On the night of October 16, 1780, 300 Indians led by British soldiers invaded farms in Vermont capturing men and boys to sell to the British army. The Hendee family had been warned, and Mr. Hendee went to warn others. His wife, Hannah, picked up her young daughter and ran to the woods with her seven-year-old son, Michael. The Indians caught them and took Michael. Hannah asked what they would do with him and they said, "Make a soldier of him." As they dragged away her sobbing little boy, Hannah carried her screaming daughter toward town. She hadn't gone very far when all of a sudden she decided she was going to get her son no matter what. She went back to where the Indians were and demanded that they give her son back. The British leader, Captain Horton, said he could not control the Indians and didn't care what they did. She said, "You are their commander, and they must and will obey you. The curse will fall upon you for whatever crime they may commit, and all the innocent blood they shall here shed will be found in your skirts when the secrets of men's hearts are made known, and it will cry for vengeance upon your head!" She then took her son's hand and refused to let go. An Indian threatened her with a sword and took Michael away. She defiantly took him back and said that she would follow them the whole way to Canada, she would not give up, they would not have her little boy. Finally, Captain Horton gave up and told her to take her son and leave. He could face an army but not a determined mother. More boys were brought to the camp and they clung desperately to Mrs. Hendee. She fought for them as much as she fought for her own son. When the Indians and the British soldiers left with the other men and boys, Hannah crossed the river with her daughter and nine little boys. She carried two and the others walked through the water, clinging to her skirt. That night they huddled together in the forest, soaking wet, but safe from their captors. Hannah Hendee had rescued these children from certain death.
I am in awe of this amazing woman and the courage and determination she showed defending the precious lives of those children. I am determined that when I am faced with situations such as this I will choose courage instead of fear.
