cleller
3/27/2013, 08:10 AM
I ran across a book at a Tulsa library entitled Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick. I liked the cover, and it has turned out to be a good book.
For the first couple of years, the Plymouth colonists ran a communal garden, and were always short of food. They decided to allot each family its own plot to raise their own gardens. They immediately noticed a change in the way people worked the gardens. Much more work going on, and much better spirits. This practice also ended their food shortages.
About a year after the first pilgrims arrived, another group of settlers arrived. I believe they were all men, and mostly ne'er do-wells. They eventually established a settlement nearby, but were chronically starving, and stealing from the Indians. The Indians decided to attack these guys, but feared the pilgrims would support their fellow settlers, so they planned on attacking them, too.
Miles Standish, the pilgrims military adviser got wind of this, and went to the settlement of ne'er do-wells to see what should be done. While there, two of the main Indian instigators came by. Standish was a small man with a chip on his shoulder, and the Indians towered over him. One of the Indians was dramatically polishing an ornate knife and said to Standish: "You are a great captain, yet you are but a little man. Though I be no (chief) yet I am of great strength and courage."
Standish held his tongue, and later lured the Indians into a house for some roasted pork. Once inside, Standish snatched the knife from around the Indian's neck and stabbed him to death with it. Several other Indians were also killed, and soon the tribe made peace.
The pilgrims sent the ne'er do-wells packing for Maine.
Just thought the mindset of these early Americans might interest some. The Pilgrims were very conflicted about the war on the Indians, as they didn't want to help the loser settlers, but felt they had to act.
For the first couple of years, the Plymouth colonists ran a communal garden, and were always short of food. They decided to allot each family its own plot to raise their own gardens. They immediately noticed a change in the way people worked the gardens. Much more work going on, and much better spirits. This practice also ended their food shortages.
About a year after the first pilgrims arrived, another group of settlers arrived. I believe they were all men, and mostly ne'er do-wells. They eventually established a settlement nearby, but were chronically starving, and stealing from the Indians. The Indians decided to attack these guys, but feared the pilgrims would support their fellow settlers, so they planned on attacking them, too.
Miles Standish, the pilgrims military adviser got wind of this, and went to the settlement of ne'er do-wells to see what should be done. While there, two of the main Indian instigators came by. Standish was a small man with a chip on his shoulder, and the Indians towered over him. One of the Indians was dramatically polishing an ornate knife and said to Standish: "You are a great captain, yet you are but a little man. Though I be no (chief) yet I am of great strength and courage."
Standish held his tongue, and later lured the Indians into a house for some roasted pork. Once inside, Standish snatched the knife from around the Indian's neck and stabbed him to death with it. Several other Indians were also killed, and soon the tribe made peace.
The pilgrims sent the ne'er do-wells packing for Maine.
Just thought the mindset of these early Americans might interest some. The Pilgrims were very conflicted about the war on the Indians, as they didn't want to help the loser settlers, but felt they had to act.