ploughmen, and one at the Redoubt by the river side. Nothing else was done to-day.

19th ditto. Two detachments were out again with the ploughmen, and one to the river side; a party was, also, in ambush to make some discovery; but did not see any thing.

20th ditto. Three detachments were out in the field again with the ploughmen, and one in ambush, but did not remark any thing. An escort was also down to the river side at the Redoubt.

21st ditto. Sunday; nothing occurred.

22d ditto. Three detachments were again out with the ploughmen, and one in ambush as scouting. An escort was likewise sent down to the river side; they did not see any thing. 23d ditto. Three detachments were again out with the ploughmen, but saw nothing.

24th ditto. Two parties were again out in the field with the ploughmen, and I was until evening with a party in ambush, but did not perceive any thing.

25th ditto. Two escorts were again in the field with the ploughmen, and one to the river side. Nothing happened.

26th ditto. An escort was in the woods with those cutting palisades, and another party was in ambush, but saw nothing.

27th ditto. An escort was in the field with the ploughmen, and one in ambush, and another to the river side. Nothing else was done.

28th ditto. Sunday. Nothing occurred.

29th ditto. Two parties were out; one with the wood cutters, the other in ambush-but saw nothing.

30th ditto. A detachment was in the woods with those cutting palisades, and a party to the river side, and also a troop in the woods scouting; did not see any thing.

31st ditto. Gerrit Abel was tried before the Valiant Court Martial for his offence committed on the 29th October and is sentenced by the Court as follows:

"WHEREAS Gerret Abel being in command at the Redoubt hath in contravention to the ordinance dated 17th 8ber enacted by the Valiant Council of War and posted at the Redoubt, pro ceeded to the village of Wildwyck on last Monday the 29th Octo

ber, without leave, escort or any necessary business, but merely to get drunk, as actually happened, which being notified to the Capt Lieutenant, he caused him to be placed under arrest, and to be tried this day, 31st October, before the Valiant Court Martial and prosecuted for this his committed offence, for which the Capt Lieutenant demands the Valiant Council of War duly to punish the accused Gerret Abel.

"The accused gave as an excuse for his coming here to Wildwyck that he wanted to get a skepel of wheat ground, and as it could not be immediately ground for him, he was to a friend's with whom he drank half a pint. And the accused having heard the charge aforesaid, acknowledges to have transgressed the ordinance above mentioned, and supplicates herein, not justice, but mercy.

"The Valiant Council of War having maturely considered this matter; that a soldier and more especially one who is in command over others hath deserved punishment for his committed offence according 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 be reduced to the ranks (Schildergastendienst te doen) at 8fl. per month, and to remain at the Redoubt until further orders, he Gerret Abel being unfit to perform the duty of Cadet. Done at Wildwyck the 31st October 1663. (Subscribed) MARTEN CREGIER, CHRISTIAEN NIESSEN, THOMAS CHAMBERS, EVERT WILLEM 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 1st. A party was in ambush, and a detachment with the wood cutters; saw nothing.

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

3d 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 thing.

4th ditto. Sunday. Nothing done.

5th ditto. An escort was down to the river side to bring up

some supplies and people that had arrived from the Manhatans in Lucassen's yacht, they being freemen belonging to Wildwyck. A party was also out in the bush with the wood cutters. Nothing else happened.

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

7th ditto; Wednesday. This being a day of Prayer (Bededag) nothing was done. In the evening Pieter Wolfertsen arrived at the Redoubt with Rut Jacobsen's yacht; brought with him two Christian 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 Couwenhoven had detained in the yacht; says a Christian woman is kept a prisoner by the Wappingers, and that he had detained the Chief in her stead until they should surrender the Christian woman. Nothing else occurred. Sent an escort to the river side to bring up the two captive children. Couwenhoven said that he has concluded a ten days' truce with the Esopus Sachem.

