Chronology for King Philip's War - Part One
War Comes:
January 29, 1675 – John Sassamon’s is killed and body dumped in Assawompsett Pond a few miles south of Middleborough. John was a Christian Indian killed by three Wampanoags (including Tobias who was one of Philip’s counselor). A few days earlier Sassamon tried to warn the Plymouth Colony of a general conspiracy among the tribes led by the Wampanoags.
June 1, 1675 – Tobias, Wampapaquan, and Mattashunnamo (defendants) are tried for murder of John Sassamon. When found beneath the ice, John’s body showed signs of brutality and also no water was in the body indicating death before going in the pond. In addition, an eyewitness named Patuckson came forward and testified to having seen the three defendants kill Sassamon and push his body under the ice. Two separate juries (one white, one Christian Indians) voted unanimously to convict and sentenced all three to hang on June 8.
June 8, 1675 – The three defendants continue to proclaim their innocence but are hung anyway. Tobias and Mattashunnamo died without a hitch but the rope broke on Wampapaquan’s first attempt. He fell to the ground and started confessing very loudly that the other two did the killing and he had only been there to help with the body. The English hanged him again. This time successfully. Philip and the other Wampanoags are angry to a boiling point.
June 11, 1675 – Lt. John Brown reports from Swansea the Wampanoags have sent their women across the bay to safety and were rising in arms. Rumors have warriors from Narragansett, Cowesit, Pocasset, and others joining Philip.
June 14, 1675 – Gov Winslow of the Plymouth Colony sent letters to Philip and Weetamoo (Squaw Sachem of the Pocassets) in hopes of quieting the situation before it got out of hand. Deputy Gov John Easton of Rhode Island met with Philip and proposed a board of arbitration with the Gov of New York to settle the differences between the Wampanoags and the Plymouth Colony. Philip shows some interest but no agreement reached.
Benjamin Church attended a dance at the village of Awashonks. He saw Philip’s warriors painted for war and heard arguments concerning resistance to the English.
June 16, 1675 – Church reported to Gov Winslow that Philip was bent on war and visiting the other tribes.
June 17, 1675 – A few English settlers followed their horses into Philip’s territory and were briefly held by several young Wampanoags before Philip gave orders to let them go.
June 18, 1675 – Wampanoags loot the house of Job Winslow at Swansea. The community is located directly across the peninsula neck from Philip’s village of Mount Hope.
June 20, 1675 – Philip’s warriors raided several farms in Swansea. Looted all and burned down two. The settlers of Swansea deserted their homes for refuge in the main part of the community. A messenger went to the Governor while the people of Swansea sealed themselves into defense.
June 21, 1675 – Gov Winslow (Plymouth) called up militia. Bridgewater and Taunton to send 70 men to Swansea immediately. Winslow sent a letter to Gov Leverett (Massachusetts Bay Colony) that he believed the Narragansetts and Nipmucks were ready to join Philip. The situation was presented as a local matter for the moment, “wee hope with the help of god wee shall give a good accompt of it in a few dayes.”
June 23, 1675 – Massachusetts pledged troops and munitions while Rhode Island promised boat patrols to the war effort. The plan was to trap Philip and his warriors on the peninsula and force a battle. Indians had resumed looting in Swansea and the English shot one of them.
June 24, 1675 – English posted their soldiers inside several small forts (garrison houses) providing the Wampanoags opportunity to roam freely. They set up a number of ambush points and soon killed a six people trying to collect some corn from an abandoned farm. Another ambush killed one man but the rest of the group got away. That night two sentries at Miles garrison killed and two others mortally wounded by creeping up and sniping in the dark. Two men dispatched to Rehobeth earlier caught and killed. Total of eleven men died as a result of attacks on the 24th. First day of open warfare.
June 25, 1675 – Massachusetts orders out 2 companies of men under Major Savage. They head to Swansea.
