Chapter I: Preface

Few, even of our most intelligent men, if we except those who are devoted to literary pursuits, are acquainted with the adventures which our forefathers encountered in the settlement of New England. The claims of business are now so exacting, that those whose time is engrossed by its cares have but little leisure for extensive reading, and yet there is no American who does not desire to be familiar with the early history of his own country. The writer, with great labor, has collected from widely-spread materials, and condensed into this narrative of the career of King Philip, those incidents in our early history which he has supposed would be most interesting and instructive to the general reader. He has spared no pains in the endeavor to be accurate. In the rude annals of those early days there is often obscurity, and sometimes contradiction, in the dates. Such dates have been adopted as have appeared, after careful examination, to be most reliable.

The writer can not refrain, in this connection, from acknowledging the obligations he is under to his friend and neighbor, John M'Keen, Esq., to whose extensive and accurate acquaintance with the early history of this country he is indebted for many of the materials which have aided him in the preparation of this work.

JOHN S. C. ABBOTT.

Brunswick, Maine, 1857.

CONTENTS.

Chapter Page

I. LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS 13

II. MASSASOIT 46

III. CLOUDS OF WAR 80

IV. THE PEQUOT WAR 110

V. COMMENCEMENT OF THE REIGN OF KING PHILIP 156

VI. COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES 187

VII. AUTUMN AND WINTER CAMPAIGNS 220

VIII. CAPTIVITY OF MRS. ROWLANDSON 254

IX. THE INDIANS VICTORIOUS 292

X. THE VICISSITUDES OF WAR 321

XI. DEATH OF KING PHILIP 353

XII. CONCLUSION OF THE WAR 385

ENGRAVINGS.

Page

PLYMOUTH BAY, AS SEEN BY THE PILGRIMS _Frontispiece._

THE FIRST ENCOUNTER 26

SAMOSET, THE INDIAN VISITOR 48

MASSASOIT AND HIS WARRIORS 57

THE PALACE OF MASSASOIT 68

THE DEATH OF ALEXANDER 169

THE BATTLE IN TIVERTON 210

CAPTURE OF THE INDIAN FORTRESS 247

CAPTIVITY OF MRS. ROWLANDSON 270

THE DESTRUCTION OF SUDBURY 311

THE INDIAN AMBUSH 315

THE DEATH OF PHILIP 360

KING PHILIP.