3> WmpEAKl fi n if 4t HlSTOEY OF YlEGINIA, FOR THE USE OE SCHOOLS, bt MARY TUCKER MAGILL VIKGIXIA. (FOURTEENTH EDITION.) J. P. BELL & CO., Publishers, LYNCHBURG, VA. 1888. Entered, according; to Act of Congress, in the year 1881, by J. P. BELL & CO., In the Clerk's Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 48 65 55 JUL 2 1942 PUBLISHERS' NOTICE. The undersigned, publishers, present this book, which for the last seven years, under different management, has been extensively used in both private and public schools of this State, with the hope and assurance that it will meet with the large and increased patronage which its intrinsic merits deserve. Besides supplying an important need not otherwise met, it is, we believe, the most attractively written history now in print. "With some degree of pride we submit it to Virginia educators as the only school text-book used in the State compiled by a Virginia author and published by a Vir- ginia publishing-house. J. P. BELL & CO. Lynchbukg, Va., Sept. 1st, 1881. INTKODTTCTIOTT. In the preparation of this volume for the use of schools, I have been actuated by an earnest desire to place before her youth a faithful record of the past history of the old " Mother of States and Statesmen," a record so full of honor that her children may well be proud of it. I have attempted no dry details, no po- litical dissertations, but have adopted the familiar style of a "story-teller," drawing from the stores of incident, in which the past of Yirginia is so rich, such narrations as would be most apt to stamp upon the youthful mind the graver facts of history, interspersing such explana- tions as were absolutely necessary with a simplicity and clearness which will I hope, render them easy of com- prehension even to the youngest student of these pages. In deference to the prejudices and tastes of some teachers, I have affixed questions to the different chap- ters, though my own experience leads me to the con- viction that the best mode of teaching history is not by questions, which make the lesson a task instead of VI INTRODUCTION. a recreation, established in the midst of dryer and more abstruse studies. Let the clas3 read the lesson and the teacher ask full questions upon it : thus a habit of at- tentive reading is formed, and the history of a single country does not employ an entire session, which is often the case. In j)reparing the book I have freely made use of the labors of others, to whom only a general acknowledg- ment can be made. The volume is earnestly recommended to the young student, with the hope that he may strive to imitate the many worthy examples held up before him in its pages, and that he may remember that the prosperity and honor of his Stato in the future, as in the past, rests upon the shoulders of her sons. I E GRAY \*\ CONTENTS * AGS CHAPTER I * 1 CHAPTER II, , . 9 CHAPTER III, " . . 16 CHAPTER IV, . 22 CHAPTER V, ....... . 30 CHAPTER VI. ........ 36 CHAPTER VI I, 43 CHAPTER VIII, 50 CHAPTER IX, 57 CHAPTER X, 65 CHAPTER XI ; 77 CHAPTER XII 85 CHAPTER XIII, 9i CHAPTER XIV, 103 en Vlil CONTEX T S PAGB CHAPTER XV, ........ 113 CHAPTER XVI, 121 CHAPTER XVII, 131 CHAPTER XVIII, 110 CHAPTER XIX 118 CHAPTER XX, 153 CHAPTER XXI, 163 CHAPTER XXII, . 173 CHAPTER XXIII, ....... 182 CHAPTER XXIV, 193 CHAPTER XXV , 200 CHAPTER XXVI . 207 CHAPTER XXVII , 216 CHAPTER XXVIII, * , ... 227 CHAPTER XXIX, 211 CHAPTER XXX, . ..... Si9 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA, OHAPTEE I. 1402-1585. The glory of having discovered America is justly due to Columbus. He by his genius conceived the idea of undiscovered countries beyond the seas. By his perse- verance he succeeded in inducing King Ferdinand, of Spain, to fit out ships and place them under his command. By these he reached the West India Islands. Still, history is full of traditions which induce the belief that it had been visited by Europeans at least three hundred years before the voyage of Columbus. We read of Madoc, a Welsh prince, who disgusted at hearing his two brothers disputing which should reign king upon the death of their father, fitted out a ship and set sail in 'Search of adventures. After a consider- able absence he returned, and narrated that sailing west, he had reached a great and fertile country, abound- ing in beautiful forests, navigable streams, lofty moun- 1 {Jja. ,y HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. tains and clear lakes, and ho convinced his people how worse than foolish it was for them to be quarrelling with and murdering one another for the possession of barren hills, when this fruitful country lay across the waters, within their reach and without inhabitants ; ho was eagerly listened to, and fitting out ships, induced numbers of his countrymen to accompany him in this his second voyage. They were never more heard of; but it is not impossible that they reached America, founded their colony, and lost here all trace of civiliza- tion. Several other traditions lead to the belief that America was visited by adventurers of other nations ; but if any trace of them remained, it was only found by the first discoverers of America in the savage tribes who roamed through her forests and paddled their canoes upon her streams. Some resemblance, fancied or real, in this wild people to the inhabitants of India, caused them to be called " Indians." The success of Christopher Columbus in his western voyage, fired the ambition of all the nations of Europe. Henry VII., King of England, was one of the first of European sovereigns to follow in the track of the great discoverer; he granted letters patent to John Cabot and his three sons " to set sail, discover countries, and take possession," for the Crown of England. They discovered the coast of Labrador, and thus, although Columbus opened the path to the New World, he only discovered the West India Islands ; and this English expedition had taken possession of the mainland one year before the great pioneer, in his third voyage across the ocean, placed his foot upon it. (1498) Nearly one hundred years were suffered to pass away before tho English took advantage of their new posses- HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. Bions. In 1585, Sir Walter Raleigh, an accomplished nobleman, high in the favor of Elizabeth, Queen of England, after obtaining permission from her, fitted out two ships, which he placed under the command of Captains Amadas and Barlow. These, following the course of Columbus, reached the West India Islands, THE ENGUSH RECEIVING INDIANS. where they remained for a few days, when they re- embarked and proceeded on their journey. Directing their course northward, they were soon attracted by the delicious perfume of fruits and flowers which a kindly breeze wafted to them from the fragrant shore. They landed upon the coast of North. Carolina not far from Cape Hatteras, where they took possession in the name of her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth. HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. Charmed with the first appearance of the country, with its tall trees, green fields, and abundant grape-vines, they clambered to the top of the high cedars, in order to obtain a more extended view ; and, as they gazed with rapturo over the exquisite landscape spread before them, thought that the world itself could scarce furnish a greater variety and abundance. Discharging their muskets to awaken the echoes, they were startled by the wild cries of frightened birds who darkened the air with their numbers, and at the same time herds of deer bounded from the woods. Several days elapsed before they discovered any sign of inhabitants ; this magnificent country seemed to be given up to the birds of the air and the beasts of the forest. This was not true, however, as on the third day a small canoe put out from the neighboring shore, in which were three men dressed in the skins of wild animals. They approached and boarded the ship without any sign of fear, and one of them, who seemed to be the leader, acted as spokesman for the rest ; but here a serious difficulty arose, for the speech, which was full of impressive gestures, and doubtless of eloquent language, was yet in a tongue of which not one word could be understood. The English, in this emergency, adopted a mode of communication which could not be misunderstood, and which at the same time served to convey to the natives a sense of their friendly intentions towards them : they presented them with shirts and hats, wine and meat, and after a visit of some length the strange guests departed as they had come, but soon returned with the boat loaded with fish and game, which they presented to the Englishmen. The next day came divers boats with forty or lift}' HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 5 men, and among them " Granganameo," the brother of "Winginia," king of this great country, which they called " Wingandacoa." Leaving the boats at some distance, they came towards the Englishmen, and spreading a mat, " Granganameo " sat down, while his men stood around him. Hp showed no signs of fear, but seemed by his gestures to wish to tell them how friendly was his disposition towards them. The Englishmen pre* sented him with many toys, such as beads and pieces of tin, which he received with delight. His men seemed to regard him with great respect, none of them speaking a word, except four who seemed of higher rank than the rest, and to whom alone he gave presents of the treasures which were bestowed upon him; these they received humbly, making signs that all things belonged to him. They made the Englishmen to understand that their great King "Winginia" had been wounded in a conflict with his mortal enemy, and was lying at his chief town, six days' journey from that place. Granganameo paid them many visits after this, bring, ing presents of deer-skins and other things ; and after a few days he brought his wife and children. The former was of small stature, very pretty and bashful. She was dressed in a long coat of leather, with a band of white coral about her forehead, and strings of pearls as large as peas hung from her ears and reached nearly to her waist ; she wore her long black hair hanging down on both sides, and the men wore theirs long on one side and shaven close on the other. The English remained some time in this place, trading with the natives, and obtaining from them, in return for the useless toys with which they presented them, many articles of value, such as pearls, dyes, and game HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. of various kinds. They learned too a great deal about the soil of the country, which they found to be more prolific than any they had ever known, producing three crops of corn in one year. One day Captain Barlow and seven of his men paid a visit to G-ranganameo, their new frie,nd, who had his homo on Roanoke Island. As they approached the place, they saw before them a little village of nine or ten Indian houses, built of cedar, and fortified, after their manner, by sharp stakes or palisades driven into the ground. Seeing her visitors approaching, the wife of Granganameo, like a true hospitable Virginia matron, ran down to the shore, and received them with every sign of joy. She told them that her husband was away, and commanding her people to draw the boats to shore, made them carry them on their backs to the houses, w r here she entertained them with great honor, setting meat and fruit before them, having their clothes washed, and in her simple natural way doing all she could to testify her delight at seeing them. In one of the houses she showed them her idol, about which she told won- derful things. Some of her men coming in with their bows and arrows, the Englishmen took their arms in their hands, fearing treachery, which their hostess per- ceiving, she caused the bows and arrows to bo broken in pieces, and the owners of them beaten out of the house. Tho Englishmen returned to their encampment next day, much pleased with their visit, and during tho whole of their stay in " Wingandacoa " continued on the most friendly terms with their Indian neighbors; and upon their return to England gave such glowing accounts of the country that Queen Elizabeth called it Virginia, in honor of herself, tho virgin Queen of England. J=L Lffyfrfeo HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. The same year Sir Bichard Grenville with a party of men made a settlement on Eoanoke Island, upon which Granganameo lived. They made several expeditions into the country, found new tribes of Indians, and met with many curious adventures. At one time they were nearly starved to death, but were saved by boiling two mastiff dogs with sassafras leaves, which they ate with great appetite. They ascertained some interesting facts about the religion of the savages. They believed that there were a great many gods, but one greater than all the rest, who had existed from eternity, and who made all things. They worshipped the sun, moon, and stars as gods. They believed that the soul would live for ever in hap- piness or misery. The English tried to teach them about the true God and the Bible. The simple crea- tures listened to them with interest, and taking the Holy Bible in their hands, kissed it reverently, held it to their breasts and stroked their bodies over with it. Once King Winginia being very sick, refused help from his own friends, and sent for the English to come and pray for him, that if he died he might live with their God in Heaven. Soon after this a circumstance occurred which increased their fear and reverence for the God of the English. Great sickness prevailed in many of their settlements, the nature of which we are not told ; but it so happened that the disease was most fatal in those places which were inclined to be unfriendly to the English, from which the simple creatures inferred that the God of the English was espousing their cause, and that they were actually destroying their enemies by their prayers to this great Being ; and thus all the sur- rounding tribes hastened to claim the friendship of this powerful people of an all-powerful God. 8 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. But this desirable state of feeling was not always to continue between the two nations. In one of their expeditions an Indian stole a silver cup from the English, which offence was punished by the burning of one of the Indian towns ; and this broke up the friend- ship between the two parties, and was the cause of the final destruction of the colony, which happened thus : Sir Kichard Grenvillo having returned to England for supplies, the colony fell into confusion. Discouraged by their difficulties, and fearing that they had been deserted by their commander, they determined to return home. This they did with the exception of fifty of their number, who decided to wait for Sir Richard Grenville, who, arriving soon after, found no trace of these men ; they nad been destroyed by the Indians, whose enmity they had excited. Questions for Examination. 1. What period is embraced in this chapter? 2. To whom is the glory due of having discovered America? 3. Give the tradition of Madoc? 4. Other traditions of voyagers to America? 5. What effect did the success of Columbus have upon other nations of Europe ? 6. What nation first took possession of the continent? 7. Give some account of the expedition of 15-5. 8. Where did they land? 9. Give some account of what they saw when they landed. 10. Tell of the first interview with the natives. 11. The second visit of Granganameo. 12. His third visit with his wife. 13. How did the English employ themselves ? 14. Relate the story of Captain Barlow's visit to Roanoke Isiand. 15. Why was the country named Virginia? 16. Who commanded the tecond party to Virginia, and where did they settle? 17. Give an account of the expedition into the country. IS. Give some account of the religion of the savages. 19. How did they receive the teachings of the English? 20. What circumstance increased their reverence for the God of the English ? 21. What circumstance broke up the friendly feeling between the two parties? 