For many years the church in which the early Dutch domines exhorted their flocks fostered its s];)iritual courage behind that tem])oral bulwark, and no doubt the many-breeked worshippers slei)t more comfortably in the knowledge that the hewn timber of their fence was strong, and the matchlocks of the guard ready for all comers. The names by which the fort was known, judging by the old records, changed almost as frequently as its size or dimensions. From Amsterdam it was altered by the English to James, and then by the Dutch again to William Hendrick, finally returning to James. At

iV 01-- SKVSCRAl'EKS

22 The Hudson River

the time of the War for American Independence it had become Fort George. A detailed description of the fort was given by Governor Dongan (EngHsh) about 1685. He says: At New York there is a fortification of four Bastions built formerly against the Indians of dry stone & earth with Sods as a Breastwork well and pleasantly situated for the defence of the Harbor on a point made by Hudsons River on the one side and by the sound on the other. It has Thirty nine Guns, two Mortarpieces, thirty Barils of Powder five hundred Ball some Bomb Shells and Grenados, small arms for three hundred men, one flanker, the face of the Xorth Bastion «& three points of Bastions & a Courtin has been done & are rebuilt by mee with Lime and Mortar and all the rest of the Fort Pinnd and Rough Cast with Lime since my coming here. And the most of the Guns I found dismounted and some of them continue to bee soe which I hope to have mounted soe soon as the mills can sawe. I am forced to renew all the batterys with three inch plank & have spoke for new planks for the purpose. . . .