June 28, 1675 – Massachusetts sent an official notice to Governor Winthrop (Connecticut) of outbreak among the Wampanoags and raids at Swansea. Total force at Swansea now Cudworth (100 men including Benjamin Church), Prentice (50 Cavalry), Henchman (100 mounted dragoons), Moseley (100 men). Philip opposed with a few hundred warriors. Savage arrived and took overall command. A patrol led by Church ventured into the peninsula. Upon crossing the bridge an immediate ambush sent them scampering back with one man mortally wounded, their guide, Hammond. Church heroically tried to rescue Hammond and tried to rally the men, to no avail.
June 29 – A larger patrol advanced into the peninsula but found no Indians.
June 30 – At noon the army marched into Philip’s peninsula and were greeted by a group of upright poles with the severed heads of the June 24 victims perched on top. The Indian village was deserted as Philip and his warriors escaped into Pocasset country and joined Weetamoo’s people the night before.
July 1 – The army adopted a defensive position at the neck of Philip’s peninsula to prevent their return.
July 5 – Massachusetts diverts its part of the army on an expedition into Narragansett country attempting to prevent them from joining with Philip.
July 5 – 15 – Connecticut and Mass try to negotiate with the Narragansetts. Conn tries to appease the Indians while Mass tries to intimidate them.
July 9 – Middleborough is attacked and almost completely burned down and abandoned. Several people are killed and houses burned in Dartmouth.
July 12 – Conn recalls its troops as needed to defend the colony from Andros in New York leaving Mass alone to negotiate with the Narragansetts.
July ? – Captain Fuller and Church lead a party of 36 men across the Sakonnet River in an attempt to meet with the Awashonks and confirm her friendship. After 2 days in the field they ran into an ambush and retreated to a pease field on Punkatees Neck. The little army formed a defensive perimeter on the beach and held out while a sloop captain finally ventured close enough to ferry them one by one away from the shore. Very exciting rescue work by Benjamin Church (according to himself). The skirmish becomes known as the Peasefield Fight. A successful meeting with the Pocassets proved futile.
July 14 – A party of Nipmucks attacked and killed several people in Mendon in southern Mass. (first attack outside Plymouth and first attack from tribe other than Wampanoag.
July 15 – The Narragansetts agree to a treaty under duress. It requires them to provide 4 hostages and join the war on the English side. In return for any Wampanoag prisoners or heads, the English would pay cash.
July 19 – Combined forces of MA and Plymouth (PL) tracked a war party that killed two of their advance scouts via ambush. They followed the trail deep into the Great Cedar Swamp suffering from regular fire from sniping ambush. Near the end of the day they gave up and pulled back out. Later convincing themselves the best action was to try and keep Philip penned in the swamp and starve them out. Accordingly, most of the MA troops went home with garrisons remaining on the SW side of Pocasset Swamp and another blocking the neck of Mount Hope peninsula.
July 29 – Cudworth takes 112 soldiers from the peninsula and marches to Dartmouth. Only 21 men stay behind to guard the peninsula.
July 30 – Philip takes immediate advantage of the soft defense and escapes north to Massachusetts and Nipmuck country.
War spreads to Massachusetts
July 14 - Ephraim Curtis (Indian trader living near the Nipmucks) visits Nipmuck territory and finds the villages abandoned. He continues until he finds the tribe and then meets with the sachems on behalf of Massachusetts. He believes they are somewhat cooled down but does not realize some of the young warriors were attacking Mendon at that moment.
July 24 - Curtis meets with the Nipmucks again. They are friendly and promise to send two men to meet with Governor Leverett. The meeting never happens.
August 1 - Men from Rehobeth and Providence ambush Philip at Nipsachuck. Philip and his men escape but leave behind most of their equipment for the Mohegans. They are trapped in a swamp expecting another assault. Captain Henchman arrives with reinforcements but fails to press the attack allowing Philip and his warriors to escape.
August 2 - Curtis and Captain Edward Hutchinson tried to meet with the Nipmuck sachems but nobody showed up at the appointed place. convinced the Indians were peaceful three men from Brookfield who were accompanying convinced Hutchinson to continue deeper into Indian country in search of the tribe. The party had to move in single file at one point along the trail (between swamp and steep hillside). Musket fire rang out from three sides as Indians closed in on the rear and opened fire. In a scene of great confusion the group scrambles up the steep hillside and escaped. The three men from Brookfield and five others were dead at the scene. The escapees (many who were wounded) ran for Brookfield and rushed into a shelter with about 80 residents. An attempt to get a message out was made but Curtis and Young were driven back. The siege was on!