22. What occurred after Sir Richard Grenville's return to England? M/ //•■ HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. CHAPTER II. 1606. I have now given you an account of the earliest set- tlements in that part of America which Queen Elizas beth named " Yirginia," and which extended from tho southern part of North Carolina to Canada in length, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans in breadth. This was a great country, and the reason you often hear Yirginia spoken of as the "Mother of States," is because she gave from herself the territory out of which were formed most of the States of the Union. The only distinction in those early days was, that all the country to the north of Chesapeake Bay was called "North Yirginia," and that to the south was called " South Virginia." The first settlements carved out of North Yirginia were the New England States, which were settled by the Puritans. The next slice taken out was New York, which was seized by the Dutch, the first discoverers ; but it was afterwards given to the Duke of York, after whom it was named. Next came the divi- sions of New Jersey and Delaware, and the last we shall mention was Pennsylvania, which was settled by the Quakers under their wise leader "William Penn, in whose honor the State was named. Although it would bo very interesting to be able to trace out the history of the whole of this country, yet the space allowed us will not permit it, and we must confine ourselves to that por- tion which through all these changes still retained the name of "Yirginia," and which was colonized by Cap- tain John Smith and his companions in the year 1606. 1* 10 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. Captain Smith, one of the bravest men that ever lived, has written a book in which he gives an account of his wonderful adventures. An Englishman by birth, he had when quite young a great desiro to go to sea, and even sold his satchel, books, and all ho had, intend- ing secretly to carry out his design, but was prevented by his father's death. Ho afterwards travelled through most of the countries of Europe. Once while at sea. like a second Jonah, he was thrown overboard by the superstitious sailors, who imagined that he brought ill- luck to their vessel ; he managed to reach a desert island, whence he was rescued by a passing ship. He afterwards fought against the Turks, and with his own hand killed three of their officers ; he was taken pris- oner by them and sold as a slave ; a Bashaw bought him and sent him as a present to his mistress, who fell in love with him and treated him very kindly, but Smith only thought how he could mako his escape and return to his own country. The Bashaw, who had com- mand over the prisoners, was very cruel to them, and one day, when Smith was threshing wheat, this man coming to him, reviled and struck him, upon which Smith turned and beat out the brains of his persecutor with an instrument which he had in his hand, then throwing the body into the house, he locked the door, filled his sack with corn, and mounting tho Bashaw's horse, rode away, taking the direction towards Eussia, thus making his escape. After many more adventures ho returned to his own country, where he was made a knight by the King, who also bestowed many other honors upon him ; but his restless spirit could not be content with a quiet life, and he determined to seek new adventures in the great country which had been HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 11 discovered, and about which the whole world seemed to have gone mad. Certain merchants and rich men of London had permission from the King to settle a colony in the country called "Tirginia," and for this purpose ob- tained, for fifty miles along the sea-coast, a grant of land, which was to belong to them and their children. The Company to whom this permission was given was called the "London Company," and another party of men called the " Plymouth Company " had a similar privi- lege granted them. The " London Company " fitted out three small ships, and in them sent Captain John Smith, Bartholomew G-oswold, Edward Maria Wingfield, and many others, to find out a suitable place for their settle- ment, and to take possession in the name of their king The conduct of the ships was trusted to Captain New- port, and the Eev. Mr. Hunt went as the Chaplain of the Company. They set sail from England about the middle of December, but were detained by contrary winds, within sight of the shore, for six weeks, in which time Captain Smith found he had rather an unruly crowd to deal with; each man imagined he could manage better than his fellow, and they quarrelled with Captain Newport because they did not get on faster, with Captain Smith for ever having started the expedi- tion, and with poor Preacher Hunt for not praying hard enough against the winds, which were the cause of their detention. At length, however, Providence favored them, and they reached the " West India Islands," where they remained for a few days, soothing their ruffled tempers and refreshing themselves after their tedious voyage with the delicious fruits and other pro- ductions of these charming islands. But they were too anxious to reach the end of their journey to be willing 12 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. to stay even in so delightful a place very long, so, with renewed spirits, they embarked, bending their course northward towards the coast of North Carolina, where former attempts to colonize had been made. But again encountering storms, they found themselves on the trackless ocean, amid dangers they knew not how great, and again the murmurs arose loud and deep. Captain Newport, wearied with the difficulties, deter- mined to turn the ships around and return to England ; but God willed it otherwise. A violent storm drove them in towards the shore, and they found them- selves at the wide entrance of a great bay, with a capo at each extremity, which they named " Cape Henry " and " Cape Charles," after the two sons of their sov- ereign. Pursuing their course inward, they touched upon another point of land, at the mouth of what seemed to be a large river leading up into the country, and giving them the good hope that their wanderings were ended and that here they would find the desired ha_ven J ^fS So they named the land "Point Comfort," and proceeded on their way. About twenty miles further on, the country spread out before them in all its grandeur and richness, and the most despondent among them exulted at the prospect. The place whero they next anchored was named "Point Hope," and the river was called " James," in honor of their king. Hero they encoun- tered some Indians, who seemed kindly disposed to them, told them that the name of the river which they had called " James " was " Powhatan," that the greatest tribe in those parts were the " Powhatans," and the chief of this tribe was very powerful, had his home about one hundred and fifty miles above, on the same river, and that he too was called "Powhatan." HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 13 Pursuing their course up the river, the English discov- ered a beautiful peninsula covered with tall trees, growing out of the luxuriant green sod ; here they determined to land, and after much consultation and disputing, hero they planted their colony, calling the town " James," as they had done the river, in honor of their king. JAMESTOWN. They now proceeded to elect a President and Council to govern them, and " Edward Maria AYingfield " was chosen. Captain Smith having fallen under the dis- pleasure of the company, was not allowed to take any part in its government, and so in this time of difficulty and danger they lost the advice of the wisest man among them. They set to work at once to build a fort as a pro- tection against the savages. It was a busy scene. 14 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. Some were cutting down trees, others digging holes in the ground, while the sound of the hammer and axe awakened echoes and startled the inhabitants of these old forests with a new experience. Newport, Smith, and about twenty others, were sent to discover the head of the river. Passing many small habitations, in six days they arrived at the dwelling of the great chief Powhatan, which consisted of twelve houses, pleasantly situated upon a hill; before it were three beautiful islands, and around it the waving fields of corn. The city of Bichmond now stands just above the former dwelling of this Indian chief, and the place is still pointed out where his wigwam stood. Smith found that his boat could not proceed further up the river, because of the falls, and he and his party were obliged to return to "Jamestown," where they found everything in con- fusion. The colony had been attacked by the Indians, one boy killed and seventeen men wounded. They had all been at work without their arms when the attack was made, and the destruction would have been com- plete had it not been for the accidental discharge of a cross-bar shot from one of the ships, which broke the bough of a tree that fell in the midst of the savages, and caused them to retire in haste. The English at once proceeded to fortify themselves as strongly as they could, so as to prevent further sur- prises. The Indians, however, wero fully on the alert ; and in spite of their care, the English were constantly annoyed by their enmity. All this time Captain Smith was in disgrace with the colony. Many among them, envious of his reputation, pretended to think that ho wished to murder the President and the Council and make himself a king, and these reports gaining ground, HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 15 President Wingfield seized him and committed him as a prisoner, and accused him to the "London Company" who had sent him to Virginia. But Smith, strong in his innocence, brought his accusers to shame, and the cause being tried, Wingfield was compelled not only to releaso him, but to pay him two hundred pounds as a recom- pense for what he had made him suffer. Smith received the money, but gave it to the general fund for the use of the colony. This was but the beginning of the trials Smith had to encounter, but he bore everything with a patience and dignity which overcame the spite of his enemies. Preacher Hunt also did what he could to establish peace, so a general reconciliation took place. Smith was ad- mitted to the " Council," all parties received the Com- munion, and the very next day the savages voluntarily desired peace, and Captain Newport returned to England, bearing encouraging reports of the prosperity of the new settlement in Yirginia. Questions for Examination. 1. In what year did these events take place? 2. What was the original extent of Virginia? 3. Why is Virginia called the " Mother of States "? 4. How were North and South Virginia divided? 5. What divisions were afterwards made? 6. With what particular portion of this country has our history to do? 7. Give the story of Captain Smith's early life. 8. How did he make his escape from the Turks? 9. What privileges were granted to the London and Plymouth Companies? 10. Who did the London Company send to Virginia? 11. Give an account of the voyage until they landed at the West Indies. 12. Give an account of the rest of the voyage. 13. What circumstance prevented the return of Newport to England? 14. What names did they bestow upon the four first points of land they reached? 16 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 15. What name did they give the river, and what account did the Indians give of the country? 16. "Where did they iand, and what name did they give to their first settlement? 17. What were the first acts of the new colony? 18. Give an account of Smith's expedition up the river. 19. In what condition did they find the colony upon their return ? 20. How was Captain Smith treated by the colony? * 21. How did he behave? 22. How did the difficulties end? CHAPTEK III. 1606. From the peaceful ending of the last chapter you might suppose that the troubles of our colony were at an end, but this was far from being the case. For not only had they to encounter the natural difficulties of a new settlement in the midst of treacherous enemies, but their jealousy of Smith led them to select as their Presi- dent one opposed to him in every particular, and it was not long before they saw their mistake. Wingfield thinking only of gain, lost no opportunity of stealing from the public stores to enrich himself, and when he had by this conduct made himself hated by all, tried to seize one of the ships and make his escape accompanied by one of his confederates; but his design was dis- covered and prevented. Thus it happened that most of the responsibility of public affairs fell upon Captain Smith, who by his own example and encouraging words set them to work, some mowing, some planting corn, some building houses, he himself always taking the largest share of the work, and providing all the rest with comfortable dwellings before he built his own. In his intercourse with the savages he also showed his HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 17 great wisdom, making himself acquainted with their dispositions, their manners, their customs, always secur- ing their friendship if possible, but if this failed, com- pelling them to fear and respect him by his superiority over them. Once when the colony was greatly reduced by sickness, their provisions spent, and starvation star^ ing them in the face, Smith, taking seven men with him, set out to seek help from one of the neighboring tribes. CAPT. SMITH DEMANDING HELP FROM THE INDIANS. He proceeded down the river about twenty miles until he arrived at one of their towns, and told the Indians by signs when they could not understand his words, of his great need; he was met by derision and contempt. The Indians now saw this much-feared enemy in their power, and exulted in the thought that the colony at Jamestown could no longer trouble them ; and in ridi- cule they offered him a handful of corn and a piece of bread in exchange for the muskets of his men, and even 18 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. demanded their clothing. Smith, finding gentle meas- ures of no avail, resolved lo compel them to give him what help he needed; so running his boat into the shore, he and his men fired into the crowd, whereat the Indians fled to the woods. The English made haste to take ad- vantage of the situation, and going from wigwam to wigwam, they saw heaps of corn and other food, which Smith could scarcely restrain his hungry men from taking until he convinced them that the danger was not over, and that their first duty was to prepare for the return of the savages. The wisdom of their leader was revealed as the hideous war-whoop sounded, and they saw about seventy Indians approaching from the woods, dancing and singing, some painted black, some red, and some parti-colored. Their god " Okee," who was hung with chains and pieces of copper, was before them. "Well armed with bows, arrows, clubs, and shields, they charged down upon the English with great shouting and cries, but Smith and his men were fully prepared for them, and fired their well-loaded muskets into the midst of them. Down fell their Okee, and numbers of the Indians also lay sprawling on the ground; the rest of them fled to the woods, and soon one of their chiefs ap- proached to beg for peace and to redeem their "Okee." Smith told them that if six of their number would come unarmed and help him to load his boats with such pro- visions as he needed, that he would not only be their friend, but would restore their " Okee," and give them beads, copper, and hatchets: besides. They were very well content with this, and brought Smith venison, tin-keys, bread, and whatever else they had, singing and dancing, and making signs of friendship until they departed. The party returned to Jamestown in fino HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 19 spirits at their success, and at sight of the abundant supplies of provisions with which they were laden, the spirits of the colonists revived. Captain Smith made many other expeditions to procure food for the following winter, but what he provided with so much care the rest recklessly wasted. I will now try to give you some idea of the manners, customs, and religion of the North American Indian* when the country was first settled by the English. The inhabitants were divided into tribes, which wera generally named from the rivers upon which they dwelt. There were the Powhatans, the Chickahominies, the Potomacs, the Susquehanocks, and the Pamunkeys. The men were generally tall, straight, and well-formed, with skins browned more from exposure than nature, as the children were born white. They had straight black hair, which was worn long. The women filled the office of barbers, and with two shells grated the hair off. They were very strong and active, able to endure great exposure, sleeping by a fire in the open air in the most severe weather. Their dress was made of the skins of wild beasts, with the hair on for winter, and without it for summer. Some wore long mantles embroidered with beads, and others had mantles of turkey feathers, which were very beautiful. The women had their limbs tattooed with pictures of beasts and serpents. But the most curious fashion they had was in the matter of ear-ornaments. Both sexes had as many as three holes bored in their ears, in which they hung chains, copper, and other ornaments ; and, what was still more surprising, it was no uncommon thing for