 | Land! Land! Hath been the idol of many in New England!
Increase Mather |
| Just after King Philip's War so-called by the English and shortly before King William's War or Governor Dudley's War called the War of the Spanish Succession by Europeans, Deerfield was the northernmost colonial settlement in the Connecticut River Valley. In May 1676 several large bands of Indians had camped in the vicinity. The settlers felt threatened by this gathering of tribes. They appealed to Boston for soldiers, and a militia was sent out to drive away Squakeags, Pokomtucks, Mahicans, Nipmunks, and others. The standing forces were led by Captain Turner of Boston. Captain Holyoke brought a contingent from Springfield; Ensign Lyman, a group from Northampton. Sergeants Kellog and Dickinson led the militia from Hadley. Benjamin Wait and Experience Hinsdale were pilots. |
| "The Reverend Hope Atherton, minister of the gospel, at Hatfield, a gentleman of publick spirit, accompanied the army." |
| The small force of 160 men marched from Hatfield on May 17, shortly before nightfall. They passed the river at Cheapside where they were heard by an Indian sentinel who aroused his people. Indians searched the normal fording place but the colonial militia had missed it by accident. Finding no footprints they assumed the sentry had been deceived by the noise of moose passing along the river. The colonial troops continued on their way until they happened on an unguarded Nipmunk, Squakeag, Pokomtuck, or Mahican camp. This they immediately attacked by firing into the wigwams. Wakened from sleep the frightened inhabitants thought they were being raided by Mohawks. The chronicler writes: "They soon discovered their mistake but being in no position to make an immediate defense were slain on the spot, some in their surprise ran directly to the river, and were drowned; others betook themselves to their bark canoes, and having in their confusion forgot their paddles, were hurried down the falls and dashed against the rocks. In this action the enemy by their own confession, lost 300, women and children included." |
| What the historian doesn't say is that most of the dead were women and children. |
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