Peter Stuyvesant, the Last Dutch Governor of New Amsterdam

by John S. C. Abbott

When the tidings of this new war, caused by so dastardly an outrage, reached Manhattan, it created a terrible panic. It could not be doubted that all the Indians would sympathize with their outraged brethren. The farmers, apprehending immediate attack, fled from all directions, with their families, to the fort, abandoning their homes, grain and cattle. Even many villages on Long Island were utterly deserted.

The administrative energies of Governor Stuyvesant were remarkably developed on this occasion. In the following terms, Mr. O'Callaghan, in his admirable history of New Netherland, describes the difficulties he encountered and his mode of surmounting them:

"Governor Stuyvesant, though laboring under severe
indisposition, visited in person all the adjoining villages,
encouraging the well-disposed, stimulating the timid and
urging the farmers everywhere to fortify and defend their
villages. He summoned next the burgomasters, schepens,[10] and officers of the militia of New Amsterdam, and laid
before them the distressing situation of Esopus. They
proposed to enlist by beat of drum, a sufficient number of
men, and to encourage volunteers by resolving that whatever
savages might be captured should be declared 'good prizes.'
"Stuyvesant, however, was opposed to this mode of
proceeding. It would cause, in his opinion, too great a
delay, as those at Esopus were already besieged some nine or
ten days. He was left, notwithstanding, in a minority. Two
more days were thus irretrievably lost; for at the end of
that time only six or eight had enlisted, 'such a terrible
horror had overpowered the citizens.'
"Captain Newton and Lieutenant Stillwell were now dispatched
to all the English and Dutch villages, and letters were
addressed to fort Orange and Rensselaerswyck, ordering out
the Company's servants, calling for volunteers and
authorizing the raising of a troop of mounted rangers. The
half-dozen servants in fort Amsterdam, every person
belonging to the artillery, all the clerks in the public
offices, four of the Director-General's servants, three of
the hands belonging to his brewery and five or six new
comers, were put under requisition."
"Nothing could overcome the reluctance of the burghers. The
one disheartened the other; the more violent maintaining
that they were obliged to defend only their own homes, and
that no citizen could be forced to jeopardize his life in
fighting barbarous savages.
"Discouraged and almost deprived of hope by this opposition,
the Director-General again summoned the city magistrates. He
informed them that he had now some forty men, and that he
expected between twenty and thirty Englishmen from the
adjoining villages. He therefore ordered that the three
companies of the city militia be paraded next day in his
presence, armed and equipped, in order that one last effort
might be made to obtain volunteers. If he should then fail
of success, he announced his intention to make a draft.
"The companies paraded before the fort on the following
morning according to orders. Stuyvesant addressed them in
most exciting terms. He appealed to their sense both of
honor and of duty, and represented to them how ardently they
would look for aid, if they unfortunately were placed in a
situation similar to that in which their brethren of Esopus
now found themselves. He concluded his harangue by calling
upon all such as would accompany him either for pay or as
volunteers, to step forward to the rescue.
"Few came forward, only twenty-four or twenty-five persons.
This number being considered insufficient, lots were
immediately ordered to be drawn by one of the companies and
those on whom they fell were warned to be ready on the next
Sunday, on pain of paying fifty guilders. 'However,' said
the governor, 'if any person is weak-hearted or discouraged
he may procure a substitute provided he declares himself
instantaneously.'"

In this way the governor raised a force of one hundred and eighty men. Of this number one hundred were drafted men, sixty-five volunteers, twenty-five of whom were Englishmen, and there were also twenty friendly Indians from Long Island.

With this force the governor embarked on Sunday evening, October 10th, after the second sermon, for the rescue of Esopus. Upon his arrival at that place he found that the savages, unable to penetrate the fort, had raised the siege and retired beyond the possibility of pursuit. They had doubtless watched the river with their scouts, who informed them of the approach of the troops. The governor, leaving a sufficient force to protect the village, returned with the remainder of the expedition to Manhattan.

During the siege the loss of the Dutch was one man killed and five or six wounded. The Indians also succeeded, by means of burning arrows, in firing one dwelling house and several stacks of corn within the palisades. As the troops were re-embarking the governor witnessed an occurrence which he declares "he blushes to mention." As all the troops could not go on board at once, a portion waited until the first division had embarked. Some of the sentinels hearing a dog bark, fired one or two shots. This created a terrible panic. The citizens, whose ears had been pierced by the shrieks of their countrymen, whom the Indians had tortured at the stake, were so terror-stricken that they lost all self-possession. "Many of them threw themselves into the water before they had seen an enemy."

The most friendly relations existed between the Mohawks and the settlers in the vicinity of Albany. A very extensive trade, equally lucrative to both parties, was there in operation. The Indians, being treated justly, were as harmless as lambs. When they heard of the troubles at Esopus they declared that they would take no part in the war. They could not but feel that the Indians had been deeply outraged. But with unexpected intelligence they decided that they would not retaliate by wreaking vengeance upon their long-tried friends. To confirm their friendly alliance, the authorities at fort Orange sent an embassy of twenty-five of their principal inhabitants to the Indian settlement at Caughnawaga. This was about forty miles west of Albany on the north bank of the Mohawk river and near the site of the present shire town of Montgomery county.

A large number of chiefs, from all the neighboring villages, attended. The council fire was lighted, and the calumet of peace was smoked. One of the Dutch delegation thus addressed the assembly!

"Brothers, sixteen years have now passed away, since
friendship and fraternity were first established between you
and the Hollanders. Since then we have been bound to each
other by an iron chain. That chain has never been broken by
us or by you. We hope that the Mohawks will remain our
brothers for all time.
"Our chiefs are very angry that the Dutch will sell brandy
to your people. They have always forbidden them to do so.
Forbid your people also. Eighteen days ago you asked us not
to sell any brandy to your people. Brothers, if your people
do not come to buy brandy of us, we shall not sell any to
them. Two days ago twenty or thirty kegs came to us, all to
be filled with brandy. Are you willing that we should take
from your people their brandy and their kegs. If so, say
this before all here present."

With this speech there was presented to the chiefs several bundles of wampum, seventy pounds of powder, a hundred pounds of lead, fifteen axes two beavers worth of knives. The chiefs were highly pleased with the presents and eagerly gave their consent that the Dutch should seize the liquor kegs of the Indians.