August 3 - Henry Young stood too close to the window and was shot in the head. Another young man tried going out for supplies but was caught and beheaded. Indians then taunted the colonists by playing with the severed head as a soccer ball and mounting it later on a pole in plain view. After dark, Curtis crawled through the Indian line and made it to Marlborough for help. Nipmuck warriors made several efforts to set the house on fire but great heroics by some of those caught inside repeatedly prevented the fires from spreading.
August 4 - Major Simon Willard led his men to Brookfield and surprised the Indians with their speed. Willard and his men raced into the house making the siege no longer attractive. The Nipmucks burned the rest of the town and left. Hutchinson made it to Marlborough but died of his wounds anyway. The village was abandoned.
August 6 - rumors start to fly about Philip's whereabouts. False sightings, etc. His whereabouts during the month of August remain unknown. (and still do today)
August 22 - Nipmucks kill 7 people in Lancaster.
August 24 - Local Indians (relatives to the Quabaug) killed a chief who favored peace and disappeared into the wilderness.
August 25 - Captains Lathrop and Beers pursue the Indians into Hopewell swamp and get 9 of their soldiers killed or mortally wounded. They back off and the Indians escape.
September 1 - The Hatfield Indians attack Deerfield and kill one man while burning several houses.
September 2 - 8 men are ambushed and killed near Squakeag. Decision is made to evacuate Squakeag.
September 3 - Captain Beers marches up the Connecticut Valley to assist in the evacuation.
September 4 - Beers is ambushed. He dies along with over half his men. (36 were involved so about 20 died.)
September 6 - Major Treat (commander of all troops in the Conn Valley) takes over and successfully evacuates Squakeag. Along the way they find a group of poles with the severed heads of Beers and his men perched on top.
September 12 - Indians attack Deerfield getting away with one captive. Decision made to evacuate Deerfield.
September 18 - While traveling south with the evacuees toward Northampton, Captain Lathrop was ambushed at Bloody Brook (named for the incident). Lathrop and his men were ambushed and suffered 64 deaths (including Lathrop) out of 90 men before being rescued by Mosely and Treat. The Indians escaped but later returned when Mosely was camped at Deerfield. The Indians taunted him from a distance by flaunting their plunder and screaming insults. Seventeenth century historian, Hubbard, wrote that Bloody Brook was "the Saddest that ever befel New Enland."
September 22 - The commissioners of the United Colonies decided the army in the west should total 500 men of which 200 would come from Conn and 300 from Mass. Only Springfield (population 500) and four smaller towns remained.
The colonists and Narragansetts met at Wickford with the English trying to press for compliance with the July 15 agreement. They noted a distinct reserve in attitude of the Sachems who refused to hand over any Wampanoag prisoners. Ninigret of the Southern Narragansetts remained with the English but his influence with the others was obviously diminished.
September 26 - Unidentified Indians burned Pynchon's Mill at Stony Brook near Springfield. Residents continue to argue that local Indians are not to blame.
October 4 - The garrison at Springfield rode out to join Pynchon at Hadley for an offensive. Later that evening, news arrived of impending attack.
October 5 - At first light, Thomas Cooper, Thomas Miller and some others left Springfield and tried to visit the local Indian Fort. They were ambushed before arrival with Miller killed and Cooper mortally wounded. He rode back to the garrison and sounded the alarm before dying on the spot. The townspeople made it to their fortified houses leaving the Indians free to burn the rest of Springfield down. They shouted defiance to the English and enjoyed a huge bonfire. Pynchon rode into town in mid-afternoon at which time the Indians all melted away. Only one woman died with a few others wounded.
Samuel Appleton replaces Pynchon as commander of the western forces.
October 13 - 18 Rumors fly constantly of imminent attacks on the western region keeping Appleton on constant worry.
October 19 - A fire is spotted near Hatfield. As ten of Appleton's men go to investigate they are ambushed and only two survive. More troops arrive in the town. The Indians later assault the town but find it well defended and retreat in much confusion.
