NILES'S HISTORY OF THE INDIAN AND FRENCH WARS. THE depredations and massacres prevailing in the land, the authorities thought proper to add to the premiums for prisoners and scalps. But it did not answer the design; for it was quickly found, that every Indian scalp or prisoner taken cost the country at least a thousand pound.. It was observed, that they committed more spoil in smaller parties, in proportion, than in larger bodies. August 10 [1706], the Indians slew William Pearl of Dover; and, a little after, took Nathaniel Tibbits. But of all the Indians that were ever known since King Philip, in the southern part of the country (of whom we have heard much in the former part of this history), none has appeared so barbarously cruel and inhuman as Assacambuit, that insulting monster in shedding of blood. By his own account, and for that very reason perhaps, he had encouragement from the French to go over to Paris, where he had introduction into the king's presence;* and there, in the most arrogant and vain-glorious manner, lifting up [his] hand, he says, "This hand of mine has slain one hundred and fifty of your majesty's enemies * See Charlevoix, vol. ii. p. 326. within the territories of New England:" which bold and impudent assertion so pleased that bloody monarch, his master, that he immediately conferred on him the dignity of knighthood (I suppose, the first Indian that ever was knighted; and perhaps will be the last, except some one or more of his party-colored mongrel vassals rise up and do the like barbarities on the people in these American parts of the world), and ordered him eight livres a day during life; which so puffed him up with pride, that after his return, having so long imbrued his hands in innocent blood as to exert a sovereignty over his own people by murdering one and stabbing [another], and finding their relations meditating revenge, he made his escape, and never returned again. About this time, the Government concluded to send out further force against the enemy: therefore Colonel Hilton, January 21, marched with two hundred and twenty men, and visited the frontiers anew. But, the season proving moderate, they could effect but little of what was intended. However, in his return, he came upon an Indian track, near Black Point: which he pursued, and killed four; and took a squaw, with a pappoose at her breast, who informed him of a small number on a neck of land, and conducted him thither. He slew them all but one; him he kept prisoner: they were eighteen in all. "It is strange to think by what winged Mercury" (as my author expresses it)" reports are often carried. Plutarch, and other writers I remember, have given surprising instances of things transacted at such a distance, as have been inconsistent with any human conveyance: witness that of Domitian, two thousand five hundred miles in the space of twenty-four hours; and of William the Conqueror, the news of whose death was conveyed from Rouen in France to Rome (about seven hundred and forty miles) the day he died, - which, as historians mention, prius pene quam nunciari possit. And, to my certain knowledge, on the very morning that Colonel Hilton did this exploit, it was publicly talked of at Portsmouth, in every article and with little or no variation, although ninety miles' distance." But in all this time we were only lopping off the branches. The French at Canada and Nova Scotia, who supply the Indians with all necessaries for the war, were the root of all our calamity: wherefore it was resolved to make an enterprise on Nova Scotia, under the command of Colonel March, with two regiments; viz., Colonel Wainwright, Lieutenant-Colonel Appleton, Major Walton, commanders of the Red; Colonel Hilton, Lieutenant-Colonel Walton, Major Spencer, commanders of the Blue. They sailed from Nantasket, March 13,* 1707, in three transport- ships, five brigantines, fifteen sloops, with a considerable number of whale-boats to pass in the rivers, having her majesty's ship the "Deptford," and the Province Galley, to cover them; and, in a fortnight, arrived at Port-Royal Gut, where they landed on both sides the river. The French, perceiving it, made an alarm, and retired to the fort. Monsieur Supercass,† * This date is wrong. It should be May 13th. Rev. John Barnard, chaplain, in his Journal (Mass. Hist. Coll., 3d Series, vol. v. p. 191) says, "The 13th of May, the fleet came to sail by sunrise, from Nantasket, with an easy south-west wind." David Pulsifer, Esq., has examined the papers in the State Archives with reference to this date; and, in a note to the Committee, says he finds nothing to contradict Mr. Barnard. He adds, "In a note or memorandum, in Governor Dudley's handwriting, he (Governor Dudley) says to Mr. Secretary