The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-12-31
THE BATTLE IN
GREAT SWAMP
Interesting Paper Read Before
Society Of Colonial Wars.
FOR THE S0cIETYS FLAG
Design Submitted BY Amory Austin and
Well Received BY Eemhers Election
Of Officers.
FOR THE socIETrS FLAG

The ffth annual court OF the Society
OF Colonial Wars In the state OF Rhode
Island and Providence Plantations was
held at the Eolise last evening. and
proved one or the pleasantest and most
successful events OF the kind since the
sdeiety was introduced into this state.
At the business meeting which opened
the exercises OF the evening the follow
ing officers were elected: Governor, r.
Hammett Tilley. Newport; deputy gov
ernor, Wilfred Harold Munro. .Provi-
denee; lieutenant governor. Rowland Glib
son Hazard, Peace Dale: secretary,
Henry Brayton Rose, Providence; treas
urer, William Conrad Rhodes. Provi-
dence; registrar, r. Hammett Tilley,
Newport; historian. John Austin Stew
ems, Newport; chancellor. Hamilton
Bullock Tompkins. Newport; chap
lain, Rev. Roswell. Randall Hoes,
United States navy; surgeon, DIR.
George II. Kenyon, Providence; gem
temen OF the council (for the term which
expires Dec. 80. 1906 Valentine Mott Fran
els, Newport Theodore p. Bogert, Provi-
dence, Emory Poole Russell. Providence.
Following the election the annual ban
quet was served and at its close Chan
cellor Hamilton Bullock Tompkins read
a paper entitled THE Great Swamp
Fight" The paper was a most interest
ing one on this great Indian battle In
the history of Rhode Island and declared
by the historian, John Fiske. 10 be the
most bloody and disastrous TO the forces
and in the numbers engaged on each
side, and most important i'm It's events, of
all the single incidents In King Philips
War
Mr.. Tompkins spoke on the raising of
the force OF volunteers by Massachusetts.
Connecticut and Plymouth, and OF the
arrival OF the force at Mr.. Smiths at
Wexford, following the taking OF Peter,
the Indian. who showed the paths of the
Indians. and without whose aid the vic
tory could not have been gained, as no
Englishman knew the location of the fort.
$500 INDIANS.
The force marched at In the morn
ing OF Dec. 10. and reached the fort, Is
miles away at l o'clock. The fort was
on solid piece of upland. encompassed
by swamp. and In IL were gathered
about $500 Indians.
On the inner side OF this natural de-
fence they had driven rows OF palisades,
encircled about with hedge nearly
rod in thickness. The only entrance TO
the enclosure was by a fallen tree or
log, four or five feet thick from the
ground, this bridge being protected by
a block house close to 1t.
The assault by the English iInme-
diately following their long march was
described by Mr.. Tompkins, who gave a
vivid description of the life and death
struggle that ragged for nearly three
A.
result yet in doubt until an entrance vas
effected in the rear by the reserve guard
OF the Connecticut troops. The Indians,
who were all engaged at the first point
of attack. were surprised and confused
by heavy fire behind them. The wig
vans filled with food sufficient TO last
the army until spring, were set on fire,
against the earnest entreaty of Captain
Church, who realized the condition of the
attacking force and the necessity OF shell
ter for the wounded men and food for the
troops, who had none.
More than a thousand of the Indians
perished and the loss OF the English
was more than 200 in this sangulnary
encounter. large part of these might
have been saved IL the advice Of Church
had been followed. When night fell
there was no shelter for either side and
no provisions. The Indians escaped to
an open cedar swamp in the neighbor-
hood. where many perished for want OF
food and covering
RETRACED STEPS.
The fate OF the English was no better.
After having marched for Is miles and
spent the day in a desperate fight they
had now to retrace their steps in the
dark, through a dense forest with a
deep snow beneath their feet and De-
cember storm bowling about their heads.
They did not reach the camping ground
until o'clock. The cold was severe
and many died on the way. Had IL not
been for the arrival at Wexford OF Capt.
Andrew Belcher with a vessel laden with
provisions from Boston for the army,
the English must have perished from
want. The fight broke the power OF the
Narragansetts forever and presented a
general massacre of the English in New
England by the Indians.
The Narragansetts never again became
formidable as a race or offered any or
ganized resistance TO the colonists.
The next paper was one by Mr.. Amory
Austin. his subject being "A Design for
the Society's Flag" The design il
simple one-a white nag bearing the red
cross OF st. George and having I'm its up
per quarter next the stan the coat OF
arms now borne on the seal OF the So
ciety. the escutcheon being surmounted
by the imperial crown Of Great Britain.
Mr.. Austin recommended that the So
cety procure four flags. the national
Tag. a fac-simile Of the flag OF the gen
eral society the flag to be adopted by
this society and the historic Kings
Colors" Lfr. Arthur W. Dennis an
nounced after the reading Of this paper
that he would present the society a flag
to be made I'm accordance with the idea
OF Mr.. Austin.
Addresses were also made by former
Gov. Hunter g. White. Arthur w Den
mis- Walter ~. Small. superintendent or
schools Byron Richards of Fall River.
Mr.. Greene, Henry V. A. Joslin. presl-
dent OF the society of Sons Of the Amer
lean Revolution. Gov. Charles Dean
Kimball and Prof Emory =. Russell