History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;
History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654; History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;
IGO HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1748. in Heath, was attacked. The fight lasted four hours, when tlie enemy fled. Three men were killed and four wounded. On the 19*'' of July, Col. Willard writes from Fort Dummer to Gov. Shirley as follows : — " About 17 men going from Northfield to Ashuelot, by wa}' of Fort Dnmmer (10 of them to supply place of 10 killed and taken June 16), were attacked within half a mile of Fort Dummer, and within a few rods of the spot where the 10 were killed or taken. This was on the 14"' of July. 4 are found dead and 9 missing. 2 escaped to Col. Hins- dale's garrison and 2 to Fort Dummer. Number of the enemy 100 or more." These men were under command of Sergt. Thomas Taylor, who with nine others was carried to Canada, In a letter written from Hatfield, July 24, Major Israel "Williams states: — "Before sunrise 3'esterday, G Indians killed Aaron Belding in Northfield Town street and scalped him. The people were generally in bed. They got up and followed after them, but to no purpose." Col. Ephraim Williams gives the following account of a fight with the enemy in a letter to Major Israel Williams, dated Fort Massachusetts, August 2'\ 1748 : — " Our scout to Scaticook was followed in by the enemy, and they have observed our motions ever since ; but the guard I sent to Deerfield to bring stores arrived yesterday, 40 men with Lt. Severance and Hawley —[Thej'j made no discovery from Deerfield here. Today I suspected by motions of dogs&c, an ambush, about 40 rods from the fort, between the fort and where we cross the river to go to Deerfield, ordered men to be ready. They fired at our dog, and next at some men that had gone out unknown to me, who returned the fire. We then made a sally with about o5 men to save those men that were out, engaged the enemy 10 minutes & drove them ofl" the ground, upon which an ambush of 50 men about 10 rods off and partly between us and the fort, rose on our right wing & discharged a volley upon us. We retreated fighting into the fort, which they attacked immediately. I ordered the men to their posts & played with our cannon & small arms for 1'^^ hours by the glass. They then retreated by degrees & so drew off. How many we killed or woiuided I know not, but we had some fair shots, and they not over 15 rods off, & some at 7 rods. We had none killed & but 3 wounded, but 2 of them mortally I fear. The men wounded are Lt. Hawley, Samuel Abbot, Ezekiel Wells. Lt. Hawley is shot through the calf of his leg with a buckshot, bone not hurt. Abbot is shot below his navel, ^ and Wells in his hipps. Strange that we should receive at least 200 shot in the open field, retreat 40 rods, and but 2 men wounded (for Abbot was not out). 1 He lived but a few days. ,
1748.1 KING GEORGE'S FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 161 "Judge the enemy between 200 and 300, chiefly Indians, though I believe there were 30 French among them. Some talked good English. All ours behaved like good soldiers, no man flinched. Bles.sed be God we have to sing of mercy as well as judgment." ^ Tlie attacking party consisted of ninety domiciliated Indians and forty-six Canadians, who were commanded by Chevalier Jean Boucher de Niverville, the same officer who so unsuccessfully attacked Fort No. 4 the year previous. In his report he states that most of his men were sick and foiight ill differently, " so that there were killed but 5 Englishmen, and only two of his own party were wounded."^ Lieut. Hawiey. Lieut. Elisha Hawley, who was wounded in this fight, was the only Northampton man in the command. He was a brother of Major Joseph Hawley, and had been previously in charge of the post, having been commissioned a Lieutenant by Col. Stoddard, when he wanted some one for that purpose. Scout by Col. Dwight. Ou the 7'" of August, presumably when the news of this attack was received. Col. Joseph Dwight and a company of ninety-nine men were sent out upon a scouting expedition, but its destination is not given. An account of this expedition may be found in the following letter from Major Joseph Hawley^ to his brother Elisha, who had been wounded a few days before at Fort Massachusetts : — 'Deerfield, Aug. 12, 1748. *' Dear Brother—I am now at Deerfield with Col. Dwight of Brookfield, about 10 of the clock, a. m. We came yesterday from North- ampt"", with 29 good men enlisted voluntarily under s'd Co" with a de- sign to endeavor to scour the frontier, viz : Maj. Seth Pomeroy. Capt. Jno. Lyman, Lt. Noah Wright, Ensig" Gideon Lyman, Ens. Timothy Dwight, Jos. Hawley Gent. All other private men to the above number, among which is Noah Lyman, there are about 30 come, and coming from all y" parts of Hadley, 16 to come this forenoon from Hatf'', a number from Springfield, 44 from Brookfield, Western and Hardwick, who got to Northf'' by way of y Eastern front, Monday or Tuesday ; 100 more Col. Chandler sent who we suppose reached Northf' yester- day. All of which with some we design to take from these tapper 1 This letter may be found in the above abridged form iu the Judd MSS. 2 New York mstorical MSS., vol. X., p. 177. .3 Hawley MSS. iu Bancroft Collection, Lenox Library, N. Y. 11
- Page 142 and 143: 110 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1T45.
- Page 144 and 145: CHAPTER X. KING GEORGE S FRENCH AND
- Page 146 and 147: 114 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1745.
- Page 148 and 149: 116 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1745.
- Page 150 and 151: 118 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1745.
- Page 152 and 153: 120 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1745.
- Page 154 and 155: VZ2 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1745.
- Page 156 and 157: 124 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON, [1745.
- Page 158 and 159: 126 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1745.
- Page 160 and 161: 128 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1745.
