Fort Shantok’s darkest hour: how one canoe changed Native American history

Leffingwell’s Midnight Canoe Rescue at Fort Shantok

Uncas broke from the Pequots in 1634 and lost badly.

After making peace, he saw his chance with new English allies and formed the Mohegan tribe at Fort Shantok in 1636. His bold move paid off when he helped the English defeat his former tribe in 1637.

But revenge came in 1645 when Narragansett warriors surrounded Fort Shantok after Uncas killed their leader.

As the Mohegans starved inside their walls, Thomas Leffingwell snuck through enemy lines by canoe with food that saved the tribe.

The Narragansetts left in defeat, and Fort Shantok still stands today where visitors can see the Leffingwell Memorial marking this dramatic rescue.

A Failed Marriage Sparked Uncas’s Bold Move

In 1626, Owaneco arranged for his son Uncas to marry Tatobem’s daughter, hoping to bring Mohegan and Pequot families closer. Things went well until Owaneco died, forcing Uncas to serve under Tatobem.

The power gap grew even wider when Dutch traders killed Tatobem in 1633. His son Sassacus took over as Pequot leader, pushing Uncas further down in rank.

Uncas found himself stuck with little power in tribal decisions.

Rebellion Backfired and Left Uncas Homeless

Uncas got fed up with being pushed around in 1634 and fought back against Sassacus. He teamed up with the Narragansetts, but they couldn’t give enough help.

Sassacus crushed the uprising and kicked Uncas out. With nowhere to go, Uncas lived among the Narragansetts until he crawled back to Sassacus.

He went through a shameful ritual to be accepted again. The failed power grab left Uncas with almost no land and just a few loyal followers.

The English Looked Like Powerful Friends to Uncas

Around 1635, Uncas noticed something about the English settlers. Though few in number, they had better guns and fought with great bravery.

He started building ties with key people in Connecticut Colony, seeing them as helpers in his quest to become powerful. Uncas formed a strong bond with Captain John Mason that lasted 30 years.

He even warned Jonathan Brewster that Sassacus planned to attack settlers along the Connecticut River.

Wolf People Break Away Just Before War Erupts

Uncas made his big move around 1636, splitting from the Pequots with his loyal followers. They called themselves Mohegan, meaning “Wolf People.”

The timing was perfect – war between Pequots and English settlers was about to break out. Uncas made the bold choice to side with the English against his former Pequot masters.

While other Native groups joined the Pequots against the settlers, Uncas bet the Mohegans’ future on an English friendship.

Fort Shantok Became the First Mohegan Homeland

Uncas picked a great spot for the first Mohegan settlement around 1636. Fort Shantok sat on a triangle of high ground on the Thames River’s west bank.

The spot gave Mohegans clear views up and down the river and could fit several hundred people.

The nearby waters held quahog clams, which gave the purple shells needed for making wampum – sacred items used in treaties and ceremonies. This spot would serve as the Mohegan nation’s base.

Uncas Helped Destroy His Former Tribe

During the 1637 Pequot War, Uncas showed his loyalty to the English with blood. He led 70 Mohegan warriors alongside Captain John Mason’s colonial forces.

Uncas guided them through Pequot land and joined the attack on Mystic Fort. The assault killed about 700 Pequots in a single day, crushing Pequot fighting power.

By helping destroy his former masters, Uncas strengthened the Mohegan-English friendship and made his people winners in the new colonial power setup.

Capturing a Rival Chief Led to Big Trouble

Summer 1643 brought fresh fighting as Mohegans and Narragansetts fought over old Pequot lands. Though outnumbered, Uncas and his warriors beat a huge 1,000-man Narragansett attack force.

In the battle, Uncas caught Narragansett leader Miantonomo and handed him to the English. Colonial leaders put Miantonomo on trial and found him guilty of plotting against colonies.

They gave Uncas permission to kill the captured leader, setting up a bloody payback.

A Deadly Tomahawk Strike Demanded Payback

Uncas’s brother Wawequa killed Miantonomo with one tomahawk blow to the head after chasing him to Yantic Falls. The killing angered the Narragansetts.

Their new leader Pessachus called for war to avenge Miantonomo’s death.

The English colonies formed the New England Confederation and promised to protect the Mohegans if attacked. The killing created a blood feud that would soon put the entire Mohegan nation at risk of being wiped out.

Hungry Mohegans Faced Death Inside Fort Walls

Spring 1645 brought the Narragansetts to Fort Shantok looking for revenge. They surrounded the fort, trapping the Mohegans inside.

When direct attacks failed to break through the walls, the Narragansetts settled in for a long siege. Food ran low as days turned into weeks.

The standoff included a strange contest between medicine men, with the Mohegan shaman supposedly swallowing and retrieving a musket ball three times before shooting his Narragansett rival from a tree. Still, magic tricks couldn’t fill empty stomachs.

Midnight Canoe Delivery Saved Starving Defenders

With his people facing starvation, Uncas sent a desperate plea for help. A messenger slipped through Narragansett lines and reached Thomas Leffingwell of Saybrook Colony.

Leffingwell loaded a canoe with beef, corn, and peas, then paddled up the Thames River under cover of darkness. He managed to reach the fort and deliver the supplies without being caught.

The food gave the Mohegans new hope just when surrender seemed inevitable.

One Daring Night Mission Changed Connecticut History

When the Narragansetts discovered someone had resupplied the fort, they lost heart and abandoned the siege. The Mohegans survived thanks to Leffingwell’s bravery and the English alliance Uncas had cultivated for years.

To show his gratitude, Uncas gave Leffingwell a large tract of land that later became Norwich, Connecticut.

Fort Shantok remained the Mohegan stronghold until 1682 and is now considered sacred tribal ground, preserved as a state archaeological park.

Visiting Fort Shantok Archeological District, Connecticut

Fort Shantok Archeological District at 340 Massapeag Side Road in Uncasville offers free access to this National Historic Landmark where Uncas founded the first Mohegan settlement after breaking from the Pequots.

The Mohegan Tribe runs this sacred burial ground with over 100 graves as a public park. Walk the 0.7-mile pond loop trail to the Thames River. Visit during the August 16-17 Wigwam Festival for traditional dancing and crafts.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

Read more from this brand:

• Why the FBI made a 24-hour corruption hotline just for Connecticut
• America’s first political trolls? the Hartford Wits, savage coffee house poets of 1790s Connecticut
• Harlem’s all-black opera cast that made Broadway history in 1934