Mohawk Valley raid facts for kids
The Mohawk Valley raid happened in February 1692. It was an attack on three villages belonging to the Mohawk people in the Mohawk River valley. French soldiers and their Native American allies, led by Nicolas d'Ailleboust de Manthet, carried out the raid.
This attack was part of a bigger conflict called the Beaver Wars (also known as the French-Iroquois conflict) and King William's War. In these wars, the French fought against the Iroquois, who were allied with the English. The raid destroyed the three Mohawk villages and their important food supplies. Many Mohawk people were killed or taken prisoner. The prisoners were often taken to live in Christian villages near Montreal.
The Chase and Its Impact
After the raid, the attackers were slowed down by the prisoners they had taken. A group of English and Iroquois fighters, led by Major Pieter Schuyler, quickly followed them. A few days later, the two groups had small fights, called skirmishes.
Because they were being chased, the raiders had to let most of their prisoners go. They also faced hunger because some of their hidden food supplies went bad. This made their journey back to Montreal very difficult.
Aftermath of the Raid
The Mohawk people were greatly weakened by this raid. It made them less powerful as a fighting force within the Iroquois league. The effects of the raid helped lead to a major agreement in 1701, known as the Great Peace of Montreal. This peace treaty was signed between the Iroquois, the French, and many other Native American tribes.
