From the New York Times bestselling author of Manhunt (now an Apple TV+ series) and in the tradition of Empire of the Summer Moon comes ΓÇ£a vivid accountΓÇ¥ (The Wall Street Journal) of a forgotten chapter in American history: the deadly confrontation between natives and colonists in Massachusetts in 1704 and the tragic saga that unfolded. Once it was one of the most infamous events in early American history. Today,it has been nearly forgotten. In an obscuretwo-hundred-year-old museum in a little town in western Massachusetts there stands what once was the most revered relic from the history of early New England: the massivetomahawk-scarred door that came to symbolize the notorious Deerfield Massacre of 1704. This impregnable barricadeΓÇöknown to early Americans as ΓÇ£The Old Indian DoorΓÇ¥ΓÇöconstructed from double-thick planks of Massachusetts oak and studded with hand-wrought iron nails to repel the tomahawk blades wielded by several attacking Native tribesis the sole surviving artifact from one of the most dramatic moments in colonial American history: In the leap year of 1704on the coldsnowy night of February 29hundreds of Indians and their French allies swept down on an isolated frontier outpost to slaughter or capture its inhabitants. The sacking of Deerfield led to one of the greatest sagas of survivalsacrificefamilyand faith ever told in North America. One hundred and twelve survivorsincluding their fearless ministerthe Reverend John Williamswere captured and forced to march three hundred miles north into enemy territory in Canada. Any captive who faltered or became too weak to continue the journeyΓÇöincluding WilliamsΓÇÖs own wifeΓÇöfell under the tomahawk or war club. Survivors of the march willed themselves to live and endured captivity. Ransomed by the royal governor of Massachusettsthe captives later returned home to Deerfieldrebuilt their town andfor the rest of their livestold the incredible tale. The memoir of Rev. WilliamsThe Redeemed Captivepublished soon after his liberationbecame one of the first bestselling books in American history and remains a literary classic. The Old Indian Door is a touchstone that conjures up one of the most dramatic and inspiring stories of colonial America. Nowin this ΓÇ£immersive and memorable book [and] with his gifts of great storytelling and penetrating insightJames Swanson has given us a compelling account of an unjustly forgotten episode in American historyΓÇ¥ (Jon MeachamPulitzer PrizeΓÇôwinning author of And There Was Light).