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2.
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CONTENTS.
lision between the frigate President and British sloop-of- war Little Belt-War declared-Ill success of the American forces at the north -- Important naval victories -- Americans defeated at the River Raisin-Capture of York, Upper Ca- nada-Forts George and Edward abandoned by the British --- Defeat of Boerstler-Victory at Sackett's Harbour-Per- ry's victory on Lake Erie-Naval successes and disasters- Battle of the Thames-Defeat of the Creeks by Jackson- Battles of Chippewa and Bridgewater-Capture of the Capi- tol-Death of Ross -- Battle of Plattsburg-McDonough's victory on Lake Champlain-Battle of New Orleans - Peace declared Page 305
CHAPTER XXIV.
Political aspirations of De Witt Clinton-The Tammany Society-Its origin-Opposed to Clinton-Tompkins elected governor -- Chosen vice-president-Clinton governor-Con- struction of the Drie Canal authorized-Decline of the old Federal party-Origin of the " Bucktails"-Clinton re-elect- ed governor-Van Buren chosen United States Senator- Revision of the state constitution-Principal amendments adopted-Yates elected governor -- Division of the Demo- cratie party-Organization of the "People's party"-Remo- val of Clinton as canal commissioner-Re-elected governor -Subversion of the old political parties-Abduction of Mor- gan-Masons and Anti-Masons-New organizations-For- mation of the Whig and Jackson parties-Death of Governor Clinton-Van Buren elected governor-Rise and decline of the "Workingman's party"- Throup elected governor- Marcy chosen-" Equal rights" party organized-How de- signated by the Whigs-Merged into the Democratic party -Marcy re-elected governor-Financial embarras ments- Increasing strength of the Whigs-Seward elected governor -Party fluctuations-Bouek elected governor-Election of Wright-Anti-Rent disturbances -- Their origin-Progress of the disaffection-Tumults in Delaware county-Murder of the sheriff-Military called out -- Arrest and imprison- ment of the rioters-Breach in the Democratic party- " Hunkers" and "Barnburners" -- Revision of the constitu- tion-Young elected governor-Election of Fish -- Conclusion 323
HISTORY OF NEW YORK.
CHAPTER I.
Columbus -- Voyages of the Cabots-Jolin and Sebastian Cabot discover the Continent of North America-Voyage of Sebas- tian Cabot-His exploration of the coast-Newfoundland fisheries-Patent from James I. to the Virginia Companies -Settlement of Jamestown-Voyage of Verrazzani, under the auspices of James I .- Sails from Madeira-Reaches Ame- rica-Lands in North Carolina-Friendliness of the savages -Their humanity -- A child kidnapped -- Arrival of Verraz- zani at Sandy Hook-His description- Conference with the natives-Bay of New York-Harbour of Newport- Descrip- tion of the natives-Exploration inland-Departure for Europe-Claims of France-Cartier and Roberval-First permanent French settlement -- Quebec founded by Cham- plain -- The Five Nations-Policy of Champlain-Joins a war-party of Hurons and Algonquins-Discovery of Lake Champlain-Defeat of the Iroquois-The consequence.
FIVE years after the discovery of the Bahamas by Christopher Columbus, John Cabot, a native of Venice, and an expert navigator, then residing at Bristol, in England, was authorized, by letters patent from Henry the Seventh, to take five English ships, in any haven or havens of the realm, to explore the seas east, west, or north, in search of any countries hitherto unknown to Christians, and to plant the English banner on any part of the land thus newly found.
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK.
[1498.
Under this license, John Cabot, accompanied by his son Sebastian, subsequently celebrated as a daring mariner, left Bristol in the early part of May, 1497, and on the 24th of June, first came in sight of the continent of North America.
On reaching the coast, which is supposed to have been that of Labrador, they found it rocky and sterile, abounding with the white polar bear, and with deer far larger than any they had ever seen before. After satisfying themselves that this cheerless region was inhabited only by savages clothed in the skins of beasts, and armed with the primitive weapons of bows and clubs, the Cabots returned to England with the tidings of their success.
The following year a second expedition was fitted out, the command of which was given to Sebastian Cabot. Being furnished with several small vessels, freighted with such articles of mer- chandise as were thought best suited for purposes of traffic with an uncivilized people, he again em- barked for the newly-discovered land, and after a voyage of several weeks, approached the conti- nent in the latitude of fifty-eight degrees.
