The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-03-11
THE GREAT SYAhP FMT
MOVEMENT TO MARX SPOT WHERE PEQUoTs WENT OUT.
Society of Colonial Wars Erects Memo- rial Near Southport After Lapse of 2e7 Years-!The First Great Deed of the Connecticut Colony.

The Society of Colonial Wars in Con-
 necticut has recently erected a hand
 some substantial granite monument to
 commemorate the final overthrow of
 the Pequots in the great swamp
 fight of July 13, 1887 The monument
 stands on the site Of the battle in what
 is still known as Pequot Cor Pickett
 Swamp, just west of the village of
 Southport. It is within about ten feet
 of the main road on which is the troll
 ley line between Fairfield and Vest
 port.
 The declaration of war against the
 Pequots- described by Trumbull as
 that great spirited and warlike na
 tion'-is believed to be the first act of
 sovereignty by the colony of Connecti-
 cut. 1t is thus related:
 In this important crisis a court was
 summoned at Hartford on Monday, the 1st of May. d637). As they were to de Mberate on matters in which the lives
 of the subjects and the very existence
 of the colony were concerned. the towns for the first time sent commit
 tees. The spirited measures adopted by this court render the names of the
 members worthy of perpetuation. The
 magistrates ware Roger Ludlow, Esq,
 MT. Welles, Mir. Swain, MT. Steel MT, Phelps and MT. Ward The committee were MT. Whiting, MT. Webster. Mr. Williams, MT. Hull, Mr. Chaplain, MT. Taloott, MT. Geffords, MT. Mitchel and MT. Sherman.
 The count on mature deliberation,
 considering that the Peauots had Killed
 nearly thirty of the English < # and the danger the whole colony Was in unless some capital blow could be immediately given their enemies, deter
 mined that an offensive war should be carried on against them by the three towns of Windsor, Hartford and Weth-
 ersfield. No sooner was this resolution adopted than the people prosecuted the most vigorous measures to carry it into immediate and effectual execution.
 Al mixed forace of colonists and Indi-S ans under the command of Captain John Mason sailed down bte river and dEIer SuFprlSlflS tIle GflSIfiy de IuiDt1S captured and burned their fort on May 26. A small band of the Pequots under the Chiefs Sassacus and Mononottu fled westward to join their friends the MoWhawks, Captain Mason with fresr troops started in pursuit about the first of July, and on the 18th overlook the Indians near the present village of Southport, where on finding themselves discovered they fled, into "a horrid swamp"
 The battle which followed is one or the notable events in colonial history. The chiefs escaped with handful of followers only to be afterwards taken, but most of the warriors were killed. This happy event gave great joy to. the colonies. A day of public thanks giving was appointed and in all the churches of New England devout and animated praises were addressed to: Him who giveth His people the victory and causeth them to dwell safely. It has been resolved for the Society of Colonial Wars, after a lapse of two hundred and sixty-seven years, to mark with an appropriate monument the place of this struggle, which meant so much to Connecticut.