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CHAPTER XII.
New Gotheburg, Elsenborg, Korsholm, Forts built by Printz-Meeting of the Sachems-Col- lege of Commerce-Rising-Fort Cassimir Ca- pitulates.
RINTZ HALL was so substantially built that it lasted for 175 years, and would, by care, have stood twice as many more, but was accidentally burned
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
The chief reason why Gov. Printz selected | build a new fort on the western side of the Tinicum for his residence was, its nearness to river, below Fort Christina, at a place the Dutch called Sandhuken, afterward New Am- stel, the ancient name of Amsterdam, and which the English afterward named New Cas- tle. the Dutch fort Nassau, on the Jersey side of the river a little above ; as a check to which he built a strong fort on the island, well armed with cannon from his ships, which he called New Gotheburg. And not satisfied with this de- fense,in order to take proper care of the Swedish territory on the Jersey side, he went down to Mill Creek, afterward called Salem Creek, and on the south side of the stream where it enters the Delaware, erected another fort, called Elsenborg, which was armed with eight twelve-pound guns ; four of iron and four of brass, and garrisoned by twelve men. So en- ergetic was he that both forts were completed within eight months after landing ; in addition to which, he had a fortified place at Passayunk, called Korsholm, under the command of Lieut. Swen Schute, and another fine fort like the others, made of logs, with sand and stones packed between, at Manayunk Beside these, Upland now Chester, had a fortification around which some houses were clustered, and still another fort was placed on an island now gone, near the mouth of the Schuylkill By means of the Elsenborg fort, on Salem Creek, Printz would stop and search the incoming Dutch ships, making them lower their flags and pay toll, which the Hollanders looked upon as a great dishonor : and this did not fail to excite wrath and nurse the growing spirit of hostility.
For the time, the Swedish forces on the river greatly exceeded the numbers of the Dutch. Besides the squadron that accompanied Printz, at least three reinforcements, called expedi- tions, had followed in a few years; viz : The Black Cat, with warlike stores and goods for trade ; the Swan, bringing many emigrants, and the Key and Lamb with more troops and ammunition ; and thisaccession of strength no doubt kept up the Governor's arrogant and exacting temper. We have records up to this time of Seven different Expeditions. An Eighth set out with seventy emigrants, but met with so many misfortunes, that not a soul reached the settlement, and very few got back to Sweden.
Finding Fort Nassau no longer of any use, Peter Stuyvesant, Gov. of New Netherlands, at Manhattan, and a manager equal to Printz, determined to dismantle that fortification, and | Hudde the Dutch Commissary at Fort Nassau,
To carry out this purpose, he himself re- paired to the Delaware, which was his first visit. He early waited on Gov. Printz, at Tini- cum, and endeavored in a peaceful way to settle all the growing difficulties ; for, in fear of the English, both Sweden and Holland perceived it was their best policy to hold the Delaware in common. Not being able to get satisfaction from Printz, he was obliged to take stronger measures to defend the Dutch claims. He therefore sailed down the river, took a survey of the shores on the west side, below Christiana Creek, and selected Sandhu- ken as a salient point, most favorable for a defensive position, and as a good location for trade and commerce. Here he assembled all the neighboring Sachems, and upon their denying that they had ever sold the land to the Swedes, he made a purchase reaching from Fort Christina to the mouth of the river, or Bombay Hook, a bargain not worth an Indian lie ; for, according to Vincent, quoting O'Cal- lighan, vol. II. page 166, it was made on con- dition, they would repair the gun of the chief Pemmennatta, when out of order, and give them a little maize, when it was needed. The purchase was made on the 19th of July, 1651, and Stuyvesant, against all the remonstrances of the Swedish Governor, proceeded at once to erect the Fort, which was armed and gar- risoned in sufficient strength 'to resist any at- tempt of the Swedes to assault and gain posses- sion. The Fort was named Cassimir, after Prince John Cassimir, the Palatine of the Rhine. This act, however, was neither ordered or approved by the Holland authorities.
