"The Deerfield Massacre" by James L. Swanson
317 pages; Published by Scribner , ©2024 On February 29, 1704, the small village of Deerfield, Massachusetts was attacked by a band of French and Natives. What happened to the survivors and the long-term effects of the nighttime raid is the subject of James L. Swanson's "The Deerfield Massacre: A Surprise Attack, a Forced March, and the Fight for Survival in Early America". The Winter of 1703-04 was a typical one in New England: cold with lots of snow. It was the perfect time of year for settlers of Deerfield, Massachusetts to hunker down in front of blazing fires with mugs of ale or cider. Before turning in for the night, farmers gave a thought to the upcoming planting season. It wouldn't be long before crops would be planted, and fields would be sewn with what would be harvests that would feed the people of Deerfield for the following fall and winter months. As they went to bed, no one had any idea it would be the last night of rest for many. At the time, Deerfield