Few People Know One Of Connecticut's Most Popular Rivers Is Hiding A Dark And Terrifying History
By Lisa Sammons|Published September 22, 2022
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Lisa Sammons
Author
Lisa loves animals and has dogs, rats, cats, guinea pigs, and snakes. She is passionate about animal rescue and live music - traveling across the country to see a favorite band is a pretty regular occurrence! Being out hiking in the woods enjoying the scenery with her beloved dogs is another favorite hobby, and also checking out the Pokemon Go scene in whatever city she happens to be in at any given time (coffee and dog leash in hand). You can reach Lisa at lsammons@onlyinyourstate.com
The Mystic River is one of the most popular rivers in Connecticut. It’s a lovely spot for relaxation and recreation and the beautiful town along its banks is a haven for tourists and history lovers alike. This river is a beautiful place and you’d never suspect it’s hiding a terrible history. Back in 1636, a horrific event happened here that left a dark stain on the area.
The Mystic River is a 3.4-mile estuary right next to the charming town of Mystic. By the 1630s, the Pequot tribe had lived in this area for more than a century.
The Pequot were the dominant tribe in the area and had alliances with Dutch colonists. The Pequot Fort was located on a ridge overlooking the Mystic River in what is now Groton.
In the spring of 1637, a series of skirmishes between English colonists and the Pequot tribes had resulted in a handful of dead colonial civilians and traders.
The Pequot Fort was part of a large Pequot village along the Mystic River. The village was fortified with a wall that had only two exits. The colonial militia, led by Captain John Mason, lit the village on fire and blocked off the only exit points.
The Pequot warriors fought valiantly as their village burned around them. Reports from the time period state that the entire village was burned within half an hour.
The Mystic Massacre and ensuing Pequot War resulted in so many dead Pequot that they were not even considered a tribe afterwards. It essentially resulted in their extinction and the survivors were absorbed into other tribes.
The battle was significant in that it was the first time English colonists had participated in total war, where civilians and warriors alike were killed indiscriminately in battle. The event left a terrible stain on Connecticut history and many that visit this beautiful river today are not even aware of its history.
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