The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-14
ARL NEW YORK FoRrIFICArIoNs.
The Citizens of New Amsterdam Carefully
Prepared for Only Ono Emergency.

Prepared for Only Ono Emergency.
1t Is just about 246 years since the tranquil
citizens OF Dutch New York wero threatened
with a warlike invasion from New England.
Holland and England were then at war. the
former laying claim to Manhattan Island and
the latter exercising jurisdiction over what are
now the New England States. The Connectl-
cut Legislature in a formal resolution ~apprised
the commissioners sent by Peter Stuyvesant.
the Governor OF New Amsterdam. OF the fact
that they did not recognize Dutch authority In
this region. and some OF the towns in eastern
Long Island petit!oned the Connecticut au-
thorities to annex them.
II was while Connecticut men were threaten
ing to march on New Amsterdam that the res
idents OF Manhattan Island or rather OF the
lower end OF Manhattan Island. for the upper
end was not populated. determined to protect
the city at any hazard and Ito inclose the
greatest part of it with upright palisades and
small br~eastworks. so that, in case of necessity
all the inhabitants may retire within the in
closure 1t was next determined to raise
a War Fund in guilders and TO invite bids for
the construction OF a mammoth palisade. the
cost Of which was to he 3 900 guilders. OF which
800 were TO DO paid for the wages OF carpenters
and 100 for the purchase OF nails. Proposals
were invited for 300 oak posts. each II feet
long and 7 inches in diameter. to be delivered
at the Beavers PATH" the foot of what is now
Battery place.
For three weeks in July. 1853, all the able.
iG DC ted e ItH9r 20 on d annette ma Island engaged Isa
walls OF protection outside OF which were built
OF sods set Of with a curtain Of planks." The
expense OF this primitive method Of f%ortifca-
ton was nearly $4,000, in the equivalent OF
American \, money. and Il was thought by
pc, provided; but it was not. very. long
lar with the traditions OF Dutch archi;
lecture. insisted that the fertilization would
able ," the ltoesl army 1a1ssi to 'a sally E forth to eI meet ct the the
advance OF New Englanders and without being
t Gnd ,his the he necessity tx OF climbing over q fe ne
project OF, a gate on the ground that it would
make easier the ENTRANCE of the New England
foe. but this objection found little weight with
those who had plans for gates OF an ornamental
meta, rooster. an emblem Of defiance to the
New Englanders. which was also used as, a
immsdiate neishborhood OF the gate was a
iGn 6IGShkhSS InS. somewhat on the plan Of
cd that it formed, a part. Of the paiisade
wall and projected sufficiently In front Of
hrer," into the intruding New EnsIanders.
to claim the STRATEGIC opportunity of forcing an
entrance. On the Battery, were mounted ten
Bay or the East H Ti il they nIs approaeh itST fr ONE
either side. and in order that the burden Of eX-
penditure for war purposes would not fall too
heavily upon the residents it was provided
that there should be an extra tariff duty on
beaver pelts. blankets. powder, brandies,
wines. rum: lead. guns and mineral waters.
These elaborate preparations were intended
to awe the hostile New E%nglanders from any
demonstration Of a riotous character. but they
do not seem to have taken into account the cir
cumstance that there might be an assault upon
the Old Town, not from New England at all, but
from Old England. Later the English attacked
the Dutch garrison at New Amsterdam. and the
Dutch. who had Notifications against the New
Englanders but no adequate ones against the
drums beating and colors flying. and this was
the end OF their early Notifications