Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: The Pequot War of 1637
Chapter 2: John Winthrop and the
Official Thanksgiving Declaration (1637)
Chapter 3: The Thanksgiving Feast of
1621
Chapter 4: Squanto: The Last of the
Patuxet
Chapter 5: The Kidnapping of Squanto
(1621)
Chapter 6: Captain Shrimp and the
Wessagusset Massacre
xxx
“A Day of Thanksgiving:
An American Tradition”
Part 1
Scene 1:
“Chapter 1: The Pequot War (1637)”
William Brewster is preaching in Church
to the English colonists:
“In Psalm 44: Verse 1 - 3, we hear
David tell us: 'We have heard with our Ears, O God, our Fathers have
told us, what Work Thou didst in their Days, in the times of old; How
Thou didst drive out the Heathen with thy Hand, and plantedst Them:
how Thou did afflict the People and cast them out. For they got not
the Land in Possession by their own Sword, neither did their own Arm
save them: But thy right Hand, and thine Arm, and the Light of thy
Countenance, because Thou hadst a Favour unto them.'”
“And let us never forget Psalm 102:
Verse 18 ... This shall be written for the Generation to come: and
the People which shall be Created, shall praise the Lord.”
“May 26, 1637
Friday
Near the Mystick River
Pennsylvania”
[date shows on screen; then the name of
the River, and then the state]
film sees Mystick River, moves up on
it, and cuts or transitions to John Mason on a horse, taking to John
Underhill, also on a horse, galloping along, slowly.
John Mason: “Captain John Endicott
was the King at asymmetrical warfare.”
[Stillframe:
John Mason on horseback, with his name
on the screen.
“John Mason”
“Puritan Pilgrim”]
John Mason
Mason continues: “Endicott always had
to get the drop on his enemies. Endicott... caught them slipping. He
didn't mind attacking at night time, while they slept.”
Endicott and Block Island Manisseans
John Underhill: “I was there. I
remember killing me some of the Manisseans on Block Island. I was
right there, on the right side of John Endicott, right next to him.”
[Stillframe:
John Underhill's name appears under
himself, who was on his horse next to John Mason
“Puritan Pilgrim”]
Google Images of "John Underhill"
Underhill continues: “We sure did get
the drop on those Godless Western Niantic, those godforsaken
Manissean Indians on Block Island. We burned that whole island down.
Most of those Manisseans fled, but we torched their wigwams and
corn-fields straight to hell.”
Mason: “And we haven't seen or heard
them coming back after that.”
Underhill: “Damn savages.”
Mason: “Damn savages is right. Ole
Endicott didn't leave much room for negotiation after his campaign
against the Manisseans on Block Island.”
Underhill: “Yeah, and this entire war
was all because of John Oldham. Ole Mad Jack.”
Mason: “Yup. Ole Mad Jack, and John
“Bully” Stone.”
Underhill: “Yeah. John “Bully”
Stone (laughs). What a master criminal. John Stone was a horrible,
despicable man. A slaver out of the West Indies. He's smuggled
contraband... was caught adulterizing other men's wives... was a
drunkard...”
Mason (interrupting): “A drunkard,
lecher, braggart, bully, and blasphemer.”
Underhill: “Let's be honest and call
a spade a spade: John Stone was a low down dirty rotten scoundrel; a
slippery rascally bastard. John Stone would act like an official
privateer, but he wasn't nothing more than a yellow-belly pirate.
Stone was scum; an absolute scoundrel; the lowest of the low.”
Mason: “Both Stone and Oldham were
expelled from the Plymouth and Massachusetts colonies. Now, John
Stone, I hated that son of a Devil anyways. I didn't lose any sleep
over Stone's death. He trusted those godforsaken savages, and it was
those he trusted, that murdered him. But when I heard of John
Oldham's assassination... that one upset me.”
Underhill: “John Oldham's death was
definitely the critical spark. Heck, even John Winthrop and Myles
Standish hated John Oldham too. That's why they banished him out of
the Plymouth Colony 10 years ago.”
