When the Red Man Won Volume 1

By Tim Simmons

People ask what this book is about. It’s about the fights, battles and wars that the American Indian won. A very common question then is asked. “Were there any...besides Custer’s Last Stand?”
Yes. The Indian actually won quite often.
The Battle of the Little Bighorn or Custer’s Last Stand is known as the coup de grace of the American Indian in their fight against the white man. It is considered by many as the biggest defeat white American ever suffered at the hands of the Indians. Not true. More than two hundred soldiers were killed by the Lakota and Cheyenne Indians. Readers will learn in this book that Miami Indian leader Little Turtle and his warriors killed over 600 soldiers in a single battle in 1791. The year before, they killed nearly 200 in another battle. Two American armies were destroyed by him. At Fort Mims, Alabama, almost 500 whites were slain by the Creek Indians. The Pueblos drove the Spanish completely out of New Mexico in 1680. Red Cloud forced two forts to be abandoned and white troops had to pull out of the territory. Victorio and his Apaches wiped out two contingents of Mexicans in one day. The English were mauled at the beginning of King Philip’s War and driven practically to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.
So why did the Battle of the Little Bighorn get all the ink? Because George Custer got all the ink. There was no Indian fighters more famous than George Custer. He was colorful. He was popular. When Indians killed the most well known Indian fighter in the world, that was huge news. And it has been ever since. Custer had the mystique, the persona, the flair. Arthur St. didn’t have all that. Most of you don’t know who Arthur St. Clair was, but you will after you read this book.
The recording of the history goes to the victors. Ultimately, the white men were the victors. So the recorded the history of the Indian Wars. Also, with the exception of the Cherokees, the Indians had no written language. The whites were not eager to write a whole lot about their defeats with the exception of The Little Bighorn.
This leads to the second point. For many years writers did not want to write about the atrocities committed on white victims by red men. One often reads “...human decency restrains me from giving details as to what the savages did to these poor souls....”
It became somewhat vogue to write about the horrible things the white men did to the red men. Most of it is true. But allow the truth to continue – when the Indians were the victors, they could be equally as atrocious if not worse and often they were.
Some will defend the Indian by arguing, “But mutilation of their victims was a part of their religious beliefs. If they had to face their enemies again in the afterlife, they wanted them to be disabled.” First, to say all Indians had the same religious beliefs is as erroneous as saying all white men have the same religious beliefs. Second, the argument isn’t valid when one reads about the ruthless and horrible treatment to babies, women and children. Sometimes, they were just vicious and cruel. Accept it.
So who was the most atrocious? Red or white?
It’s called the story of man. No one is innocent.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tim Simmons
• Release date: Mar 12, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311011947

Book preview

When The Red Man Won

By

Tim Simmons

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2016 Tim Simmons All Rights Reserved

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Dedicated to my parents

Donald G. and BetteRuth Simmons

Who always believed in me

And

My cousin

Michael Kent Reeder

For his artistic help

Table of Contents

Preface

The First Victory

New England in Flames

Return of the Kachinas

The Massacres of King William’s War I

The Massacres of King William’s War II

The Massacres of King William’s War III

The Massacres of King William’s War IV

Death on the Prairie

Who Would Have Thought It?

Frontier in Flames

The Devil’s Hole

Massacre On The Licking

On The Other Side Of The Mountains

Who Is Little Turtle?

The Greatest Victory

Massacre On The Beach

Red Sticks Out Of Control

Stunned By The Runaways

Red Wave To The Sea

Blood in the Place of the Rye Grass

One Sick Cow

An Indian for Breakfast and a Pony to Ride

Vanished

Only 80 Men

The Week Before

Thunder Rolling Over The Mountains

Double Massacre

Revenge

Epilogue

Selected Bibliography

Preface

People ask what this book is about and I tell them, It's about the fights, battles and wars that the American Indian won. A lot of folks stare at me and ask, Were there any? I mean, you know, besides Custer’s Last Stand?

I was a little surprised so many people had no idea the Indians were victorious quite often. I thought about it and wondered why that fact seemed to be obscured. As I worked and researched further, I shared a lot of my findings with others and a common response was, Wow, the Indians could really be mean, couldn't they?

I don’t know as I would use the word ‘mean’ but yes, they could be just as brutal as the white man.

So I attacked this project with two concepts in mind. One, the Indians were often victorious. Why is this not better known? Two, red men could commit just as many atrocities as anyone else.

The Battle of the Little Big Horn or Custer's Last Stand is known as the coup de grace of the American Indian in their fight against the white man. It is considered by many as the biggest defeat white America ever suffered at the hands of the red man. Not true. Two hundred and sixty some odd soldiers were killed at The Battle of the Little Big Horn. Readers will learn in this book Little Turtle killed over 600 soldiers in a single battle in 1791. The year before, he had killed nearly 200 soldiers in one battle. Two American generals and their armies were absolutely destroyed by him. At Fort Mims, Alabama, almost 500 whites were slain by Creek Indians. The Pueblos drove the Spanish completely out of New Mexico in 1680. Red Cloud forced two forts to be abandoned and United States troops had to pull out of the territory. Victorio and his Apaches wiped out two contingents of Mexicans in one day. The English were mauled at the beginning King Philip’s War and driven practically to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

So why did the Battle of the Little Big Horn get all the ink? Because George Armstrong Custer got all the ink. There was no Indian fighter more famous than George Custer. When folks heard Custer's name, they envisioned a dashing, flamboyant hero in a blue uniform. He was colorful. He was popular. He made it easy to be hot copy for journalists the same way that some athletes, Hollywood personalities and political figures make it easy today.

