PETER STUYVESANT, THE LAST DUTCH GOVERNOR OF NEW AMSTERDAM
by
JOHN S. C. ABBOTT
Illustrated
PREFACE
It is impossible to understand the very remarkable character and
career of Peter Stuyvesant, the last, and by far the most illustrious,
of the Dutch governors of New Amsterdam, without an acquaintance with
the early history of the Dutch colonies upon the Hudson and the
Delaware. The Antiquarian may desire to look more fully into the
details of the early history of New York. But this brief, yet
comprehensive narrative, will probably give most of the information
upon that subject, which the busy, general reader can desire.
In this series of "_The Pioneers and Patriots of America_," the reader
will find, in the "Life of De Soto," a minute description of the
extreme south and its inhabitants, when the Mississippi rolled its
flood through forests which the foot of the white man had never
penetrated. "Daniel Boone" conducts us to the beautiful streams and
hunting grounds of Kentucky, when the Indian was the sole possessor
of those sublime solitudes. In the "Life of Miles Standish, the
Puritan Captain," we are made familiar with that most wonderful of all
modern stories, the settlement of New England. "Peter Stuyvesant"
leads us to the Hudson, from the time when its majestic waters were
disturbed only by the arrowy flight of the birch canoe, till European
colonization had laid there the foundations of one of the most
flourishing cities on this globe.
In these Histories the writer has spared no labor in gathering all the
information in his power, respecting those Olden Times, now passing so
rapidly into oblivion.
JOHN S. C. ABBOTT.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
DISCOVERY OF THE HUDSON RIVER. 13
The Discovery of America.
Colonies.
The Bay of New York.
Description of the Bay.
Voyage of Sir Henry Hudson.
Discovery of the Delaware.
The Natives.
The Boat Attacked.
Ascending the Hudson.
Escape of the Prisoners.
The Chiefs Intoxicated.
The Return.
The Village at Castleton.
The Theft and its Punishment.
The Return to England.
CHAPTER II.
THE PROGRESS OF DISCOVERY. 33
Value of the Territory Discovered.
Fate of Hudson.
The Conspiracy.
Aspect of Manhattan Island.
The Trail which has Widened into Broadway.
The Opening Commerce.
The Fur Trade.
Visit of the English Man of War.
Exploring the Sound.
Commercial Enterprise Receives a New Stimulus.
Erection of Forts.
Character of the Fur Trade.
CHAPTER III.
THE COMMENCEMENT OF COLONIZATION. 54
The Puritans.
Memorial to the States-General.
Disagreement of the English and the Dutch.
Colony on the Delaware.
Purchase Of Manhattan.
The First Settlement.
An Indian Robbed and Murdered.
Description of the Island.
Diplomatic Intercourse.
Testimony of De Rassieres.
The Patroons.
The Disaster at Swaanendael.
CHAPTER IV.
THE ADMINISTRATION OF VAN TWILLER. 77
Friendly Relations Restored.
Wouter Van Thiller New Director.
Captain Elkins.
Remonstrance of De Vrees.
Claims for the Connecticut.
The Plymouth Expedition.
A Boat's Crew Murdered.
Condition of the Colony in 1633.
Emigration to the Connecticut.
Emigrants from Holland.
The Red Rocks.
New Haven Colony Established.
Natural.
Indian Remonstrance Against Taxation.
Outrage upon the Raritan Indians.
Indian Revenge.
CHAPTER V.
WAR AND ITS DEVASTATIONS. 100
Approaching Hostilities.
Noble Remonstrance.
Massacre of the Natives.
The War Storm.
Noble Conduct of De Vrees.
The Humiliation of Kieft.
Wide Spread Desolation.
The Reign of Terror.
State of Affairs at Fort Nassau.
The Massacre at Stamford.
Memorial of the Select Men.
Kieft Superseded by Peter Stuyvesant.
CHAPTER VI.
GOVERNOR STUYVESANT. 121
New Netherland in 1646.
Early Years of Peter Stuyvesant.
Decay of New Amsterdam.
The Germs of a Representative Government.
Energetic Administration.
Death of Governor Winthrop.
Claims for Long Island.
Arrogance of the Governor.
Remonstrance of the Nine Men.
The Pastoral Office.
Boundary Lines.
Increasing Discontent.
