suddenly withdrawn, leaving him dependent upon his own resources, and in great danger from these roving Indians. There were only fourteen persons living in "Woodcock's settlement at the time, consisting of his sons and daughters and sons-in-law, and including two or three others, and probably a man by the name of Rocket, whose signature as a witness appears on several instruments, was one of them.

Under these circumstances Woodcock applies to the authorities for aid and protection from both colonies. In his account he refers to his own losses, and to the damage which Wrentham had already sustained by an attack of the Indians. His statements must be regarded as authentic and true, while they correct some mistakes of early historians. Ancient accounts fix the date in May. He entreats the government to send him a surgeon to dress the wounds of his son, and thinks it might be safe for him if he come in the night-time; and he also begged that they would send him half a dozen soldiers to man his garrison and supply the place of the six soldiers who had been stationed there before, but had been suddenly withdrawn. These were certainly perilous times.

Pierce's Fight. - This town was the scene of one of the most severe, bloody, and fatal battles fought during the war. It took place on Sunday, March 26, 1676, in that part which is now Cumberland, R. L, near the Blackstone River. The spot is still pointed out.

The government of Plymouth, fearing that their settlements would be again attacked after so many outrages had been committed in Massachusetts, ordered out a company for their defense, consisting of sixty-three Englishmen and twenty Cape Indians,1

1 This account differs in some respects from that given by Church, who States that there were only fifty whites* and twenty Cape Indians. I have relied, for the must of the particulars in this description, on a "Continued Account of the Bloody Indian War from March till August, 1676," now in the hands of Mr. S. G. Drake, Boston. It was published under the command of Capt. Michael Pierce, of Scituate. He immediately marched in pursuit of the enemy, who were supposed to be in the vicinity. He rendezvoused at the garrison in Rehoboth on Saturday night. The next day, "having intelligence in his garrison at Seaconicke that a party of the enemy lay near Mr. Blackstone's, he went forth with sixty-three English and twenty Cape Indians," and soon discovered four or five Indians in a piece of woods, who pretended to be lame and wounded, but proved to be decoys to lead the whites into ambuscade, for they soon discovered five hundred more of the enemy. Pierce, though aware of their superiority of numbers, courageously pursued them, when they began to retreat slowly ; but there soon appeared another company of four hundred Indians, who were now able completely to surround him. A party of the enemy were stationed on the opposite side of the river to prevent the English crossing; they were thus attacked in front and rear by an overwhelming force. Thus all chance of retreat and all hope of escape was cut off. This was a most trying moment. But there was no flinching, no quailing. Each one knew that in all human probability he must die on that field, and that, too, under the most appalling circumstances, - by the hand of a merciless enemy who sought their extermination. But bravely and nobly did they submit to their fate. Each one resolved to do his duty and sell his life at the dearest rate. At such a time the awful war-whoop of the Indian would have sent a thrill of terror to the hearts of any but brave men. At this critical juncture Capt. Pierce made an exceedingly judicious movement. He formed his men into a circle, back to back, with four spaces between each man, thus enlarging the circle to its greatest extent, presenting a front to the enemy in every direction, and necessarily scattering their fire over a greater surface, whilst the Indians stood in a deep circle, one behind another, forming a compact mass, and presenting a front where every shot must take effect.''' He thus made a brave resistance for two hours (all the while keeping the enemy at a distance and his own men in perfect order), and kept up a constant and destructive fire upon the Indians. But no courage or skill could prevail in such an unequal contest or longer resist such a force.3 At last, overpowered by numbers, Capt Pierce and fifty-five English and ten Cape Indians were slain on the spot, "which in such in London the same year, and contains a minute and apparently accurate detail of this battle and many of the other important '-\ ente of the war. The work consists of a series of letters written bya gentleman in Boston to his friend in London, and published from time to time as they were received. One volume (the above mentioned), containing three or four letters, has been lately discovered, and was never reprinted in this country.

2 In the words of the account just referred to, "Capt. Pierce east his men into a ring and fought back to hack, and were double-double distance all in one ling, whilst the Indians were as thick as they could stand thirty deep."

a cause and upon such disadvantage may certainly be styled the bed of honor." But this victory was gained at a great sacrifice. The Indians lost as many (not counting women and children) as in the great swamp-fight at Narragansett, which were computed at over three hundred.

