Decennium luctuosum. An history of remarkable occurrences, in the long war, which New-England hath…

ARTICLE. XXVI. Remarkable Salvations; and some Remarkable Disasters.

Besides a man Taken at York, in May, and another man killed at Hatfield, in June, and a Third killed at Groton; and a Fourth with Two Children carried Captives: there fell out more Mischief, with no small Mercy, on Jun. 10. at Exeter. The Day before, some Women & Children, would needs ramble without any Guard, into the Woods, to gather Straw-berries; but ⟨p. 144⟩some that were willing to Chastise them with a Fright, for their presumption, made an Alarm in the Town; whereupon many came together in their Arms. The Indians it seems, were at this very Time, unknown to the English, lying on the other side of the Town ready to make a Destructive Assault upon it; but Supposing this Alarm to be made on their Account, they therefore supposed themselves to be discovered. Wherefore they laid aside their purpose of attempting the Destruction of the Town; and contented themselves, with Killing one man▪ Taking another, and Wounding a Third. But on July. 4. Lords Day, Major Charles Frost, who had been a Person of no little Consequence to our Frontiers, Returning from the Public Worship of God, in Berwick, (to repair unto which, about Five Miles from his own House, he had that Morning expressed such an Earnestness, tha• much Notice was taken of it,) passed several more Dangerous places, without any Damage; but in a place, on a little plain by the Turn of a Path, where no Danger was Expected, the Adder in the path Surprised him; the Indians having Stuck up certain Boughs upon a Log, there mortally Shot him, with Two more, while his Two Sons, that were in the Front of the Company, happily escaped: And the Two young men, that Rode Post unto Wells, with these Tidings, in their going back, had their own Death added for another ⟨p. 145⟩Article of such unhappy Tidings. About the latter End of this Month also, Three Men Mowing the Meadows at Newichawannic, were themselves Cut down by the Indians; tho' one of the Mowers bravely Slew one of the Murderers. But the most Important Action of this Year, was a little further off. About the beginning of July, Major March was Employed, with about Five Hundred Soldiers, not only to Defend the Frontiers, but also to seek out, and Beat up, the Enemies Quarters.