The Deerfield Massacre: The Infamous 1704 Indian Raid That Left Hundreds Dead and More Captured
April 11, 2024 ● 38 minShare this episode
The sacking of Deerfield led to one of the greatest sagas of adventure, survival, sacrifice, family, honor, and faith ever told in North America. 112 survivors, including their fearless minister, the Reverand John Williams, were captured and led on a 300-mile forced march north, into enemy territory in Canada. Any captive who faltered or became too weak to continue the journey—including Williams’s own wife and one of his children—fell under the knife or tomahawk.
Survivors of the march willed themselves to live and endured captivity. Ransomed by the King of England’s 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, became the first bestselling book in American history and published a few years after his liberation, it remains a literary classic.
To discuss this event is today’s guest, James Swanson, author of “The Deerfield Massacre: A Surprise Attack, a Forced March, and the Fight for Survival in Early America.”
Today's Devotional
A Prayer to Hear God’s Voice over the World’s Noise - Your Daily Prayer - May 15
Circumstances may continue to overwhelm us, but it’s then that we need to resist the wild, noisy patterns of the world and instead embrace and listen for the internal, always present, sound, steady, still voice of God.
Christian News
The latest news and hot topics trending among Christian music, entertainment and faith life.