Mason: “After trying to get them
fired, I can't believe Winthrop let him back in.”
Underhill: “That was after he cried
like a child. You do realize that it wasn't the Pequot who killed
John Oldham, right?”
Mason: “I know.”
Underhill: “Once we killed those
Manisseans on Block Island, and scared the rest off… I felt as
though justice was carried out. I mean, they only killed 2 of ours,
and only 1 we liked, and we ended up killing 14 of them! And scared
the rest off. We burnt their food supply and their whole goddamned
town. I just don't totally understand, my liege, why are we attacking
the Pequot now?”
Mason: “Don't you think questioning
the war at the dawn of battle is too late?
Underhill: “Or maybe, it's just right
on time.”
Mason: “Look. Politically, you never waste a good crisis. It was probably the Western Ninantic who got John Stone, and the Manisseans on Block Island who got John Oldham.
Underhill: “I heard it was Sachem
Ninigrett of the eastern Niantic who got Oldham.”
Mason: “No matter. Either way proves
my point. The Pequot are our Enemies, and have been so for a long
time, but the Pequot are everybody's enemies. They're the destroyers,
the invaders. They are more savage than the Iroquois. They are a torn
in everybody's sides. Even if Ninigrett is the culprit, he's here
right now ready to help us get god-forsaken Pequot heathens to meet
their maker. The Pequot deserve to burn in hell. Fuck the Pequot.”
Underhill (shocked at Mason saying
“Fuck”): “Yeah. And it's all over freak'n Beaver pelts. We got
word that the Pequot have at least 16 guns, plus plenty of shot,
which they got from the Dutch. I can't believe the Dutch gave them
guns and powder.”
Mason: “I can. The Dutch doesn't play
by anybody's rules. We both got our military training through the
Dutch, so we can't hate them too much, without hating ourselves. It
doesn't take much of a conflict or a provocation for these savages to
just start murdering folks, and now with the Dutch's guns... The
Pequot are a menacing bunch. The Pequot keep a continual guard upon
the River, Day and Night. Their numbers far exceed ours. The Pequot
are swift on their feet. They are fortified, munitioned, cruel
warriors... But we have something they don't have.”
Underhill: “What's that?”
Mason: “We got Jesus. Our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ. God is on the side of the Christians,
especially those who believe in the pure scriptures. Chaplain Stone
gave God's blessings for our war. Make no doubt about it. This war
against the Pequot is a Holy War. It's a war for the Protestant
Reformation. Through his blessings, we are the inheritors of this
continent, and I don't care if it takes 5 centuries of genocide,
we'll open as many arteries and veins as we can, in order to conquer
this land for our wonderful Virgin and Protestant Queen! Ah yes, the
Queen of England! God save the Queen!”
Underhill: “God save the Queen... as
long as she is Protestant!” (Mason laughs) “And Goddamn the
Catholics.” (Mason laughs ) “If any of the savages want to love
us, they must love our Protestant God first, in order to get to us.”
Mason: “Yes, of course, and
sometimes, that's not even good enough.” (both Underhill and Mason
laugh)
Underhill (solemnly, looking towards
the Heavens): “We have sufficient light from the word of God for
our proceedings.”
John Mason and Underhill stop walking
on their horses, and are now just hanging out in a large field, with
Indian corn planted in it, on horseback, with many English soldiers
and Indian allies around them (about 150 each).
Underhill: “Ninigret and the Eastern
Niantics were subdued easily. They gave up so easily, one might
assume they wanted to fight the Pequot.”
Mason: “I bet they do. Pequots were
spawned by Satan himself.”
Underhill: “Maybe it's just Ninigret
giving himself cover for killing Oldham.”
Mason: “He's been a good ally. Now
here's one of our native allies I can't stand the sight of.”
Miantonomi rides a horse up to Mason
and Underhill, with 200 Narragassett behind him. When Miantonomo
rides up with his men, the Englishmen are a bit weary. Maintonomo
rides up with his hand up, indicating peace.
Miantonomi: “We have come to help you
in your attack on the Pequot.”
