Knickerbocker's History of New York, Complete eBook
Washington Irving
He fortified the city, too, with pickets and palisadoes,
extending across the island from river to river; and
above all cast up mud batteries or redoubts on the
point of the island where it divided the beautiful
bosom of the bay.
These latter redoubts, in process of time, came to
be pleasantly overrun by a carpet of grass and clover,
and overshadowed by wide-spreading elms and sycamores,
among the branches of which the birds would build their
nests and rejoice the ear with their melodious notes.
Under these trees, too, the old burghers would smoke
their afternoon pipe, contemplating the golden sun
as he sank in the west, an emblem of the tranquil end
toward which they were declining. Here, too,
would the young men and maidens of the town take their
evening stroll, watching the silver moon beams as they
trembled along the calm bosom of the bay, or lit up
the sail of some gliding bark, and peradventure interchanging
the soft vows of honest affection; for to evening
strolls in this favored spot were traced most of the
marriages in New Amsterdam.
Such was the origin of that renowned promenade, The
Battery, which, though ostensibly devoted to the stern
purposes of war, has ever been consecrated to the
sweet delights of peace. The scene of many a gambol
in happy childhood—of many a tender assignation
in riper years—of many a soothing walk
in declining age—the healthful resort of
the feeble invalid—the Sunday refreshment
of the dusty tradesman—in fine, the ornament
and delight of New York, and the pride of the lovely
island of Manna-hata.
CHAPTER VIII.
Having thus provided for the temporary security of
New Amsterdam, and guarded it against any sudden surprise,
the gallant Peter took a hearty pinch of snuff, and
snapping his fingers, set the great council of Amphictyons
and their champion, the redoubtable Alicxsander Partridg,
at defiance. In the meantime the moss-troopers
of Connecticut, the warriors of New Haven and Hartford,
and Pyquag—otherwise called Weathersfield,
famous for its onions and its witches—and
of all the other border towns, were in a prodigious
turmoil, furbishing up their rusty weapons, shouting
aloud for war, and anticipating easy conquests and
glorious rummaging of the fat little Dutch villages.
In the midst of these warlike preparations, however,
they received the chilling news that the colony of
Massachusetts refused to back them in this righteous
war. It seems that the gallant conduct of Peter
Stuyvesant, the generous warmth of his vindication,
and the chivalrous spirit of his defiance, though
lost upon the grand council of the league, had carried
conviction to the general court of Massachusetts, which
nobly refused to believe him guilty of the villainous
plot laid at his door.[43]
The defection of so important a colony paralysed the
councils of the league. Some such dissension
arose among its members as prevailed of yore in the
camp of the brawling warriors of Greece, and in the
end the crusade against the Manhattoes was abandoned.
