Online Texts for Craig White's Literature Courses

Instructor’s note: The Pequot Indian people, like the Narragansetts, escaped the epidemic of 1616-19, but in 1633 a new outbreak of European diseases killed up to 80% of their population. Desperate at their losses and the growth of English settlements, the Pequots made one great effort to drive away the English, who allied with the Narragansetts and Mohegans, the Pequots’ traditional enemies.

(The "English" includes the Pilgrims at Plymouth but also other English settlements in New England, including the "Great Migration" of Puritans to Boston that began in 1630.)

Negotiations Bradford reports between the Pequot and Narragansett Indian communities (28.2-3) remind that the peoples we call "American Indians" or "Native Americans" did not think of themselves as one people. For them to cooperate instead of fight with each other was as extraordinary as for European nations like the English and French. (A rough contemporary comparison would be different Moslem communities [Sunni, Shi'a, Alewites, and Kurds] fighting against each other in the Middle East.)

Bradford's opening descriptions of the Pequots' plans for battle correspond in broad terms to modern descriptions of terrorists who choose not to fight openly but instead to inflict damage and terror without distinction between combatants and non-combatants (28.1). In response, the English and their allies resort to a total-war strategy that annihilates the enemy.

In paragraph 28.7 Bradford mentions Uncas, chief or sachem of the Mohegans, whose name appears later for the title character of James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans (1826).

Anno Dom: 1637.

[¶28.1] In the fore part of this year, the Pequots fell openly upon the English at Connecticut, in the lower parts of the river, and slew sundry of them, (as they were at work in the fields,) both men and women, to the great terror of the rest; and went away in great pride and triumph, with many high threats. They also assaulted a fort at the river’s mouth, though strong and well defended; and though they did not there prevail, yet it struck them [the English] with much fear and astonishment to see their bold attempts in the face of danger; which made them in all places to stand upon their guard, and to prepare for resistance, and earnestly to solicit their friends and confederates in the Bay of Massachusetts to send them speedy aid, for they looked for more forcible assaults. Mr. Vane, being then Governor, wrote from their General Court to them here, to join with them in this war; to which they were cordially willing, but took opportunity to write to them about some former things, as well as present, considerable hereabout. The which will best appear in the Governor’s answer which he returned to the same, which I shall here inserte.

Sir: . . .  withal we conceive that you look at the Pequots, and all other Indians, as a common enemy, who, though he may take occasion of the beginning of his rage, from some one part of the English, yet if he prevail, will surely pursue his advantage, to the rooting out of the whole nation. . . .  [from John Winthrop, Boston]

[¶28.2] In the meantime, the Pequots, especially in the winter before, sought to make peace with the Narragansetts, and used very pernicious arguments to move them thereunto: as that the English were strangers and began to overspread their country, and would deprive them thereof in time, if they were suffered to grow and increase; and if the Narragansetts did assist the English to subdue them [the Pequots], they [the Narragansetts] did but make way for their own overthrow, for if they were rooted out, the English would soon take occasion to subjugate them; and if they would hearken to them, they [the Indians] should not need to fear the strength of the English; for they would not come to open battle with them, but fire their houses, kill their cattle, and lie in ambush for them as they went abroad upon their occasions; and all this they might easily do without any or little danger to themselves. The which course being held, they well saw the English could not long subsist, but they would either be starved with hunger, or be forced to forsake the country; with many the like things; insomuch that the Narragansetts were once wavering, and were half-minded to have made peace with them [the Pequots], and joined against the English.

[¶28.3] But again when they [the Narragansetts] considered, how much wrong they had received from the Pequot, and what an opportunity they now had by the help of the English to right themselves, revenge was so sweet unto them, as it prevailed above all the rest; so as they resolved to join with the English against them, and did. The Court here agreed forwith to send 50 men at their own charge; and with as much speed as possible they could, got them armed, and had made them ready under sufficient leaders, and provided a bark [boat] to carry them provisions and tend upon them for all occasions; but when they were ready to march (with a supply from the Bay) they had word to stay, for the enemy was as good as vanquished, and there would be no need. . . .

[¶28.4] So they [the English] went on, and so ordered their march, as the [Narragansett] Indians brought them [the English] to a fort of the enemies [the Pequots] (in which most of their chief men were) before day. They approached the same with great silence, and surrounded it both with English and Indians, that they might not break out; and so assaulted them with great courage, shooting amongst them, and entered the fort with all speed; and those that first entered found sharp resistance from the enemy, who both shot at and grappled with them; others [of the English] ran into their houses, and brought out fire, and set them on fire, which soon took in their mats, and, standing close together, with the wind, all was quickly on a flame, and thereby more were burnt to death then was otherwise slain; it burnt their bowstrings, and made them unserviceable. Those that [e]scaped the fire were slain with the sword; some hewed to pieces, others run through with their rapiers [swords], so as they were quickly dispatched, and very few escaped.

[¶28.5] It was conceived they [the English] thus destroyed about 400 [of the Pequots] at this time. It was a fearful sight to see them thus frying in the fire, and the streams of blood quenching the same, and horrible was the stink and scent thereof; but the victory seemed a sweet sacrifice, and they gave the praise thereof to God, who had wrought so wonderfully for them, thus to enclose their enemies in their hands, and give them so speedy a victory over so proud and insulting an enemy.

[¶28.6] The Narragansett Indians, all this while, stood round about, but aloof from all danger, and left the whole execution to the English, except it were the stopping of any that broke away, insulting over their enemies in this their ruin and misery, when they saw them dancing in the flames, calling them by a word in their own language, signifying, O brave Pequot! which they used familiarly among themselves in their own prayers, in songs of triumph after their victories. . . .

[¶28.7] That I may make an end of this matter: this Sassacouse (the Pequots’ chief sachem) being fled to the Mohawks, they cut off his head, with some other of the chief of them, whether to satisfy the English, or rather the Narragansett, (who, as I have since heard, hired them to do it,) or for their own advantage, I well know not; but thus this war took end. The rest of the Pequots were wholly driven from their place, and some of them submitted themselves to the Narragansetts, and lived under them; others of them betook themselves to the Mohegans, under Uncas, their sachem, with the approbation of the English of Connecticut, under whose protection Uncas lived, and he and his men had been faithful to them in this war, and done them very good service.

[¶28.8] But this did so vex the Narragansetts, that they had not the whole sway over them, as they have never ceased plotting and contriving how to bring them [the Mohegans] under, and because they cannot attain their ends, because of the English who have protected them, they have sought to raise a general conspiracy against the English, as will appear in another place.

End Chapter 28

Of Plymouth Plantation

Images below indicate the most visible aspect of Native American survival in New England