Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-12-18
Miscellanu.
From Halls Geography and History of Vermont
Sufferings Occasioncd by the Indians.

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During the wars of Great Britain and
France, the Indians who lived in Cana
da, and some others, were employed by
these nations to assist in carrying on
their wars. While Canada was owned
by the French, that nation was FREQUENT.
ly engaged in wars with the colonies, and
Indians were employed by them for the
same purposes. During these wars, set
Elements were forming in Vermont, and
1t was often the case, when only few
families had commenced in a new town.
that they were exposed to all the wiles of
lndian warfare. The Indians were well
acquainted with the woods, and would
lrk around to obtain a favorable oppor-
tunity either for killing the cattle or for
plundering houses and taking prisoners.
The following stories will illustrate their
manner OF warfare, and the sufferings
they occasioned.
Vernon, in the southeast corner of
the state, was settled before the middle
of the last century. A fort was built,
called Bridgeman's fort, to defend the
inhabitants from the Indians. In 1885,
a party of Indians came and made an
attack on the people outside the fort
Mr. Caleb Howe, Hilkiah Grout. and
Benjamin Garfield, had been hoeing corn
in the meadow, and were returning about
sunset to the fort, where their wives We're
The Indians fired on them, and killed
Howe, who was riding with two sons be
hind him. After scalping him they took
his two sons prisoners. Mr.. Grout es-
capped unhurt. Mr.. Garfield was drown
ed in attempting to ford the river. The
Indians then proceeded to the fort. The
women within had heard the guns, and
were much terrified. Hearing the In
dians at the gate, they supposed their
husbands had come, and joyfully open
ed it, when the Indians rushed in and
took them all prisoners. Nothing was
now before them but miserable captiv-
ity or immediate death. The former was
their lot. Mrs. Garfield had one child,
Mrs. Grout three, and Mrs Howe seven /;
the oldest eleven years, the youngest six
months The Indians set fire to the fort,
and started with the women and the
children for Canada. During eight
days, the Indians obliged these women
and children to travel through the forest
to Lake Champlain. Children four or
FIVE years old travelled all this distance
on foot, without any suitable food. They
were carried afterwards from one place
to another, and their sufferings from hun
ger were inconceivable. Mrs. Howe's
babe was taken from her the next win.
ter, and her children separated from her
and from each other. All the anguish
of mothers heart was borne by her, in
addition to want of comfortable shelter
food, and clothing for herself. After
much suffering, most of the prisoners
were ransomed and returned.
Settlements were commenced at Peach
am, Just before the Revolutionary War
Soldiers were stationed there for con
siderable time. On the morning of thu
Sth of March, 1871, after the soldier
had left the forts and block-houses tina
had been built, the enemy came ant
took several prisoners. Jonathan FL
kins was carried to Canada, and witt
one hundred and fifty others sent to Eng
land and confined in mill Prison,
where they remained till exchanged TO
Cornwallis's troops in 1882. A numbe
of others were taken from Peacham
some of whom were killed and scalped
and some we're carried to Canada an,
imprisoned.
Royalton was settled in I'LL. In 177t
party of three hundred, mostly lr
dians, attacked this infant settlement
They commenced their work of plunde
and destruction at the house of Mr.. job
Hutchinson, who lived near the preser
line of Tunbridge. After taking hir
and his brother prisoners, they went
the house of Mr.. Robert Havens, an
killed Thomas Pember and Elias Blu
ton. They then attacked the house
Mr.. Joseph Kneeland. and took hi
) with three others prisoners; then WEI
to Mr.. Curtis's, taking him and two otl
ers. After they came to the river, sma
parties were sent out in different dire
tions to plunder, burn houses, and tax
prisoners. During the day, they kille
E one hundred and fifty cattle, all the ho'
and sheep they found, burned twent
houses and as many barns, took twent
. five prisoners, and killed two persons
r They then hastened off with their boot
In some instances the Indians we
more desirous of plumber than of an
: thing else. Men sometimes fled into t
woods when they approached, while t
women stayed in the house. They Wis