Indian Wars of America. A condensed historical examination of the wars of the Indians ... with an appendix embracing ... researches ... in relation to the first inhabitants of America, etc

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[Indian Wars of America.] A CONDENSED HISTORICAL EXAMINATION OI TBS WARS OF THE INDIANS, IN PAST AND PBESENT TIMES, WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE UNITED STATES. wita au APPENDIX, EMBRACING THE RESEARCHES OF ANTIQUARIANS IN RELATION TO THE FIRST INHABITANTS OF AMERICA. DESIGNED FOR YOUTH. BY JEROME V. C. SMITH, M. D. BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY GEORGE. CLARKE. 18 40. Entered according to acSJSESWg^^, in tlle year 18'10> BY GEORGE CLARK, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. DISCOVERY BY COLUMBUS. To the avarice of mankind, and the enterprise of the Portuguese, we owe the present abundance of the gold, the silver, the precious stones, the silks and the rich manufactures. To that same avarice we owe the discovery ofthe New World, the idea of whose very existence was for a long while held so absurd, that the love of gain itself could not prompt men to the undertaking, though the boldest navigator of all ages offered to risk his life and reputation in the attempt.

Christoval Colon, or, as he is commonly called, Christopher Columbus, to whom the hi^h honor of this most important of discoveries is due, is generally held to have been a Genoese, though this has been disputed, and it has been alleged, on very plausible grounds, that he was an Englishman. Be that as it may, he was a navigator skilful and enterprising beyond his age, and a brave commander. Yet, at the age of forty, he was very little known to his compatriots. The idea of finding a new terrestrial hemisphere does not appear to have occurred to him, but, judging from the spherical form of the earth, he thought jt practicable to reach the East-Indies by sailing directly west from Europe, an opinion that is evidently correct, supposing that our continent did not bar his progress. It seems singular that this idea never occurred'to any one before him, and still more so that the most enlightened men of the age treated his proposals with contempt.

As his means were small and the expenses of his enterprise must necessarily be great, he first submitted his views to the government of Genoa, in hope to obtain the requisite aid, but they were rejected as altogether chimerical. He next offered his service as an explorer of unknown regions to the court of Portugal ; DISCOVBRY BY COLUMB^i. but though that nation was then distinguished above all others by its spirit of enterprise, and the reigning king, John the second, was a wise and sagacious prince, the prejudice of his counsellors, to whom the project of Co lumbus was referred, defeated his views in that quarter also. His next application was to Ferdinand and Isa bella, reigning sovereigns of Castile and Arragon, but they were too much occupied in wresting the kingdom of Grenada from the Moors, to give his plans the con sideration due to their importance.

Chapter I

The number of Indian confederacies in New-England ; their different territories ; anecdotes of some of the chiefs. At the time of the settlement of Plymouth, the In dians of New England consisted of five confederacies, occupying distinct territories and each governed by their own chiefs and laws. The Pequods inhabited the eastern part of Connecticut, the Narraghansetts occupied Rhode Island and some smaller Islands in its neighborhood, the Pawtuckets were chiefly in the southern part of New Hampshire, the Massachusetts tribes held territory around the bay of that name,between their ter ritory and that of the Narraghansetts, the Pokanokets claimed what is now Bristol county, Rhode Island, to gether with the greater part of Plymouth and Barn stable. This last confederacy, the Pokanokets,exercis ed some power over the Indians of Nantucket and Mar tha's Vineyard, and over some of the nearest Massachu setts tribes, as well as those inhabiting Worcester county.

AH these confederacies consisted of several tribes subject to the sachem of a particular tribe, whose great bravery or success had given him, and consequently, the tribe to which he belonged, superiority. There were then nine tribes of the Pohanokets each governed by its own sagamore ; but all subject to one grand sachem, who was also the particular chief ofthe Wampanoag tribe. The capital and residence of the grand sachem was at Montaup. At the time of the first settlement of Plymouth, Massasoit was grand sa chem of the Pokanokets. On the 22 March, 1621, he came to a little distance from the settlement, on a neighboring hill, till sent for by the Governor. Two gentlemen and six armed men, attended him to one of the best houses of the village, when the Governor entered soon after, preceded by the flourish of a drum and trumpet ; Which delighted and astonished the Wampanoags exceedingly ; for savage though they were, they were not insensible to the deference, implied in this reception of their chief.

