CHAPTER XIII
AN HONEST MAN

LOYAL KONKAWASCO.--THE NEUTRAL INDIANS AT TANTASKWEE.--NATIVES DESTROYED.--BEGINNING OF THE GREAT WESTWARD FLIGHT.--"I THE AM KONKAWASCO, LET MY PEOPLE GO."

NEUTRAL INDIANS OF TANTASKWEE

After the death of Wetoleshen, which occurred between the years 1655 and 1658, Wascomos, "his son and heir" was acknowledged by all the "Tantaskweeseuk" (all of the Indians) to be the chief.

When the English made their first settlement at Quabaug ponds, that name was adopted by all the writers and people, for the name of the territory, and the inhabitants or tribe. The ancient "Tantaskwee in Nipnet" and a noble line of sachems became more or less obscure in historical writings. In 1675, Konkawasco was called "ruler of the Quabaugs."

The uneasiness and threatening conditions among the Indians, just before the outbreak of Philip's War, caused the "Massachusetts authorities to send, June 13, 1675, an embassy into the country of the Nipnets, to discover their leanings and prevent and alliance with the Wampanoag Sachem."

The messengers visited the principal Indian towns; and with the rulers of each, a satisfactory treaty was made.

Konkawasco signed the following: "The Ruler of Quabage being examined by us, where his men were; he said that they were at home. Then we asked him whether there were none of them gone to help King Philip to fight against the English of Plymouth; he said No; and neither would he help him, for he has been false to him already, and therefore I will not help him, but I will still continue our subjection unto the English of the Massachusetts Colony; neither will I suffer any of my men to go to help him; and in confirmation of the same I do set my hand.
25.4.75
   (June 25, 1675.)

The memorable war called King Philip's War, was actually begun, before this paper was signed, by the Indian attack on Swansey.

So far as the writer's opportunity for research has disclosed, Konkawasco (however the name may be spelled) is not mentioned in history as having taken part in any act of aggression against the English. It was said in early times, and has been copied by local historians, one after another, that Kongowasco signed an agreement with the English June 25, 1675, and was found among the enemy at Menameset, the middle of July. This is disproved by an alibi or its equivalent, by the direct and first-hand evidence of Ephraim Curtis.

Not waiting for the positive proof that will be seen later on, we are free now to assume that Konkawasco was true to his agreement; and was the "Neutral Chief" of Tantaskwee. He, and his clan, composed of that part of his tribe that was opposed to a war with the English, remained at home, as he promised, the 16th. of Jun 1675.

Curtis Island was a good place for a rendezvous, also for defense if molested. But their neutrality appears to have been respected by both parties of belligerents.

They were abundantly supplied with food from their cornfields, and from near by ponds which furnished an abundance of fish and eels.

During the way which ensued and raged for a full year, "New England suffered terribly. The expenses and losses of the war amounted to fully five hundred thousand dollars. Thirteen towns and six hundred dwellings lay smouldering in ruins. Almost every family had heard the war-whoop of the savage. Six hundred men, the flower and pride of the country had fallen in the field." (Ridpath.)

The destruction and sufferings of the Indian enemy were even greater, with exception of value of property destroyed.

They suffered from famine and disease; and begged in vain for an armistice, that they might be allowed to plant their cornfields and save themselves from starvation. In spite of denial, the women and children did plant large fields of corn in the spring of 1676.

And as a last resort, the chiefs united in subscribing a latter, which, Mr. S. D. Drake remarks, "surpasseth anything, in supplication, that we have, from the poor Indians."

   "July 6th, 1676. Mr. John Leveret, my Lord, Mr. Waban, and all the chief men our Brethren Praying to God: We beseech you all to help us: my wife she is but one, but there be more prisoners, which we pray you keep well; Mattamuck (Muttaump) his wife we entreat you for her, and not only that man, but it is the Request of two Sachems, Sam Sachem of Weshakum, and (John) the Pakashoag Sachem.
   And that further that you will consider about the making Peace: We have spoken to the People of Nashobah (viz. Tom Dubler and Peter) that we would agree with you, and make a Covenant of Peace with you. We have been destroyed by your Souldiers, but still we Remember it now to sit still: Do you consider it again: We do earnestly entreat you, that it may be so by Jesus Christ. O! let it be so! Amen, Amen.