When Indians killed the most well known Indian fighter in the world, that was huge news. And it has been ever since. Custer had the mystique, the persona, the mystery, the flair, the history. Arthur St. Clair didn't have all that. I know that most of you don't know who Arthur St. Clair was, but you will after you read this book.

The recording of history goes to the victors. Ultimately, the whites were the victors. So they recorded the history of the Indian wars. Also, with the exception of the Cherokees, the Indians had no written language. The whites were not eager to write a whole lot about their defeats with the exception of The Little Big Horn. Therefore, little has been written about the defeats.

This leads to the second point. The contemporary writers did not necessarily want to write about the atrocities committed on white victims. One often reads their words such as, ...human decency restrains me from giving details as to what the savages did to these poor souls...

It has become somewhat vogue to write about the horrible things the white man did to the red man. Most of it is true. But allow the truth to continue--when the Indians were the victors, they could be equally as atrocious if not worse and often they were. Compare the photos of the red victims at Wounded Knee to the scalped and mutilated corpses of white men who got caught by Indians.

Some will defend the Indian by arguing, But mutilation of their victims was a part of their religious beliefs. If they had to face their enemies again in the afterlife, they wanted them to be disabled. First, to say that all Indians had the same religious beliefs is as erroneous as saying all white men have the same religious beliefs. Second, the argument isn’t valid when one reads about their sadistic and ruthless treatment to white babies, children and women. Sometimes, they were just vicious and cruel. Accept it.

So who was the most atrocious? Red or white?

The answer is...neither. It's called the story of man. There is nothing fair or good about war. There are no rules. Such barbarianism took place when the Normans defeated the Angles and Saxons in England. It happened when the Iroquois humiliated the Delaware. There were atrocities when Shaka Zulu subjugated the African tribes all around him. The same thing was true when the Osage acquired guns before other tribes and took advantage of it against their fellow red men. There were tremendous injustices when the Catholic French attacked the Protestant Huguenots. They happened when the Chippewa drove the Lakota out onto the plains. Likewise when Genghis Khan slaughtered the Chinese. There were cruelties when the Creek and Choctaw clashed. The same was true when the Poles and Russians fought. They took place when the Apaches swooped down on the Pueblos, when the Manchurians subjugated the Chinese and when the English humiliated the Irish and Scots.

It's called the story of man. No one is innocent.

The First Victory

The year was 1493. The master of the great fleet anchored offshore, seventeen ships and 1,200 men, walked down the beach with the physician of the fleet beside him. Blue skies stretched over them. Palm trees waved serenely with the balmy breeze. Neither of the two Spaniards paid any attention to the magnificent beauty of the place however. A great mystery had taken place and they were engrossed with trying to figure it out.

Where did they go? the admiral asked in complete bewilderment.

A fort was supposed to be on this island with 39 Spaniards in it. Instead, all they found were ruins of charred wood and a few articles of clothing and tools. That was all. No bodies. As the two officials continued down the beach, they came upon a small native village. When the Indians saw them, many scampered into the trees and brush. The two white men entered the village and curiously looked inside the huts. Various items obviously taken from the inhabitants of the fort could be seen everywhere.

But what happened to the 39 men?

The local natives offered vague stories.

Some of your people got sick and died an old man said.

Some were killed by the warriors of Caonabó, another told them and pointed toward the mountains.

But where were the bodies? When asked that question, the natives rolled their shoulders or tilted their heads like they didn’t understand. As the commander of the fleet walked the sands, the question rolled over and over.

It was less than a year ago that Christopher Columbus returned to Spain with his remarkable account of finding a western route to China. Furthermore, he had in hand that which King Ferdinand and Queen Isabela were truly interested in -- gold. Gold which he had received from the natives he had encountered. With that, he had little trouble convincing the monarchs to sponsor a second voyage. This one would be different than the first. It was comprised of seventeen ships and 1,200 men including soldiers, priests, gentlemen of the court, colonists and horses. He left the port of Cadiz, Spain, on September 25, 1493, full of dreams and aspirations.

As we now know, he did not find a western route to China but, rather, a whole New World. It was October 12, 1492, when a sailor on board the Pinta sighted land. As it turned out, it was the island of San Salvador in the present-day Bahamas. Columbus was encouraged, obviously, and kept sailing in search of the mainland of China. Instead, he discovered the islands of Santa Maria de la Concepción (Rum Cay), Fernandina (Long Island), Isabela (Crooked Island) and Juana (Cuba).

At each island, he encountered people. He wrote his first impressions in his journal:

"They all go naked as their mothers bore them, even the women, and one of these was very young. But all those I saw were young, for I didn’t see anyone who was over thirty, and they are all well formed, with handsome bodies and a graceful physical appearance. They have coarse hair, almost like a horse’s tail, short and falling into their eyes except for a tuft which they throw behind and let grow long, never cutting it. Some paint themselves gray, others white, red, or another color. Some paint their face, others their whole body or only the eyes or nose.

