by James Clayton Sattel, The Demise of Rhode Island's Native Americans; 1620-1720: 100 Years of Broken Promises; The Demise of Rhode Island's Native Americans; 1620-1720: The Mayflower

Great Swamp Fight Memorial, West Kingstown RI

The Great Swamp at South Kingston, Rhode Island, was the site of the last stand of the Narragansett Indians in King Philip's War against the Colonists. In the bloody engagement which took place there on Sunday, December 19, 1675, troops from the Confederation of the United Colonies of New England including Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, and Connecticut and Rhode Island took part and because of the numbers participating, killed and wounded, the battle had been unequalled in New England up to that time. As a result of the battle, the military strength and resources of the most powerful Indian tribe in New England were broken forever.