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History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

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128 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1745.<br />

Sabbath day, 10"'. Cloudy this day, w<strong>in</strong>d N. E. Early<br />

<strong>in</strong> the morn<strong>in</strong>g the guns, cannon and small arms began to<br />

fire. One <strong>of</strong> our gunners was killed. Many hundred,<br />

small and great were fired. About two <strong>of</strong> the clock, they<br />

began an engagement by sea, with our ships <strong>of</strong> war.<br />

Broad sides were fired both sides. What the issue is we do<br />

not yet know, so leave it. This day a sorrowful accident<br />

hapjjened. A barrel <strong>of</strong> powder caught fire, killed two and<br />

burnt three more very much ;<br />

another accident happened,<br />

a great gun split and killed two men and wounded several<br />

more.<br />

Monday, May 20"', 1745. This is my birthday and I have<br />

arrived to the full age <strong>of</strong> Thirty n<strong>in</strong>e years and have seen<br />

and been the subject <strong>of</strong> many remarkable deliverances.<br />

But s<strong>in</strong>ce I have been engaged <strong>in</strong> this expedition, daily<br />

someth<strong>in</strong>g remarkable and some days extraord<strong>in</strong>ary, providences<br />

<strong>in</strong> favor <strong>of</strong> the army or my own preservation. A<br />

record <strong>of</strong> which I hope and desire never to forget, but to<br />

keep a record <strong>of</strong> it upon my m<strong>in</strong>d and to give the Preserver<br />

<strong>of</strong> men who orders all th<strong>in</strong>gs by a wise providence<br />

the praise <strong>of</strong> it. Saturday last Capt. Flacher's men be<strong>in</strong>g<br />

on shore at Caborough bay to get water, all up <strong>in</strong> a heap,<br />

were shot upon by a number <strong>of</strong> Indians 7 killed and three<br />

more taken. One man died Monday by sickness.<br />

Tuesday, 21*'. Someth<strong>in</strong>g foggy with a south w<strong>in</strong>d. One<br />

xaan died by sickness, 3 days together foggy and dark,<br />

1 died by sickness this day.<br />

Wednesday, 22"'. This is a fair day and pleasant. Last<br />

sabbath day night Commodore Warren after a sharp engagement<br />

with a 70 gun ship <strong>from</strong> France, the Mermaid a<br />

40 gunship with him, for two hours, yard arm and yard<br />

arm, took her with only the loss <strong>of</strong> 4 men, but the French<br />

lost 30 and many more wounded. The ship this day was<br />

brought <strong>in</strong> and lay <strong>in</strong> fair sight <strong>of</strong> the town, for the French<br />

to look up. She is a vast rich prize.<br />

Thursday, the 23"'. This is a fair day, pleasant morn<strong>in</strong>g :<br />

many attempts we have had for tak<strong>in</strong>g the Island Battre,<br />

which all prove abortive. This night Col. Noble was the<br />

overseer <strong>of</strong> the attack. The soldiers sailed all around the<br />

Island, but no Col. Noble to be found. For want <strong>of</strong> an<br />

<strong>of</strong>ficer the soldiers returned. Ca])t. Hale at the Grand

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