Division of Parties.
Dictatorial Measures.
CHAPTER VII.
WAR BETWEEN ENGLAND AND HOLLAND. 144
Action of the Patroons.
Settlements on the Hudson.
Alarm of the Home Government.
Recall of Stuyvesant.
His Escape from Humiliation.
Difficulties between England and Holland.
The Breaking Out of War.
Directions to Stuyvesant.
The Relations of the Colonies.
Charges Against the Dutch Governor.
Their Refutation.
Efforts of Stuyvesant for Peace.
Noble Conduct of the Massachusetts Government.
The Advocates for War.
CHAPTER VIII.
ANOTHER INDIAN WAR. 167
Conflict Between the Governor and the Citizens.
Energy of the Governor.
His Measures of Defence.
Action of the English Colony.
Claims of the Government of Sweden.
Fort Casimir Captured by the Swedes.
Retaliation.
Measures for the Recapture of Fort Casimir.
Shooting a Squaw.
Its Consequences.
The Ransom of Prisoners.
Complaints of the Swedish Governor.
Expedition from Sweden.
Its Fate.
CHAPTER IX
AN ENERGETIC ADMINISTRATION. 191
New Amsterdam in 1656.
Religious Intolerance.
Persecution of the Waldenses.
The New Colony on South River.
Wreck of the Prince Maurice.
The Friendly Indians.
Energetic Action of the Governor.
Persecution of the Quakers.
Remonstrance from Flushing.
The Desolation of Staten Island.
Purchase of Bergen.
Affairs at Esopus.
The Indian Council.
Generosity of the Indians.
New Amstel.
Encroachments of the English.
CHAPTER X.
THE ESOPUS WAR. 213
Outrage at Esopus.
New Indian War.
Its Desolations.
Sufferings of Both Parties.
Wonderful Energies of the Governor.
Difficulties of his Situation.
The Truce.
Renewal of the War.
The Mohawks.
The Controversy with Massachusetts.
Indian Efforts for Peace.
The Final Settlement.
Claims of the English Upon the Delaware.
Renewed Persecution of the Quakers.
CHAPTER XI.
THE DISASTROUS YEAR. 234
Purchase of Staten Island.
The Restoration of Charles Second.
Emigration Invited.
Settlement of Bushwick.
The Peculiar People.
Persecution of John Brown.
The Governor Rebuked.
Cumulation of Disasters.
The Outbreak at Esopus.
The Panic.
Measures of the Governor.
The Indian Fort.
The Expedition to Mamaket.
Capture of the Fort.
Annihilation of the Esopus Indians.
CHAPTER XII.
ENCROACHMENTS OF THE ENGLISH. 257
Annihilation of the Esopus Tribe.
The Boundary Question.
Troubles on Long Island. The Dutch and English Villages.
Petition of the English.
Embarrassments of Governor Stuyvesant.
Embassage to Hartford.
The Repulse.
Peril of New Netherland.
Memorial to the Fatherland.
New Outbreak on Long Island.
John Scott and his Highhanded Measures.
Strengthening the Fortifications.
CHAPTER XIII.
HOSTILE MEASURES COMMENCED. 279
John Scott and his Movements.
Losses of the Dutch.
The First General Assembly.
Action of the Home Government.
Peace with the Indians.
Arrest of John Scott.
Governor Winthrop's Visit to Long Island.
Sailing of the Fleet.
Preparations for War.
The False Dispatches.
Arrival of the Fleet.
The Summons to Surrender.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE CAPTURE OF NEW AMSTERDAM. 301
The Approach of the Fleet.
The Governor Unjustly Censured.
The Flag of Truce.
The Haughty Response.
The Remonstrance.
The Defenceless City.
The Surrender.
The Expedition to the Delaware.
Sack and Plunder.
Change of Name.
Testimony to the Dutch Government.
Death of the Governor.
His Farm, or Bouwerie.
War Between Holland and England.
New York Menaced by the Dutch.
CHAPTER XV.
THE FINAL SURRENDER. 324
The Summons.
The Bombardment.
Disembarkation of the Land Force.
Indecision of Captain Manning.
The Surrender.
Short Administration of the Dutch.
Social Customs.
The Tea Party.
Testimony of Travellers.
Visit to Long Island.
Fruitfulness of the Country.
