N00725:63
Decennium luctuosum. An history of remarkable occurrences, in the long war, which New-England hath…
Decennium luctuosum. An history of remarkable occurrences, in the long war, which New-England hath had with the Indian savages, from the year, 1688. To the year 1698. / Faithfully composed and improved. ; [One line of quotation in Latin]
printed by B. Green for Samuel Phillips, 1699
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
ARTICLE VI. New Assaults from the Indians, with some Remarkables of Captives taken in those Assaults.
THE Sun, and the War, be again Returning! The year 1690. must begin, very Inauspiciously. In February, the French, with Indians, made a Descent from Canada, upon a Dutch Town called Sch•nectada, Twenty Miles above Albany under the Government of New York; and •n that Surprising Incursion, they killed about Sixty Persons, whereof one was their Minister, and carried about Half as many into Captivity; but the People there, assisted by the Maqua's, pursued them, and Recovered some of their Captives from them. Upon the Advice of this Mischief in the West, order was dispatched unto Major Frost, in the East, that the Towns there should stand upon their Guard. The Major did his Duty; but they did not Theirs: They Dreamed that while the Deep Snow of the Winter continued, they were Safe enough; but this proved as Vain as a Dream of a Dry Summer. ⟨p. 46⟩On March 18th the French, with Indians, being Half one, Half t'other, Half Indianized French and Half Frenchisied Indians, commanded by Monsieur Artel, and Hope-hood, fell Suddenly upon Salmon Fal•s, destroying the best part of the Town, with Fire and Sword. Near Thirty Persons were Slain, and more than Fifty were led into what the Reader will by and by call, The worst Captivity in the World. It would be a Long Story to tell, what a particular Share in this Calamity, fell to the Family of One Clement Short: This Honest Man, with his Pious Wife, and Three Children, were killed; and Six or Seven of their Children, were made Prisoners: the most of which arrived Safe to Canada, through a thousand Hardships; and the most of these were with more than a Thousand Mercies afterwards Redeemed from Canada, unto their English Friends again. But my Readers, will be so Reasonable, as to Excuse me, if I do not mention the Fate of every Family, that hath Suffered a Share in the Calamity of this grievous War; for 'tis impossible that I should Know All that hath happened; and it would be improper for me to Write All that I know: And very little is the Advantage of having a Name Standing upon Record, only among unhappy Sufferers. About Seven Score English went out after 'em, and came up with em: nevertheless, through the Disadvantages of their Ft by the Snow, they