Captive Histories: English, French, and Native Narratives of the 1704 Deerfield Raid

Letter from Isaac Addington to Governor Fitz-John Winthrop, 1704

70 LetteR fromIsaacAddington toGovernor Fitz-JohOWinthrop,1704 I A (1645–1715), secretary of the colony of Massachusetts and a member of the Governor’s Council, wrote this letter to Governor Fitz-John Winthrop (1638–1707) of Connecticut undoubtedly under instructions from Governor Joseph Dudley of Massachusetts, who was also the wartime commander-in-chief of the military forces of all of the New England colonies. Massachusetts looked to the colony of Connecticut to provide garrison soldiers—impressed militiamen—to help defend the towns in western Massachusetts. The need for such assistance became critical after the Deerfield raid. There were, however, limits to Dudley’s ability to command his fellow governor. Rather than ordering Governor Winthrop to act, Addington writes to impress upon the Connecticut governor the critical need to act. Addington’s description of the actual attack was probably drawn from the reports of Colonel Samuel Partridge and others who conveyed to Boston firsthand accounts of Deerfield residents. So this letter is at best a second- or thirdhand report of the actual attack. The letter’s account of the response by local militia commanders would have been based more closely on Partridge’s account of his actions.
Boston March 5 1703/041 Honorable Sir: It is presumed your Honor will receive an account from Colonel Partridge2 of the tragedy acted by a party of the French & Indians, to the number of 150 or thereabout, upon the inhabitants of Deerfield on the last of February past, Isaac Addington to Governor Fitz-John Winthrop, Winthrop Papers, Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston. This letter has been published in the Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society , 6th ser. (Boston, 1889), 3:180–181. 1. The English still used the Julian calendar, which began the new year on March 25 rather than January 1; thus, dates in English documents between January 1 and March 25 were often written with both years. 2. Colonel Samuel Partridge (1645–1740) of Hatfield was commander of the militia in western Massachusetts.     ,  71 when they entered that town some little time before the break of day, the watches being negligent of their duty, and were surprised. The enemy setting fire to the houses and killing and seizing upon the inhabitants as they came affrighted out of their houses. They have killed in all fifty seven, taken ninety captives, of which number is the minister and his family. The fires being descried [i.e., caught sight of ] at Hatfield,3 Colonel Partridge posted away a company of sixty soldiers, who came to the place about sunrise, beat the enemy out of town, and thirty of them were left dead on the spot. And although a further reinforcement from Springfield4 came in a short time to them, as also your forces,5 yet no pursuit was made after the enemy; the pretense is the depth of the snow and fear least the enemy should kill the captives. About one half of the town is yet standing and a large house with good fort about it, where is Captain Wells with a sufficient number of men to defend it.6 And his Excellency7 will not have it slighted; he had reinforced the place with twenty soldiers but four days before this mischief and has intimation by a captive that is escaped8 that another party of the enemy to the number of 200 are abroad with [the] intent to fall upon some town on the river,9 or on some of our northern frontiers. Wherefore his Excellency desires that your men may be continued sometime for the strengthening of Deerfield and Queboag10 while ours are employed for the defense of the other parts where the enemy may be probable to make an impression [i.e., an attack]. Wherein his Excellency has given the necessary orders and has commanded me to give your Honor this brief account. Who am, Sir your Honor’s most humble servant Isaac Addington 3. Hatfield is in Massachusetts, twelve miles south of Deerfield. 4. Springfield is in Massachusetts, about thirty miles south of Deerfield. 5. Militiamen from the towns around Hartford, Connecticut. 6. The home of Captain Jonathan Wells (1659–1739), the commander of Deerfield’s militia, had been fortified by erecting a palisade around it. His house was south of the main stockade. 7. Governor Joseph Dudley (1647–1720) of Massachusetts was also governor-general of New England and overall commander of the military forces of...