Pequot War

            
             Questioning the Violence in the Pequot War.
             In May of 1637, the English settlers of Connecticut and the Pequots fought what is now known as the Pequot Wars. One of the two commanders for the Englishmen was Captain John Underhill. After the war, he soon published his account of the hostilities between the Pequots and the English settlers, titled News from America. Another account of the war is made by William Bradford, a colonial leader of Plymouth, and can be found in History of Plymouth Plantation. One of the issues often discussed of the Pequot War is the level of violence that the English used against the Pequots, especially in the attack against their village, led by Captain Underhill and Captain John Mason. While both Underhill and Bradford describe the events similarly, Bradford fails to raise or answer the question of violence against the Pequots, while Captain Underhill raises the issue and attempts to answer to the charge.
             In his account, from History of Plymouth Plantation, William Bradford also describes the violent attack against the Pequot village, although he admits that it is only secondhand knowledge, for he was not there to witness it (41). He writes, "., others ran into their houses and brought out fire and set them on fire, which soon took in their mat; and standing close together, with the wind all away quickly on a flame, and thereby more were burnt to death than was otherwise slain" (41). This scene describes the English soldiers burning the homes of the Pequots. It also notes that many of the Pequots were burnt, more so even than the number of Pequots who were killed fighting the English. Bradford also describes the burning Pequots as a "sweet sacrifice", an allusion to the Old Testament practice of sacrificing and burning animals in honor of God (41). .
             In John Underhill's account, News from America, Captain Underhill describes from a first hand perspective.