 Taking the threat seriously , Standish urged that the colonists encircle their small village with a palisade made of tall , upright logs . The proposal would require a wall more than half a mile ( or 0 @.@ 8 km ) long . In addition , Standish recommended the construction of strong gates and platforms for shooting over the wall . The colony had recently been reinforced by the arrival of new colonists from the ship Fortune , but there were still only 50 men to work on the task . Despite the challenges , the settlers constructed the palisade per Standish 's recommendations in just three months , finishing in March 1622 . Standish divided the militia into four companies , one to man each wall , and drilled them in defending the village in the event of attack . 
