1663. 28 July. The fort contained several strongly-built houses, and was CHAP. XX. inclosed by three rows of palisades. Here the expedition remained overnight. At dawn of the next morning, Couwenhoven was dispatched with one hundred and forty men, and a captured squaw as a guide, to a high mountain several miles off; but no Indians were there. As it was useless to continue the pursuit of their subtile enemies, the expedition destroyed the corn of the savages, burned their 31 July. fort and houses, and, after a long day's march, returned in destroyed. safety to Wiltwyck. Esopus fort ful media Wappin pus fort Unsuccessful efforts were made, through the mediation Unsuccessof the Wappingers, to obtain the release of the Christian tion of the captives; and the Esopus savages having built a new fort gers. "about four hours" further off, another expedition was or- 30 August. dered. Heavy rains delayed the forces several days; but at length, Kregier set out with fifty-five men, guided by a 3 Sept. young Wappinger. After a toilsome march of two days, they reached the new fort, about thirty-six miles south 5 Sept. southwest of Wiltwyck, and probably in the present town of Mamakating, in the county of Sullivan. Taken by sur- New Esoprise, the savages retreated across the Shawangunk Kill; surprised. and the Dutch having slain Papequanaehen their chief, and fourteen warriors, besides several women and children, remained conquerors, with the loss of three killed and six wounded. Thirteen prisoners were taken, and twentythree Christian captives recovered. Spoil enough "well to fill a sloop" was destroyed; several guns and a quantity of ammunition were seized; and the victorious expedition returned to Wiltwyck with the rescued captives and the 7 sept. Indian prisoners, one of whom, refusing to proceed, was dispatched on the way. The enemy was now nearly crushed; yet detachments were prudently ordered to guard the Dutch reapers in their fields. Even the peaceful Katskill savages were suspected; and a party was sent about nine miles from the fort, 24 Sept. to a maize plantation on the "Sager's Kill." No Indians, to the " Sahowever, were found; but some corn was secured, and the party reported that "it is a beautiful maize land, suitable Party sent ger's Bill." CHAP. XX. for a number of bouweries." This report is confirmed at the present day by the flourishing farmers of Ulster.* 1663. Third ex against the dians. The council of war now resolved to dispatch a third ex1 October. pedition against the Esopus savages; and one hundred and pedition fifty-four soldiers and Long Island Indians marched from Esopus In- Wiltwyck. The next afternoon they came to the scene of their recent victory, where all was now desolation. Several pits had been filled with dead Indians; the unburied corpses of others lay around. Parties were sent into the neighboring woods, but no savages were seen. They had fled southward among the Minnisincks. The fort and 4 October. Wigwams were burned; the maize was destroyed; and the 5 October. expedition returned in safety, after a fatiguing march through an incessant rain. Wiltwyck anew. Tranquillity being restored, Couwenhoven was sent back to New Amsterdam, with several of the soldiers and the 9 October. Long Island auxiliaries; and Wiltwyck, which now conpalisaded tained thirty-four occupied lots, was palisaded anew, "from the water-gate, along the curtains, unto the lot of Arent. Pietersen Tack." After making arrangements with a Wappinger sachem for an exchange of prisoners, Kregier, leaving the post in charge of Ensign Niessen, with a garrison of sixty soldiers, paid a short visit to the capital. On his return, he found that some of the captives had been restored, and the release of the remainder been promised. Swartwout's conduct, however, having displeased Stuyvedischarged. sant, he was discharged from his office of schout of Wiltwyck; and Matthys Capito, the secretary of the village court, was installed, provisionally, in his place.† 17 Nov. 22 Dec. 24 Dec. Swartwout 8 Feb. Negotiations had meanwhile been going on between the Company West India directors and the burgomasters of Amsterdam, South Riv- which resulted in the surrender to the city of all the comcity of Am- pany's territory on the South River, upon condition that the cedes the er to the sterdam. rights of the colonists should be respected; sufficient garri. * The “Sager's Kill" is now known as the Esopus Creek, which, running northeasterly from Kingston, empties into the river at Saugerties. The "Sager's Killetje," or Little Kill, crosses the road, and empties into the river about a mile north of Saugerties. † Alb. Rec., vi., 388, 415; xii., 331; xvi., 171-270; xviii., 248; xx., 313, 356; xxi., 129181, 203–208, 249, 261, 294, 313; New Amst. Rec., v., 248–257; Hol. Doc., xii., 347; Renss. MSS.; O'Call., ii., 473-482; Doc. Hist. N. Y., iii., 964; iv., 41–98. Report of commissa sons be maintained; the space of a mile be cleared and set- CHAP. XX. tled, and four hundred emigrants be sent out every year; 1663. and that the city should never sell or dispose of any part, upon pain of forfeiting the whole of their privileges. The commissaries of the city colony in an able report set forth 10 March. the commercial advantages which New Netherland would the city's enjoy if sufficiently peopled. Its trade with the West In- ries. dies and the neighboring English colonies now employed two hundred vessels annually. The English near the South River had shown themselves well disposed; and even if their own government should enforce the Navigation Act, they would still "open a small door" by which the Dutch might trade with them overland. To foster the colony on the South River would be the wisest expenditure of the city's funds. Holland was crowded with refugee Huguenots, Waldenses, Norwegians, and Germans; and many