An important letter, written the day after the battle, has been of late years discovered in the Library of the American Antiquarian Society, at Worcester, from Rev. Noah Newman, the minister of Rehoboth at that time, to Rev. John Cotton, of Plymouth, in which he gives some facts about the movements of Capt. Pierce, and a list of the killed. It appears from his statement that of Pierce's company fiftytwo English and eleven Cape Indians were slain. It is stated that he went out with a small party of his men and Indians from the garrison at Seekonk to reconnoitre, and found the enemy and attacked him, and supposed he had damaged him. But being so few with him he thought it prudent to retreat, and go out next day with a recruit of men. He returned to the settlement in Rehoboth, and the next morning, the fatal day, he marched out to attack the enemy, taking pilots with him from Rehoboth, who were acquainted with the ground. Probably there were some volunteers from Rehoboth on the day of the fight.

The following is the list of names of Pierce's men contained in this letter : " From Scituate, eighteen, of whom fourteen were slain, viz. : Capt. Pierce, Samuel Russell, Benjamin Chittenden, John Lothrope, Gershom Dodson, Samuel Pratt, Thomas Savarv, Joseph Wade, William Welcome, Jeremiah Barstow, John Ensign, Joseph Cowin, Joseph Perry, John Rose. Marshfield, nine slain, - Thomas Little, John Eames, Joseph White, John Burrows, Joseph Phillips, Samuel Bump, John Low More, John Brance. Duxbury, four slain, - John Sprayen, Benjamin Soul, Thomas Hunt, Joshua Fobes. Sandwich, five slain, - Benjamin Nye, Daniel Bessey, Caleb Blake, Job Gibbs, Stephen Wing. Barnstable, six slain, - Lieut. Fuller, John Lewis, Eleazer - - , Samuel Linnel, Samuel Childs, Samuel Benman. Yarmouth, five slain, - John Mathews, John Gage, William Gage, Henry Gage, Henry Gold. Eastham, four slain, - off ). Rehoboth, - John Fitch, Jr., John Miller, Jr.," and doubtless contained two other names, John Read, Jr., and Benjamin Buckland, as they were entered on Rehoboth records as slain on that day.

This was the sorest defeat which the colony of Plymouth suffered during the war, and caused great distress everywhere, for the numbers lost amounted to about to about one-third of their regular force. According to Church, not a single white man returned from this bloody and fatal battle-field.

his men, they despatched a company to his assistance, who arrived in season only to perform the last offices to the dead bodies of their countrymen.

The courage and resolution displayed on this occasion deserve commendation. These brave soldiers were entitled to the gratitude of the colony, for whose defense they had thus sacrified their lives. They were taken by surprise, and completely surrounded by a force ten times their superior. Pierce was a bold and adventurous man - fear formed no part of his character. His men partook of his courage. They pushed forward, perhaps imprudently, and thus fell into the snare which their enemy had prepared for them. Considering the numbers engaged, it was doubtless the most warmly and closely contested of all the engagements which took place during that eventful period between the white and the red men. Nearly four hundred were killed on both sides. History has recorded, with applause, every feat of bravery, when performed on a more conspicuous station, whilst it has often overlooked the humble though equally meritorious exploit. It requires more true courage to die on such a field, with such a foe, than on the plains of Waterloo, amid the " pomp and circumstance of glorious war."

The following adventure, in which "Old Woodcock" was engaged, is abridged from a communication in the Massachusetts Historical Collection, furnished by the research of the late Dr. Mann, formerly of Wrentham. It rests upon the authority of tradition, but appears to be well authenticated.

A man by the name of Rocket, in searching for a stray horse, discovered a train of forty-two Indians about sunset; from their appearance he suspected they intended to attack the settlement at Wrentham the next morning, after the men had dispersed to their work ; he therefore followed them, secretly, till they halted for the night, when he hastily returned to the settlement and gave notice to the inhabitants. A consultation was held, at which it was agreed to attack the Indians early the next morning. A company of thirteen, under the command of Capt. Ware, was hastily collected from Wrentham and the vicinity, who, having secured the women and children and the infirm in the garrison, set out for the Indian encampment where they arrived just before daylight, and were posted within a short distance, with orders to reserve their fire till the enemy began to decamp.