Exploration of Manhattan Island.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE OLDEN TIME. 346
Wealth and Rank of the Ancient Families.
Their Vast Landed Estates.
Distinctions in Dress.
Veneration for the Patroon.
Kip's Mansion.
Days of the Revolution.
Mr. John Adams' Journal.
Negro Slavery.
Consequences of the System.
General Panic.
PETER STUYVESANT.
CHAPTER I.
DISCOVERY OF THE HUDSON RIVER.
The Discovery of America.--Colonies.--The Bay of New
York.--Description of the Bay.--Voyage of Sir Henry
Hudson.--Discovery of the Delaware.--The Natives.--The Boat
Attacked.--Ascending the Hudson.--Escape of the
Prisoners.--The Chiefs Intoxicated.--The Return.--The
Village at Castleton.--The Theft and its Punishment.--The
Return to England.
On the 12th of October, 1492, Christopher Columbus landed upon the
shores of San Salvador, one of the West India islands, and thus
revealed to astonished Europe a new world. Four years after this, in
the year 1496, Sebastian Cabot discovered the continent of North
America. Thirty-three years passed away of many wild adventures of
European voyagers, when, in the year 1539, Ferdinand de Soto landed at
Tampa Bay, in Florida, and penetrating the interior of the vast
continent, discovered the Mississippi River. Twenty-six years more
elapsed ere, in 1565, the first European colony was established at St.
Augustine, in Florida.
In the year 1585, twenty years after the settlement of St. Augustine,
Sir Walter Raleigh commenced his world-renowned colony upon the
Roanoke. Twenty-two years passed when, in 1607, the London Company
established the Virginia Colony upon the banks of the James river.
In the year 1524, a Florentine navigator by the name of Jean de
Verrazano, under commission of the French monarch, Francis I.,
coasting northward along the shores of the continent, entered the bay
of New York. In a letter to king Francis I., dated July 8th, 1524, he
thus describes the Narrows and the Bay:
"After proceeding one hundred leagues, we found a very
pleasant situation among some steep hills, through which a
very large river, deep at its mouth, forced its way to the
sea. From the sea to the estuary of the river, any ship
heavily laden might pass, with the help of the tide, which
rises eight feet. But as we were riding at anchor, in a good
berth, we would not venture up in our vessel without a
knowledge of the mouth. Therefore we took the boat, and
entering the river, we found the country, on its banks, well
peopled, the inhabitants not much differing from the others,
being dressed out with the feathers of birds of various
colors.
"They came towards us with evident delight, raising loud
shouts of admiration, and showing us where we could most
securely land with our boat. We passed up this river about
half a league, when we found it formed a most beautiful lake
three leagues in circuit, upon which they were rowing thirty
or more of their small boats, from one shore to the other,
filled with multitudes who came to see us. All of a sudden,
as is wont to happen to navigators, a violent contrary wind
blew in from the sea, and forced us to return to our ship,
greatly regretting to leave this region which seemed so
commodious and delightful, and which we supposed must also
contain great riches, as the hills showed many indications
of minerals."
In the year 1609, a band of Dutch merchants, called the East India
Company, fitted out an expedition to discover a northeast passage to
the Indies. They built a vessel of about eighty tons burden, called
the Half Moon, and manning her with twenty sailors, entrusted the
command to an Englishman, Henry Hudson. He sailed from the Texel in
his solitary vessel, upon this hazardous expedition, on the 6th of
April, 1609. Doubling North Cape amid storms and fog and ice, after
the rough voyage of a month, he became discouraged, and determined to
change his plan and seek a northwest passage.
Crossing the Atlantic, which, in those high latitudes, seems ever to
be swept by storms, he laid in a store of codfish on the banks of
Newfoundland, and, on the 17th of July, ran his storm-shattered bark
into what is now known as Penobscot Bay, on the coast of Maine. Here
he found the natives friendly. He had lost his foremast in a storm,
and remained at this place a week, preparing a new one. He had heard
in Europe that there was probably a passage through the unexplored
continent, to the Pacific ocean, south of Virginia. Continuing his
voyage southward, he passed Cape Cod, which he supposed to be an
island, and arrived on the 18th of August at the entrance of
Chesapeake Bay. He then ran along the coast in a northerly direction
and entered a great bay with rivers, which he named South River, but
which has since received the name of the Delaware.
