Chapter 6
Early December 1633—West Bank of the North River
"Heave! Heave!" Each explosive pull inched the Rotterdam up the extended slipway of the dry dock. Dockworkers slathered on grease with huge straw brushes to ease the ship further into the berth. The temporary expansion of the dry dock’s slipway to accommodate the fregätten had taken de Vries almost a month to complete, instead of his original estimate of two weeks.
Joris stood next to the dock master, watching his ship rise out of the water. The last hectic week, emptying the ship of all cannon and stores to lighten it to reduce its draft, had left his crew exhausted. Now, the critical point was fast approaching. He yelled at the crew on the ground, holding the lines to the mast tops. "Steady on those lines! Keep them taut!"
This was the critical point in the effort. If the lines weren't kept taut, the ship could topple in the dry dock. Everyone was struggling to use the last of the tide to pull the ship clear of the water. Their breaths steamed in the late fall afternoon. Two more turns of the capstan brought the ship as far up the slipway as it could go. Immediately, dockworkers swarmed around the dripping hull, setting braces to stabilize the ship. When the foreman yelled that it was secured, the ship's crews on the lines eased off and let out a cheer. Van den Broecke just let out a long sigh. He'd been holding his breath from the tension.
The dock master leaned over the side and pointed to the site where they had struggled throughout the journey to stem a leak. "See there, Captain? You were lucky to have made it here. It looks like you took a hit as you rose on a wave. The butt ends are sprung, and the frame member is damaged. It's going to be at least a month before we can finish this properly."
Van den Broecke wasn't happy. "I've got to report to Tjaert. He'll want to know how long until we can sail again." He fixed the dock master with a hard stare. "You're sure it's going to be a month? A lot of lives could be in jeopardy if you run longer."
Huetjen bristled at the comment. "Captain, I know my business. With your crew to help, we'll be done by the new year. I commanded a ship once, too, before I lost my leg." He slapped his peg leg for emphasis. "I know what you're going through, watching it stuck on dry land. It’s like losing a child. I'll hurry the work as fast as I can." He paused, pointing at the damaged planking. "You'll get it back when that's as good as new! I have family here and we need both your ships if we're to survive."
The captain chuckled. "Very well. I'll leave my child in your care, doctor. Get her well soon." He swung himself over the side and carefully slid down a rope. When he reached the ground, he proceeded to slowly walk around the ship, surveying the newly exposed damage before he set off in search of Tjaert to let him know that he would be sailing alone on his planned cruise after Christmas. Joris wasn't too concerned. In these waters, even one Dutch fregätte should be more than a match for anything she met. If she wasn't, a whole fleet probably wouldn't be enough.
∞∞∞
In preparation for the council of war, Tjaert de Groot had spent the previous two weeks surveying the fortifications around New Amsterdam. He had even sailed the Friesland up the river as far as he could safely take her to "scout out the territory" as he told von Twiller. Tjaert then met with a few key members of the colony to learn more about the Dutch settlements further upriver. He wanted to lay the groundwork for his future plans.
During his discussions, Tjaert had learned that the debate over how to proceed had settled into three factions amongst the settlers. Some of the leaders weren't sure if there really was a threat and certainly didn't want to spend any more money paying workers to strengthen the fort's defenses. Von Twiller led this group. Others wanted to abandon New Amsterdam and return to the Netherlands immediately. The rest wanted to stay and fight, if they had to, to protect their lands. The council had been called to decide what the colony would do. When it came time for Captain de Groot's turn to speak, he surprised everyone.
"I agree with the Director General. I don't think we should spend anything on the fort here."
In the outcry that followed, only van Rensselaer noticed the slight emphasis on the word here. As the turmoil started to settle, he spoke up. "I think the captain has something to add."
"Thank you, Mijnherr. New Amsterdam is a wonderful city, but it is undefendable. Any force that is sent will have naval support and troops. The frontier forts at home work because the Spanish only attack from one direction. Here, an attacker can land troops on one side of the town, sail around the island and land troops at a second site, and then bombard the fort from a third. The Friesland and the Rotterdam cannot and will not be tied down to defend a city that cannot be saved." Tjaert tried to drive that point home as hard as he could. These tight-fisted patroons would never pay enough to match the prize money his crews could make raiding the French and English. Raiding also hurt the enemy a lot more!
"But what choice do we have?" exclaimed a patroon in the back of the crowd. "I'll do whatever I must to defend my home, but I need to know what that is!"
"I'm glad you asked." De Groot's smile looked a lot like the one the mouse saw on the cat that had caught it. "Your house is near Orange?"
The patroon just nodded yes.
"While New Amsterdam is undefendable, the colony is defendable, but only upriver. If any fortifications are to be built, the effort must be made there. I've spoken with a number of traders and took the Friesland to scout the site in person. About twenty-five miles north, there is a spot along the river that's ideal for a fort. It's on high ground and could be defended from water attack with a log boom. Our fregätten are offensive weapons. We can do more good raiding the French and English shipping than sitting at anchor. We will work out of New Amsterdam and will fight if the enemy appears while we're in port, but the colony must be prepared to abandon the city if a large force appears."
Three merchants were immediately on their feet shouting for recognition. The Director General cut them off. "I understand your concern. We cannot possibly abandon the city now. It's the dead of winter. Captain, you must reconsider."
Tjaert just stared at him.
Van Rensselaer stood up. "If I might make a suggestion." Everyone turned to Kiliaen, because he had given no indication to that point where he stood. "Wouter is right. It is the dead of winter." He turned to face de Groot and gave a slight wink that went unnoticed by the group. "Captain de Groot, shipping off the Banks is slim this time of year. One ship should be more than enough to handle what's there. The other one can stay in port, finish refitting, and act as an additional defense for the colony. They can trade places by spring and we would be able to finish refitting both your ships completely, at our expense.” Wouter winced when he realized what that statement meant to his purse. “Then, when the shipping season resumes, you both could cruise for prizes." He clasped his hands on the table. "In the meantime, construction of the fort you suggested could be started. Since it will benefit my manor upriver, I'd be willing to supply the land and pay for the work through the winter. We could revisit the issue in the spring. Who knows? We may even get good news and find our fears were unfounded. If the French never come, we keep our expenses down. I also think an embassy to our investors back home would be in order. After all, the charter does require them to help in our defense."
The city merchants nearly fell over themselves in support. Tjaert and Kiliaen looked at each other and nodded. Their plan had gone exactly as they had hoped. Tjaert would get his base for raiding and Kiliaen a base if the French ever came and possibly men, guns, and money to bolster defenses around his lands. It would also cover up his nephew’s misappropriation of the fort’s building funds.