USA > New York > A history of the state of New York, from the first discovery of the country to the present time: with a geographical account of the country, and a view of its original inhabitants > Part 6
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position of the first was the confluence of the Schoharie Creek and Mohawk river. The oth. ers were farther to the west.
The Mohawks, from their martial renown and military spirit, have not unfrequently given their name to the whole confederacy, which was often denominated the Mohawks in the annals of those days. This nation was always held in the great : est veneration by its associates, and they were declared by the other nations, "the true old heads of the confederacy."
The Oneidas had their principal seat on the south of the Oneida lake; the Onondagas, near the Onondaga, and the Cayugas, near the Cayu -. ga lake. The principal village of the Senecas was near the Genesee river, about 20 miles from Irondequoit bay.
Each nation was divided into three tribes-the Tortoise, the Bear and the Wolf. Each village was a distinct republic, and its concerns were managed by its peculiar chiefs.
Their exterior relations, general interests, and national affairs, were conducted and superintend- ed by a great council, assembled annually at Onondaga, the central canton, composed of the chiefs of each republic ; and 80 sachems were frequently convened at this national assembly.
It took cognizance of the great questions of war and peace, and of the affairs of the tributa- ry nations. All their proceedings were conduct- ed with great deliberation, and were distinguished for order, decorum and solemnity.
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK.
A prominent feature in the character of the confederates was an exalted spirit of liberty, which revolted with equal in- dignation at domestic or foreign control. They esteemed themselves as sovereigns, accountable to none but God alone, whom they called the Great Spirit. They admitted no hered- Itary distinctions. The office of sachem was the reward of personal merit, of great wisdom, of commanding eloquence, of distinguished services in the cabinet or in the field.
Whatever superiority the Iroquois might have in war, they never neglected the use of stratagem. The cunning of the fox, the ferocity of the tiger, and the power of the lion, were united in their conduct. They preferred to vanquish their enemy by taking him off his guard, by involving him in an ambuscade ; but, when emergencies rendered it necessary for them to face him in the open field, they exhibited a courage and contempt of death, which have never been surpassed .*
" Upon the whole, the Iroquois have been a very extraordi- nary people. Had they enjoyed the advantages possessed by the Greeks and Rmoans, there is no reason to believe that they would have been at all inferior to these celebrated nations Their minds appear to have been equal to any efforts within the reach of man. Their conquests, if we consider their numbers and their circumstances, were little inferior to those of Rome itself. In their harmony, the unity of their opera- tions, the energy of their character, the vastness, vigor and success of their enterprises, and the strength and sublimity of their eloquence, they may be fairly contrasted with the Greeks. Both the Greeks and the Romans, before they be- gan to rise into distinction, had already reached that state of society, in which men are able to improve. The Iroquois had not. The Greeks and Romans had ample means for improve- ment. The Iroquois had none."t
SEC. VI. In the western and interior parts of the state, the remains of fortifications and other works of art have been discovered, bearing marks of great antiquity, and indicating the remote ex-
* Clinton. t Dwight.
,
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ORIGINAL STATE OF THE COUNTRY, &c.
istence of nations far more civilized than the indigenes of the present race, or any of the known tribes of North America.
In Pompey,* Onondaga county, are vestiges of a town, the area of which included more than 500 acres. It was pro- tected by three circular or elliptical forts, eight miles distant from each other. They formed a triangle, which enclosed the town. From certain indications, this town seems to have been stormed and taken on the line of the north side.
In Camillus, in the same county, are the remains of two forts, one covering about three acres, on a very high hill. It had one eastern gate, and a communication at the west, to- wards a spring, about ten rods' from the fort. Its shape was elliptical. The ditch was deep, and the eastern wall ten feet high.
The other fort is almost half a mile distant, on lower ground, constructed like the former, and about half as large. Shells of testaceous animals, numerous fragments of pottery, pieces of brick, and other signs of an ancient settlement, were found by the first European settlers.
On the east bank of Seneca river, six miles south of Cross and Salt lakes, the remains of ancient Indian defence have been discovered, together with a delineation of ill-shapen figures, supposed to have been hieroglyphical, and engraved, as with a chisel, on a flat stone, 5 fect in length, 33 in breadth, and 6 inches thick ; evidently a sepulchral monument.