of a better class from Rochelle were desirous to emigrate to New Netherland at their own expense. All that these colonists desired was to be protected from the savages for a few years in their new home. This report was received with favor by the burgomasters of Amsterdam, and large 16 March. sums were appropriated for the vigorous prosecution of the work of colonization. Hinoyos sentations. These views were warmly supported by Hinoyossa, who 25 June. arrived not long afterward. He represented the Maryland sa's repreauthorities, with whom he had communicated, as anxious to promote intercolonial commerce; that the Swedes, Finns, and others had already one hundred and ten plantations, and thousands of cattle and swine, besides horses and sheep; that the city had already two or three breweries, and more were wanted to supply the English with beer, who, in return, could furnish a thousand tubs of tobacco a year; and that ten thousand furs and other articles could be annually procured from the Indians and exported from the colony. These representations had their effect. The 14 July. next month, Hinoyossa set sail for the South River, with Hinoyossa. about one hundred and fifty colonists, and arrangements were made to dispatch another ship. Return of 1663. 11 Sept. the W. I. 21 Sept. structions sant. CHAP. XX. The directors, on their part, informed Stuyvesant of their proceedings, and ordered him to transfer to the city's agent all the company's possessions on the South River, as stipLetter of ulated in the articles of agreement. In a subsequent disCompany. patch they explained in detail that, by this step, they hoped Further in- to secure the South River more effectually "from the ento Stuyve croachments of our English neighbors at the South, of whom nothing more favorable can be expected than from those of the North, who, notwithstanding the alliance between the crown of England and this republic, are continuing their usurpations." "It appears, too, that this city is will ing to fulfill her engagements; while she, since that event, not only with more zeal, but with more vigor, exerts herself in watching her own interests in that distance, having resolved to transport to that country annually four hundred colonists and other useful husbandmen, if a larger number is not obtained, which must contribute to our security against the English North. We may expect, besides this, a more powerful intercession of this city with our government, to obtain from the crown of England the final settlement of the long-desired boundaries, for which we shall leave nothing undone, and communicate the result. Meanwhile, we renew our recommendation to maintain yourself in possession of the territory which has been allotted to us by the provisional treaty, and to resist all new encroach16 October. ments of our English neighbors." Rumors soon afterward tions reaching Holland that the Swedish government was equipSwedes. ping two frigates to retake New Sweden, Stuyvesant was admonished to be on his guard, and directed not to remove the company's artillery from Fort Altona.* Precau against the May. the South River. In the mean time, the war between the Senecas and the troubles on Minquas had produced great alarm at New Amstel. A body of eight hundred Senecas attacked the Minqua fort, but they were put to flight and pursued northward for two days. This only produced fresh rumors of war, and the Mohawks were reported to be preparing to assist the Sen * Alb. Rec., iv., 415, 431, 437, 444, 447; viii., 352-363; xvii., 309-311; Hol Doc., XV., 52-67, 81-85, 91-108; ante, p. 700. 1663. Calvert vis Amstel and ecas; while the Esopus Indians, after the destruction of CHAP. XX. their fort at Shawangunk, were said to have encamped among their friends, the Minnisincks, at the head of the South River. News now came that the heir of Lord Baltimore was about to visit Altona; and Beeckman, finding 24 July. that "here on the river not a single draught of French wine is obtainable," requested Stuyvesant to send him some from Manhattan, "to treat the nobleman with." The next 9 August. month, Lord Baltimore's son, Charles Calvert, came to New its New Amstel and Altona with a suit of twenty-six or twenty-sev- Altona. en persons. Beeckman entertained him, not as a proprietary, but as a guest; and their intercourse was pleasant and harmonious. In conjunction with Van Sweringen, the 12 August. schout of New Amstel, Calvert renewed the treaty with. the savages; but when it was proposed to define the limits of the two colonies, he replied that he would communicate with Lord Baltimore. The young nobleman took leave of his Dutch hosts in all good feeling; and proposing to visit Boston the next spring, by way of Manhattan, he desired Beeckman to convey his thanks to Stuyvesant for his offer of convoy and horses." Hinoyossa from Hol Stuyvesant the South him. Not long afterward, Hinoyossa arrived from Holland; 3 Dec. and Beeckman, in obedience to the company's orders, im- returns mediately recognized him as chief of the Dutch on the land. South River. In a few days, Stuyvesant executed a formal act, ceding to Hinoyossa, as the representative of the 22 Dec. burgomasters of Amsterdam, "the South River from the surrenders sea upward so far as that river extends itself, toward the River to country on the east side, three miles from the borders of the river, and toward the west side so far as the country extends, until it reaches the English colonies." The city's director organized his government; made arrangements for the superintendence of the fur trade at New Amstel, Passayunk, and the Horekill; and chose, for his own residence, a spot on the Apoquinimy Creek, just below New Amstel, where he proposed to build the metropolis, and promote commerce with the English in Maryland and Virginia. And Beeckman, now shorn of authority, ap |