Addington, 'Draw warrants for the gentlemen above, chaplains for the expedition. Send Mr. Bernard's presently, with orders to go down to-morrow to Nantasket. Your servant, J. DUDLEY. The date is erroneously given in Penhallow, from whom Mr. Niles copied it, and by Douglass in his Summary; but correctly in Hutchinson's History, vol. ii. p. 165; Trumbull's Hist. of the U. S., vol. i. p. 232; Belknap's Hist. of N. H., vol. i. p. 342; and Holmes's Amer. Annals, vol. ii. p. 70. Haliburton (Hist. of Nova Scotia, vol. i. p. 84) errs in giving May 17 as the date of the arrival of the expedition at Port Royal; which, according to our author, was "in a fortnight" after their departure, corresponding nearly with the date given by Barnard, who says that the troops were landed there on the 26th of that month. 309. + "Daniel Auber de Subercasse, Governor of L'Acadie, of Cape Breton, islands and lands adjacent," &c. - Douglas's Summary, i. p. who was the Governor, upon rallying his forces together, held a short skirmish with our men; but, finding their fire too hot for him to endure, soon retreated (his horse being killed under him). A council was then called, and a vote passed to land their artillery; but, by the cowardice or treachery of the sea-forces, that vote was superseded by a second. So nothing was done, but only some small spoil made on the enemy by killing their cattle, and then returned; when it was evident, that, had they staid but a few days, they might have made themselves masters of the fort, by starving them out, and compelling them to a surrender. This threw the country into a surprise and an amazing ferment, that, after all this fatigue and cost, such a fair and promising opportunity to check and subdue the enemy was so shamefully lost. His excellency (who had the interest of the country much at heart), being apprised hereof, sent strict orders to stay them, and another ship-of-war, with two companies of fresh men, to re-enforce them. Colonel Hutchinson, Colonel Townsend, and Mr. Leverett, were sent commissioners, to give the greater vigor to the affair; but the great number of deserters, and disaffected officers on board, overthrew the design. However, a second attempt was made; which the enemy perceiving, called in their auxiliaries from Menis, Sachenecto,* and other adjacent parts, both of French and Indians, to their assistance in fortifying and strengthening their fort, and securing their lines: so that nothing could be well attempted but a few fruitless. encounters, in which Major Walton (the only field-officer then ashore) behaved with much bravery,-killing several of them, among whom was their field-major. Sixteen of the English were slain in these actions, and as many wounded; but finally they put the enemy to flight. The frontiers were still greatly distressed: and, May • Chignecto. 22, they took two at Oyster River; June 12, killed one at Groton. Soon after, they slew William Carpenter of Kittery, with his whole family, - at least three; and, July 8, two, as they were going from Dover to Oyster River. Captain Somersby, being there with his troop, regained most of the plunder they had taken. About the same time, Stephen Gilman, and Jacob his brother, as they were riding from Exeter to Kingston, were ambushed by another party. The first had his horse shot under him, and was in danger of being scalped before he could get clear. The other brother had several shot through his clothes, and one that grazed his belly; his horse also was wounded: yet he defended himself on foot, and got into the garrison. At Casco, the Indians intercepted a fishing-boat, as she was sailing between the islands, with five men: three of them they killed, and took the other two captive. August 10, as four men were riding from York to Wells in company with Mrs. Littlefield, who had the value of sixty pounds with her, they were all killed but one. At Marlborough, two were at work in a field: one they killed, and the other they carried captive. The neighborhood gathered together, and engaged them so smartly, that they quickly gave way, leaving twenty-four packs behind them. Upon this defeat, they were so enraged as to kill the poor captive they had so lately taken, in their furious revenge. On our side, two were slain, and two wounded. One was killed at Exeter, and another at Kingston, near about the same time. At Oyster River came thirty French Indians, painted, after their manner, like so many furies. They killed seven, and mortally wounded another: some were hewing timber, others were carting it. Captain Chesly, that had signalized himself in many encounters, with the few that were left, fired on them, and for some time bravely defended themselves; but at last were overpowered, and |