Proceeding north, he penetrated that portion of the arctic region since known as Hudson's Bay ; when, finding his further progress seriously ob- structed by masses of floating ice, he yielded to the loudly-expressed fears of his men, and shaping his course southward, sailed along the shore until
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21
EARLY COLONIZATION.
1606.]
he reached the southern limit of Maryland. Af- ter having thus ranged the coast through thirty degrees of latitude, his provisions growing short, Le sailed for England. It was from these two voyages of John and Sebastian Cabot, that Great Britain acquired the title to nearly the whole continent of North America.
For upward of a century, however, no ad- vantage was derived from the discoveries thus made, beyond the establishment of fisheries off the coast of Newfoundland. The first successful attempt at colonization was made in 1606, when James the First, disregarding all previous pa- tents, granted to two rival associations of adven- turers, embodied under the respective titles of the London and Plymouth Companies, permission to settle plantations on any part of the North American continent lying between the thirty- fourth and forty-fifth degree of north latitude.
The settlement of the London, or South Vir- ginia colony, was to be made at any point be- tween Cape Fear and Long Island, while that of the Plymouth, or North Virginia colony, was restricted to the region embraced between Dela- wore Bay and Halifax.
The following year, three small vessels, bearing one hundred and five colonists, sent out to Vir- ginia by the London Company, entered the Chesapeake Bay, and after exploring the James River, selected a small peninsula, thirty-two
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK. -
[1524.
miles from its mouth, where, on the 13th of May, 1607, they laid the foundation of Jamestown. No settlement was made by the Plymouth Com- pany until thirteen years afterward.
Profiting by the discoveries of Cabot, French mariners, from the ports of Brittany and Nor- mandy, sailed carly to the coast of Newfoundland, where they shared with the English in the lucra- tive fisheries of that region.
Desirous of opening a wider field of commerce for his subjects, and, perhaps, emulous of the renown acquired through their discoveries by England and Spain, Francis the First ordered John Verrazzani, a Florentine mariner, to take command of four vessels, and explore the region concerning which so many marvellous stories were circulating throughout Europe.
Three of his vessels, having become separated in a storm, Verrazzani sailed from the island of Madeira on the 17th of June, 1524, with one small caravel, containing fifty men and provisions for eight months. After weathering with great difficulty a fierce tempest, he succeeded, at the end of fifty days, in approaching a low sandy shore, which, from the numerous fires scattered along the coast, he concluded to be thickly in- habited. Running southward fifty leagues without finding a harbour, he turned again toward the north, and anchored in latitude 34°, off the coast of North Carolina. A large concourse of the
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VERRAZZANI'S VOYAGE.
1524.]
natives immediately collected on the beach, and, encouraged by their evident friendliness, Verraz- zani ventured to land for a short time and take a closer survey of the country. Re-embarking, he continued his course to the north, everywhere greeted with signals of welcome by groups of savages gathered admiringly on the shore. Nor were they less humane than hospitable. One of the sailors, in an attempt to swim to them with a few presents, being thrown by a heavy sea half dead upon the beach, was caught up in the arms of the savages, and borne to a place of safety. Soothing his fears by gentle caresses, they kin- dled a fire to facilitate his recovery, and after drying his clothes, led him with many an affec- tionate embrace back to the beach. They then retired to an eminence, from whence they kept an anxious watch until they saw him return in safety to the ship.
Proceeding north fifty leagues, Verrazzani anchored off the seaboard of Maryland, and sent twenty men on shore to explore the country. They penetrated inland some six miles, but the natives had fled affrighted deeper into the forest. Hidden in the long grass they found two women and six children. They seized one of the latter to take with them to France, and attempted also to bear off the younger of the women, who was tall of stature and very beautiful ; but fearing her out- cries would endanger their safety, they released
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1524.
her, and kidnapped the child only. After this outrage, so strikingly in contrast with the guile- less tenderness exhibited by those who were called barbarians, Verrazzani kept coasting northward until he arrived at Sandy Hook, " a very pleasant place, situate among certain little steep hills, from amidst which there ran down into the sea an exceeding great stream of water, which within the mouth was very deep, and from the sea to the mouth of the same, with the tide-which they found to rise eight feet-any great ship laden might pass up." When they had held a brief conference with the natives by signs, and had sufficiently admired the beautiful bay of New York, which Verrazzani describes as "a most pleasant lake, about three leagues in compass," the anchor was again weighed, and dropped within the fine semi-circular harbour of Newport, where they met " the goodliest people, and of the fairest conditions," of any they had found in their voy- age. They were of noble proportions, some "of the colour of brass, and some inclining to white- ness ; black and quick eyed, of sweet and pleasant countenance, imitating much. the old fashion."