"They do not carry arms nor do they know about them. I showed them swords and they took them by the blade through ignorance and cut themselves. They have no kind of iron. Their spears are sticks without iron; only some have a fish’s tooth on the tip.

Some people I saw bore marks of weapons on their bodies, and I asked them with gestures what they were. They made me understand that from other, neighboring islands people used to come to capture them, and they defended themselves. I believed then and do now that people come here from the mainland to capture and enslave them. They must be good and clever servants; they repeat immediately whatever I say to them, and I believe that they could easily become Christians because it seems to me they belong to no sect. God willing, when I leave here I will take six of these people with me to bring to Your Highness so that they can learn to talk like us.

In fact, Columbus did take several natives on board with the intentions of bringing them back to Spain. They had to be intelligent people because the linguistic differences were soon broken and there was communication between the two races relatively soon.

After leaving Cuba, Columbus still looked for the mainland of China. On the morning of December 5, land was sighted again. His native guides called it Bohío. He arrived off the mouth of a great harbor which he named Port St. Nicolás and dropped anchor for the night. Beacon fires could be seen on the heights and the Spaniards knew the natives were watching them. The next morning, Columbus sailed along the coast and finally dropped anchor again at Bahía de los Mosquitos, now Moustique Bay. On December 9,, he decided to name this land La Isla Española, which became known as Hispaniola.

His native guides whom every day we understand better, and they us, told Columbus this land was insular and beyond it lay the mainland called Caribata, the land of the Caribs.

They are our enemies, one of Columbus’ guides said with a frown. Bad people. They attack us and take our people to be slaves. Sometimes they eat us.

Reaching his own conclusions, Columbus believed these Caribs must be subjects of the Grand Khan and were Chinese pirates.

On December 12, Columbus went ashore, raised a cross and claimed the land of Hispaniola for Ferdinand and Isabella. That same day, three of his men explored a valley at the head of the harbor and came upon a group of natives who immediately took off running. The Spaniards chased after them and caught a very young and beautiful woman. She was brought back to the Santa María where she talked with the native guides on the ship. Columbus and his men stared in fascination. Not because she was beautiful and naked.

Do you see what I see?

"Sí. It is beautiful!’

Is it really what I think it is?

"Sí. If you think it is a gold ornament in her nose, it is what you think it is."

Gold! They had finally found a particle of what they were really looking for.

Apparently, the guides spoke well of the Spaniards. When Columbus sent the maiden back ashore wearing clothes and laden with trinkets, she didn’t want to go but preferred to stay with the men from Heaven. Columbus pushed her on her way, however. She would, hopefully, serve as the open door to more treasures. The next day he sent nine men ashore along with a native guide. The Spaniards followed a well-worn path which led them to a valley where they found a village. When the natives saw them, they panicked and ran. The native guide called out that these were not Caribs but another people from Heaven. Soon, the natives returned and the Spanish delegation was surrounded by two thousand smiling faces who treated them courteously, fed them well and gave them gifts including a whole flock of colorful parrots. But no gold.

Where’s the gold? one Spaniard grumbled.

"Be patient, amigo. Be patient, his friend smiled. We will have to follow the bees to the hive. Not scare them or squash them."

On December 15, Columbus sailed up the channel between Hispaniola and Tortuga Island. He then went ashore to see the land and hopefully visit the village his men had found. He didn’t get very far, didn’t see the village and by the time he returned to the ships strong winds buffeted them. That night, Columbus saw the beacon fires on the hills again and concluded, This folk must be hunted hard by someone. He was correct. They were scared to death of the Caribs.

The next day, in the midst of some strong winds, one man in a canoe struggled through the waves toward the ship. The Spaniards hauled him aboard, gave him rings, beads and bells. Then he directed them to a village on the beach not far away. Almost five hundred natives came to greet the Spaniards. This time they were accompanied by a leader, a young man in his early twenties, to whom the natives showed much reverence. That evening, the young leader came aboard the Santa María with some of his retinue and Columbus offered him a banquet of Castilian food. The man took one bite, grimaced, and then gave the rest to his tribesmen. He obviously did not have a taste for fine Castilian food. That was all right. Columbus and his men stared with gleams in their eyes. These natives of higher ranking wore gold trinkets.

I think we are getting closer to the hive.

Columbus learned that the young leader was actually a subordinate to a chieftain named Guacanagarí who was the leader, or cacique, of all the natives the Spaniards had encountered so far on Hispaniola.

So who were these Indians? They were the Taínos, one of the tribes of the Caribbean Sea and of the Arawak linguistic stock. The word "taíno meant good or noble in their language and, indeed, Columbus wrote there were in all the world no better people. The Taínos of Hispaniola referred to their island as ayti or hayti, meaning mountainous." Later, the island would be divided into the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

The Taíno society covered several of the islands in what we now call the Caribbean Sea including Puerto Rico. They were divided into two classes--the nobles (nitaínos) and the commoners (naborias). Altogether, they were governed by a hierarchy of caciques (chiefs) who were advised by the nobles and shamans. Confederations of communities called "cacicazgos" had developed with communities anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of members. Each cacicazgo was led by a cacique. When Columbus arrived at Hispaniola, there were five independent cacicazgos on the island. The leader called Guancanagarí was the cacique of northwestern Hispaniola.

