King Philip's War: The History and Legacy of America's Forgotten Conflict

This is a wonderful and essential read for those who want to gain a better understanding of one of America's most brutal and under-appreciated conflicts.The book is well-researched and invaluable as a travel guide to the many poorly marked (if marked at all) landmarks. The maps are great. I have used them to visit a few local sites related to the war (e.g., Pierce's Fight and Nine Men's Misery). Unfortunately, Rhode Island does a terrible job at marketing its rich history.As much as I love this book, I cannot give it five stars. Here are three reasons why...1.) While I understand why the book is organized the way it is (chronologically and geographically), it makes for a redundant and choppy read. I had hoped for more pictures (in color) of the landmarks; but the book is still loaded with images.2.) Because it takes on so many events (which is a plus), the book didn't go as deep into certain aspects of the war as I had hoped. For example, I thought there should have been more on the burning of Providence. Also, I wanted to know a bit more about Canonchet, chief sachem of the Narragansetts. I was able to get much more information on those two topics perusing the Internet.3.) I disagreed with some of the military analysis. For example, the authors dispute the historic understanding that Canonchet used what is now Jenks Park, in modern day Central Falls, Rhode Island, as an observation point before attacking Captain Michael Pierce's men. Even though it was very heavily wooded at the time, and may not initially seem to be a good lookout, nature presents itself differently when a company of 80+ armed men come walking through a particular area (e.g., bird activity and sounds may have given Piece's position away).In short, I do treasure this book. I wish more people understood the importance of King Philip's War. My opinion is that the conflict's name has something to do with its lack of publicity. To someone unfamiliar with its context, the war sounds like it was fought in western Europe or ancient Greece.

For two years--1675 to 1676--Native Americans waged war against Colonial Americans, a ghastly, bloody conflict punctured with atrocities on both sides. Many Indian nations participated, but they were lead by a Wampanoag chief (or sachem) whose Christian name was Philip, and who was generally referred to (perhaps sarcastically) as King Philip.In the war's first year, the Indians stormed with impunity throughout New England, slashing Colonial militias (one battle resulted in Muddy Brook, Massachusetts being renamed Bloody Brook), decimating villages and often reducing entire settlements to ashes, as well as taking scores of Colonists hostage, either to be tortured and killed or sold as slaves to other tribes. Colonists abandoned their farms and streamed to Plymouth and Boston for protection.In the war's second year, the now-seasoned Colonial militias ruthlessly pursued the Indians through forest and swamp, often slaughtering those who had surrendered, and forcing captured Indians to help them track down their former comrades-in-arms. A formidable tactician, and with a keen eye for military prowess in his fellow Native Americans, King Philip was also a wily prey who was generally acknowledged "to never roost in the same place twice." King Philip was Colonial America's Public Enemy No. 1.At last, King Philip was found. Promptly shot and killed, his corpse was dismembered and decapitated. His head was placed on a stake in downtown Plymouth. His captains and lieutenants were publicly executed. After suffering cumulative fatalities of 15,000, the surviving Indians were forced to relocate to set-aside tracts of real estate--the concept of Indian Reservations was thus born in America.The Colonists themselves suffered a different retribution. For many years, England had been preoccupied with European affairs of state, but this war brought the Colonies to the top of Parliament's agenda. Investigations revealed that the Colonists violated both the letter and the spirit of several British decrees, and were behaving altogether too independently. A tight collar was thereupon fastened about New England's throat, and the eventual result was the American Revolution.However, the most heartbreaking fact of King Philip's War is its lineage. King Philip was the second son of the Wampanoag Chief Massasoit, who shared in the first Thanksgiving feast with the Pilgrims in 1621. That wondrous day of respect and good will was erased in just one generation.

A well written book backed up with facts and points of interest. Its style is more like a text book versus a store told by a David McCullough or Allan Eckert, but it is factual and informative. It simply doesn't read as a historical novel but it is a work to be read by all interests during this eraThe Europeans were such belligerent neighbors. The treated the Native Americans as being savages and even sub-human. But as you read on you will learn that our Indians had greater "soul" and realistic values to live life by. The Indians were cheated, lied to, and had their lands stolen that they had lived upon for 1,000 of years. Treaty upon treaty was violated by the colonial government The greatest European import to the Indians was small pox. Their means of gathering game as well as other essentials of life were deliberately kept from them. Superior weaponary and numbers nearly violated the Indians from future Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Connecticut lands.Americans need to read books such as this one so they will have a more accurate idea of how the Early Europeans raped, pillaged and stole property that rightfully belonged to the Indians. Greed and a complete disregard by most early colonists were their hallmark on Native American relations. Shame, shame, shame.

This books contains a great level of information, but it is presented in one of the strangest ways I have ever come across. Instead of one holistic book it is broken up into three sections. The first is an overview of the war, the second goes into more detail, and the third presents actual writings from the time. Instead of putting altogether in a single coherent book, the authors leave it to the readers to do the work of putting it altogether. Seems like a lazy approach to me and while the information was great, it was not presented in an effective manner

Very interesting subject however as hard as I tried I couldn't get my mind around all the various tribal names - my fault!

Imagine describing one of the most brutal wars in American history down to the minutiae of “this man was killed in this battle”.This book describes tactics, weapons, numbers. It literally makes lists of individual combatants. You have no idea what you are in for. Worth every penny.

Cet ouvrage me parait être le 'source book' concernant la guerre du Roi Philip. Il faut d'abord préciser que ce texte peut avoir des abords rebutants ; ceci à cause de la méticulosité des auteurs quant à vouloir nous donner pour chaque évenement relié à cette triste guerre, tous les éclaircissements possibles: la localisation géographique, les vestiges toujours existants, les plaques ou monuments érigés pour commémorer cet évènement, ainsi que l'historique critique au travers de tous les documents disponibles. Pour le lecteur recherchant le plus de données qui se rattachent à l'évènement, cela s'avère passionnant. Et pour finir comme il n'y a pas d'objectivité absolue surtout en histoire; je recommande chaudement la lecture de cet ouvrage où les auteurs (tout comme moi), on un 'penchant' pour les Natifs, avec le livre de D. E. Leach 'Flintlock and Tomahawk' publié à la fin des années 50, qui lui à plus de sympathie pour les colons. Il faut ajouter que ces livres ne présentent aucune haine ,ni mauvaise foi, mais cherchent à restituer l'histoire avec le plus d'honnêteté possible.