HISTORY OF VERMONT. 23T 



From this place they filed off to the left, passed 

 up another branch of White river, where there 

 were some smuil settlements, took a number of 

 prisoners, plundered and burnt the houses and 

 property, and proceeded about three miles into 

 Randolph ; and encjamped in a very secure 

 place, having the bank of the river ou their left, 

 and a ridge of hills in their f ont, right, and rear. 

 Here they secured their prisoners, placed their 

 sentries, kindled up their fires, cooked their 

 provisions, and lay down to sleep. In the 

 course of this day the Indians had burnt one 

 house in Tunbridge, two in Sharon, twenty one 

 in Royalton, and several in Randolph ; taken 

 twenty five prisoners, chiefly young lads, killed 

 two men who were attempting to make their es- 

 cape, and wounded one or two more ; having 

 suffered no loss themselves, and scarcely met 

 with any opposition. 



Surprised, affrighted, and scattered from 

 one another, the inhabitants could take no steps 

 for their defence ; the alarm however soon 

 spread, and a number of men immediately 

 marched from Connecticut river, and the adja- 

 cent towns ; by evening they amounted to sev- 

 eral hundreds, and were collected at the place 

 where the attack was first com.menced. Here 

 they organized themselves, and chose for their- 

 commander a captain John House, who had 

 served several campaip;ns in the continental ar- 

 my. House began his march with tliis undis- 

 ciplined but brave corps, in quest of the savage 

 army, who by this time were encamped seven. 

 or eight miles ahead. With great zeal they* 

 began their march in a dark night, in almost a 