The principal fortification was 220 yards in length, and 55 yards in breadth. The bank and corresponding ditch were remarkably entire; as were two apertures, opposite each other in the middle of the parallelogram, one opening to the water, and the other facing the forest.
About half a mile south of the greater work was a large half moon, supposed to have been an outwork, but attended with this singularity, that the extremities of the crescent were from the larger fort. The banks of the ditch, both of this and the first fortress, were covered with trees, that exhibited extremity of age.
" Yates and Moulton.
7
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK.
The flat stone above mentioned was found over a small elevation in the great fort. Upon removing it, one of the visiting party dug up with his cane a piece of earthen vessel, which, from the convexity of the fragment, was supposed to contain two gallons. It was well burned, of a red color, and had its upper edge indented, as with the finger, in its im- pressionable state.
Eastward these fortifications have been traced eighteen miles from Manlius Square ; and in Oxford, Chenango county, on the cast bank of Chenango river, are the remains of another fort, remarkable for its great antiquity ;- northward, as far as Sandy creek, about fourteen miles from Sacket's Harbor, near which one covers fifty acres, and contains nu- merous fragments of pottery.
Westward they are discovered in great number. There is a large one in the town of Onondaga, one in Scipio, two near Auburn, three near. Canandaigua, and several between the Seneca and Cayuga lakes. A number of ancient fortifi- cations and burial-places have also been discovered in Ridge- way, Genesee county.
Near the Tonewande creek, at the double-fortified town,* are some interesting antiquities, described by Dr. Kirkland. They are the remains of two forts. The first contained about four acres, and the other, distant about two miles, and situ- ated at the other extremity of the ancient town, enclosed twice that quantity of ground.
The ditch around the former was about five or six feet deep. A small stream of water, and a high bank, circum- scribed nearly one third of the enclosed ground. There were traces of six gates or avenues round the ditch, and, near the centre, a way was dug to the water. A considerable number of large, thrifty oaks had grown up within the enclosed ground, both in and upon the ditch; some of them appeared to be at least two hundred years old or more.
Near the northern fortification, which was situated on high ground, were found the remains of a funeral pile, probably the burying-place of the slain, who had fallen in some san-
" This place is called by the Senecas Tegatuincaaghque, which im ports a double-fortified town, or a town with a fort at each end.
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1
ORIGINAL STATE OF THE COUNTRY, &c.
guinary conflict. The earth was raised about six feet above the common surface, and betwixt 20 and 30 feet in diameter. The bones appeared on the whole surface of the raised earth, and stuck out in many places on the sides.
"On the south side of lake Erie are a series of old fortifi -. cations, from Cataraugus creek to the Pennsylvania line, a dis- tance of 50 miles. Some are from two to four miles apart, others half a mile only. Some contain five acres. The walls, or breastworks, are of earth, and generally on ground where there are appearances of creeks having once flowed into the lake, or where there was a bay.
" Hence it is inferred that these works were on the former margin of lake Erie whence it has retreated from two to five miles northward. Further south, there is said to be another chain parallel with the first, about equidistant from the lake. Here the country exhibits two table grounds, formed by the recession of the lake. The one nearest the lake is lower, and is secondary. The primary alluvial ground was formed by the first retreat of the water, and then it is supposed the most southern line of fortifications was erected. In process · of time, the lake receded farther to the north, leaving the other section of table land, on which the other tier of works was made. The soil in each is different, the inferior being adapt- ed to grass, the superior for grain; and the timber varies in a correspondent manner. On the south of lake Ontario are two alluvial formations, of which the most recent is north of the ridge road. No forts have been discovered on it, although many have been observed south of the mountain ridge. The non-existence of forts on the secondary or primary alluvial formations of lake Ontario is a strong circumstance, from which the remote antiquity of those on the Highlands to the south may be deduced; because, if they had been erected on the first or last retreat of the lake, they would undoubtedly . have been made on them, as most convenient, and best adapt- ed for all military, civil and domestic purposes."*
These vestiges of ancient fortified towns are widely scat- tered throughout the extensive territory of the Six Nations, and, by Indian report, in various other parts. There is one
* Moulton.
