Narragansett Campaign and the Great Swamp Fight
- When
- 1675
- Where
- Massachusetts Bay Colony; Jireh Bull Blockhouse; South Kingstown, Rhode Island
- Episodes
- 3
In late 1675, colonial forces under Josiah Winslow mobilized to confront the Narragansett people. On December 19, 1675, these united forces attacked a Narragansett fort near South Kingstown, Rhode Island, resulting in the Narragansetts being crushed by the combined militias of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Plymouth.
Episodes
- Neutrality Treaty Signing
Narragansetts signed a neutrality treaty with Massachusetts Bay Colony in October 1675.
- Jireh Bull Blockhouse Attack
Narragansett warriors attacked the Jireh Bull Blockhouse on December 15, 1675, killing at least 15 people.
- Great Swamp Fight
Colonial forces attacked the Narragansett palisade fortress near South Kingstown on December 19, 1675.
Background and detail
Diplomatic Context. The Narragansetts maintained official neutrality in the conflict, partly due to Roger Williams' influence. They signed a neutrality treaty with the Massachusetts Bay Colony in October 1675, though colonial distrust persisted. This diplomatic stance preceded the eventual military confrontation.
Military Mobilization. In November 1675, Governor Josiah Winslow organized a combined force of over 1,000 colonial militia, including Pequot and Mohegan allies, to attack the Narragansetts. The force departed for the region on December 8, 1675, after assembling at Dedham.
Battle Outcome. On December 19, 1675, colonial forces attacked the Narragansett palisade fortress near South Kingstown. The Narragansetts were crushed by the united forces of the Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Plymouth Colonies during this engagement.
People involved
- Josiah Winslow · Plymouth Colony Governor and military leader
- Narragansett people · Defenders of the palisade fortress
- Samuel Appleton · Commander of Massachusetts forces
Sources
- Great Swamp Fight Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-13
- King Philip's War Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-22
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.