United States or Democratic Republic of the Congo ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
They were not going into the battle inspired by ambition, or the love of conquest, or the greed of gain. They were contending only to protect their wives and their children from the vengeance of a savage and a merciless foe. The Narragansets, now that the stern hour of trial had come, were in such a state of consternation that Captain Mason gathered them around him and said,
Other distant tribes, who were on the eve of joining the coalition, intimidated by the withdrawal of the Narragansets, and by their co-operation with the English, also refused to take part in the war, and thus the Pequots were left to fight the battle alone.
Desirable as this junction was deemed, after mature deliberation, it was decided not to wait for Captain Patrick, as it was very important to strike a sudden and unexpected blow. The Narragansets stood in great dread of the Pequots, and it was feared that their zeal might grow cold. It was also feared that if they did not proceed immediately, the Pequots might receive tidings of their approach.
Winter quarters. Building a village. Indignation of the Indians. The Narragansets disheartened. Determination of Philip. Diplomacy. A new fort. A new army raised. Sufferings of the troops. Two names for the Indians. Their degraded nature. Colonel Benjamin's mode of making proselytes. Philip betrayed. His flight. Return of the troops. Attack on Lancaster. Precautions to guard against surprise.
Young Staunton, in the pert spirit of Young America, ventured to question the proud monarch of the Narragansets. Nanuntenoo, looking disdainfully upon his youthful face, after a short silence, said, "You are too much of a child you do not understand matters of war. Let your chief come; him I will answer."
He stood in a position of great and manifest peril. The English were superior in numbers, comparatively well equipped, and above all united. They had garrisoned towns to which they could fly. Philip's own tribe was comparatively weak, but he easily associated the Narragansets with him. But this combined force was inadequate to the emergency.
Yet during this time individual Indians committed many enormous outrages of robbery and murder, for which the sachems of the tribes were not responsible. The Mohegans, under Uncas, had become very powerful. They had a fierce fight with the Narragansets. Miantunnomah was taken captive. Uncas put him to death upon Norwich plain by splitting his head open with a hatchet.
Indeed, it is quite evident that Massasoit was influenced to enter into his alliance with the English mainly from his dread of the Narragansets. Bribery and corruption are almost as common in barbarian as in civilized courts. Canonicus had brought over to his cause one of the minor chiefs of Massasoit, named Corbitant.
The conspiracy, so far as it could be ascertained, included nearly all the tribes of New England, and extended into the interior of New York, and along the coast to Virginia. The Narragansets agreed to furnish four thousand warriors. Other tribes, according to their power, were to furnish their hundreds or their thousands.
Lieutenant Cooper shot. The attack. The conflagration. Loss of books. Alarm of the inhabitants. Decree of the general court. Arrangement of forces. Attack upon Hatfield. The Indians defeated. Narrow escape of Major Appleton. The Indian rendezvous. Philip's employments. Attempts to secure the Narragansets. Mission to the Narragansets. Compulsory treaty. Erection of an Indian fort.
Word Of The Day