New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-07-26
THE BATTERY
ITS PAST AND PRESENT.
CASTLE GARDEn-FoRT AMSTERDAM.
Ovation 10 the Father Of Ills Country.
"Reminiscences of Lafayette and
Jenny Lind.
Reception Of The japanese and Prince OfWalfS.
The Place as Derot for Immigrants and
Cur Own Soldiers.
Reception Of The japanese and Prince OfEaleS'
arrival of 3,I13,e42 Foreigners
in 10 Years.

monty known BIZ the name of the Battery is iusepa
raby associated with the history OF the rise and prog
OF the Empire City. In point of historic assoeia
lions and antiquarian interest as well beauty OF looG
tion il is surpassed by other spot on the Island
AT one time it and the few surrounding streets COM
prised the whole extent Of the then infant CITY The
first humble cottages Of The adventurous and hardy
Dutch settlers along its margin, and there Was tie
initial point Of hst mighty commerce which has since
been extended 10 the arhest ends of the eath There
were the first trading posts for us arl fish, which have
since grown step by STEP year by year until they have
eliminated in the mar .e ard iron palaces of our
day-tho pride and 4, light OF the American world.
The wild fierce tribe o. the Manhattans looked with
jealousy and hatred on the white settlement, and many
and many a time often in the dark and silent night
were the worthy burghers awakened In terror by to
thril war whCop of the children Of the forest Many
bloody skTmish took place those grounds; many
treaty signed; often tie calumet was smoked, end
the Ratchet buried there until at length the red man
passed away, leaving lot trace behind except the
beautiful ard romantic names OF his Indian dialect.
Then came scenes OF peace. Tie Fort, which wGs
erected carly 1914 aud which served for pIotec
ton against the nearsons of the savage fell into de-
cay and the rocks and hills which had so often re.
echoed with the din Of strife and the vel Of the savage
were now resonant with toe sounds OF busy trade OF
festive gatherings. As time rolled and wealth and
comfort rewarded the abors of tie early founders and
their immediate descendants, the place assumed
rather attractive aspect
The present Battery appeared no DOUBT inhnuey de.
ghtfu TO then residents welas 10 those Of later
generation Beneath the shade Of those trees tie Ole
Knickerbocker whied away the long Summer evenings,
contemplating as he smoked his ponderous pipe the
varied beauties Of the Bay and tie adjacent island as
yet untenanted by man. and rising in all their wooded
beauty along the water edge. The future mynhecrs
Of the city gauboed the green sward or hathed in
tie Hmpid waters which kissed tie shore. May
love-ale has been told beneath those fine old trees
during the last two centuries aud half
The Hollander the German, Prussian and Bavnrian
the inhabitant Of the ancient SGrmata, the child Of
sunny France the dark Italian the swarthy spafiard
the Russ and the Swede the inhabant Of Britain and
the INFECTIOUS Iishnan all whispered their old old
,ove story TO perhaps not unwilling ears AT later
day, when the Fort again repaired. and the Cover
nors house and the nrst church erected within It's pre-
cincts the place began to No email degree Of
importance. II became the fashionable morning and
evening promenade. Tie aristocratie Dutebman and
frau strutted there with much dignity and grace as
their modern defendants do in up town resorts.
But long before pretenous and successful rivals
heard Of the Battery the only part oionr now
mighty City where the belle of hundred years ago
could display her charms.
But to the stranger who chances visit the OF
60 much old time splendor very little trace Of lis long
departed greatness is mani est During the War =.
presented quite a martial appearance. The wooden
sheds and boxes where enicrpsing and unscrupulous
brokers' kept their recruiting quarters, and offered
thousand inducements in the shape Of green.
backs 10 Hans Pat Sandy 10 enlist in the Union
Army, reminded one of the first rude huts which bis.
,oiio mad he larp IL
busy scene of fashion. modern belle would blush to
be seen there unless she taking her departure for
Europe.
The glores Of the spot have all faded away and the
Battery which often tie theater OF municipal
pageant and .nitory display has become the oune ng
place of the lowest class OF population Disreputa
bic looking individuals in garb half sailor hall lands
men, frequent it, and is entirely given over TO the en-
ioymept Of the lousands OF immigrants who annually
seek refuge from tyranny and oppression on our hos
pitable shores. How many an exclamation OF gladness
and surprise. Of joy ana wondT. and OF beartieh
thanksuness Heaven have for the last 10 years es'
capped the o. the poor and oppressed people as they
touched this the first point Of American SOL. occa
sonally, too, II il the scene Of warke engagement
Wien the steamer from Europe arrives and tho swarm
ing hundreds escape from the narrow decks enthuSi
sstc Pat rejoicing in his newfound liberty in the land
Of universal freedom celebrates the event OF his Olsen
tbranent by twirling his knotted shleah above his
head brngiDgit Gown with wild yell aud leap on the
skull Of his conifere from the Emerald Isle Or hring
his verdant nature with bad whisky which some en-
terprising runl-seng quondam neghbor measures out
10 him at 10 cents drink he trails the skirts OF his
lomespun freze In the classic locality OF washington
st. close BY and. after the Donnybrook fashion, dares
any "mon" Ito trid upon thot;" and at length the
strong arm Of some blue uniformed police officer is
around his neck, and he finds himself solioquizng
within the dread precincts Of the Tombs. He appears
next morning before his honor perhaps his esteemed
coun,ryman who for "auld acquaintance sake" and
in consideration of vote at the next election lets him
oil with few WORDS OF paternal advice, and arecom-
Mendation 10 be " dacent" in future.
FORT AMSTERDAM.
II appears that as early as 1914 some kind OF
Jslsadevork erected at this point thus givng.st
= very early date, military character to the Battery
sihs r0de fort called Fort Mandates. and about
Mt more important work built. on which the
hfSne Of Fort Amsterdam was bestowed. Being from
Tine 10 time enlarged and improved under various
OOyernors the FOu became aud continued TO be for
ABOUT 20 years the principal edifce In the CITY. The
Governor resided in the Fort and there were the first
ftarch the barracks prison and other buildings The
i"iitLe Of war threw IT, and with it tho entire
~ ..s. nwfsl L., Ga hAy l