Success had not particularly crowned the undertaking of the company. It was computed that the West India Company had, between the years 1626 and 1644, expended upon the settlement over two hundred thousand dollars above all returns made to it, and that not more than one hundred men remained in the city, exclusive of the officers and employes of the company, at the close of the Indian war in 1645. Stuyvesant, it was hoped, would retrieve these losses, and secure the enlargement and stability of the town. He had been the director of the Dutch colony at Curaçoa, where, in a battle with the Portuguese, he had lost a leg. He was a brave man, with considerable breadth of mind and great force of character. He was also imperious, impatient of contradiction, absolute and despotic in his notions of government. He, however, excelled all his predecessors in efforts for the advancement of the colony, and the good of the people, among whom he settled after the English conquest, and remained a private and amiable citizen until the close of his life, leaving an honorable posterity not extinct at this day. His administration was characterized by great vigor, and the town soon exhibited marked improvements. As is usual, some of his subjects were pleased, and some dissatisfied. Drunkenness and profanity were strictly prohibited, and no liquors were to be sold to the Indians. Other abuses were speedily corrected. In 1648 he established a weekly market; in 1652 the city was regularly incorporated; the next year the palisades on the line of Wall Street were erected, and in 1657 the streets were laid out and named. The population of the place had also wonderfully increased. But the martial fires of the old Governor still slumbered in his capacious frame, and waited an opportunity for an outburst. This was soon given. Three nationalities had established their colonies on these shores. The English in Virginia and Maryland, and on the eastern coast, had protested against the establishment of New Amsterdam, which divided their colonies. The Swedes established themselves on the banks of the Delaware, under the protest of the Dutch. The Swedes built Fort Christina as a matter of common defence, and the Dutch, to protect their own trade in that locality, erected in 1650 Fort Casimar, near the mouth of the Brandywine. and but five miles from this Swedish fortification. Regarding this an encroachment, the Swedish Governor in 1654 adroitly captured the fort, changed its name, disarmed and paroled the little garrison. The next year Stuyvesant received orders to recapture the fort, and drive the Swedes entirely from the river. This was a welcome message to the old warrior.

The whole force of New Amsterdam was soon afloat in seven ships of war, with the intrepid Governor as commander, and the whole Swedish territory speedily capitulated. But the victorious Dutch had no time to rejoice over their successes. Two thousand armed savages, taking advantage of the defenceless state of the colony to avenge the shooting of a squaw some time previously, overran the town, after which they departed to Hoboken, Pavonia, and Staten Island, and in three days murdered one hundred of the inhabitants, carried into captivity a hundred and fifty more, besides destroying property valued at two hundred thousand guilders. Stuyvesant soon returned, and while he made every preparation for a vigorous war against the Indians, he at the same time so appeased them with kindness and presents, that from motives of fear and friendship they were glad to conclude a peace by the release of the captives. His power over the Indians was always wonderful.