involves Johnson's part in the Indian wars, especially the struggle with the Narragansetts known as King Philip's Wars.
    War was formally declared against the Narragansett Indians on November 2, 1675, by the United Colonies of New England, and troops raised by Massachusetts, Plymouth and Connecticut were called the Army of the United Colonies of New England. In this war Connecticut's quota was 350 white men plus 150 Mohegan and Quinnipiack Indians. The Connecticut troops consisted of five companies under the command of Major Robert Treat, who was later to become Governor of Connecticut Colony.
    The Connecticut troops marched from New London to the battle site, which was in the present area of West Kingston, Rhode Island. The Indian fortress was barricaded by logs, and what is known as the Swamp Fort Battle ensued. Historian Charles H. Townshend, wrote of the battle as follows:
    "The fight was long and bloody. At length the Connecticut troops under the command of the valiant Maj. Robert Treat charged over the logs and rushed the fort. Three hundred Indian warriors perished; three hundred more died of their wounds and from cold; and nearly the same number, together with the women and children were made prisoners. Major Treat is said to have been the last man to leave the fort."
    Historian George Madison Bodge wrote of the battle, "Of the losses to the enemy there can be no reliable account. Captain Oliver says 'By best intelligence we killed 300 fighting men and took say 350 and above 300 women and children'."
    "Indian prisoners afterwards reported 700 killed," the historian adds, and comments, "The conduct of the Mohegan and Pequot allies is represented by Captain Oliver as false, they firing into the air, but securing much plunder. I have found no other notice of their part in the battle."
    This historian lists among the English volunteers in the campaign a Captain Ebenezer Johnson. Some accounts list the death of Johnson in that campaign, but Bodge and others list Johnson as a survivor, and as further evidence of that, he is listed as one of the survivors who drew Cedar Swamp Lots following that incident.
    At this point, it would be well to review Oliver's comment