Still following the coast, he reached the Highlands of Neversink, on
the 2d of September, and at three o'clock in the afternoon of the same
day, came to what then seemed to him to be the mouths of three large
rivers. These were undoubtedly the Raritan, the Narrows, and Rockaway
Inlet. After careful soundings he, the next morning, passed Sandy Hook
and anchored in the bay at but two cables' length from the shore. The
waters around him were swarming with fish. The scenery appeared to him
enchanting. Small Indian villages were clustered along the shores, and
many birch canoes were seen gliding rapidly to and fro, indicating
that the region was quite densely populated, and that the natives were
greatly agitated if not alarmed by the strange arrival.
Soon several canoes approached the vessel, and the natives came on
board, bringing with them green tobacco and corn, which they wished to
exchange for knives and beads. Many vessels, engaged in fishing, had
touched at several points on the Atlantic coast, and trafficked with
the Indians. The inhabitants of this unexplored bay had heard of these
adventurers, of the wonders which they brought from distant lands, and
they were in a state of great excitement, in being visited in their
turn.
The bay was fringed with the almost impenetrable forest. Here and
there were picturesque openings, where Indian villages, in peaceful
beauty, were clustered in the midst of the surrounding foliage. The
natives were dressed in garments of deer skin, very softly tanned,
hanging gracefully about their persons, and often beautifully
ornamented. Many of them wore mantles of gorgeously-colored feathers,
quite artistically woven together; and they had also garments of rich
furs.
The following morning a party from the vessel landed, in a boat, on
the Jersey shore. They were received with great hospitality by the
natives, who led them into their wigwams, and regaled them with dried
currants, which were quite palatable. As they had no interpreters,
they could only communicate with each other by signs. They found the
land generally covered with forest trees, with occasional meadows of
green grass, profusely interspersed with flowers, which filled the air
with fragrance.
Another party of five men, was sent to examine the northern shore of
the bay. They probably inflicted some gross outrage upon the natives,
as the crew of the Half Moon had conducted infamously, at other points
of the coast, where they had landed, robbing and shooting the Indians.
The sun had gone down, and a rainy evening had set in, when two canoes
impelled rapidly by paddles, overtook the returning boat. One
contained fourteen Indians; the other twelve. Approaching within arrow
shot, they discharged a volley into the boat. One of these
keen-pointed weapons, struck John Coleman in the throat, and instantly
killed him. Two other Englishmen were wounded.
The Indians seemed satisfied with their revenge. Though they numbered
twenty-six warriors, and there were but two white men left unwounded,
the savages permitted them to continue their passage to the vessel,
without further molestation. The journalist, who records this assault,
is silent respecting the provocation which led to it.
Hudson was alarmed by this hostility, and expected an immediate attack
upon the ship. He promptly erected bulwarks along the sides of his
vessel as a protection from the arrows of the fleet of war canoes,
with which, he supposed, he would be surrounded the next morning.
But the night passed quietly away; the morning dawned, and a few
canoes approached from another part of the bay, with no signs of
hostility. These peaceful Indians had manifestly heard nothing of the
disturbance of the night before. They came unarmed, with all friendly
attestations, unsuspicious of danger, and brought corn and tobacco,
which they offered in exchange for such trinkets as they could obtain.
The next morning, two large canoes approached from the shores of the
bay which was many leagues in extent, one of which canoes seemed to be
filled with warriors, thoroughly armed. The other was a trading boat.
It is probable that those in the war canoe, came as a protection for
their companions. It is hardly conceivable that the Indians, naturally
timid and wary, could have thought, with a single war canoe containing
scarcely a dozen men, armed with arrows, to attack the formidable
vessel of Sir Henry Hudson, armed, as they well knew it to be, with
the terrible energies of thunder and lightning.
The Indians were so unsuspicious of danger, that two of them
unhesitatingly came on board. Sir Henry, we must think treacherously,
seized them as prisoners, and ordered the canoes containing their
companions, to keep at a distance. Soon another canoe came, from
another direction, with only two men in it. Sir Henry received them
both on board, and seized them also as prisoners. He intended to hold
them as hostages, that he might thus protect himself from any
hostility on the part of the natives.
