The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-06-17

was deemed so hazardous, as to attract the
special attention of the General Assembly.
At an early period Of the war, a garrison
waskept up in this town at the public expense.
1t was so constructed and guarded, as to af-
ford protection, in an ordinary assault, to
such inhabitants as might flee to it for safety.
But the danger became 50 imminent as to in
ducc the Legislature, at the October ses-
sion, 1895, to pass an order directing the
inhabitants to provide places of security for
themselves and crops, ocittin one eceek, and, at
the expiration of that time, that the garrison
be evacuated.f
Upon the PRONUNCIATION of this order, the
inhabitants removed to Windsor or Hartford
carrying with them such of their effects as
could be transported. But the contemplated
attack did not take place that fall, and during
the succeeding winter, the people, deeming
the danger over, removed back to their form
or habitations. The danger, however, had
not passed away; in the spring, it assumed
more threatening aspect than ever.
There is no record evidence Of any act Of
hostility bcrpctrated by the Indians against
the English in this Colony, during the winter
of 1876, excepting that in February, one
William Hill was shot and severely wounded
by an Indian at Hockanum. Before the close
of the season, however, there were such evil
dcnces of a design to attack the settlements,
especially those of the weaker classes, as to
induce the Council of War to adopt the most
vigorous measuresin defence of the planta-
tons. A force of four hundred and fifteen
men was raised in the Colony, and all the
larger towns were ordered to complete their
stockades, and line them with bitches and
breastworks. The former orders ofthe Coun-
Gil, in reference to the peoples working in
companies in the fields, and those relating to
the keeping of watches, and wards, were re-
issued and directed TO be obeycd, and the
shooting off of guns, by which a false alarm
might be given, was prohibited under severe
penalties. IT was also ordered, that all the
male inhabitants of the several plantations,
capable of bearing arms, should carry their
arms and ammunition, with them to all public
meetings, at times Of worship as well as at all
other times This is believed to have been
the origin of the custom Of attending meet
ings with fire arms, which is well known to
have prevailed extensively, if not universally
during many years after this period.
Under date Of March 3, 1876, is this re-
cord
"Thc insolvency of the heather, and their
rage increasing against the English, and the
spoye that they have made in sundry places
hath moved us to order that t0rtCM the peo-
pie Of Smsbury doe remove themselves, and
what estate they can remove, to some Of the
ncighboring plantations, for their safety and
security"
In obedience to this order, every white r"r-
son uae rn,,4o,-oJ Il ON Tie town with all pos
sible dispatch and the Indians of the place,
most of whom had cspouscd the cause of the
English, or at least had remained passive,
were compelled to remove or secrete them
selves in the forests. The whites returned
to Windsor, or Hartford, taking with them
their herds Of cattle, and but little else of con-
sequence; for, as there were at that time no
bridges, and nothing but narrow pathways Tor
roads, articles of personal estate, generally,
could not be transported without much diff
Guilty, and consequent delay. The friendly
Indians who removed, it is believed went
westwardly, and settled down upon the Hou-
satonuc river, within the limits Of the present
township of Salisbury, where they built a
village which they called lVeata,ge, after the
village of that name in Simsbury which they
! had left, and where they and their descendants
resided many years thereafter.
The settlement, thus abandoned, became
an easy prey to the 1avagcs of the enemy
Hordes of Indians, under the command, as is
supposed of Philip himself poured in from the
north, and after general pillage, destroyed
By fire nearly every building in the torn, as well
as every thing else left by the English, which
could be found, and which the invaders could
not appropriate to their own use. The ruin
was omplete-nothing but utter desolation
remained. During all the Iudian wars, be-
fore and since this event, no destruction of
any English settlement in New England has
taken place in which the ruin, it IS believed,
was more extensive, or more general, than in
this conAagraton.
This event took place on Sunday, the TWEEN
ty-sixth of March 1G7G-thc pillaging in the
day time, and the burning of the settlement
in the succeeding night. Philip, it is said by
tradition, seated upon q neighboring noun
tain, which has ever since borne his name,
viewed the scene, and enjoyed from its con-
temptation those emotions of pleasure which,
it is supposed, are peculiarly agreeable to all
ofhis race, when placed under similar circum-
stances. His deep rooted hatred of the En-
glsh-thc cause in which he was engaged, in
volvng his own existence, and probably that
of his nation, if not of his whole race-and his
Indian habits and cducation-all tended to
make this scene peculiarly pleasant to his
sight But, if he turned his eyes, as he prob
ably did, in another direction, he might view
settlements, on the banks Of the Connecticut,
so strongly fortified and manned, as to defy
his power, and put an end to his hopes ofcon-
quest At any rate, he withdrew his forces,
and in the month Of July following was him
self taken and slain.' But the war continued
some months after his deccase.
On the following day, the Council of War
fThe following is copy of the record. Its mel
ancholy tone is indicative Of the dependency which
so generally prevailed at that time.
/ "This Court from deep sense Of the imminent
danger of all our plantations are in, by the naked
ness that each and every paccdo order and appoint
every plantation, (as a means under God for their
safey) to make such suitable places of defence rs
they are capable Of and appoint such places for
their women and children. and others That are not