The Taínos hunted birds, forest rodents, manatees and reptiles, fished for oysters, lobsters, crabs, and various fish and raised guava, papaya and pineapples. They had bows and arrows and spears. They preferred peace but if war was necessary, they would fight. There were other tribes in the islands including Caribs who practiced cannibalism and found Taínos to be particularly tasty.

In the next few days after entertaining the young Taíno nobleman, Columbus slowly sailed east along the northern coast of Hispaniola. At one place an old man came to talk with the Spaniards. Columbus was fascinated that he had finally found someone older than thirty and he asked him the usual question. Is there any gold close by?

There are many neighboring islands where gold is produced, the old man told the Taíno guide who translated it to Columbus. There is one island that is all gold, the old man claimed with wide eyes. They sift it, smelt it, make bars and wonderful pieces of art.

But when Columbus pressed him as to where that island was, the old man just shook his head. This is something I do not remember.

Other Taínos told the Spaniards there were gold mines inland on "hayti."

On December 22, Columbus received messengers from Guacanagarí who sent him a cotton belt with white and red fishbones and in the center was a mask with ears, nose and tongue made of hammered gold.

The great Guacanagarí invites you to visit him in his village at Cybao.

At that, Columbus’ ears pricked up. Could they be saying Cipangu? That was what Marco Polo called Japan.

Columbus was on his way to visit Guacanararí in Japan when tragedy struck. The Santa María struck a reef off Cape Haitien, its bottom so badly damaged it had to be abandoned. The Spaniards spent Christmas Day hauling supplies off the sinking ship and salvaging all they could. Guacanagarí arrived and sent his people out in canoes to help with the process while he remained on shore and watched to be sure nothing was stolen.

On the morning of December 26, Guacanagarí came on board the Niña where Columbus had transferred his flag. He consoled Columbus as best as he could and told him he would give Columbus all he had. Meanwhile, canoes full of Taínos came alongside the Niña and the Indians wanted to trade bits of gold for hawks’ bells. The Spanish sailors were very happy to oblige. Guacanagarí stood by in solemn silence and watched. Then he turned to Columbus and spoke. The translater said, He would like for you to save one hawk bell for him. He will pay you for it with four pieces of gold as big as your hand.

The admiral smiled. I would be honored to give the cacique a hawk bell for the four pieces of gold.

Columbus gave Guacanagarí a shirt and some gloves, which the cacique really seemed to like, and then he had him dine with him on the Niña. Afterwards, Guacanararí took Columbus ashore and they feasted on Taíno food. Guacanagarí talked in depth about the horrors of the Caribs and their bows and arrows. This inspired Columbus to have one of his men put on a show with a Turkish bows and arrows. Then his men shot some lombards and muskets which terrified the Taínos. Many of them screamed and ran away from the explosions. Guacanagarí smiled at Columbus and believed he had a worthy ally.

Columbus obviously had to return to Spain, report his discoveries and come back with the people and materials to colonize. The problem was that he had one less ship and not enough room to carry all of his crew. Using the timber from the Santa María, and with the help of the Taínos, Columbus built "La Fortin de Natividad" (Fort Nativity) about two miles inland. It was known simply as Navidad.

We will be returning to Spain soon, Columbus told his men. We only have our two ships now. Obviously, some of you must stay. I will return as soon as is possible with more men and supplies. So I am asking for volunteers to –

"I will stay, Capitan!"

I volunteer!

Please allow me to remain here in the service of our blessed king and queen.

Columbus was pleased with the number of volunteers and he had to smile at their enthusiasm.

Why are you in such a hurry to be left behind? some of the others whispered.

Look around you! The smell of gold is everywhere. While Columbus and the rest of you are gone, we will find the mines where they are digging up this gold. We will be rich by the time he gets back.

Do you think you can survive until he gets back?

"Por supuesto! These Taínos are gentle puppies. They have so much to eat they can sit around and play or sleep half the time. And these women! They are sea numphs! Beautiful! Do you think Columbus will linger? Aiee, no! He has the scent of gold in his nostrils, too!"

You are right. I want to stay as well.

Altogether, Columbus had 39 men stay in Navidad. He later wrote in his journal, It is, however, quite true that many of my men had begged me and had others implore me to let them stay in this place. Those who remained included Diego de Arana, marshal of the fleet, Pedro Gutiérrez, the king’s butler, and Rodrigo d’Escobedo, the secretary. Diego de Arana was made commander-in-chief. Columbus ordered that they were to build a boat to explore the coast more, discover the gold mine, and find a better site for a colony while he was gone. Fort Navidad was only meant to be temporary. He left them, "a great quantity of merchandise, all that the king and queen had authorized for trading, so it could be exchanged for gold, and everything that was aboard the Santa María: a year’s supply of hardtack, wine, and quite a bit of artillery." As the fort was being built, Columbus and Guancanagarí visited together often and became closer friends. On January 4, 1493, Columbus set sail with the promise he would be back. The Taíno cacique was very sad to see his new friend leave.

