The second episode of the Frontier Partisans Podcast series on King Philip’s War. You can access it here or on most other podcasting platforms, including Spotify.
In this episode, the primed musket of conflict finally goes off, with devastating impact on the Plymouth Colony community of Swansea. The episode lays out the strategic and tactical advantages and disadvantages held by the Wampanoag and Puritan settler combatants, and describes the way a conflict that might have been contained escaped that containment and became a widening and extremely destructive war across New England.
Paul McNamee says
Great episode.
Man, I am more bummed than ever that Northeast Writers Conference (NECON) moved. It was historically held right in the middle of that area but has moved to Lowell, MA now. I would have been moved enough to stay extra days for historical tramping about if it happened in RI this summer!
JimC says
This is your territory. I’m looking forward to hearing from Quixotic Mainer when the theater of war shifts to Maine — there’a a LOT there, too.
Quixotic Mainer says
The colonists take a pretty impressive hiding for most of the fray in our locality. I believe the whole Portland area settlement was razed, with the survivors pinned down in a garrison til the tribes moved off.
The horsemen in Church’s first outfit wearing buff coats was an anachronistic win I think. If you wanted body armor you could still practically wear in frontier fighting, that would be hard to beat.
Also, Moseley’s Hooligans would make a great pickup sports or pub trivia team name!
JimC says
Hah! Right? Not a bad band name, for that matter. I’m awaiting a book that will spark the powder in your pan…
Quixotic Mainer says
Intrigue!
Historical joke names are always fun. In my misspent youth we played tournament paintball with a team name of “Rush’s Thunderbolts”. I’m sure Dr. Rush got a chuckle out of that wherever his specter is.
Matthew says
Another great podcast! Look forward to the next one!
JimC says
Thank you Matthew.
Joe says
Looking forward to listening today. First episode was phenomenal. While the subject matter may be too dark for Hollywood (though I can see an ample amount of fictional storytelling potential if the historic backdrop was handled respectfully and truthfully) I’m surprised at the lack of high-budget documentaries on King Philip’s war. Very glad you are helping fill this void!
JimC says
Thank you. Really glad this is hitting the mark.
Joe says
Another fantastic podcast. My guess is this will be covered in later episodes, but would you say that Church and other leaders of the conflict went on to directly shape the colonial military strategy in the decades to follow away from pikes, matchlocks, and orderly European warfare, or did some of that attitude still linger? Can’t wait for the third chapter!
JimC says
There’s a range of opinion on Church’s impact. I will definitely be addressing that in a future episode.