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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY,

ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDAN FOUNDATIONS.

CHAP. II.]

LIFE OF KING PHILIP.

41

spective spies of the two famous chiefs gave the alarm to both camps at the same time; but, unhappily for Philip, his antagonist was prepared for the event, while he was not. "All fled at the first tidings, [of the spies,] left their kettles boiling, and meat roasting upon their wooden spits, and run into a swamp with no other breakfast, than what Capt. Church afterwards treated them with." Church sent his lieutenant, Mr. Isaac Howland, on one side of the swamp, while himself ran upon the other, each with a small party, hoping, as the swamp was small, to prevent the escape of any. Expecting that when Philip should discover the English at the farther extremity of the swamp, he would turn back in his own track, and so escape at the same place he entered, Church had, therefore, stationed an ambush to entrap him in such an event. But the wariness of Philip disappointed him. He, thinking that the English would pursue him into the swamp, had formed an ambush for them also, but was, in like manner, disappointed. He had, at the same time, sent forward a band of his warriors, who fell into the hands of Church and Howland. They, at first, attempted to fly, and then offered resistance; but Church ordered Matthias to tell them the impracticability of such a step. He accordingly called to them, and said, "If they fired one gun they were all dead men." This threat, with the presence of the English and Indians, so amazed them, that they suffered "the English to come and take the guns out of their hands, when they were both charged and cocked.” Having secured these with a guard, armed with the guns just taken from them, Church presses through the swamp in search of Philip, towards the end at which that chief had entered. Having waited until he had no hopes of ensnaring Captain Church, Philip now moved on after the company he had sent forward, and thus the two parties met. The English had the advantage of the first discovery, and, covered by trees, made the first fire. Philip stood his ground for a time, and maintained a desperate fight; but, a main body of his warriors having been captured, which, by this time, he began to apprehend, as they did not come to his aid, he, therefore, fled back to the point where he entered the swamp, and thus fell into a second ambush. Here the English were worsted, having one of their number slain, viz. Thomas Lucas, † of Plimouth: thus escaped, for a few days, Philip and some of his best captains: such were Tuspaquin and Tatoson. This was August the 3d, and Philip's numbers had decreased, since the 1st, 173, by the exertions of Church.

Philip, having now but few followers left, was driven from place to place, and lastly to his ancient seat near Pokanoket. The English, for a long time, had endeavored to kill him, but could not find him off his guard; for he was always the first who was apprized of their approach. He having put to death one of his own men for advising him to make peace, this man's brother, whose name was Alderman, fearing the same fate, deserted him, and gave Captain Church an account of his situation, and offered to lead him to his camp. Early on Saturday morning, 12 Aug., Church came to the swamp where Philip was encamped, and, before he was discovered, had placed a guard about it, so as to encompass it, except a small place. He then ordered Captain Golding § to rush into the swamp, and fall upon Philip in his camp; which he immediately did-but was discovered as he approached, and, as usual, Philip was the first to fly. Having but just awaked from sleep, and having on but a part of his clothes, he fled with all his might. Coming directly upon an Englishman and an Indian, who composed a part of the ambush at the edge of the swamp, the Englishman's gun missed fire, but Alderman, the Indian, whose gun was loaded with two balls, "sent

One of Church's Indian soldiers, but of whom he makes no mention.

An improvident fellow, given to intoxication, and, from Church's expression about his being killed," not being so careful as he might have been," it leaves room to doubt whether he were not, at this time, under the effects of liquor. He had been often fined, and once whipped, for getting drunk, beating his wife and children, defaming the character of deceased magistrates, and other misdemeanors.

Church, 41. In the account of Tatoson, Church's narrative is continued.

Captain Roger Goulden, of R. I. Plimouth granted him 100 acres of land on Pocasset, in 1676, for his eminent services. Plim. Records.

42

LIFE OF KING PHILIP.

[BOOK III.

one through his heart, and another not above two inches from it. He fell upon his face in the mud and water, with his gun under him."

"Cold, with the beast he slew, he sleeps;

O'er him no filial spirit weeps;

Even that he lived, is for his conqueror's tongue;
By foes alone his death-song must be sung;

No chronicles but theirs shall tell

His mournful doom to future times;

May these upon his virtues dwell,

And in his fate forget his crimes."-SPRAGUE.

