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FTER the great destruction of the Narragansett Indians, in King Philip’s
War, by the Connecticut forces, the remnant of the tribe were pursued
in all directions. Winslow, with the main body of the troops, advanced
rapidly towards the Nipmuck country. During the pursuit, the celebrated
Captain Benjamin Church met with a singular and almost fatal adventure.
Church had been removed with the other wounded to the Narragansett’s
fort. But partially recovered, and being very restless, he had again
joined the army, and was persuaded by Winslow to aid him in the pursuit
of the Narragansetts. On the route they reached an Indian town, situated
on a small island, which was surrounded by a swamp. The water in the
swamp was frozen, which prevented the soldiers from charging the wigwam.
A spirited fire of musketry commenced, under cover of which the troops
began to cross the ice. The Indians defended themselves until the
assailants reached the island, when they broke and fled. A Mohegan,
friendly to the English joined in the pursuit, and capturing one of the
enemy, who had been wounded in the leg, brought him to Winslow.
Winslow examined him, but could not draw from him the wished for
knowledge concerning the designs of his countrymen. The captive was
threatened; he said he had revealed all he knew. Many standing, around
demanded that he should be tortured; but by the advice of Church,
the demand was refused. The army commenced its march. But as the
Narragansett’s wound prevented him from keeping pace with the troops,
it was resolved to “knock him in the head.” The Mohegan who captured him
was appointed his executioner. Church, taking no delight in such things,
withdrew.
The Mohegan, elated with the honor conferred upon him, advanced towards
his victim, flourishing his tomahawk, and evincing, by distortions of
limb and feature, the extremity of his satisfaction. Suddenly, he aimed
a tremendous blow at the prisoner’s head, but the latter skilfully
dodged it, and the hatchet flying from the Mohegan’s hand, “had like to
have done execution, where it was not designed.” Seizing the favorable
moment, the Narragansett broke from those who held him, and ran for his
life. Taking the same direction that Church had done, he unexpectedly
ran directly upon him. Church grappled with him; a short but furious
scuffle ensued, but the Narragansett, being destitute of clothing,
slipped from his adversary’s grasp, and again ran. Church followed, the
Indian stumbled and fell, and the bold volunteer again seized him. They
fought and wrestled until the Indian slipped through Church’s hands,
and set out upon his third race. Church was close behind him, “grasping
occasionally at his hair,” which was all the hold could be taken of him.
They soon reached a wide surface of ice, which being in some places
hollow, caused a rumbling noise, which induced Church to hope that some
of his friends might hear it and come to his relief. Unfortunately for
the Indian, it began to grow dark, and while running at full speed,
he came abreast of a fallen tree of great thickness. Why he did not
overleap it is not known; but having probably became intimidated, he
suddenly stopped and cried aloud for aid. Church was soon upon him. The
Indian seized him by the hair, and tried to break his neck. Church also
laid hold of his adversary’s hair with both hands, repaying twist
for twist. While in this attitude, hanging by each other’s hair, the
volunteer contrived to butt the Indian vigorously with his head in the
face.
While this sharp scuffle was in progress, the ice was heard crackling at
a distance, and soon after some person ran towards them. The combatants
were kept in suspense, as the darkness prevented the new comer from
being seen. The stranger reached them, and without speaking a word began
to feel first Church and then the Indian. Amid the same ominous silence,
he raised his hatchet, and sunk it in the head of the savage. It was the
Mohegan who had acted as executioner. Overjoyed at having gratified his
cruelty, he hugged Church again and again, thanked him for having caught
his prisoner, and conducted him in triumph to the camp. Throughout this
struggle for life, Church acted with his usual dauntless spirit, and
the capture of the Narragansett was owing entirely to his persevering
courage. The Indian was unjustly put to death, he being fully entitled
to be considered as a prisoner of war. But the colonists thought by
appointing a Mohegan to be his executioner, to heighten the friendly
feeling existing between that tribe and the English.
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