DEERFIELD MASSACRE
..., the town minister and the attackers’ special target, he was awakened “out of sleep . . . by their violent endeavors to break open doors and windows with axes and hatchets.” (qtd. in Demos 50) Two of Williams’ smallest children were slain right before his very eyes. Minister and Mrs. Williams, several of their children, and many other grimly injured townspeople were temporarily spared their lives and taken captive. As the captors and their prisoners were headed on their dreaded journey northward, a band of Englishmen noticed fires burning out of control in the village above. They hurried to their fellowmen’s rescue and were able to pick up just more than one dozen of the Deerfield Men (51). These men proceeded to the stockade where they came face to face with the enemy. According to Demos, they [Englishmen] were very triumphant in their counterattack; however, it was “pursued too far, imprudently”. (51) Subsequently, many more uncalled-for casualties resulted for both sides. The one and only positive outcome of this radical response was the repossession of the territory for the survivors. But yet, the civilians who were taken captive and not rescued by this pack of Englishmen were still in harms way. After several days of debate and all things considered, e.g., the weather (snow then rain) and the lack of proper apparel, they [Englishmen] opted to not go forward to “retake their captive “friends”, as Demos wrote (52). As difficult as it may have been to take no further action, I believe they made the wisest decision; many more lives could have been taken needlessly. By now the captors and captives were well on their way to Canada, each “group” suffering just the same. However, the French and the Indians, as hungry and tired as they were, pushed on in fear of another run-in with the Englishmen. Any individual who was not able to hang on was killed or left behind. One such victim was John Williams’ wife, and according to Williams, “the cruel and bloodthirsty savage who took her, slew her with his hatchet at one stroke.” (qtd. in Demos 53). All in all, of the 112 people taken captive, 18 were killed in this same heinous manner. Along the journey through the wilderness, the French and the Indians went separate ways. It was the Indians who retained all the prisoners, who, according to Demos, were later split up into small “bands”. Eventually, although two more deaths later, ninety-two captives reached Canada. Once in Canada,...