USA > New York > New York City > History of New Netherland; or, New York under the Dutch, Vol. I > Part 28
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1 Hol. Doc. iii., 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140. Isaac Allerton, whose name is signed to the above, was one of the memorable hundred and one " Pilgrims," who came out from Holland in the Mayflower. He was assistant to Governor Bradford for many years, and removed to New Netherland in 1641. He died in 1659.
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and killed, and such as remain, must perish this approaching CHAP. winter for want of fodder.
" Every place almost is abandoned : We, wretched people, must skulk, with wives and little ones, that still are left, in poverty together, by and around the fort on the Manhattes, where we are not one hour safe. While the Indians daily threaten to overwhelm us, little can be planted this autumn, and much less next spring ; so that it must come to pass, that we all, who may survive, shall die, with women and children next year, of hunger and sorrow, unless our God take pity upon us.
" We are all, here, from the smallest to the greatest, with- ont counsel or means ; wholly powerless. The enemy meets with no resistance. The garrison consists of but fifty or sixty soldiers ; without ammunition. Fort Amsterdam, utterly de- fenceless, stands open to the enemy day and night. The company hath, here, few or no effects, as the Director informs us. Were it not for this, there had still been time to receive, ere all were lost, some assistance from the English at the east; but we helpless inhabitants, while we must abandon all our property, are exceedingly poor.
"These heathens are strong in might. They have formed an alliance with seven other nations ; are well provided with guns, powder, and ball, in exchange for beaver by the private traders, who have had for a long time free course here. The rest they take from our brethren whom they murder. In fine, we experience the greatest misery, which must astonish a Christian heart to see or to hear.
" We turn, then, in a body to you, High and Mighty Lords, acknowledging your High Mightinesses as our sovereigns, and the Fathers of Fatherland. We supplicate for God's sake, and for the love which their High Mightinesses bear towards their poor and desolate subjects here in New Netherland, that their High Mightinesses would take pity on us, their poor people, and urge upon and command the company, (to whom we also make known our necessities,) to forward to us by the earliest opportunity such assistance as their High Mightinesses should deem most proper, in order that we, poor and forlorn beings, may not be left, all at once, a prey, with women and children,
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BOOK to these cruel heathens. For should suitable assistance not Il1. arrive very quickly, according to our expectations, we shall be 1643. forced, in order to preserve the lives of those who remain, to remove ourselves to the east among the English, who would like nothing better than to have possession of this place ; espe- cially on account of the superior convenience of the seacoast, bays, and large rivers, besides the great fertility of this soil- yea, this alone could provision and supply yearly twenty, twenty-five to thirty ships from Brazils or the West Indies, with all necessaries. Done at Manhattans in New Nether- lands, this 3d Nov., 1643. Stil. Rom."]
Having dispatched these urgent petitions to Holland for as- sistance, Kieft set about introducing some sort of order and discipline into the heterogeneous force which circumstances enabled him to muster. With this view the following regula- tions were ordered to be enforced " when on guard :" -.-
Nov.
12.
" I. Whoever abuses the name of God when on guard shall pay a fine for the first offence, of ten stivers ; for the second, 20 stivers ; for the third, 30 stivers.
"II. He who speaks scandal of a comrade during the time he is on guard, shall pay thirty stivers.
"III. He who arrives tipsy or intoxicated on the guard, shall pay twenty stivers.
"IV. He who neglects to be present without sufficient cause, fifty stivers.
" Lastly, He who, when the duty on the guard is well per- formed, and the sun is risen, and the reveillé beat, fires a mus- ket without his corporal's orders, shall pay one guilder."
With all these rules and regulations, the state of affairs on the island Manhattans was by no means improving. The presence of even this small garrison seems to be productive rather of increased disorder. Complaints were daily made of the stealing and killing of hogs, goats, as well as of other ir- regularities, which increased so fast, that it " threatened to end in plunder and robbery," and it was feared that people would " at last murder one another," in consequence of the impunity
1 Hot. Doc. ii., 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328. This memorial or remonstrance was signed by the Eight Men in the same manner as the petition to the XIX., which precedes it
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of the delinquents. The incursions of the savages continued CHAP. unnoticed and unopposed, so that, at length, the community began loudly to complain. Kieft, desirous to shake the blame off himself, cited Sheriff Van der Huygens before him, and en- tered a strong protest against that officer for his neglect of duty. " The fault alone is chargeable to you," said he, ad- dressing the fiscal in terms of strongest censure, "and you dare to blame the Director that you are not duly supported! You are now commanded to execute your office, so that you may not skulk behind that pretext. The Director and coun- cil, and all the soldiers are at your service, besides your under- sheriff, jailer, and the negroes."1
1 Alb. Rec. ii., 236 ; iii., 169
IV. 1643.
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CHAPTER V.