The Swedish Governor was, by this time, be- ginning to tire of his labors, and grow a little scared at the storm he saw gathering with the Dutch, a storm he had so potent a hand in raising ; and no wonder he thought of a return to the Fatherland. In addition to his violent proceedings down the river, stout quarrels, in- sulting passages, and bloody menaces arose between the two parties in the region of tlie Schuylkill, where, in the person of Andreas
1
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
he had to encounter a more active and deter- | mined man than his predecessor, Jan Jansen, and one worthy to be named with the re- doubtable Stuveysant himself. The Governor, it is said, also found himself growing unpopu- lar with the Swedish colonists, because of the severe exercise of his authority ; and for some time no new reinforcements had arrived, whilst the power of the Dutch increased. Vincent says, page 217, that before the building of Fort Cassimir, the Swedes became so discouraged, and, perhaps, disaffected toward Gov. Printz, as to request Stuyvesant to take them under . his care as Dutch subjects, which he declined to do before consulting with the home authori- ties ; who sent their approval of his protecting all, in their citizen rights, who were willing to obey Dutch laws and statutes. Moved by all these annoyances and dangers, and thinking the Colony abandoned at home, Printz sent his agents to Sweden, to apprise the govern- ment of the growing perils, and earnestly to solicit reinforcements: but before replies could be returned, without a release, he left his post. It was not a desertion, however, for his com- mission allowed him to return,if he chose, in three years, and he had stayed ten. He left the beginning of Nov. 1653, appointing his son-in law, John Papegoija, Deputy Governor, and was honorably received at home; being made a General and afterward promoted to be Governor of the district of Jonkoping. He lived till the year 1663. In the mean time affairs were in the hands of the Deputy Governor, about 18 months, until the arrival, in May, 1654, of John Claudius Rising, the successor of Printz.
At this time, a press of governmental affairs at home induced the Swedish authori- ties to commit the colonial department to the General College of Commerce. By them two extraordinary officials were appointed, Capt. John Anunelsen to oversee ship building, and command the Colonial Navy, and Rising to be Commissary and Counsellor, to aid Gov. Printz, on the supposition that he was still on the ground. From such appointments, it looks as if these shrewd merchants were not altogether satisfied with Printz's doings, and his unchecked authority ; although they ex- pressed regret, if he should see fit, immediately to return, before they could make arrange- ments in regard to his successor.
The merchant directors at home, evidently took a wider view of Colonial interests, and laid out a considerable departure from the old arbitrary controversial ways of management in New Sweden. A division of authority was to be made between the military and civil administrators, but they were to act in har- mony. A Council of the best officials, also, was to be established, for consultation; and every means must be employed to facilitate commerce ; for which purpose, duties were lowered, and in some cases done away, and new privileges offered to all classes, who would trade or settle in the Colony.
.John Claudius Rising, who had been Secre- tary of the College of Commerce was ap- pointed by the college-to which the business had been entrusted, on the 12th of December 1653-and sailed the 27th of January 1654, arriving at the Delaware in the month of May. This is reckoned the Ninth Expedition. He came over in the ship of war Aden or Eagle, Captain Swensko, with two or three hundred people, including officers, troops and new set- tlers,among whom were the military engineer, Peter Lindstrom and a clergyman named Peter. Acrelius says, page 62, that over a hundred families, of good and respectable peo- ple, with wives and children, would have come over with this expedition, but could find no room in the ship.
Rising was sent only as Commissioner and Counsellor to Gov. Printz ; and as Printz had left the Colony before the arrival of Rising, he took upon himself the supreme authority, as he undoubtedly was warranted and com- missioned to do ; but the first exploit he achieved, upon entering the Delaware, if he supposed the old Governor was on the ground, was marvelously disrespectful of his will, and entirely at variance with his instructions ; for, whilst he might use serious remonstrances with the Dutch, to abandon Fort Cassimir, he was commanded not to resort to any hostili- ties.
But what was his proceeding ? Cap't. Gerrit Bikker commanded Fort Cassimir with a gar- rison of ten or twelve Dutch soldiers, around which were grouped about 22 houses.
As the ship came in sight, he dispatched Adrien Van Tienhooven and others, to hail the vessel and inquire who they were. The Commissioners returned the next day, inform-
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
ing the Commander it was a Swedish Ship of War, with a new. Governor, and that he de- manded an immediate surrender of the Fort. Bikker required time for deliberation, but at the end of two hours, two guns were fired from the ship, and Capt. Swensko landed with 30 soldiers. Bikker came out of the Fort and received them on the beach; when this storm- ing party hurried in through the open gates, posted themselves in the different bastions, and at the point of the sword, demanded a surrender : and when some of the Dutch leveled their pieces at the Swedish soldiers, their muskets were snatched from their hands, and their side arms forcibly taken. According to Holland Documents, the Dutch garrison were chased out of the Fort, their proper- ty taken possession of, and all the goods in the Fort confiscated. Bikker complained to Stuyvesant, that only by entreaties, was he, with wife and children, saved from being shut out, and left almost naked.