October 26 - Despite much arguing between the colonies on the subject of who should bear the greatest burden of raising manpower, the colonies begin the process of upgrading their military discipline and organization.
Three men traveling from Springfield to Westfield are ambushed and killed. Westfield is attacked and burned.
Connecticut disputes the appointment of Appleton and controls its men from the western theater directly. Concern grows for towns inside the colony of Connecticut.
October 28 - Was a previously agreed date for the Narragansetts to deliver all their Wampanoag prisoners. The deadline came and went.
November 2 - 12 The Commissioners debate war with the Narragansetts. After much delay by Conn in getting their delegation complete, the colonies opt to send 1,000 men into Narragansett territory and force them to comply with the July 15 agreement. It was the largest army ever in New England.
November 16 - The Connecticut men are recalled and Appleton moves out of the Upper Conn Valley amid reports the Indian forces are moving south.
December 2 - The colonies observed a special day of prayer for the upcoming expedition.
December 9 - The Massachusetts companies (500+ men) under Major Appleton marched from Dedham to Rehoboth to join with the men from Plymouth (150) under Major William Bradford.
December 12 - Connecticut's men (300) under Treat arrive at New London. The army moved to Wickford. Patrols started to bring in prisoners. One (Peter) turned traitor and agreed to guide the English.
December 15 - Stonewall John (Narragansett) came to negotiate. The officers were suspicious and requested he return with a Sachem if he wanted to talk. As he left, several soldiers around the area were ambushed and killed. At least five men were killed. Chase was given and one Indian killed.
December 16 - While looking for the Connecticut men at Pettaquamscut, Jireh Bull's garrison house was attacked and 14 people killed. Later in the afternoon, Treat and the Connecticut men arrived at Pettaquamscut for the offensive operations. The Connecticut contingent also included some 150 Mohegan and Pequat warriors.
December 19 - Great Swamp Fight - The army woke up about 8 miles from the Great Swamp and started on the march. Dreary weather followed a heavy snowfall and the officers quickly got everyone moving toward the afternoon clash. By early afternoon, they arrived just outside the Great Swamp. Peter led them into the dreary heavily wooded swamp that was virtually unknown to the English. The frozen temperatures were both blessing and curse. The men were able to walk in the swampy area due frozen earth beneath them. A brief skirmish as the army entered announced their presence and gave them confidence the Narragansett Fort wouldn't be far. Not too far into the swamp, a fort appeared on a 3 to 4 acre plot of raised ground. The Indian's fort was surrounded by a wall of trees placed upright in a row and blockhouses skillfully placed to prevent a breach. Unfortunately for the Indians, they had not yet completed one corner of the outer wall and the English happened to approach at just that spot. As they neared the fort, and without hesitation to form, the English assaulted immediately. Captains Johnson and Davenport died in this first charge into the hole. The English army fought its way just inside the walls before being thrown back to the outside. As the rest of the army arrived and formed up, a second charge was made. This time they fought their way into the fort and pushed the Narragansett out the other side or into their wigwams inside the walls. Despite protests from Benjamin Church who wanted the supplies and shelter offered by the wigwams, the English set everything on fire creating a large conflagration. The women, children, and elderly of the Narragansett burned in the fire. Apparently some of the English took delight at the grisly scene as one author playfully wrote: "but one sudden and unexpected assault put them besides that work (making dinner), making their Cookrooms too hot for them at that Time, when they and their Mitchin fryed together." The Indians disappeared with heavy loss. Estimates ranged from a couple hundred to a thousand most of which were women and children. However, not only did many of their family members perish, but their food stocks for the winter just went up in flames. Hunger and starvation would become their primary enemies. As to the English, they had 20 men killed at the battle and another 200 wounded. Because they burned up all the food and had brought little themselves, Treat had no choice but to march back to Wickford in the dark. In the bitter cold march that lasted most of the night, another 30 or 40 of the wounded men died. Back at Wickford, the total dead would rise to 80 men. The Narragansetts had taken an almost decisive blow but the English army was in such bad shape that further campaigning was suspended. Treat left the Great Swamp in such a hurry they left about 20 of their dead behind. The next day, Ninigret and the Southern Narragansetts came and buried the bodies.
