The Sudbury Fight: A Decisive Native American Victory in King Philip's War 

CORRECTIONS: The map featured in this video prominently shows the east-west Boston Post Road, with a southerly bridge spanning the Sudbury river. This was based on information from a map in _King Philip's War: The History and Legacy of America's Forgotten Conflict_ by Eric Schultz and Michael Tougias. However, Boston Post Road wasn't laid out until after the American Revolution, and in 1676 there was not yet a bridge over that part of the river. I was recently sent some historic maps of the area which show that the road to Marlborough curled south from Old Town Bridge (the northerly river crossing on my map) then ran between Goodman's Hill and Green Hill before meeting up with the current approximate route of Boston Post Road closer to the Marlborough town line. This is almost certainly the road Wadsworth's company traveled along during the battle. Also, Captain Hugh Mason sent the Watertown militia to Sudbury, but did not personally command it, which makes sense as he was seventy-five years old at the time of the battle.

We lived (our Family) at base of Green Hill from 1640 to 1988. The Indians spared our house as we traded cloth and supplies with them. The fireplace and the Great Room stands to this day. We gave the land for the Colonists to be buried at Wadsworth Cemetary. We Farmed that land for centuries and found buckets of artifacts relating to King Phillips War and some every day things as well. The stories stayed in our family and we spoke of that war continually since 1676. We even celebrated that horrific day on the Anniversary every year by bringing flowers to Wadsworth Cemetary

As someone that has always been fascinated by this conflict, I'm enjoying these immensely.

I am directly descended from a man who was 19 years old and unmarried while serving in the Mass. Militia in this war. He was captured in combat. His life was spared and he was taken north where he lived as a captive in a Native village for 4 years. He was discovered by a party of representatives of the colonies negotiating with the Natives and was eventually ransomed by the Massachusetts colony for thirty pounds silver and released. He returned home and was married on the following Christmas day. While these details were preserved in family records and colonial documents, nothing is recorded of his life with the Natives. I'm able to relate this because he was not slaughtered but was spared by the "savages" who took him with them as they moved north. Oddly, after his return it seems there was no interest in documenting or preserving ANY stories of his life as young man living with the Wabanaki/Micmac people who took him in. From what I understand, captives taken away from the body of the church was a BIG deal to Puritans who feared more than the loss of a captive. They feared a soul would be lost for eternity in hell whilst living in deep heathen darkness. A fate far worse than one who died in combat. As for recognizing the humanity of the Natives who spared his life, they were probably unmoved, believing that only through God was he spared and recovered from eternal damnation. I sure wish I could ask him about that. Despite that misbegotten and poorly conceived war, I owe my life to the moment that Native Americans decided whether he would live or die.

I believe pyrrhic is pronounced “peer-ik” not “fear-ic”- but at any rate really really good video. Absolutely loved it

Wow - The native Americans are a lot more organized than I thought. Amazing luck that carriage hit a rock. Loved the editing with the fires on the map, and the gunshot. Noticed you also had help filming scenes - the quality is great!

I like how you use the soundtrack from ravenous it gives it an eerie field

The Indians fought like the Viet Cong in 1964-65: launching multi-company/battalion attacks across a broad area and relying heavily on speedy off-road maneuver & road ambushes to economize on force. They also seemed to rely on rapidly massing overwhelming numbers at the tactical level and having difficulties in attacking fortified positions.

I believe he was my ninth great Grandfather Ensign Jonathan Stanhope was hurt in the battle from an ambush and survived! Glad to see you cover the story of the Battle. I know now he was with Wadsworth.

Three books are must reads for this important, yet overlooked facet, of American history. They are Douglas Edward Leach's "Flintlock and Tomahawk: New England in King Philip's War," Eric B. Schultz and Michael J. Tougias' collaborated work "King Philip's War: The History and Legacy of America's Forgotten Conflict," and Michael Dekker's "French and Indian Wars in Maine."

Thank you for teaching me my History. My Native Chickamaugee-Cherokee family finally thrived in the late 20th c. due to their understanding of automobiles and electrical engineering, but we also know of never ending conflict, hunger, poverty and war. My small family has mostly since passed on, but my brothers are still relatively young. Thanks.

The firearms used would probably be muskets, matchlock or maybe early flintlocks. Muskets had smoothbore barrels whereas rifles had rifled grooves in the barrel to make the bullet spin.