One of these men upon finding himself a captive, leaped overboard and
swam ashore. Sir Henry had now three prisoners and he guarded them
very closely. Yet the natives, either from policy or from fear, made
no hostile demonstrations against him.
The half Moon remained in the outer bay nine days. Several exploring
tours had been sent out, visiting what is now known as the Jersey
shore. None of these, with the exception of the one to which we have
alluded, encountered any hostility whatever from the natives.
On the 11th of September, Hudson sailed through the Narrows, and
anchored in the still and silent waters of New York harbor. These
waters had never then been whitened by a sail, or ploughed by any
craft larger than the Indian's birch canoe. The next morning, the 12th
of September, Sir Henry again spread his sails, and commenced his
memorable voyage up the solitary river, which has subsequently borne
his name. Only here and there could a few wigwams be seen, scattered
through the forest, which fringed its banks. But human life was there,
then as now, with the joys of the bridal and the grief of the burial.
When we contemplate the million of people, now crowded around the
mouth of the Hudson, convulsively struggling in all the stern
conflicts of this tumultuous life, it may be doubted whether there
were not as much real happiness in the wigwam of the Indian as is now
to be found in the gorgeous palace of the modern millionaire. And when
we contemplate the vices and the crimes which civilization has
developed, it may also be doubted whether, there were not as much
virtue, comparatively with the numbers to be found, within the bark
hut of the red man, as is now to be found in the abodes of the more
boastful white man.
Sir Henry Hudson hoped to find this majestic river, inviting him into
unknown regions of the north, to be an arm of the sea through which he
could cross the continent to the shores of the Pacific. It was not
then known whether this continent were a few miles or thousands of
miles in breadth. For the first two days the wind was contrary, and
the Half Moon ascended the river but about two miles. The still
friendly natives paddled out from the shores, in their bark canoes in
great numbers, coming on board entirely unarmed and offering for sale,
excellent oysters and vegetables in great abundance.
On the third day a strong breeze sprang up from the southeast. All
sail was set upon the Half Moon. It was a bright and beautiful
autumnal day. Through enchanting scenery the little vessel ploughed
the waves of the unknown river, till, having accomplished forty miles,
just at sunset they dropped their anchor in the still waters which are
surrounded by the grand and gloomy cliffs of the Highlands.
The next morning, the river and its shores, were enveloped in a dense
fog, so that one could see but a few yards before him. Taking
advantage of this, the Indian captives, whom Sir Henry Hudson had so
treacherously ensnared, leaped out of one of the port-holes, and swam
ashore. As soon as they reached the land, they raised loud shouts of
hatred and defiance.
The sun soon dispelled the fog, and the voyage was continued, and by
night the Half Moon reached a point supposed to be near the present
site of Catskill Landing. The natives were numerous, and very
friendly. They came freely on board, apparently unsuspicious of
danger. It was noticeable that there were many very aged men among
them. The river seemed full of fishes, and with their hooks they took
large numbers. The next day the Indians came on board in crowds,
bringing pumpkins and tobacco. The vessel's boats were sent on shore
to procure fresh water.
Early the ensuing morning, they pushed up the river five miles, to a
point probably near the present city of Hudson.
Sir Henry Hudson does not appear to advantage in the account
transmitted to us of this exploration. Mr. Sparks, in his American
Biography, gives the following extraordinary account of one of his
procedures.
"It is evident that great distrust was entertained by Hudson
and his men towards the natives. He now determined to
ascertain, by intoxicating some of the chiefs, and thus
throwing them off their guard, whether they were plotting
any treachery. He accordingly invited several of them into
the cabin, and gave them plenty of brandy to drink. One of
these men had his wife with him, who, the Journal informs
us, 'sate so modestly as any of our countrywomen would do in
a strange place.' But the men had less delicacy and were
soon quite merry with the brandy.
"One of them, who had been on board from the first arrival
of the ship, was completely intoxicated, and fell sound
asleep, to the great astonishment of his companions, who
probably feared that he had been poisoned; for they all took
to their canoes and made for the shore, leaving their
unlucky comrade on board. Their anxiety for his welfare soon
induced them to return; and they brought a quantity of
beads, which they gave him, perhaps to enable him to
purchase his freedom from the spell which had been laid upon
him.