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK.
on a branch of the Delaware river, which, from the size and age of some of the trees, that have grown on the banks and in the ditches, appears to have existed nearly 1,000 years, - and perhaps for a still longer period.
SEC. VII. These antiquities afford demonstra- tive evidence of the remote existence of a vast population settled in towns, defended by forts, cultivating agriculture, and more advanced in civilization than the nations which have inhabit- ed the same countries since the European dis- covery.
They may be viewed as connecting links of a great chain, which extends beyond the confines of this state, and, be- coming more magnificent and curious as we recede from the northern lakes, passes through Ohio into the great vale of the Mississippi, thence to the gulf of Mexico, through Texas, and South America.
In this vast range, of more than three thousand miles, these monuments of ancient skill gradually become more remarka- ble for their number, magnitude and interesting variety; until we are lost in admiration and astonishiment, to find in a world, which we call new, ancient institutions, religious ideas, and forms of edifices, similar to those in Asia, which there seem to go back to the dawn of civilization .*
SEC. VIII. Concerning the authors of these works, we have no authentic account. The In- dians obviously know nothing in regard to them, and their traditions on this subject are vague, indefinite and contradictory. They must have existed a long time previous to European inter- course ; but their origin, the fortunes that at- tended them, and the disasters which effected their ruin, have alike been consigned to oblivion.
* Moulton.
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ORIGINAL STATE OF THE COUNTRY, &c.
The same obscurity rests on the origin of the numerous American tribes. That America was peopled from different quarters of the old world, and at different periods, appears to be the most probable conjecture.
Philosophers have identified portions of the American family with their Asiatic, European and African kindred. But to identify the whole with any primitive stock, except the common ancestors of all mankind, would, we believe, bc impossible.
The Indians of this state have been identified with the Tartars of Asia, and this theory is supported by many traits of resemblance.
But, after so many ages have elapsed, so many intermixtures taken place, and with so little history, even of a traditionary kind, now before us, the subject will hardly repay the labor of investigation, and any conclusion, at which we might arrive must be extremely precarious.
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK.
CHAP. V.
1
DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT.
Discoveries of Columbus and the Cabots. Great River discovered by Hudson. Champlain's
Expedition. Hudson detained in England. Dutch trade to the Great River. Licensed Trading Company. First Settlement .. . West
India Company.
New Netherland. First
Governor. Van Twiller's Administration.
Kieft. Stuyvesant. New Netherland surren- dered to the English.
SEC. I. Christopher Columbus, a native of Genoa, was the first discoverer of America. In 1492, he sailed from Spain, with a small fleet, under the patronage of Ferdinand and Isabella, then on the united thrones of Castile and Arra- gon, and, on the 12th of October, discovered San Salvador, one of the Bahama Islands. Co- lumbus took possession of the island in the name of Queen Isabella, and, after his return to Spain, made several other voyages, but did not dis- cover the continent of America until August 1, 1498, when he made the land now called Terra Firma, in South America.
In 1497, John and Sebastian Cabot com- menced a voyage of discovery, under the patron- age of Henry VII. king of England. On the 24th of June, they approached Newfoundland, and soon after made the first discovery of the
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DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT.
continent of America, and ranged its coast from Labrador to Florida. The attention of all Eu- rope was excited by these enterprises, and numerous voyages were made for the purposes of discovery and settlement. In 1606, James I., king of England, for the purpose of planting two colonies, passed the great North and South Virginia patent, embracing the country from the 34th to the 45th degree of north latitude. Jamestown, in Virginia, the first permanent set- tlement in North America, was founded the following year.
SEC. II. On the 3d of September, 1609, the first European discoverer, of whom we have any knowledge, entered the southern waters of New York. Henry Hudson, an English navigator, in the service of the Dutch, anchored his ship with- in Sandy Hook, and soon after proceeded to New York bay, discovered Manhattan, and sailed into the river which has since borne his name.
