New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-10-01
Historical "reminiscences.
Cntllre of Anna won.

The death Of Philip, the Wampanoag
chief, virtually ended the long and
bloody war which he had waged a..
gainst the colonists Of New England,
although a few of the chiefs whom he
had drawn into the conspiracy, still
kept up hostilities. Annawon, one Of
his principal chiefs, with band of
warriors, still ranged the woods, oc.
casionally making predatory excur-.
sions, alarming the inhabitants and
Keeping them in q; state of constant
fear and excitement. Having settled,
or taken up his quarters; in the neigh
horhood OF Swanzey, the residents of
that nelghbOrhoOd sent for the cele-
brated Capt. Church to come and CAP
ture them. With limited number
OF troops, the brave soldier immedi-
ately undertook the task. Having
reached the neighborhood ION the 28th
OF August, 1850 and captured a small
party of warriors, one of them, whose
life was spared, offered to lead the
captain to Annawon's retreat. He led
the party through swalnps and thick
cts, until about shutdown, when he or.
dered a stop, and informed Church
that about this time the chieftain sent
out scouts to see it there were any in
dications of approaching danger, and
consequently it would not be safe to
move until it began to grow dark. The
party. ther efOre, kept close until the
shades of night should protect their
advance, and then, under direction of
their pilot, crept forward, feeling
q 90 II
not to make any noise which might.
alarm the enemy. The sound of pounds
ing corn in a mortar at ]enght warned
them that they were approaching the
vicinity of Annawon's quarters. Craw.
ling forward on his hands and knees
to reconnoitre, Church reached the
brow of a preciptous rock, which rose
abruptly about thirty feet, at the foot
of which he discovered, by the light
of their fires an encampment of a
party of Indians. Two other parties
were encamped at 4 short distance
from each other, as Church discovered
by the fires which were seen scattered
about on the edge of the swamp, which
extended in front on either side of the
rock. Against this rock tree had
been felled, and branches piled up a.
gainst it, forming a very comfortable
arbor, or wigwam. This. Church was
Informed, was AnnaWon's quarters.
and here he dwelt, with his son and
several of his principal men,. Near,
this hut were discovered their guns,
which were piled up against a stick
which rested in the clothes of other
sticks driven into the ground. and
were. protected from the weather by
mat which had been thrown over them.
Several Indians were scattered about:
meat was cooking on splits before their
fires; and a sqlaW was busily engaged
in pounding corn. which afterwards
served for supper for the captors.
The captive Indian informed Church
that there was no other way Of ap-
preaching than by climbing down. the
face Of the rock IN full view of the
camp; that he, and all others were or.
dered to come that way, and none
were allowed to approach from any
other direction without danger Of be-
ing shot. The captain was forced,
therefore, to adopt a stratagem to
reach the pile of guns without being
discovered. He ordered the captive
indian and squaw to go forward with
baskets on their shoulders, to mislead
Annawon, while he and his men crept
down under their shadows. This ruse.
was perfectly successful. Anna won,
seeing the Indians, returning as he
supposed from their scout. took no
notice OF. them, while the English fol.
lowed close in their footsteps, lower.
ing themselves from crag to crag by
the aid of the branches oftrees which
grew in the creyices. The noise made:
by the squaw in pounding corn facili-
tated their advance, and when she
ceased pounding, to turn the corn, they
ceased to proceed until she. recon-.
menced pounding. In this way they
crept stealthily down, Church keeping
directly behind the two Indians until
he had nearly reached the mnskets.
Young AnnaWon was reclining on the
ground between him and the stack.
and it was necessary to pass over him
to reach it. As Church sprang for
ward, the lad, discovering him, whipt
his blanket over his head, and shrunk
into a heap. exclaiming Z. O,ca1,7sasz!i''
(Engli shmen). The active captain:
stepped over his PROSTATE body and
seized the muskets, while Annawon,
5springing on his hannch les, and discoy..
.ering Church, exclaimed s. owoh!!' Sc
ssignifying 81 am taken. s There was
no possibility sc escape, and supposing
the English to be moro numerous than
they really were, he reseated himself
in silence, and before he was unde-...
5ceiyed, his whole party were prison