Between daylight and sunrise the Indians suddenly rose from their resting-places, when, upon a signal given, a general discharge was made, which threw them into the utmost consternation. Some, in their confusion, while attempting to escape, leaped down a precipice of rocks from ten to twenty feet in height; some of 'the fugitives were overtaken and slain. Two of them, who were closely pursued, attempted to conceal themselves in Mill Brook, where they were found and killed. It is related that one Woodcock discharged his long musket, called in those days a buc-

The number of Indians killed was from twenty to twenty-four, and not one of the whites. The place where this bold adventure occurred is in that part of the ancient Wrentham which is now Franklin. The large rock where the Indians were encamped is to this day called Indian Rock. The time is not certainly ascertained, but it was, without much doubt, in the spring or summer of 1676, when the Indian forces were dispersed in parties throughout the country.

Nine Men's Misery. - This is the name of a spot in Cumberland, R. I., where nine men were slain in Philip's war. This place is near the house of the late Elisha Waterman, Esq., just north of Camp Swamp (so called). The only circumstances of this event which I have gathered are these : A company of nine men were in advance of or had strayed from their party for some purpose, when they discovered a number of Indians near this spot, whom they immediately pursued and attacked, but a large number of the enemy rushed out of the swamp and surrounded them. The whites, placing their backs to a large rock near by, fought with desperation till every one of them was killed on the spot. The rest of their party, who were within hearing of their guns, hastened to their succor, but arrived too late to render them any assistance. Their bodies were buried on the spot, which is now designated by a large pile of stones.1

I have seen no notice of this occurrence in history, but as to the main fact there can be no doubt. The bones of these men were disinterred not many years ago by some physicians (for anatomical purposes), and were found nearly perfect. But the people in the vicinity insisted upon their being restored, which was accordingly done. One of the slain was ascertained to be a Bucklin, of Rehoboth, from the remarkable circumstance of a set of double front teeth which he was known to possess.

The time when this happened none of my informants can tell, but there is good reason for believing that it was at or about the time of Pierce's fight.2

June 17, 1676, it was supposed that Philip was with one of these marauding parties, and the measures which were taken for Woodcock's protection, and for other purposes.

The following orders, fortunately discovered, from the Massachusetts government, furnish material for the history of the war, and throw light upon those stirring and perilous times:

1 It was probably a party attempting to escape from Pierce's fight, and who were pursued and surrounded by the savages al this place. It is mentioned in some of the old records as "Nine Men's Misery" and "Dead Men's Hones."

- Several of the Rehoboth people were slain the 26th of March, 1076, the time of Pierce's fight, viz., John Fitch, Jr.,. John Bead, Jr., Benjamin BucMand, John Miller, Jr. Robert Beers (an Irishman and then an inhahitant of Rehoboth) was slain the 28th of March; Nehemiah Sabin in June following.

"At a meeting of the Council held at Boston, 17th of June, 1676, at 8 of the clock, the Council being informed that the Indians are skulking to and again about Wrentham, Woodcock's, or Mount Hope, and have of late done mischief to the English : It is ordered that the Major of Suffolk issue out his orders forthwith for such a party as he judgeth it fit and necessary, to repair to Dedham on 2d day next early, and range the woods to and again for the discovery, distressing, and destroying of the enemy wherever they find them, committing the conduct of that party to whom he sees meet, ordering that each soldier be completely armed with firearms and ammunition, and provisions for four days.

Instructions for Capt. Thomas Brattle : " Ordered to take twenty of the troops, with such officers as he may choose, and an officer and ten troopers of Lieut. Halley's troope, and march to Dedham, where are ordered to be an officer and eighteen foot soldiers mounted, from Dorchester, six from Roxbury, and twenty-four from Dedham, with an officer, all appointed to be at Dedham, the rendezvous, this day, at four p.m., etc. You are to march with your troopers and dragoons to be at John Woodcock's by midnight, where you shall meet with an Indian pylot, and his file of musketeers, which pylot hath engaged to bring you upon Phillip and his company, who are not above thirty men, as he saith, and not ten miles from Woodcock's. Be sure to secure the pylot to prevent falsehood and escape. In case you meet not with a pylot at Woodcock's, you are to send to Mr. Newman at Rehoboth, and let him know of your being there."