USA > New York > Pioneer history of the Holland Purchase of western New York : embracing some account of the ancient remains > Part 9
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In 1607 the Plymouth company made an abortive attempt to form a colony in northern Virginia. The expedition returned to England and damped the spirit of emigration by the representations it made of the soil and climate they had visited. Six years after they fitted out two vessels, and placed one of them under the com- mand of Capt. SMITH, who had become identified with the colony at Jamestown previously. This expedition explored with care and diligence, the whole coast from Cape Cod to Penobscot. Capt. SMITH went into the interior of the country, made a map of the coast, which on his return he presented to the King, accompanied with a highly favorable account of the country. Capt. HUNT, who
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commanded one of the vessels, instead of returning with SMITH, enticed a number of Indians on board his vessel, and touching at Malaga on his homeward voyage, sold them as slaves; thus upon the threshold of New England colonization, provoking the natives to abandon their pacific policy, and look upon the new comers as enemies. The very next vessel that visited the coast of New England, brought news of their vindictive hostility.
It was reserved for the pilgrim fathers, who, to escape persecu- tion in England, had fled to Leyden, to commence the colonization of New England. Obtaining from King James a tacit acquiescence and from the Plymouth Company a grant of a portion of their territory, one hundred and twenty of their number embarked at Delft Haven, reaching the coast of America, after a long and dangerous voyage, on the 9th of November. 1620, and the coast of Massachusetts, the spot they afterwards called New Plymouth. on the 11th of December.
On the 30th day of September. 1609, two hundred and thirty- nine years ago, HENRY HUDSON an Englishman, but then in the employ of the Dutch East India Company, entered the southern waters of New York, and the next day moored his ship within Sandy Hook. He ascended the river that now bears his name, as far up as Albany, some exploring parties of his expedition having gone as far as Troy. He was from the day he passed Sandy Hook, until the fourth of October, engaged in an examination of the bay of New York, the banks of the river, &c., trafficking with the natives, gratifying his own and their curiosity, by receiving them on board his vessel, and otherwise cultivating their acquain- tance and friendship.
There have been preserved minute details of this first European visit to our State. It forms a chapter in our history of great interest, not only from the fact that it informs us of the discovery of our now Empire State-of the first European advent upon the waters of the Hudson, to the site of our great northern commercial emporium, but from its giving us by far the best and most satisfac- tory accounts of the natives, as they were found in their primitive condition. Hudson testifies, as precedent navigators had done to their general friendly reception of the stranger European. In his four weeks' interview with the natives, nothing occured to mar its pacific character, until one of their number had been wantonly killed by one of his men. The Indian. attracted by curiosity, and
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having perhaps but imperfect ideas of the rights of property, stole into the cabin window, and pilfered a pillow, and some wearing apparel. The men discovering his retreat with the articles shot at and killed him. In an attempt to recover the articles, another native was killed. Previous to this, there had been what the natives construed into an attempt to carry off two of their number. Following after these events, was a concerted attempt on the part of the natives to get possession of the vessel. At the head of Manhattan Island in the inlet of Harlem river, they had collected a large force. The vessel going down the river approached the shore near the place of ambush. HUDSON discovering them, and their hostile intentions, lay off, the Indians discharging at the vessel a volley of arrows, which was returned by the discharge of muskets. This skirmishing continued as the vessel moved farther down, the Indians assaulting with their arrows, the Europeans retaliating with their muskets, and occasionally by the discharge of a cannon. Nine of the Indians were killed, none of the Europeans. How astounding to these simple warriors, armed only with their bows and arrows, must have been this their first knowledge of the use of gun-powder, and its terrible agency as an auxiliary in war! And that they were not dismayed, did not flee at the first explosion of a volley of muskets, is a matter of especial wonder.
Thus a relation, an acquaintance, that was commenced, and for some time was continued in amity, had a hostile termination. HUDSON sailed down the river and put to sea.