Offensive measures against the Indians Expedition to Staten Island-Mayn Mayano slain-His head brought into New Amsterdam-Expedition to Greenwich-Fails in finding the Indians-Returns to Stamford-Collision be- tween a Dutch soldier and Captain Patrick-Latter killed-Attack on an Indian settlement-Detachment return to the Manhattans-Expedition against the Weckqnaesqueecks-Arrive at the castles of that tribe, but find them abandoned-Pennawitz, chief of the Canarsee tribe, discovered assist- ing the enemy-Expedition to Schont's Bay on Long Island-Attacks on the Heemstede and Mespath Indians-Triumph of the Dutch-Consequent ont- rago on some prisoners-Underhill proceeds to Stamford-Expedition against the Indians of that quarter-Description of the Indian camp-General at- tack thereupon-Important victory gained by the Dutch-Over five hundred savages slaughtered-Public Thanksgiving at New Amsterdam therefor- Savages sue for peace-Treaties concluded between several of the river and Long Island tribes and the Dutch-Proceedings of the States General on the petitions of the Eight Men-The West India Company unable to ren- der any assistance-Their letter to the States-Two Spanish vessels taken and brought to New Amsterdam-Low state of the colonial treasury-Kieft resolves to have recourse to taxation-Convokes the Eight Men-Submits his plan-The Eight Men object-Kieft becomes irritated-Claims unlimited power-The Eight Men succumb-Excise duties provisionally imposed- The Eight Men treated with disrespect by Director Kieft-The Dutch ex- pelled from Maranham, a province of Brazil-Fly to Curacoa-Destitute condition of that island-Are sent to New Netherland-Arrive opportunely at Fort Amsterdam-Council resolve to continue the excise-The burghers oppose this arbitrary taxation-Prosecutions of the brewers-Persist in their refusal to pay the excise-Execution issued against them in consequence- Public discontent becomes very high-Parties formed-Protests against the Director-general-Complaints against him sent to Holland, demanding his recall-Letter of the Eight Men-Sad condition of the country-Strictures on Kieft's maladministration.
BOOK 111. 1644.
PREPARATORY arrangements having at length been com- pleted, offensive movements were commenced against the savages, and the Director-general considering that he might, at the same time, beneficially annoy the Spaniards, authorized the privateer La Garce to proceed on a cruise towards the West India Islands.1
1 This privateer was owned by the following persons :- Capt. Blauvelt, com- mander, Jan Jansen Dam, Hendrick Jacobsen, Pater Vaer, Jacob van
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One of the first expeditions from Fort Amsterdam, this CHAP. year, was against the Indians on Staten Island, who had cut off all communication with the western bank of the river. A party, consisting of forty burghers, under Captain Joachim Pietersen Kuyter ; thirty-five Englishmen, under Lieutenant Baxter ; supported by several of the soldiers under their ser- geant, Peter Cock, the whole being under the command of Counsellor La Montagne, crossed over from the Manhattans late in the evening, and having made a landing without oppo- sition, proceeded to scour the island. They marched the whole of the night. On their arrival at the spot where they expected to meet the enemy, they found the place abandoned. They had the good fortune, however, to fall in with and se- cure five or six hundred schepels of corn, with which they re- turned, after having set fire to the village.
Mayn Mayano, a stout and fierce chief, who resided be- tween Greenwich and Stamford, some twenty-five miles northeast of Fort Amsterdam, had dared to attack, about this time, with bow and arrows, three Christians whom he had met on their return home, and who were armed with muskets. The savage had already succeeded in killing one of the three, and was engaged in close combat with the second, when he was fortunately slain by the third, who brought the fellow's head into the fort, and communicated intelligence to the Di- rector and council of the numerous injuries the settlers in that quarter had suffered at the hands of this chief and his tribe, though they and these savages had had no previous differ- ences. A detachment of one hundred and twenty men was immediately detailed under the above-named officers, in three yachts to Greenwich, where they landed the same evening, and thence marched the whole night, to the place where they were informed the Indians were cncamped ; but they did not succeed in meeting the enemy. The latter had been advised of the approach of the Dutch, or these had been led astray. The detachment, thereupon, returned in no very good humor to Stamford, where a halt was called.1
Couwenhoven, Adriaen Dircksen Coe, Jan Labatie, and Adriaen van der Donck.