After refreshments had been plentifully supplied, a treaty was concluded in the following terms : 1st. That neither Massasoit, or any of his people, should injure or do hurt to the colonists ; 2d. That if any of his did any hurt to any of theirs, he should send the offender, that they might punish him ; 3d, If any thing were taken away from any of theirs, he should cause it to be restored, and they should do the like to his ; 4th. If any did unjustly war with him, they would aid him ; and if any did war with them he should aid them ; 5th. That he should send to his neighboring confederates to inform them of this, that they might not wrong them, but might be likewise comprised in these conditions of peace ; 6th. That when his came to them on any occasion, they should leave their arms behind them ; 7th.

That so doing, their sovereign Lord King James would esteem him as his friend and ally. "All which,-" says Morton, "he liked very, well, and withal, at the same time acknowledging himself content to become the subject of our sovereign Lord the Kin"* aforesaid, his heirs and successors: and gave unto him and his heirs all the lands adjacent." If this be true, it should have a place as a distinct article of treaty ; being of far greater importance than all the others. The grant of land and this grant constitutes the entire title of the Plymouth settlers ; is confirmed by subsequent transactions, and especially by the acts of Massasoit himself. But his subscription to the authority of King James as a subject to a sovereign is more doubtful ; nor does it by any means accord with the sev enth express article.

That the treaty itself was not preserved precisely as it was probably understood, may be inferred from the variations of it given by Mourt in his Relation. It is clear, alliance, not subjection, was what Massa* soit intended should be understood. This treaty is a point of great interest in the history of the colonist's relations with the natives of the country, and as such should not be overlooked. The Indians came voluntarily to make it, and though they received such trifles as a pair of knives, a copper chain and some other articles of equal value as a gift for the large tracts of land granted, yet it was a fair and voluntary deal with Massasoit, as well as with the English. Both parties adhered to this treaty for nearly fifty years, nor, to the credit of Indian integrity, can it be said that Massasoit, or any of his own tribe, ever attempted a violation of it during his lifetime.

After this treaty, he and the colonists frequently exchanged visits of courtesy and kindness, Massasoit always showing himself a firm and upright man, a pattern of integrity and conscientiousness, that might edify many of our civilized makers only to be breakers of treaties. An anecdote of his friendship is related by the same historian. He says in 1622, "an Indian known to be under Squanto's influence, came running in among the colonists, with his face gashed and blood upon it, calling out to them to flee for their lives, and then looking behind him as if pursued. He told them Massasoit was coming to attack the colony and he had received his wounds in opposing the chief's designs. Great commotion was raised in the colony, though the report was flatly denied by Hobamock, a Pokanoket Indian, resident at Plymouth, who recommended that a messenger should be immediately and secretly despatched to Montaup, to ascertain the truth.

The messenger finding every thing in its usual quiet state,told Massasoit ofthe reports circulated against him. He was greatly incensed against Squanto, but sent his thanks to the Governor for his opinion of his fideli ty, assuring him he should instantly apprise him of any conspiracy ,that might at any future time take place." This noble minded savage saw the colonists were few, feeble and jealous of their more powerful neighbors. From the first he seems to have felt a regard for them, which his own unparalleled generosity and watchfulness, of their interests served to increase, on his part, as well as theirs. Their firm confidence in, and regard for him, was the only recompense this high minded savage desired. He sent some of his subjects to live in the colony, to teach the infant settlement, whatever in their knowl edge, would be useful to them, to act as guides, inter prefers &,c. All of which was done with a delicacy and kindness, not often found in selfish civilized life, and certainly not be expected at all in a mere savage.

