Pieter Wolfertsen & Sergeant Niesser: returned with their troops, bringing with them one Squaw and three children whom they had captured ; they killed five armed Indians and a woman ; the Esopus Captain ( Weldoverste) was among the slain ; they cut off his hand which they brought hither. Had not the Indian Jed them astray and missed the houses, they would have surprized all the Indians who were there to the number of 28, with women and children. For through the mistake of the Indian, our people first came about midday where they found

1 Van Couwenhoven.

48 JOURNAL OF THE

the Indians posted and in arms. They immediately fell on the Jatter and routed and pursued them. In the chase one of our soldiers was slain. Meanwhile the huts were plundered wherein they found 19 Blankets 9 Kettles a lot of Sewan, and 4 Muskets belonging to the Indians who were killed. They returned on board with the plunder and four prisoners, and arrived safe except one of our Soldiers who was bitin the leg by a rattlesnake. About 5 o'clock in the afternoon,I went with 60 men to the river side, to bring up the booty and prisoners ; returned to the fort in the evening ; encountered no harm.

13th ditto. Examined the Squaw prisoner and enquired if she were not acquainted with some Esopus Indians who abode about here 2? She answered that some Cattskill Indians lay on the other side near the Sagers Kill, but they would not fight against the Dutch; says also that an Indian on the preceding evening before our people attacked them, had brought news from the fort of the Esopus Indians that many Dutch, English and Indians had gone from the Manhatans to the Esopus and that they should be on their guard, for the Hackinsack Indians had brought the news to the fort of the Esopus Indians.