Mr. Williams prevents the Indian league—war with the Pequods—their
defeat and ruin.
The Pequods were, as we have already remarked, the most warlike tribe of
Indians in New-England, and the most hostile to the colonists, not
perhaps so much from a greater degree of ferocity, as from a clearer
foresight of the effects which the natives had reason to apprehend from
the increase of the whites.
In 1634, Captains Stone and Norton, of Massachusetts, with eight other
Englishmen, were murdered by the Indians, in a small trading vessel, on
Connecticut river. It is not certain, that the murderers were Pequods,
but they fled to this tribe for protection, and divided with them the
property which they had plundered. The Pequods thus became responsible
for the crime; and the magistrates of Massachusetts sent to them
messengers to demand satisfaction, but without success. The Pequods
afterwards sent messengers, with gifts, to Massachusetts, exculpating
the tribe from the guilt of the murder. The Governor and Council, after
a conference of several days, and a consultation, as usual, with the
principal ministers, concluded with them a treaty of peace and
friendship.[166]
But no treaty could appease the jealous hostility of the Pequods. In
July, 1636, a short time after Mr. Williams’ removal to Providence, a
party of Indians murdered Mr. John Oldham, near Block-Island, whither he
had gone from Massachusetts, in a small barque, for purposes of trade.
The murderers fled to the Pequods, by whom they were protected. It was
suspected, however, that the murder was contrived by some of the
Narragansets and Nianticks; and there was evidently some disposition
among these tribes and the Pequods to form a league for the destruction
of the English.
The first intelligence of the murder of Mr. Oldham, and of the proposed
league, was communicated by Mr. Williams, in a letter to Governor Vane,
at Boston, a few days after the event. With a spirit of forgiveness and
philanthropy, which honors his memory, he promptly informed those who
had so recently expelled him from the colony, of the peril which now
threatened them. It may be alleged, that self-preservation impelled him
to appeal to Massachusetts for assistance to defeat a project, which, if
accomplished, would have overwhelmed himself and his colony in ruin. But
his influence with the Indians was so great, that it is probable he
might have secured his own safety and that of his companions. The merit
of his generous mediation ought not to be sullied, because his own
welfare was at the same time advanced. Violent passions often make men
forget or disregard their own interests. A vindictive spirit might have
been willing to hazard its own safety, for the pleasure of ample
vengeance on the authors of its wrongs.
The Massachusetts government, on the 24th of August, sent by water an
armed force of eighty volunteers, under the command of John Endicott,
Esq. with instructions to “put to death the men of Block-Island, but to
spare the women and children, and to bring them away, and to take
possession of the island; and from thence to go to the Pequods, to
demand the murderers of Captain Stone and other English, some thousand
fathoms of wampum, for damages, and some of their children as hostages,
which, if they should refuse, they were to obtain it by force.”[167]
These stern orders were not strictly executed; yet many Indians were
killed, a large number of wigwams were burnt, at Block-Island and on
Connecticut river, some corn was destroyed, and other damage was done.
The troops returned to Boston, on the 14th of September, without the
loss of a man.
This expedition had little effect, except to exasperate the natives. Mr.
Endicott was the object of many censures for returning, without striking
a severer blow. But his force was small, the winter was approaching, and
prudence, undoubtedly, required his return.
The Pequods became more decidedly hostile. They killed several white
persons, and made strenuous efforts to induce the powerful Narraganset
tribe to forget their mutual animosity, and join with them in a war of
extermination against the English. “There had been,” says Hutchinson,
(vol. i. p. 60) “a fixed, inveterate enmity, between the two tribes; but
on this occasion the Pequods were willing to smother it, their enmity
against the English being the strongest of the two: and although they
had never heard the story of Polypheme and Ulysses, yet they artfully
urged, that the English were come to dispossess them of their country,
and that all the Narragansets could hope for from their friendship, was
the favor of being the last devoured: whereas, if the Indians would
unite, they might easily destroy the English, or force them to leave the
country, without being exposed themselves to any hazard. They need not
come to open battles; firing their houses, killing their cattle, and
lying in wait for them as they went about their ordinary business, would
soon deprive them of all means of subsisting. But the Narragansets
preferred the present pleasure of revenge upon their mortal enemies, to
the future happiness of themselves and their posterity.”
