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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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IGO HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1748.<br />

<strong>in</strong> Heath, was attacked. The fight lasted four hours, when<br />

tlie enemy fled. Three men were killed and four wounded.<br />

On the 19*'' <strong>of</strong> July, Col. Willard writes <strong>from</strong> Fort Dummer<br />

to Gov. Shirley as follows : —<br />

" About 17 men go<strong>in</strong>g <strong>from</strong> Northfield to Ashuelot, by wa}' <strong>of</strong> Fort<br />

Dnmmer (10 <strong>of</strong> them to supply place <strong>of</strong> 10 killed and taken June 16),<br />

were attacked with<strong>in</strong> half a mile <strong>of</strong> Fort Dummer, and with<strong>in</strong> a few<br />

rods <strong>of</strong> the spot where the 10 were killed or taken. This was on the<br />

14"' <strong>of</strong> July. 4 are found dead and 9 miss<strong>in</strong>g. 2 escaped to Col. H<strong>in</strong>s-<br />

dale's garrison and 2 to Fort Dummer. Number <strong>of</strong> the enemy 100 or<br />

more."<br />

These men were under command <strong>of</strong> Sergt. Thomas Taylor,<br />

who with n<strong>in</strong>e others was carried to Canada,<br />

In a letter written <strong>from</strong> Hatfield, July 24, Major Israel<br />

"Williams states: — "Before sunrise 3'esterday, G Indians<br />

killed Aaron Beld<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Northfield Town street and scalped<br />

him. The people were generally <strong>in</strong> bed. They got up and<br />

followed after them, but to no purpose."<br />

Col. Ephraim Williams gives the follow<strong>in</strong>g account <strong>of</strong> a<br />

fight with the enemy <strong>in</strong> a letter to Major Israel Williams,<br />

dated Fort <strong>Massachusetts</strong>, August 2'\ 1748 : —<br />

" Our scout to Scaticook was followed <strong>in</strong> by the enemy, and they have<br />

observed our motions ever s<strong>in</strong>ce ; but the guard I sent to Deerfield to<br />

br<strong>in</strong>g stores arrived yesterday, 40 men with Lt. Severance and Hawley<br />

—[Thej'j made no discovery <strong>from</strong> Deerfield here. Today I suspected<br />

by motions <strong>of</strong> dogs&c, an ambush, about 40 rods <strong>from</strong> the fort, between<br />

the fort and where we cross the river to go to Deerfield, ordered<br />

men to be ready. They fired at our dog, and next at some men that<br />

had gone out unknown to me, who returned the fire. We then made a<br />

sally with about o5 men to save those men that were out, engaged the<br />

enemy 10 m<strong>in</strong>utes & drove them <strong>of</strong>l" the ground, upon which an ambush<br />

<strong>of</strong> 50 men about 10 rods <strong>of</strong>f and partly between us and the fort,<br />

rose on our right w<strong>in</strong>g & discharged a volley upon us. We retreated<br />

fight<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to the fort, which they attacked immediately. I ordered the<br />

men to their posts & played with our cannon & small arms for 1'^^<br />

hours by the glass. They then retreated by degrees & so drew <strong>of</strong>f.<br />

How many we killed or woiuided I know not, but we had some fair<br />

shots, and they not over 15 rods <strong>of</strong>f, & some at 7 rods. We had none<br />

killed & but 3 wounded, but 2 <strong>of</strong> them mortally I fear. The men<br />

wounded are Lt. Hawley, Samuel Abbot, Ezekiel Wells. Lt. Hawley<br />

is shot through the calf <strong>of</strong> his leg with a buckshot, bone not hurt.<br />

Abbot is shot below his navel, ^ and Wells <strong>in</strong> his hipps. Strange that<br />

we should receive at least 200 shot <strong>in</strong> the open field, retreat 40 rods,<br />

and but 2 men wounded (for Abbot was not out).<br />

1 He lived but a few days.<br />

,

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