The Indian Captive; Or a Narrative of the Captivity and Sufferings of Zadock Steele 

by Zadock Steele

Title continues: "To Which is Prefixed an Account of the Burning of Royalton."

Self-published by author Zadock Steele and printed by E.P. Walton, this 19th century leatherbound volume contains the first-hand account of Zadock Steele (1758-1845) of the British-led Royalton raid against several towns along the Connecticut River. Book ends with an unofficial (partial?) list of some who were killed and taken at the Burning of Royalton. 142 pages. 4.25" by 6.5". 

"As an union of interest always strengthens the bonds of affection; so a participation in extreme sufferings will never fail to produce a mutual sensibility. Prompted by a generous glow of filial love and affection, we generally take delight in surveying whatever gave our forefathers joy; and are ready to drop a sympathetic tear, when we review the sufferings which they have undergone."

A personal recounting and historic primary source of a fight in the American Revolutionary War. On October 16, 1780 the British led an Indian raid against various towns of the White River Valley in Vermont, including Royalton, at the Connecticut River. It was the last major Indian raid in New England. [WorldHistoryProject .org/1780]

Self-published. Montpelier, VT. 1818. 

Hardback is overall in FAIR- condition.

• Leatherbound covers are brittle and flaking with extensive wear to all areas including, heavy scuffing to the finish, four pronounced cracks and four deep notches to the front board. 
• Corners are heavily worn and flaking with a large portion missing from the front top right which has lead to the top portion of the textlbock being warped. 
• Shoulders are cracked with the outer portions showing more significant wear where the boards meet the spine. Please see photos. 
• Spine ends are worn with flaking and portions missing. 
• Binding is secure. 
• Ffep is partially detached.
• Half of pages 65/66 is missing. Please see photos. 
• The first two pages of the body of the text are missing while pages 5-8 are partially missing text. Please see photos. 
• Significant tears to the edges of the following pages: 2-12, 19-24, 43/44. Please see photos. 
• Endpapers are worn with faint writing in pencil and ink. Please see photos. 
• Pastedowns are heavily worn and stained with faint writing in pencil. 
• Interior is heavily age-toned and stained with gently faded type in areas.
• The leafs are brittle and show moderate to heavy wear. Please see photos. 
• Inside pages are free of writing and intentional marks.
• Text block edges are stained with foxing. 
• Book may exhibit additional minor signs of age or wear.
• JS20171127

About the printer, E.P. Walton

Eliakim "E. P. Walton" Persons Walton (1812-1890) was an American journalist, editor and politician. He served as a U.S. Representative from Vermont.

About the Royalton raid
In the early morning hours of October 16, 1780, Lieutenant Houghton of the British Army's 53rd Regiment of Foot and a single Grenadier, along with 300 Mohawk warriors from the Kahnawake Reserve in the British province of Quebec, attacked and burned the towns of Royalton, Sharon and Tunbridge along the White River in eastern Vermont. This raid was launched in conjunction with other raids led by Major Christopher Carleton of the 29th Regiment of Foot along the shores of Lake Champlain and Lake George and Sir John Johnson of the King's Royal Regiment of New York in the Mohawk River valley. Four Vermont settlers were killed and twenty six were taken prisoner to Quebec.

By the time the local militia could assemble, Houghton and his command were already on their way back north. The militia caught up with the raiders near Randolph, Vermont, and a few volleys were fired back and forth, but when Houghton said that the remaining captives might be killed by the Mohawks if fighting continued, the local militia let the raiders slip away. A plaque at the East Randolph cemetery marks the site of this event. [Wikipedia]

AS IS! Please see photos. More photos available upon request.

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