The chief merit of preventing this league, and thus, perhaps, saving the
whites from destruction, is due to Mr. Williams. The magistrates of
Massachusetts solicited his mediation with the Narragansets. They did
not ask it in vain. Mr. Williams instantly undertook the service, and
with much toil, expense and hazard, he succeeded in defeating the
endeavors of the Pequods to win over the Narragansets to a coalition
against the English. Mr. Williams, in his letter to Major Mason, has
incidentally related his agency in this affair. It is due to him, to
quote here his own simple and energetic words:
“Upon letters received from the Governor and Council at Boston,
requesting me to use my utmost and speediest endeavors to break and
hinder the league labored for by the Pequods and Mohegans against the
English, (excusing the not sending of company and supplies by the haste
of the business) the Lord helped me immediately to put my life into my
hand, and, scarce acquainting my wife, to ship myself alone, in a poor
canoe, and to cut through a stormy wind, with great seas, every minute
in hazard of life, to the sachem’s house. Three days and nights my
business forced me to lodge and mix with the bloody Pequod ambassadors,
whose hands and arms, methought, reeked with the blood of my countrymen,
murdered and massacred by them on Connecticut river, and from whom I
could not but nightly look for their bloody knives at my own throat
also. God wondrously preserved me, and helped me to break to pieces the
Pequods’ negotiation and design; and to make and finish, by many travels
and charges, the English league with the Narragansets and Mohegans
against the Pequods.”
In consequence of Mr. Williams’ agency, the Narraganset sachem,
Miantinomo, came to Boston, on the 21st of October, 1636, with two sons
of Canonicus, besides another sachem, and about twenty attendants. He
was received with much parade, and a treaty of perpetual peace and
alliance was concluded, in which it was stipulated, that neither party
should make peace with the Pequods without the consent of the
other.[168] Governor Winthrop mentions a circumstance, which is highly
honorable to Mr. Williams, because it proves the confidence which was
reposed in him, both by the Indians and by the government of
Massachusetts. The treaty was written in the English language, and as it
was found difficult to make the Indians understand the articles
perfectly, “we agreed,” says Winthrop, “to send a copy of them to Mr.
Williams, who could best interpret them to them.” This measure was
probably adopted, at the suggestion of the Indians, who knew that Mr.
Williams was their friend, and would neither himself deceive them, nor
connive at any attempt at deception on the part of others. It is a
proof, also, of the integrity of the Massachusetts rulers, on this
occasion, that they were willing to submit their proceedings to the
scrutiny of a man, whom they knew to be a steadfast advocate of the
rights of the Indians.
The Pequods, though disappointed in their attempts to secure the
alliance of the Narragansets, resolved to maintain the conflict single
handed. They probably thought, that it was better policy to make one
desperate effort to overpower the English, though aided by the
Narragansets, than to wait for the gradual approach of that ruin, which
they had the forecast to apprehend from the multiplication of the
colonists. It was a bold though a hopeless effort. Their undisciplined
bravery and simple weapons were unequal to a contest with the military
skill and the fire-arms of the English.
The following letter from Mr. Williams to Governor Winthrop was written
at some time between August, 1636, and May, 1637.[169]
“_New Providence, this 2d day of the week._
“Sir,
“The latter end of the last week, I gave notice to our neighbor princes
of your intentions and preparations against the common enemy, the
Pequods. At my first coming to them, Canonicus (morosus æque ac barbarus
senex) was very sour, and accused the English and myself for sending the
plague amongst them, and threatening to kill him especially.
“Such tidings (it seems) were lately brought to his ears by some of his
flatterers and our ill-willers. I discerned cause of bestirring myself,
and staid the longer, and at last (through the mercy of the Most High) I
not only sweetened his spirit, but possessed him, that the plague and
other sicknesses were alone in the hand of the one God, who made him and
us, who being displeased with the English for lying, stealing, idleness
and uncleanness, (the natives’ epidemical sins,) smote many thousands of
us ourselves with general and late mortalities.
