The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-10-19
From the NJ Y, Comm ercial Advertiser.
HISTORICAL EXCURSION.

Vending our way from the broom-corn plains Of
Deereld five miles yet farther North, the next OBJ
ect attracting the attention "Sugar Loaf Noun
tain forming the Southern spur of elevated range
of hills, some ten miles in extent, rising up most I'M
expectedy in the midst of what seems yet to be the
broad aluvial flats of the Connecticut. 1t is, how
ever not exactly so-ths mountain ridge forming, in
fact barrier between the Connecticut and the Po-
cumtuck, Deerfeld, rivers the latter, after de-
scending with the madness of wildcat from among
the Green Mountains of Vermont and cutting its
way through the Western rampant of the Connecti-
cut Valley turns its from East to North,
and winds its way azily through broad and beaui-
full valley of its own until il again chooses to bend to
the East and fall into the embrace of the larger
stream-cutting off the aforesaid Sugar Loaf Noun
tain range from the fine old rural town of Greenfield
II is in this valley of the Deereld river that the town
bearing the same name is situated. And on the
whole il is about the sweetest spot that my eye has
ever rested upon in New England
But | am getting ahead of myself The drive from
Hatfield, over the wide and charming aluvial fields
of the Connecticut toward the close of the day,
very beautiful. Although it was now the middle of
September, the general moisture of the season had
been such as to preserve to the meadows, and the
shrubbery bounding the river and the gravey-bottom-
ed rills from the hills, and the richly wooded hills
themselves the fresh verdure of June. For several
miles the fields and farms not divided Oft by sepa
rate enclosures, but are cultivated with common
understanding as to the times and seasons in which
cattle may be turned in to crop the rich heritage and
roam at pleasure.
The parish of South Deerfed is situated just at the
entrance of the Pocumtuck, or Deerfed valley, at
the Northeastern base of the Sugar-Loaf Mountain,
the of which, composed of red sandstone, rises
to the height of six hundred and fifty feet cutting
off the prospect toward the East. The inconsi-
derable stream called Bloody Brook flows sluggishly
through the village, escaping to the river around
the Southern base Of the Sugar Loaf 1t was here
that the cruel massacre of Captain Lathrop and
ninety colonists, by the Indians, took place on the
18th of September, 1915 And it was here under a
tree near the roadside, that EDWARD EVERETT, now
the accomplished American Minis er at the Court of
ST. James, pronounced his celebrated address at the
celebration Of the hundred and sixtieth annver-
sary Of that bloody transaction in the year 1885 Of
all the brilliant oratorical efforts of Mr. Everett the
discourse pronounced on that occasion has been re.
garded as the most successful and beautiful. The
victims of that awful tragedy taken by surprise
Captain Lathrop and his command of eighty men
had been with party of teamsers TO the Pocumtuck
flats, to bring the wheat recently harvested and
stacked in the fields by the people of Deerfed, who
Immediately aerward had been driven by the Indians
down to Hatfield, where was small garrison. Arri-
wing at the brook which that day baptized with
blood, in the middle of bright afternoon, they stop
ped to refresh. The forest trees covered with
grape vines to their tops and the vines loaded
with clusters of ripenng grapes, large and rich to
behold The temptation too great for resistance.
Not dreaming that the savage foe was even at the
moment lurking within bow shot to take advantage
of the least incaution, soldiers and teamters alike
dropped their weapons, and sprang upon the trees to
pluck the luscious fruit. In moment the wild war
whoop rang through the forest, followed by heavy
rattle of musketry which brought many of the party
at the first fire dead or wounded to the earth The
scene that followed was appalling:
Instant through copse and hill arose
Plumes and spears and Bonded bows
On right and left, above, below,
Sprang up, at once, the lurking foe.
From shingles gray their lances start
The bracken bush sent forth the dart
The rushes, and the wiow.wand
Bristled with tomabawk and brand
And every tuft of broom gave life
To painted warrior, armed for strife"
But though ambuscaded and surprised by force
so vastly superior in numbers, and taken at such dis
advantage Lathrop's men were not defeated without
a struggle fierce, -hand to hand. Ninety of the
colonists, including fourteen Of the teamsers, were
killed only seven or eight escaped-all the wounded
being massacred by the Indians the termination of
the unequal contest. Before the sayages had quite
completed their bucheries, however, the fortunes of
the day were changed by the timely arrival of Cap
tain Moseley from Hadley, who hearing the firing,
marched his forces from the garrison with all posi-
BILE celebrity to the field Of action. The Indians 10
turn surprised while stripping the slain, and
deadly and well directed fire caused suspension OF
that part of their work. Moseley was in a few mi
nutes aferward reinforced b, Major Treat from Con-
necticut with body Of one hundred men, including
number Of Pequod and Mohegan Indians, who had
arrived at the adjacent town of Mortified on the
morning of that day, and who had also been attracted
to the field of blood by the firing. Before these
bned forces the Indians were compelled TO fee Ieav
ing nnety-six of their warriors dead. The story Of
this tragedy has gathered interest in the neghbor-
hood with the lapse Of years. About forty years af
ter the event, rude monumental slab was erected to
the memory of Lathrop and his fellow-victims but
III fha 81 - /.