January 29, 1675 – John Sassamon’s is killed and body dumped in Assawompsett Pond a few miles south of Middleborough. John was a Christian Indian killed by three Wampanoags (including Tobias who was one of Philip’s counselor). A few days earlier Sassamon tried to warn the Plymouth Colony of a general conspiracy among the tribes led by the Wampanoags.
June 1, 1675 – Tobias, Wampapaquan, and Mattashunnamo (defendants) are tried for murder of John Sassamon. When found beneath the ice, John’s body showed signs of brutality and also no water was in the body indicating death before going in the pond. In addition, an eyewitness named Patuckson came forward and testified to having seen the three defendants kill Sassamon and push his body under the ice. Two separate juries (one white, one Christian Indians) voted unanimously to convict and sentenced all three to hang on June 8.
June 8, 1675 – The three defendants continue to proclaim their innocence but are hung anyway. Tobias and Mattashunnamo died without a hitch but the rope broke on Wampapaquan’s first attempt. He fell to the ground and started confessing very loudly that the other two did the killing and he had only been there to help with the body. The English hanged him again. This time successfully. Philip and the other Wampanoags are angry to a boiling point.
June 11, 1675 – Lt. John Brown reports from Swansea the Wampanoags have sent their women across the bay to safety and were rising in arms. Rumors have warriors from Narragansett, Cowesit, Pocasset, and others joining Philip.
June 14, 1675 – Gov Winslow of the Plymouth Colony sent letters to Philip and Weetamoo (Squaw Sachem of the Pocassets) in hopes of quieting the situation before it got out of hand. Deputy Gov John Easton of Rhode Island met with Philip and proposed a board of arbitration with the Gov of New York to settle the differences between the Wampanoags and the Plymouth Colony. Philip shows some interest but no agreement reached.
Benjamin Church attended a dance at the village of Awashonks. He saw Philip’s warriors painted for war and heard arguments concerning resistance to the English.
June 16, 1675 – Church reported to Gov Winslow that Philip was bent on war and visiting the other tribes.
June 17, 1675 – A few English settlers followed their horses into Philip’s territory and were briefly held by several young Wampanoags before Philip gave orders to let them go.
June 18, 1675 – Wampanoags loot the house of Job Winslow at Swansea. The community is located directly across the peninsula neck from Philip’s village of Mount Hope.
June 20, 1675 – Philip’s warriors raided several farms in Swansea. Looted all and burned down two. The settlers of Swansea deserted their homes for refuge in the main part of the community. A messenger went to the Governor while the people of Swansea sealed themselves into defense.
June 21, 1675 – Gov Winslow (Plymouth) called up militia. Bridgewater and Taunton to send 70 men to Swansea immediately. Winslow sent a letter to Gov Leverett (Massachusetts Bay Colony) that he believed the Narragansetts and Nipmucks were ready to join Philip. The situation was presented as a local matter for the moment, “wee hope with the help of god wee shall give a good accompt of it in a few dayes.”
June 23, 1675 – Massachusetts pledged troops and munitions while Rhode Island promised boat patrols to the war effort. The plan was to trap Philip and his warriors on the peninsula and force a battle. Indians had resumed looting in Swansea and the English shot one of them.
June 24, 1675 – English posted their soldiers inside several small forts (garrison houses) providing the Wampanoags opportunity to roam freely. They set up a number of ambush points and soon killed a six people trying to collect some corn from an abandoned farm. Another ambush killed one man but the rest of the group got away. That night two sentries at Miles garrison killed and two others mortally wounded by creeping up and sniping in the dark. Two men dispatched to Rehobeth earlier caught and killed. Total of eleven men died as a result of attacks on the 24th. First day of open warfare.
June 25, 1675 – Massachusetts orders out 2 companies of men under Major Savage. They head to Swansea.
June 28, 1675 – Massachusetts sent an official notice to Governor Winthrop (Connecticut) of outbreak among the Wampanoags and raids at Swansea. Total force at Swansea now Cudworth (100 men including Benjamin Church), Prentice (50 Cavalry), Henchman (100 mounted dragoons), Moseley (100 men). Philip opposed with a few hundred warriors. Savage arrived and took overall command. A patrol led by Church ventured into the peninsula. Upon crossing the bridge an immediate ambush sent them scampering back with one man mortally wounded, their guide, Hammond. Church heroically tried to rescue Hammond and tried to rally the men, to no avail.