them to use small snakes and even rats as ear-jewels. Imagine a great Indian with a green and yellow snake 20 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. crawling and flapping about his neck, and often with dreadful familiarity kissing his lips, or a dead rat tied through the ear by the tail! For head-dresses they wore the wings of birds, and some had even a whole hawk or other large bird stuffed, with its wings out- spread, perched upon the top of the head ; others wore the hand of an enemy, dried. They painted themselves every variety of color, and he was considered most handsome who was most hideous to behold. Their houses were built of branches of trees tied together, somewhat like a modern arbor, and covered with mats or bark. The women displayed great fond- ness for their children; and to make them hardy and robust, as soon as they were born they began to wash them in the cold water of the rivers and springs, even in the most severe winter weather. They also used paint and ointments to tan their skins, so that in a year or two no weather could hurt them. The men spent their time in fishing, hunting and fighting, and such manly exercises ; but scorned work, which fell to the share of the women, who planted the crops, prepared tho food, made mats, baskets, and cooking utensils. Their boats were made of the long trunks of trees, hollowed out by burning until they assumed tho shape of troughs. They were long enough, sometimes, to hold thirty or forty men. I must toll you a curious device they used in deer hunting. This animal, you know, is so timid that it is very hard to get near enough to him for a successful shot, so tho Indians used to dress themselves in the skin of tho animal, and thus disguised go into the midst of tho herd. Sometimes when he would be hunting out a good fat buck, worthy of his arrow, ho would see tho HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 21 v ■ deer looking curiously towards him, as if they half sus- pected him of being a cheat, upon which he would lick himself, and by his cunning imitate the motions of the animal so completely as to deceive them entirely, and thus they would shoot many of them. No people have ever yet been discovered without a religion. Some idea of one Supreme Being has de- scended from our father Adam through all the nations of the earth. The North American Indians worshipped the Devil, whom they called "Okee," and was repre- sented by a hideous image dressed up in beads and cop- per, after a most fantastical fashion. Their priests in their turn arrayed themselves as much as possible after the same pattern. I will tell you of their head-dresses. They collected a quantity of snake, weasel, and rat skins, stuffed them into their natural shapes with moss, and they tied their tails together like a great tassel ; this was put upon the crown of the head with the skins dangling about the face, the whole was finished by a great crown of feathers, sticking out of the place where the tails were fastened. Their religious exercises were chanted, the priests leading and the rest following after. They had great fear and admiration for their king • his commands were instantly obeyed, and when he frowned they trembled with apprehension ; and no won- der, for he was very cruel in punishing such as offended him. He would have a man tied hand and foot, and thrown upon burning coals and broiled to death. He would have their heads laid upon stones, whilst his executioners beat out the brains with clubs. And when a notorious enemy or criminal was taken, he was tied to a tree, and the executioner with mussel shells cut off his joints, one after the other,* threw them into a 22 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. great fire, then sliced the flesh from the bones of his head and face; if life still remained in the quivering carcass, the body was ripped up, and then with the tree to which it was tied was burned to ashes. I could tell you many more things of great interest which Captain Smith found out about this strange people, but it would make my history too long, and so much remains of more importance to relate. Questions for Examination. 1. In what year did the events recorded in this chapter take place? 2. Did peace ptk! good- will long continue in the colony? 3. To what did they owe fresh troubles? 4. How did Smith act when the responsibility of affairs fell upon him? 5. Give an account of his expedition in search of food. 6. How were the crew received on their return to Jamestown? 7. How were the Indians divided and named? 8. Describe their appearance and manners, 9. Their peculiarities of dress &c. 10. How did the women treat their children? 11. Tell the curious Indian device in deer-hunting. 12. Give an account of their religion. 13. How did their kings rule them? CHAPTER IY. 1G07. Much of Captain Smith's time was spent in making expeditions to secure provisions for the colony and to HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 23 become better acquainted with this new country, at the open door of which they seemed to stand; but it was unfortunate for the welfare of the colony that there was no one at Jamestown who could control the people in his absence. The wretched President Wingfield and his accomplice Kendall always took advantage of the confusion caused by his absence to do all the mischief they could, striving to regain their former position. Once Smith unexpectedly returning, found that they had persuaded the sailors to load the only vessel which remained to the colony, with everything of value they could lay their hands on, with the intention of returning to England with such as would join them, leaving the rest of the colony to starvation and the mercy of the savages. Captain Smith succeeded in preventing this, though he had to resort to arms before it could be done, and in the fight Kendall was killed. The winter now approaching, the rivers were covered with swans, geese, ducks and cranes. Fish, oysters, crabs, and clams were very plentiful ; the forests furnished them with the fat flesh of wild animals ; and with good bread and abun- dant vegetables, consequently a more contented state of feeling took possession of the colonists. Some cause for dissatisfaction however they must have, so they began to quarrel again with Captain Smith. So little did they know of the extent of this great country, that they imagined that by following the course of the Chickahominy river they would reach the Pacific Ocean. If you will look at the map of the United States you will understand how great was their mistake, and what thousands of miles over liio-h o mountains, great rivers, and trackless forests they would have to traverse before this goal could be 24 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. reached. Captain Smith shared this opinion, and had made many expeditions for the purpose of discovering the source of the Chickahominy, but owing to the great difficulty of navigation he had failed; and now the puhlic voice grew loud against him because of his failure, and, fairly driven away from Jamestown by the clamor, he started in his little boat, with some Englishmen and Indians for his companions, determined not to return until he had succeeded in his undertaking. With much labor, by cutting down trees and clearing the channel, he advanced until his boat could go no further, and leaving it in an open bay, out of reach of the Indian arrows, he ordered the men not to go on shore, and taking with him two Englishmen and two Indians, pursued his course up the river in a canoe. As soon as he left them, the men in the boat disobeying his orders, rowed to shore, where they were surprised by the Indians, and it was with difficulty that any of the party made their escape. One of the number, George Cassen, was captured, and killed with the greatest cruelty. Learning from him where Smith had gone, they followed, and soon came upon the canoe with the two Englishmen sleeping beside it; Smith and the Indians having gone into the woods to get food. After killing the men, they pursued Smith, who soon found himself surrounded by two hundred savages thirsting for his blood. In this dreadful situation his presence of mind did not forsake him. Taking one of his Indian guides, he tied him in front of himself with his garters, as a protection, and shot over his shoulder at the savages, killing several of them ; he himself was wounded in the thigh. His hope was, by moving back- ward, to reach the boat, and so make his escape ; but HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 25 having his eyes fixed upon the enemy, he came upon marshy ground, into which he sank up to his arm-pits, and almost expired with cold. Still the Indians were afraid to come near him until he threw away his arms ; then they drew him out, and led him to the fire where his two companions were lying dead. Here they chafed his benumbed limbs. He asked to be taken to their CAPTAIN SMITH TAKEN PRISONER. captain, when they led him to Opechankanough, king of " Pamaunkee." Captain Smith knew that nothing but his wit now could save his life, so drawing from his pocket an ivory compass, such as is used on ships, he presented it to the king. The curious savages gathered around, and looked with wonder upon the needle vibra- ting before them, but which they could not touch on account of the glass which came between. Seeing them 2G HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. interested, his hopes revived, and partly by language and partly by signs, he told them of the roundness of the earth and of the variety of nations which inhabit it. He explained to them in simple language the course of the heavenly bodies, until they were filled With awe and admiration. What a teacher and what a school in this vast wilderness of the new world ! Notwithstanding his eloquence and its effects, an hour afterwards Smith was tied to a tree, surrounded by Indians with their arrows pointed at his heart. He gave up all for lost, and committing his soul to God, prepared to meet death with unflinching courage • but at this crisis Opechankanough held up the com- pass in his hand, and the Indians laid down their bows and arrows, untied him from the tree, and forming a procession, placed him in the midst, and so led him away. Tne order of their procession was thus — three men held him fast by each arm, and on each side were six in file, with their arrows pointed towards him. "When they arrived at their town, which consisted of thirty or forty houses built of mats, women and children came out to stare at the white man, whereupon the Indians commenced their war-dance, yelling and shrieking with hideous triumph. At length they led Smith to a long house, where thirty tall Indians guarded him, and after a while they brought him bread and venison, as much as would have served for twenty men. At midnight they brought him meat again, and again the next morn- ing, until, remembering tho stories he had read about cannibals, ho concluded that they were only fattening him to eat him. This idea did not much increase his appetite. After some days' captivity ho was brought before the king, where ho was told that they were about HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 27 to destroy Jamestown, and promised him his life, liberty and lands if ho would give them his assistance. In return he excited their fears by telling them of the dangers they would encounter from the great guns which belched out fire and smoke, and he offered to prove to them that what he said was true if they would send some of their men to Jamestown to take a mero piece of paper for him. They agreed, and he, tearing a leaf from a blank book he had with him, wrote upon it minute directions to the colonists what they should do to frighten the messengers, and also a list of articles they should send to him by them. He then told them, with all the manner of a prophet, exactly what would occur during their visit, and giving them the mysterious paper, they departed. Of course everything happened as he said, and they returning, told all these things to their wondering people, declaring that either he was a great prophet or the paper could speak. They then led him with great ceremonies through all the Indian tribes living upon the rivers in that part of the country, to the king's habitation at Werowocomoco, on York river, where they called their conjurors and priests together to see what was the will of their "Okee" concerning him. They made a great fire in a long house, with a mat spread on each side of it, on one of which they made him sit down. Presently in there came skipping a great fellow painted black, with a tassel of snakes and weasel skins, and over it all a crown of feathers upon his head. Ho began to make a speech in a hideous voice with passionate gestures. Next he walked around the fire and sprinkled a circle of meal. Then in came three more of these monsters dancing and shouting, their eyes painted white ; next threa more 28 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. with their eyes painted red. After dancing around him for some time, and shouting until he was almost mad- dened, they then led him back to his prison. Three days they kept up these ceremonies, after which they brought CAPT. SMITH SAVED BY POCAHONTAS. him before their great king Powhatan. Smith found him seated before a fire, upon a scat like a bedstead ; ho was covered with a rich robe of skins, and on each side of him was a young girl about sixteen years of age. Along the sides of the house wero rows of men, and behind them as many women, all with their heads and HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 29 shoulders painted red, decked with feathers, and chains of white beads about their necks. When they saw him, the king and all the company gave a great shout ; then the queen of " Appamatox" brought him water to wash his hands, and another queen brought a large bunch of feathers instead of a towel for him to dry them. Then they made a great feast for him, and after that held a long consultation about him. When this was over, two great stones were brought and placed before the king, and as many as could seized him, dragged him to them and laid his head upon the stones. Again did he think his last hour had come, and closed his eyes to shut out the sight of the dreadful clubs that were raised above his head ready to beat out his brains; but a shriek aroused him, and opening his eyes, he saw the beautiful Pocahontas, the favorite daughter of king Powhatan, pleading with her father for his life, while the tears rolled down her cheeks. Finding that her father would not relent, she flew to Smith, laid her head upon his, and declared that she would give her life to save him. This conquered the stern old king, and he released the pris- oner. Two days afterwards he allowed him to go back to Jamestown, upon condition that he would send him two great guns and a grindstone. So once more Smith's life was miraculously saved. On his return he was received with great joy by a part of the colony. As AVingfield and some others were ao-ain making preparations to run away with the vessel to England, Smith, at the hazard of his life, prevented this and in return Wingfield and his confederates tried to bring him to trial for the death of the two English- men who were slain by the Indians ; but in this also they failed, and Smith at last succeeded in having them 30 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. arrested and sent prisoners to England. Once more was auiet restored to the colony. Questions for Examination. 1. What is the date of the events detailed in this chapter? 2. How did Smith spend his time, and what difficulties did he encounter? 3. What curious mistake did the English make about the extent of Virginia? 4. Tell of Smith's expedition up the Chickahominy. 5. How were his men captured? 6. Give im account of Smith's dreadful situation? 7. How did he act so as to gain the attention of the savages? 8. What happened next? 9. How was his life saved? 10. Tell the manner in which they conducted the prisoner. 11. What of his trial? 12. Give an account of the preparations for his execution. 