nhattan, it created a terrible panic. It could not be
doubted that all the Indians would sympathize with their outraged
brethren. The farmers, apprehending immediate attack, fled from all
directions, with their families, to the fort, abandoning their homes,
grain and cattle. Even many villages on Long Island were utterly
deserted.

The administrative energies of Governor Stuyvesant were remarkably
developed on this occasion. In the following terms, Mr. O'Callaghan,
in his admirable history of New Netherland, describes the difficulties
he encountered and his mode of surmounting them:

"Governor Stuyvesant, though laboring under severe
indisposition, visited in person all the adjoining villages,
encouraging the well-disposed, stimulating the timid and
urging the farmers everywhere to fortify and defend their
villages. He summoned next the burgomasters, schepens,[10]
and officers of the militia of New Amsterdam, and laid
before them the distressing situation of Esopus. They
proposed to enlist by beat of drum, a sufficient number of
men, and to encourage volunteers by resolving that whatever
savages might be captured should be declared 'good prizes.'

"Stuyvesant, however, was opposed to this mode of
proceeding. It would cause, in his opinion, too great a
delay, as those at Esopus were already besieged some nine or
ten days. He was left, notwithstanding, in a minority. Two
more days were thus irretrievably lost; for at the end of
that time only six or eight had enlisted, 'such a terrible
horror had overpowered the citizens.'

"Captain Newton and Lieutenant Stillwell were now dispatched
to all the English and Dutch villages, and letters were
addressed to fort Orange and Rensselaerswyck, ordering out
the Company's servants, calling for volunteers and
authorizing the raising of a troop of mounted rangers. The
half-dozen servants in fort Amsterdam, every person
belonging to the artillery, all the clerks in the public
offices, four of the Director-General's servants, three of
the hands belonging to his brewery and five or six new
comers, were put under requisition."

"Nothing could overcome the reluctance of the burghers. The
one disheartened the other; the more violent maintaining
that they were obliged to defend only their own homes, and
that no citizen could be forc