8th ditto. Have been, myself, with an escort to the river side to bring up to Wildwyck the Esopus Indian prisoners & the children with the Wappinger Indian captive, being in all 9 in number. On arriving at the shore, found the Wappinger Chief and also one of his Indians on board Rut Jacobsen's Yacht. Asked Lieutenant Couwenhoven, what were these two Indians for? Said it was the Sachem of the Wappingers with one of his Indians whom he had brought along but not as a prisoner-had come willingly on board as a friend. Asked him, If he would wish to return home and endeavor to let us have the female christian captive? To which he answered, yes; says, he will bring her himself in six or seven days. Whereupon the Council of War decided that he and the Indian with him, should be released, and as they were at present our friends and had renewed peace we promised him if he brought back the Christian

1 This island is opposite Coeymans. ED.

woman we should then let his brother go together with another prisoner. Whereunto he said, 'Tis well; gave him a bark canoe & let him go. Nothing else happened to-day as it rained unceasingly.

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

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10th ditto. A detachment was out with the wood cutters; nothing else occurred.

11th ditto. Sunday, nothing was done except sending a party to the river side with bread for the people in the Redoubt.

12th ditto. A detachment was out in the bush with the woodcutters. Nothing else transpired.

13th ditto. The Company's Yacht arrived; brings some provisions for the garrison; also arrived at the Redoubt a Wappinger Sachem with eight Indians, bringing a female Christian Captive whom he had purchased from the Esopus Indians and which he had promised us on the 8th inst. on board Rut Jacobson's Yacht. The Council of War resolved that he and his attending Indians should be brought up to Wildwyck; they were accordingly conducted up by Lieutenant Couwenhoven and Captain Thomas Chambers and brought to Wildwyck. Sent for him to the Council of War and asked, what he had to communicate? He answered, I am come to perform my promise which I gave on board the Yacht at the Redoubt, to bring in the Christian Woman whom I bought from the Esopus Squaw, and I bring and present her to you now, because we are both friends. Whereupon we thanked him and said, that we should speak together on the morrow. Lodged them in Capt. Chambers house and had food furnished them. Meanwhile a detachment went down to the river side. Otherwise nothing occurred to-day.

14th ditto. The Council of War met again and resolved to release the Wappinger Indian, and to give him back to the Chief with one of the Esopus captive Squaws, pursuant to our previous promise, made on the eight of November to the Wappinger Chief, on board the Yacht at the Redoubt. Invited the Chief and his Indians into the Council chamber and presented him the Esopus Squaw and a little sucking infant, which they took

presented him also with two pieces of cloth in token of friendship. The Chief then requested that we should live with him in friendship, which should be preserved by him. He gave us, in token thereof, a Bow and arrow and said, I will not make war against the Dutch, but live in peace with them. We promised him likewise; gave each other the hand, and the said chief promised us to do his best to obtain back for us all the prisoners from the Esopus Indians that a mutual exchange should be made; for to morrow being Thursday, the Esopus Sachem would then come with the prisoners according to the promise he gave Lieutenant Couwenhoven and the provisional truce agreed upon for ten days with him, for he had promised to fetch the Christian prisoners to the Redoubt in the space of ten days, to be then exchanged one for the other. Now, what the result will be, when the ten days are expired, time will tell. So they again departed well satisfied. Gave them an escort to conduct them to the river side, and the Council resolved that the sloop shall remain until the expiration of the time agreed upon between Lieutenant Couwenhoven and the Esopus Sachem on the 5th November, on board the Sloop in the Wappinger Creek, to wit: that the Esopus Chief should bring up all the Christian prisoners to the Redoubt to exchange them then, one for another, whereupon a ten days' truce was mutually agreed to. A soldier named Jurien Helm died to day. An escort was also down to the river side. Nothing else occurred to day.

15th ditto. A vessel arrived from fort Orange with cattle; sent a convoy to the river side. Nothing else happened.

16th ditto. Another detachment was down to the river. A yacht bound for the Manhatans arrived from fort Orange to day Nothing else occurred.

17th ditto. Arranged every thing in order and departed with some of the Military for the Manhatans leaving in Wildwyck about sixty soldiers under the command of Ensign Christiaen Niessen.*

18th Sunday. After Capt Lieutenant Martin Cregiers departure yesterday, Jan Hendricksen Van Baal came the fourth person up to Wildwyck. He arrived from the Manhatans in Mr.

* That part of the Journal between Asterisks is by Ensign Niessen. En.