Reconquest of New Netherland

Last updated
Reconquest of New Netherland
Part of Franco-Dutch War and Third Anglo-Dutch War
Allard -Totius Neobelgii Nova et Accuratissima Tabula (Detail).png
"New Amsterdam, recently called New York (Nieuw Jorck), and now retaken by the Netherlanders 24 Aug 1673" [lower-alpha 1]
Date30 July 1673 (O.S.)
9 August 1673 (N.S.)
Location
Present day New York City
Result

Dutch victory

Belligerents
Statenvlag.svg  Dutch Republic Flag of England.svg  England
Commanders and leaders
Statenvlag.svg Cornelis Evertsen the Youngest
Statenvlag.svg Anthony Colve
Statenvlag.svg Jacob Binckes
Flag of England.svg John Manning   White flag icon.svg
Strength
9 ships
600 men [1]
100 soldiers, and fortifications of Fort James [2]
Casualties and losses
None 100 prisoners, [3] deaths unknown.

On 9 August 1673 (N.S.; 30 July 1673 (O.S.)), during the Third Anglo-Dutch War (which was part of the Franco-Dutch War) a combined Dutch fleet commanded by Cornelis Evertsen the Youngest of the Admiralty of Zeeland and Jacob Binckes of the Admiralty of Amsterdam recaptured New York, which had been English since the Peace of Breda of 1667. [4] The town of New York was re-christened "New Orange" and New Netherland was re-established as a Dutch colony under governor-general Anthony Colve. The Dutch Republic, however, returned the colony to English rule under the Treaty of Westminster (1674), in exchange for the colony of Suriname, which eventually led to the replacement of governor Colve by governor Edmund Andros on 10 November 1674 (N.S.) [4]

Contents

Background

Before the Second Anglo-Dutch War had even started an English fleet took over the colony New Netherland of the Dutch West India Company in 1664 in a bloodless coup in the name of the Duke of York. The colony was renamed New York, and the town of New Amsterdam was given the same name. [5] This situation was left in place in the Peace of Breda of 1667. After the Third Anglo-Dutch War broke out in 1672 the Dutch Republic embarked on a commerce raiding style of naval warfare with England and France outside Europe, while in the European theater the main Dutch fleet under admiral Michiel de Ruyter successfully followed a "fleet-in-being strategy" to keep the combined English and French fleets at bay, to prevent a seaborne invasion of the Dutch mainland. Several naval expeditions were launched by the Dutch, among which an ambitious secret design by the Admiralty of Zeeland, set up by the Zeeland Grand Pensionary Pieter de Huybert and his nephew Justus de Huybert, who was the secretary of the Admiralty Board of Zeeland. [lower-alpha 2] This naval expedition, commanded by Cornelis Evertsen, was not very successful at first, [lower-alpha 3] but when the Zeeland squadron met the squadron of Jacob Binckes, sent out with a similar objective by one of the Holland admiralties, near Guadeloupe, the two commanders decided to join forces (and to form a joint command). They knew that the tobacco fleet of the Colony of Virginia and the Province of Maryland would soon depart for the English Motherland, and they therefore decided to make an attempt to repeat the feat accomplished by Abraham Crijnssen in 1667, who in the Battle of The James River (1667) had managed to capture that fleet. This led to the Second Battle of the James River (1673) in July 1673. After the battle the two commanders received intelligence that New York was only weakly defended and that the governor, Francis Lovelace happened to be absent. They therefore decided opportunistically to make an attempt to recapture New Netherland, and sailed to Staten Island, where they arrived on 28 July 1673 (O.S). [7]

Reconquest

New Amsterdam retaken by the Netherlanders on 24 Aug 1673 New Amsterdam lately New York retaken by the Netherlanders on 24 Aug 1673.jpg
New Amsterdam retaken by the Netherlanders on 24 Aug 1673