Acrelius, on the other hand. records, that a correct inventory of every thing in the Fort was made, and every one allowed to carry off his property. ' The Dutch, also, might freely remove, or if they took the oath of allegiance to the Crown of Sweden, they might remain and be protected in all their rights ; and this course was taken by the Dutch residing in the neighborhood. In this summary way, the Dutch authority was, for the time, uprooted. No apology can be entered for Rising ; but in such an extraordinary proceeding, whatever favorable statement may be made, on good authority, seems to be demanded. Rising, ac- cording to Acrelius, demanded the Fort on the ground that it had been built against their protests, on Swedish Territory. O'Cal- laghan, note to Acrelius, page 63 says, that Gov. Stuyvesant had acted without orders in building the Fort, and that the West India Directors were not altogether disposed to sustain him in the matter.
It is also said by Vincent, page 227, that Stuy- vesant. on the 2nd of June, before the capture of the Fort was known at New Amsterdam, had proposed to his Council to abandon Cassi- mir ; for what reason it is not known, and Bik- ker, in his letter before mentioned. says, the "Swedish Governor pretends that her majesty, (of Sweden) has license from the States General, that she may possess this river provisionally." 6
Rising, having got the Fort, determined to keep it, and to this end it was put into the hands of Lindstrom, who changed the plan, enlarged the fortified area, and improved the outworks ; and by adding four fourteen pound cannon, he made it almost new and much more formidable than before.
As the Fort was taken on Trinity Sunday, 3Ist of May, according to Dutch records, the name of "Trinity" was given it by the Swedes. According to a well compiled story book, "life in New Sweden, two hundred years ago," the people were worshipping as usual in their little Church at Christina, on a warm and brilliant Sabbath day, when just as Lars Lock, the Preacher, has ascended the pulpit to announce the text, all are startled by the sound of a cannon, fired at a distance. Think- ing only of the Indians, the men rush for their arms, dispensing with the sermon. As soon as it is ascertained that no domestic enemies are near, and another report calls their attention to the water, they all make their way toward the river shore; and as the smoke is seen in the direction of Fort Cassi- mir, some of the men take to their boats, and by afternoon, the Colonists are gladdened with the news, that it is their new Governor Rising, and that the Dutch Fort is in their hands.
The arrival of the Eagle, with new officers, soldiers and settlers, make a great, but pleas- ing commotion in the little Colony. They gladly open their doors to the new comers till they can put up dwellings for themselves; and the Governor keeps all busy, day and night, not only on the works, just captured, but in strengthening and multiplying the de- fenses of Christina.
CHAPTER XIII.
Rising, Director General of New Sweden- Stuyvesant, Governor of New Amsterdam, inter- feres-Preparations-Fleet sent to the Dela- ware-Demand the surrender of Fort Cassi- mir-Dutch victorious-Lay seige to Fort Chris- tina-Surrender of the Swedes-Terms of the victors-Conquest of New Sweden.
HORTLY after the arrival of Rising, Pappegoija the deputy Governor, left the colony and returned to Sweden, when Rising took the title of Director Gen- eral of New Sweden and assumed supreme
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
authority. His first public act in this capacity | productions; a census of the inhabitants of New was to assemble the Indians of the region, for the purpose of strengthening the friendship and renewing the treaty between them. As the most central point, they were brought to- gether on Tinicum Island, and on the 17th of June, ten Sachems with their followers, were assembled at Printz Hall. Some complaints were made against the Swedes, and it took a profusion of gifts to smooth their ruffled feel- ings. The usual effect followed, for when the the chiefs retired to deliberate, it was resolved to live in friendship with the Governor and his people.
