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The Pequot War
by Adam Parker
First it began with rising tension between the Pequot tribe and the English Puritan settlers of the northeast. The Puritans were well known for their hatred of the Indians and subsequently called them "savages" because of their different way of life. Then a split occurred among the Pequot tribe. An Indian named Uncas divided the Pequot tribe by supporting the English despite all the atrocities they suffered. Eventually the Mohegan tribe was formed and they became enemies with the Pequot tribe who supported the Dutch colonists. As if the Pequot's were not disadvantaged enough, another disaster lay ahead of them. A smallpox epidemic struck the Pequot tribe from 1633 to 1634 further weakening their ability to fight the English colonists. (Chronology)
On July 20, 1636, a man named John Oldham was killed by the Pequot Indians due to rising distress from dishonest dealings with the English colonists. The colonists had taken advantage of them many times before but clearly the Pequot tribe had enough. Once news of Oldham's death reached the settlers, they urged an immediate retaliation. Under John Endicott's leadership, a group of 90 men arrived at Block Island and completely decimated the village while also killing 14 Indians in the process. (Nininger) The group of men then sailed to Fort Saybrook where Endicott looked to further sabotage the Pequot tribe. The Pequot Indians were able to flee and again, Endicott and his men burned the remaining village. After this, the Pequot's attacked Fort Saybrook from the end of summer in 1636 to April of 1637 when Fort Saybrook finally received reinforcements. (Chronology)
It isn't until the 10th of May that a man named Mason, 90 colonists, and 60 Mohegan's go to battle again in Fort Saybrook. Up to 7 Indians on the Pequot's side died and one was taken prisoner. After this small battle, the English ally with Narragansetts and the Easter Niantics and on May 26, 1637, assault a Pequot fort at Mystic killing 600 to 700 Pequot's and taking 7 captive. Only 2 Englishmen are killed with 20 to 40 wounded while only 7 Pequot's were able to escape the massacre. (Chronology) On July 13, 1637, the English offer amnesty to the woman, children, and elderly in a Swamp close to New Haven. Of the 280 Pequot's, 200 accept the offer while 80 warriors respond angrily with arrows and are quickly eliminated. Finally the Pequot War ends with the signing of the Treaty of Hartford which gives the surviving Pequot's as slaves to the Mohegan tribe, prevents Pequot's from habiting their territory while also banning use of the name Pequot.
The end of the Pequot War marked the beginning of Indian tribes being pushed out of their land and being forced westward by the Puritans and other colonies. Killing the Pequot's allowed the Puritans to continue expansion and in a short period of time, maintain dominance within the region. The other tribes may have allied with the English out of fear for their lives. The Mystic Massacre showed both the Pequot's and the Indians fighting on the other side that the Puritan's were capable of massive devastation. The burning of the villages and the careful destruction of the food surplus left fear in those who were able to flee.
Works Cited
"Chronology of the Pequot War." American Studies. 1998. Columbia University. 16 Sept. 2006
Nininger, Sigourney Fay. "1637 - THE PEQUOT WAR." The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut. 2000. Payson LLC. 16 Sept. 2006 http://www.colonialwarsct.org/1637.htm
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