During the fifteen days they remained at this place, exploring parties, guided by the hospitable savages, often ventured five or six leagues inland, where they found extensive plains, the soil of which was very fertile, and forests " so great and thick that any army, were it never so great, might
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1608.] CARTIER-ROBERVAL-CHAMPLAIN.
have hid itself therein ;" the trees being of oak and cypress, and of other kinds unknown in Europe.
Taking leave of the courteous and charitable inhabitants of Rhode Island, Verrazzani, still coasting northward, sailed along the shores of New England, and at length terminated his ex- plorations at the island of Newfoundland, after having ranged the North American continent for a distance of seven hundred leagues. In July, 1524, he reached the port of Dieppe, from whence he wrote to the king an account of his remarka- ble voyage; and upon the discoveries alleged to have been made by him at this time, the claims of France to a wide extent of territory on the Western continent were subsequently founded.
The voyages of Cartier and Roberval followed. The river St. Lawrence was discovered by the former in 1534, and various efforts at colonization were subsequently made, all of which proved un- successful, until the spring of 1605, when the first permanent French settlement was established at Port Royal, on the island of Nova Scotia. In
1608, the energetic Champlain founded Quebec. The following year, being desirous of securing the friendship of the Algonquins and Hurons, he joined them in an expedition against the Iro- quois, or Five Nations, a powerful confederacy, which had been for many years a terror to the surrounding tribes.
When Champlain first entered Canada, this
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1608.
renowned confederacy, consisting of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca nations of Indians, occupied, by conquest from the Mohican tribes, the middle, northern, and western portions of the territory which was subsequently included within the limits of the province of New York.
Knowing how formidable the proximity of this haughty and warlike Indian republic would be to a feeble French colony, settled on their imme- diate borders, he conceived the design of humbling the power of the Iroquois, by rendering assist- ance to their hostile but weaker neighbours, and of inducing them by this means to unite in a gene- ral league of amity with the French.
Influenced by what appeared to be the wisdom of this policy, he joined a war-party of his savage allies, and leaving Quebec, then an insignificant village, consisting of a few scattered cottages in the midst of newly-cleared fields and gardens, ascended the river Sorel to the rapids near Chambly. Notwithstanding he had been kept in utter ignorance of this obstruction to the course of his vessel, he determined to proceed. Sending most of his party back to Quebec, he crossed the portage with his allies, and re-embarked in one of their frail canoes, attended only by two Eu- ropeans. After travelling in this manner for several days, he entered, for the first time, the lake which now bears his name, and traversing its whole extent, suddenly discovered near Ti-
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INDIAN BATTLE.
1608.]
conderoga a number of canoes filled with Iro- quois. Both parties with wild shouts of exulta- tion pulled rapidly for the shore, where they com- menced selecting their ground for the battle. As it was then late in the night, the Iroquois, in answer to a challenge from the allies, declined fighting until the next day, when they could see themselves.
In the gray of the following morning, Cham- plain placed his two countrymen, supported by a small detachment of savages, in ambush, on the flank of the enemy. Both parties were about two hundred strong; but the Iroquois, being uncon- scious of the powerful aid which the Hurons and Algonquins had received in the firearms of the Europeans, were confident of an easy victory. Previous to the onset, Champlain had been re- quested by his allies to single out the three leaders of the enemy, who could readily be dis- · tinguished from their followers by the superior size of their feathered ornaments. This having been arranged, the Huron and Algonquin war- riors sounded the war-whoop, and, darting out in a body from their cover of fallen timber, advanced some two hundred feet in front of the enemy, and then, deflecting to the right and left, displayed to the astonished gaze of the Iroquois the first white man they had ever beheld, clad in strange apparel, and armed with weapons of singular shape and unknown power. But their amazement
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1608.