After the Dutch fleet of 21 ships (including prizes) arrived on the roadstead of Staten Island, a number of small boats with Dutch colonists aboard soon approached Evertsen's flagship Swaenenburgh. [lower-alpha 4] They brought him the latest news about the situation in New York, confirming the intelligence the Dutch commanders had previously received about the absence of governor Lovelace and the unreadiness of Fort James. The fort was commanded by captain John Manning. It had a garrison of about 100 men, and it would take them around four days to rally an additional 300–400 men to defend it. The Dutch were now convinced that they could recapture it. A council of war was held on how to attack it and when. The Dutch colonists were afraid that the rest of the Dutch population were neutral and would not support them. So the Council decided to draft a proclamation to the inhabitants of New York to assure them that they would be unharmed if they agreed to submit again to the States General of the Netherlands This proclamation was issued in the evening of 8 August 1673 (N.S.). [9]

Meanwhile the Dutch ships had been discovered by the English and a strong guard was set at the fort and beacons were fired to warn those who still did not know. On the morning of 9 August (N.S.), everyone was prepared, and rumours were rampant. All of the soldiers were hoping for reinforcements from governor Lovelace. The Dutch fleet waited patiently for the flood. A force of 600 marines and sailors were selected for the assault on Manhattan Island. But first the commanders sent a demand for surrender to Fort James. Captain Manning then sent three parlimentaires, one, Thomas Lovelace, a brother of governor Lovelace, the other two by the names of John Carr and John Sharpe, to the Swaenenburgh. When the English parlimentaires demanded to see his commission. Evertsen huffily replied that "his commission stuck in the muzzle of his guns, which they would soon discover if they did not surrender forthwith". [10]

Meanwhile the wind had risen and was blowing landward so the Dutch ships weighed anchor and sailed toward the fort, where they again anchored in the Hudson River, under the ramparts of the fort, but outside the range of its guns. There was another exchange of messages with Manning by way of parlimentaire. It became clear that Manning was stalling, so the Dutch decided to break off the negotiations. They opened up on the fort with their ship's artillery, which fire was answered by the fort. The Dutch landing force was then sent ashore under the command of marine captain Anthony Colve somewhat north of the town, where Broadway Street (formerly Heerenstraat) began. The Dutch troops marched down that street toward the fort on the tip of the island while the Dutch colonists cheered them on, and several joined them. When they arrived before the fort captain Manning ran up a white flag and asked for honorable terms to surrender. He was granted the honors of war. The English troops consequently marched out of the gate, flags flying and drums beating, and laid down their arms in front of the fort. The Dutch troops then entered the fort and locked up the rank and file English soldiers in the Dutch Reformed Church within the fort; the English officers were left in possession of their own quarters. The next day all prisoners of war were transferred to the Dutch ships, as was governor Lovelace, after he asked for a safe conduct to negotiate with the Dutch commanders. [11] [12]

Aftermath

City of New Orange in 1673 City of New Orange (New Amsterdam) 1673 sketched.png
City of New Orange in 1673

The Dutch commanders swiftly began to consolidate their conquest by sending out commissions to outlying settlements to demand submission to the new regime, and set up new local governments under the control of the new governor-general they appointed to rule the colony as the new Director of New Netherland. This was captain Anthony Colve. (They also sent out a small task force under captain Boes to harass the English fisheries near Newfoundland. [13] ) Colve was to rule the colony, while reinforcing its defenses in the expectation that an invasion from the surrounding English colonies in New England would be imminent. The town of New York was rechristened New Orange, while fort James would be known as Fort Willem Hendrick after the stadtholder. There were indeed diplomatic and military interactions with Connecticut and Massachusetts, while Maryland troops sacked the small Dutch settlement of Hoerenkil in the winter of 1673/74 and the spring of 1674. The Dutch also captured numerous English ships along the coastline.[ citation needed ] However, meanwhile in Europe, on the instigation of Spain, which had been neutral in the war with France, but was ready to join the Dutch in an alliance, provided the war with England were ended, the Peace of Westminster was concluded with the Court of St James's in February 1674. One of the provisions of the peace was that the Dutch Republic would give up New Netherland in exchange for Suriname. The news of this reached New Orange in May of 1674, and Colve started to make preparations for the required transfer of power, which eventually took place on 10 November 1674 (N.S.) [14]

