nder
Captain Crygier, to attack them. Forty-one of these were Indians and
seven were negroes. They took with them two small cannon, with which
at a safe distance, they could soon open a breach through the Indian
ramparts, which were merely bullet-proof. A garrison of about seventy
men was left behind for the protection of Esopus.

At four o'clock in the afternoon of the 26th of July, this little band
commenced its march through the trails of the wilderness, towards the
setting sun. The path was a rugged one over high hills and across
mountain streams. They had traversed but a few miles when night came
on and they bivouacked until daybreak. The next morning they pressed
forward with all vigor until they were within about six miles of the
fort. One hundred and sixteen men were then sent forward to attack the
Indians by surprise, while the remainder prudently followed close
after as a reserve.

But the wary Indians, through their scouts, had ascertained the
approach of the foe and had fled with their prisoners to the
mountains. The Dutch were astonished at the strength of the fort and
at the scientific skill with which it was constructed. The Indians had
evidently learned not a little of military art from the Europeans.
Three parallel rows of palisades enclosed a large square, with
loopholes through which unobstructed aim could be taken at assailants.
Within the palisades there were strong block-houses, provided also
with loopholes, to which houses the warriors could retreat, as to
citadels, in case the outer works were taken. Between the houses and
the outworks there was a creek. The whole fortress would have been no
disgrace to an European engineer.

The party found very comfortable quarters in the fort for the night,
and an ample supply of provisions. An Indian woman, not being aware
that the white men were in the fort, came back for some article she
had left behind. She was taken prisoner and informed her captors of
the direction in which the Indians had fled. As it is necessary for
such a party of two or three hundred, to keep together and as the
trail through meadows, across streamlets and over mountains is narrow,
it is not difficult having once found their track to follow it.

It was determined, after a brief consultation, to pursue them. The
next morning at daybreak, the pursuit was commenced. Twenty-five men
were left to keep possession of the fort. After several hours of very
fatiguing travel, they reached