Another anecdote of him, and we shall with regret have said all our limits will allow of this great man. Winslow who had been to Connecticut, chose on his return to be landed on the Narraghansett coast, and make his jour ney to Plymouth over land, becoming bewildered and uncertain of his route he made directly for Sowans or Montaup when Massasoit received him with his usual cordialty, and insisted on accompanying lsim home. Having first sent word to the colony that Winslow was dead. In the midst of the excitement this news pro duced, the sachem was seen entering the place accom panied by Winslow, on being asked why he had done so, the sachem said that his friend " might be more wel come." He had come thus far, two days journey, on foot to enjoy personally their surprise and pleasure. The colonists at one time hearing their generous ally was very sickdmmediately despatched, his friend Wins low and some others with such delicacies and medicine as they thought would be servicable.

They sound his lodge crowded by his friends in the deepest sorrow, Massasoit blind and apparently near his end, though perfectly sensible. By the judicious management of his white friends, and proper nourishment the old chief was soon restored, to the great joy of his subjects and satisfaction of the English. " I know now " said he to Winslow, on his first recovery from this severe sickness, " I know that the English love me. I love them. I shall never forget them." Decision, firmness, generosity and gratitude were the leading traits of Massasoit's character. These superior qualities had given him his rank and power among his tribes— his wisdom preserved his power together with the warm regard and respect of his subjects and allies. Unlike all other savages he seems to have had no passion for war ; but to have maintained his power by superior sagacity, taking care always however to'treat himself, and oblige others to treat him with respect.

In all his intercourse with the English, his conduct shows he knew what was due him as a man, as well as chief, of many powerful tribes. History furnishes few characters that will bear comparison with Massasoit, if all the circum stances of his life are taken into consideration.

Chapter. II

Settlement of the Colonies — Difficulty with the Indians. So rapid was the emigration from Europe, that in six years from the period the first adventurers landed at Plymouth, seven considerable villages were built and settled in Massachusetts. In the summer of 1627, Naumkeag (Salem) was first settled. This plantation begun by Mr. Endecott,one of the original planters, was the following year joined by 200 persons, furnished with ministers, who inl629, formed themselves into a church, being the first founded in Mas sachusetts, and the second in New-England. The same year, a large embarkation was proposed by the company in England. At the request of a great number of gentlemen who afterwards became residents of New-England, the government was removed to Massachusetts. In 1630, seventeen ships from different parts of Eng land arrived, with more than 1500 passengers, many of them persons of distinction.

But owing to a change of living, and the many hardships they endured, they lost two hundred of their number. In 32 and 33,many more emigrants arrived. The King issued an order in Feb ruary to prevent the great tide of emigration, which was now so strongly set towards the western hemisphere, but with little effect, Lord Say and Lord Brook, were the proprietors of the river and country of Connecticut. A fort was built and in honor of them called Saybrook. Soon after which, New Haven was colonized, and many other towns in Connecticut. Some of the inhabitants of New Ply mouth removed to, and colonized Rhode Island. Thus with almost unprecedented rapidity, was this land of savage nature and still more savage man, converted into thriving and beautiful villages. The cry of beasts of prey, and savage whoop of the Indian exchanged for the peaceful sounds of civilized life.

The natives at first hospitable and generous, from frequent aggressions, and in many cases, most wanton ill usage, became suspi cious, and soon began to manifest a spirit of resistance towards their overreaching neighbors. The Pequods,inhabiting a part of the valley of Con necticut,were the first roused to jealousy and bloodshed. Their enmity was manifested as early as June, 1634 by the murder of two men who occasionally visited them to traffic. The historians of that day assert that the cruelty shown by this tribe towards the whites was entirely un provoked, and as the accused party possesed no means of transmitting to posterity contradictory accounts, we can not rely on the statements of those so entirely interested as those historians were. But when we reflect how many men of overbearing character and of bad tempers there are in every community, and upon the trusting and hos pitable character shown by all the Indians in their first intercourse with the whites ; it is hardly fair to conclude that the hatred of these lords of the soil was purchased by deeds of justice and kindness.