June 29 – A larger patrol advanced into the peninsula but found no Indians.
June 30 – At noon the army marched into Philip’s peninsula and were greeted by a group of upright poles with the severed heads of the June 24 victims perched on top. The Indian village was deserted as Philip and his warriors escaped into Pocasset country and joined Weetamoo’s people the night before.
July 1 – The army adopted a defensive position at the neck of Philip’s peninsula to prevent their return.
July 5 – Massachusetts diverts its part of the army on an expedition into Narragansett country attempting to prevent them from joining with Philip.
July 5 – 15 – Connecticut and Mass try to negotiate with the Narragansetts. Conn tries to appease the Indians while Mass tries to intimidate them.
July 9 – Middleborough is attacked and almost completely burned down and abandoned. Several people are killed and houses burned in Dartmouth.
July 12 – Conn recalls its troops as needed to defend the colony from Andros in New York leaving Mass alone to negotiate with the Narragansetts.
July ? – Captain Fuller and Church lead a party of 36 men across the Sakonnet River in an attempt to meet with the Awashonks and confirm her friendship. After 2 days in the field they ran into an ambush and retreated to a pease field on Punkatees Neck. The little army formed a defensive perimeter on the beach and held out while a sloop captain finally ventured close enough to ferry them one by one away from the shore. Very exciting rescue work by Benjamin Church (according to himself). The skirmish becomes known as the Peasefield Fight. A successful meeting with the Pocassets proved futile.
July 14 – A party of Nipmucks attacked and killed several people in Mendon in southern Mass. (first attack outside Plymouth and first attack from tribe other than Wampanoag.
July 15 – The Narragansetts agree to a treaty under duress. It requires them to provide 4 hostages and join the war on the English side. In return for any Wampanoag prisoners or heads, the English would pay cash.
July 19 – Combined forces of MA and Plymouth (PL) tracked a war party that killed two of their advance scouts via ambush. They followed the trail deep into the Great Cedar Swamp suffering from regular fire from sniping ambush. Near the end of the day they gave up and pulled back out. Later convincing themselves the best action was to try and keep Philip penned in the swamp and starve them out. Accordingly, most of the MA troops went home with garrisons remaining on the SW side of Pocasset Swamp and another blocking the neck of Mount Hope peninsula.
July 29 – Cudworth takes 112 soldiers from the peninsula and marches to Dartmouth. Only 21 men stay behind to guard the peninsula.
July 30 – Philip takes immediate advantage of the soft defense and escapes north to Massachusetts and Nipmuck country.
War spreads to Massachusetts
July 14 - Ephraim Curtis (Indian trader living near the Nipmucks) visits Nipmuck territory and finds the villages abandoned. He continues until he finds the tribe and then meets with the sachems on behalf of Massachusetts. He believes they are somewhat cooled down but does not realize some of the young warriors were attacking Mendon at that moment.
July 24 - Curtis meets with the Nipmucks again. They are friendly and promise to send two men to meet with Governor Leverett. The meeting never happens.
August 1 - Men from Rehobeth and Providence ambush Philip at Nipsachuck. Philip and his men escape but leave behind most of their equipment for the Mohegans. They are trapped in a swamp expecting another assault. Captain Henchman arrives with reinforcements but fails to press the attack allowing Philip and his warriors to escape.
August 2 - Curtis and Captain Edward Hutchinson tried to meet with the Nipmuck sachems but nobody showed up at the appointed place. convinced the Indians were peaceful three men from Brookfield who were accompanying convinced Hutchinson to continue deeper into Indian country in search of the tribe. The party had to move in single file at one point along the trail (between swamp and steep hillside). Musket fire rang out from three sides as Indians closed in on the rear and opened fire. In a scene of great confusion the group scrambles up the steep hillside and escaped. The three men from Brookfield and five others were dead at the scene. The escapees (many who were wounded) ran for Brookfield and rushed into a shelter with about 80 residents. An attempt to get a message out was made but Curtis and Young were driven back. The siege was on!
