bring ... back into line

[kjc0123]

What is the meaning of "bring ... back into line" in the following sentence?

"What was to become known as the Pequot War was to start, however, on the water. A group of mischievous Pequots had taken a boat from a white man and were sailing it up the harbor when a white man by the name of John Gallup sailed by. He immediately fired on the Indians and then rammed the vessel with his own boat. Most of the Indians jumped overboard but a few of them were taken as captives. News of the encounter soon spread. Governor Vane of Massachusets sent out a punitive force of 90 men to bring the Pequots back into line."

[smorodina]

It means to force them to obey the laws or rules of the local government.