Notes

  1. The date given by the engraver Hugo Allard in the caption is an error; the true date is 9 August 1673
  2. And so the Zeeland equivalent of Samuel Pepys at the Royal Navy in the same period.
  3. Its main objective of capturing the return fleet of the EIC at St. Helena was thwarted in an early stage. [6]
  4. The former HMS Saint Patrick which had been captured by the Dutch in the previous war and commissioned in the Zeeland navy. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Third Anglo-Dutch War</span> Part of the Anglo-Dutch Wars and Franco-Dutch War (1672–1674)

The Third Anglo-Dutch War, began on 27 March 1672, and concluded on 19 February 1674. A naval conflict between the Dutch Republic and England, in alliance with France, it is considered a related conflict of the wider 1672 to 1678 Franco-Dutch War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michiel de Ruyter</span> Dutch States Navy officer (1607–1676)

Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter was a Dutch States Navy officer. His achievements with the Dutch navy during the Anglo-Dutch Wars earned him the reputation as one of the most skilled naval commanders in history.

The Treaty of Westminster of 1674 was the peace treaty that ended the Third Anglo-Dutch War. Signed by the Dutch Republic and the Kingdom of England, the treaty provided for the return of the colony of New Netherland to England and renewed the Treaty of Breda of 1667. The treaty also provided for a mixed commission for the regulation of commerce, particularly in the East Indies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francis Lovelace</span> Royalist, early proprietary governor of NY, US (1621–1675)

Francis Lovelace was an English Royalist and the second Governor of New York colony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Amsterdam</span> Colonial fort on Manhattan, New York (1625–1788)

Fort Amsterdam was a fortification on the southern tip of Manhattan Island at the confluence of the Hudson and East rivers. The fort and the island were the center of trade and the administrative headquarters for the Dutch and then British/Colonial rule of the colony of New Netherland and thereafter the Province of New York. The fort was the nucleus of the settlement on the island and greater area, which was named New Amsterdam by the first Dutch settlers and eventually renamed New York by the English, and was central to much of New York's early history.

This is a list of Directors, appointed by the Dutch West India Company, of the 17th century Dutch province of New Netherland in North America. Only the last, Peter Stuyvesant, held the title of Director General. As the colony grew, citizens advisory boards – known as the Twelve Men, Eight Men, and Nine Men – exerted more influence on the director and thus affairs of province.

Anthony or Anthonij Colve was a Dutch captain of Marines and the Governor-General of New Netherland during a brief restoration of Dutch rule in New Netherland during the Third Anglo-Dutch War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornelis Evertsen the Youngest</span> Dutch States Navy officer

Cornelis Evertsen the Youngest was a Dutch States Navy officer from Vlissingen who served as Lieutenant Admiral of Zeeland and Supreme Commander of the Dutch navy. Of a family that included several other naval admirals, including his father, Evertsen is noted for his distinguished service during the Second Anglo-Dutch War, Third Anglo-Dutch War, the Franco-Dutch War, the Glorious Revolution invasion, and the Battle of Beachy Head during the Nine Years' War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornelis Evertsen the Younger</span>

[[Image:Cornelis.evertsen.de.jonge2.jpg|thumb|{{center| Cornelis Evertsen the Younger]] Cornelis Evertsen the Younger was a Dutch States Navy officer of the 17th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornelis Evertsen the Elder</span> Dutch admiral

Cornelis Evertsen the Elder was a Dutch admiral.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Action of 12 March 1672</span> 1672 naval battle

