Great Swamp Battle Monument

 

Just off of Route 2 in West Kingston, RI is a monument that is dedicated to the bloodiest battle of the King Philip's War. I have driven down Route 2 hundreds of times to go birding but had never went to the monument. The side road leads about a quarter mile into the woods and then there is a walk of roughly half a mile to see this monument. Would this monument be worth the drive on its own? No. But if you are already in the area it is worth the walk to see it.

   King Philip's War was the bloodiest war per capita in American history. Both the English and the natives were very cruel in their tactics often targetting civilians, towns, and livestock. This battle was no different.

    In December 1675 about a thousand colonists descended on the native fort/village in the swamp. The natives built a European style fort that included longhouses. There were women and children in the village along with several hundred warriors. 

   The English won the battle probably because the nartives ran low on gunpowder. Once the English got the upperhand they slaughtered women, children, and the elderly. They burned the village to the ground and destroyed the winter supply of corn. It was a massacre and sometimes the battle is called "The Great Swamp Massacre". It was winter so along with the dead from the battle many natives also died of cold and starvation after the battle. 

 

   The monument is dedicated to the white men that fought in the battle (not the natives). There are stones along the edges that have Mass Bay, Plymouth Colony, Rhode Island, and Connecticut engraved on them since all four colonies sent men. There isn't much to say about the natives that also fought to defend themselves. The monument was put up in 1906 and I suppose history was still looked at through rose colored glasses at the time.

   I honestly knew nothing of this battle. So going out to the monument lead me to learning about it. I researched and watched a documentary about it. So because of this monument a half mile in the woods I am slightly smarter because of it.