My 9th great grandfather Hugh Mason led troops in the sudbury fight.

4:08 A similarity on Foster Hill in Brookfield, MA. The garrison was attacked with a burning cart. The first attempt was extinguished by the settlers with great risk. On the second attempt, a rain shower swept through, put out the flames, and dampened further attempts.

TY for remembering a lost era of early American history.

All this happened in my back yard as a kid, I grew up in Wayland on the Sudbury river just a stones throw from Sudbury. I can remember as a kid ghost stories of a spectral Native American on horseback being seen as my neighborhood was being built in the late 1960’s. As a boy, we would get into the woods a lot and we once discovered a colonial dump, the women at the Wayland antique exchange were more than happy to give us fifty cents for complete black glass bottles, they’re worth thousands today. Great video!!!!!

He mentioned this being the 'Little Big Horn' of the Colonial Wars in the East. I'd also add in the similarity to the 'Fetterman Fight' as well, considering how easily the English would fall prey to devastating ambush tactics in this war.

Glad to see someone do a documentary on King Philip's war. Very well done and hope to see more documentaries on New Englands history

Damn. This would make an absolutely awesome horror action movie, and it could be made pretty cheaply. No need for CGI, could be filmed easily on location. Have it follow primarily Wadsworth's men, with other scenes focusing more on a group like the men at the Garrison who fought during the morning and King Philip and his own native warriors. Could be a legitimately great movie.

Now that is an epic retelling of a significant battle a century before the Revolution!

I’m a distant relation to one of the concord men. This is the most I’ve ever learned about it. Thank you

Happy New Year! Just found your channel. I also just watched the King Phillips War video. Great videos. Looking forward to watch the rest while I paint today! :)

This is brilliant. What a fella like me wants to see from RU-vid . Not all these prefab channels. Exactly the same. You stand out in the best of ways.❤❤👍🤘🤘🤘🤘

Wow!! I’ve been studying king Philips war for some 25 years and this is by far the best Sudbury video I’ve ever seen thank you! Clay Feeter, York Maine (Descendant of many KPW veterans and victims including Wm. & John Salisbury who were among first to die and also Capt. Benjamin Church my 8th great grand uncle).

It should be noted that Metacomet was the son of Massassoiet, who was integral in that first Thanksgiving, i.e. saved these pilgrms. Who returned the favor by executing and then beheading his sons.

Great video. Having grown up in olde Plymouth County in MA in Mansfield and SOmerset (next door to Swansea). I too was fascinated from a young age with King Philip's war. It is regarded as the most successful Indian campaign in North America. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you for work, Iam the tenth greatgrandson of Matthias Puffer. our family history reads that his wife and son were the first Massachusetts victims of the King Philips war in Mendon on July 10 or 14 1675.

Little Bighorn of the east, what a great line.

Muskets not rifles! >:(

love how You get outdoors and show Us the reality of the situation,,,no blue screen or fake pictures,,cheers

Captain Michael Pierce is my ancestor. He was killed in an ambush on March 26, 1676

Happy Leif Erikson day 2022! Wooo. I drsnks so many cosmos I started watching about this king Phillips fella. Spooky shit yo

Excellent, objective and entertaining. I do hope someone involved in this production teaches history to our young and perhaps at University level.

"The Little Big Horn of the east." Good point. Sadly, the Native resistance in the east isn't given the historical notice as that of the Plains Indians much later. This despite the fact that the eastern Indian resistance occurred at a time when the Natives may have in fact prevailed and prevented European conquest of North America, whereas by the time of the plains wars, the conclusion was inevitable.

While in the navy I was stationed at Groton, CT. I visited many historical places such as New London's, Fort Trumbull and Boston. At that time I never heard of King Philip's War so, I never visited any of these historical sites. I wish I had. I now live in Florida but maybe I will travel to New England once again and visit these sites. Thanks for the video.

I believe this should be a must watch for thanksgiving.

I lived in the Pine Lakes neighborhood of Sudbury. Across the Willis Lake from my grandparents house was the foundation of Reese's Tavern. It was attacked as a feint. The attacking Natives allowed some men to escape. Some brought others. Some went to Sudbury Center to gather the women and children. They got ambushed at the river trying to get to Wayland. On Water Road are historical markers regarding this massacre.