Mattamuck, his mark. Sam Sachem,   " Simon Pottoquam, Scribe Uppanippaquem. Pakashokag.

Superscribed.
   "To all Englishmen and Indians, all of you hear Mr. Waban, Mr. Eliot."

About the same time, the Governor and Council's reply to another letter of similar tenor was as follows:--

   "That treacherous persons who began the war and those that have been barbarously bloody, must not expect to have their lives spared, but others that have been drawn into the war, and acted only as souldiers, submitting to be without arms to live quietly & peaceably for the future shall have their lives spared."
   Of the two hundred Indians captured by stratagem at Dover, N. H., and sent to Boston sometime in August, "seven or eight of the chiefs were condemned and hanged; the rest were sold into slavery in foreign ports."

In Sewell's Diary is the entry: "1676, Sept. 26. Tuesday, Sagamore Sam & Daniel Goble is drawn in a cart upon bed cloaths to execution... One-eyed John, Maliompe (Muttaump) Sagamore of Quapaug General at Lancaster and Jethro (the father) walk to the gallows."

This was the end of Muttaump, who was elected Chief by the majority clan of the Quabaugs, and was the leader of the attack on the settlement at Brookfield; while Konkawasco, former ruler of the tribe, remained at home with the minority clan; and was the chief of the Neutral Indians of Tantaskwee.

Prizes were paid for captives and scalps. That fact may not have been emphasized largely in history, nevertheless at that time and with the feeling of hated which then prevailed in the distressed settlements, ambitious young men brought in their game with pride, and received their prize money with satisfaction.

As an illustration:--" To ye Hon. The Governor and Council:

   Right Honorable:--These are to offer to yo' Hon humble information that upon encouragem' given unto us by our Capt Georg Barber, and out of a desire to serve ye country upon our own charge and adventure, wee last weeke went out in scearch for a pty (party) of ye enemy, whose tracke was found, and in our scearch discovered five psns (persons) of ye enemy, four of whom were armed, two of wch enemys wee took prisonrs: and now humbly p'sent to your Honrs for Condemnation; and liberty to dispose of and distribute the prize among our fellow soldiers who are and will be always ready to attend to your Honrs comands as are.
Your most dutiful & Faithful Servts,
J____ P_____
J____ B_____"
(A paper in the State Archives.)

In May 1676, Massachusetts and Connecticut designed an expedition into Hampshire County. Their forces were to scour the country, and to visit Squakeag, the supposed head-quarters of the Indians.

Major John Talcott at the head of 250 English on horses, and 200 Indians on foot from Connecticut, left Norwich on the first or second of June, and arrived at Hadley on the 8th. of June, 1676.

It was a day of much excitement in the river towns. An army of 450 men from Connecticut was a novel and animating spectacle. The inhabitants of Hadley gazed with eagerness upon the 250 mounted men, with their red silk banners, and especially upon the 200 Indians, as they marched up the street. The men upon horses were almost all from the towns upon Long Island Sound, under Captains Selick, Mansfield, and Denison. The Indians were Mohegans, Pequots and Nianticks.

Major Talcott with a part of his army crossed the river to Northampton the same day, and from there sent the following report:

