Prof. Jonathan Pearson
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The story of the massacre of 1690 has often been told. The essential facts are few and well established, both by the English and French accounts. The causes of this attack were first, the war between England and France occasioned by the English revolution of 1688, and secondly, the desire of the French in Canada to intimidate and detach the Iroquois from the English, by delivering a stunning blow and capturing both Albany and Schenectady. The destruction of these places would perhaps have decided the fate of the Province, for they then would have held the key to the navigation of the Hudson.
A march from Montreal to Schenectady — a distance of 200 miles, was one of extreme labor, requiring great pluck and endurance.
Between the St. Lawrence and the Mohawk rivers there was then an unbroken wilderness, without a single habitation.
In mid-winter the snow lay in the forest from three to six feet deep and could be traveled only on snow-shoes.
In addition to their heavy muskets and ammunition, the French were forced to carry provisions for the march of 22 days. Such were the conditions of an attack upon Schenectady, — only possible in winter without a flotilla of canoes, to pass the lakes.
The attacking party consisted of 114 Frenchmen, 80 savages from the Sault and 16 Algonquins, — in all 210 men.
The commander was Lemoine de Sainte Helene, assisted by Lieutenant D'Aillebout de Mantet. They started from Montreal on the 17th of January, and after suffering incredible hardships on the way, arrived in sight of the town about 11 o'clock at night on the 8th February. It was their intention to make the attack later, but the intense cold forced them to enter the town at once.
The village at this time lay mainly west of Ferry street, and was stockaded with palisades of pine logs ten feet high. It had at least two gates; (
244-1) one at north end of Church street opening out to the highway [Front street], which led to the eastward to Niskayuna. Another at south end of Church at State, opening out to Mill lane and the Flats and the Albany road [State street].
The only dwellings outside the stockade were built on the northerly side of State street, extending as far south-east as
Lange gang (Centre Street). It is said there were 80 good houses (
245-1) in the village and a population of 400 souls, both numbers doubtless greatly exaggerated.
In the northerly angle of the village on the
Binnè kil (near corner Washington and Front Streets) was a double stockaded fort (
245-2) garrisoned by a detachment of 24 men of Capt. Jonathan Bull's Connecticut company under the command of Lieut. Talmadge.
Thus fortified and garrisoned the inhabitants should have repelled any ordinary attack, or at least held the enemy at bay until succor could reach them from Albany.
The destruction of the place was occasioned by divided counsels and a fatal apathy. The whole Province was then divided into two factions, — the Leislerians and the Anti-Leislerians — the short hairs and swallow-tails. Divided feelings and counsels ran so high in Albany and Schenectady as to counteract the sense of self preservation. Both parties were determined to rule, neither was strong enough to take the lead.
On the fatal night of Feb. 8th, the Noche triste of the ill fated village, the inhabitants went to rest with their gates open and no guard set. They trusted that the Indians who had been sent out as scouts to Lake George would forewarn them of the enemy's approach. The French marched upon the village from the north, crossed the river on the ice and divided their men into two companies with the intention of entering the town, one by the north or Church street gate, the other by the south or State street gate. The latter entrance being in a measure covered by the dwellings on that street could not be found; both companies therefore entered by the north gate and separating, spread themselves throughout the village, five or six before each house. At the signal agreed upon a simultaneous onslaught was made upon each dwelling and before the terror stricken inhabitants could seize their arms, the savages were upon them. Resistance was vain. Within two hours 60 of the people were slaughtered without distinction of age or sex. After selecting such booty as they could carry away, the French fired the houses and burnt all but five or six.
Capt. Sander Glen's family and relatives with their habitations and other property, on account of former kindness shown to captive Frenchmen, were spared by express order of the Governor of Canada. The utter helplessness of th inhabitants to offer resistance, is shown by the fact that only two of the enemy were killed and one severely wounded.
The plucky fight made by Adam Vrooman and his family comes down to us by tradition. His house stood on the west corner of Front and Church streets opposite the north gate.
By keeping up a brisk fire from his dwelling he kept the enemy at bay and extorted a promise from the French commander to apace his life.
After taking a few hours of much needed rest, the French began their retreat at 11 o'clock of the 9th, with 27 prisoners, men and boys, and fifty horses laden with plunder.
Nineteen of their men perished in the retreat and the remainder were only saved from starvation by killing the horses.
Of the many accounts of this transaction written at the time, the following are the most trustworthy.
The first is the French report, and may be found among the "Paris documents" Vol. IV in the secretary of State's office.