“Miantinomo kept his barbarous court lately at my house, and with him I
have far better dealing. He takes some pleasure to visit me, and sent me
word of his coming over again some eight days hence.
“They pass not a week without some skirmishes, though hitherto little
loss on either side. They were glad of your preparations, and in much
conference with themselves and others, (fishing, de-industria, for
instructions from them) I gathered these observations, which you may
please (as cause may be) to consider and take notice of:
“1. They conceive, that to do execution to purpose on the Pequods, will
require not two or three days and away, but a riding by it and following
of the work to and again the space of three weeks or a month; that there
be a falling off and a retreat, as if you were departed, and a falling
on again within three or four days, when they are returned again to
their houses securely from their flight.
“2. That if any pinnaces come in ken, they presently prepare for flight,
women and old men and children, to a swamp some three or four miles on
the back of them, a marvellous great and secure swamp, which they called
Ohomowauke, which signifies owl’s nest, and by another name,
Cappacommock, which signifies a refuge, or hiding place, as I conceive.
“3. That, therefore, Niantick (which is Miantinomo’s place of
rendezvous) be thought on for the riding and retiring to of vessel or
vessels, which place is faithful to the Narragansets, and at present
enmity with the Pequods.
“4. They also conceive it easy for the English, that the provisions and
munition first arrive at Aquetneck, called by us Rhode-Island, at the
Narraganset’s mouth, and then a messenger may be despatched hither, and
so to the Bay, for the soldiers to march up by land to the vessels, who
otherwise might spend long time about the Cape, and fill more vessels
than needs.
“5. That the assault would be in the night, when they are commonly more
secure and at home, by which advantage the English, being armed, may
enter the houses and do what execution they please.
“6. That before the assault be given, an ambush be laid behind them,
between them and the swamp, to prevent their flight, &c.
“7. That to that purpose, such guides as shall be best liked of be taken
along to direct, especially two Pequods, viz. Wequash and
Wuttackquiackommin, valiant men, especially the latter, who have lived
these three or four years with the Narragansets, and know every pass and
passage among them, who desire armor to enter their houses.
“8. That it would be pleasing to all natives, that women and children be
spared, &c.
“9. That if there be any more land travel to Connecticut, some course
would also be taken with the Wunnashowatuckoogs, who are confederates
with and a refuge to the Pequods.
“Sir, if any thing be sent to the princes, I find that Canonicus would
gladly accept of a box of eight or ten pounds of sugar, and indeed he
told me he would thank Mr. Governor for a box full.
“Sir, you may please to take notice of a rude view how the Pequods lie:
[Here follows a rude map of the Pequod and Mohegan country.]
“Thus, with my best salutes to your worthy selves and loving friends
with you, and daily cries to the Father of mercies for a merciful issue
to all these enterprises, I rest,
“Your worship’s unfeignedly respective
“ROGER WILLIAMS.
“For his much honored Mr. Governor, and Mr. Winthrop, Deputy Governor,
of the Massachusetts, these.”
The Pequods now prosecuted the war with all the cruelty of savages. They
murdered several individuals, whom they found at work in the fields, or
surprised on the rivers; and some of them they put to death with
barbarous tortures. They attacked the fort at Saybrook, at the mouth of
Connecticut river. They thus spread alarm through the colonies.
Massachusetts, Plymouth and Connecticut immediately agreed to invade the
Indian territory, with their joint forces, and attempt the entire
destruction of the Pequods. Massachusetts accordingly sent 120 men,
under General Stoughton, with Mr. Wilson, of Boston, as their chaplain,
an indispensable attendant of a military expedition in those days. They
marched by the way of Providence, and were hospitably entertained, at
that place, by Mr. Williams. His own account of the transaction may be
properly quoted: “When the English forces marched up to the Narraganset
country, against the Pequods, I gladly entertained at my house, in
Providence, the General Stoughton and his officers, and used my utmost
care, that all his officers and soldiers should be well accommodated
with us.”[170] He accompanied the troops to Narraganset, where, by his
influence, he established a mutual confidence between them and the
Indians. He then returned to Providence, and acted through the war as a
medium of intercourse between the government of Massachusetts, the army
and the Indians.
