The French-Abenaki attack was led by Jean-Vincent d'Abbadie de Saint-Castin and Father Louis-Pierre Thury and Chief Moxus.

[5] The fort at Pemaquid was under the command of Lieutenant James Weems and was significantly under strength after most of its garrison had deserted in the wake of the revolt and overthrow of Governor Edmund Andros at Boston, Massachusetts earlier in the year.

Led by Major Jeremiah Swaine of Reading, Massachusetts, the soldiers' met on August 28, 1689, and then scoured the region.

Despite Swaine's presence, the natives attacked Oyster River (Durham, New Hampshire) and killed 21 and taking several captive.

John Gyles' third brother James was also captured at the same time by the Penobscot and eventually taken back to Fort Pentagouet (present-day Castine, Maine) where he was tortured and burned alive at the stake.