This Day in History: The Royalton Raid

On this day in 1780, a mother confronts an enemy commander, desperately trying to save her son. In the meantime, a young man rides for miles with a bullet lodged in his abdomen, determined to warn his neighbors of danger.

Both would become unlikely heroes of our American Revolution.

Their stories unfolded during the Royalton Raid, the last major raid on New England's frontier during the war.

The raid was conducted in modern-day Vermont by just under 300 Mohawk and Abenaki warriors, operating under the command of British Lt. Richard Houghton.

One Vermont historian describes the reasons for the raid: “[It] would serve the British purpose of terrorizing the frontier, and destroying housing and food supplies, thus driving inhabitants back toward the seaboard . . . . [It] would give the British Indian allies an opportunity to take captives and plunder; and it would show that northern New England, a likely route for another U.S. invasion of Canada, was not safe from the British war machine . . . .”

The surprise attack began early in the morning on October 16. The raiding party attacked homes, burned buildings and fields, and slaughtered cattle, sheep, and pigs. Some of the area’s residents were killed, but more were taken prisoner.

The damage was extensive. At least 26 Americans were taken prisoner, and four were killed. It would be years before some of those captives got away. Moreover, a tremendous amount of grain and cattle were lost, too—“more than would have been sufficient to have supported such party one year,” one report concluded.

Nevertheless, a few unsung heroes shone that day!

One young man, Phineas Parkhurst, made a Paul Revere-like ride. He was then roughly 21 years old—and already a Revolutionary War veteran.  He was shot in the back as he departed on his ride but still managed to ride ten miles, sounding an alarm and giving other families time to escape.

Only then did he ford a river, riding four more miles to Lebanon, New Hampshire, where a doctor was able to remove the musket ball from his abdomen.

Another brave woman, Hannah Handy, managed to save several young boys (including her own son). Reportedly, after her son was snatched, she pursued the raiders and found them at a temporary camp on their way to Canada.

Ironically, her last steps into that camp came about with the help of an elderly man—possibly another Mohawk—who helped her across a stream.

Once in the camp, Handy found the British commander, convincing him that the young children would not survive the long trek to Canada. Rather than have the blood of these boys on his hands, Houghton let them return with Handy.

A monument has since been erected in Vermont, honoring both Handy and Parkhurst.

Determination. Bravery. Grit. Perseverance. Such wonderfully American traits demonstrated by these little-known heroes, against all odds.

A note for those who are interested: Some of you might know I am running an experiment in history reels. If you are so inclined, check out my YouTube channel and/or subscribe to those HERE. Don’t miss the reel I created about Agent 355, George Washington's spy, posted over the weekend.

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Primary Sources:

• 240 Years Ago: The Royalton Raid of 1780 (Woodstock History Center; Nov. 9, 2020)

• Ivah Dunklee, Burning of Royalton, Vermont: By Indians (Classic Reprint; 2015)

• Keith A. Erekson, The Joseph Smith Memorial Monument and Royalton’s “Mormon Affair”: Religion, Community, Memory, and Politics in Progressive Vermont (Vermont Historical Society)

• Letter from Joseph Marsh to George Washington (November 3, 1780)

• Letter from Peter Olcott to George Washington (December 11, 1780)

• Letter from Jacob Bayley to George Washington (October 28, 1780)

• Neil Goodwin, The Narrative of the Captive, George Avery, 1780–1782 (Vermont Historical Society)

• Neil Goodwin, We Go As Captives: The Royalton Raid and the Shadow War on the Revolutionary Frontier (2010)

• Zadock Steele, The Indian captive; or, A narrative of the captivity and sufferings of Zadock Steele (1818)