JOURNAL OF THE SECOND ESOPUS WAR.

57

especially one who is in command over others hath deserved punishment for his committed offenceaccording to the complaint and confession ; seeing that the prisoner’s excuse hath no foundation,sentence the accused Gerret Abel, to be dismissed from his post of Cadet ( Adelborst ) and to bereduced to the ranks ( Schildergastendienst te doen ) at 8fl. per month, and to remain at the Redoubtuntil further orders, he Gerret Abel being unfit to perform the duty of Cadet . Done at Wildwyckthe 31 st October 1663. (Subscribed) Marten Cregier, Christiaen Nif.ssen, Thomas Chambers, EvertWillem Munnick, Jan Peersen, Jonas Rantson.”

Same day, a detachment was out in the woods with the wood cutters and one in ambush scouting,but they did not see any thing.

November the 1 st . A party was in ambush, and a detachment with the wood cutters; sawnothing.

2nd ditto. A detachment was out with the wood cutters and another in ambush to scout.

3 d ditto. A detachment was down at the river side to carry rations to the people at the Redoubt,and another party was at the Great Plot, but did not notice any tiling.

4 th ditto. Sunday. Nothing done.

5 t] i ditto. An escort was down to the river side to bring up some supplies and people that hadarrived from the Manhatans in Lucassen’s yacht, they being freemen belonging to Wildwyck : Aparty was also out in the bush with the wood cutters. Nothing else happened.

6 th ditto. Ordered two soldiers to accompany Arent Moesman to Beeren island near fort Orange. 1An escort was also to the river side and being near the Redoubt lay there in ambush until the eve-ning, but saw nothing. Another party 25 in number was at the Great Plot; they returned in theevening, without having remarked any thing.

7 th ditto ; Wednesday. This being a day of Prayer ( Bededag ) nothing was done. In the eveningPieter Wolfertsen arrived at the Redoubt with Rut Jacobsen’s yacht; brought with him twoChristian children which he had in exchange from the Esopus Indians for a Squaw with a big girl;brought back the other Indian prisoners ; brought also the Wappinger Sachem whom Couwenhovenhad detained in the yacht; says a Christian woman is kept a prisoner by the Wappingers, and that hehad detained the Chief in her stead until they should surrender the Christian woman. Nothing elseoccurred. Sent an escort to the riverside to bring up the two captive children. Couwenhovensaid that he has concluded a ten days’ truce with the Esopus Sachem.

8 th ditto. Have been, myself, with an escort to the river side to bring up to Wildwyck the EsopusIndian prisoners & the children with the Wappinger Indian captive, being in all 9 in number. Onarriving at the shore, found the Wappinger Chief and also one of his Indians on board Rut Jacobsen’sYacht. Asked Lieutenant Couwenhoven, what were these two Indians for? Said it was the Sachemof the Wappingers with one of his Indians whom he had brought along but not as a prisoner—hadcome willingly on board as a friend. Asked him, If he would wish to return home and endeavorto let us have the female Christian captive? To which- he answered, yes ; says, he will bring herhimself in six or seven days. Whereupon the Council of War decided that he and the Indian withhim, should be released, and as they were at present our friends and had renewed peace we promisedhim if he brought back the Christian woman we should then let his brother go together with anotherprisoner. Whereunto he said, ’Tis well; gave him a bark canoe & let him go. Nothing else hap-pened to-day as it rained unceasingly.

9 th ditto. It still rained considerably. Sent an escort to the river side ; Rut Jacobsen sailed withhis Yacht for fort Orange. Nothing else happened.

Vol. iv.

1 This island is opposite Coeymans. Ed.8