The Deerfield Massacre Audiobook

From the New York Times bestselling author of Manhunt now an Apple TV series and in the tradition of Empire of the Summer Moon comes a vivid account The Wall Street Journal of a forgotten chapter in American history the deadly confrontation between natives and colonists in Massachusetts in 1704 and the tragic saga that unfolded

Once it was one of the most infamous events in early American history Today it has been nearly forgotten

In an obscure twohundredyearold museum in a little town in western Massachusetts there stands what once was the most revered relic from the history of early New England the massive tomahawkscarred door that came to symbolize the notorious Deerfield Massacre of 1704 This impregnable barricadeknown to early Americans as The Old Indian Doorconstructed from doublethick planks of Massachusetts oak and studded with handwrought iron nails to repel the tomahawk blades wielded by several attacking Native tribes is the sole surviving artifact from one of the most dramatic moments in colonial American history In the leap year of 1704 on the cold snowy night of February 29 hundreds of Indians and their French allies swept down on an isolated frontier outpost to slaughter or capture its inhabitants

The sacking of Deerfield led to one of the greatest sagas of survival sacrifice family and faith ever told in North America One hundred and twelve survivors including their fearless minister the Reverend John Williams were captured and forced to march three hundred miles north into enemy territory in Canada Any captive who faltered or became too weak to continue the journeyincluding Williamss own wifefell under the tomahawk or war club

Survivors of the march willed themselves to live and endured captivity Ransomed by the royal governor of Massachusetts the captives later returned home to Deerfield rebuilt their town and for the rest of their lives told the incredible tale The memoir of Rev Williams The Redeemed Captive published soon after his liberation became one of the first bestselling books in American history and remains a literary classic The Old Indian Door is a touchstone that conjures up one of the most dramatic and inspiring stories of colonial America Now in this immersive and memorable book and with his gifts of great storytelling and penetrating insight James Swanson has given us a compelling account of an unjustly forgotten episode in American history Jon Meacham Pulitzer Prizewinning author of And There Was Light