"An account of the burning of Schenectady by Mons. De Monsignat, comptroller General of the marine in Canada to Madam de Maintenon, the morganatic wife of Louis XIV.
"The orders received by M. Le Comte [De Frontenac] to commence hostilities against New England and New York, which had declared for the Prince of Orange, afforded him considerable pleasure and were very necessary for the country. He allowed no more time to elapse before carrying them into execution than was required to send off some dispatches to France, immediately after which, he determined to organise three different detachments, to attack those rebels at all points at the same moment, and to punish them at various places for having afforded protection to our enemies, the Mohawks.
"The first party was to rendezvous at Montreal, and proceed towards Orange; the second at Three Rivers, and to make a descent on New York, at some place between Boston and Orange; and the third was to depart from Quebec, and gain the seaboard between Boston and Pentagouet, verging towards Acadia. They all succeeded perfectly well, and I shall communicate to you the details. * * * *
"The detachment which formed at Montreal, may have been composed of about two hundred and ten men, namely: eighty savages from the Sault and from La Montagne; sixteen Algonquins; and the remainder Frenchmen — all under the command of the Sieur Le Moyne de Sainte Helene, and Lieutenant Daillebout de Mantet, both of whom Canadians.
"The Sieurs le Moyne d'Iberville and Repentigny de Montesson commanded under these.
"The best qualified Frenchmen were the Sieurs de Bonrepos and de La Brosse, Calvinist officers, the Sieur la Moyne de Blainville, Le Bert du Cherie and la Marque de Montigny who all served as volunteers.
"They took their departure from Montreal at the commencement of February. (?)
"After having marched for the course of five or six days, they called a council to determine the route they should follow, and the point they should attack.
"The Indians demanded of the French what was their intention. Messieurs de Sainte Helene and Mantet replied that they had left in the hope of attacking Orange, if possible, as it is the Capital of New York and a place of considerable importance, though they had no orders to that effect, but generally to act according as they should judge on the spot of their chances of success, without running too much risk. This appeared to the savages somewhat rash. They represented the difficulties and the weakness of the party for so bold an undertaking.
"There was even one among them, who, his mind filled with recollections of the disasters which he had witnessed last year, enquired of our Frenchmen, — "since when had they become so desperate?"
"In reply to their raillery, 'twas answered that it was our intention, now, to regain the honor of which our misfortunes had deprived us, and the sole means to accomplish that was to carry Orange, or to perish in so glorious an enterprise.
"As the Indians, who had an intimate acquaintance with the localities, and more experience than the French, could not be brought to agree with the latter, it was determined to postpone coming to a conclusion until the party should arrive at the spot where the two routes separate — the one leading to Orange and the other to Corlaer [Schenectady]. In the course of the journey which occupied eight days, the Frenchmen judged proper to diverge towards Corlaer, according to the advice of the Indians; and this road was taken without calling a council. Nine days more elapsed before they arrived, having experienced inconceivable difficulties, and having been obliged to march up to their knees in water, and to break the ice with their feet in order to find a solid footing.
"They arrived within two leagues of Corlaer about four o'clock in the evening, and were harangued by the great Mohawk chief of the Iroquois from the Sault. He urged on all to perform their duty, and to lose all recollections of their fatigue, in the hope of taking ample revenge for the injuries they had received from the Iroquois at the solicitation of the English, and of washing them out in the blood of the traitors.
"This savage was without contradiction the most considerable of his tribe, — an honest man, — as full of spirit, prudence and generosity as it is possible, and capable at the same time of the grandest undertakings. Shortly after, four squaws were discovered in a wigwam, who gave every information necessary for the attack on the town. The fire found in their hut served to warm those who were benumbed, and they continued their route, having previously detached Giguieres, a Canadian, with nine Indians, on the lookout.
"They discovered no one, and returned to join the main body within one league of Corlaer.
"At eleven of the clock at night, they came within sight of the town (but) resolved to defer the assault until two o'clock of the morning. But the excessive cold admitted of no further delay.
"The town of Corlaer forms a sort of oblong with only two gates — one opposite the road we had taken; — the other leading to Orange, which is only six leagues distant. Messieurs de Sainte Helene and de Mantet were to enter at the first which the Squaws pointed out, and which in fact was found wide open. Messieurs d'Iberville and de Montesson took the left with another detachment, in order to make themselves masters of that leading to Orange. But they could not discover it, and returned to join the remainder of the party. A profound silence was every where observed, until the two commanders, who separated, at their entrance into the town for the purpose of encircling it, had met at the other extremity.