The action of 12 March 1672 was a naval battle of the Third Anglo-Dutch War between a squadron commanded by Sir Robert Holmes and Sir Frescheville Holles against the Smyrna convoy, which was protected by 5 warships under De Haaze and Cornelis Evertsen. The Battle took place before the official start of the conflict, but now there was no turning back and England declared war on the Dutch Republic on March 17, 1672.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacob Binckes</span> Dutch States Navy officer (1637–1677)

Jacob Binckes was a Dutch States Navy officer. Jacob himself used the name Benckes. He was a seafarer trading mostly on Norway in the transport of wood. In 1665 Jacob Binckes started his service with the Admiralty of Amsterdam. His first assignment as a captain was to escort a convoy to Norway. The next year, he helped to secure the River Elbe in northern Germany, near Glückstadt, in the interest of Dutch merchant shipping. As a captain he participated in the Raid on the Medway in the Second Anglo-Dutch War. With his frigate Essen Jacob Binckes is part of the taskforce on the Medway.

Sir Richard Munden (1640–1680) was a Commodore in the Royal Navy. He was the elder son of Sir Richard Munden (1602–1672) of Chelsea; the younger son was Rear-Admiral Sir John Munden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conquest of New Netherland</span> 1664 English invasion

The conquest of New Netherland occurred in 1664 as an English expedition led by Richard Nicolls that arrived in New York Harbor effected a peaceful capture of New Amsterdam, Fort Amsterdam and the Articles of Surrender of New Netherland were agreed. The conquest was mostly peaceful in the rest of the colony as well, except for some fighting in New Amstel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dutch Raid on North America</span> Dutch Naval Campaign against English and French colonial possessions in North America

The Dutch Raid on North America took place from December 1672 to February 1674 during the Third Anglo-Dutch War, a related conflict of the Franco-Dutch War. A naval expedition led by Cornelis Evertsen the Youngest and Jacob Binckes attacked English and French possessions in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dutch States Navy</span> Military unit

The Dutch States Navy was the navy of the Dutch Republic from 1588 to 1795. Coming into existence during the Eighty Years' War, the States Navy played a major role in expanding and protecting the Dutch colonial empire, in addition to participating in numerous conflicts with rival European powers. The States Navy consisted of five admiralties, which were respectively based in Amsterdam, Friesland, the Noorderkwartier, Rotterdam and Zeeland. This organisational structure contributed to the decentralised nature of the States Navy, which heavily relied upon privateers and armed merchantmen in times of war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justus de Huybert</span>

Justus de Huybert was a Dutch politician and diplomat. He held offices of the States of Zeeland in the middle years of the 17th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pieter de Huybert</span>

Pieter de Huybert was a Dutch politician and diplomat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Battle of the James River (1673)</span>

The Second Battle of the James River, also known as the Battle of Lynnhaven Bay was a naval battle between a Dutch fleet under joint command of admirals Cornelis Evertsen the Youngest and Jacob Binckes and an improvised English squadron on 12 and 13 July 1673 in the Hampton Roads near the James River, during the Third Anglo-Dutch War.

References

  1. La cité des rêves (in French). Place des éditeurs. 11 October 2018. ISBN   9782262079048.
  2. Gillespie, Alexander (14 January 2021). The Causes of War Volume IV: 1650 - 1800. Bloomsbury. p. 24. ISBN   9781509912186.
  3. Shomette and Haslach, p. 173
  4. 1 2 Jacobs, Jaap (2009). The Colony of New Netherland A Dutch Settlement in Seventeenth-century America. Cornell University Press. p. 104. ISBN   9780801475160.
  5. A Short History of the United States Juvenile History - - American. VM eBooks. 11 July 2016.
  6. Shomette and Haslach, pp. 57-75
  7. Shomette and Haslach, pp. 123-150
  8. Shomette and Haslach, p. 45
  9. De Waard, pp.39-40
  10. De Waard, p. 42
  11. De Waard, pp. 43-44
  12. Shomette and Haslach, pp. 157-172
  13. De Waard, p. 44
  14. Shomette and Haslach, pp. 305-313

Sources