This first European advent to our state, was marked by another event, more important in the annals of the aborigines, than any that has occured during their acquaintance with our race. It was the inflicting upon them a curse, more terrible in its consequenses than all else combined, of the evils that have attended their relations with us ; a curse equal in magnitude, in proportion to the aggregate numbers to be effected by it, to that which England has visited upon the Chinese by force of arms ; ( and there is some coincidence in the two events, for in both cases there was the predisposition, the physical tendency, to destructive excess ) : - While HUDSON's vessel lay in the river, (near Albany, as inferred from his account, ) "great multitudes flocked on board to survey the wonder." In order to discover whether "any of the chiefe men of the country had any treacherie in them, our master and mate took them into the cabin and gave them so much wine and aqua vitæ that they were
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all merrie ; and one of them had his wife with him, which sate sc modestly as any of our counterey womene, would doe in a strange plaice." One of them became intoxicated, staggered and fell, at which the natives were astonished. It "was strange to them, for they could not tell how to take it." They all hurried ashore in their canoes. The intoxicated Indian remaining and sleeping on board all night, the next day, others ventured on board and finding him recovered, and well, they were highly gratified. He was a chief. In the afternoon they repeated their visits, brought tobacco "and beads, and gave them to our master, and made an oration showing him all the country round about." They took on board a platter of venison, dressed in their own style, and "caused him to cate with them: - then they made him reverence, and departed all," except the old chief, who having got a taste of the fatal beverage chose to remain longer on board. Thus were the aborigines first made acquainted with what they afterwards termed "fire water;" and aptly enough for it has helped to consume them. The Indians who met HUDSON at Albany were of the Mohawk nation.
The discovery of HUDSON was followed up by several voyages from Holland, with the principal object of traffic on the river, and among the natives he had discovered. The Dutch built two small fortified trading posts, the one on Castle, and the other on Manhat- tan Island. The English attempted a colony upon the river, but were unsuccessful. It was not until 1623 that effectual colonization commenced. In that year, and soon after, vessels were fitted out by the Dutch company, emigrants embarked in them, forts were built, settlements founded. The colony was called New Nether- land. The first governor came out in 1623.
In 1603, a company of merchants was formed at Rouen for the purpose of colonization. They were invested with authority to explore the country, and establish colonies along the St. Lawrence. SAMUEL CHAMPLAIN, an able mariner, a partner in the company,
NOTE .- The strong appetite of Indians for intoxicating drinks, has been observed from our carliest intercourse with them. The first navigators, who reached them, bringing "strong water," the traders who have found them ignorant of the existence of it, and fatally enticed them to its taste, have uniformly borne testimony that with few exceptions, when they have been once under the influence of it, their appetites are craving for further indulgence. The author has been informed by one who has spent most of his life among the fur traders on the head waters of the Mississippi, that he has known an Indian runner to make a journey of two hundred miles and back through deep snow, to obtain a gallon of whiskey, to finish a carousal, after having exhausted the supply of a trader.
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directed the expedition. In this expedition he selected Quebec as the site of a fort. The protection of the fur trade was its princi- pal object, though it led to a permanent establishment. A few settlers were left to build huts and clear land. It was during this expedition, as inferred by Mr. LANMAN, the intelligent historian of Michigan, that the foundation was laid for the long series of troubles that grew up between the French and the Iroquois. CARTIER, in a previous ascension of the St. Lawrence, against the wishes of the Hurons and Algonquins, had, with motives of curios- ity, or to gratify it at home, taken to England three of their chiefs against their will. To win their favor, CHAMPLAIN became their ally against the Iroquois. The secret of his policy, as inferred by CHARLEVOIX, was to humble the Iroquois, in order to "unite all the nations of Canada in an alliance with the French." He did not foresee that the former, who for a long time had, single handed, kept in awe the Indians, three hundred miles around them, would be aided by Europeans in another quarter, jealous of the power of the French. It was not his fault, therefore, that circumstances he could not have anticipated, subsequently concurred to frustrate his plan.