I grew up living on Green Hill Road, just down the street from where you shot the opening scene. I never really gave the war or the Sudbury fight much thought growing up, other than the more or less obligatory local history given in grade school and the various historical markers and sites scattered around. Learning more now, thanks for making and sharing this film.

Great video, I grew up nearby. I love the use of the Ravenous soundtrack too

I kept thinking about the striking similarities between this battle and the battle of the Little Bighorn. I think the term “Little Bighorn of the East” is quite fitting

Gotta make more videos of the natives of new England there forgotten in history

Where in Wayland did you grow up? I live in Wayland a short walk away from the cemetery you show at 0:33. While exploring the area during quarantine, I found a marker for a battle fought during King Philip’s war not too far from my house Edit: the marker is the one you show at 5:03. Iirc, it’s near the golf course on Old Sudbury Road.

these old ones are good but I like the direction you took

According to my genealogical research my ancestor Walley was a commander in KPW.good video. pretty balanced. thanks

Thank you for your great work. I was searching for quick "King Philip's War in a Nutshell" and you've made an excellent one.

Living in Massachusetts, you will always have something new to learn.

Well done! Thank you.

Very interesting! My 7th Great Grandfather died during this battle I believe. What I've found is that Marlborough states that he was slain between Sudbury and Marlboro April 20, 1676. The town record reads Henry Axtel April ____ 1676. Slain by the Indians between Sudbury and Marlborough upon ye Road. I hope to visit after I retire and can do some traveling.

Excellent presentation about a little known event in America. As for the eastern natives, read Allan W. Eckert's "Winning of America" series of books. The event of the native ambush between the hills was a much used tactic in the time period of Eckert's books - early to mid 1700's thru the early 1800's. The eastern natives were every bit the hardened fighters the later 1800's natives out west we often associate with the "Indian Wars."

I just learned about King Phillips war during a nature wall with the Appache Mountain Club today. We were touring the FALL River Bioreserve just outside Westport, Ma and came across a supposed Camp Site/Resting area that King Phillip once occupied. Very interesting storytelling you been putting together here on this RU-vid channel of yours, I appreciate the good work you've done on this subject with the various videos you've put up. Thank you! Good work!

Growing up in Sudbury this is such a great find. Thank you

Fantastic. This is one GREAT documentary.

Excellent, our schools should be teaching this. Here I am thinking Sudburys most historic was when Shaq moved in. My Uncle lived on Dutton rd, 50s --> 90s. Rex Trailer and Pablos trusty Steeds Goldrush and the donkey whose name escapes me were boarded at this ranch that was a short walk through the woods. This was the 60s when it was undeveloped. Not sure if I could even find it now on a map.

Thank you so much.. Americans have no idea how much this conflict has formed our Consciousness As Americans

This is good stuff man. I’ll have to grab a beer with you if I’m ever in town.

Excellent history free of modern political correctness. Thank you for this clear, historic story.

Have you ever done any thing on the French and Indian War in Upstate New York? I live in Glens Falls and have lived in the footprint of Fort Edward and on the outer battlefield of the Battle of Lake George. I am now acquiring permission to find and excavate 4 Mile Post, a small fort half way between Fort william Henry and Fort Edward.

I am interested in the history of the native americans. Great Video. Greetings from Germany

Never heard of King Philip's War before i found your channel. Fascinating history. Once my local library opens back up I need to do some reading. 😊

8:29 I was so immersed that I went "oh shii" when I heard that splat😂

really engaging and thoughtfully presented, i grew up in natick and saw the markers about king phillip, but never investigated further. i am hooked!

Such great videos. Watched your video on the king Philips war/ conjuring house history the other day. Love these videos so In depth

Great topic and very interesting. Can you tell me the sources and books for the images used to illustrate the video? Thank you.

Great vid, I cannot wait to see this channel blossom into something great

I really wish these mini-documentaries on King Philip's War had proper citations somewhere, I could use them as sources for my college work.

Samuel Brocklebank is an ancestor of mine.

If you liked this video, read "King Phillips War and the Origins of American Identity". It is a great read that really goes in depth. It explains the background of "New England" at the time and why the natives came within inches of wiping the English out, but then turned on each other and defeated themselves with infighting and old mistrusts & grudges. This story should be made into a "Last of the Mohicans" type movie. Never in the history of America, did the native Americans come so close to driving out the European invaders.

