Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-07-02


from Boston They had been despatched for the
defence of the towns on the Connecticut, and the
orders given to Captain Turner, by the governor
were to destroy the power of the Indians in that
neghborhood-to ascertain, and If possible, TO
break up the headquarters Of Philip. Ii was pc
riod Of sore trouble to the colony when no man
went abroad into his field without his rifle, pouch
and horn and when no family lay down at night
without the anticipation Of being reused by the yell
of the savage. 1t was therefore with no small Joy
that the inhabitants Of these towns a force so
numerous aud well armed sent to their protection;
and the village where they had Just entered their
coming a source Of inexpressible relief Two
days before large body Of Indians had swept into
/ the town, and carried off several women who had
not been able from the suddenness of the attack
to quit their ayocatiCns, and seek shelter in the
strong-house or fort, which was then always found
| in the frontier towns. Among the persons thus
captured, was the only daughter Of Mr. Atherton
the clergyman of the village. The distracted pa
rent had now been awaiting the arrival of these
troops-which were known TO be on the march
for lortyeight hours until his heart grew sick with
with hope deferred he assembled his parishoners
and besought them to follow him the track of
the natives Those who had lost sister, wife or
child, were eager 10 set out but the rest, though
kind and ready, knew too well that the rescue could
never be effected by so small band that which
wished it but they entreated him to wait few
hours longer.
! Their deliberations were interrupted by the Joy.
| lul news that the troops were approaching and MIR
Athertou hastened to receive the officer and COM
municated with him as TO their march.
| The officer, Captain Turner, it appeared had
been very ILL., and when he left Boston scarcely
able TO mount his horse. The journey, however,
had recruited him, and he declared himself ready TO
| ma tn tha falls diglancn nf ahnnt v
miles-as soon as the troops had taken some re-
! freshment. Mr. Atherton aud several Of his people
resolved to accompany the expedition They had
little doubt of the present safety of their kindred
who had been carried off by some Of Philips men,
for he could have nothing to gain by their desruc-
ton, which must be followed by the severe ven-
geance ofthe English. 1t was therefore confidently
hoped that il they could surprise the enemy during
the night, the Of the captives and their res
toration to their homes would be effected
/ The whole Of that fine valley that now stretches
| from Northampton TO the boundary OF Vermont
filled with sweeping meadows, that run TO the foot
of the numerous ridges which branch out in all d.
rections from the Green Mountans-was then a
vast wilderness. On the western side Of the Con-
necticut two streams crept out from the mountains
and flowed sluggishly through great swamp which
then spread the beautiful plains where the vii
lagos Of Deerfed and Greenfield now stand, The
I little army, now on its march for the Great Falls,
reached one Of these streams, near the seat now
called Meadow Banks, hour after the evening
had set ill., The first step 1.-THE horses Of those in
the advance, as they FLASHED across the shallow
stream, reused small party Of Indians who were
then lying few rods below. Or Of their number
who went out to reconnotre, returned with the re.
port that the noise was occasioned by the moose
crossing the stream and thus the whole party Of
the English crossed without further discovery
They then pushed on through the woods, and reach
ed the foot Of the high ridge which separates the
view of the Great Fall from the country on the
western side OF the river, about an hour before the
dawn of day. Here they dismounted and secured
their tired horses to the branches of trees and bush
es; and having prepared there fre-locks and ammu-
nition were summoned by the officer to prayer
/ The light Of the moon, as IT struggled down the
trees, gave fine effect to the scene. Above, rose
the huge pines, through whose fine foliage the
breeze whispered constant and plalntive sigh
and the deep voice Of the fall, in its unbroken and
uniform roar came rising over the hill, and seemed
to take up their duplication, and bear il floating
over meadow, rock and wood. The voice Of man
chmed in strange and fearful harmony with those
voices of nature, and as the various sounds min
gled, clear and distinct in the cold air of the NOR.
ming il seemed to the worshippers as if the power
of the elements had united in their design.
The party then crossed over the steep ridge, and
! formed around the narrow meadow, where the In
! an camp lay before them. A woman, the only per
son stirring in the camp, discovered the English
men lurking among the trees and shouted TO arous'
the warriors who lay around and in their tents
But they did not hear her cry for, at the same in
$ slant, and drowning every other sound, volley o.
musketry brought the savages upon their feet, an6
I echoed with deaienng roar up and down the val
ley OF the river. From out the little wood two hun
dred white men poured down the meadow, and sur
= rounded the camp in a semiciTcle each end o
t which rested on the stream and left to the INDIAN
: no escape but by means Of their canoes. Terrified
: without their arms, impeded by the women an'
b children who chung 10 them, they rushed into thei
e boats and launched them upon the river, where the
It were exposed, without paddles, TO the fire of III,
whites For while they struggled against tn
d stream with pieces Of bark torn from the sides O
is the Canoes but the sure steady heavy current Dor
IS them slowly on to their fate and when they saw
e was inevitable, they sent up long piercing shrek
d and then sunk down in suen despair, to await tn
d awful plunge of the cataract down which they wer
lie hurryng As each little vessel approached III
e brink il seemed to pause for a second if to Civ
is its wretched passengers last farewell OF the beat
N lu world which they were thus quitting, throug
h the agency of its most beautiful objects A sing
f. ray Of the Just rising sun shot through guey,
g the eastern bank of the river and glanced acros
at upon the edge Of the fall aud each canoe pas
lie ed swiftly out Of the shade the still forms Of II
D. sayages flashed out for instant into bright re'
n against the dark torrent beneath them, aud wei
Ut then plunged into the boiling depths TO be cast ~
T. mangled and bleeding, ,upon the rocks below,
ne was fearful sght-this destruction Of human If
to by the roaring element which still poured on, VI
conscious of what il had done and those torn al
y, mutilated lImbs they came whirling out OF Il
en- agitated waters. with here aud there trunk
d. which little life remained, crawling up the rocl