Peach Tree War facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Peach Tree War |
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| Part of the Second Northern War; American Indian Wars | |||||||||
 An approximation of the borders of New Netherland and New Sweden, c. 1650. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Susquehannock and allied tribes | |||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Unknown |
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| Strength | |||||||||
| Around 600 | Unknown | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown | Unknown; 150 hostages taken by Indians | ||||||||
The Peach Tree War, also called the Peach War, was a big attack. It happened on September 15, 1655. Susquehannock Indians and their allies attacked several Dutch settlements. These towns were part of New Netherland and were located along the North River (Hudson River).
The attack happened because the Dutch had taken over New Sweden. New Sweden was a close trading partner and friend of the Susquehannocks. The attack was a clear win for the Native Americans. Many Dutch towns outside the main city had to move into Fort Amsterdam for safety. Some towns, like the one on Staten Island, were completely left empty. Others were later settled again and given stronger defenses. The leader of New Netherland, Peter Stuyvesant, later bought the land rights from the Native Americans. This allowed the Dutch to settle the west side of the Hudson River.
Contents
Why the War Started
In March 1638, Swedish settlers arrived in Wilmington, Delaware. They were led by Peter Minuit. They started a colony called New Sweden on the west side of the Delaware River. Both the English and the Dutch had said they owned this land before. But neither group had really settled there much.
Minuit used to be a leader for the Dutch West India Company. He knew the land and the local customs well. He bought the right to settle the land from the Susquehannocks.
Native American Relationships
The Native Americans did not trust the Dutch. This was because the Dutch were close allies with the Iroquois Confederation. The Iroquois were enemies of the Susquehannocks. The Susquehannocks had lost their English trading partner. This happened when the new colony of Maryland pushed out William Claiborne's trading posts.
So, the Susquehannocks quickly became New Sweden's main fur suppliers. They also bought European goods from the Swedes. Because of this, New Sweden became a protected friend of the Susquehannock tribe.
Dutch and Swedish Conflict
Both the English and the Dutch said Sweden had no right to its colony. But the Dutch were more worried. They had already claimed the Delaware River area. In 1651, the Dutch tried to become stronger. They combined their forces from Fort Beversreede and Fort Nassau. They moved Fort Beversreede's building about 6.5 kilometers (4 miles) downstream from the Swedish Fort Christina. They named this new fort Fort Casimir.
Johan Risingh was a leader in New Sweden. He tried to force the Dutch out of the Delaware Valley in 1654. Fort Casimir was attacked by the Swedes. The Dutch surrendered, and the fort was renamed Fort Trinity. This meant the Swedes fully controlled their colony. On June 21, 1654, the Native Americans met with the Swedes. They confirmed their agreements again.
However, a group of Dutch ships led by Peter Stuyvesant took over New Sweden. This happened between September 11 and 15, 1655.
The Attack on Dutch Settlements
The Susquehannocks had become very powerful over the Lenape Indians. This allowed them to gather an army of warriors. These warriors came from many allied and nearby groups. Six hundred warriors landed in New Amsterdam (Lower Manhattan). They caused a lot of damage in the narrow streets of the town. The town was mostly unprotected. Most of the Dutch soldiers were still in New Sweden.
The warriors then crossed the North River (Hudson River). They attacked Pavonia. Today, this area is Hoboken and Jersey City. They took 150 people as hostages. These hostages were held at Paulus Hook (Jersey City). The Native Americans also attacked farms in Harlem, Staten Island, and the Bronx.
Stuyvesant's Return and Hostage Release
Peter Stuyvesant had led the attack on New Sweden. But he quickly returned to his capital when he heard about the attack. The settlers who were freed from being hostages found safety in New Amsterdam. The towns on the west side of the river were left empty.
On Staten Island, 23 Dutch settlers were killed. The Hackensack tribe captured 67 others. Captain Adriaen Crijnin Post led the settlement on Staten Island. He had learned the language of the Native Americans. Chief Penneckeck trusted him. He allowed Captain Post to leave captivity. Post then talked with Stuyvesant to free the settlers. He negotiated for the Native Americans. The captives were safely returned. This included Post's own wife and children. The price for their release was ammunition, wampum (Native American beads), and blankets.
The Baron Hendrick van der Capellan had ordered the 67 settlers to return and build a fort. They found their homes burned down. Their crops were destroyed or damaged. Their farm animals and horses were set free or killed. Many of these people soon moved to the Long Island Colony. Post stayed with a few settlers to try and follow the Baron's wishes. But he became ill and could not finish his goal. He later moved his family to what became Bergen County, New Jersey. This happened after the British took control of the area.
What Happened After
The Swedes in the Delaware Valley knew that the Susquehannock attack was revenge. It was for the Dutch taking over New Sweden. But the Dutch settlers in New Netherland thought it was for a different reason. They believed it was because a Dutch settler was accused of hurting a young Wappinger woman. This happened after she allegedly took a peach from the property of Cornelis van Tienhoven. This incident had made tensions high just before the attack. It also gave the war its name.
Stuyvesant bought the right to settle the land again from the Native Americans. This land was between the Hudson and Hackensack rivers. He created a fortified village called Bergen. He also required strong blockhouses to be built there and in other towns outside the main city. The colony of Cornelis Melyn on Staten Island was left empty.