Almost one year later, November of 1493, Columbus led his great fleet back through the Caribbean Islands discovering ones he had not seen before as he made his way toward Hispaniola and Fort Navidad. On November 14, they came to the island he named Santa Cruz, now known as St. Croix. They passed through the harbor now called Christiansted Harbor and went up the bay to find a stream of fresh water as they needed to refill the casks.

They passed a village and the Taínos on board the ship who now spoke Spanish well jabbered rapidly. "Cuidado! This is a village of the Caribs! Enemies! They are the man eaters!"

Columbus still wanted to talk with them so he sent a boat ashore. The villagers fled but some of the Spaniards went on in to the village anyway and rescued some Arawak slaves who may have been scheduled for dinner that night. As the skiff made its way back to the flagship, a canoe came down the coast carrying four Carib men, two women and a boy. At first, the natives were so shocked to see the Spaniards they just sat in their canoe with their mouths open. The shore party maneuvered their boat to cut off the Carib’s escape. When the Caribs recovered their wits, they took out their bows and arrows, both men and women, and shot at the Spaniards.

Get after them, the Spanish sergeant growled.

It is the first recorded fight in post-Columbian times between Europeans and American Indians.

The Spaniards rowed toward them and two were hit by arrows. Still, the Spanish boat broadsided the Carib canoe and upset it. Both parties splashed to the shore where a hard-fought skirmish ensued. The Indians were finally captured and brought on board. Still, the Caribs fought and one of them, holding an open wound, leaped overboard and swam for the shore.

Do not let him escape! the Arawaks screamed as they watched. He will get others and we will be attacked by so many!

The Spaniards managed to recapture him, tie him up and throw him back in the water. Somehow, he freed himself and swam towards the shore again. The Spaniards were shocked so they brought out their crossbows and filled him with arrows. This time he was really dead.

Then the shores became alive with furious, screaming Caribs. They had no weapons which could reach the ship so the Spaniards just watched them curiously. Several Arawak prisoners bolted from their Carib masters and successfully swam out to the ships to be rescued.

The ships set sail again and discovered several other islands including Puerto Rico. Finally, on the night of November 27, they cruised the coast of northern Hispaniola where Fort Navidad was located. Columbus well-remembered the fate of the Santa María on a reef and he was especially careful. Flares were made on board the ships but, strangely, they saw no answering fires on the shore. Cannons were fired but there was no answer.

About ten o’clock that night, somebody called out, Boat approaching!

Everyone studied the night and then saw the small canoe approaching which was paddled by several Taínos.

Come on! the Taíno guides on Columbus’ flagship encouraged them.

The natives looked the ship over carefully. Is this the ship of Columbus?

Yes! Come on up!

They hesitated. I want to see Columbus, one of them finally declared. The admiral of the fleet stepped over and a torch was shoved close so the natives could get a close look at his face. Their leader grinned wide. Good, he declared. Very good!

He is a cousin of Guacanagarí, one of the Taíno guides whispered to Columbus.

Once they were on board, the leader held up a shrouded item for Columbus to see and pulled the cover off. Two golden masks gleamed in the torchlight. All the nearby Spaniards gasped and aahed. They are gifts to Columbus from Guacanagarí, the Taíno declared.

Thank you very much, Columbus nodded. Tell me. Where are my men I left at Navidad?

They are well, was the immediate reply. Except some became sick and died.

Columbus remained still and continued to look at the obvioiusly nervous Taíno. Some were killed in a fight.

Columbus continued to stare at him as his guides translated. "Please excuse the fact that Guacanagarí did not come here himself. He is recovering from a wound he received in a fight with another cacique called Caonabó."

Where are the rest of my men? Columbus asked.

This I do not know, the Taíno said. I think maybe Guacanagarí can tell you.

The next day the fleet anchored offshore from Navidad. A shore party was sent into the jungle. Columbus waited quietly at the railing. When his men returned, he stood on deck and listened to their report.

It has been destroyed. The front gate was obviously smashed in. All the buildings have been burned to the ground. We found some tools, some broken crates, a few things lying around but that is all, Capitán. There was no sign of any Spaniards.

Columbus had Guacanagarí’s cousin brought to him. What happened? he demanded.

Please Master! the Taíno groveled and whimpered. It is true that all the Spaniards were killed by Caonabó. These are not the people of Guacanagarí. In fact, the great Guacanagarí was wounded as he tried to defend your men and his own village. That is why he is not here now. This is all I know.

It still sounded strange. Where were the bodies? Columbus sent the cousin back to Guacanagarí with the message that Guacanagarí should come himself to talk with Columbus. Another day went by and no Indians came to see Columbus. The next day, Columbus and Diego Chanca, who was the physician of the fleet, walked down the beach and came upon a small village. The Taínos ran and the Spaniards looked inside the huts. They found various articles obviously taken from the fort. Columbus started to doubt his friend, Guacanagarí.

When they returned to the site of the fort, they found some Indians trading with some Spaniards. Do any of you know what became of the men from this fort? Columbus asked.