: Alb. Rec. ii., 250 ; Journael van N. N.
38
V. 1644.
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BOOK 111. One of the party happened to fall in, at the house of Captain Underhill in this village, on a Sunday afternoon while the in- 1644. habitants were at church, with Captain Daniel Patrick of Greenwich, on whose representations the troops had been dis- patched from Fort Amsterdam. Feeling naturally nettled that so many men had been deluded, at such a critical time, into what appeared an idle wild-goose chase, the Dutch sol- Jan.2. dier charged Patrick with treachery. The latter retorted, spat in his accuser's face, and then turned to go away. Incensed at the insult, the Dutchman drew a pistol and shot Patrick in the back of the head. He fell dead, never uttering another word. The soldier was apprehended, but escaped afterwards from custody.1
In the mean time four of the Stamford people had volun- teered to go as scouts, and endeavor to find where the savages had removed to. On the return of some of these, five and twenty of the boldest of the detachinent were sent to an ad- joining village, where a prospect was held out of success. By a forced march, they came undiscovered to a small Indian settlement, which they attacked, slaying eighteen or twenty of the savages, and taking one old man, two women and some children, prisoners, with a view to exchange them for Chris- tians of a like age and sex. The Indian wigwams were otherwise all unoccupied. The detachment returned after this to Manhattans.
The old Indian thus taken prisoner, proposed now to the Dutch, in the hope of obtaining favor at their hands, to lead any of their troops against the Weckquaesqueecks, who were said to be intrenched in three castles at the north. Lieu-
1 Winthrop's Journal, 320 ; Winthrop's N. Eng. ii., 151. Hubbard, copying Winthrop, says of this Captain Patrick-" He was entertained in the Massa- chusetts, and brought out of Holland-having been one of the Prince's guard there-to teach the people military discipline. He was made a freeman, ad- mitted a member of the church of Watertown, but being proud and otherwise vicious, he was left of God to a profligate life, which brought him at last to destruction by the hand of one of that people from whom he sought protection, after he had fled from the yoke of Christ in the Massachusetts, the strictness of whose discipline he could neither bear in the church nor yet in the country." Hist. N. Eng., 426. Patrick's wife's name was Annetje van Beyeren. She married subsequently Tobias Feeck, sheriff of Flushing.
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tenant Baxter and Sergeant Cock were, thereupon, ordered to CHAP. proceed under the guidance of this old man, with sixty-five V. men against this tribe. But this party was in no way more fortunate than those which had already gone on similar expe- ditions. They found the castles of the Indians formidable in construction, and well adapted for defence. They were built of five-inch plank, nine feet high, and bound around with thick beams, and studded with port-holes. Though it was calculated that thirty Indians could hold out, in one of these, against two hundred soldiers, strange to tell, the whole were found uninhabited. The Dutch, thereupon, burnt two of these strongholds, reserving the third as a point to retreat to, in case of necessity. From this place they next marched be- tween thirty and forty miles further, but discovered nothing save a few huts. They now retraced their steps, having met with only one or two Indians, whom they killed, and a few women and children, of whom they made prisoners, burning whatever corn fell in their way.
Intelligence was now received at Fort Amsterdam, that Pennawitz, of Long Island, in whom the Dutch had generally so much confidence, was countenancing the enemy in an un- derhand way ; his people having been discovered secretly kill- ing the Christians, and burning their houses. A body, one hundred and twenty strong, composed of burghers under Capt. Pietersen, of Englishmen under Sergeant-major Un- derhill, and the old soldiers under Peter Cock,-the whole expe- dition being under the command of Counsellor La Montagne,- were ordered to proceed in three yachts to Schouts or Sheriff's Bay, on Long Island. Having landed without molestation, they marched to Heemstede, and having succeeded in killing an Indian spy, whom they had discovered on the lookout, they divided themselves into two sections. Underhill proceeded, at the head of one of these, composed of about fourteen English- inen, against the smaller Indian settlement. Eighty men were dispatched against the larger village, named Matsepe, (Mespath,) and such was the success with which both these excursions were crowned, that they left one hundred and twenty savages dead on the field ; while the loss on their own side was only one man killed, and three wounded The tri-
1644.
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HISTORY OF
1644.
