The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-06-19

made attacks upon the Indians Of Long
sland who were under the protection If
the English. This together with the
conspiracy which Ninigrate the Nara
ganset Sochem was supposed to be in
with the Dutch governor, the commits
sioners Of the English colonies (all but
Mr.. Brads,reet) thought to be II sufficient
ground for making war against the Indi-
ans, and came 40 a resolution in 1888
that $50 men should be forthwith raised
in the several colonies, but the Massa-
chusets general refused TO raise their
quota. The hostilities between the In
dians continuing until 1854. and many
upland Indians, as they were called. viz.
Wampanoags, Pocanoticks, &c. being
collectsd together, the commissioners
sent messenger to NIningate, who soon
returned with the following answer, and
which is here inserted to shew the au-
thority the English assumed at that time
over the Indians, and the sense they still
retained Of their independency.
Jonathan Gilbert returned 18th SPIT,
+" 1854, and brought Niningrate' sanswer
"in the words following: Having ac-
"quainted him that the commissioners
4" were met at Hartford and that they
I" had pe,used the letter sent to the gov
" enor ofthe Massachusetts, he nswereda
"he knew nothing of any such letter &
" made strange of it.
"Concerning his invading the Long
"lslanpers he answered, Wherefore
+" should he acquaint the commissioners
"when as the Long-Islanders began
"with him and had slain a Sachem's
"son and sixty others of his men, and
wherefore he will not make peace with
"the Long-Islanders, but doth desire
"that the English will let him alone,
"and that the commissioners would not
"reqnest him to 60 TO Hartford for he
/" hath done no hurt. What should he
"do there' Ifyour governors son was
{" slain and several other men, would you
/" ask counsel Of another nation how and
" when to right yourselves =! and added
" that he would neither 20 nor send to
I" Hartford.
"Concerning the upland Indians his
=" answer was, That they were his friends
" and came to help him against the
" long Islanders, which had killed sew
Z" eral Of his men. Wherefore should
I" he acquaint the commissioners with
cit, he did but right his own quarrel
(which the Lorg-Islanders began with
him.
Upon the receipt Of this answer the
commissioners agreed TO raise forthwith
27O foot and 40 horse out of the several
colonies and gave commission to Ma
jor Simon Willard to command them,
with instructions "to take as MANY of
said forces as should be at the place of
rendezvous by the 18th of October and
to march with them to Niningrate and to
require his compliance with the demands
made upon him. and if he refused, to
compel him to it, and if it should be ne
cessary to send Immediately for the re-
mainder of the forces and n greater
number If necessary" Willard marched
with his men into the Naragansct coun.
riy. Ninlngrate with his men had secur-
ed themselves in a swamp where it was
not thought advisable to attack them,
and the forces returned with no other
success than the bringing off a number
of the Pequods who had been left with
the Naragansets by the English ever
since the Pequod war upon the promise
of an annual payment for each head.
The commander made it part of his
excuse that the instructions to him were
equivocal. But the commissioners were
offended at this proceeding and charged
him with neglecting an opportunity of
humbling the pride Of Niningratc, which
since the return ofthe forces was great.
ly increased, and left him to consider
what satisfaction was to be expected
from him and those Of his council who