They stood quietly a while and then several gestured for him to follow them. The admiral took a handful of his soldiers and they stepped behind the natives who led them down a trail through the jungle. A horrible stench overcame them. The Spaniards had to cover their noses and then they saw the cause. Eleven mutilated, dirty, decomposing bodies were piled in the dirt and leaves. They were obviously Spaniards.

Who did this? Columbus demanded to know angrily.

His translators yammered and the Taínos answered. It was Caonabó and his ally, Mayrení, who killed the Spaniards. Columbus later wrote, …but at once [they] began to complain that the Christians had taken three or four women apiece, whence we believed that the evil which had befallen them was out of jealousy.

Columbus sent several parties out to search for a better colony site, to find the gold mine, to see if they could learn anything more about the deaths of the Spaniards and where the rest of them were located. One group returned saying they had seen Guacanagarí and he invited Columbus to his village to talk. Columbus accepted the offer. With about one hundred armed men.

When Columbus and his men arrived at Guacanagarí’s village, they found him lying in a hammock with his thigh tightly bandaged.

My friend! the cacique beamed. I am so happy to see you again!

It is good to see you, too, Columbus said as he stepped forward and they clasped hands.

They talked a while and then Columbus told him he needed to know what became of his men. Guacanagarí repeated the story. Another cacique called Caonabó and his ally, Mayrení, and their warriors attacked Navidad and my people as well. We fought hard, side by side. I am sad to say all your men were killed. I lost many of my people as well. And I was wounded in the fighting.

Columbus motioned for Dr. Chanca to remove the bandage from Guacanagarí’s leg. There was no sign of a wound.

But I have a lot of pain, the cacique insisted.

That evening, Guacanagarí was well enough to visit Columbus on his ship where he saw a horse for the first time. And he talked a little more about what happened.

I was confused, my friend, he told Columbus. Some of your people talked about their religion, their beliefs in God and Christ and the Madonna. I remembered you spoke of the same things. But after you left…things were different. Those men did not behave the way they said they believed. They took Taíno women. Some of them took four or five of our women to live with them at the fort. They used them for pleasure. They forced many of our men to work for them. They were…not good people.

Columbus sat silently and digested it. He had already seen several women carrying babies who had curly hair, blue eyes, lighter skin. He knew.

After Guacanagarí left the ship that evening, Columbus and his officers talked. I say we attack and put them to death, said one.

I agree, another nodded. We have to teach them a lesson.

No, Columbus shook his head. There are more questions to be answered. And I think it is we who need to learn a lesson.

As time passed and the Spaniards and Taínos got to know each other better, the story came together in bits and pieces. Guacanagarí had told the truth. After Columbus left, it didn’t take long before the Spaniards started collecting beautiful Taíno maidens. They also forced the Taíno men to do more and more physical labor for them. Columbus had left Diego de Arana in charge but he was not a good leader of men. Some of them argued over women and gold. Rodrigo de Escobedo and Pedro Gutiérrez killed another man and Arana did nothing about it. Then the two gathered their own group of followers and roved the island in search of gold and women. Guacanagarí didn’t believe there was anything he could do to stop them. Besides, they were the men of his good friend and ally, Columbus, and he tried to avoid trouble.

Unfortunately for Gutiérrez and his gang, they crossed paths with another cacique named Caonabó whose village was higher up in the mountains. Caonabó may have been a Carib or at least part Carib. Nonetheless, he would not tolerate the behavior of the roving marauders and he and his warriors attacked and killed the entire Gutiérrez faction.

In the meantime, the other Spaniards broke up into various gangs and wandered the island as well. Diego de Arana had only ten men left to guard Navidad when Caonabó attacked. Three of the Spaniards were killed and the rest ran into the ocean where they drowned. It was true that Guacanagarí tried to help the Spaniards. Several of his men had bona fide wounds to prove it. After that, Caonabó and his warriors tracked down the remaining Spaniards and killed them off as they found them.

Altogether, thirty-nine white men were killed by these people Columbus called Indians. This was the first victory the red man had over the white man. It would not be the last.

New England in Flames

The year was 1676. The snows of winter still covered much of the colony of Massachusetts, and the English colonists still stayed inside close to their hearths sharpening their tools for the coming spring and oiling their weapons in fear of the coming Indians raids. The memories of the previous year’s atrocities were still fresh. They were not disappointed. At dawn on February 10th, the Algonquin Indian sachem, Monoco, struck the town of Lancaster fiercely. Before the morning was over, fifty white people, men, women and children, were dead, scalped and mutilated, and others were swept away as prisoners. Almost two weeks later, another force of red men hit Medfield, killed twenty whites and hauled away another large group of captives. On March 16th, Monoco and his warriors attacked Groton. Sixty-five homes were burned. The shocked citizens of the community hid in their fortified garrison house. A figure which looked like something from hell stepped through the smoke. It was none other than Monoco himself. A horrible scar obliterated half of his face and the whites knew him as One-eyed John. His good eye stabbed them through the gray waves of smoke and his fist went up into the air.

Watch what I will do next! he raged. My warriors and I will burn the following towns in this order – Chelmsford, Concord, Watertown, Cambridge, Chalrestown, Roxbury and Boston. What me will, me do!

