For Lesson 4 – Problems And Events Leading Up To The Attack Of 1704

Excerpts from
The Redeemed Captive Returning To Zion
by John Williams, 1706, pgs. 104-106

On the 17th of May, 1676, Captain Turner marched from Hatfield at the head of about one hundred and sixty militia-men, to attack a large Indian force stationed at the Great Falls, so called, on Connecticut River, in that part of Deerfield which is now Gill. The Indians had a large settlement there, as it was a famous resort for salmon, bass, and shad. They had at that time a force there of several hundred men. Captain Turner was from Boston, and he commanded the standing forces [army];…

It was now near day-break, but the Indians were asleep, not even guarded by a single sentinel [guard]. It is said they had been rioting the evening before upon milk and roast-beef, which they had stolen from the neighboring towns. The English silently broke in upon their camp, and poured in a charge of musketry which almost completely deafened them. In their consternation [horror] and alarm they ran towards the river, crying out, “Mohawks! Mohawks!” supposing themselves attacked by these Indians. Great numbers jumped into their canoes, and many forgot their paddles, and were hurried precipitately [headlong] over the falls, dashed to pieces, and drowned, while others were destroyed buy the English, in the camp, in their cabins, and in their canoes.

The loss on the part of the English was only one man. The Indian loss was very severe; one hundred were killed on the spot; one hundred and forty passed over the falls, and were killed or drowned, with the exception of one man. A few escaped to their companions. The Indians acknowledged their own loss to be three hundred, and among them many of their principal sachems [leaders].

Rev. John Williams–Deerfield’s minister at the time of the 1704 attack. Two of his children were killed during the attack, and his wife was killed during the march north. He was captured along with five of his children. One child, Eunice would never return.

Excerpts from
The History Of Philip’s War
by Thomas Church, 1829

Philip with a great company of his people had taken a stand at the fall in Connecticut river for the convenience of getting a supply of fish, after the destruction of their provisions [supplies] at the great swamp fight in Narraganset. Some prisoners deserted and brought news to Hadley, Hatfield and Northampton of the Indians’ situation at the falls. On the 18 May, 160 men under Capt. Turner arrived near their quarters at day break. The enemy were in their wigwams asleep, and without guards. The English rushed upon them and fired as they rose from sleep, which so terrified them that they f led in every direction; crying out “Mohawks! Mohawks!” Some ran into the river, some took canoes, and in their flight forgot the paddles, and were precipitated [thrown headfirst] down the dreadful fall and dashed in pieces. The enemy is supposed to have lost 300. The English having finished the work, began a retreat; but the Indians, on recovering from their terror fell upon their rear, killed Capt. Turner and 99 of his men.

Thomas Church, Esq–(1673-1748), son of Col. Benjamin Church (1639-1717), led five attacks on Acadia and helped build Fort William Henry on the Maine frontier.

Excerpts from
Soldiers In King Philip’s War
by George M. Bodge, 1906, page 37

Capt. Turner was still in command of the garrisons [forts] at the west. From captives who had escaped, and scouts here and there, came rumors of a great company of Indians fishing at the “Upper Falls” of the Connecticut. Capt. Turner and his officers were anxious to strike a blow against the enemy, and Connecticut authorities were applied to, and promised speedy reinforcements [they asked leaders in Connecticut for help and extra soldiers were provided].

Capt. Turner and his officers determined to attack the Indians at their great fishing-place at once. On May 18th the whole company of soldiers and volunteers, about one hundred and fifty, mustered [gathered] at Hatfield, and marched out at evening towards the “Falls”. They eluded [avoided] the outposts of the enemy, and at daylight arrived undiscovered at the camp of the Indians at the fishing-place. The savages were asleep in their wigwams, and the English rushed down upon them and shot them by scores, pointing their muskets in through the wigwam doors. No resistance was possible, and those who escaped the first fire fled in terror to the river, pursued [chased] by the soldiers, and were cut down or driven into the water without mercy; many were drowned attempting to cross the river.

George Madison Bodge, A.M–(1841-1914), a reverend from East Boston, MA, was a member of the New England Historical Genealogical Society and chaplain for the Massachusetts Society of Colonial Wars (a hereditary society).

Excerpts from
The History Of Deerfield, Vol. I
by George Sheldon, 1895, pgs. 155-157

Leaving his horses under a small guard, Turner led his men through Fall river, up a steep ascent[hill], and came out on a slope in the rear of the Indian camp. He had reached his objective point undiscovered. Silence like that of death brooded over the encampment by the river, save for the sullen roar of the cataract [waterfall] beyond. With ears strained to catch any note or alarm, the English waited impatiently the laggard [lingering] light, and with the dawn, stole silently down among the sleeping foe [enemy]; even putting their guns into the wigwams undiscovered. At a given signal the crash of a hundred shots aroused the stupefied [astonished] sleepers. Many were killed at the first fire. The astonished survivors, supposing their old enemy to be upon the, cried out “Mohawks! Mohawks!” rushed to the river, and jumped pell-mell into the canoes which lay along the shore. Many pushed off without paddles; in other cases the paddlers were shot, and falling overboard, upset the canoe; many in the confusion plunged into the torrent [rushing water], attempting to escape by swimming. Nearly all of these were swept over the cataract and drowned. Others, hiding about the banks of the river, were hunted out and cut down, “Captain Holyoke killing five, young and old, with his own Hands from under a bank.” A very slight resistance was made, and but one of the assailants wounded; another “was killed in the action by his friends, who, taking him for an Indian as he came out of a wigwam shot him dead.” The wigwams were burned, and the camp dismantled [taken apart].

George Sheldon–descendant of John Sheldon, who was living in Deerfield at the time of the 1704 attack. John Sheldon’s wife and one child were killed during the attack and three children were taken captive, to be later redeemed. George Sheldon was one of the founders of the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, dedicated to preserving the memory of Deerfield’s earliest settlers, both Native American and White. He also served as the organization’s first president. He was a historian, genealogist and author.