13. Who saved his life, and how? 14. How was he received on his return to Jamestown? CHAPTEK V. Soon after the events narrated in the last chapter, Captain Newport arrived with new supplies. The colo- nists were overjoyed, and the sailors at once commenced to trade with the natives, obtaining for a few trinkets quantities of copper and other valuables. Captain New- port sent Powhatan some presents, which so pleased the royal savage that he begged for a visit from " The Great Father," as he called Newport. It was some time before Captain Smith could persuade Captain Newport to trust himself among the savages, but Smith undertook with twenty well armed men to encounter the worst that could happen to them; so fitting up a small vessel, they started up the river. Landing near the dwelling of Powhatan, they were met by two or three hundred savages, who conducted them to the town. Here Pow- hatan received thorn with great shouts of joy. They HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 31 found him sitting upon his hed of mats, with a pillow of leather beside him, embroidered after their manner with pearls and white beads. His royal robe was a great mantle of skins which covered him j at his head and feet sat a handsome young woman, and on each side of his house were twenty more women, their heads and shoulders painted red, and with chains of white beads about their necks. In front of these were the chief men of the tribe, and behind them a guard of about one hundred people; and as the Englishmen passed through this guard, proclamation was made that none upon pain of death should do them any harm. Then followed a long interview between Newport and Powhatan, in which each tried to outdo the other in professions of love and friendship. Next followed a great feast, dancing, singing, and all kinds of merriment. They were entertained that night at Powhatan's quarters. Three or four days passed in this manner, during all of which time Powhatan bore himself so proudly that all were compelled to admire the monarch who, though he had never been beyond the American forests, was yet every inch a king. Very cunning he proved him- self, too, in trading with the English, though in this matter Captain Smith proved himself the better man of the two. , As if scorning to trade as his subjects did, he said: " Captain Newport, it is not agreeable to my greatness in this peddling manner to trade for trifles, and I esteem you. also a great chief, therefore lay me down all your commodities together ; what 1 like I will take, and will pay you what I think is their value." Captain Smith saw through his design at once, and told Captain New- port that the cunning savage only wanted to cheat him, 32 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. and get more for his commodities than they were worth. At first Captain Newport would not believe this, but when he found that Powhatan wanted to get as much for a bushel of corn as he had expected to give for a POWHATAN TRADING FOR BLUE BEADS. hogshead, he was very angry, and a quarrel would have ensued between the two if Captain Smith had not inter- posed by drawing out a string of blue beads, which attracting the attention of Powhatan, diverted his thoughts in another direction, lie at once eagerly bargained for the beads, but the more he wanted them the HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. S3 more unwilling Captain Smith seemed to be to let him have them. He told Powhatan that they were made of a very rare substance of the color of the sky, and could only be worn by the greatest kings in the world. This of course stimulated the desire of Powhatan for them, and it ended by the Indian king selling three hundred bushels of corn for a pound or two of blue beads ; and yet they parted good friends. They also made the same kind of a bargain with Opechankanough, obtaining from him for a few blue beads a quantity of valuable provisions. The party returned to Jamestown delighted with their success, which, however, in the end, did not benefit them much ; for as they were storing away these new supplies the town caught fire, and being built of wood, almost the whole place, with their arms, clothes, bedding, and provisions, was destroyed. Good Preacher Hunt lost his library, and everything but the clothes he had on, yet no one ever heard him complain. And, to increase the affliction of the colony, this accident occurred in the middle of winter, and a great deal of suffering ensued. If Captain Smith had been listened to, all hands would at once have set to work to rebuild the town, but just at this time a fever seized the colony most fatal to its prosperity ; it was the fever for gold, and pervaded all classes of men. In the bed of one of the streams near Jamestown, amongst the clay and sand f a shining substance had been discovered, which was pronounced by some, who pretended to have knowledge in these matters, to be gold. At once the farmer dropped his plough and the carpenter his tools, and all classes and ages of men hurried to possess themselves of the precious metal; so that nothing was talked of but gold, nothing was hoped for but gold, no work was done 2* 34 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. but to dig gold, wash gold, refine gold, and load gold. The fields where their true wealth lay were neglected ; their houses, the rebuilding of which was so necessary to their comfort, lay in ruins ; their provisions were scarcely enough to support life; and still the mad fever went on. They even loaded a ship with the gilded earth, and putting it under the command of Captain Newport, who was also a victim to this wild delirium, they sent it home to England, where, being examined, it was found, much to their mortification, to be nothing but worthless clay. But, after all, this disappointment was the best thing that could have happened to the colonists, as they at once abandoned their wild search for gold and returned to their proper employments. And Smith, taking advantage of this favorable change, proceeded to rebuild the city and plant the crops ; and soon all were busy and cheerful, cutting down trees, preparing the fields, planting corn, and building houses. A vessel from England that had been thought to be lost, arrived with supplies, which relieved their imme- diate wants ; and, taught by the follies of the past, the future looked more hopeful. A difficulty with the Powhatans was the next thing which engaged their attention. While Captain New- port was at Jamestown, King Powhatan sent to him a present of twenty turkeys, with a request that he would send him twenty swords, which he, anxious to keep on friendly terms with him, did. After his departure, Pow- hatan sent Captain Smith twenty turkeys, expecting a like return, but he found he had a different person to deal with. Smith took no notice of the request, and Powhatan, indignant at the ill success of his scheme, ordered his men to beset the colonists and seize their HISTORY OP VIRGINIA. 35 arms wherever they could find them. This produced constant annoyance ; the parties at work were continually interrupted, but so much afraid were they of provoking the enmity of the Indians, that these injuries remained unpunished, until emboldened by this fact, they became more annoying than ever. It chanced, however, that Captain Smith became the object of some of their out- rages, and as may be imagined he was not one to take it meekly. He hunted them up and down the country, he terrified them with whipping and imprisonment, and kept in the prison of Jamestown seven savages as hos- tages for the good behavior of the others ; they in return captured two Englishmen, and sent Smith word that they should be put to death at once if the Indians were not released. As an answer to this^ Smith marched out against them, and in two hours so punished their inso lence that they brought him his two men, and without any further conditions begged for peace. He forced them to confess that they had been sent by Powhatan to capture arms, which they were to use against the English themselves. But this the cunning monarch stoutly denied, and even sent his daughter Pocahontas to Jamestown with presents to Captain Smith, and ear- nest entreaties that he would excuse the rashness of some of his chiefs, who without orders from him had perpetrated these outrages. Captain Smith punished his captives as he thought fit, and delivered them to Pocahontas, for whose sake alone, ho said, he spared their lives and gave them their liberty. The wisdom of Captain Smith in this affair was plainly shown, as it brought the savages to such fear and obedience that his very name was sufficient to con- trol them, and instead of constant alarms and inteiv ruptions, all was now peace and quiet. 36 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. Questions for Examination. 1. What happened next? 2. Tell of the visit to Powhatan. 3. How did Powhatan try to cheat the English? 4. How did Captain Smith prove as cunning as he? 5. Tell or the blue bead transaction. 6. What happened on their return to Jamestown? 7. What fever seized Ihe colony? 8. What effect did it have on their prosperity? 9. How did it end? It). What next engaged their attention? 11. I>id Smith submit to the will o* Powhatan? 12. What did Powhatan do 13. How did Smith revenge himself? 14. How did the difficulty end? 15. What effect did this have on the savages? CHAPTER VI. 1608. Two years had now elapsed since the first settlement of the colony at Jamestown, and though Captain Smith had made many voyages for the purpose of learning the extent and resources of the country, yet but little had been really accomplished. You remember that I told you some chapters back that this colony was sent from England by "The London Company," and they were permitted to take possession of fifty miles along the sea coast, and one hundred miles back from the coast. This was a vast extent of country, but only a small portion of it had yet been explored. So in June of the year 1608, the colony being in a condition of quiet and prosperity, Captain Smith determined to push his discoveries along the sea-coast. For this purpose ho fitted out a boat, and taking with him fourteen men, HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 37 he started down the river towards the ocean. Again they touched at Point Hope and Point Comfort, and' recalled the time when, storm-tossed and weary, they had here welcomed the prospect of rest. Touching at Cape Henry, they crossed the Bay to the Eastern Shore, visited Smith'3 Isles, and then crossed over to Cape Charles. Here two fierce stout savages came to the landing, and holding long poles in their hands, boldly demanded who they were, and what they wanted ; but finding the English friendly in their answers, they too became very polite, and directed them to Accomack, the habitation of their king. They found him the handsomest and most polite savage whom they had yet encountered. These Indians spoke the language of the Powhatans, and as our colonists had become quite familiar with that, they had no difficulty in conversing with them. The king was quite eloquent in his description of the bays, isles, and rivers, and excited great expectations in the voyagers, so that they soon left their hospitable host and pursued their voyage. Many were the dis- coveries they made of islands, rivers, and fertile fields. Sometimes they were kindly received by the natives at other times they had to fight theic way on, and often they were reduced to great straits for want of pro- visions, when of course the crew blamed Captain Smith for bringing them upon the journey; but he bore it all with patient firmness which overcame their ill temper. Once, when he could scarcely bear their .murmurs, he said to them: "Gentlemen, do you not remember the history of Sir .Richard Grenville and his men? how when their provisions were nearly exhausted and he thought of returning, his brave men begged him to let HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. them go forward, as they had two dogs, which, boiled with sassafras leaves, would richly feed them. Then what a shame is it for you who still have provisions left you, to wish to force my return when we have not even yet heard of what we came out to seek! You cannot Hay that I have not shared with you the worst of what CAPTAIN SMITH REBUKING HIS CRKW. is past; and 1 am content that in what is to come you give the worst part to myself. As for your fears that I will lose myself in these unknown waters, or be swal- lowed up in some stormy gust, abandon such childish apprehensions, regain your old spirits ; for return I will not, if God please, until I have found that which I came out to seek." Sickness, however, attacked them, and Captain Smith HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 39 was obliged to return to Jamestown, where he dismissed his crew, took an entirely new set of men, and returned to push his discoveries in Chesapeake Bay. Numerous were the adventures of this party, and great the dangers from which they escaped. They pursued their course up to the head of Chesapeake Bay and into the various rivers, and made the acquaintance and secured the friend- ship of the numerous tribes of Indians, who promised to plant corn for the settlement, for which the English were to give them hatchets, beads, and other things which they much desired. The two most powerful tribes with whom they met deserve mention. They were the Massawomeks and the Susquehannas. The first were said to come from great waters far to the North, which are now supposed to be the lakes of Canada ; they were at war with all the other Indian tribes, and none were able to stand against them except the Susquehannas, who had their home upon the river which now bears their name. They were a giant people. Captain Smith describes one of their chiefs as very great in size, measuring three-quarters of a yard around the calf of his leg, and the rest of the body in the same proportion. He was dressed in the skins of bears and wolves, with a bear's head upon his breast, its ears for shoulder ornaments, and its paws hanging down from the elbow. He wore a wolf's skin at his back for a quiver, and a wolf's head hanging to a chain for a jewel. But notwithstanding their savage appearance the Susquehannas are described, as an honest simple people, so impressed with the great- ness of the English that they could scarce be kept from Worshipping them as gods. These voyages and discoveries occupied Captain 40 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. Smith from June until September, during which time he had travelled three thousand miles in an open boat. When he returned to Jamestown he found the colony much reduced by sickness and the bad management of Captain Eatcliffe, who had occupied all the time of Smith's absence in building himself a palace, instead of attending to the wants of the suffering people. And now, in spite of their jealousies, Captain Smith's supe- riority was acknowledged, as the Council met two days after his long voyage and elected him President of the colony. He at once commenced the most vigorous measures, stopped the work upon Eatcliffe Palace as useless, repaired the church and the store-houses, built a new fort, and placed the whole settlement in better condition than it had ever been before. Soon after Captain Newport arrived with supplies; he told Captain Smith that he had orders not to return until he could bring back a lump of gold and had discovered the passage to the Pacific ocean, which they still imagined lay only a short distance from them. Captain Smith's travels into the country, however, convinced him that this was a mistake, and he told Captain Newport that the fine ship he had brought would never take them to the sea, until they had carried her across high moun- tains and forests more extensive than they could guess ; and as to the lump of gold, he besought Captain New- port not again to excite tho fever which had been so nearly ruinous to the existence of the colony. Captain Newport insisted that his orders were positive, and ho said besides, that he had information upon which he could rely, that the country of the Monnachins, who were the nearest neighbors and great enemies of tho Powhatans, would furnish them with an abundance of HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 41 the precious metal. He told Smith that with the view of obtaining the help of the Powhatans in this matter, he had brought with him many costly presents for Pow- hatan, among other things a king's crown, a scarlet cloak, hed and bedstead, a basin and ewer, and other furniture ; and he thought that if they could get Pow- hatan to come to Jamestown for the purpose of receiving these presents, they could bo flatter him with the grand ceremony of crowning him king that he would be willing to go with them against the Monnachins. Again Captain Smith remonstrated ; he said that it was a great mistake to give all these rich presents to the Indians, that they were now quite as well satisfied with a few strings of blue beads as they would be with all the jewels of England ; but if they were taught the use of these additional luxuries, they would learn to value themselves and their commodities at a much higher rate, and so be harder and more expensive to deal with in the future. But his wise counsel was unheeded; Captain Newport would have his own way, and after further consultation Captain Smith agreed to go to Powhatan and invite him to Jamestown. The account of this conference I will reserve for the next chapter, and I will conclude this by telling you of the crew Captain Newport brought with him. There came with him the first English women who had ever visited Jamestown, Mrs. Forest and her maid Anne Burras ; he brought also among his crew two brave soldiers, Cap- tains Waldo and "Winne, whose cheerful spirits and Avilling hands greatly aided the colonists in their Avork. Captain Smith tells an amusing incident of the first attempt of some of the gentlemen to go to work in the American forests. He had taken a party of them about 42 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. five miles below Jamestown to cut down trees, himself as usual doing the hardest work. Eight merrily they performed the task with laughter and singing, rejoicing in the thunder of the great trees as they measured their length upon the ground. But soon the tender hauds of the new-comers began to blister from the unusual tax Upon them, and with about every third blow of the axe a loud oath would come. To stop this, Captain Smith ordered that every oath should be set down, and that when the day's work was over each perpetrator of such sin should have a can of cold water poured down his sleeve, which so washed the wickedness out of them that soon not an oath a week was heard. Questions for Examination. 