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;
18 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1723. lish. It was considered of the first importance to conciliate the Indian nations, and either to secure their alliance or a pledge from them to observe strict neutrality. Commis- sioners were sent to negotiate with the Five Nations in 1721, Col. Stoddard being one of them. A proposition was entertained for a conference with a delegation from the- Indian nations to be held at Deerfield, but it was not carried out. Negotiations were resumed in the fall of the following year, which resulted in an Indian delegation being sent to Boston in August, 1723. But no arrangement could be made with the red men. While professing friendship, and eagerly accepting the presents offered, they were averse to joining in open hostilities, though permission was granted to their young men to take service with the English on their own responsibility. It was feared that the Canada Indians, piqued by these proceedings on the part of the white men, would at once swoop down upon the river settlements. Gray Lock Appears. Thcsc forcbodiugs wcre iu a mcasurc realized when Gray Lock, with four companions, appeared on the northern frontiers about the middle of August. Two men were killed at Northfield, three at Rutland, and two others captured. In the latter encounter, one of the Indians was shot and another wounded. The marauders fled to Canada with their prisoners, both of whom were subsequently redeemed. Gray Lock was one of the chieftains with whom an alliance had been sought. Cavalry Ordered At tliis time there werc two companies of on Duty. cavalry in Hampshire County, one under the command of Capt. Henry Dwight of Hatfield, and the other commanded by Capt. Adijah Dewey of Westfield. Capt. Dewey was ordered by Col. Partridge, on the 30^'' of August, to march to the upper towns with his company, to serve fourteen days, '' scouting and repairing to the places of most danger." He was then to be re- lieved by Capt. Dwight's company, and they were to serve, relieving each other every two weeks, for a campaign of eight weeks. Intelligence was received from Albany that a body of fifty Indians had crossed the lake, September 1^', with the intention of attacking the frontier towns. On the
1721-17-23.] FATHER rale's WAR. 19 11'" of October Capt. Dewey was ordered to march forth- with to Deerfield, send one lialf his company to Northfield to guard the people while gathering their harvest, and to range and scout the woods to the northwest. Assault on North- Tliese orders came too late ; the enemy were field. at their bloody work before the troops received them. On the 9"' the Indians assaulted a party of men at work in the Northfield mead- ows. One man was killed, two were wounded, and a third, Samuel Dickinson, captured and taken to Canada. He had been previously taken prisoner at Hatfield. In June of the following year he was redeemed, and returned to Deerfield, bringing important information concerning the movements of the enemy. After this alarm a company of Connecticut troops was on duty at Northfield four weeks. In November the General Court ordered that a company of forty men should be enlisted, and placed under the command of Lieut. Joseph Kellogg, who was commissioned as its Captain. This company remained at Northfield during the winter. Capt. Benjamin Capt. Benjamin Wright, whose exploits Wright offers form a brilliant page in the history of his time (being then a resident of Northfield), proffered his services to the government, asking the ' ' liberty of commanding forty or fifty men to go on the track of this army, which came to Northfield, as far as Otter Creek, and then round to White River and home by Connecticut River." Col. Stoddard, about this time, suggested that an expedition to St. Francis, the headquarters of the Canada Indians, would be of great service, and that four hundred men would be sufficient. But "as the winter was far advanced,'' it was not thought "best to attempt the march, but of service to send forty or fifty men to Otter Creek and White River." Nothing, however, was done at this time. A Blockhouse Built above Northfield. Wlieii affairs became serious and threaten- ii^g^ the authorities decided to construct a blockliouse above Northfiekl, and there maintain a garrison, for the purpose of scouting along the frontier, and giving seasonable warning of the approach of
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1721-17-23.] FATHER rale's WAR. 19<br />
11'" <strong>of</strong> October Capt. Dewey was ordered to march forth-<br />
with to Deerfield, send one lialf his company to Northfield<br />
to guard the people while gather<strong>in</strong>g their harvest, and to<br />
range and scout the woods to the northwest.<br />
Assault on North- Tliese orders came too late ; the enemy were<br />
field. at their bloody work before the troops<br />
received them. On the 9"' the Indians<br />
assaulted a party <strong>of</strong> men at work <strong>in</strong> the Northfield mead-<br />
ows. One man was killed, two were wounded, and a third,<br />
Samuel Dick<strong>in</strong>son, captured and taken to Canada. He had<br />
been previously taken prisoner at Hatfield. In June <strong>of</strong> the<br />
follow<strong>in</strong>g year he was redeemed, and returned to Deerfield,<br />
br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g important <strong>in</strong>formation concern<strong>in</strong>g the movements<br />
<strong>of</strong> the enemy. After this alarm a company <strong>of</strong> Connecticut<br />
troops was on duty at Northfield four weeks. In November<br />
the General Court ordered that a company <strong>of</strong> forty men<br />
should be enlisted, and placed under the command <strong>of</strong> Lieut.<br />
Joseph Kellogg, who was commissioned as <strong>its</strong> Capta<strong>in</strong>.<br />
This company rema<strong>in</strong>ed at Northfield dur<strong>in</strong>g the w<strong>in</strong>ter.<br />
Capt. Benjam<strong>in</strong> Capt. Benjam<strong>in</strong> Wright, whose explo<strong>its</strong><br />
Wright <strong>of</strong>fers form a brilliant page <strong>in</strong> the history <strong>of</strong> his<br />
time (be<strong>in</strong>g then a resident <strong>of</strong> Northfield),<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>fered his services to the government, ask<strong>in</strong>g the '<br />
' liberty<br />
<strong>of</strong> command<strong>in</strong>g forty or fifty men to go on the track<br />
<strong>of</strong> this army, which came to Northfield, as far as Otter<br />
Creek, and then round to White River and home by Connecticut<br />
River." Col. Stoddard, about this time, suggested<br />
that an expedition to St. Francis, the headquarters <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Canada Indians, would be <strong>of</strong> great service, and that four<br />
hundred men would be sufficient. But "as the w<strong>in</strong>ter was<br />
far advanced,'' it was not thought "best to attempt the<br />
march, but <strong>of</strong> service to send forty or fifty men to Otter<br />
Creek and White River." Noth<strong>in</strong>g, however, was done at<br />
this time.<br />
A Blockhouse Built<br />
above Northfield.<br />
Wlieii affairs became serious and threaten-<br />
ii^g^ the authorities decided to construct<br />
a blockliouse above Northfiekl, and there<br />
ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> a garrison, for the purpose <strong>of</strong> scout<strong>in</strong>g along the<br />
frontier, and giv<strong>in</strong>g seasonable warn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the approach <strong>of</strong>
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