BOOK umph thus achieved was, however, afterwards tarnished, it is In. said, by brutal outrages openly committed by the soldiery on a couple of Indians who had been taken prisoners ; one of whom was hacked to pieces with knives, while stripes of flesh were cut from the other's yet living body, which was other- wise shockingly mutilated ; his head having been finally cut off in Beaver Lane. Director Kieft and Counsellor La Mon- tagne are accused of having countenanced these tortures by their presence.1
On his return from Heemstede, Capt. Underhill was ordered to Stamford, to obtain particulars of the whereabouts of the savages. He brought word back, that they were encamped some five hundred strong in that direction, and that the old guide urged the forwarding a body of troops immediately thither, as he was desirous, on the one hand, to prove that the former ill success of the Dutch was not his fault; on the other hand, anxious for protection, as his life was in constant danger.
Feb.
One hundred and thirty men embarked, accordingly, under Captain Underhill and Ensign Van Dyck, in three yachts, and landed the same evening at Greenwich. But a severe snow- storm having set in, detained them at that settlement the whole of that night. The weather, however, moderated towards morning, when the party set forward, and arrived, soon after, at the foot of a rocky mountain, over which some of the men had to crawl, with considerable difficulty, on their hands and feet. The evening, about eight o'clock, brought them to with- in a few miles of the enemy. Their further progress was, however, now impeded by two rivers, one of which was some two hundred feet wide, and three in depth. It was considered
1 The particulars of the above expeditions are taken from the Journael van Nieuw Nederlandt. Allusion is made te the outrages committed against the In- dians in the following query proposed to Van Tienhoven at the Hague, in 1650 : Off niet seekere twee Wilden, op de cortegarde gevangen, waren van Heems- tede gehaelt, door de Soldaten in 't gesichte van alle de wereldt, d'eene met messen, in coolenbloede, gesneden en doodgesteken ; den anderen levendich riemen uyt het lyff gesneden ; veerts syn mannelyckheyd, nech levende, affgesneden, in het beverspad, daer sy hem daernae het hooft affsloegen ? Off Kieft en La Montagne daer niet mede present by waren, als de riem uyt der levenden lyff gesneden wierden ? Hel. Dec. v., 320, 321.
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best to remain here awhile, in order to refresh the men and to CHAP. make arrangements for the coming attack. After a rest of a V. couple of hours, the party again set forward at ten o'clock. It was full moon, and the night so clear-" a winter's day could not be brighter"-that the Indian village was soon discovered at a distance. It consisted of three rows of houses, or huts, ranged in streets, each eighty paces long, and backed by a mountain which sheltered it from the northwest wind.
But the Indians were as much on the alert as their enemy. They soon discovered the Dutch troops, who charged forth- with, surrounding the camp, sword in hand. The Indians evinced, on this occasion, considerable boldness, and made a rush, once or twice, to break the Dutch line and open some way for escape. But in this they failed, leaving one dead, and twelve prisoners in the hands of the assailants, who now kept up such a brisk fire, that it was impossible for any of the besieged to escape. After a desperate conflict of an hour, one hundred and eighty Indians lay dead on the snow, outside their dwellings. Not one of the survivors durst now show his face. They remained under cover, discharging their ar- rows from behind, to the great annoyance of the Dutch troops. Underhill now seeing no other way to overcome the obstinate resistance of the foe, gave orders to fire their huts. This or- der was forthwith obeyed ; the wretched inmates endeavoring, in every way, to escape from the horrid flames, but mostly without success. The moment they made their appearance, they rushed, or were driven, precipitately back into their burn- ing hovels, "preferring to be consumed by fire, than to fall by our weapons."
In this merciless manner were butchered, as some of the Indians afterwards reported, five hundred human beings. Others carry the number to seven hundred ; " the Lord hav- ing collected the most of our enemies there, to celebrate some peculiar festival." Of the whole party, no more than eight men escaped this terrible slaughter by fire and sword. Three of these were badly wounded. Throughout the entire car- nage, not one of the sufferers-man, woman, or child was heard to utter shriek or moan.
This expedition having been thus crowned with complete
1644.