Mason: “Did you finally hand over
Oldham's killers?”
Miantonomi: “Yes. We gave the man in
our capture to John Winthrop just a little while ago, though I
believe I see one of the killers in your group of men right now.”
No reaction from Captain John Mason.
Miantonomi: “We are here as allies
today. We want to assist the English in attacking the Pequot.”
Mason: “I'd love to get Sassacus's
head.”
Miantonomi: “So would I.”
Mason: “The only thing terror
understands, is more terror.”
Miantonomi: “I agree. When do we
attack?”
Mason: “As soon as possible. How can
we trust you?”
Miantonomi: “You should have no fear.
I've already captured one of John Oldham's killers for you, and I
don't believe you've given me enough gratitude for that. I hate the
Pequot. Have no worries. We will kill Sassacus, and all of his men.
We will shoot them down like dogs, chop off their heads, being sure
to get as many scalps as we could, for they are very valuable
commodities, for you English, as well as the Dutch... and then, once
they're dead, and scalped... we'll eat their hearts out raw!”
Mason: “My man! That's what I wanted to hear! Welcome aboard!”
Mason: “My man! That's what I wanted to hear! Welcome aboard!”
Miantonimo: “We'll kill a million
Pequot men tonight if we have to!”
Mason keeps a painted smile on his
face. Miantonomi gives a war yell, and rides back to his men.
Mason to Underhill: “I still don't
trust him.”
Underhill: “It's fine. We have more
firepower than them, and they can stay back, and get the stragglers.
We aren't asking for much.”
Mason: “Yeah. We'll only be given
what we ask for. I just don't like them being behind us, that's all.”
Underhill: “They'll be fine. They
don't have the nerve to attack us now. The worst I'd expect from them
is that they'll run off.”
xxx
[Miantomoni trots
by Uncas, as Uncas is approaching John Mason. Mohegan Chief Uncas on
horseback, with 70 Mohegans behind him, some on horseback, some
walking, some in the canoes in the River behind him.]
Miantomoni: Why
are you so gung-ho about supporting the “Wo-tow-que-nange”? Why
these ruthless savages?
Uncas: :They're
actually much more charming that you'd think. And that's their thing.
They are so pure and good, that they're willing to defend it to the
gilt."
Miantomoni: Well,
I haven't been impressed with them so far. We shall see how they
conduct themselves at this battle to know for sure.
Uncas: “And even
if I am wrong, I'd rather be known for something wicked than to never
be known at all. We Mohecans are survivors. You mark my word. We
Mohecans will survive, better than turtles do, and it would behoove
the Narragansett to put away their shameful boast and pride, and to
focus on the survival.”
Miantomoni: “The
Great Spirit prevents me from doing anything against my conscience.
Perhaps you should consider becoming a man.”
xxx
Mason: “Miantonomo is right about the
scalps. We should collect scalps too. The Dutch pay a high dollar for
scalps.”
Underhill: “So do we.”
Uncas gently gallops to Underhill and
Mason: “Hello Captain. I have urgent news for you.”
Mason: “Continue.”
Uncas: “Sassacus is well aware of
your presence and movements around here, and so Sassacus has
concentrated his warriors at Fort Groton, and has abandoned the
Pequot Fort at Mystick.”
Mason: “That is vital... why are you
so loyal to us? Aren't you of Royal Blood to the Pequot?”
Uncas/Onkos: “I have my personal
reasons, but more importantly, I hate Sassacus more than you do. Your
enemy's enemy is your friend. Me and my Mohegan warriors will never
leave you. But the Narragansetts on the other hand, they're almost
certain to run away.”
Mason : “Thank you for the
intelligence. We'll attack the Pequot at the Mystick River.”
Uncas: “But there's no warriors
there.”
Mason: “Exactly.”
Uncas bows his head in agreement, and
stands next to Mason.
Mason: (Uncas translates the English
into Algonquin for the native Americans; Mason pauses in between
sentences so Uncas can translate the Algonquin): “Okay. Listen up
men! … We are going to battle the Pequot at Mystick River at dawn
... The Englishman will lead the attack, going into the village, and
the Injuns all stay behind, and get all those who try to flee.
