In the early morning of February 29,1704, a silent army of French soldiers and Indians crept towards the village of Deerfield, Massachusetts. It had been snowing, so the colonist's palisade was rendered useless as the snow had piled up creating a ramp to the inside of the sleeping town. The raiders swept from house to house killing, burning, looting, and capturing prisoners. By mid morning, half the town had been burned to the ground, and 56 had been killed and over 100 captured,
Some colonists were able to escape the raid and raise alarm to near by settlements and bring reinforcements. Part of the invaders began to leave heading north with captives and the remainder stayed and continued the battle. As more reinforcements arrived, the remainder of the raiders fled the village. The colonists gave chase, and were ambushed by the raiders. The survivors decided it was a lost cause to chase after the prisoners, and gave up.
It is still debated as to why Deerfield was attacked. Some see it as an unprovoked attack on innocent colonists. Others view the raid as a military action against a hostile settlement on stolen natives land.
Some colonists were able to escape the raid and raise alarm to near by settlements and bring reinforcements. Part of the invaders began to leave heading north with captives and the remainder stayed and continued the battle. As more reinforcements arrived, the remainder of the raiders fled the village. The colonists gave chase, and were ambushed by the raiders. The survivors decided it was a lost cause to chase after the prisoners, and gave up.
It is still debated as to why Deerfield was attacked. Some see it as an unprovoked attack on innocent colonists. Others view the raid as a military action against a hostile settlement on stolen natives land.