"The signal of attack was given Indian fashion, and the whole force rushed on simultaneously. M. de Mantet placed himself at the head of a detachment, and reached a small fort where the garrison was under arms. The gate was burst in after a good deal of difficulty, the whole set on fire, and all who defended the place slaughtered.
"The sack of the town began a moment before the attack on the fort. Few houses made any resistance, M. de Montigny discovered some, which he attempted to carry sword in hand, having tried the musket in vain. He received two thrusts of a spear — one in the body and the other in the arm. But M. de Sainte Helene having come to his aid, effected an entrance, and put every one who defended the place to the sword. The massacre lasted two hours. The remainder of the night was spent in placing sentinels, and in taking some repose.
"The house belonging to the minister was ordered to be saved, so as to take him alive to obtain information from him; but as it was not known, it was not spared any more than the others. He was slain and his papers burnt before he could be recognized.
"At daybreak some men were sent to the dwelling of Mr. Coudre [Condre (?) Sander], who was major of the place, and who lived at the other side of the river. He was not willing to surrender, and began to put himself on the defensive with his servants and some Indians; but as it was resolved not to do him any harm, in consequence of the good treatment that the French had formerly experienced at his hands, M. d'Iberville and the Great Mohawk proceeded thither alone, promised him quarter for himself, his people, and his property, whereupon he laid down his arms, on parole, entertaining them in his fort, and returned with them to see the commandants of the town.
"In order to occupy the savages, who would otherwise have taken to drink and thus render themselves unable for defence, the houses had already been set on fire. None were spared in the town but one house belonging to Condre [Sander Glen], and that of a widow [Bratt], who had six children, whither M. de Montigny had been carried when wounded. All the rest were consumed. The lives of between fifty and sixty persons, old men, women and children were spared, they having escaped the first fury of the attack. Some twenty Mohawks were also spared, in order to show them that it was the English and not they against whom the grudge was entertained.
"The loss on this occasion in houses, cattle and grain, amounts to more than four hundred thousand livres. There were upwards of eighty well built and well furnished houses in the town.
"The return march commenced with thirty prisoners. The wounded, who were to be carried, and the plunder, with which all the Indians and some Frenchmen were loaded, caused considerable inconvenience. Fifty good horses were brought away. Sixteen of these only reached Montreal. The remainder were killed for food on the road.
"Sixty leagues from Corlaer the Indians began to hunt, and the French not being able to wait for them, being short of provisions, continued their route, having detached Messieures d'Iberville and Du Chesne with two savages before them to Montreal. On the same day, some Frenchmen, who doubtless were much fatigued, lost their way. Fearful that they should be obliged to keep up with the main body, and believing themselves in safety having eighty Indians in their rear, they were found missing from the camp. They were waited for next day until eleven o'clock, but in vain, and no account has since been received of them.
"Two hours after, forty men more left the main body without acquainting the commander, continued their route by themselves, and arrived within two leagues of Montreal one day ahead, so that there were not more than fifty or sixty men together. The evening on which they should arrive at Montreal, being extremely fatigued from fasting and bad roads, the rear fell away from M. de Sainte Helene, who was in front with an Indian guide, and who could not find a place suitable for camping nearer than three or four leagues of the spot where he expected to halt. He was not rejoined by M. de Mantet and the others until far advanced in the night. Seven have not been found. Next day on parade, about ten o'clock in the forenoon, a soldier arrived who announced that they had been attacked by fourteen or fifteen savages, and that six had been killed. The party proceeded somewhat afflicted at this accident, and arrived at Montreal at 3 o'clock p. m.
"Such, Madame, is the account of what passed at the taking of Corlaer. The French lost but twenty-one men, namely four Indians and seventeen Frenchmen. Only one Indian and one Frenchman were killed at the capture of the town. The others were lost on the road." — Doc. Hist. N. Y., I, 186.
Jan Van Eps was the only son of Dirk Van Eps and Maritie Damens. The father died early and the mother married two husbands afterwards, the last of whom was Cornelis Van Nes of Albany. With Jan Van Eps were also killed three of his children, and a fourth, Jan Baptist, then seventeen years of age was carried away by the French. He remained with the Indians three years, but finally escaped in one of their excursions against the Mohawks. On account of his familiarity with the language of the natives, he was often employed by the Governors of the Province as an interpreter.
The Van Eps house lot was on the north corner of Church and State streets and embraced about two hundred feet on each street.