Major Mason, with seventy-seven men from Connecticut and Massachusetts,
and several hundred Narraganset and other Indians,[171] attacked the
Pequods, in May, 1637, at Mistick fort, near a river of that name, in
the county of New-London, a few miles east of Fort Griswold. In this
fort, five or six hundred Pequods, men, women and children, had taken
refuge, and had fortified it, as well as their skill would permit, with
palisadoes, which offered but a feeble defence, and presented no
obstacle to musketry. They made a desperate resistance, but as they were
armed only with bows, tomahawks and English hatchets, they killed and
wounded but a few of the assailants, while the English troops poured in
a destructive fire, and then rushed into the fort, sword in hand. The
slaughter was dreadful, the warriors falling by the bullet and the
sword, and the old men, women and children perishing in the flames. The
action lasted an hour, and terminated in the burning of the fort, and
the death of all its inmates, except a few prisoners.
A considerable number of the Pequods were soon after killed in a battle
in a great swamp. The tribe was extinguished. Sassacus, the Pequod
sachem, fled to the Mohawks, by whom he was murdered. Such of the
Pequods as were not killed, were either sent to Bermuda, and sold for
slaves, or mingled with the Narragansets and other tribes.[172] Thus the
brave and powerful Pequods disappeared forever, and such was the terror
which this victory spread among the savages, that they refrained from
open hostilities for nearly forty years. A day of thanksgiving was kept
by all the churches in Massachusetts, in commemoration of the victory,
from which their soldiers had returned, without the loss of a man killed
in battle. The account given by Winthrop is characteristic of those
times: “The captains and soldiers who had been in the late service were
feasted, and after the sermon, the magistrates and elders accompanied
them to the door of the house where they dined.” Miantinomo, the
Narraganset sachem, visited Boston, in November, to negotiate with the
government, and acknowledged that all the Pequod country and
Block-Island belonged to Massachusetts, and promised that he would not
meddle with it without their leave.
We have seen the part which Mr. Williams took in this war, and may
ascribe to him no small share in producing its favorable termination.
Some of the leading men in Massachusetts felt, that he deserved some
acknowledgment of gratitude for his services. He says, in his letter to
Major Mason, that Governor Winthrop “and some other of the council
motioned, and it was debated, whether or no I had not merited, not only
to be recalled from banishment, but also to be honored with some mark of
favor. It is known who hindered, [alluding, it is supposed, to Mr.
Dudley] who never promoted the liberty of other men’s consciences.”
His principles, however, were not then viewed with more favor than at
the time of his banishment; and the fear of their contagious influence
overcame the sentiment of gratitude for his magnanimous conduct and
invaluable services during the war. It was not himself, so much as his
doctrines, which his opponents disliked. To those doctrines they were
conscientiously hostile; and they were not the only men who have thought
that they did God service, by stifling the generous emotions of the
heart, in obedience to the stern dictates of a mistaken sense of duty.
The following letter from Mr. Williams may be properly quoted here. It
is supposed to have been written on the 20th of August, 1637. It relates
to the affairs of the Indians, and shows that the division of the Pequod
captives, and other causes, occasioned some distrust and irritation
between the English and the Narragansets. Mr. Williams endeavored to
preserve peace and foster friendship among all parties.
“_New Providence, 20th of the 6th._
“Much honored Sir,
“Yours by Yotaash (Miantinomo’s brother) received. I accompanied him to
the Narragansets, and having got Canonicus and Miantinomo, with their
council, together, I acquainted them faithfully with the contents of
your letter, both grievances and threatenings; and to demonstrate, I
produced the copy of the league, (which Mr. Vane sent me) and with
breaking of a straw in two or three places, I showed them what they had
done.
“In sum their answer was, that they thought they should prove themselves
honest and faithful, when Mr. Governor understood their answers; and
that (although they would not contend with their friends,) yet they
could relate many particulars, wherein the English had broken (since
these wars) their promises, &c.