As this expedition constitutes a distinct and important era in the history of the Aborigines of America, and their mode of warfare -the introduction of fire-arms,-the author extracts a concise account of it from the work of Messrs. YATES and MOULTON: -
"Having yielded his consent to join the expedition, he, (CHIAM- PLAIN) embarked with his new allies at Quebec, and sailed into the Iroquois river (now Sorrel,) until the rapids near Chambly pre- vented his vessel from proceeding. His allies had not apprised him of this impediment: on the contrary, they had studiously concealed it as well as other obstacles. His vessel returned; but he, and two Frenchmen who would not desert him, determined to proceed, not- withstanding the difficulties of the navigation, and the duplicity of their allies in concealing those difficulties. They transported their canoes beyond the rapids, and encamped for the night. As was customary, they sent a spy to range in the vicinity, who in a short time returned, and informed them that he saw no enemy. Without placing any guard, they prepared for repose. CHAMPLAIN, sur- prised to find them so stupidly incautious and confident of their safety, endeavored to prevail with them to keep watch. All the reply they made was, that people who were fatigued all day, had need of sleep at night. Afterwards, when they thought that they were approaching nearer towards the enemy, they were induced
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to be more guarded, to travel at night only, and keep no fires in the day time. CHAMPLAIN Was charmed with the variegated and beautiful aspect of the country. The islands were filled with deer and other animals, which supplied the army with abundance of game, and the river and lake afforded abundance of fish. In the progress of their route he derived much knowledge of the Indian character as it was displayed in this warlike excursion. He was particularly amused to perceive the blind confidence which the Indians paid to their sooth-sayer or sorcerer, who in the time of one of their encampments, went through with his terrific cere- mony. For several days they inquired of CHAMPLAIN if he had not seen the Iroquois in a dream. His answer being that he had not, caused great disquietude among them. At last, to relieve them from their embarrassments. or get rid of their importunity. he told them he had, in a dream, scen the Iroquois drowning in a lake, but he did not rely altogether upon the dream. The allies judged differently. for they now no longer doubted a victory. Hav- ing entered upon the great lake, which now bears the name of CHAMPLAIN, in honor of its discoverer, he and his allies traversed it until they approached towards the junction of the outlet of Lake St. Sacrament,# with Lake Champlain, at or near Ticonteroga. The design of the allies was to pass the rapids between those two lakes, to make an eruption into the mountainous regions and vallies of the Iroquois beyond the small lake, and by surprise to strike them at one of their small villages. The latter saved them the necessity of journeying so far, for they suddenly made their appearance at 10 o'clock at night, and by mere accident, met the former on the great lake. The surprise of both parties was equaled only by their joy, which was expressed in shouts, and as it was not their practice to fight upon the water unless when they were too far from land to retreat, they mutually hurried to the shore.
" Here. then. in the vicinity of Ticonderoga (a spot afterwards celebrated in the achievements of the French and Revolutionary Wars,) the two parties pitched for battle. The allies immediately labored to entrench themselves behind fallen trees, and soon sent a messenger to the Iroquois to learn whether they would fight immediately. The latter replied that the night was too dark: they could not see themselves, and the former must await the approach of day. The allies consented, and after taking the necessary precautions, slept. At break of day, Champlain placed his two Frenchmen, and some savages in the wood, to attack the enemy in flank. These consisted of two hundred choice and resolute men, who considered victory as easy and certain over the Algon- quins and Hurons, whom the former did not expect, would have
* Lake George.
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dared to take the field. The allies were equal to them in number, but displayed a part only of their warriors. They, as well as the enemy were armed with bows and arrows only, but they founded their hopes of conquest upon the fire-arms of the French; and they pointed out to CHAMPLAIN, and advised him to fire upon the three chiefs, who were distinguished by feathers or tails of birds larger than those of their followers. The allies first made a sortie from their entrenchment, and ran two hundred feet in front of the enemy, then stopped, divided into two bands to the right and left, leaving the center position for CHAMPLAIN, who advanced and placed himself at their head. His sudden appearance and arms, were new to the Iroquois, whose astonishment became extreme. But what was their dismay when, after the first report of his arquebuse from the spot where he had posted four men, the Iroquois saw two of their chiefs fall dead, and the third dangerously wounded ! The allies now shouted for joy and discharged a few ineffective arrows. CHAMPLAIN recharged, and the other French- men successfully fought the Iroquois, who were soon seen in disorder and flight. They were pursued warmly, many were killed, and some taken prisoners. The fugitives, in their precipi- tance, abandoned their maize. This was a seasonable relief for the victors, for they had been reduced to great need. They fed, and passed two hours on the field of battle in dancing and singing. Not one had been killed, although several were wounded. They prepared to return homeward, for among these people the van- quishers always retreat as well as the vanquished, and often inasmuch disorder and precipitation as if they were pursued by a victorious enemy. In their way back, they tortured one of their prisoners, whose miseries CHAMPLAIN humanely ended."