Within weeks, Boston was, indeed, surrounded by burning villages.

By the 1670s, the second and third generations of English settlers had solidified their toeholds on New England soil and advanced from mere existence to energetic expansion. The Indians living in New England were Algonquins, a vast group of natives broken up into scores of various tribes. They could be a warlike people. The early Anglos found many indications that constant warfare had been going on between the Algonquins and the Iroquois to the northwest, as well as continual fighting among the various Algonquin tribes themselves. As a means of survival, some Algonquins had formed loose confederacies such as the Narragansetts and the Wampanoags. But then these two groups often eyed each other suspiciously.

Massasoit, was the Pokanoket sachem (leader) and head of the Wampanoag confederacy, with whom the founding fathers of Plymouth developed a peace treaty in 1621. In fact, Massasoit probably did so because he saw the Pilgrims as favorable allies in a power play against the Narragansetts. Squanto, the helpful Indian of Pilgrim lore, was a Wampanoag. The 1650s were golden years for both the English and the Wampanoags. Both groups thrived as they helped each other. The two oldest sons of Massasoit were Wamsutta and Metacom. The Pokanoket brothers grew up in an environment where the Englishmen treated them virtually as princes.

At the same time, however, there was an undercurrent of activity, which would explode into a bloody climax.

For one thing, the sachems of the different tribes were selling land to the colonists. It was all fair and legitimate. Take note. The English settlers stole nothing. They paid the Indian leaders fair prices for land. But the sachems got rich while the common people of the tribes got nothing as they watched the Englishmen acquire more and more land.

For another thing, other tribes existed outside the Wampanoag and Narragansett confederacies and they weren't necessarily part of the golden age. The Pequots were one such tribe. They did not have the same compatible relationship with the English as did the Wampanoags and Narragansetts. In fact, in 1637, the first Anglo/Indian War broke out between the English and the Pequots with the English soundly defeating the Pequots. The other tribes observed this very carefully.

Politics was another factor, the fungus of history. The Narragansetts were not pleased with the Wampanoags’ thriving relationship with the English. The Narragansetts considered the Wampanoags to be subservient to them and were outraged when Massasoit, the Wampanoag sachem made a treaty with the English. Roger Williams was asked by the people of Plymouth to leave because of his religious beliefs. Williams originally settled in Wampanoag territory and developed a good relationship with Massasoit. When he was forced to leave, he settled in Narragansett territory, established Rhode Island and built a good rapport with the Narragansetts. Massasoit was not one bit happy about that. Even the beloved Squanto was involved in politics. He constantly competed with Massasoit for the favors of the Englishmen because he wanted to be the sachem the English recognized.

Times were changing. When the Europeans first arrived in North America, there was an equal exchange in needs between the Anglo and the Indian. The Europeans needed the Indians to teach them about survival in the wilderness, buckskin clothing, new agriculture, and canoes. The Indians found they liked metal, guns, and cloth. However, once the Europeans learned what they needed to know, they had no further use for Indian guidance. But the Indians, on the other hand, had become dependent on European products.

Finally, the English settlements were not unified at the time. English centers of commerce were located at Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut and elsewhere. All they had in common at this point was their homeland and the English language. The United Colonies of New England was founded but it had a Puritan core and any colonies lacking that, such as Rhode Island and the settlements in New Hampshire and Maine, were not included.

It all began to come to a head in 1661. Massasoit died. His oldest son, Wamsutta, became sachem of the Pokanokets and, therefore, the leader of the Wampanoags. As the new leader, Wamsutta requested the English give him a new name. It was a common Indian practice - a new era, a new name. He was dubbed Alexander and his younger brother, Metacom, became Philip.

But there were rumors.

You know, Alexander’s attitude toward the English is not as cordial as his father’s was, some said.

I heard he was selling land to white settlers besides those of us here in Plymouth, others grumbled.

Some people think he’s talking with other tribes to build an alliance against the English.

Why?

He thinks we’re getting too powerful.

When Josiah Winslow became the leader of Plymouth, he sent a message to Alexander to have him come to Plymouth for a meeting; a council on the state of affairs.

Alexander ignored the invitation. I am not a dog to come running when the white man calls.

This did not sit well with Winslow so he went in pursuit of the Pokanoket sachem. He found him at a hunting camp. Winslow pulled out his pistol and stuck it in Alexander’s chest. You are coming to Plymouth with me or you are a dead man!

Alexander was offered a horse to ride back to Plymouth but the humiliated sachem refused. Somewhere in the process, Alexander got sick with a raging fever. He did get to Plymouth where he was thoroughly questioned and chastised. He was then allowed to return to Sowams, the main village of the Wampanoags. He never made it, however, as he died enroute.

Needless to say, the Wampanoags were furious. Alexander's wife, Weetamoo, who was sachem of the Sakonnets, another Wampanoag tribe, cried, They poisoned him! I know those snakes poisoned Wamsutta and they must pay for it!

The year was 1664 and the leadership of the Wampanoags fell on the shoulders of Philip who was then thirty-one years old. Philip was a tall, well-built, handsome man known for his skills as an orator. He had grown up in a time when the English treated him regally. Now, however, things had drastically changed. He was no longer the charmed prince but the leader of a nation in a fragile situation.