August 3 - Henry Young stood too close to the window and was shot in the head. Another young man tried going out for supplies but was caught and beheaded. Indians then taunted the colonists by playing with the severed head as a soccer ball and mounting it later on a pole in plain view. After dark, Curtis crawled through the Indian line and made it to Marlborough for help. Nipmuck warriors made several efforts to set the house on fire but great heroics by some of those caught inside repeatedly prevented the fires from spreading.
August 4 - Major Simon Willard led his men to Brookfield and surprised the Indians with their speed. Willard and his men raced into the house making the siege no longer attractive. The Nipmucks burned the rest of the town and left. Hutchinson made it to Marlborough but died of his wounds anyway. The village was abandoned.
August 6 - rumors start to fly about Philip's whereabouts. False sightings, etc. His whereabouts during the month of August remain unknown. (and still do today)
August 22 - Nipmucks kill 7 people in Lancaster.
August 24 - Local Indians (relatives to the Quabaug) killed a chief who favored peace and disappeared into the wilderness.
August 25 - Captains Lathrop and Beers pursue the Indians into Hopewell swamp and get 9 of their soldiers killed or mortally wounded. They back off and the Indians escape.
September 1 - The Hatfield Indians attack Deerfield and kill one man while burning several houses.
September 2 - 8 men are ambushed and killed near Squakeag. Decision is made to evacuate Squakeag.
September 3 - Captain Beers marches up the Connecticut Valley to assist in the evacuation.
September 4 - Beers is ambushed. He dies along with over half his men. (36 were involved so about 20 died.)
September 6 - Major Treat (commander of all troops in the Conn Valley) takes over and successfully evacuates Squakeag. Along the way they find a group of poles with the severed heads of Beers and his men perched on top.
September 12 - Indians attack Deerfield getting away with one captive. Decision made to evacuate Deerfield.
September 18 - While traveling south with the evacuees toward Northampton, Captain Lathrop was ambushed at Bloody Brook (named for the incident). Lathrop and his men were ambushed and suffered 64 deaths (including Lathrop) out of 90 men before being rescued by Mosely and Treat. The Indians escaped but later returned when Mosely was camped at Deerfield. The Indians taunted him from a distance by flaunting their plunder and screaming insults. Seventeenth century historian, Hubbard, wrote that Bloody Brook was "the Saddest that ever befel New Enland."
September 22 - The commissioners of the United Colonies decided the army in the west should total 500 men of which 200 would come from Conn and 300 from Mass. Only Springfield (population 500) and four smaller towns remained.
The colonists and Narragansetts met at Wickford with the English trying to press for compliance with the July 15 agreement. They noted a distinct reserve in attitude of the Sachems who refused to hand over any Wampanoag prisoners. Ninigret of the Southern Narragansetts remained with the English but his influence with the others was obviously diminished.
September 26 - Unidentified Indians burned Pynchon's Mill at Stony Brook near Springfield. Residents continue to argue that local Indians are not to blame.
October 4 - The garrison at Springfield rode out to join Pynchon at Hadley for an offensive. Later that evening, news arrived of impending attack.
October 5 - At first light, Thomas Cooper, Thomas Miller and some others left Springfield and tried to visit the local Indian Fort. They were ambushed before arrival with Miller killed and Cooper mortally wounded. He rode back to the garrison and sounded the alarm before dying on the spot. The townspeople made it to their fortified houses leaving the Indians free to burn the rest of Springfield down. They shouted defiance to the English and enjoyed a huge bonfire. Pynchon rode into town in mid-afternoon at which time the Indians all melted away. Only one woman died with a few others wounded.
Samuel Appleton replaces Pynchon as commander of the western forces.
October 13 - 18 Rumors fly constantly of imminent attacks on the western region keeping Appleton on constant worry.
October 19 - A fire is spotted near Hatfield. As ten of Appleton's men go to investigate they are ambushed and only two survive. More troops arrive in the town. The Indians later assault the town but find it well defended and retreat in much confusion.