This was the first pitched battle fought upon our continent, and thus did the Iroquois learn the use of an auxiliary in war, which enabled them to extend in less than a century afterwards, their territorial dominion two thousand miles, waste the lives of their own race, and afterwards, as allies of England, to become a scourge of the border settlements of New York, in the war of the Revolution. Nor did the instructors of these amateurs in a new warfare, escape the consequences. They found them apt scholars; and in their after contests with them learned to dread the stealthy and deadly aim, in their hands, of the arms furnished them by the Dutch and English.
At nearly the same period, HUDSON had given them the taste of intoxicating liquors, at Albany. Thus were they put in possession of two agents that were finally to work their own ruin and decline. Better for them, we are apt to say, if civilization had never reached
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them in these their forest homes. But then comes upon us the reflection that theirs, if a sylvan abode, was not one of peace and innocence. Long before-how long their own traditions cannot inform us,-they were warring upon their own race. They too had invented weapons of war, and oppressed and trampled upon the weak; were even wanton in their wanderings upon the war path for victims. Who shall question the dispensations of Provi- dence, or say that theirs was not the destiny he had decreed ? Who shall say, that if European feet had never trod their soil, that an even worse calamity was not in store for them? That they but awaited the ebb tide of destiny? That retribution was not already coming upon them ;- its ministering spirits, the leagued and exasperated of their own race, they had scourged in long years of triumph and supremacy ?
With a far better knowledge of the country of New France, than had been before obtained, CHAMPLAIN returned home, and after delays and embarrassments. incident to some changes in the administration of the government of France, in 1615 embarked once more for the New World. There came out with him, monks of the order of St. Francis. " Again he invades the territory of the Iroquois in New York. Wounded and repulsed, and destitute of guides, he spends the first winter after his return to America in the country of the Hurons; and a night errant among the forests, carries his language, religion and influence, even to the hamlets of the Algonquins on Lake Nipissing." *
CARTIER is regarded as the pioneer upon the St. Lawrence, and CHAMPLAIN as the founder of a colony upon its banks. "For twenty years succeeding the commencement of the 17th century, he was zealously employed in planting and rearing that infant colony, which was destined to extend its branches to these shores and finally, to contest with its great rival, the sovereignty of North America. CHAMPLAIN discovered in his eventful life, traits of heroism, self-devotion and perseverance, which, under more favorable circumstances, would have placed him in the ranks of those, whose deeds are the land marks of history."t
Events that followed the discovery of this continent, have been thus briefly alluded to, with no intention to enlarge upon them, or
Bancroft.
t Gen. Cass' Lectures before Historical Society of Michigan.
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to travel over ground with which most readers will be familiar; but principally for the purpose of such a chronological introduction as will aid in connecting our own local history with the history of our entire country.
