The American Puritans Issue 41 | 1994 Purchase this issue

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In the 1670s, Wampanoag Indians waged "King Philip's War" on Puritans and obliterated a dozen towns.Mary Rowlandson was captured during one raid, as described in these edited excerpts from her Narrative of Captivity and Restoration. Mary Rowlandson's account of being captured by Indians, printed in 1682, went through nearly a dozen editions in two centuries.

Some in our house were fighting for their lives, others wallowing in their blood, the house on fire over our heads, and the bloody heathen ready to knock us on the head if we stirred out. Now might we hear mothers and children crying out for themselves, and one another, Lord, what shall we do?

Then I took my children (and one of my sisters hers) to go forth and leave the house: but as soon as we came to the door and appeared, the Indians shot so thick, that the bullets rattled against the house, as if one had taken an handful of stones and threw them, so that we were fain to give back. But out we must go, the fire increasing, and coming along behind us, roaring, and the Indians gaping before us with their guns, spears, and hatchets, to devour us.

No sooner were we out of the house, but my brother-in-law (being before wounded, in defending the house, in or near the throat) fell down dead, whereat the Indians scornfully shouted, and hallooed, and were presently upon him, stripping off his clothes.

The bullets flying thick, one went through my side, and the same (as would seem) through the bowels and hand of my dear child in my arms. Indians laid hold of us, pulling me one way, and the children another, and said, "Come, go along with us." I told them they would kill me. They answered, if I were willing to go along with them, they would not hurt me.

I had often before this said ...