Connecticut River Valley, 1675
The outbreak of King Philip’s War in the Connecticut River Valley has long been associated with the ambushes of Captains Richard Beers and Thomas Lathrop, on August 26 and on September 3, 1675, the latter memorialized as “Bloody Brook” in colonial narratives and memorials. Although interest in the location of these ambushes persists, the Indigenous context of this place is often elided. These ambush sites were located in Pocumtuck territory, at the foot of the mountain known as Ktsi Amiskw, the Great Beaver. This prominent feature, rising above the river, has long held a story that conveys the consequences of greed and the potential, in the land and the people, for restoring balance in the social and ecological environment.
Follow the pages in this path to learn more about the outbreak of warfare in the Connecticut River Valley, the story of the Great Beaver, and the connection to James Printer’s imprisonment and release.