   "Northampton, June 8, 1676, 10 o'clock at night. In pursuance of your orders, I past from Norwich to Wabaquesset, at which place suppose was about 40 acres of Corn, and a fort, but none of the enemy to be found upon the best of our search. From thence made Channagongum in the Nipnap Country on the 5th of June, and took 52 of the enemy of which 19 slain and one shot and made an escape, followed by his blood but lost him; and on the 6th instant made towards Squaboag and gained it on the 7th day at 12 of the clock, and on the 7th instant gave liberty for some of our Indians to hunt in the afternoon, one party of which came to our rendezvous in the evening, and informed us of a party of the Indian enemy were pitching for that night about 3 miles from our quarters; and not knowing what strength might be there, sent out about 120 English and Indians at midnight, with orders to gain the sight of their fires as soon as might be, and to lie close until daybreak and then fall upon them; which accordingly they did; but there were but two of the enemy, which they assaulted and took, who were loaden with as much fish as they could carry, and each of them a gun, their horns full of powder, which were taken;--And think the Account of Arms before was five that was taken--of men slain 12, and one or two saved,--We sent 27 women and children to Norwich under conduct of some of those we call honest Indians, and the others are come to Hadley with the army, and by the last that was slain we received intelligence that there is 500 fighting men at pa cumticutt. This eight instant we made Hadley with about 200 Indians and about 250 English soldiers; but the Bay forces are not come. I past away from Squabaug a letter to the chief commander of the Bay forces intended for conjunction with us in these parts,...

John Talcot.

   To Dep. Gov. Treat at Hartford."

It is interesting and of importance, in the plan of this chapter, to analyze and explain this report.

Wabaqueset (Woodstock, Connecticut.)

Chanagongum (Chabanagongum)--one of the Christian villages, visited in 1674, by John Eliot and Major Gookin.

Gookin's narrative speaks of the place as follows:--

   "It hath its denomination from a very large pond, that borders upon the southward of it. This village is fifty-five miles southwest of Boston. There are about nine families and forty-five souls. The people are of sober deportment and better instructed in the worship of God than any of the new praying towns.
   Their teacher's name is Joseph, who is one of the church of Hassanamessit; a sober, pious and ingenious person, and speaks English well, and is well-read in the Scriptures. He was the first that settled in this town, and got the people to him about two years since. It is a new plantation, and is well accommodated with uplands and meadows. At this place dwells an Indian, called Black James, who, about a year since, was constituted constable of all the praying towns. He is a person that hath approved himself diligent and courageous, faithful and zealous to suppress sin; and so he was confirmed in his office another year.
   In 1674, Mr. Eliot preached unto this people, and we prayed and sang hymns with them, and exhorted them to stand fast in the faith."

That Indian Village occupied the location of what is now called East Village, in Webster.

Talcot's army "on the 6th instant made toward Squaboag and gained it on the 7th day at 12 of the clock."

The news of this raid (described in Talcot's Report) had a serious effect among the Neutral Indians of Tantaskwee.

Konkawasco, himself, hastened to view the ghastly conditions. Tho not of his own clan, they were his neighbors, of kindly and frequent association. They were converts of the good Eliot.

   "What is the good of signing a paper, to live under the laws of the white man, and be protected. We are destroyed, it is either death or slavery."

It was in line with these thoughts, that Konkawasco set in motion, certain important activities.

He sent a friend and expert messenger, to follow up the army of horsemen and Indians, and report their whereabouts and doings.

He called in as many of the "grandees" of the previous year as could be found, to convene at the "Curtis Island."

Was it a small thing that these men now discussed, in their usual decorous and deliberate manner?

It was death or slavery that would be their fate, if they remained in the old home.

And that, especially the latter, was what the liberty-loving red men could not bear.

They would remove westward and join the powerful nations there.

Measures were taken for collecting the people, and giving instructions for the carrying out of this undertaking, successfully.

It should be remarked here, that this was the first of the many removes and drifting to the westward, of the aborigines all over the country; a movement which has continued for many generations.

Major Talcot, with the Connecticut troops, returned to that colony before the 20th of June. July 20, they marched eastward, thro the Narragansett country and were killing and capturing Indians in Plymouth colony.

On the 31st of July, Massachusetts ordered bread, bacon, cheese, spirits, wine and tobacco, to be sent to Taunton, for Major Talcot's forces.

Taking advantage of the absence of Talcot's army, the first company to remove, and probably the largest in number, were collected about the middle of July, and succeeded in getting beyond Connecticut River unobserved.

They were first seen near Westfield, about the 19th of July. Hungry and exhausted, they seized some cattle and horses and plucked up cornstalks to suck for refreshment.

Konkawasco's company moved about the second week in August.

Nearly three fourths of their company were women and children, and some were old or feeble.