was changed into extreme terror, when they saw fire issue from the levelled tube, first from the arquebuss of Champlain in the centre, and then from those of his two companions on the flank, and beheld two of their chiefs fall dead, and the third reel back dangerously wounded. The allies charged immediately, and the Iroquois, after re- ceiving a few more vollies from the Frenchmen, fled panic-stricken from the field. In the pur- suit many were killed, and some few prisoners were taken. At length the victors desisted from following the fugitive enemy any longer, and re- turning to the field of battle, passed two hours in celebrating their triumph, by songs and dances. Not a single one of the allies had been killed, and but very few wounded. Satisfied with their suc- cess, they now returned homeward; but amused themselves with torturing one of their prisoners by the way. Shocked at the horrible barbarities to which he was a witness, Champlain suddenly put an end to the agony of the sufferer, by de- spatching him with his own hand.
Such was the commencement of the feud be- tween the Iroquois and the French. The policy of Champlain, carried out in several similar ex- peditions during the succeeding year, instead of humbling the Five Nations to sue for peace, in- stigated them to revenge, and engendered that intense hatred of the Canadian colonists, which made them fast allies of the Dutch and English,
29
HENRY HUDSON.
1609.]
during the whole period that the French retained possession of the northern territory.
CHAPTER II.
Voyage of Henry Hudson-Attempts to reach Nova Zembla- Is impeded by ice-Ranges the North American coast south- ward-Reaches Penobscot-Trades with the natives-At- tacks and plunders them-Rounds Cape Cod-Is blown off the Capes of Virginia-Returns north-Discovers Delaware Bay-Enters Sandy Hook-Death of Colman-Discovers the Great North or Hudson River-Explores it -- The Pali- sades-West Point-The Catskills-Traffic with the natives -Their hospitality-The exploration continued-Hudson arrives in the vicinity of Albany-Is visited by numbers of Indians-Singular expedient to test their friendliness-Scene of intoxication-The Iroquois tradition concerning it-Re- turn of Hudson-An Indian killed-Ambush near Harlem River-Skirmish with the Manhattans-Departure.
ABOUT the same time that Champlain was on his first expedition against the Iroquois, Henry Hudson, an English mariner in the employ of the Dutch East India Company, was penetrating the arctic regions in the vain search for a northern passage to India. With a small yacht, or fly- boat, called the Crescent, manned by a mixed crew of Englishmen and Hollanders, he attempted to reach Nova Zembla; but being impeded by masses of ice, he changed the course of his vessel to the south-west, ran down the coast of Acadia, and on the 17th of July, 1600, anchored off the
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK.
[1609.
1
Bay of Penobscot. Finding a good harbour near by, he entered it the following day, and remained there a week, preparing a new foremast and mending the tattered sails. While he was thus engaged, a large concourse of natives arrived in two French shallops and in canoes, and proposed to traffic furs for such European commodities as he might have on board. Something or other soon occurring to elicit suspicion of their inten- tions, Iludson ordered a strict watch to be kept. The day before he left the harbour, having refit- ted his yacht, he sent out a boat with six men to capture one of the shallops, while twelve men, armed with muskets and light field-pieces, went ashore in a second boat, and driving the savages from their huts, plundered them of all the valua- bles they contained.
Leaving at once the immediate scene of this outrage, Hudson glided out to the mouth of the harbour, from whence he set sail on the following day. Running down the coast, he rounded the promontory of Cape Cod, and steering a southerly direction reached the Capes of Virginia on the 18th of August. Being driven out to sea for eight days by a succession of severe gales, he did not land and visit the colony of his countrymen, which he knew to have been settled on the James River two years before; but turning northward, discovered the Delaware Bay, examined its cur- rents, soundings, and the aspect of the land; and
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HUDSON ENTERS SANDY HOOK.
1609.]
then, without going on shore, continued his course northwardly until the 2d of September, when he came in sight of the highlands of Neversink, and entering the next day the southern waters of New York, anchored during the same afternoon within the harbour of Sandy Hook.
He was immediately visited by the natives, some of whom were clad loosely in pliant deer- skins, while others were dressed in furs, and wore mantles of feathers. They brought on board small supplies of maize and green tobacco, which they exchanged for trifles.
