CHARLESTOWN, NEW HAMPSHIRE From: Farns10th@aol.com - Janice Farnsworth 1746 - Fort No. 4 - Troops from Sudbury, Marlboro, South- boro and Stow, MA arrive for the relief of the fort. Source: History of Charlestown, NH - Fort 4 by Rev. Henry H. Saunderson p.28 At the time Samuel Farnsworth died during an assault on Fort 4 by Indians, a few days after this affair, Capt. Ephraim Brown of Sudbury, MA arrived at No 4 with and additional company of troops.  But nothing trans- pired either at No. 4 or in the region. until the l9th of June which is worthy of note. But that day was made memorable by another engagement. The manner in which this was brought about was as follows:  The horses of the troops, as they had no other way to provide for them, had been turned into the meadow to graze; and either for looking after them, or because they wanted them for some purpose, Capt. Stevens and Brown united their companies or portions of them, together, to go out after them.  Let me give an account of the matter, in the language of an article published in Boston, July lst, 1746. "We hear that on Thursday, the l9th, ult., at a plantation called No. 4, Capt. Stevens of the garrison there and Capt. Brown of Sudbury with about fifty men went out into the woods to look for horses and, coming near a causeway they were obliged to pass, their dogs being on the hunt before them, and barking very much, they suspected some Indians were near; whereupon, keep- ing a good look out, they discovered a great number of them, supposed to be a hundred and fifty, lying in ambush waiting for them on the other side,; so that if they had passed over in all probability, most of them might have been cut off.  The Indians on finding them- selves discovered, suddenly started up and a smart engagement immediately ensued, in which it is supposed that the English fired first and engaged them so closely and briskly that they soon drew off, and being follow- ed by our men retreated into a large swamp; whereupon the English returned to the garrison, not caring to venture after such numbers, into so hazardous a place." In this engagement, as above indicated, the company of Stevens and Brown had the advantage of the first fire. This disconcerted the savages in no small degree; who, being on higher ground and making no allowance  for their position, almost constantly overshot the English, so as to do them comparatively little damage; who, with this advantage on their side, very soon put the enemy to rout, inflicting on them, as it was supposed, no small loss of life and means.  Their loss in other respects was also considerable. Blankets, hatchets, spears, guns etc were left behind, which were subsequently sold for forty pounds, old tenor, which was reckoned a great booty, "for such beggarly enemies." Captains Stevens and Brown, in this engagement, lost none on the spot, but Jedediah Winchell was mortally wounded and died soon after.  Jonathan Stanhope, David Parker and Noah Heaton were wounded but recovered. The spot where this conflict took place has since been called Ambush Hill or by some, "the Ambuscade."  It lies on the old meadow road about a mile from the village, and a short distance to the northwest of the residence of Mr. Beza Woods.  It is now marked by an elm tree, the only one in the vicinity, of some twenty or twenty five years growth.   It is not what would be termed a hill, but is only a slight elevation on the meadow.  The position of the force of Captains Stevens and Brown, during the conflict, can be only a matter of conjecture.  But that the Indians occupied the position above designated, there can be little reason to doubt. After this conflict No 4 remained unmolested by the incursions of enemies for several weeks.  In the mean- time, a company of troops, thirty eight in number arriv- ed under command of Capt. Joseph How of Marlboro which were designed to relieve Captain Brown.  The men were mostly from Marlboro and Southboro. But this brief cessation of hostilities was renewed on the 3d of August at which time the enemy appeared again in large numbers.  Their presence was first indicated by the barking of the dogs, which belonged to the Fort and the peculiar movements which those animals were accustomed to exhibit when Indians were in the vicinity. Capt. Stevens, in order to ascertain the certainty of his surmises sent out a scout; but the men were scarcely out of the fort before they were fired upon and Ebenezer Philips was killed.  He was so near the gate when he fell, that at night a soldier crept carefully out and fastened a rope to the body and it was drawn into the fort and interred.  The remainder of the scout, effected their escape into the fort without injury. On the 9th of August, 1746, Capt. Josiah Brown from Stow arrived with a company of fresh troops to take the place of those under the command of Captain Brown of Sudbury. (William Heywood's Journal). Not long after the arrival of this force, another comp- any of troops was dispatched by Governor Shirley to No. 4 with a quantity of provisions for the relief of the place.  This was under the command of Capt. Winchester, who remained with his troops until late into the autumn, when he was recalled to Massachusetts. No farther damage was done at No 4 during l746. On the 6th of August however, seven men were ambuscaded in Winchester, near Willard's fort and Joseph Rawson was killed; and on the llth Benjamin Wright, was mortally wounded at Northfield.  About the same time Ezekiel Wallingford was killed at Paquayag (Athol) and a person named Bliss at Greenfield.  An ineffectual attempt of the enemy on Shattuck's fort at Hinsdale, closed the depredations on Connecticut River for the year 1746. ************************************************* * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. 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