Everybody understand the battle plan?”
Some nod and murmur in agreement.
John Mason: “Onwards and forwards to
the Mystick River to send those children of Satan back to Hell, where
they belong!”
The Massachusetts Bay Colony and the
Connecticutt Colony, their Eastern Niantic, Narragansett, and Mohegan
warrior allies, all march together towards the Pequot village
adjacent to the Mystic River.
xxx
“Film Productions
Presents
A Short Film
“The Mystic River
Massacre!”
STARRING!:
Stillframe: John Mason and 70
“Militia of
the Plantations
of Connecticut Colony”
[camera pans back, shows 70 English
soldiers surrounding John Mason, with “Militia of
the Plantations of Connecticut Colony”
written on the screen underneath them]
20 men under John Underhill
“Militia of the Plantations of the
Massachusetts Bay Colony”
[show short flip clip of them]
Camera pans back again, showing all 400
men, Englishman and Indians, standing in a field planted with Indian
corn, on horseback, with many native American around them.
ALSO STARRING!
“The Eastern Niantics”
[shows film clip of 200 Eastern Niantic
warriors, assembled into a group, looking tough; Sachem Ninigret
(Juanemo) is shown leading them]
Statue of Ninigret, Leader of Eastern Niantics
“The Narragansetts”
[shows 200 Narragansett warriors
(including Chief Miantonomo), assembled into a group, looking
tough]
Miantonimo
Narragansett Squaw
“The Mohegans”...
“The Wolf People”
[shows the 70 Mohegan warriors
(including Uncas), assembled into a group, looking tough]
VERSUS
“Sassacus and the Pequot”
[show Sassacus, and 150 Pequot
warriors, out in the forest somewheres, not at Fort Mystick]
A Pequot Warrior
The Pequot
70 Mohegans under Uncas, 200
Narragansets and 200 Niantics - more than five hundred warriors in
all, pale and dusky - were marching swiftly and stealthily toward the
citadel of Sassacus' power. Captain John Mason, and the
Narragansett and Mohegans (Uncas and “the Wolf People”) and the
Eastern Niantic, 400 men total,
are shown walking in formation towards the Pequot village
adjacent to the Mystic River.
[The Pequot Village]
The camera spans over the Pequot
village, showing their many wigwams, and other historical artifacts,
inside the pallisaded village.
The Pequot had all slept in and had no
guard posted. The sun was well up before they began the final march
to the Indian fort. The English attacked at about Noon, on a Sunny
and clear day. Even though it's late morning, all is peaceful and
quiet. The Pequot women and children slept late on this May day.
Pequot Village: Mystick Fort
Both Mason and Underhill and soldiers
have swords in their right hands, and a gun (a carbine or a musket)
in their left hands. The other soldiers have blunderbusses, and
tomahawks.
A moment before advancing towards the
Mystick Fort, at the bottom of a hill, near a creek:
Mason: “Where is Fort Mystick?”
Uncas: “On the top of that hill.”
Mason: “Where are the rest of the
Indians?”
Uncas: “Behind, exceedingly afraid.”
Mason: “Your Indians friends should
by no means Fly, but instead, stand at what distance they please,
and see whether or not English men would now Fight or not.”
(smirks) … (turns to his men, Uncas translates) “Okay men. The
moment of battle is upon us. This is what we have been marching for
the last two days for. This is our moment. We will kill of these
god-forsaken heathen Pequot, and send them to their maker. We will
destroy them all by sword, and take their plunder! Don't burn
anything down! Save the plunder! Now get in position! Move!”
Slowly Mason's men creep up to the
Pallizado, from the bottom of the Hill. A camera from inside the
Pallizado sees them creeping towards them.
When they are within a few hundred
feet, Mason hears a dog barking. The dog barking wakes up a Pequot
watchman, and then the Pequot watchman shouts:
“Owanux! Owanux!” [“Englishman!