"The poor savage slept quietly all night, and when his
friends came to visit him the next morning they found him
quite well. This restored their confidence, so that they
came to the ship again in crowds, in the afternoon, bringing
various presents for Hudson. Their visit which was one of
unusual ceremony is thus described in the Journal:
"'So at three of the clock in the afternoon, they came
aboard and brought tobacco and more beads, and gave them to
our master, and made an oration and showed him all the
country round about. Then they sent one of their company on
land, who presently returned; and brought a great platter
full of venison, dressed by themselves, and they caused him
to eat with them. Then they made him reverence and departed,
all save the old man that lay aboard.'"
It was now manifest that no northwest passage to the Indies could be
found in this direction, and it was not deemed expedient to attempt to
ascend the river any farther in the ship. The mate, however was sent
with a boat's crew, to explore the river some distance higher up. It
is supposed that the boat ascended several miles above the present
site of the city of Albany, Hudson probably going a little beyond
where the town of Waterford now is. Upon the return of the boat, the
mate having reported that it was useless to attempt any farther ascent
of the river with the ship, Sir Henry commenced his return.
Carefully descending the winding channel of the stream, he was so
unfortunate as to run the ship on a mud bank, in the middle of the
river nearly opposite the present city of Hudson. Without much
difficulty the vessel was again floated, having received no injury.
But contrary winds detained him upon the spot two days. In the
meantime several boat parties visited the banks on both sides of the
stream. They were also visited by many of the natives who were
unremitting in their kindness.
A fair wind soon springing up they ran down the river eighteen miles,
passing quite a large Indian village where Catskill now stands, and
cast anchor in deep water, near Red Hook. Baffled by opposing winds
and calms, they slowly worked their way down the stream, the next two
days, to near the present point of Castleton. Here a venerable old
man, the chief of a small tribe, or rather patriarchal family of forty
men and seventeen women, came on board in his birch canoe. He gave Sir
Henry a very cordial invitation to visit his little settlement of
wigwams, picturesquely nestled upon the banks of the river. Distance
lends enchantment to the view. The little hamlet in a sheltered cove
where fertile meadows were spread out, was surrounded by fields waving
with the harvest. From the deck of the ship the scene presented was
one of peace, prosperity and happiness. The smoke ascended gracefully
from the wigwam fires, children were sporting upon the beach, and
birch canoes, almost as light as bubbles, were being rapidly paddled
over the glassy waves.
[Illustration]
The good old chief took the English captain ashore and led him into
his palace. It was a very humble edifice, constructed of bark so
carefully overlapped as effectually to exclude both wind and rain. It
was from thirty to forty feet long and eighteen feet wide. There was a
door at each end, and ample light was admitted by an opening extending
along the whole length, through which the smoke of the fires could
escape. The interior was finished with great care, and very smoothly.
Under certain states of the atmosphere and of the wind the smoke
freely ascended, causing no embarrassment to those within. The ground
floor was neatly covered with mats, except in the centre where the
fire was built. The whole interior as Sir Hudson entered it, on a
serene autumnal day, presented a very cheerful aspect. One might
easily be pardoned for imagining, in that hour, that the life of the
American savage, free from care, was apparently far more desirable
than that of the toil-worn European.
Sir Henry, with the few who accompanied him, was received with great
hospitality. Some Indians were immediately sent into the forest for a
dinner. They soon returned with some pigeons which they had shot with
their arrows. A nice fat puppy was also killed, skinned with a
clam-shell, and roasted in the highest style of barbaric culinary art.
Thick mats were provided as seats for the guests at this royal
festival. Hudson was urged to remain all night. He was evidently a man
of very cautious, if not suspicious temperament. He could not, or did
not conceal, from the Indians his fears that they were meditating
treachery. These artless men, to convince him that he had nothing to
apprehend, actually broke their bows and arrows, and threw them into
the fire. But nothing could induce Hudson to remain on shore through
the night. He describes the land here as very fertile, bearing
abundantly, corn, pumpkins, grapes, plums, and various other kinds of
small fruits.