“First, then, concerning the Pequod squaws, Canonicus answered, that he
never saw any, but heard of some that came into these parts, and he bade
carry them back to Mr. Governor; but since he never heard of them till I
came, and now he would have the country searched for them. Miantinomo
answered, that he never heard of but six, and four he saw which were
brought to him, at which he was angry, and asked why they did not carry
them to me, that I might convey them home again. Then he bid the natives
that brought them to carry them to me, who, departing, brought him word
that the squaws were lame, and they could not travel. Whereupon, he sent
me word that I should send for them. This I must acknowledge, that this
message I received from him, and sent him word that we were but few
here, and could not fetch them nor convey them, and therefore desired
him to send men with them, and to seek out the rest. Then, saith he, we
were busy ten or twelve days together, as indeed they were, in a strange
kind of solemnity, wherein the sachems ate nothing but at night, and all
the natives round about the country were feasted. In which time, saith
he, I wished some to look to them, which, notwithstanding, at this time,
they escaped; and now he would employ men instantly to search all places
for them, and within two or three days to convey them home. Besides, he
professed that he desired them not, and was sorry the Governor should
think he did. I objected, that he sent to beg one. He answered, that
Sassamun, being sent by the Governor with letters to Pequod, fell lame,
and, lying at his house, told him of a squaw he saw, which was a
sachem’s daughter, who, while he lived, was his (Miantinomo’s) great
friend. He therefore desired, in kindness to his dead friend, to beg
her, or redeem her.
“Concerning his departure from the English, and leaving them without
guides, he answered, first, that they had been faithful, many hundreds
of them, (though they were solicited to the contrary;) that they stuck
to the English in life or death, without which they were persuaded that
Uncas and the Mohegans had proved false, (as he fears they will yet) as
also that they never had found a Pequod; and therefore, saith he, sure
there was some cause. I desired to know it. He replied in these words,
Chenock eiuse wetompatimucks? that is, did ever friends deal so with
friends? I urging wherein, he told me this tale: that his brother,
Yotaash, had seized upon Puttaquppuunch, Quame, and twenty Pequods, and
threescore squaws; they killed three and bound the rest, watching them
all night, and sending for the English, delivered them to them in the
morning. Miantinomo (who, according to promise, came by land with two
hundred men, killing ten Pequods in their march,) was desirous to see
the great sachem whom his brother had taken, being now in the English
houses; but, saith he, I was thrust at with a pike many times, that I
durst not come near the door. I objected, he was not known. He and
others affirmed he was, and asked if they should have dealt so with Mr.
Governor. I still denied that he was known, &c. Upon this, he saith, all
my company were disheartened, and they all, and Cutshamoquene, desired
to be gone; and yet, saith he, two of my men (Wagonckwhut and Maunamoh)
were their guides to Sesquankit from the river’s mouth.
“Sir, I dare not stir coals, but I saw them too much disregarded by
many, which their ignorance imputed to all, and thence came the
misprision, and blessed be the Lord things were no worse.
“I objected, they received Pequods and wampum without Mr. Governor’s
consent. Canonicus replied, that although he and Miantinomo had paid
many hundred fathom of wampum to their soldiers, as Mr. Governor did,
yet he had not received one yard of beads nor a Pequod. Nor, saith
Miantinomo, did I, but one small present from four women of Long-Island,
which were no Pequods, but of that isle, being afraid, desired to put
themselves under my protection.
“By the next I shall add something more of consequence, and which must
cause our loving friends of Connecticut to be very watchful, as also, if
you please, their grievances, which I have labored already to answer, to
preserve the English name; but now end abruptly, with best salutes and
earnest prayers for your peace with the God of peace and all men. So
praying, I rest,
“Your worship’s unfeigned
“ROGER WILLIAMS.
“All loving respects to Mrs. Winthrop and yours, as also to Mr. Deputy,
Mr. Bellingham, theirs, and Mr. Wilson, &c.
“For his much honored Mr. Governor, these.”