Excellent! Many thanks for this.

Great video, like how you went to the actual hills and locations. Engaging narration

I just discovered that my 11th Great Grandfather John Howe Jr. was killed in this conflict at the age of 36.

Excellent Video! I found it looking for more info on the Sudbury Fight. I live really close to the Hockamock Swamp area, Bridgewater. The swamp fight would be an excellent battle to do a video on. I was about to do an extensive tour of the Monuments and special areas this year to film and journal. But...... Anyway 3 Books I have downloaded from google books that have been amazing reads... Old Indian Chronicles, The Doings and Suffering of The Christian Indians [Gookin} and The Soldiers of King Philips War. Great sources. loads of things that are not in the popular books of today. Thank you again!

I'm curious to know more about the history of the Haynes Garrison House. (Hmmmmm.... I wonder why? 🤔)

I grew up in Lynnfield, not too far from you, and one day in about 1968 I found a stone arrowhead in my back yard. Being only about 12 years old, I thought the arrowhead must be a fake, because it was impossible for me to believe that Indian warriors had actually been in what I knew as my boring suburban back yard.

You do good work

Wish I was able to fight there with my fellow native warriors

EXCELLENT video

I stumbled upon your "check mate lincolnites"videos and I really, really enjoy the combination of levity and education, you are a great teacher and I am thusly subscribed to thee. The King Philips war-series is really interesting too, thank you for sharing that obscure part of history with us plebians!

Love your series. Informative and entertaining.

Good videos. Do you have books on the shipments of the prisoners of war to slavery in the Caribbean islands such as Barbados, Jamaica and the southern USA -Carolinas.

Thoroughly enjoy your videos here in Canada. Given the border is still closed to us to drive across I hope to visit some of the locations you identify. Keep up the good work.

Very good video, thank you.

Well done. This is a nice documentary of a story I knew nothing about.

A very effective visual essay of this event!

Lol watching him walk up the hill 7:05 reminded me of a infomercial example

The men of the house could not be firing rifles because they didn't exist. They were firing muskets and/or blunderbuss. Outstanding video by the way. Ignore my nitpick

Awesome video!!! Recently discovered your channel (literally 1/2 ago) and watched the King Phillips War episode. Have read a little bit about this war - not as familiar as I would like to be. THANKS!! for creating and sharing. Been wanting to make a visit to Massachusetts to visit Plymouth, Salem, Boston, Lexington/Concord for a long time. IF that ever happens, definitely will make the detour to the Sudbury area and visit the area of this war and walk the battle grounds - gain a better perspective.

Have you done anything about Captain Piece and his force in a fight in what would become Central Falls RI and the story of 9 Men's misery?

What about the brave Indians who died defending THEIR land ?

Seems like at that point in history, bows and arrows were faster than guns because of how long it took to reload guns. The Native Americans won much more times than people think. I live near Ft. Recovery in Ohio.

If you check out the Captain William Fetterman massacre in 1866 in Montana, it occurred almost exactly like the Sudbury maasacre.

Atun is the only channel with the #KingPhilipsWar

I just discovered that my 10th great grandfather, John Sharp was Wadsworth’s Lieutenant, killed in this battle.

We are going a trip to Sudbury this weekend where is the location for the monument for the Concord men that were killed?

Great job! Is it me, or i heard some excerpts of the soundtrack of Jim Jarmusch's "Down by Law" by John Lurie?

Great job!!! As a New Englander I would love to see more of these videos... Maybe something having to do with the King Williams War next?

In these small actions, I am confirmed by your expression and awareness of both combatants tactical, and strategic positions. The evidence of great tactical behaviour is evidential; the deficiency of these warfare techniques evidence of the conflict of economies, not of martial thinkers. As always, thank you for a presentation aware of modern scholarship.

Great video. This history of eastern tribes is largely ignored. These wars defined colonial America.

great job on this story

Very great reminder of a forgotten war and time period . The French Indian war also is a forgotten war , barely mentioned as a foot note in history books. And yet many battles where fought during this period between the Indians and colonists. The 5 Iroquois Indian nations arguable did more to eradicate the Algonquins than the English . As theses two language groups had been at war with each other centuries before Europeans came over. Though not politically correct today the fact is the Iroquois went on a campaign of extermination against the Algonquian .

Had a client whose house was right by the battlefield on Goodman's Hill road.