The discovery of a northern passage to the East Indies was at this time a subject of sanguine expectation, and an object of deep interest to the commercial world. For the attain- ment of this, a London company associated, and, in 1607, fitted out a ship under the command of Hudson. He pene- trated as far as S2° of north latitude, when the ice arrested his progress. After discovering Spitzbergen, and parts of Greenland before unknown to Europeans, he returned to England.
In 160S, another expedition was fitted out, and IIndson made a second voyage under the same association. In the main object of the enterprise, he was again unsuccessful. The company then suspended their patronage. Hudson went
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK.
to Holland, and entered into the service of the celebrated Dutch East India Company.
A small ship, called the Half-Moon, was equipped, and in- trusted to his command. He left Amsterdam on the 4th of April, 1609, and once more encountered the inclemency of the northern seas. . His progress was again intercepted by the ice, and he formed the design of visiting America, in hopes . of making some discoveries, that might prove an indemnifi- cation for his failure in the north.
Hle arrived off the banks of Newfoundland early in July, and, after coasting as far south as Virginia, and experiencing severe gales, on the 2d of September he espied the Highlands of Neversink, anchored his ship within Sandy Hook on the 3d, and on the following day is said to have made his first landing on Coney Island, opposite Gravesend.
Here they found the soil chiefly of white sand, and on it vast numbers of plum-trees loaded with fruit, and many of them surrounded and covered with grape-vines of different kinds. While the ship lay at anchor, the natives from the Jersey shore came on board, rejoiced at the sight of their new visitors, and brought green tobacco, which they gave for trifles. They wore loose deer-skins well dressed. While the boat proceeded to sound the bay, the shores were observed to be lined with men, women and children. The crew went on land, and made a short excursion into the woods of Mon- mouth county, New Jersey, and were kindly treated by the natives. Among the presents they received were sweet dried currants, some of which were also brought on board by those who visited the ship.
Hudson, discovering that the bay was the entrance to what appeared to be an extensive river, sent his boat, with five men, who passed, and sounded through the Narrows, and discovered the Kills between Staten Island and Bergen Neck. They proceeded six miles into the bay of New York, and then turned back. While on their return, the men were attacked by two canoes containing 26 Indians. John Colman, an Englishman, who had accompanied Hudson in his first attempt to penetrate the polar circle, was shot with an arrow in the
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DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT.
neck, and two others wounded. The Indians, perhaps, met them unexpectedly, were surprised and frightened, shot at them, and made off as fast as they could; for it does not ap- pear that they attempted to take the two unwounded men and their boat, as they might, no doubt, have done, then or after- wards. Upon their arrival at the ship with their slain com- rade, he was interred at Sandy Hook, and the point named Colman's Point.
The boat was hoisted into the ship, and every precaution taken to guard against an attack. It was expected, that this first instance of hostility would have broken off all intercourse with the natives; but, on the second day after the death of Colman, they brought Indian wheat (corn) and tobacco, traded freely, and offered no violence. `The next day they repeated their visits, but armed with bows and arrows, and in greater numbers, with apparently hostile intention. They were not suffered to board, except two, who were kept. The rest returned, when a canoe came out with two only, one of whom was also taken, with a view of keeping him with the others, probably as hostages for the good behavior of their friends. The last one, however, jumped up, and leaped over- board. On the 11th, Hudson passed through the Narrows into the New York bay, and, on the following day, entered the mouth of the North river, and came to anchor. He then made immediate preparation to explore the river, and sailed up on the 13th. In this expedition, he took with him the two Indians, whom he had detained on board, as far as West Point, where they had the address to make their escape by leaping from the port, and swimming to the shore .*
SEC. III. Hudson passed one month in ex- ploring the extent of his discovery. Early in October, he put to sea, with the intention of re- turning to Holland. A mutiny having risen among the crew, he was compelled to land in England, where he was detained, by an exercise of the royal prerogative.
* Moulton.
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK.
.
, While examining the country, Hudson as cended the river with the " Half-Moon" as far as Albany, and with his boat probably reached the spot upon which is the village of Waterford. In the course of this excursion, he had frequent interviews with the natives.