The women traveled with all they had, "bag and baggage," and besides blankets, skins and utensils, some carried small papooses upon their backs and still marched with vigor. Some of the men carried old mothers and decrepit old men.

To avoid Springfield, Konkawasco crossed the Chicopee River and arrived at the Connecticut River, below the great falls.

With their English axes, logs were quickly obtained and bound together by means of cords or perhaps white birch withes; making the rafts upon which they crossed the river, on Friday, the 11th of August, camping that night within seven miles of Springfield.

The story is continued by Major Pynchon in a letter to the Governor of Massachusetts. Extracts follow.

"Springfield, Aug. 15, 1676.

   Last Saturday, Aug. 12, near 200 Indians were discovered within three or four miles of Westfield. The people and soldiers then went out and made several shots on them, and took a horse from them, but finding them so many they sent word to me. I presently gave order for thirty to march thither, but they came too late; and then also Major Talcot's army came in, who, as they say cut down all the Indian corn about Quabaug, &c. They pursued them on the Sabbath about noon, a day after the Indians were gone, and provisions not being ready at Westfield, they hastened, somewhat short of provisions, and I doubt they will not overtake them till they come to Aussotinnoag.
   While I am writing, news comes that Major Talcot's army are most of them returned; only himself and 60 men and as many Indians have gone on. Finding his want of victuals, Maj. Talcot sent back most of his men, taking all their victuals and discharging himself of his horses.
   An old Indian whom he took, told him the Indians intended to rest at Oussotinoag, and that they had between 50 and 60 fighting men, and 100 women besides children.
   My respects to your good lady and all the magistrates.

John Pynchon."

According to Hubbard, Major Talcot overtook the Indians at Ausotunnoog River, and fought with them, killing and taking 45, of whom 25 were fighting-men, with the loss of only one, a Mohegan Indian. The Council of Connecticut, in a letter to Governor Andros, dated Aug. 19, says they slew 40 and took 15 captives.

"This engagement was on Tuesday morning, August 15, and is supposed to have taken place in or near the present township of Sheffield. Major Talcot was not stationed at Westfield, as intimated by Trumbull, but had recently come from the east." (History of Hadley)

The foregoing fragmentary information, in regard to the flight of the Neutral Indians of Tantaskwee, has floated down to us thru the misty past, and will be taken as first hand and true.

Additional details are equally true, when brought to our knowledge by the grouping of facts.

   Group 1.
   (a) The Mohegan tribe of Indians, living on the Quinebaug River in Connecticut limits, and ruled by the noted Chief Uncas, were the allies of the English colonists.
   (b) The Indians in Talcot's army were mostly Mohegans commanded by Oneko, son of Uncas.
   (c) When the army was at Wabbaquasset (Woodstock), the third or fourth of June, Tantaskwee was only a few miles away, and the path they were on led directly there.
   (d) The army there turned away northeasterly to "Chanagongum," fifteen or twenty miles away, with two rivers to ford.
   (e) From the place last mentioned, they went north-west and westward, through Brookfield to Northampton on the Connecticut River, the route being northerly of the Neutral Indians.

The above group of facts reveals another important link in the-chain-of-evidence providing Konkawasco's loyalty, and also the Mohegans' knowledge of the Neutral Clan and its location.

   Group No. 2
   The group is found in the report of Major Talcot, written at 10 o'clock, June 8th, at Northampton. The conclusion is clear that all those found at Chanagongum were killed or captured, except one who was wounded and made his escape, after being followed some distance by the trail of his blood.

   Group No. 3.
   The accounts of the attack at Housatonic river, shows it clearly to have been a massacre of the same character as that at Chanagongum, except that it was stayed, "and there was one man on our side killed, and he was a Mohegan."

When the descendant of a noble line of chiefs stepped out, and raising his hand, said, "I am Konkawasco, let my people go," it was the Mohegans that interfered and stopped the slaughter, and the Chief and the remainder of his people were allowed to go.

Give us the privilege of imagining that the Mohegan, who was killed, got his death from the gun of a white man, accidently it may be, while saving the life of the honest Konkawasco, the last of the great chiefs of Tantaskwee, in Nipnet.

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