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

1754.] FOURTH FRElJcH AND INDIAN WAR. 245
The Forts already The iiiore important of these fortifications
Garrisoned. j^.^j \jqq^^ garrisonetl from 1749 to 3 754,
tliougli but few if any soldiers from Northampton
had been stationed in them. Capts. Elisha Hawley
and William Lyman of this town, then lieutenants,
both served during this period, and were at times employed
at Forts Dummer and Massachusetts.
Before any declaration of actual warfare
Indian Raid^ in Western
Massachusetts, j^^d been made, the Indians became active
and alert. Existing fortifications in the
more exposed towns were repaired, and many new ones
erected. The first attack fell upon the New Hampshire
settlements. In August, a woman was killed and several
persons captured at different places. On the 30*'', a party
of nine persons were made prisoners at Charlestown, and
carried to Canada. ' These raids caused great alarm everywhere.
Many settlers in the newly established towns withdrew,
and others sought refuge within the fortifications.
Pittsfield was deserted, and it was feared that in other
towns this example might be followed. The Indian hordes
were again let loose, and in the language of the military
correspondence of that day: — "It is now open war and
a very dark distressing scene opens ;
a merciless miscreant
enemy invading us in every quarter, pushed on by our in-
veterate foe." ^
Indians Discovered On the 9"' of September, Col. Israel Wil-
at Southampton. Uams writes to Secretary Willard that " 6
Indians were discovered at Southampton
yesterday, a party of 30 men were sent after them. The
Indians seem full of fury and malice." He had previously
issued an order to Major Hawley at Northampton to enlist
ten men for service in Southampton. The same day on
which the above letter was written. Major Hawley reported
that he had enlisted and dispatched from Northampton the
following named men, under command of Sergt. Noah
Strong — : Medad Edwards, Samuel Fairfield, Asahel Birge,
Eleazar Pomeroy (servant of Samuel Clark). Elijah King
(servant of Jose[)li Bascom), Benjamin Bartlett (servant of
1 Letter of Coi. Israel Williams.