Atlas of Battles

battle, early modern

Wheeler's Surprise

Wheeler's Surprise was a battle fought in 1675 in what is now Massachusetts, United States. Its exact site is not recorded; the atlas places it at its recorded location. It was part of the King Philip's War, which ran from 1675 to 1678. The recorded result: Successful ambush by the Nipmuc. Siege unsuccessful. Follow up battle fought to a draw.

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Wheeler's Surprise
Unknown artistUnknown artist, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought1675
WhereMassachusetts, United States42.214N, 72.103W, placed at the location, approximate
OutcomeSuccessful ambush by the Nipmuc. Siege unsuccessful. Follow up battle fought to a draw.
BelligerentsNipmucagainst23px Massachusetts Bay; Praying Indians; Mohegan
Part ofKing Philip's War1675 to 1678

Where it sits in the King Philip's War

Wheeler's Surprise, 1675Attack on Springfield, 1675Battle of Bloody Brook, 1675Great Swamp Fight, 1675Attack on Sudbury, 1676Battle of Turner's Falls, 167616751676Wheeler's Surprise, 1675
6 placed engagements of the King Philip's War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date1675 (year precision)
to 1675
PlaceMassachusetts, United States
42.214N, 72.103W
KindBattle, early modern
StrengthUnknown, but at least a hundredOriginally 35-40 men were ambushed, remains plus about 70 civilian colonists were besieged. Relief force numbered 350 colonial militia plus an unknown number of Mohegan Indians.
Commanders
  • Muttawmp
  • Matoonas
  • Thomas Wheeler (soldier)
  • Edward Hutchinson (captain)
  • Simon Willard (first generation)
Wheeler's SurpriseWheeler's SurpriseAttack on SpringfieldBattle of Bloody BrookRaid on DeerfieldBattle of Turner's FallsBattle of ConcordAttack on SpringfieldBattle of Bloody BrookBattle of Turner's FallsBattle of ConcordBridgeportProvidenceHartfordAlbanyConcordNew HavenManchesterSchenectady100 km42.214N, 72.103W
Placed at its recorded location; the exact site is not recorded. with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1675

Wheeler's Surprise is one of 1,470 engagements of the 17th century in the atlas and one of 1,148 in present-day United States (20 in Massachusetts).

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q7992172, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Wheeler's Surprise, revision 1370750767, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.