What was the truth about the alleged conspiracies of the Wampanoags and Narragansetts? It remains a mystery. They may or may not have taken place. But the death of Alexander definitely tipped the scales toward just such an alliance and conspiracy. The Algonquin people now had a new name for the English. It was "wotawquenange and it meant cutthroats."

For several years, Philip stayed politically silent. But it was no secret that Canonchet, a sachem of the Narragansetts, attended the ceremonies recognizing Philip’s new position. By 1671, Philip’s warriors more and more often appeared with weapons in hand, an obvious display for the colonists to see. The fact that the colonists' farm animals were escaping and destroying Pokanoket crops didn't help matters any. Rumors of conspiracy were rampant. Ninigret, the sachem of the Eastern Niantics, constantly warned the English that Philip was making war preparations.

Still, Philip didn't play his hand. At a council with the English on April 10, 1671, he made a token gesture of surrendering 70 weapons. At another council, he agreed to pay a fine for any past transgressions - installments over a five-year period. In reality, Philip was scheming. Scheming and stalling. He would pay the fines as a down payment on what he planned to recover. He sold more land to the colonists in order to pay his fines...while he continued to solidify alliances with other tribes.

In January, 1675, a Christian Indian named John Sassamon who had been educated at Harvard, went to Governor Josiah Winslow and reported that Philip was preparing for war. Shortly thereafter, Sassamon was murdered and his body found under the ice of a frozen pond. Philip claimed no responsibility but the nervous people of New England were not convinced. Three Wampanoags were arrested and put on trial. Philip was angry and claimed the white men had no right to try red men for crimes committed against other red men. Nevertheless, the three were found guilty and hanged on June 8th.

The day came on June 24, 1675. Swansea, Massachusetts, was a pretty little town of 30 to 40 houses clustered around a church. It sat near the neck of land that led to the peninsula upon which Philip had his main village called Monthaup. The colonists had anglicized the name of the village to Mount Hope. According to legend, the powaws or spiritual men of the Wampanoags told Philip that if the English fired the first shot, the Indians could win a war against them. Therefore, Philip encouraged his warriors to antagonize the colonists. Plymouth had declared June 24th a day of fasting and humiliation in hopes that God would intervene and help His people in this tenuous time. The people of Swansea were observing the chosen day when guards saw some Pokanoket warriors emerge from the woods and approach some cows in the pasture.

Look! somebody called out. What are they doing?

The English stood in shock as they watched the Indians slash the throat of the cows.

Shoot those heathens! Several white men brought their muskets up and fired killing one warrior.

It was exactly what Philip wanted. The English had fired the first shot. The Indians screamed with enthusiasm and charged. Quickly, eleven Englishmen were killed and the war had started.

The news swept through New England. Only it grew tremendously as it traveled. According to the stories, the Indians had slaughtered all the English they could find and the countryside was filled with bloodthirsty savages. The bells in every town rang out for the militia and Puritans throughout the countryside fell to their knees in prayer. The colonists derisively began to refer to the Wampanoag leader as King Philip and the conflict became known as King Philip's War.

The various colonies sent militiamen to the Swansea area. Some of them were criminals released from Boston jails. By June 28th, the English forces gathered at Swansea included Captain James Cudworth with over 100 men from Plymouth, Captain Thomas Prentice with about 50 horsemen, Captain Daniel Henchman with about 100 men came from Massachusetts Bay, as well as Captain Samuel Moseley with another 100 volunteers. The total was 350 men facing an unknown number of Indians. With so many captains, it was hard to say who was the commander which may account for why little was accomplished and what did happen was, at times, almost comical.

The colonial army positioned itself at the neck of the peninsula and figured they had Philip and his Wampanoags bottled up. The question was--What to do now? After several days of indecision, about a dozen men decided to make a foray down on to the peninsula. Benjamin Church, a frontiersman who knew the Indians well, led them.

They didn't have to go far. When they got to a bridge still within sight of the main army, a small group of Indians opened fire. Two men were hit and the rest took cover. Church whirled around and looked at the rest of the army who stood and watched. Charge! Come on! But they didn’t. The wounded were taken back and Church was an unhappy man. He later wrote:

The Lord have mercy on us if such a handful of Indians shall thus dare an army.

The next day, the army did move out and advance beyond the bridge. They spread out looking for Indians and the only time they fired their muskets was when two groups of Englishmen mistook each other for Indians. Fortunately, only one man was slightly injured.

That night, Major Thomas Savage arrived to take command. On June 30th, they began an earnest sweep of the peninsula. No Indians were found as they had escaped by canoes. Their wigwams at Mount Hope were empty. As the Englishmen searched the abandoned village, they found a stand of upright poles upon which were the severed heads and hands of those settlers who were killed at Swansea.

There was general disagreement as to what to do next.

I say we build a fort at Mount Hope and keep those Wampanoags from ever coming back.

What good would that do? They will just strike somewhere else.

I agree, Ben Church nodded. We need to get gack to the mainland and pursue the Indians.

"I think it’s time we just go back home and