However, the only record which now can be obtained of those times, char acterizes the Pequods as fierce, cruel, and warlike. And authentic proofs are not wanting to show that this was their character, whatever the provocation was, which produced its display. The summer following the murder of the two traders, they inhumanly butchered a Mr. Weeks and his whole family, and the wife and children of a Mr. Williams. Finding their cruelty had aroused the resentment of the English, they endeavored to conciliate them through presents sent to Gov. Winslow. Finding he treated their message and presents with little attention, they sent more valuable presents to the Governor and council, with whom they at last made peace. The treaty bound the Pequods to keep the peace in these articles. 1st. They should deliver to the English those of the tribe who had been guilty of murdering the colonists. 2d. The Pequods vt ere to relinquish their right to the lands lying within the colony of Connecticut. 3d. The Englishes disposed to treat with them, must be treated as friends.

The Pequods readily agreed to these articles and were desirous also of making peace with the Narraghan setts, with whom they were at war. The English to test their sincerity, soon after this treaty was concluded, sent some people on pretence of trading with them, whom they beguiled into their power and afterwards cruelly murdered. Despairing after this of deceiving the colonists, they openly commenced hostilities, burning the houses and butchering all the families, who were so unfortunate as to be near their territory. Two daughters of a Mr Gibbons of Hartford were murdered in the most cruel manner, and the few families who inhabited Weathers field, Con., suffered a like fate. Becoming more daring as they found the English made such slight resistance, a party of Pequods attacked Fort Saybrook, the 20 June, 1636.

Their numbers amounted to one hundred and fifty. The English though but twenty in number, had the advantage of a piece or two of ordnance. The Indians commenced their attack at midnight amid horrid yells. The English by a few discharges of the can non sent them in great terror to the woods, leaving ma ny of their companions dead or mortally wounded, on the ground. The government of Massachusetts finally became sufficiently alarmed, to take efficient measures, and on the 20 August, sent Capt. Endecott of Salem and ninety men, to make war upon them ; unless they should consent to deliver up the murderers of the English, and make reparation for the injuries they had sustained. Capt. Endecott was to sail to Block Island, put all the men to the sword, sparing the females and children, thence proceed to the Pequod country, demand the murderers of the English, a thousand fathom of wampum, and some of their children as hostages.

He sailed from Boston the 20th August, arrived at Block Island; he ef fected a landing after little resistance, he staid on the Is land a few days ; burned many wigwams and canoes, and then proceeded to the Pequod country. Arrived in their harbor, he acquainted them with the designs of his government. Four or five hundred Indians collected; but on learning the views of the English, hastily dis persed. Capt. Endecott, burned their wigwams and canoes,killed two or three Indians and returned to Boston. The chief of the Pequods, and many of his captains were independent, brave and sagacious men, holding the control of many ofthe neighboring nations whom they had conquered. They very justly looked upon the English as intruders, who had no right to control them or their posses sions. The English had taken their lands without their consent, interfered between them and their subjected neighbors, and in every respect, acted the part of usurp ers.

They had as it were defied them, by building a fort in their very teeth. Such men were not likely to submit quietly to such encroachments. They determined to compel the colonists to abandon New-England, or to extirpate the whole race. They spared no pains of concluding a peace with the Narraghansetts, and combining all the Indians in one mighty effort to rescue their possesions from these foreigners, who would soon overspread their country, and respect no rights, but those of self interest. They represented that by a general combination they could harass and destroy them in their dwellings, lay in ambush in their fields, and thus exterminate them without hazarding great battles. Nothing but the instinctive thirst for revenge so long nourished by the Narraghansetts against the Pequods, could have blinded them to the policy, and justice of this reasoning.

To prevent such a dangerous combination among the savages, the Governor invited Miantonomo, chief sachem of the Narraghansetts, to Boston. He accepted the in vitation, and made a treaty with the colonists to this efsect ; that there should be a firm peace, that they should give no shelter to the enemies of the English ; but de liver them up to justice, and whenever the English gave them notice they were going out against the Pequods, the Narraghansetts should furnish guides.