The progress of colonization was slow. In this day of PROGRESS, we may well wonder why such a country as this, did not at once invite a flood of adventurers from Europe. But a careful review of the condition of the old world at that period; the jealousies and counteracting rivalries that existed between the nations that had directed their attention to this quarter: England, France Germany and Spain; their internal dissensions, and the fluctuations in their administrations and their commercial policy; afford us chiefly the explanation. And to all these hindrances may be added, the absence of that spirit of determined and persevering national adventure, which at a later period stimulated to a more earnest and effectual searching out and occupying new fields of enterprise. In following up the slow course of events as they occurred; in noting the tardiness especially, with which England and France made their advances to this continent, even after they had through the reports of their explorers, reliable accounts of the land of promise, leads us to reflect, how it would be now, with our ownl people, if they could even catch a glimpse of an unoccupied field such as this was. There would be no waiting for kingly or government charters; no asking of colonial monopolies. Individual efforts, indomitable private enterprise, would take the place of all this: there would go out from our sea-ports in rapid succession, colonies of hardy adventurers, who arriving at their destinations. and finding but a moiety of the inducements, surrounded by greater obstacles, than was presented to European adventurers here - would persevere; and in the time that in the precedent case it took to deliberate at home, and determine upon a scheme of colonization, -colonies would be founded, territorial governments would be formed; and we should hear of annexation, and possibly of admission.
" Westward the star of Empire " took "its way," but dimly and slowly ; giving but a feeble and flickering light to attract the nations of the earth, while its orbit was circumscribed under Euro- pean auspices and dominion. It was not 'till it had the genial influences of freedom and free institutions; until it had shaken off the incubus of foreign control; that it began to shine with lustre,
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make its rapid transit towards the zenith, and realize the prophetic inspiration of Bishop BERKLEY.
Dating from the discovery of this continent in 1492, it was five years before CABOT discovered New Foundland, St. Johns, and the coast of Virginia; forty-two years before CARTIER discovered and sailed up the St. Lawrence; one hundred and thirty-five years before CHAMPLAIN had effectually established French settlements and dominion. Twenty years before PONCE DE LEON discovered Florida and claimed it for Spain; seventy-three years before St. Augustine was founded .* Seventy-three years before the first expedition of Sir WALTER RALEIGH entered the bay of the Chesa- peake; one hundred and fifteen years before any permanent colony was established in Virginia. One hundred and twenty-nine years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth. One hundred and fifteen before Hunsoy sailed up the river that bears his name; and one hundred thirty-one years before colonization was effectually pro- gressing upon its banks.
The whole series of primitive discoveries upon this continent were accidental. The discoverers were in pursuit of a shorter route to the Indies, and blundered upon this fair region that lay in their way. After the discoveries, gold, other minerals, precicus stones, fountains of health, predominated with the explorers, until failing in their expectations, traffic with the natives for furs and peltries, engrossed the attention of the few and far between voya- gers to the New World. The great elements of wealth here, as time has demonstrated, lay dormant and undisturbed in the soil. The Acadia of France, the Eldorado of Spain, the region where the Englishman was to shovel wealth into his coffers. and the slow Dutchman was to quicken his pace in the pursuit of fortune; came far short of their expectations; and their squadrons but came and wandered lazily around the coasts, or ventured but short expedi- tions up our noble rivers. The wealth was here-the elements of human enjoyment, content and happiness, but they widely mistook in what it consisted. It remained for patient, persevering indus- try and enterprise, unshackled by tyranny; for those who fled to these shores from persecution and wrong; for young and vigo- rous scions of a decayed and decaying parent stock; to more than realize the hopes and expectations of the early European dreamers.
* St, Augustine is by forty years, the oldest town in the United States.
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In 1609 the English colony at Jamestown had just begun to turn its attention to agriculture :-- "yet so little land had been cultivated -not more than thirty or forty acres in all-that it was still necessary for Englishmen to solicit food from the indolent Indians; and Europeans, to preserve themselves from starving, were billeted among the sons of the forest."* In 1624, DE LAET, a director of the Dutch West India Company, under whose auspices settlement was slowly progressing upon the Hudson, attracted the attention of his countrymen by a published description of the New World. In describing New Netherland, he said :- "It is a fine and delightful land, full of fine trees and vines - wine might be made there, and the grape cultivated. Nothing is wanted but cattle, and they might be easily transported. The industry of our people might make this a pleasant and fruitful land. The forests contain excellent ship timber, and several yachts and small vessels have been built there." But it was not until several years after this first attempt to turn the attention of the Dutch from traffic to agriculture, that there was any considerable degree of success.
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