ditor, appears below. For
a history of New Sweden, see Professor Gregory B. Keen's chapter in
Winsor's _Narrative and Critical History of America_, IV. 443-488.

LETTER OF JOHANNES BOGAERT TO HANS BONTEMANTEL, 1655

Noble and Mighty Sir:

Mr. Schepen Bontemantel:

THIS is to advise your Honor of what has occurred since the 5th of
September, 1655, when we sailed with our seven ships,(1) composed of
two yachts called the Holanse Tuijn (Dutch Frontier), the Prinses Royael
(Princess Royal,) a galiot called the Hoop (Hope), mounting four guns,
the flyboat Liefde (Love), mounting four guns, the yacht Dolphijn
(Dolphin), vice-admiral, with four guns, the yacht Abrams Offerhande
(Abraham's Offering), as rear-admiral, mounting four guns; and on the
8th arrived before the Swedish fort, named Elsener.(2) This south fort
had been abandoned. Our force consisted of 317 soldiers, besides a
company of sailors.(3) The general's(4) company, of which Lieutenant
Nuijtingh was captain, and Jan Hagel ensign-bearer, was ninety strong.
The general's second company, of which Dirck Smit was captain, and Don
Pouwel ensign-bearer, was sixty strong. Nicolaes de Silla the marshal's
company, of which Lieutenant Pieter Ebel was captain, and William van
Reijnevelt ensign-bearer, was fifty-five strong. The major's second
company, which was composed of seamen and pilots, with Dirck Jansz
Verstraten of Ossanen as their captain, boatswain's-mate Dirck Claesz of
Munnikendam as ensign-bearer, and the sail-maker Jan Illisz of Honsum as
lieutenant, consisted of fifty men; making altogether 317 men. The 10th,
after breakfast, the fleet got under way, and ran close under the guns
of Fort Casemier, and anchored about a cannon-shot's distance from it.
The troops were landed immediately, and General Stuijvesant dispatched
Lieutenant Dirck Smit with a drummer and a white flag to the commandant,
named Swen Schoeten,(5) to summon the fort. In the meantime we occupied
a guard-house about half a cannon-shot distant from the fort; and at
night placed a company of soldiers in it, which had been previously
used as a magazine. The 11th, the commander, Swen Schoeten, sent a flag
requesting to speak with the General, who consented. They came together,
and after a conference the said commander surrendered Fort Casemier to
the general, upon the following conditions:

(1) Six are named below. The seventh (or first) was the
"admiral" or flag-ship De Waegh ("Th