October 26 - Despite much arguing between the colonies on the subject of who should bear the greatest burden of raising manpower, the colonies begin the process of upgrading their military discipline and organization.
Three men traveling from Springfield to Westfield are ambushed and killed. Westfield is attacked and burned.
Connecticut disputes the appointment of Appleton and controls its men from the western theater directly. Concern grows for towns inside the colony of Connecticut.
October 28 - Was a previously agreed date for the Narragansetts to deliver all their Wampanoag prisoners. The deadline came and went.
November 2 - 12 The Commissioners debate war with the Narragansetts. After much delay by Conn in getting their delegation complete, the colonies opt to send 1,000 men into Narragansett territory and force them to comply with the July 15 agreement. It was the largest army ever in New England.
November 16 - The Connecticut men are recalled and Appleton moves out of the Upper Conn Valley amid reports the Indian forces are moving south.
December 2 - The colonies observed a special day of prayer for the upcoming expedition.
December 9 - The Massachusetts companies (500+ men) under Major Appleton marched from Dedham to Rehoboth to join with the men from Plymouth (150) under Major William Bradford.
December 12 - Connecticut's men (300) under Treat arrive at New London. The army moved to Wickford. Patrols started to bring in prisoners. One (Peter) turned traitor and agreed to guide the English.
December 15 - Stonewall John (Narragansett) came to negotiate. The officers were suspicious and requested he return with a Sachem if he wanted to talk. As he left, several soldiers around the area were ambushed and killed. At least five men were killed. Chase was given and one Indian killed.
December 16 - While looking for the Connecticut men at Pettaquamscut, Jireh Bull's garrison house was attacked and 14 people killed. Later in the afternoon, Treat and the Connecticut men arrived at Pettaquamscut for the offensive operations. The Connecticut contingent also included some 150 Mohegan and Pequat warriors.
December 19 - Great Swamp Fight - The army woke up about 8 miles from the Great Swamp and started on the march. Dreary weather followed a heavy snowfall and the officers quickly got everyone moving toward the afternoon clash. By early afternoon, they arrived just outside the Great Swamp. Peter led them into the dreary heavily wooded swamp that was virtually unknown to the English. The frozen temperatures were both blessing and curse. The men were able to walk in the swampy area due frozen earth beneath them. A brief skirmish as the army entered announced their presence and gave them confidence the Narragansett Fort wouldn't be far. Not too far into the swamp, a fort appeared on a 3 to 4 acre plot of raised ground. The Indian's fort was surrounded by a wall of trees placed upright in a row and blockhouses skillfully placed to prevent a breach. Unfortunately for the Indians, they had not yet completed one corner of the outer wall and the English happened to approach at just that spot. As they neared the fort, and without hesitation to form, the English assaulted immediately. Captains Johnson and Davenport died in this first charge into the hole. The English army fought its way just inside the walls before being thrown back to the outside. As the rest of the army arrived and formed up, a second charge was made. This time they fought their way into the fort and pushed the Narragansett out the other side or into their wigwams inside the walls. Despite protests from Benjamin Church who wanted the supplies and shelter offered by the wigwams, the English set everything on fire creating a large conflagration. The women, children, and elderly of the Narragansett burned in the fire. Apparently some of the English took delight at the grisly scene as one author playfully wrote: "but one sudden and unexpected assault put them besides that work (making dinner), making their Cookrooms too hot for them at that Time, when they and their Mitchin fryed together." The Indians disappeared with heavy loss. Estimates ranged from a couple hundred to a thousand most of which were women and children. However, not only did many of their family members perish, but their food stocks for the winter just went up in flames. Hunger and starvation would become their primary enemies. As to the English, they had 20 men killed at the battle and another 200 wounded. Because they burned up all the food and had brought little themselves, Treat had no choice but to march back to Wickford in the dark. In the bitter cold march that lasted most of the night, another 30 or 40 of the wounded men died. Back at Wickford, the total dead would rise to 80 men. The Narragansetts had taken an almost decisive blow but the English army was in such bad shape that further campaigning was suspended. Treat left the Great Swamp in such a hurry they left about 20 of their dead behind. The next day, Ninigret and the Southern Narragansetts came and buried the bodies.
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