Chapter III

War with the Pequods — their extermination — conduct of Uncas. The colony of Connecticut was finally roused to see the necessity of a more effectual prosecution of the war. They represented to the Governor, the constant fear in which they lived, in consequence of the wanton cruelty of the Pequods, exercised whenever they could by any means get the English into their power, not only by murdering them in the most barbarous manner, but invariably destroying their habitations and cattle, and carrying off their goods. Thus they dared not move from their dwellings, and were under the necessity of going armed constantly ; but so reduced in spirit and numbers were they, that unless the other colonies combined with them, they could effect little or nothing. Their report, which detailed at length the cruelties they suffered, and the state of constant terror in which they lived, roused all the colonists, and a force of about three hundred and thirty, under the command of Capt. Patrick, and seventy Mohegans commanded by Uncas, their sachem, was rallied.

The Mohegans on their way to Saybrook to join the English, gave battle to a considerable number of Pequots. They killed twenty-two, and among the eighteen whom they made prisoners, was an Indian who had been attached to the English till hostilities were commenced against the Pequods, when he returned to his countrymen, and by his knowledge of the English, had been the means of the death of many. The Mohegans dealt with him in their own summary way, eating his flesh after they had murdered him in the most torturing manner. Nor did the commander' of the English, Capt. Mason, think it prudent to inter fere. Capt. Mason left Saybrook for Narraghansett on the 19th of May. Immediately on his arrival, he sent to acquaint the chiefs of his intentions, and desired a free passage through their country to the Pequod forts.

The Indian warriors told him there were too few Englishmen to attack so warlike and great a nation. They approved the design, though with some show of contempt for their preparations. Capt. Mason was scarcely arrived at the plantation of Miantonomo, when an Indian runner arrived with the information that the Massachusetts and Plymouth troops under the command of Capt. Patrick, were in Providence, -and desirous he should postpone his march till they joined him. Although he had but three hundred and sixty men, and Capt. Patrick three hundred and thirty, Capt. Mason determined to lose no time, even for this important addition to his little army. His English soldiers amounted to ninety men only, the rest being Narraghansetts, except about sixty Mohegans, all of them impatient to give battle to an enemy from whom they had suffered so many cruelties, and against whom the Mohegans and Narraghansetts particularly, had long nursed the most deadly revenge.

The fort which contained the principal part of the Pequod army, and Sassacus their chief, who alone was considered unconquerable by all the other tribes, was the first object of attack. It was in a swamp near Groton, in Connec ticut, called Mystic. They sent Wequash, their guide, on before to ascertain the state of preparation the Pequods were in. He brought word they were all asleep. Ob serving the English vessels pass there during the day, Sassacus concluded they had returned in terror to their settlements. He accordingly celebrated the event by a carousal, which proved their utter ruin. As Capt. Mason approached the fort, a dog barked, which aroused the sentinel, but too late ; for the English soon entered the fort and directing their guns to the floors of the wig wams, not only destroyed the sleeping inhabitants ; but set fire to their combustible dwellings.

If they attempted to climb the walls of the fort, the unerring ball brought them down ; or if to rush through their enemies, their sire arms and swords were equally destructive. To add to the horror of the scene, the storming of the fort took place during the darkness of night ; the immense forest re-echoed the yells and groans of the wounded as well as the triumphant whoop of the friendly savages ; while the light of the burning dwellings showed the ghastly fa ces and dying agonies of the slain. More than eight hundred Indians Were destroyed, which amounted nearly to the extermination of the tribe, while the loss of the English amounted to but twenty-five killed and wounded. The same morning, May 20th 1637, their pinnaces arrived in Pequod harbor, with provisions which they greatly needed.

On their way to this harbor, they were attacked by a body of Indians, furious with the ruin of their tribe. The Massachusetts troops did not arrive till four weeks after this, Capt. Mason hearing that a number of Pequods were near Pequod, attacked and -killed twenty-two men. Many of the women and children he sent to Boston, where they were placed in different families ; the rest were given to the Narraghansetts. But Sassacus had escaped the English, and they were unable to ascertain where he and the remainder of his followers had made a rendezvous. They offered a Pequod prisoner his life, provided he discovered Sassacus' hiding place, which he accordingly did; but Sassacus suspect ing some treachery, fled with twenty or thirty followers to the Mohawks, who treacherously slew them. Thus in the course of a few months, one of the most warlike and powerful tribes of New-England was nearly exterminated.

