"I have nothing to do but to execute my mission. To
accomplish that I hope to have further conversation with you
on the morrow, at the Manhattans. You say that friends will
be welcome, if they come in a friendly manner. I shall come
with ships and soldiers. And he will be bold indeed who will
dare to come on board my ships, to demand an answer or to
solicit terms. What then is to be done? Hoist the white flag
of surrender, and then something may be considered."
When this imperious message became known it created the greatest consternation throughout the city. Men, women and children flocked to the governor, and, with tears in their eyes, implored him to submit. A brief bombardment would cause the death of hundreds, and would lay the city in ashes. "I had rather," the governor replied, "be carried a corpse to my grave, than to surrender the city."
The civic authority, the clergy and the commanders of the Burgher corps, promptly assembled in the City Hall and drew up the following earnest remonstrance, which was immediately presented to the governor and his council. We give it slightly abbreviated.
"Right Honorable! We, your sorrowful subjects, beg to
represent, in these sad circumstances, that having maturely
weighed what was necessary to be done, we cannot foresee,
for this fort and city of Manhattans, in further resistance,
aught else than misery, sorrow, and conflagration; the
dishonor of women, the murder of children, and in a word the
absolute ruin of fifteen hundred innocent souls, only two
hundred and fifty of whom are capable of bearing arms.
"You are aware that four of the English king's frigates are
now in the roadstead, with six hundred soldiers on board.
They have also commissions to all the governors of New
England, a populous and thickly inhabited country, to
impress troops, in addition to the forces already on board,
for the purpose of reducing New Netherland to his Majesty's
obedience.
"These threats we would not have regarded, could we expect
the smallest aid. But, God help us, where shall we turn for
assistance, to the north or to the south, to the east or to
the west? 'Tis all in vain. On all sides we are encompassed
and hemmed in by our enemies. If, on the other hand, we
examine our internal strength, alas! it is so feeble and
impotent that unless we ascribe the circumstance to the
mercy of God, we cannot sufficiently express our
astonishment that the foe should have granted us so long a
reprieve. He could have delivered us a prey to the soldiery
after one summons.
"We shall now examine your Honors' fortress. You know that
it is incapable of making head three days, against so
powerful an enemy. Even could it hold out one, two, three,
four, five or six months, which to our sorrow it cannot do,
it is still undeniable that it cannot save the smallest
portion of our entire city, our property and what is dearer
to us, our wives and children, from total ruin. And after
considerable bloodshed the fort itself could not be
preserved.
"Wherefore, to prevent the aforesaid misfortunes, we humbly,
and in bitterness of heart, implore your Honors not to
reject the conditions of so generous a foe, but to be
pleased to meet him in the speediest, best and most
reputable manner. Otherwise, which God forbid, we are
obliged to protest before God and the world; and to call
down upon your Honors the vengeance of Heaven for all the
innocent blood which shall be shed in consequence of your
Honors' obstinacy; inasmuch as the commissioners have this
day informed us that the English general has stated that he
shall not wait any longer than this day.
"We trust your Honors will not question that to God, who
seeks not the death of the sinner, belongs obedience rather
than to man. We feel certain that your Honors will exhibit
yourselves, in this pressing exigency and sorrowful season,
as men and christians, and conclude with God's help, an
honorable and reasonable capitulation. May the Lord our God
be pleased to grant this to us, Amen."
The above memorial was signed by ninety-four of the most prominent citizens of New Amsterdam. One of these signers was the governor's son. All our readers will perceive that the situation of the governor had become one of extreme difficulty. A fleet and army of great strength for the time and the occasion were before him. This force held in reserve the whole military power of New England. The civic officers and citizens of New Amsterdam, headed by the governor's own son, were loud in their remonstrance against any defence, and were almost in a state of mutiny.
The condition of the city was such that the idea of standing a siege was not for a moment to be thought of. Along the banks of the North and East rivers, the village, for the little cluster of three hundred houses was but a village, was entirely exposed. Upon the land side, running from river to river, there was a slight fence composed of old and decayed palisades, which scores of years before had been a protection against the savages. In front of this fence there were the remains of a storm-washed breastwork, about three feet high and two feet wide.
The crumbling fort was pronounced by all to be untenable. It was originally constructed as a retreat from the savages, who could only assail it with arrows and hatchets and a few musket balls. It was surrounded by an earthen rampart, about ten feet high and three or four feet thick. In all, there were twenty-four cannons within the enclosure, which was unprotected by any ditch or palisades. In the rear, where the throngs of Broadway now press along, there was a series of forest-crowned eminences whose solitary summits were threaded by an Indian trail. These hills commanded the fort. From their crests the soles of the feet, it was said, of those walking in the squares within, could be seen. There were not five hundred pounds of powder in store fit for use. The gunners declared that a few hours of fighting would exhaust it all. The stock of provisions was equally low, and there was not a well of water within the fort.
It is probable that the majority of common soldiers, in almost any regular army, is composed of dissolute worthless men. There are but few persons but the lost and the reckless who will enlist to spend their days in shouldering a musket. A young man of good character can do better than convert himself into a part of such a military machine. The garrison at New Amsterdam was composed of the off-scouring of Europe. They were ready to fight under any banner which would pay them. They were eager for the conflict with the English. At the first volley they would throw aside their guns and join the English in the plunder. One of them was heard saying to an applauding group: