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

32 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1725.
The heedlessness which caused the disaster in this town
in 1724, was repeated at DeerJfield in the following year.
In August, five men went into the woods, searching for
cattle, having but one gun among them. They were way-
laid by Indians, and Dea. Samuel Field of Deerfield
wounded. In September, a scouting party of six men, sent
out from Fort Dummer, was attacked while at dinner ; two
of them were killed, three were captured and one escaped
to tell the tale.
capt Wright again Scarccly had Capt. Wright returned from
Ordered Out. j^jg expedition (after Graj'^ Lock) than he
was again ordered to enlist another company
of forty men, and scour the woods. He succeeded in
obtaining twenty-five soldiers from among the northern
troops and came to Northampton for the rest. But the
sudden appearance of the enemy who caused the mischief
in August and September, brought him an order to look
after the safety of the upper towns, and very materially
delayed his preparations. Col. Stoddard thought that if
he could start immediately for Otter Creek, there might be
a possibility of intercepting the marauders. But men and
stores were hard to get, the pay of the soldiers was in
arrears, cold weather was at hand, the duty was hazardous,
the way difficult, and the impression prevailed that the red
men were ready to bury the hatchet. Consequently Capt.
Wright did not get away until the 10*'' of October ; was
gone about a week, but discovered nothing.
Peace Declared. Marquis dc Vaudrcuil died on the SS'*' of
October, 1725. He was succeeded by the
Marquis de Beauharnois, and soon after a treaty of peace
was prepared. It was signed by both parties at Boston,
December 15'", and ratified at Falmouth, Me., in August of
the following year. Within a short time presents to the
value of £300 were made to the Indians.