Englishman!”] (in Algonquin) “The English are Coming! The English
are Coming!”
John Mason: “Okay Men! Now! Fire!”
All of Mason's guns shoot at the
Pallizado wall, which woke up the rest of the Pequot Indians.
John Mason: “Charge!”
Movement inside the Pallizado is seen
and heard. The Indians push bushes and briars at the two entrances of
their Fort Mystick.
Mason's men charge towards the
Pallizado. Mason goes to one end, and the Underhill goes to the other
end, with a handful of militia behind each of them, covering both
entrances in and out of the Pallizado.
[camera intermittently shoots
Underhill's and Mason's doings, going back and forth; Mason didn't
have resistence; Underhill did]
Mason went to the main Entrance, which
was blocked up with Bushes about Breast high, over which Mason
passed, intending to make good the Entrance, encouraging the rest to
follow.
Lieutenant Seeley endeavored to enter;
but being somewhat cumbered, stepped back and pulled out the Bushes
and so entered with him about 16 Men into the Pallizado.
Mason's Indian allies stay back, and
watch the English attack the Pequot. There are no signs of
resistance.
Mason and Underhill burst in the
sallyports. The terrified Pequods rushed out of the wigwams, but were
driven back by swords and musket-balls.
Captain Underhill and his Parties
Marching up to the Entrance on the South West Side, there made some
Pause; a valiant, resolute Gentleman, one Mr. HEDGE, stepping towards
the Gate, saying, If we may not Enter, wherefore came we hear; and
immediately endeavoured to Enter; but was opposed by a sturdy Indian
which did impede his Entrance: Master Hedge being shot through
both arms, and more wounded, but Master Hedge slayed the Indian
who shot him.
Both Mason and Underhill get inside the
Pallisado, and seeing no Indians, they start entering into nearby
wigwams, terrorizing everybody in them. They killed everybody. The
elderly, the women, the children.
After killing a mother and several
children in the first wigwam, Captain Mason enters the second wigwam,
and is hit with arrows against his steel Spanish Conquistador
head-piece.
Steel Helmet
Mason is also shot in the arm, and received many arrows
against his head-piece, but none brought him down.
William Heydon espying the Breach in
the Wigwam, supposing some English might be there, entred; but in his
Entrance, fell over a dead Indian; but speedily recovering himself,
the Indians some fled, others crept under their Beds.
The Captain going out of the Wigwam saw
many Indians in the Lane or Street; he making towards them, they
fled, were pursued to the End of the Lane, where they were met by
Edward Pattison, Thomas Barber, with some others; where seven of them
were Slain, as they said.
Underhill received a two arrows,
that got stuck in his buff coat on his left hip, and the other,
between neck and shoulders, hanging in the linen of his headpiece.
Some of the soldiers were shot, through
the shoulders, some in the face, some in the head, some in the legs.
Mason and Underhill lose a man a
piece, and had near twenty wounded.
Seeing that the Pequots were fighting
back, and not just accepting their death sentences, Mason gives the
order to set the wigwams on fire.
Mason: “We must burn them!”
From their respective sides, Mason and
Underhill both start setting fires to the wigwams. Mason immediately
stepping into the Wigwam where he had been before, brought out a
Fire-Brand, and putting it into the Matts with which they were
covered, set the Wigwams on Fire. Lieutenant Thomas Bull and Nicholas
Omsted beholding, came up; and when it was throughly kindled, the
Indians ran as Men most dreadfully Amazed.
Mason: “No Quarter! No Quarter”
Others repeat the “No Quarter” order.
30 male Pequot prisoners are
immediately killed by the English.
The tinder-like coverings of the huts
were set on fire. Underhill started a fire with powder which met
another one set by Mason on the other side of the fort.
When the Fort was thoroughly
Fired, Command was given, that all should fall off and surround the
Fort ; which was readily attended by all; only one Arthur Smith
being so wounded that he could not move out of the Place, who was
happily espied by Lieutenant Bull, and by him rescued.
