Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-11-24
IN AND ABOUT Town.
A BATTLE NEAR THE OLD CHURCH.

NAl'i'heN9 q NANHt vi ulluu ant
carnage was avoided. Yetit is true Abou
the year 1865, there stood on the banks o
the Christana, just below the Diamon,
State Iron Works, II Fort known as For
Christina. 1t YVES held by the Swedcs n
That time, under the command Of Governor
Rising, who arrived from Sweden sllor
time before in man-of- war, called the "Ea
gle, with military force, for the purpose
of restoring the Swedish supremacy on the
Delaware. He was very successful and tool
possession of several of the Forts held by
the Dutch. The Swedes having appealed tc
the sword, the Dutch accepted the issue, and
Il force for retaliation was fitted out, under a
celebrated commander, Stuyvesant. Sc
quietly did this officer conduct his operations
that nothing was known Of his intentions by
the Swedes, until he was ready to strike the
blow Governor Rising in the meantime
was not idle, hut had his forts re.
built and engthened, and every precaution
taken to maintain his authority. shin
called the "Golden Shark" loaded with
merchandise, soldiers and war materials
was despatched from Sweden for the col
onles on the Delaware The Captain of the
craft lost his reckoning, and by some means
got into the Raritan river instead of the Del.
aware. Captain Daswick, the commander
her crew, and the men on board, were made
prisoners by the Dutch and the shin and
cargo seized as prize by Stuyyesant. This
was severe blow to Risng's hopes. More
than year passed away after this event
without any further demonstrations ON the
part OF the Dutch, but in the Spring of 1G55
stuyvesant determined to prevent all future
collision with the Swedes by a complete subiu.
CATION of them. At length, about the Both
oil August, with squadron of seven armed
ships and transports, and between six and
seven hundred men, he arrived in the Della.
ware. Governor Rising reinforced his forts
on the river and the Chrstiana. and deter.
mined TO make forcible resistance. One
alter another, however, the Forts on the
delaware succumbed to the invaders. The
Dutch finally took up position oppositc
Fort Christina, near the residence of Mr.
townsend. Rising sent flag of truce 10
Sluyyesant to demand an crplaaatfoH of 6js
conduct and to dissuade him from further
hostilities, ieigning 10 believe that he did
not mean to disturb the Swedes in their law
iul dominions, although he had had s,cb
striking evidences to the contrary. Stuvvc-
SAINT treated the message with contempt. and
detained the bearer of il as a sny. He final
~ permitted him to return TO Fort Chris.
una, alter informing him that he acknow.
LEGGED no right of the Swedes to any mart of
the country. On the morning of the 3d of
september, Stuyvesant took possession of a
swedish shallop, and hoisted the Dutch aor
on it, he also fortified house which stood
ON the south side of the Christinna. The
next day the Dutch planted gahions about
the house on the south side of the Chris.
llaha, and under cover of this temporary de.
fence, threw up entertainments and fortified
the battery. On the 9TH of the month tbcv
sent the transports and ships up the Brandy.
WINE short distance, and landed troops ON
thethird point or promontory ON that stream.
lhey then passed over to the west side of
1t, and threw up battery, on which thcv
planted four cannon, all fronting towards
Fort Christina, and within effective distance
OF 1t. Leaving Il sufficient force 10 man
them, the remainder marched to point ON
'he Chrls'lana between the old churchyard
and the Ferry House, just below the Din.
mond State Iron Company's works, where
they cast uptwO batteries, with three cannon
ana another in the Old Church grave ward
near the south wall, which they mounted
win three cannon; and third ON the hiIl
which has since been dug away at the Rocks
Fort Christina was invested by batteries on
every side, except the southeast, on which
side there was low, marshy ground, which Mt
illsh TIDE was several feet under water. The
armed ships were then anchored in tbe
Brandywine so as to make the investment
complete. Stuyvesant then demanded .
surrender of the Fort. lie sent the demand
ny an Indian. Rising the next morning.
llred two cannon, as he alleged 10 scale his
guns, but the Dutch taking it as a hostile act.
opened their batteries. Rising finding Tint
lie could not defend the Fort. called n conn.
ell OF war. The council determined moi +,
provoke hostillies, but to defend the Fort as
long as they could. When this determine.
ton was announced TO Stuyvesant, he or.
dered immediate preparations for IN attack.
The cattle, goats, swine, and poultry, be
longing to the Swedes, were killed, their
homes broken open, and Campanius saws the
little town of Christianaham DESTROYED.
Rising resorted again TO dipomacy,and up
to the twelfth of the month, made repeated
efforts to prevent an eiIusion of blood
stuyvesant remained firm and refused 10
accept any other terms save a surrender of
the Fort. Rising's provisions began to fail
some OF his men deserted some were sick
others worn out, and mutiny broke out
among his forces Rising, however, resolved
to try diplomacy once more, and a confer.
ence was held between Stuyvesant and
Nicatius de Sylle, on the part of the Dutch
and Rising and Factor Elswyck, on behalf
OF the Swedes. They met at the Quarry
Just below Barrotts mill Rising protested
against the hostile proceedings of the Dutch
and vindicated the title of the Swedestotheir
possessions on the Delaware. All this pro
duced no effect on Stuyvesant, and Rising
determined to defend the Fort to the last ex.
tremity. When informed of Rising's ulti-
matum, the Dutch brought all their guns TO
bear on the Fort, and on the 18th, sum.
moned Rising to surrender within twenty
four hours, or suffer the consequences. A
council of war was called, and it was deter
mined that ii was unwise to stand an assault,
and on the 18th, Rising capitulated. Thus
ended this great struggle, and thus ended