The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-06-06
"REMINISCENCES OF 1875.
King Philip and the Great Swamp Fight.
Written for The Anderson luteigercer by j. f. Breazoae

AtoAIBehcSi ny ID II. DfeaZcal6.
| filled with flying snow. 0a account
of the darkness and storm they could
not cross the river, but were compell-
ed to bivouac on the bleak plain on
the east. side through this terrible
December. night without either food
or shelter. Many had their hands
| and feet 80 badly frozen that they
| could not continue the march. Three
feet Of snow fell duiing the night
and vaen morning dawned the storm
eeamed to increase in fury.
Early on the morning Of the 18th,
unrefreshed by either supper or
breakfast, the army crossed the river
on the ice and set on ten mile march
toward the Great Swamp. Passing
! over the hill, the present site of the
village Of Kingston, they halted for
short rest, thus giving the village its
old name Little Rest" Arriving at
the border of the morass about one
O'Clock they were guided by friendly
Indian to narrow foot path which
! led up to the island. The Indians
were lying in ambush and opened fire
upon them as they entered the vamp,
but toe English returned the ere With
euoh vie"s that they forced the In.
dams b. & until they came to the
| fort. ....... -, .,-..'. ..,>1 n ...
This indeed presented formidable
appearance. Inside an area of about
three acres 5000 Narraganaetts were
strongly intrenohed. They had erect
ed about Eve hundred houses, made
OF material which was bullet.proof and
further strengthened by tubs Of corn
and other provisions set around the
wells" The Indians were fully as
we'll armed as the whites, so upon
the arrival Of the Massachusetts
troops who were in the van, q frown.
ing lire Of muskets greeted " them
from tbs port holes in the block
houses and from along the line Of
palisades. The only entrance to the
fort was by means Of the tree trunk
before mentioned; this madeit neces.
sary for the English to pass in single
file across this bridge exposed to the
Indian muekets. >:~ !. :;=..:> ..
Without waiting for reinforcements
the Massachusetts troops make rush
to 'oross the bridge. They were i'm
! msdiateiy swept of by the fusilade
from the block houses. Again and
again they repeated the assault in the
face Of certain death until the dead
and dying lay in heaps in the ditch
and the entrance Of the fort was
ssS clicked ksea with dsad bodies. Il then be-
came evident that no amount Of hero.
ism could enable them to gain an en-.
trance at this, point; so in dismay
they refreshed from the bridge. back
into the swamp. and rallied ON the
Plymouth and aConneeticut troops who
had NOW reached theosoene Of action.
With these re-inforcements, they sre.
newed The assault and for about three
hours the battle + ragged, Even s5the
braveat were4 about 70, despair phee
the cry "They run, they rum rang
out through che swamp. It was in-
deed true. A rear guard Of the Con.
neotisut troops :had walked across the
ditch as an exposed point on the left J:
had hewn down the palisade and wish
great shouting had attacked the de.
;fsaders of The fort 10 che rear. Tie
Indisna who had all collected at the.
| first poiaefoa attack wore ausprissd
aad beNildsred by3 this unlexpseted;
movement md Tor i zioment .hsok siins:
toS CONFUSE Taking aavanssge of9
thin Che sEnglish' 'by another sdssperats
charge broke over the palisades ]: in
front and engaged tho indians Ii a
hand to$ hand struggle, 81 The swords.
|together will ths superior discipline
Iof the English gave them tie advan.. sun.
ltags and :now che awful work Sof o.
iatradtionI and busoaery,;; comnmShacsd. !.
The infpsiatea Englishs hsd become 81 ID lB
lsayagsas; their Iudian enemies; i,;5j jnlsith. ID
ars Mo aged thes 3 III Nomep i or children
fWere spared iin e hia awful oarnsge.53
Raliying Into their Ssii gwams the5 III, I Il.
I,aiaps fought With sia.psIass courage.
iisnd alshoug Siin 8 D lpplosssssiionSs al ssths
4kfSaES - 40 I. s..