Mason set fire on the west-side
where he entered, myself set fire on the south end with a train of
powder, the fires of both meeting in the centre of the fort blazed
most terribly. The Fire was kindled on the North East Side to
windward; which did swiftly over-run the Fort, to the extream
Amazement of the Enemy, and great Rejoycing of our selves, and
burnt all in the space of half an hour.
Serjeant Davis and Mr. Hedge Entered
the Fort with some others; but the Fort being on Fire, the Smoak and
Flames were so violent that they were constrained to desert the Fort.
Some of them climbing to the Top of the
Pallizado; others of them running into the very Flames; many of them
gathering to windward, lay pelting at us with their Arrows; and we
repayed them with our small Shot.
Some Pequot women and children would
flee from the Pilgrims, and run into the very flames. Others of the
Stoutest issued forth, as we did guess, to the Number of Forty, who
perished by the Sword. Some of the elderly fleeing inhabitants were
received and entertained with the point of the sword.
Torches are lit, and the teepees and
the pallisaded Pequot village is burnt to the ground. Chaos ensues.
Women screaming. Children crying. Blind old woman is confused, and
knocked to the ground. The English murder all they can see. They
stab, club, and tomahawk old, women, and children, after having fired
their rifle shots. The Pequot children don't have a chance.
The English and their allied Indians
surrounded the village so as to cut down those trying to flee. The
Indian warriors are fighting battles in the fields. When a woman
tries to run away, the Narrangasset are stationed outside the
pallisaded walls, and they shot her down. They shoot other attempted
runaways too.
A few try to climb over the pallisade.
They are easily shot.
Only a few escape off into the woods,
by inexplicable reasons. We just see their backs for a few seconds as
they disappear into the woods.
In little more than one Hour’s space
was their impregnable Fort with themselves utterly Destroyed, to the
Number of six or seven Hundred.
Many were burnt in the fort, both men,
women, and children.
Others forced out, and came in troops
to the Indians [Narrangassett and Mohegan], twenty and thirty
at a time, which our soldiers received and entertained with the
point of the sword.
Great and doleful was the bloody sight
to the view of young soldiers that never had been in war, to
see so many souls lie gasping on the ground so thick in some
places, that you could hardly pass along.
Towards the end of the fight, Mason is
delighted at the spectacle of the final throes of a massacre,
gleefully watching the last few Pequot getting stabbed to death at
the end of the hour.
Mason: “GOD was above the Pequot, who
laughed his Enemies and the Enemies of his People to Scorn, making
the Pequot into a fiery Oven: Thus were the Stout Hearted spoiled,
having slept their last Sleep, and none of their Men could find their
Hands: Thus did the LORD judge among the Heathen, filling the Mystick
River with dead Bodies!”
Mianonomi to another Narragansett (in
Algonquin): “These sons of bitches seem to delight in the murder of
innocents. They don't care about human beings.”
“It is naught, it is naught, because
it is too furious, and slays too many men. They have no mercy. No
compassion.”
“They are dishonest over property.
They let their livestock each our crops, they are dishonest, use only
the skin of Beavers, sell us alcohol. There's too many babies killed.
Too many women. Too many old people. These people are sickening.
These people are barbaric.”
“This is not justice. This was too
much. The English are sadistic psychopaths. They are sick in the
head.”
Mianonomi and the Narrangassett leave,
shaking their heads.
Mason: “And look. All our Indians,
except ONKOS, deserted us. Godless heathens; atheistic pagans.
Infidels. Every single last one of them savage bastards.”
xxx
The Pequot Warriors return home that
evening at dusk, see that everything has been destroyed.
Sassacus
runs up to the scene of the aftermath of the Pequot Massacre at
Mystic River, and just sees embers, and lots of dead bodies of
children and women and old people. Sassacus, overwhelmed with sadness
at his great loss, and angry at those who would murder all he loved.
Sassacus was pissed, and yells: “ONKOS!!! That mother fucker!”
(in Algonquin)
[THE MYSTICK RIVER MASSACRE] comes across the screen with a dramatic flare
[the echo continues until Uncas hears
it, while at the Court]
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