"
As late as March, 1676, says Hubbard, "it was full sea with Philip's
affairs." And even on the 26th of April, the Plymouth colony writes
thus to Massachusetts:
"The Lord undertake for us, for we are in a very low condition; and the
spirits of our people begin to run low, also being now averse to going
forth against the enemies. The Lord have us patient to wait God's
time, although our salvation seems still to be far from us."
The war commenced on the 24th day of June, 1675, and ended on the 12th
of August, 1676, by the death of Philip.
The colonies of Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut and New Haven were
united, and Governor Josiah Winslow of Plymouth was appointed
commander-in-chief.
Neither the population nor the available force of the colonies is now
known. Some writers have estimated the population of New England at a
hundred and twenty thousand. This is plainly an exaggeration. From a
few scattered fragments and facts we may conclude that Massachusetts
had a force of about 4,500 men, New Haven and Connecticut about 2,000,
and Plymouth about 1,300; in all about 8,000 men. Of these
Massachusetts had a cavalry force seven hundred strong. Upon this
basis the entire population could not have exceeded 60,000, and some
writers, on the other hand, have estimated it at only forty thousand
souls.
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