While remaining at anchor in this harbour, he sent a boat with five men to sound through the Narrows, and examine the nature of the country beyond. They found a fertile soil, covered with luxuriant grass and goodly trees, and adorned with such a profusion of wild flowers that the air was filled with their fragrance. As the boat, however, was returning, its small crew was sud- denly assaulted by a number of Indians in two large canoes, and John Colman, one of Hudson's veteran seamen, shot with an arrow in the neck. Two others were also wounded, but not mortally. This sad accident is supposed to have arisen from the Indians having been suddenly surprised at the appearance of strange men within their wa- ters, and not from any preconcert on their part ; for as soon as they had discharged their arrows, they fled with great speed. Two days afterward
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK.
[1609.
1
the traffic with the natives was resumed. But Hudson, a strict, stern, cautious man, was no longer willing to hazard the safety of his vessel and crew among a people of whose pacific in- tentions he began to entertain serious doubts. Weighing anchor, and passing through the Nar- rows on the 11th of September, he entered New York Bay, "an excellent harbour for all winds," where he remained until the next afternoon. Having determined to avoid all intercourse, as far as it was possible, with the savages who re- sided on the island of Manhattan, he sailed up the great North River two leagues, and, on the 13th, procceded with a light wind and flood tide as far as Phillipsburg. Here he anchored for the night. The following day he continued his voyage, having on his left the Palisade rocks, presenting through a distance of thirty miles, un- broken save by the valley of the Nyack, a lofty perpendicular front, varying in altitude from three to seven hundred feet; while on his right he be- held the river bounded by a low undulating bor- der, fringed with noble trees, whose foliage was just beginning to be tinted with the rich colours of autumn. Sailing onward, he saw the river gradually expand into a bay, contract again, and again expand, until in the distance before him it appeared to be abruptly shut in by a barrier of mountains. The bold heart of the mariner sank within him as he saw what seemed to him the
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1609.] VOYAGE UP THE HUDSON.
1 termination of his voyage. At length he dis- covered a deep, narrow, winding river, up which he sailed until he came to West Point, where he dropped anchor, and waited until daylight for the farther prosecution of his discovery. As soon as the mist of the morning had cleared away, he continued his voyage fifty miles farther up the river, where, in full view of the Catskill Moun- tains, he remained until the following evening, trafficking with the natives, " very loving people," who spoke the language of the Mohawks. Going with them on shore in one of their canoes, he was conducted to a house made of the bark of trees, exceedingly smooth, and well finished both within and without. Near the house, he saw a quantity of corn and beans drying in the sun, sufficient to have freighted three ships. The Indians received their visitors with great hospitality, spread mats for them to seat themselves upon, and brought them some food in wooden bowls painted red, while two men were despatched in search of game, who speedily returned with a brace of wild pigeons. A fat dog was also killed, and skinned with shells taken from the water. These prepa- rations were made in expectation of Hudson and his companions remaining during the night ; but they determined to return on board their ship. Apprehensive that they had been influenced to this course through fear of their bows and arrows, the noble-hearted savages immediately broke them
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK. [1609.
into pieces, and threw them into the fire. But the prudence of Hudson was proof against even this act of friendliness, and he persisted in taking his leave. Soon after, he proceeded up the river two leagues, when meeting with shoal water, he anchored off the flats, opposite to which the city of Hudson now stands. Continuing on his course by short stretches, during the three following days, he reached, on the 19th of September, the vicinity of Albany, where he remained with his yacht, trafficking with the natives for provisions and furs, while the mate with four men ascended the river in a boat, and sounded the depth of the channel as far up as the junction of the Mohawk with the Hudson, or opposite the present town of Lansingburgh.
Hudson arrived at Schenectadea, now called Albany, about noon. The natives immediately came flocking on board, bringing with them grapes and pumpkins, together with otter and beaver skins, which they exchanged for hatchets, beads, knives, and other trifles.
Desirous of testing if any of the chiefs were disposed to be treacherous, Hudson resorted to the singular expedient of plying them freely with wine and strong liquors. Under the influence of these strange potations, they all grew exceedingly merry, and one of them became intoxicated. On beholding him stagger and fall, the natives be- came dumb from utter astonishment. They all
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