Royalton raid facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Royalton raid
Part of the American Revolutionary War
Date October 16, 1780 Location Vermont Republic Result British victory
Belligerents
Great Britain Iroquois League Mohawks	Vermont Republic
Commanders and leaders
Lieutenant Richard Houghton
Strength
6 members of the 53rd Regiment of Foot 1 grenadier 300 Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk Indians) warriors from Kahnawà:ke, Quebec	At Randolph: 300 members of the Republic of Vermont militia
Casualties and losses
None	4 killed 26 prisoners

The Royalton raid was an attack that happened in 1780. It was led by the British and their Mohawk allies. They raided towns along the White River Valley in what was then the Vermont Republic. This event was part of the larger American Revolutionary War. It was the last big raid by Native Americans in the New England area.

The 1780 Raid on Vermont Towns

On October 16, 1780, a group of attackers moved into eastern Vermont. This group included Lieutenant Houghton from the British Army. He was with a single Grenadier (a type of soldier). They were joined by 300 Mohawk warriors. These warriors were from the Kahnawake Reserve in the British province of Quebec.

Attacks on White River Towns

The attackers burned and raided several towns. These towns were Royalton, Sharon, and Tunbridge. They were all located along the White River. This raid was not the only one happening at that time. Other British-led raids were also taking place.

• Major Christopher Carleton led raids near Lake Champlain and Lake George.
• Sir John Johnson led attacks in the Mohawk River valley.

During the Royalton raid, four Vermont settlers were killed. Twenty-six people were captured. They were taken as prisoners to Quebec.

Militia Response and Escape

Local militia (citizen soldiers) quickly gathered. But Lieutenant Houghton and his group were already heading north. The militia caught up with them near Randolph, Vermont. Some shots were exchanged between the two groups.

Lieutenant Houghton then warned the militia. He said the remaining captives might be harmed by the Mohawks if the fighting continued. Because of this warning, the local militia allowed the raiders to get away. A special marker at the East Randolph cemetery shows where this event happened.

Hannah Handy's Brave Act

There is a monument in South Royalton. It is a granite arch honoring Hannah Handy (also known as Hendee). She was a young mother during the raid. She lost her own young son in the attack.

A Mother's Plea

Hannah bravely crossed the river. She went after the British and Mohawk group. She begged them to release several children they had captured. One of the Mohawks helped her catch up to the group.

Hannah spoke to Lieutenant Houghton. She pleaded with him to free the young boys. She explained that she was a mother of one of the captives. She also argued that the young boys might not survive the long trip to Canada. She told him that their deaths would be his responsibility.

Boys Are Released

The British leader listened to Hannah. He ordered the boys to be released to her. She was able to safely return them to their families. The names of the boys she saved were: Michael Hendee, Roswell Parkhurst, Andrew and Sheldon Durkee, Joseph Rix, Rufus and ___ Fish, Nathaniel Evans, and Daniel Downer.