1. What is the date of the events narrated in this chapter? 2. What extent of country had been granted to the Loudon Com- _ pany? 4. For what purpose did Captain Smith start on his voyage and what of his crew? * At what points did they touch, and what Indians did they first encounter? 5. Describe them. 6. What discoveries did they make, and how were they received by the natives? 7. What difficulties did Captain Smith have to encounter? 8. Tell the story of his remonstrance with them. 9. Why were they obliged lo return to Jamestown? 10. Did Captain Smith make a second start? 11. What powerful tribes did they meet, and from what portion of the country did they come 12. Describe the giant chief of the Susquehannas, and how did they receive tie English 13. How long did these voyages and discoveries occupy Captain Smith, and how far did he travel? 14. What condition of things did he find at Jamestown on his return? 15. How was his superiority acknowledged? 16. What were his first steps 17. What was Captain Newport's course upon his arrival? IH. What presents had he brought for Powhatan? 19. What remonstrance did Smith make, and was he listened to? 20. Give some account of the crew Newport brought out with him. 81. How did Smith cure profanity in his laborers? HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 43 CHAPTER VII. 1608. — Continued. According to the agreement between Smith and New- port related in the last chapter, the former taking with him Waldo and three others of the new-comers, started out for the residence of Powhatan. "When they reached there they found that he was thirty miles away, and had to be sent for ; and the English waited for him in a green field near by. Here they made a fire and seated themselves on a mat before it. Suddenly they were startled by a hideous sound from a neighboring woods. Seizing their arms, they caught one or two old men who were standing by and held them as hostages, thinking that Powhatan and all his force were coming to surprise them. Then came the beautiful Pocahontas from the woods, and delivering herself into the hands of Captain Smith, told him that he might kill her if any harm happened to their party ; that she only in- tended some entertainment for them until the arrival of her father. Thus reassured, they waited the next event. Presently thirty young women, all fantastically painted in different colors, and with bucks' horns on their heads, came singing and dancing out of the woods. One had an otter skin hanging from her girdle, another a quiver of arrows at her back and a bow and arrow in her hand, another carried a sword, and another a club ; each bore a different burden. These rushing from among the trees with most unmusical shouts and cries, formed themselves in a ring around the fire, where they danced and sung for about an hour ; they then con- ducted the Englishmen to a house where a feast was 44 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. prepared for them, consisting of all the savage dainties that could be obtained, after which, by the light of fire- brands, with singing and dancing, they conducted Smith and his men to their lodgings. The next day came Pow- hatan, and Smith delivered his message, telling him that his "Father Newport" had arrived, and brought him from his brother, the King of England, rich presents, which he begged he would come to Jamestown to receive, and afterwards the English would go with him and give him his revenge upon the Monnachins. The proud savage replied, " If your king has sent me presents, I also am a king, and this is my land ; eight days I will stay here to receive them ; your father is to come to me, not I to him, nor yet to your fort ; neither will I bite at such a bait. As for the Monnachins, I can avenge my own in- juries. And as for any account you may have from my people of waters beyond these mountains, it is false." He then commenced drawing upon the ground plots of the country as he believed it to be. Smith returned to Jamestown with this answer. Captain Newport, ever more ready to obey the savages than to compel their obedience to him, sent the presents to Powhatan, and the next day was fixed for the coronation. After much trouble they induced Powhatan to put on the fine clothes and the scarlet cloak, but when the time came for him to kneel and put the crown on his head, ho posi- tively refused. In vain they told him until they were tired that the crown made him a king. He said ho was already a king, and that it was unkingly to bend his knee ; at length, however, by leaning hard on his shoul- der, they made him stoop a little, and three men, having the crown in their hands, placed it upon his head. Then, at a given signal, came such a volley of shot from HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 45 the boats that the new-made king in his crown started up with fear, thinking he was about to be attacked. Ho soon saw his mistake, and to cover his embarrass- ment turned to Captain Newport, and with the proud manner of a sovereign to a subject, presented him with his old mantle and shoes. Newport tried hard to per- COKONATION OF POWHATAN. suade him to go with them against the Monnachins, but he refused eithe*r to go or to lend them men or guides for the purpose. As a return for the handsome gifts which had been sent him, he then presented Newport with seven or eight bushels of wheat ears, and with these the disappointed party returned to Jamestown, inwardly acknowledging the wisdom of Captain Smith, 46 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. who had given his advice against the plan. Captain Newport still insisted upon the expedition against the Monnachins, and taking with them a hundred and twenty men, amongst whom was a refiner of precious metals, they started. They found the Monnachins a quiet and peaceable people, with whom they had no dif ficulty. They also found some earth which their refiner said contained small quantities of silver, but not enough to reward them for their trouble ; nor would the Monna- chins trade with them, pretending to believe that there were ships in the bay which would destroy them if they came to Jamestown ; and so effectually had they hidden their corn in the woods that tho English could not find it. So the expedition returned to Jamestown sick with the disappointment of their gilded hopes, as Captain Smith had foretold. This same year Anne Burras, the maid of Mrs. Forest, who had come over in the last vessel under Newport, was married to John Laydon, one of the colonists ; this was the first English marriage in Virginia. 1 will now tell you how the life of Captain Smith was onoe more saved by the beautiful Pocahontas. It happened in the month of December. Powhatan was then staying at his favorite residence, "Werowoco- moco, which was situated on the York river, not very far from Jamestown, and was the scene of Captain Smith's former miraculous escape from death through the love of Pocahontas. Powhatan sen4, a message to Smith, requesting him to send some men to build him a house, and to send him bcsideo a grindstone, fifty swords, some guns, a cock and a hen; and if this request was complied with, he would have his ship loaded with corn. Captain Smith was not deceived by the promises HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 47 of the Indian chief, but after their late ill-success corn was most important to the colony ; so he sent two Dutchmen and three Englishmen to build the house, and himself fitting out three vessels with forty-six men, made his way by water to the dwelling of the wily chief. Stopping with some friendly tribes, he was warned that Powhatan intended his destruction. Thus warned, he proceeded on his journey, and on the twelfth of January reached Werowocomoco, where he found the river frozen half a mile from the shore. Captain Smith set the ex- ample of breaking the ice, and wading up to their arm- pits they landed, took possession of the first wigwams they saw, and sent to Powhatan for provisions. He complied, and the next day visited them. Then com- menced a rare war of wits between Captain Smith and the Indian king, each trying which could be the more cunning. Powhatan first said that he had no corn; whereupon Smith reminded him of the promises made through the messengers he had sent to Jamestown. At this Powhatan laughed, and said he but joked, and asked to see their commodities. They were displayed, and then the wily king proceeded to ask the most exorbitant prices for his corn ; but Captain Smith would not allow himself to be cheated, and would make none but fair bargains. Powhatan next tried what great professions of friendship could do, reminded Smith of his past favors, and re- proached him for coming to him with arms in his hands as if he were an enemy, which he said so frightened his men that they would not bring their corn to sell. He proposed that they should send their arms away to the boat and show themselves to the people without them, and then they could trade freely. But Captain Smith was not to be deceived by such talk, and refused to give up 48 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. their arms or to sell them, letting the savage know that ho had no confidence in his professions of friendship, that ho understood that ho wanted to catch them without their arms, so that he might destroy them. This conversation lasted until Captain Smith wearied out, and seeing that Powhatan only trifled with him, attempted to capture him and so force him to keep his promises, but the chief was too quick for him and made his escape. Presently the house where the English were was beset by savages. Captain Smith with ono man rushed out amongst them, pistol, sword and target in hand, and such was their fear of him that as soon as they saw him they went tumbling one over tho other, only too glad to escape unhurt. Soon afterwards Pow- hatan sent one of his orators to them, who thus spoke : "Captain Smith, our chief, fearing your guns, has fled; he only sent some of his men to guard his corn which might be stolen without your knowledge. Notwith- standing your suspicions, Powhatan is your friend, and will ever continue so. As tho ice has now melted, ho would have you send away your corn ; and if you wish his company, send away your guns, which so frighten his people." But Captain Smith, holding on to his arms, got the corn and loaded his ships. That night Powha- tan and the wicked Dutchmen who wcro building his house, laid a plan to take tho lives of Captain Smith and his men. But God willed it otherwise. Through tho darkness of that night came Pocahontas, ever tho guardian angel of the colony, and revealed to Captain Smith tho plot. Sho told him that a great feast would presently be sent him from her father, and while they were engaged in eating it they were to be surrounded and killed. He in gratitude offered to repay her with HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 49 such things as she valued most, but with the tears run- ning down her sorrowful cheeks she refused them, saying that she dared not be found with any such things, as her father would find out what she had done and would kill her, so weeping bitterly she departed. Presently it happened as she had said ; ten stout Indians came laden with venison, turkeys and other delicacies, and they were followed by more, and still again by more ; but the Englishmen remained on their guard with arms in their hands during the whole night, and Powhatan never knew that his plot was betrayed. The next day they set sail for Jamestown, leaving the Dutchmen at work upon the house of Powhatan, the stout stone chimney of which still remains to mark the spot where this grand old Indian chief held his savage court, and where his beautiful daughter Pocahontas more than once endan- gered her own life to protect that of Captain Smith. Questions for Examination. 1. "What Is the date of the events recorded in this chapter? 2. What was Captain Smith's next enterprise? 3. What happened upon their arrival at the residence of Pow- hatan ? 4. Give an account of the entertainment provided by Pocahontas. 5. How did Powhatan receive the news Smith brought him? 6. What did Newport do? 7. Describe the coronation of Powhatan. 8. What t uccess did they meet with in their expedition into the country of the Monnachins? 9. What event occurred this same year? 10. What message did Powhatan send winith, and what was the name of his residence? 11. Point it out on the map. 12. Did Smith comply with the request of Powhatan? 13. Relate the circumstances of their journey and reception. 14. Relate the interview between Smith and Powhatan. 15. What was Powhatan's object, and how did it succeed? 16 What did his orator say? 17. Did Smith get the corn ? 1». What plot was revealed to them? 19. How was its success prevented? 20. Relate Smith's interview with Pocahontas. 21. What happened afterwards? 3 50 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. CHAPTER YIIL 1609. Amongst the last crew of Captain ^Newport were a number of Dutchmen, who, being strong able-bodied men and accustomed to labor, were expected to do a great deal of the hard work in the colony ; but instead of this, they became a source of serious trouble, and were more dangerous enemies than the savages them- selves. I told you in the last chapter how some of them, whom Captain Smith sent to Powhatan to build him a house, by plotting with this crafty savage would have destroyed Smith and his party but for the interposition of Pocahontas. After the English had set sail from Werowocomoco, Powhatan quickly dispatched two of these Dutchmen across the country to Jamestown. These told Captain Winne, who was acting as President, that all was well with Smith's command, and that having no use for their old arms they had sent them back for new. Captain Winne, believing what they said, furnished the arms. They then excited the avarice of some of their countrymen by telling them the great promises Powhatan had made to them if they would join him in destroying the English. They were eagerly listened to, and being exj)ert thieves, they stole quanti- ties of arms and ammunition, secretly conveying them by night to the woods, where the Indians were in wait- ing. In the morning they returned to the city without exeiting suspicion. In the meantime, Smith and his crew, after cruising about the coast notwithstanding their late danger, came to Pamaunkee, where dwelt King Opechankauough, the brother of Powhatan, who HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 51 had promised them large supplies of corn for the colony. Leaving their boats, Smith, with fifteen of his men, went to the house of the. king, who soon joined them with numbers of his men, carrying scanty supplies of corn for which he asked exorbitant prices. Smith, in great indignation, said to him : " Opechankanough, the deceitfulness of your professions of love is made plain by your actions. You know our want, and we your plenty. We must have supplies. You have promised us corn; and kings should keep their promises. Here are our commodities ; take what you want, and I myself will make the bargains with your people." The cunning chief pretended to be perfectly satisfied, and gave them what they had there at their own price, promising to return next day with a great deal more. So they parted, the Englishmen returning to their boats. The next day they found four or five men with great baskets of corn waiting for them, and Opechankanough, welcoming them with assumed cheerfulness, proceeded to sell them great bargains in the corn. Presently in came one