Putnam patriot., 1921-03-25
History Stories Of
 Connecticut
Uneas and Miantonomo

H defed the authority of Sassacus just before the English came 10 Connecti- cut. These Mohegans made their home where Norwich stands today and claimed the land as far west as Wind sor. When the white men made their first settlement at Windsor, war was still going on between the Peauots and the Mohegans. Uneas saw an op- portunity to make the English his friends and protectors To do this he welcomed the English and through his Influence secured for them the good ~ill and friendship of all the Indians who lived north of the Pequots and as far west as the Connecticut River. He soon had an opportunity to prove the sincerity of this friendship, for in l 637 var broke out between the Eng ! fish and the Pequots. When the Eng ! fish were finally forced to leave their homes and fight for their lives with Sassacus and his warriors, Uncas and seventy of his Indians were the first to offer help. They joined Captain Mason at Hartford and went down the | Connecticut River to Saybrook with the English. On the way Uncas and i his men, who were marching through the woods, met a party of forty Pc quots and defeated them in battle l The English sailed down the river. This was the first battle of the Pequot War, and it proved that Uncas was i both brave and loyal to his white ! friends
 Before they reached the Pequot country. they were joined by many ! Narragansetts, and Captain Mason in- quired of Tncas whether or not these Indians would light
 Uucas replied that the Narragan- sets would all desert him but that he and his Mohegans would never leave the English.
 During ali the battles that followed, l Uncas kept this promise and stood loy- ally by Captain Mason and his little I army.
 Together they marched through the woods on their way to attack the dreaded Pequots in their fort at Mys- tic Soon they reached the foot of the hill on the top of which was the fort Uneas and Wequash, the guides, were at Captain Masons side. Where are the rest of the Indi- ans?" asked the Captain. Behind and very much afraid, , was the answer.
 Tell them not to fly" said Mason. "but to stand as far of as they please and see whether Englishmen will fight or not"
 A short march brought them to the fort. The fight began and the wig wams inside the palisades soon burst into flames. The Psquots tried to es- cape through the gates but Uncas and the Mohegans were on guard outside and drove them back.
 When the battle was over it was found that the fort had been burned to ashes The English hurried to their vessel that had just entered the har- Dor six miles away. The twenty men who had been wounded were being carried by others who were them selves almost too weak to walk Only forty white men were able to fight while Sassaeus and three hundred red men from the fort at Groton were seen rushing upon them to avenge the loss of the Mystic fort and it's war riors.
 Where was Uncas2
 He and his Mohegans were follow ing the English in order to help and protect them. They soon arrived and with this help the English defended themselves bravely and successfully When all was over it was found that although the dead bodies of many Pc quoit warriors lay stretched upon the ground, not an Englishman was wounded during the six miles of marching. All had reached their boats in safety,
 When the news of this battle was sent to England, King Charles l was SO grateful for what Uueas had done that he sent him Bible to show him the way to heaven and a sword to pro teet him from his enemies"
 X few days after the destruction of  the Mystic fort, Sassacus and the sur vivors of his tribe burned the remain ing fort. and fled for their lives in the direction of the Hudson River. While the English went in boats from Say breok to New Haven Uncas and his men. who had joined in the pursuit, went on foot securing the shore of cr., Island cCund
 After they captured small band of Pequots, Uncas promtpiy slew the Saehem. cut off his head and placed it in the trunk of an old oak tree where il remained for many years. On this account the place where the Indians were captured is still known as Sa- ehems Head
 It is no wonder that the white mer of Connecticut wished to reward sC faithful and brave helper as Uneas So when the Pequot War was over ane
 the prisoners were divided among tn,
 chiefs of the three tribes that had as
 sisted them, Uneas was the favorit,
 and received the largest number.
 Uncas was now the most powerful
 sachem in Connecticut In fact h,
 was so powerful that Miantonomo
 chief of the Narragansetts in Rhode
 Island. feared and hated him as hii