A few were fugitives in the forest, and the remnant submitted to the English, to save themselves from the cruelties of the other tribes. Soon after this, some jealousy existing between the Narraghansetts and Mohegans, the former marched against Uncas without proclaiming war, with a thousand men. Fortunately, Uncas discovered their approach in season to rally about five hundred men, whom he immediately marched to meet Miantonomo, and if possible, prevent his entering their town. Having made his arrangements with his men, he argued with Miantonomo on the justice of deciding the dispute between themselves, and not sacrificing so many lives. As was expected,the sachem of the Narraghansetts would hear to no such proposal, and Uncas falling to the ground, as the signal, and to avoid their arrows, his men discharged a volley upon the Narraghansetts, and rushed upon them in the most furious manner, driving them over precipices and into rivers.

Miantonomo was taken prisoner by Uncas; about fifty of the Narraghan setts captured and many more wounded and taken prisoners. Miantonomo was slain in a few days after on the very spot where he was taken prisoner. Uncas exulted in his death in the usual savage manner. He was buried at the place where he was slain, and a pillar of stones placed over his grave, in the eastern part of Norwich, which owing to that circumstance, is still called Sa chem's Plain. Exasperated to madness, the Narraghansetts determined to avenge the death of their chief on Uncas and his people. They molested and frequently cut off small parties of the Mohegans ; until the English seeing the justice of protecting their friend and ally, threatened the Narraghansetts, unless they made peace with Uncas, that they should join him as against a common enemy.

The Narraghansett Sachems treating the threat with great contempt, the English determined to make peace on their own terms or extirpate the nation. Before their preparations were completed, the Narraghansetts learning they were to be invaded, and remembering the fate of the Pequods, sued for peace on any terms. The only conditions on which the English would forego the war were,that they should restore Uncas all the captives and canoes, they had taken from him, maintaining peace with him and all other allies of the English. To these hard conditions, besides that of paying Uncas two thou sand fathom of wampum, they were obliged to submit, with the best grace they could. The following illustration of Indian character deserves a place here. Uncas was at one time nearly in a state of starvation, being besieged in one of his forts by the Narraghansetts.

The English fort at Saybrook had sent some scouts to reconnoitre the situation of the Mo hegans. Uncas got intelligence to one of them of his situation, together with strong representations, of the exposure of the English if they suffered him to be con quered. Nearly all the troops being abroad, Thomas Leffingwell, a bold and enterprising man, determined to relieve Uncas. Accordingly, during the night, he rowed a boat loaded with provisions from Saybrook into the river Thames, and with skilful manæuvering got the whole into the fort. Suspecting Uncas had received supplies, the enemy soon raised the siege. True to the Indian character, which has always been as remarkable for its gratitude for kindness, as for its uncompromising hatred for injuries, Uncas presented his deliverer with the entire land now the town of Nor wich.

An interval of peace was now enjoyed by the Eng lish. The Indians had some difficulties among them selves,but nothing whichcalled for the interference of the whites, till 1653, when they were greatly alarmed by apprehension of a general conspiracy among the Indians of New-England to extirminate all the whites resident in the country.

Chapter IV

Remarks on the treatment of the Indians by the colonists — Pokanokct or Philip's war. . It is doubted by many whether such a confederacy as the above existed at all at the time the inhabitants be came so alarmed. The dangers that crowded around Philip after the war was once begun, undoubtedly suggested to this politic prince a combination, as the only means of getting rid of an enemy, whom he had the sagacity to perceive would by the power of civilization and superiority in arms soon become the sole rulers ofthe country. Cru el and savage, though many of the Indians were, in their revenge, we must still remember they seldom were the first aggressors. It is observable too, that those colonists who treated the Indians as their equals and as rightful proprietors of the country, were very little disturbed by the neighboring savages ; except when, as in some instances, an individual Englishman, by some injustice or tyranny, roused all the revenge latent in every uncivilized, and many a civilized bosom.