The name of the man stationed with Alderman was Caleb Cook,* who had shared in many of Church's hazardous expeditions before the present. Seeing that he could not have the honor of killing Philip, he was desirous, if possible, of having a memento of the mighty exploit. He therefore prevailed upon Alderman to exchange guns with him. This gun was kept in the family until the present century, when the late Isaac Lothrop, Esq. of Plimouth obtained the lock of it from Mr. Sylvanus Cook, late of Kingston. Sylvanus was great-grandson of Caleb. The stock and barrel of the gun are still retained by the descendants of the name of Cook. There is a gun-lock shown in the library of the Mass. Hist. Soc. said to be the same which Alderman used in shooting Philip. This Alderman was a subject of Weetamoo, who, in the commencement of this war, went to the governor of Plimouth, and desired to remain in peace with the English, and immediately took up his residence upon an island, remote from the tribes engaged in it. But, after Philip had returned to his own country, Alderman, upon some occasion, visited him. It was at this time that he learned the fate of his brother before spoken of; or he may have been killed in his presence. This caused his flight to the English, which he thought, probably, the last resort for vengeance. He "came down from thence, says Church; (where Philip's camp now was,) on to Sand Point over against Trips, and hollow'd, and made signs to be fetch'd over" to the island. He was immediately brought over, and gave the information desired. Captain Church had but just arrived upon Rhode Island, and was about eight miles from the upper end, where Alderman landed. He had been at home but a few minutes, when "they spy'd two horsemen coming a great pace," and, as he prophesied, "they came with tydings." Major Sanford and Capt. Golding were the horsemen, "who immediately ask'd Capt. Church what he would give to hear some news of Philip. He reply'd, That was what he wanted." The expedition was at once entered upon, and Alderman went as their pilot. But to return to the fall of Philip : "By this time," continues Church, "the enemy perceived they were waylaid on the east side of the swamp, tacked short about," and were led out of their dangerous situation by the great Captain Annawon. "The man that had shot down Philip ran with all speed to Capt. Church, and informed him of his exploit, who commanded him to be silent about it, and let no man more know it until they had drove the swamp clean; but when they had drove the swamp through, and found the enemy had escaped, or at least the most of them, and the sun now up, and the dew so gone that they could not easily track them, the whole company met together at the place where the enemy's night shelter was, and then Capt. Church gave them the news of Philip's death. Upon which the whole army gave three loud huzzas. Capt. Church ordered his body to be pulled out of the mire on to the upland. So some of Capt. Church's Indians took hold of him by his stockings, and

*Baylies, in his N Plymouth, ii. 168, says his name was Francis; but as he gives no authority, we adhere to older authority.

He

This Caleb Cook was son of Jacob, of Plimouth, and was born there 29 Mar. 1651. had two or more brothers; Jacob, born 14 May, 1653, and Francis, 5 Jan. 1663-4. Hence it is not probable that Francis was a soldier at this time, as he was only in his 13th year. Col. Mass, Hist. Soc. iv. 63.

Eighteen English and twenty-two Indians constituted his army a week before; but we know not how many were at the taking of Philip, though we may suppose about the same number. Hence this expedition cost the colony £9.

CHAP. II.]

LIFE OF KING PHILIP.

43

some by his small breeches, being otherwise naked, and drew him through the mud into the upland; and a doleful, great, naked dirty beast, he looked like." Captain Church then said, "Forasmuch as he has caused many an Englishman's body to lie unburied and rot above ground, not one of his bones shall be buried!"

With the great chief, fell five of his most trusty followers, one of whom was his chief captain's son,* and the very Indian who fired the first gun at the commencement of the war.

"Philip having one very remarkable hand, being much scarred, occasioned by the splitting of a pistol in it formerly, Capt. Church gave the head and that hand to Alderman, the Indian who shot him, to show to such gentlemen as would bestow gratuities upon him; and accordingly he got many a penny by it."+

The barbarous usage of beheading and quartering traitors was now executed upon the fallen Philip. Church, "calling his old Indian executioner, bid him behead and quarter him. Accordingly, he came with his hatchet, and stood over him, but before he struck, he made a small speech, directing it to Philip," saying, "You have been a very great man, and have made many a man afraid of you; but so big as you be I will now chop your ass for you." He then proceeded to the execution of his orders.

His head was sent to Plimouth, where it was exposed upon a gibbet for 20 years, and one of his hands to Boston, where it was exhibited in savage triumph, and his mangled body was denied the right of sepulture. It having been quartered, was hung upon four trees, and there left as a monument of shocking barbarity.

Church and his company returned to the island the same day, and arrived with the prisoners at Plimouth two days after, namely, Tuesday, August 15, “ranging through all the woods in their way." They now "received their premium, which was 30 shillings per head," for all enemies killed or taken, "instead of all wages, and Philip's head went at the same price." This amounted to only four and sixpence a-piece, "which was all the reward they had, except the honor of killing Philip."

Having in the year 1824 visited the memorable retreat of the Wampanoag sachems, we can give the reader some idea of its situation. There is a natural angular excavation, in an almost perpendicular rock, about 6 or 7 feet from its base, where it is said Philip and some of his chief men were surprised on the morning of the 12 August. We have in the Life of Massasoit described Mount Hope, and it is at the north part of it that the high rock is situated; variously estimated from 30 to 50 feet in height, and is nearly 2 miles from the village of Bristol. From the seat, or throne of KING PHilip, as some have called it, a fine view of Mount Hope Bay opens upon us. the foot of the rock is a fine spring of water, known to this day by the name of Philip's Spring.

Near

Mr. Alden, the curious collector of epitaphs, says "the late Lieut. Gov. Bradford, [who died at Bristol in 1808,] in early life, knew an aged squaw, who was one of Philip's tribe, was well acquainted with this sagamore in her youthful days, and had often been in his wigwam. The information, through her, is, therefore, very direct, as to the identical spot, where he fixed his abode. It was a few steps south of Capt. James De Wolfe's summer house, near the brow of a hill, but no vestige of the wigwam remains. The eastern side of this hill is very steep, vastly more so than that at Horse Neck, down which the intrepid Putnam trotted his sure-footed steed, in a manner worthy of a knight of the tenth century." "When Church's men were about to rush upon Philip, he is said to have evaded them by springing from his wigwam as they were entering it, and rolling, like a hogshead, down the precipice, which looks towards the bay. Having reached the lower part of this frightful ledge of rocks, without breaking his bones, he got upon his feet, and ran along the shore in a north-eastern direction, about 100 rods, and endeavored to screen himself in a swamp, then a quagmire, but now terra firina."

*Very probably a son of Uncompoin, or Woonashum.

↑ Philip's War.

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