of Smith's men, and told them that they were betrayed, that at least seven hundred savages sur- rounded the house in which they were. This created great dismay among Smith's party; but he, smiling calmly at their fears, told them he would be well satis- fied if he had no enemies he feared more than he did these savages ; he said that he was far more afraid of the unruly spirits at Jamestown who sent home false reports of him, bade them remember how often he had escaped from far greater peril than this which now threatened them, and promised them if they would stand by him, and trust to him, that with the help of God, he would not only bring them out of this trouble, but 52 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA, would force the Indians to give them full supplies of what they needed. His words had the desired effect ; their courage returning, they promised him to act as he wished. Turning to Opechankanough, he told him that he plainly saw through the plot to murder him ; pro- posed that the two parties should adjourn to the open CAPTURE OF OPECHANKANOUGH. field and there settle their quarrel by fighting, and whichever conquered should remain masters of tho country. The cunning king, however, tried to pacify Captain Smith with soft words, telling him that no harm was intended, but that on the contrary he had provided a rich present for him which waited his acceptance at the door. Glancing out, he saw baskets of corn guarded by about two hundred men, with their HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 53 arrows upon their bent bows, and knew at once that their design was to get him out of the house, when they would instantly kill him. In a great rage at this deceit, Smith now ordered two of his men to guard the door, and rushing alone into the midst of the king's guard, before he had time to make any resistance he seized Opechankanough by his long lock of hair, and put a pistol to his breast. The army of savages was instantly quelled ; the guards threw down their arms, and the others were terror-stricken at the man who dared thus to deal with their king, whom Smith led into the midst of his people, utterly humbled at his defeat. The Indians pressed eagerly forward and laid their baskets of corn at Smith's feet, while the king himself ordered his richest stores to be brought to his conqueror. Smith, still holding him by the hair of his head, thus spoke to them in their own language : "I see the great desire you Pamaunkees have to take my life, and you think because I have not punished your treachery before that you are safe from my revenge. The reason I have borne so long with your insolence is, that I made a vow before God to be your friend ; this vow, if I keep, God will keep me, and you can not hurt me ; if I break it, he will destroy me. But you have broken our friendship by your actions, and now if you shed one drop of my people's blood, or touch with even so much as a finger these beads and copper which lie here before you, I will destroy every Pamaunkee of your tribe ; not one shall escape. You promised to load my ship before I departed, and so you shall, or I will load her with your dead carcasses. But if you will come as friends, and bring your corn, I will then remember how once you saved my life when I was in your power. I will trade with you, and be your friend forever." 54 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. Away went their bows and arrows, and all day long men, women and children thronged him, bringing their commodities in as great' quantities as he could desire, until at last, worn out with the excitement of the day, Smith appointed two of his men to receive the presents, while some others guarded Opechankanough, and he, throwing himself upon a mat, fell fast asleep. "When the Indians saw their great enemy asleep, their fear of him diminished, and about fifty of their chosen warriors, with clubs or English swords in their hands, while hundreds of Indians pressed on behind them, bore swiftly down upon the house. The noise they made in their haste awoke Smith, who instantly seized his sword and stood ready to meet them. "When they came to the entrance and saw him awake, and standing thus with his men around him, their courage deserted them, and they fell back one upon the other, until the house was clear of them. Opechankanough endeavored to make excuses for them, which Captain Smith received ; and the Indians loaded the vessels with their commodi- ties, after which the English took their departure. Captain Smith had many other adventures as strange as these which I have related. No wonder the simple Indians looked upon him as a superior being, and at length, through the fear they had of him, concluded a peace with him, and became subject to the English. Before I go farther I must tell what became of the treacherous Dutchmen. One of their number making his escape to England, by his false accounts of gold mines and great riches to be found in Virginia, induced some noblemen to come hither, who, finding him but an impostor, left him to perish miserably. The others desiring to leave Powhatan and return to the English, HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 55 that warrior showed the real contempt in which he held them. "You," he said, " who were so ready to betray Captain Smith to me, will as readily betray me to Captain Smith ; " so he caused their brains to be beaten out with clubs. After his success in trading with the Indians, Smith returned to Jamestown with abundant supplies, whereat the delighted colonists prepared to sit down and enjoy in idleness what he had collected at so much risk and toil. But this he would by no means allow. He told them sternly that he who did not work, neither should he eat. He set each man his allotted task, making his own equal to the best of them, and he who did not fulfil this task was to be sent beyond the limits of the colony, and left to shift for himself. This rule had the desired effect, and for a time all went well ; and under his wise management would have continued to improve, had it not been for the want of wisdom in the London Com- pany, who, becoming impatient at so small returns in .money from the colony in Virginia, induced the King of England to allow them to fit out nine vessels, in which they sent five hundred men. These had orders to take possession of the colony, and to send back the men who had so long endured all the dangers of the new settlement. The confusion that followed may be imagined. These new arrivals were generally noblemen and gentlemen, unused to work and intent only on their own gain. Seeing this state of things, Captain Smith would wil- lingly have surrendered all and returned to England, but it so happened that the vessel containing the letters of the King appointing the new President, had been detained by a storm, and until it arrived he could not 56 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. desert his post. So with his usual energy and patient firmness, notwithstanding the opposition he met with from those who hated him because of the very qualities which they should have admired, he set to work to plant new colonies, and provide as best he might against the evils with which this new arrival threatened him. How he would have succeeded is not known, for one day returning to Jamestown to quell a mutiny which had occurred there, while he was asleep in his boat a bag of powder accidentally exploded, burning his thigh and a portion of his body in a pitiful manner; so great was the agony he endured that he leaped overboard, striving by the one element to subdue the other. With difficulty they rescued him and bore him to Jamestown, but as there was neither medicine nor doctors to cure his hurt, and as the ships were to return to England the next day, he determined to leave with them ; and so this colony, in the midst of its disorders and mutinies, lost the only man who was able by his wisdom and discretion to bring order out of the confusion which now reigned. Questions for Examination. 1. What date heads this chapter? 2. Relate the plot of the Dutchmen. 8. Where did Smith next go to obtain other corn? 4. How was he received ? 5. What did Smith say to Opechankanough ? 6. In what great peril did the English hud themselves? 7. How did smith restore their courage? H. What did he say to the Indian chief? 9. What deceitful answer did he receive, and how did he act? 10. What was the elfect of Opechankanough 's capture? 11. What did Smith tell them? 12. What did the Indians do? 13. How did they again attempt his life? 14. Did the English succeed in their object, and how did the Indians regard Captain Smith? 15. What became of the treacherous Dutchmen? 16. What happened upon Smith's return to Jamestown? HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 57 17. How did the policy of the London Company interfere with the prosperity of the colony? 18. What was the result? 19. How did Smith act? 20. What happened to him? ,. . 21. What was the effect of his departure upon the colony? CHAPTEE IX. 1609-1614. As may be imagined by my readers, the colony at Jamestown went rapidly to ruin after the departure of Captain Smith. The savages, who had been kept in awe by him, as soon as they learned that he had left, re- volted, and proceeded to murder all the English they encountered ; and at last so intimidated the colonists that they seldom dared to go beyond the fortifications at Jamestown. On one occasion Powhatan tempted a party of thirty men, under John Patcliffe, to come to him for provisions; ho slew all of them except one hoy, who was saved by Pocahontas, and who lived, protected by her, for many years among the Indians. Thus, through these disasters, were the unhappy colonists forced to acknowledge the great loss they had sustained in Cap- tain Smith. Shut up within the small boundaries of the unhealthy city, afraid to go beyond either to cultivate their crops or to engage in those other employments which were conducive both to the health and wealth of the colony ; subject to the terror of the savages without, and to disorders and mismanagement within, it is no wonder that in less than . six months after Captain Smith's departure, by sickness, starvation, and the toma. 3* 58 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. hawk of the savage, the numbers of the colony were reduced from five hundred to sixty men, women and children ; and these poor wretched creatures were -pre- served for the most part by feeding on herbs, roots, acorns and berries. One of their number, in writing of this dreadful time, says : "So great was our famine, that a savage we slew and buried, the poorer sort took him up again and ate him; and so did divers one another boiled and stewed with roots and herbs. One amongst the rest did kill his wife, powdered her, and had eaten part of her before it was known ; for which he was exe- cuted. ~Now whether sho was better boiled or roasted I know not, but of such a dish as a powdered wife I never heard." And all these evils came from their own course of idleness and mismanagement, as the country was fully able to afford them most ample support, both from the production of the field, game of the forest, and fish of the rivers. To add to their distress, they believed them- selves abandoned by their friends in England, as no ves- sel had come from thero for many months. At length, however, when they were reduced to the greatest ex- tremities, Sir Thomas Gates and Sir Georgo Somers arrived with a hundred and fifty men. You can well imagine how the poor, starving, dying men crawled down to the shore to give them welcome, and how they begged, with the tears streaming over their cheeks, to bo taken away from this wretched place, where they had suffered so much misery. It was a sad welcome ; and so greatly were the new-comers shocked at the con- dition of affairs, that they readily yielded to the en- treaties of these unfortunate men, and determined, to abandon Jamestown and return to England. So tho HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 59 next day, after burying the guns and ammunition at the gate of the fort, they all embarked. Some of the people were with difficulty prevented by Sir Thomas Grates from setting fire to the town. They fired a farewell volley, but not a tear was shed at leaving a place where they had endured so much. The boat started down the ABRIVAIi OF SIB THOMAS GATES AT JAMESTOWN. river, and the men crowded the decks to take a farewell look at the familiar places along its banks; and a feeling of regret must have filled even their bosoms, that this beautiful country, with its great resources, should be given up to the savage ; nor did God, who overrules all things, intend that this should be, for before they had been many hours on the journey, they saw, coming up the river towards them, a long boat with dispatches 60 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. from Lord Delaware, who was not far behind, with three vessels and plenty of provisions to last the whole colony a year. This changed the aspect of affairs, and Sir Thomas Gates, changing the course of his vessel, returned to Jamestown, reaching there the evening of the same day. The third day after these events, Lord Delaware, Sir Thomas Gates, and Sir George Somers, with all of their men, arrived, and the poor, sick, famished colonists were drawn up to meet him; but when his lordship stepped on shore, before he would submit to their greeting, he fell upon his knees and engaged in silent prayer. It was an impressive scene. Adjourning to the church, they listened to a sermon, in which the providence of God in all these matters was plainly shown to them. After this, Lord Delaware made a speech, which was eagerly listened to by the crowd. He traced the course of their disasters, and pointed out to them plainly how their own idleness and folly had been the cause of their ruin. He entreated them to avoid the errors of the past, or he as their Governor should bo forced to draw the sword of justice, and cut off delinquents, however great the trial might bo to himself, as ho had rather shed his blood in their defence than to punish one of them. This speech was received with great applause, all seeing that in its stern kindness lay a hopo for their future. Those who had been there longest knew the evils of misrule, and were willing to submit themselves to the authority of their new commander. Vigorous measures wero adopted. He appointed regular hours for work and recreation. .Religious services were held twice on Sunday, and once in the week, at which all wero required to attend. New treaties were made with tho Indians, and Captain Argall was dispatched with a ves- HISTORY OF YIRGINIA. 