When they had all met together again, Naa- man, a distinguished chief from the neighbor- ing creek, that still bears his name, made an oration. Pointing to the gifts, he reproached those who spoke ill of the good Swedes. He then stroked his arm three times, in token of perpetual amity ; striking his breast, he de- clared the two parties should be as one body and one heart. He then squeezed his head with both hands and made motions like tying a knot, saying they should be as one head ; and not yet exhausting his figures, he took a good sized calabash for comparison, declaiming, that as that was round without seam or rent, so there should be no crack in their dealings with each other. Upon the Indians raising a loud and unanimous shout, in assent to these friendly sentiments, the garrison at the fort gave a salute of several guns. At this honor, the Indians were greatly pleased, and cried, "Pu, hu, hu, mockirich pickon," meaning : "Hear now, can believe, the great guns are firing." They were, then, treated to wine and brandy. After this, the old deeds of purchase were read to them, to be confirmed. At the sound of their own names, like children that had never seen their names in print before, they were quite elevated; but when some dead chiefs were called, they hung down their heads, either for sorrow or shame, as if it was their fault or dis- grace, that they had departed. In the mean- time, several great kettles of hasty pudding or sepawn, had been prepared. of which the com- mon Indians, took their fill, whilst the chiefs sat apart, smoking in quiet dignity.
Another set of praiseworthy acts, Acrelius ascribes to Rising and the Engineer Lind- strom, consisting of a careful investigation into the nature of the soil, its capabilities and
Sweden and a map of the river and bay on both sides, extending from the capes, to Tren- ton Falls, showing the numerous creeks and islands, with the names of the localities as they were then determined. A copy of this map in smaller dimensions is yet preserved in Arcrelius, as edited by Dr. Reynolds. The population of New Sweden, both Dutch and Swedes, was found to be 368. As there were only 70 persons when Rising arrived, ac- cording to his letter to Sweden, July 11th, he must have brought .with him about 300 ; whilst the small number, at his arrival would indicate a vast mortality ; nor is this unlikely, for Acre- lius in a note, page 67, declares the region, so late as 1682, to be lying waste and to be most unhealthy.
In the Dutch invasion that soon follows, we need not be surprised that such small gar- risons are found to defend the forts ; 47 men seems to be the strength of Fort Trinity, even after it had been reinforced. Thirty defended Christina, and some men must have been stationed to defend Fort Gotheborg on Tini- cum Island, and the little defenses higher up the river. As for Elsenborg, on Salem Creek, that had long been abandoned, the garrison having been driven away, it is said, by. the violence of the mosquitoes, which gained for it the name of Myggenborg ! The Dutch de- termined to retake Fort Cassimir.
But had Peter Stuyvesant, the Dutch gov- ernor of New Amsterdam known the weak- ness of Sweden on the Delaware, the drum need not to have been beaten for recruits, in the cities of Holland, nor the whole garrison taken from Manhattan ; they need not have waited till Sweden was exhausted and the great Oxen- steirn was dead, and they were at peace with England, before making the attack : and then, after long and secret preparations had been made and pains taken to lull Rising into a sense of security, to sail away from Manhattan speedily, with a squadron of seven war ships and armed transports, and an army of 700 men!
As a matter of fact, from the day Fort Cassi- mir was taken, Stuyvesant began to collect forces and make preparations for recovering his property. His ill temper first showed itself in capturing and detaining the Swedish ship, Golden Shark, sent with reinforcements to the Delaware, but, which inadvertently, got into
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
Raritan river. This vessel could hardly have been the little, leaky old lugger of only 40 or 45 tons, the Dutch represented her to be; see- ing they offered to give her up in exchange for Fort Cassimir, which, however, Rising refused.
By the 16th Nov. letters came from Hol- land to Manhattan. The Dutch W. I. Com- pany were greatly exasperated at the Swedes and ordered Stuyvesant to make every exer- tion, till they were driven, entirely, from the river. They promised all kinds of help, and sent over a ship of war called the Balance, Capt. Frederick de Koninck, with two or three other vessels filled with soldiers, gunners and carpenters and abundance of ammunition ; and if anything frightful is in a name, the " Great Christopher" and " King Solomon" ought to have appalled the Swedes. Even a French privateer, the L'Esperance, Capt. Jean Fla- mand that happened to be in New Amsterdam, was hired for the expedition, which authorized them to raise the "Oriflamme" of France against the Swedes. After the observance of a fast and prayer day for the success of the en- terprise, seeing it was undertaken not only for the security of the Province, but for the glory of God's name, on Saturday 5th September, 1655, the squadron set sail. All the eyes in New Amsterdam must have looked after them from the Battery, on that fair and brilliant September day, as the ship passed down the resplendent bay and off through the Narrows : of necessity, under a favoring wind; for the next day, the 6th, they reached the Delaware. Being delayed a little in the river by the un- favorable tides, they did not reach Salem Creek till the next Thursday; where the Governor landed all his men, at the deserted fort, to give them some relief from the crowded ships, and to review and recast the troops into conven- ient Companies. Salem Creek is nearly op- posite Delaware City, at the distance of 5 miles, and New Castle, the seat of Fort Cas- simir, is 7 miles distant from Delaware City, making a straight line across the beautiful rounding cove or bight lying between the two last named points. The fleet lay in full sight of Fort Cassimir, and Swen Schute or Skitte, the commander, ought not only to have been forewarned, but should have sent word to Gov- ernor Rising, who knew nothing of the enemy, till Cassimir was fully invested.