In consequence of the delay occasioned by adverse winds, Hudson was 11 days in ascending, and 11 in returning. During these delays, he occupied his time chiefly in making observations upon the country, and in traffic with the natives. During his ascent, and while at Albany, his interviews with the natives appear to have been friendly. Though sometimes suspected by him of hostile intentions, they were uniformly peaceable in their deportment. At most of these interviews between Hudson and the Indians, there was an exchange of . presents ; and their intercourse, generally, was distinguished only by mutual acts of kindness. His return, however, was characterized by occurrences of a different nature.
While at anchor in the vicinity of Stony Point, the natives, as usual, " came flocking to the ship, expressing their wonder and astonishment to behold a vessel so superior to their ca- noes, and weapons so much more terrible than their own. Anxious to carry away to their friends some part of this float- ing world of wonders, and not satisfied with the trifles they received in return for skins, one of the canoes, with one man in it, lurked about the stern with a thievish tardiness, notwith- standing he was warned off. Watching an opportunity, he at length crawled up the rudder into the cabin window, and stole a pillow and a few articles of wearing apparel. The mate shot at the poor pilferer, and killed him. The rest fled panic-struck, and, in their precipitance, some leaped into the water. The ship's boat was manned, and sent to recover the articles. One of those who had leaped into the water got hold of the boat, for the purpose of overturning it, (as was thought,) but the cook stood ready with his sword, and with one blow cut off' one of his hands, and he was drowned. This was the first Indian blood shed during the voyage. With this mighty revenge for a trifling injury, they returned to the ship, weigh
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DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT.
ed anchor, and sailed six miles, when, it being dark, they an- chored near Teller's Point, off the mouth of Croton river, near the entrance into Tappan sea. At daybreak, (2d Octo- ber,) they again sailed with a fair wind, till the tide set too strong against them, when they came to anchor near fort Washington and fort Lee, at the upper end of Manhattan Island. The two captive Indians, who escaped at West Point, had, it might appear, made their way on the west side of the river, rousing on their return the spirits of Sleepy Hollow,* or the more ferocious Manhattæ,t and at the head of the Manhattan Island, probably in the inlet of Harlaem river, they had concentrated a force that impatiently awaited the arrival of the rich booty, which they flattered themselves they should obtain. The ship soon appeared, and was hove to near the vicinity of their place of ambush. One of the savages who had escaped came out with many others, armed with bows and arrows. But Hudson, discovering no friendly intention in their approach, suffered none of them to enter the ship. Thereupon, two canoes, full of men, fell back near the stern, and discharged a volley of arrows upon the ship. In retaliation, six muskets were fired, and two or three Indians killed. Meantime the main body of the Indians advanced to the point of land, (at fort Washington,) and discharged their arrows as the vessel moved slowly along. A cannon was fired on board, and two of the Indians fell; the remainder fled to the woods. Still resolute in their plan, thoughi discomfited in its onset, about a dozen of the boldest and most desperate jumped into a canoe, and advanced to meet the ship. An- other cannon was discharged, their canoe shot through, and one man killed. The men stationed on the deck also fired, and killed three or four more. This terminated the desultory sea-fight, in which nine fell victims to their temerity. The assailants 'went their way,' and the ship, after sailing two leagues, anchored beyond the reach of danger, in what ap- peared to be a bay near Weehawken, or Hoboken, opposite New York. Here they rode all night, but experienced much
* Of the Mahicanni nation, a little north-west of White Plains in West-Chester. See Irting's Sketch Book.
t Who probably extended to Tappan bay.
-
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK.
wind and rain. The next day (3d) was very stormy, the anchor was driven home in a violent gust, and the ship went aground; but the wind, suddenly changing, drove her off, the ground being oozy.
" On the fourth of October, Hudson left 'the great mouth of the great river,' and with all sails set put to sea, and sailed south-east by cast.
" Thus, after spending a month of almost uniformly fine weather, but suffering the apprehension of shipwreck, in con- sequence of the vessel being three times driven on shore, and half a dozen times run aground ; after meeting a more friend- ly reception, and realizing a more profitable trade, from the natives on the west side of the river, than from those on the castern; losing one man, and killing ten,-Hudson completed a discovery, the benefits and glory of which he could neither foresee nor appreciate. His character throughout appears to have been marked with mildness and dignity.
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