The usual incursions of the Indians^ commenced on
the frontiers of New Hampshire in the month of June^
1766. Josiah Foster and family were captured at Win-
chester ; and soon after lieutenant Moses Willard and
his son were wounded near the fort at Charlestown. On
the twelfth of August a party of Indians attacked five
men at labor at a place called the Country farms y in the
northerly part of Greenfield. The Indians had secreted
themselves on an adjacent eminence^ and observed the
people deposit their arms before they commenced their
labor^ and by a cautious approach^ placed themselves
between them and the men ; and rushing furiously on,
gave their fire, but it proved harmless. Destitute of the
means of defence^ the people fled in different directions ;
Shubal Atherton leaped into a ravine, among thick brush,
where he was discovered^ shot and scalped ; Benjamin
Hastings and John Graves dashing through Green river,
outstripped the Indians, and escaped ; but Daniel Graves
and Nathaniel Brooks were captured. The former being
in years, and unable to travel with the speed of the In-
dians^ was killed a small distance from the place of cap
ture ; Brooks was carried off, and never returned ; whether
he suffered the fate of his fellow prisoner, is not known.
A party of people from Greenfield village, hurried on to
the spot^ and followed the trail of the enemy some dis-
tance, and were soon joined by major Williams with a
party from Deerfield, but the enemy eluded their pursu-
ers.