61 sel to the Bermudas to bring fresh provisions, but being forced back by a storm, Lord Delaware sent him up the Potomac river to trade with the Indians ; here he found the young English boy whom Pocahontas had rescued, and through him succeeded in opening trade with the tribes of Indians on that river, who freighted his ship with all that he required* The next year Lord Delaware went up the James river as far as the Falls, near which Richmond now stands. Assaulted by the Indians, four of his men were killed, and soon after this he was taken very sick and forced to return to England, leaving Captain George Percy to act as Governor until the arrival of Sir Thomas Dale, who had been appointed Governor by the London Company. He reached Jamestown in May, and found the colony fast falling back to their former condition of poverty, having relapsed into their idle habits since Lord Delaware's departure. He at once set them to work again, punishing those who would not submit to him with great severity, for which he was much hated. In August of the next year Sir Thomas Gates arrived, with men and provisions. He built a town upon James River, and called it Henricopolis ; it stood some miles below the present site of Richmond. Thus was the colony of Virginia firmly established, and with vigorous management was increasing in prosperity. Their old enemy Powhatan continued to give them trouble, cap- turing men and arms wherever he could find them. Since the return of Captain Smith to England, Poca- hontas had never visited Jamestown, and seemed to have lost her interest in the colony. But in the winter of the year in which Henrico was built, an event occurred which again connects her with the history of Virginia. G2 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. Captain Argall, whilst trading with a tribe of Indians upon the Potomac river, heard that Pocahontas was in the neighborhood, with an Indian chief named Japazaws, an old friend of Captain Smith, and determined to take advantage of this circumstance to compel Powhatan to conclude a treaty of peace with the English. He sought oat Japazaws, and told him of his desire to obtain posses- sion of Pocahontas, promising that sho should bo treated with respect, as his only object was to stop the blood- shed which was continually going on between the English and the Powhatans. He also promised Japa- zaws a copper kettle if ho would assist him in his undertaking. Japazaws consented, and Pocahontas, who believed herself unknown to this party of English- men, listened to the wife of Japazaws as she told her how anxious she was to see an English ship, and how her husband would take her if Pocahontas would go with her. For some time sho refused, and Japazaws' wife went to her husband and told him sho could not persuade her, whereupon Japazaws threatened to beat her if sho did not succeed in the undertaking. At last Pocahontas was persuaded to accompany them. They found a feast prepared for them in the cabin, during which Japazaws trod hard upon the foot of Captain Argall, to remind him that ho had dono his part and the copper kettle must bo forthcoming; so when tho meal was over, Captain Argall induced Pocahontas to go into tho gun-room while ho held a conference with Japazaws ; then sending for her, he told her she must go along with him, and she should never see Powhatan again until she had made a peace between the English and her tribe. Finding herself thus betrayed, the poor girl burst into bitter tears, and the treacherous old Indian HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 63 and his wifo howled melodiously to convince her that they too were the victims of a stratagem. Captain Argall succeeded at length in reconciling Pocahontas to her situation, hy convincing her that her captivity would accomplish what nothing else had ever done — a peace between the English and Indians. So Japazaws and his wife, receiving their copper kettle and other toys, returned home, and Pocahontas will- ingly accompanied Captain Argall to Jamestown. Argall sent word to Powhatan that he held his daughter as a hostage, and that he must ransom her with the prisoners he held and the guns and swords he had stolen. Great were the rage and grief of the old Indian chief when he heard this news; for he dearly loved his daughter, and he also loved the property of the English with which he must ransom her. Many were the promises he made and broke in his endeavor to cheat his enemies into surrendering her, but it was in vain. They knew him too well to believe in mer,e promises; so Pocahontas remained at Jamestown. Now what could not be brought about by foul means was accom- plished by fair ; for it happened that after Pocahontas had been two years at Jamestown, Master John Rolfe, an honest gentleman, fell in love with her, and she with him, so they determined in this natural way to unite the English and the Indians. The news of this intended marriage reaching Powhatan, he at once gave his con- sent, and sent his brother Opachisto, and two of his sons, to witness the marriage, and conclude a permanent peace with the English. A messenger afterwards went to Powhatan from Sir Thomas Dale, bearing with him two pieces of copper, five wooden combs, some beads and fish-hooks, and a pair of knives, all of which pleased 64 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. him well. lie was then told that Sir Thomas Dale hearing of the beauty of his second daughter, desired that she might be sent to Jamestown, that she also might marry an Englishman, and so bind the two nations more closely together. The old chief answered with gravity, " I am very much obliged to my brother for his salute of love and peace, and for his pledges thereof, which I will surely keep, though "they are not so ample as what he has formerly sent me. But as for my daughter, I have sold her in a few days past to a great Wenowance, three days' journey from me, for three bushels of Rawrenoke." The English tried to persuade him to send back the Bawrenoke and he should have far more than the price of it in beads, copper, and hatchets ; but he answered that he loved his daughter better than his life, that though he had many children she was his favorite, and he could not live if she were taken from him ; that he did not consider it a brotherly part to desire to take away both of his children at once. He further assured them that he would keep peace with the English with- out this further pledge. He ended his speech thus : <' I am old, and would gladly end my days in peace ; if you offer me injury, my country is large enough for mo to go from you; this much I hope will satisfy my brother. Now, because you arc weary, and I am sleepy, we will end this." Thus the old King refused a further alliance with the English, making it plain that he had submitted to the marriage of Pocahontas as a matter of necessity. The after-history of Pocahontas is short, but of touch- ing interest. Her husband, who was truly devoted to her, carefully instructed her in Christianity, and after awhile she openly renounced the idolatry of her country^ HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 65 and confessing the faith of Christ, was baptised in the old church at Jamestown, receiving the name of Be- becca. Two years after her marriage she, with her husband, went to England, where she was much ad- mired and sought after at the court of Queen Anne,* and was particularly spoken of for the admirable dignity of her deportment, well befitting a king's daughter. She learned to speak the English language quite well, and had one child, Thomas Kolfe, who, after he became a man, visited Virginia and his mother's relatives. From him are descended many of the most prominent families of Virginia. It was while Pocahontas was at the court of Queen Anne that she again met Captain Smith, who gives us the only account we have of the interview. Upon seeing him she covered her face with her hands and did not speak a word. At length she said : " They did tell me always you were dead, and Powhatan did send to find out the truth, because your countrymen will lie much." She then added : " You call Powhatan 1 Father,' being in his land and a stranger; and now, for the same reason, I will call you Father." Smith remon* strated against this, telling her she was a king's daughter and must preserve her dignity; but she answered indignantly, "You showed no fear to come into my father's country, and to make him and all his people but me afraid, but you fear here in England for me to call you father. I tell you then I will, and you shall call me child, and so I will be forever and ever your country-woman." The life of this lovely young woman was a short one ; she died at Gravesend in England, four years after her marriage, leaving to history the most beautiful picture of refinement and natural majesty of character, springing up in a wilderness — a natural * The wife of James I. 66 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. growth upon uncultivated soil, a fair flower blooming alone among the sturdy oaks and pine-trees of her native forests. Virginia cannot too much honor her memory, since to her more than once Virginia owed its existence. And bo long as history records deeds dared and the hard- ships endured by the first settlers at Jamestown, so long will Pocahontas be remembered as the guardian angel of the colony. Questions for Examination, 1. How were the colonists forced to acknowledge the loss they had sustained in Captain Smith? 2. To what condition was the colony reduced In six months? 3. Relate some incidents of the "starving time." 4. What happened when they were reduced to their last extremity? 5. How was !Sir Thomas Gates met on his arrival? 6. Relate the abandonment of Jamestown. 7. What happened next ? 8. Give an account of Lord Delaware's arrival. 9 How did he employ his first hours? 10. What did lie tell the people, and how was his speech received? 11. What measures did the new Governor adopt? 12. What happened the next year? 13. What new town was built, and where? 14. What news did Captain Argall hear while trading with the Indians? 15. Tell of his bargain with Japazaws. 16. How did he obtain possession of Pocahontas? 17. How did Powhatan receive the news of his daughter's capture? 18. How was the union between the English and Indians ac- complished? 19. What is the subsequent history of Pocahontas? 20. How should Virginians regard her memory ? CHAPTER X. 1614-1622. It had been a matter of necessity in the early days of the colony, that there should be no separation of prop- HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 67 crty; all worked for the common fund. Although, as I have said, this was necessary, yet was it the cause of innumerable evils ; no man felt that he was working for himself, but for everybody ; and if one was disposed to ho idle, it was easy enough to feign sickness, when he knew ho would be supplied from the public fund. And this was the cause of the quarrels, the idleness and the want of thrift which marked the history of the first colonists of Virginia. So after the marriage of Pocahontas had established a firm peace with the Indians, it was deter- mined to remedy this evil. Accordingly, each one of the settlers was made the owner of three acres of ground which he called his plantation, upon which he was forced to subsist with his family, and to pay into the public treasury a tax of two and a half barrels of corn. This had the effect that was desired ; each man felt that his labor was for himself and his family, and so we hear little more of improvidence. The year after the death of Pocahontas, Powhatan died, and in him the English lost a friend, though not one upon whom much confidence could be placed, as he was only bound to them by ties of interest. He was succeeded by Opechankanough, one of the most treach- erous and blood-thirsty of a treacherous and blood- thirsty i)eople. For some years he continued his pro- fessions of kindness and good- will to the English, but there is no reason to believe that he ever cherished other than the bitterest hatred towards them. Perhaps his enmity was due to a recollection of his humiliation, when Captain Smith led him by the hair of his head through the midst of his own people ; but however this may be, one thing is certain, that with professions of love upon his tongue, he was bent upon their destruction. 68 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. One year after the death of Powhatan, slavery was first introduced into Virginia. The owner of an English vessel purchased twenty Africans from a Dutch man- of-war, thinking he was doing an act of kindness, as the poor creatures seemed to be suffering great misery, crowded together in the hold of the slave-ship. The Virginians had before this depended for laborers upon criminals, who were released from the prisons of England that they might act as servants for the colonists. The condition of the negroes was pitiable in the extreme ; and when they were brought to Jamestown, I have no doubt the planters thought they were doing God service by taking the poor creatures, teaching them Christianity, and otherwise improving their condition. They scarcely imagined that they were planting an institution which was to bring so much trouble and controversy into the Old Dominion and half the continent of North America. The same year a vessel arrived from England bringing a very different kind of cargo from that of Avhich we have been speaking, namely, a number of young women of good character, to serve as wives for the colonists. In order to defray the expenses of the journey, each man was obliged to purchase his wife for one hundred and twenty pounds of tobacco. Afterwards the price of a wife was much higher. Three or four years passed away without any event of striking interest to the colony of Virginia. Popula- tion increased rapidly, and reports of tho prosperity of the country reaching the old world, numbers were in- duced to emigrate. .But the growth of the young nation was destined to receive yet another check from Indian treachery. All this time tho English and Indians had been living together as ono nation, and so it might HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 69 have continued but for the circumstances which I will now narrate. An Indian called Jack of the Feather, from his wearing a remarkable ornament of that kind in his head, treacherously murdered an Englishman named Morgan ; and Morgan's sons in their turn killed him. This coming to the ears of Opechankanough, he determined to make it the excuse for the entire destruc tion of the colony. He succeeded in drawing into his MASSACRE OF 1622. devilish plot all the tribes of Indians in the country around, and a day was fixed upon for the terrible outrage. The plantations were now so scattered as to make the success of the plan comparatively easy, and it would undoubtedly have been complete but for the inter- position of a converted Indian, who disclosed the plot to a planter in whose employ he was. Upon hearing the news, he immediately secured his own house, rode off to 70 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. Jamestown and informed the Governor, who with all dispatch took means to prevent the catastrophe. But he had not time to inform the more distant planters, who were the first sufferers. Soon the light from the burning dwellings showed that the savages were at their work. From home to home they went, murdering men, women and children, even burning their houses and driving off the cattle ; but such was their fear of the English that wherever resistance was made they retreated in dismay. At length the whole country was aroused, and the mas- sacre came to an end, but not before three hundred and forty-seven men, women, and children had been killed. Great was the distress of the people of England when the news of this calamity reached them. Many mourned friends among the slain, and others lamented those who, though still alive, were in reach of the tomahawk and sealping-knif'e. While the excitement was at its height, Captain John Smith wrote a letter to the King, repre- senting how worse than useless it was any longer to trust to the promise of friendship given by the savage tribes of Virginia; he said that they must either be driven out of the country or kept in subjection, and offered, if the King would give him a hundred and thirty-seven men, with ships and money, to undertake the accomplishment of ono or the other of these objects. He had many objections to encounter, but succeeded in obtaining what he wanted, and after six years' absence, again set sail for Virginia,, but suffered shipwreck and was forced to return One cannot restrain a feeling of pity wfatm he reads tho account of the Indian tribes being driven back step by step before tho sword of their conquerors; but this feeling should not lead us into error. He who led the conquering host of HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 71 Israel into the promised land, and drove out before them the Amorite, the Hittite and the Perizite, willed that Christopher Columbus should accomplish the purpose for which ho was created; and nerved the arm of Captain John Smith, so that, like a second Samson, fighting under the leadership of the great Jehovah, ho paused not until this fair country was wrested from the hands of the barbarous savage and given to those who worshipped the Cod of Heaven. You have heard much said, and will hear still more, about the wrong which has been done to the red man by the white man ; but what would have been said if the civilized nations of the world had turned their backs upon this great continent, with all of its wonderful resources, because it was occupied by a few savage tribes, who were incapable alike of appreciating their possessions or improving them? God for his own pur- poses makes one nation superior to another, and the history of the world shows that the inferior always gives place to the superior race ; so that the act which has driven the red man backward step by step is man's, yet the purpose was God's, of whom man is but the instrument. Could the two nations have dwelt together in peace, it would have been wrong for the English to have dis- possessed the Indians; but these horrible massacres occurring after long seasons of peace and apparent friendship, were proof sufficient that no colony could prosper so long as the savage tribes were their neigh- bors. Had it been possible, it would have been much better for the English to have bought the lands from the Indians, and this was done to some extent; but as a general thing they wore averse to parting with them, 72 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. and did not recognize a bargain after it was made ; so that as tranquillity was absolutely necessary to the pros- perity of the colony, the savage must be removed beyond the settlements, that it might be secured. In order that you may understand fully this period in the history of Virginia, it is necessary to give you an insight into the history of England, as Virginia was a British Province. Henry VII. narrowly missed the glory of promoting the discovery of the Western World ; as Christopher Columbus was actually on his way to England to solicit the help of this its sovereign, when his ship was driven back by a storm, and he received the aid of the King of Spain. When the King of England found of what great importance this discovery was to be, he lost no time in fitting out vessels, and sending the Cabots to follow it up by others ; and as I have already told you, they made the discovery of the main continent of America. