MYSTIC FORT

AS YOU GO DOWN A RESIDENTIAL ROAD GOING SOUTH IN MYSTIC, CONNECTICUT YOU COME UPON A LITTLE ROUND TRAFFIC CIRCLE IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE. IT IS A FUNNY PLACE FOR A 15 FOOT ROUND CIRCLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. ON TOP OF IT ARE TWO SIGNS DIRECTING TRAFFIC TO GO TO THE RIGHT FROM EACH DIRECTION. THERE IS FOLIAGE LIKE VINES ON THE GROUND WITH WHAT LOOKS LIKE SOME KIND OF SMALL CEDAR TREE.

A NATIVE AMERICAN FORT STOOD ON THIS VERY EASILY CLIMBED FLAT HILL. UNLIKE OUR BELOVED FORT SHANTOK THAT WAS BUILT OF A VERY STEEP HILL AND NOT EASILY CLIMBED.

WE ARE TOLD THAT THIS IS WHERE THE PEQUOT MYSTIC FORT ONCE STOOD. ON THIS SPOT A MONUMENT (STATUE) OF MAJOR JOHN MASON WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1885. IN 1996 AT THE REQUEST OF THE MASHANTUCKET PEQUOTS THE STATUE WAS REMOVED AND TAKEN TO ITS PRESENT LOCATION IN WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT.

IN THE 1600"S ENGLISH SETTLERS RELOCATED FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY TO THE MOUTH OF THE CONNECTICUT RIVER (OLD SAYBROOK) CALLING IT THE RIVER COLONY. THE RIVER COLONY WAS OFFICIALLY ORGANIZED ON MARCH 3, 1636.

DURING THIS TIME PERIOD THE MOHEGAN TRIBE (ON WEST SIDE OF THAMES RIVER) BECAME ALLIES OF THE PURITAN ENGLISH. THE PEQUOTS (ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE THAMES RIVER ALL THE WAY TO THE MYSTIC RIVER AREA) ALLIED THEMSELVES WITH THE DUTCH.

THE PEQUOT LAND WAS VALUABLE BECAUSE THE LAND HAD ACCESS TO THE SEA AND GOOD FISHING. IT WOULD ALSO HELP COMPLETE THE CONTROL BY THE PURITAN ENGLISH OF LAND ALONG THE COAST OF LONG ISLAND SOUND.

IN 1634, CAPTAIN JOHN STONE (PRIVATEER, TRADER, SMUGGLER, AND SLAVER) FROM VIRGINIA, KIDNAPPED NIANTIC WOMEN AND CHILDREN. HE AND HIS 7 MEN WERE ATTACKED BY THE NIANTICS AND KILLED.

IN 1635. JOHN OLDHAM, OF WATERFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, WAS KILLED BY A PARTY OF SO CALLED PEQUOTS OF BLOCK ISLAND.

ON APRIL 23, 1637, ABOUT 200 PEQUOT WARRIORS ATTACKED THE SMALL COLONY OF ABOUT 50 PEOPLE IN WETHERFIELD. SIX ENGLISH MEN, AND THREE ENGLISH WOMEN WERE KILLED. TWO ENGLISH GIRLS (THE OLDEST 16 YEARS) WERE CAPTURED. THE PEOPLES HOUSES WERE BURNED AND THEIR LIVESTOCK WERE DRIVEN OFF. OTHER ATTACKS BY THE PEQUOTS ARE RECORDED DURING THIS TIME PERIOD.

MAJOR JAMES MASON, LEADER OF THE PURITAN ENGLISH MILITIA , ALONG WITH SACHEM UNCAS AND THE MOHEGANS, ALONG WITH SACHEM MIANTONOMA AND HIS NARRAGANSETTS ATTACKED THE MYSTIC FORT IN 1637. AFTER SURROUNDING THE ROUND FORT, IT WAS BURNED AND THE PEQUOTS LIVING INSIDE (MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN) WERE KILLED. THIS WAS THE FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN MASSACRE IN AMERICA.

AFTER THE WAR, IT IS SAID A 1/3 OF THE CAPTIVES WENT TO THE NARRAGANSETTS, A 1/3 TO THE MOHEGANS AND THE FINAL 1/3 EITHER BECAME SLAVES LOCALLY OR WERE SOLD INTO SLAVERY IN BERMUDA.

SOME OF THE PEQUOTS EVENTUALLY GOT THEIR FREEDOM. THEY FIRST SETTLED IN THE AREA AROUND WHAT IS TODAY KNOWN AS PEQUOT PLANTATION JUST SOUTH ON NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT. THEY THEN MOVED TO NOYANK AND HAD A RESERVATION THERE. FROM THERE THEY MOVED TO THE PRESENT DAY MASHANTUCKET PEQUOT RESERVATION.

NOW WHEN YOU DRIVE DOWN THIS RESIDENTIAL ROAD AND SEE THE ROUND ISLAND IN THE MIDDLE, YOU WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE WHERE THE MYSTIC FORT USED TO BE. WE SHOULD ALL REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED THERE. NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE SHOULD UNITE SO THAT NOTHING LIKE THIS OR ANY KIND OF ABUSE TO NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL EVER BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN AGAIN.