The present ship channel from Salem lies on
the New Jersey or eastern side of the river, and as this was, probably, the case 200 years ago, one standing at Delaware City could have seen the sailing of this Dutch invasion as it passed slowly up the river. On Friday morn- ing Captain de Koninck, the naval commander sailed past the fort, between 8 and 9 o'clock, when 50 men were landed on a point called Swanevik, who immediately began to erect breastworks and plant a battery against the fort, thus cutting off communication with Fort Christina. However, word was sent to Rising in the night. Capt. Smidt and a drummer were immediately sent to demand the surrender of Cassimir, which Stuyvesant claimed as their own property. When Schute asked leave to send for instructions, to Gov. Rising, it was refused ; when he asked for a delay till the next day, it was granted, because the Dutch batteries could not be ready before that time. Then, unconditional and instant surrender was required,and as the Swedish soldiers refused to fight against such odds, by noon on Saturday the Dutch troops marched into the fort. Stuy- vesant, in his Journal, published in Acrelius, says, "Thirty Swedes have surrendered to us and desire to settle in Manhattan." He adds, "It seems that many others may follow them." Honorable terms were allowed by the articles of capitulation, which were signed on ship- board, Sept. 16, 1655.
After this, feeling pretty sure of the result, Stuyvesant, was in no hurry to march upon Christina. He records : "In one or two days, we shall march thither, but we shall march slowly, so that our people may not be fatigued," which must be very considerate, seeing the direct distance was but 5 miles.
Can Diedrick Knickerbocker indeed, be in the right ? We cannot receive his account of the taking of Fort Cassimir, in the face of graver authorities ; but he says, "a boy was just sent into the cabin for a live coal, to touch off the swivel, when the Swedish flag was low- ered ;" but certainly great deliberation was used in the transaction.
Gov. Rising seems very dull of understanding. He did not, or would not, see the real object of the Dutch invasion, and sent Factor Elswyk to ask "what was the intention, and who did it ?" Stuyvesant says, "in a polite way," and sug- gested "that the Dutch ought to rest satisfied with what they had got and not go any further ;"
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
warning him by the use of the Latin adage ; | would scarcely supply a single round of their "Hodie mihi, cras tibi ;" (mine to-day, yours to-morrow ;) which soon came to pass, in res- pect to Fort Christina, in another way from that which he threatened.
There is some contradiction, too, between Gov. Rising's account of the Dutch approach and siege of Fort Christina, and that of Acrelius.
The latter records, that the Dutch did not advance to Christiana Creek, directly in front of the Fort, but made a circuit, crossing where the Wilmington bridge is now built, and thence marching eastward and taking the Fort in the rear. Nor did they go to much trouble in forming the siege. The time, which was only a few days, was mostly occupied in negotiations, without a single shot being fired or a single Hollander's blood being shed.
From Rising's official statements, New York, Historical Society, Coll. Vol. I., the Dutch came boldly up to the Creek under the muzzles of the cannon, seized a Swedish sloop and raised their flag to the top of her mast, and fortified a house, near the old Ferry ; under cover of which they threw up entrenchments and planted a battery. Then the transport ves- sels were brought into the Brandywine and the troops landed on the north side of the stream, and by this route they reached the rear of the the Fort ; planting batteries, with supporting companies of soldiers, on the north, on the north-west, and on the north-east. Finally, the armed ships were anchored at the mouth of the Brandywine, in the Christiana, within close range of the Fort. Of these four batteries, as shown on Lindstrom's plan of the siege, pre- served in Ferris' Book, Slangenborg was on the south side of the Creek, and Myggenborg, Rot- tinborg and Flingenborg behind the Fort. But with all this complete investment, wisely, there was neither Slangen nor Flingen, on either side, except that the Swedes burnt a little powder to scale a couple of their guns, and the Dutch fired some volleys of musketry over the heads of the Swedes. What a grim humor, too, is seen in the names given by these fellows to their batteries ! !
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