King Philip’s War 6: The Awful Winter of 1676

The History of the Americans

Maps of New England during King Philip’s War

After the Great Swamp Fight, Josiah Winslow turned away overtures from the Narragansetts for a ceasefire, incorrectly believing he had the upper hand. Instead, he pursued the Narrangansetts, stumbling into the “hungry march,” in which Winslow and his starving militia were lured to the north by the Narragansetts, who were moving to join the Nipmucs and the Wampanoags in attacks on Massachusetts border towns. February and March would see a string of catastrophic losses, from the English point of view, and thrilling triumphs, from the Indian point of view. Famously, the destruction of Lancaster would result in the capture of Mary Rowlandson, who would go on to write an account of her captivity that would be New England’s first bestseller. By the end of March, even Providence had burned, notwithstanding a last appeal from Roger Williams, his last meaningful appearance in history. The situation in New England was desperate.

As often happens, however, for the English it was darkest just before the dawn.

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Selected references for this episode (Commission earned for Amazon purchases through the episode notes on our website)

Matthew J. Tuininga, The Wars of the Lord: The Puritan Conquest of America’s First People

James D. Drake, King Philip’s War: Civil War in New England, 1675-1676

George Ellis and John Morris, King Philip’s War

Mary Rowlandson, The Sovereignty and Goodness of God