Ambush at Northfield
September 1, 1675
On Sept. 1, 1675, an estimated sixty Pocumtuck and Norwottuck attacked Deerfield, MA, destroying several structures. This same day, an estimated twenty miles south, Nipmuc and Wampanoag forces attacked Hadley, MA.The Colony of Connecticut began observing its weekly Day of Fast (held every Wednesday).
On Sept. 2, 1675, twenty miles north of Deerfield and thirty miles north of Hadley, Pocumtucks and Nashaways led by Monoco attacked Northfield (Squakeag), the northernmost settlement on the Connecticut River. Eight settlers were killed and copious damage was done to crops and structures. After three attacks in two days, Massachusetts colonial officials declared the area unsafe and sent Captain Beers to evacuate the area.
On September 4th, Beers arrived in Northfield with thirty six mounted cavalry men intending to evacuate the survivors. Instead, they were ambushed by an estimated 150 Indigenous warriors under the leadership of Monoco and Shoshonin (“Sagamore Sam”). Beers and about half of his men were killed. The town of Northfield was not evacuated until September 6th under Major Robert Treat. (1)
The number of colonists killed in the ambush varies between eighteen and twenty one depending on the source.