Availing himself of a fair wind, he again spread his sails, and on the
1st of October, cast anchor at the mouth of Haverstraw Bay, in the
vicinity of Stony Point. He had scarcely furled his sails, when a
large number of natives came paddling out from the shore in their
little birch canoes. They were entirely unarmed, bringing apparently
in a most friendly manner, furs, fish and vegetables for sale. Soon
quite a little fleet of these buoyant canoes were gliding over the
water. One Indian, paddling beneath the cabin windows, and seeing
hanging out certain articles pilfered a pillow and a jacket. As he was
making off with his treasures the mate caught sight of him, and
seizing his gun mercilessly shot him dead. A severe punishment for so
trivial a crime in an untutored savage.
All the Indians on board the Half Moon as they heard the report of the
gun, and saw their unfortunate companion fall dead in his blood, were
stricken with terror. Some rushed into their canoes. Others plunged
into the river to swim ashore. The vessel's boat immediately put off
to pick up the canoe with the stolen goods. As it was returning, a
solitary Indian, in the water, probably exhausted and drowning,
grasped the gunwale. The cook seized a hatchet and with one blow,
deliberately cut off the man's hand at the wrist. The poor creature,
uttering a shriek, sank beneath the crimsoned waves and was seen no
more.
The next day, the Half Moon descended the river about twenty miles
through Tappan Sea, and anchored, it is supposed, near the head of
Manhattan island. Sir Henry Hudson was apparently oppressed in some
degree with the unjustifiable harshness with which he had treated the
simple-hearted, yet friendly natives. He was continually and
increasingly apprehensive of treachery. A single canoe containing
several men approached the ship Hudson's eagle eye perceived that one
of these men was one of the captives whom he had seized, but who had
escaped from his imprisonment by plunging into the river and swimming
ashore. The sight of this man alarmed the captain, and he refused to
allow any of them to come on board.
It seems to us rather absurd to suppose that half-a-dozen savages
could think of attacking, from a birch canoe, with arrows, a European
ship with its well-armed crew. It should be borne in mind that we have
the narrative from the white man only. The Indians have had no
opportunity to tell their story.
Mr. Brodhead, in his valuable history of New York, gives the following
account of the untoward scenes which immediately ensued, compiling
from the most ancient records:
"But Hudson, perceiving their intent, would suffer none of
them to enter the vessel. Two canoes, full of warriors, then
came under the stern, and shot a flight of arrows into the
yacht. A few muskets were discharged in retaliation, and two
or three of the assailants were killed. Some hundred Indians
then assembled at the Point to attack the Half Moon, as she
drifted slowly by; but a cannon-shot killed two of them,
whereupon the rest fled into the woods. Again the assailants
manned another canoe and again the attack was repulsed by a
cannon shot which destroyed their frail bark; and so the
savages went their way mourning the loss of nine of their
warriors. The yacht then got down two leagues beyond that
place, and anchored over night on the other side of the
river in the bay near Hoboken. Hard by his anchorage and
upon that side of the river that is called Mannahatta,
Hudson noticed that there was a cliff that looked of the
color of white-green. Here he lay wind-bound the next day,
and saw no people to trouble him. The following morning,
just one month after his arrival at Sandy Hook, Hudson
weighed anchor for the last time and coming out of the mouth
of the great river, in the which he had run so far, he set
all sail and steered off again into the main sea."
It is very evident that Sir Henry Hudson was by no means a good
disciplinarian. The authority he exercised over his crew, was very
feeble. A mutinous spirit began already to prevail, and we are told
that they threatened him savagely. It would appear that Sir Henry and
his mate wished to repair to Newfoundland, and after having passed the
winter, which was close upon them, there to resume their voyage, in
search of a northwest passage, through Davis's Straits. But the
turbulent crew would not consent. They compelled the captain to turn
the prow of his ship towards Europe. After the voyage of a month the
Half Moon cast anchor in the harbor of Dartmouth, England, on the 9th
of November, 1609.
It will be remembered that Sir Henry Hudson was an Englishman, though
he was sailing in the service of the Dutch East India Company. When
the Dutch Directors heard of his arrival in England, and of the
important discoveries he had made, they sent orders for him
immediately to repair to Amsterdam. At the same time the Dutch
government claimed, by the right of discovery, all that portion of the
North American continent along whose coasts Hudson had sailed and upon
whose shores he had occasionally landed, taking possession of the same
in the name of the Dutch government.
The English government, jealous of the advantage which had thus been
gained by the flag of Holland, peremptorily forbade Hudson to leave
his native country; and for several months the Half Moon was detained
at Dartmouth.