The Unredeemed Captive
Haley Eppes
Dr. Quirk
HST
3 September 2014
The Unredeemed Captive- A Family Story From Early America, John Demos, Vintage Books, April 1995, New York Finding out who you are, through hardships and ease, is the main focus of this book. John Demos wanted to write a story, and in this story the main focus is figuring out how to adapt to your surroundings and the circumstances that you have cannot control to best survive. With this he weaved a tale about a colonial town that was not prepared for what happens to it, and its residents. The story starts in Deerfield, in October of 1703 with a time of trouble. The town is in danger of being ransacked and taken over by Indians. The townspeople contemplate reinforcing their stockade but before any decisions can be made or building begin, a couple of young men in a field are ambushed and dragged to Canada. After this incident the town leader, Reverend John Williams, pleaded for the taxes put on the town to be relieved temporarily during the war that is breaking out. The governor allows for taxes to be abated and adds sixteen soldiers to guard the town; the townspeople start to build more into their fortification and begin to feel better about their safety. After a couple of months the soldiers are withdrawn and some of the families housed in the fort return back to their original homes. By February of 1704 there have been reports of Indian attacks near to Connecticut Valley, alarming Deerfield that attacks may be coming nearer to them. The garrison soldiers’ return and the townspeople move back into the fort to protect themselves from any attacks that may occur. The book’s setting then switches to Montreal, Canada in October of 1703, where the French are preparing for war using domiciled Indians as their soldiers. Theses Indians, joined with small parts of the French army go attack the English colonies in New England, loot their villages, and capture their people. The French and Indians travel to Deerfield and
Dr. Quirk
HST
3 September 2014
The Unredeemed Captive- A Family Story From Early America, John Demos, Vintage Books, April 1995, New York Finding out who you are, through hardships and ease, is the main focus of this book. John Demos wanted to write a story, and in this story the main focus is figuring out how to adapt to your surroundings and the circumstances that you have cannot control to best survive. With this he weaved a tale about a colonial town that was not prepared for what happens to it, and its residents. The story starts in Deerfield, in October of 1703 with a time of trouble. The town is in danger of being ransacked and taken over by Indians. The townspeople contemplate reinforcing their stockade but before any decisions can be made or building begin, a couple of young men in a field are ambushed and dragged to Canada. After this incident the town leader, Reverend John Williams, pleaded for the taxes put on the town to be relieved temporarily during the war that is breaking out. The governor allows for taxes to be abated and adds sixteen soldiers to guard the town; the townspeople start to build more into their fortification and begin to feel better about their safety. After a couple of months the soldiers are withdrawn and some of the families housed in the fort return back to their original homes. By February of 1704 there have been reports of Indian attacks near to Connecticut Valley, alarming Deerfield that attacks may be coming nearer to them. The garrison soldiers’ return and the townspeople move back into the fort to protect themselves from any attacks that may occur. The book’s setting then switches to Montreal, Canada in October of 1703, where the French are preparing for war using domiciled Indians as their soldiers. Theses Indians, joined with small parts of the French army go attack the English colonies in New England, loot their villages, and capture their people. The French and Indians travel to Deerfield and