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HISTORY OF
BOOK success, the wounded, fifteen in number, were attended to, Ill. and sentinels posted to prevent surprise. Large fires were
1644. then kindled, as the weather was still excessively cold, and the conquerors bivouacked, during the remainder of the night, on the field of battle. They set out next morning on their return, in good order, " marching with great courage over that harassing mountain, the Lord enduing the wounded with ex- traordinary strength," and arrived at Stamford at noon, after a march of two days and one night, during which they had little repose and less comfort. The English received the soldiers with friendly hospitality, proffering them every possible kind- ness. Two days afterwards the detachment arrived at Fort Amsterdam, where a public thanksgiving was ordered for the brilliant success which attended the New Netherland arms.1
Though the savages continued still to be troublesome to such a degree as to oblige the Dutch at Manhattans to erect a March solid fence " from the great bouwery across to the plantation 31. of Emanuel," as a protection for the cattle when out at pas- ture, the few settlements that remained unscathed were about now to be relieved, for awhile, from the attacks of the In- dians. The late punishment inflicted on these, and the ap- proach of spring, made them desirous for peace, and they therefore solicited the intervention of Captain Underhill to procure a cessation of hostilities.
Mamaranack, chief of the Indians residing on the Kickta- wanc, or Croton River ; Mongockonone, Pappenoharrow, from the Weckquaesqueecks and Nochpeem ; and the Wap-
1 Journael van N. N. This, I presume, is the battle alluded to by Trum- bull,-Hist. Conn. i., 161 ; Wood's Long Island, 34, note ; Thompson's Long Island i., 106,-as " the great battle fought between the Dutch and Indians in that part of Horse Neck called Strickland's plain, now included in the town of Greenwich, Conn." Trumbull says that three hundred Indians were killed by the Dutch. But all the above writers, the one copying the error of the other, fix the date of the battle iu 1646 ; but this evidently is a mistake, for a general peace was established between the Indians and Dutch in Angust, 1645. It is stated, in a pamphlet entitled "Second Amboyna Tragedy," that the Indians offered Underhill a hogshead of wampum if he would retreat with his forces, but that he refused, hazarded the above attack, and killed fourteen hundred of the enemy !
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pings from Stamford, presented themselves, in a few days, at CHAP. Fort Amsterdam, and having pledged themselves that they should not, henceforth, commit any injury whatever on the in- April 6. 1644. habitants of New Netherland, their cattle and houses, nor show themselves, except in a canoe, before Fort Amsterdam, should the Dutch be at war with any of the Manhattan tribes ; and having further promised to deliver up Pacham, the chief of the Tankitekes, peace was concluded between them and the Dutch ; who promised, on their part, not to molest them in any way, but to allow them to cultivate their fields in peace, and as a guarantee of their sincerity, surrendered several of their prisoners.
Ten days after the conclusion of this treaty, Gonwarrowe, April sachem of the Mattinecocks, on Long Island, who had suf- 15. fered so nuch in the late attack at Heemstede and Mespath, ap- peared also at the fort, and went security for the adjoining villages of Matinnecock, Marospinck, as well as for Ack-kin- kas-hacky, on whose behalf he solicited peace, which was granted, on the condition that neither of them should attempt to harm the Dutch, nor afford shelter to any of the tribes at Rocken-hacky, (Rockaway?) " the Bay," and Marechhawick ; that they should separate from them, and communicate these articles to their sachem on "Mr. Fordham's plains." If, however, any should be slain by any of the hostile tribes, or among the latter, by the Dutch, these were to be held guilt- less. To all these conditions the sachem assented, after which " he was favored with some presents."1
The urgent appeals for succor and relief, which the Eight Men had transmitted at the close of the last year to the States General and the West India Company, had already reached their destination. Their High Mightinesses, moved by the urgency of these representations, immediately had them re- April 5.
1 Alb. Rec. ii., 247, 248. As it may be interesting, at this distance of time, to understand the locality of those Long Island Indians, we would mention that the Matinnecocks owned Flushing, Newtown, Cow-harbor, and other neighboring places. The Marsapeagues (Marospinck ?) extended from Rock- away to Huntington. " The Bay" adjoined Jamaica ; and the Marechhawick Indians dwelt between that and Brooklyn. "The great plains" are those of Hempstead, L. I., which were granted to Mr. Fordham.
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BOOK ferred to the Assembly of the XIX., with a strong injunction II1. 1644. to adopt prompt measures for the protection of the petition- ers. These representations were, notwithstanding, unproductive of any good effect. The West India Company was bank- rupt ; its directors without means and without credit; its different chambers torn with dissensions and filled with dis- trust, the one against the other, and unable to defend their co- lonial possessions, which the revolution progressing through England only saved at this moment from the gripe of Great Britain. To save themselves from utter ruin, the directors in Holland were endeavoring to form a union with the richer and more powerful East India Company. In this helpless con- dition they wrote to the States General :
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