- Page 162 and 163: 130 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1745.
- Page 164 and 165: 132 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1745.
- Page 166 and 167: 134 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1T45.
- Page 168 and 169: 136 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1745.
- Page 170 and 171: 138 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1745.
- Page 172 and 173: 140 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1745.
- Page 174 and 175: 142 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1745.
- Page 176 and 177: 144 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1745.
- Page 178 and 179: 146 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1745.
- Page 180 and 181: 148 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON, [1746.
- Page 182 and 183: 150 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [l'^4f?
- Page 184 and 185: 152 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1747.
- Page 186 and 187: 154 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1747.
- Page 188 and 189: 156 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1747.
- Page 190 and 191: 158 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1748.
- Page 194 and 195: 162 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [174& T
- Page 196 and 197: 164 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1748.
- Page 198 and 199: 166 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1704-1
- Page 200 and 201: 168 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1722-1
- Page 202 and 203: 170 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1745-1
- Page 204 and 205: 172 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1T48.
- Page 206 and 207: 174 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. • [17
- Page 208 and 209: 176 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1T48.
- Page 210 and 211: 178 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1748-
- Page 212 and 213: 180 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1748.
- Page 214 and 215: 182 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1'50.
- Page 216 and 217: 184 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1749.
- Page 218 and 219: 186 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1749.
- Page 220 and 221: 188 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1749.
- Page 222 and 223: 190 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1749 .
- Page 224 and 225: 192 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1749.
- Page 226 and 227: 194 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1743.
- Page 228 and 229: 196 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1749.
- Page 230 and 231: 198 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1749.
- Page 232 and 233: 200 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1742.
- Page 234 and 235: CHAPTER XVI. CONTROVERSY WITH REV.
- Page 236 and 237: 204 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1749.
- Page 238 and 239: [' which ', practice , admission 20
- Page 240 and 241: 208 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1749.
1748.1 KING GEORGE'S FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 161<br />
"Judge the enemy between 200 and 300, chiefly Indians, though I<br />
believe there were 30 French among them. Some talked good English.<br />
All ours behaved like good soldiers, no man fl<strong>in</strong>ched. Bles.sed be God<br />
we have to s<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> mercy as well as judgment." ^<br />
Tlie attack<strong>in</strong>g party consisted <strong>of</strong> n<strong>in</strong>ety domiciliated Indians<br />
and forty-six Canadians, who were commanded by<br />
Chevalier Jean Boucher de Niverville, the same <strong>of</strong>ficer who<br />
so unsuccessfully attacked Fort No. 4 the year previous.<br />
In his report he states that most <strong>of</strong> his men were sick and<br />
foiight ill differently, " so that there were killed but 5 Englishmen,<br />
and only two <strong>of</strong> his own party were wounded."^<br />
Lieut. Hawiey. Lieut. Elisha Hawley, who was wounded <strong>in</strong><br />
this fight, was the only <strong>Northampton</strong> man<br />
<strong>in</strong> the command. He was a brother <strong>of</strong> Major Joseph Hawley,<br />
and had been previously <strong>in</strong> charge <strong>of</strong> the post, hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />
been commissioned a Lieutenant by Col. Stoddard, when<br />
he wanted some one for that purpose.<br />
Scout by Col. Dwight. Ou the 7'" <strong>of</strong> August, presumably when<br />
the news <strong>of</strong> this attack was received. Col.<br />
Joseph Dwight and a company <strong>of</strong> n<strong>in</strong>ety-n<strong>in</strong>e men were<br />
sent out upon a scout<strong>in</strong>g expedition, but <strong>its</strong> dest<strong>in</strong>ation is<br />
not given. An account <strong>of</strong> this expedition may be found<br />
<strong>in</strong> the follow<strong>in</strong>g letter <strong>from</strong> Major Joseph Hawley^ to his<br />
brother Elisha, who had been wounded a few days before<br />
at Fort <strong>Massachusetts</strong> : —<br />
'Deerfield, Aug. 12, 1748.<br />
*' Dear Brother—I am now at Deerfield with Col. Dwight <strong>of</strong> Brookfield,<br />
about 10 <strong>of</strong> the clock, a. m. We came yesterday <strong>from</strong> North-<br />
ampt"", with 29 good men enlisted voluntarily under s'd Co" with a de-<br />
sign to endeavor to scour the frontier, viz : Maj. Seth Pomeroy. Capt.<br />
Jno. Lyman, Lt. Noah Wright, Ensig" Gideon Lyman, Ens. Timothy<br />
Dwight, Jos. Hawley Gent. All other private men to the above number,<br />
among which is Noah Lyman, there are about 30 come, and com<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>from</strong> all y" parts <strong>of</strong> Hadley, 16 to come this forenoon <strong>from</strong> Hatf'', a<br />
number <strong>from</strong> Spr<strong>in</strong>gfield, 44 <strong>from</strong> Brookfield, Western and Hardwick,<br />
who got to Northf'' by way <strong>of</strong> y Eastern front, Monday or Tuesday ;<br />
100 more Col. Chandler sent who we suppose reached Northf' yester-<br />
day. All <strong>of</strong> which with some we design to take <strong>from</strong> these tapper<br />
1 This letter may be found <strong>in</strong> the above abridged form iu the Judd MSS.<br />
2 New York mstorical MSS., vol. X., p. 177.<br />
.3 Hawley MSS. iu Bancr<strong>of</strong>t Collection, Lenox Library, N. Y.<br />
11