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth of England, several inef- fectual attempts were made to colonize America. Eliza- beth was succeeded by James the First, and he it was who granted a charter to the London Company to plant a colony in Virginia, and they, as you remember, sent out Captain Smith and his companions. Nearly twenty years had elapsed since this settlement, and although the London Company had spent a great deal of money, yet the colony, as we have seen, did not flourish under its control as it ought to have done. King James seeing this, and foreseeing also tnc great wealth which must accrue to the English crown if these colonies were successfully established, determined to take the matter into his own hands; he therefore deprived the London HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 73 Company of its charter. This was certainly an unjust act, as the word of a King should never bo broken; and it seemed very much like robbery of the merchants and other rich men who constituted the London Com- pany, just when they might reasonably have expected to reap the benefits of the great expenditures they had made. Accordingly they offered an indignant remon- strance against this act of the King ; but it did no good> King James remained firm. Now although this was a great misfortune for the Company, yet it was the best thing that ever happened to Virginia ; for during the eighteen years of the existence of the London Company, the colonists were looked upon in no other light than as servants of the Company, which had no settled plan for its improvement. No wonder, then, that the Yirginians lost sight of the wrong which was done to the London Company, and rejoiced in the change that was come to themselves. King James did not live long enough to complete his plans for the government of Yirginia, as his death oc- curred only one year after he had taken the control of the colony from the London Company. His son, Charles the First, ascended the throne, and adopting his father's ideas about the new country, declared it to belong to the crown of England, and directly under his own government. He appointed Sir George Yeardly Governor, and em- powered him to act in conjunction with a council of twelve men, according to such instructions as he him- self should send them from time to time. Thus Yirginia knew no law but the will of the King. Although this was more agreeable to them than the exactions of the London Company, yet they soon learned that a change of masters did not always bring entire relief from oppression. 4 74 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. Charles the First of England, although beloved by many of his subjects, was by others regarded as a tyrant. He was very extravagant in his habits of life, and even the revenues of his office were not sufficient to meet his wishes ; and in order to raise money, he re- sorted to unjust taxation. By his order, the Governor and Council of Virginia imposed taxes upon the people, deprived them of their property, and in many other ways caused them great distress. The favorites of the .King were sent over, with permission to take for their own large tracts of land, and these grants often en- croached upon the property of those who had for years endured the privations of the life in a new country, and who thus saw the results of their labors quietly trans- ferred to others. Tobacco had long been the staple production of Vir- ginia. It had been introduced into England by Sir Walter Raleigh, who, you remember, fitted out the vessels which brought over the first English colonists to Virginia. Some amusing stories are told about this nobleman, who was very clever, and possessed a great influence over his sovereign mistress, Queen Eliza- beth. He had imbibed a great fondness for smoking tobacco, and as it was the fashion to follow the example of this court favorite in all that he did, the young noble- men of the court all adopted the habit. One day Sir AYaltcr was smoking his pipe, when his servant, who had just engaged in his service, entered the room. See- ing his master sitting before him, with a volume of smoke curling above his head, the man thought that he was on fire, and the first thing the nobleman knew was a douse of cold water all over him. Another day he was smoking in the presence of Queen Elizabeth and the HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 75 ladies of her court, and made a wager that he could weigh the smoke which ascended from his pipe and curled away until it was lost in the pure atmosphere of the room. Elizabeth bet him five broad pieces of gold that this could not be done. The nobleman, with cool confidence, weighed the pipe of tobacco and then proceeded to smoke it ; after he had finished, he care- fully weighed the pipe with the ashes, which of course was lighter than the tobacco had been ; he then tri- umphantly declared that the difference between the two must be the weight of the smoke which had escaped. He had fairly gained his wager, and the Queen laid the gold pieces upon his extended palm. Since that time the demand for it had steadily increased, and the sale of it brought much wealth to the colony. What then were the surprise and indignation of the Virginians to find a proclamation issued by order of the King, that henceforth no tobacco should be sold except to agents appointed by himself. This brought down the price, deprived the colonies of a great source of wealth, and created much dissatisfaction and murmuring amongst them. They presented a petition to the King, stating a list of their grievances and praying relief; but of this he took not the least notice. This condition of affairs grew worse instead of better. Tyrannical governors were appointed, who executed the King's commands with severity, — nay more, who see« ing that the Virginians had nc redress, oppressed them even beyond their authority, until at last, in a fit of in- dignation with one of these governors, Sir John Harvey who had succeeded Governor Yeardley, the Virginians siczed him and sent him a prisoner to England, accom- panied by two of their number, who were deputed to 76 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. tell Charles of the cruelty and rapacity with which this man discharged his trust. This was a high-handed act in the Virginians, and one which Charles regarded as rebellion against his au- thority ; he having appointed the Governor, did not choose that any one but himself should remove him, so he refused to hear the cause, and sent Harvey back to re- sume his position. Notwithstanding this, he seems to have recognized the fact that it would be dangerous to try the Virginians too far, as not very long after Har- vey was removed, and Sir William Berkeley, a man every way acceptable to them, was appointed his suc- cessor. Questions for Examination. 1. "What years are included in this chapter? 2. What necessary customs prevailed in the early days of the colonies ? 3. What change was now made, and why ? 4. Wno succeeded Powhatan ? 5. Was he a friend to the English ? 6. Relate circumstances of first introduction of slavery into Vir- ginia. 7. What important cargo arrived the same year? 8. What was the pi ogress of t lie colony for some years? 9. What was the first check its prosperity received? 10. Kelate story of " Jack t f the Feather." 11. What use did Opechankanough make of this incident? 12. Give en account of the massacre of 1622. 13. What prevented its being a perfect success? 14. How was the news received in England? 15. What of Captain Smith? 16. Was it right for the English to take the country from th9 Indians? 17. How should we regard the whole affair? 18. Why did not the English buy the lands? 19. Why is it necessary to give some account of the history of England here? 20. What circumstances of interest to America happened during the reign of Henry VI I. ? 21. What in the reign of Elizabeth? 22. Of James l.T 23. Why did he take the charter from the London Company? 24. What was Charles First's course? 25. Tell the story of Sir Walter Raleigh and the servant. 20. How did he weigh the smoke? 27. How did the Virginians incur Charles's displeasure? HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 77 CHAPTEK XL 1644. The Indians had preserved an unbroken peace with the Virginians of twenty-three years; but their hatred, although carefully concealed, was not abated. Laws had been made which obliged them to fix their habita- OPKCHANKANOUGH LEADING HIS WARRIORS. tion at some distance from the white men. Opechan- kanough still lived, though he numbered nearly a hun- dred years ; and so decrepid had he become that he could no longer walk, but had to be carried on a litter before his warriors ; his eyelids were paralyzed so that ho could only see when they were raised by his attend- 78 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. ants, and jet so fierce and implacable was his hatred of the whites that he determined to make one more effort to rescue the country from their grasp. Gather- ing the chiefs of the different tribes together, he told them of his plan, and succeeded in inducing them to join him, by a promise that they should possess all the riches which had been accumulated in the country ; and with the help of the arms and ammunition which they should gain, would be able to keep possession forever of the land so justly their own. The plot was well-laid — not a white man was to be spared — and would have been successful if the Indians had carried it out courageously; but the fear of the English was too rooted in them to permit this. They struck the first blow, and then fled. Sir William Berkeley, the Governor, collecting a body of men, pursued the fugitives, and overtaking the party who were carrying Opechankanough upon his litter, captured him, and took him a prisoner to Jamestown. He was kindly treated, but remained unconquered by age or by misfortunes. The presence of this brave old man excited much curiosity in Jamestown, and many flocked to look ujoon the warrior who had given them so much trouble during so many years. One day hear- ing footsteps in his room, he caused his eyelids to be lifted, and seeing a crowd of persons before him, sent for the Governor and said to him: "Had it been my fortune to take Sir William Berkeley prisoner, I would have disdained to make a show of him." He had prob- ably forgotten the time when he captured Captain John Smith, and led him in triumph through all the Indian tribes upon the Chickahominy and neighboring rivers. He did not continue long in the possession of the Eng- HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 79 lish. One of his guards was not ashamed to take advan- tage of his helplessness, and shot him in the back to gratify a private revenge. He languished for a while, and then died. While these events were taking place in Yirginia, England was distracted by a civil war. Charles the First had pursued in his own country the same course by which he had oppressed the colonies in America. The government of England consists of the King and the Parliament. The latter is, like the Congress of the United States, made up of representatives from every section of the country. These representatives go to Parliament to represent the wishes and wants of the people from whom they come, and thus having the good not only of the different portions of the country, but of the whole at heart, make laws suitable to the state of their affairs. Now, if it should so happen that one portion of the country should not send its representa- tives to Parliament, you can understand that, having no one to speak for it, that portion would be neglected in the consultations for the general good. So there was a law made that no part of the country should be taxed unless it was represented. The American colonies were not represented, so according to the laws of England, they should not have been taxed. There were two other laws which just now had an im- portant bearing upon English affairs : 1st, The Parlia- ment was always called together by the King, and could only meet by his orders. 2d, The King could make no laws nor take any step without the consent of Parlia- ment. I have told you that Charles was in the habit of raising money by taxing the people. This, Parliament would not give its consent to, and so there arose a 80 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. quarrel between the two heads of the government. Charles dissolved the Parliament and refused to call another, and went on laying his taxes on the people. This continued for a number of years, and everything was thrown into ihe utmost confusion; the people groaned under the unjust taxation, and there was no Parliament to set things right. Then commenced a war between the King and Parlia- ment, which resulted in the dethronement and capture of the King, who was afterwards beheaded in front of his palace ; and Parliament took the entire control of the affairs of government, and placed at their head Oliver Cromwell, with the title of Protector. Now, though the Virginians had suffered much from the unjust taxation of Charles, yet wero they loyal to his cause, mourned his death, and gave no recognition to the Parliamentary government. They were also en- couraged in this courso by Sir William Berkeley, who was a staunch friend of royal authority; and Virginia became a refuge for the friends of King Charles who were obliged to flee from their own country. Two years after the King was beheaded, Parliament sent a fleet to Virginia, to compel its submission. Sir William Berkeley having no means of resisting tho fleet, the government of Virginia was surrendered without a blow. The Episcopalian is the Established Church of Eng- land, that of Scotland is Presbyterian, and tho history of these two countries was for many years a struggle between the two forms of religion ; the English insist- ing that tho Scotch Presbyterians should use the Prayer-book service, and they fighting for their right to worship God according to tho old forms of their HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 81 Church, which they still preserve. While the English on the one hand were violently opposed to the simple forms of the Church of Scotland, on the other hand they hated the gorgeous forms of the Church of Eome. We will not enter into a discussion of these religious controversies j suffice it to say that the most bitter animosities, the most bloody wars, and the most unconquerable prejudices are those which have their root in religion; and so all of these different parties hated each other with what they called a "holy hatred," and in England the sovereigns were always forced to take an oath to preserve the faith of the " Church of England." Now, as Virginia was colonized by the English, of course the Episcopal was the established Church of the country; and in no part of the "Mother Country," as England was called, was the devotion to the forms of this Church greater than in this her colony. King Charles, although himself a Protestant, had a Catholic wife, and one of his favorites was Lord Balti- more, a firm adherent of the Church of Eome ; he find- ing that his religion interfered with his possession of property in England, obtained a grant of land from the Xing, and came over to Virginia to settle. Here he had the same difficulties to encounter, as the Virginians were averse to the very name of Papist. He seems to have been a very estimable gentleman, and not at all anxious to provoke controversy ; so leaving the inhabited parts of Virginia, he proceeded up Chesapeake Eay to its head, where he found a beautiful country unoccupied. .Returning to England, he obtained Charles's permission to settle a Catholic colony upon land that of right belonged to Virginia. This state he called "Maryland," 4* 82 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. after Henrietta Maria, the wife of King Charles; and the first city which was laid out was called " Baltimore." The Virginians did not give up their right to this territory without a struggle ; and it was not until after years of controversy that Maryland was recognized as a separate State. Maryland, therefore, is the eldest daughter of Virginia, being the first State that was formed out of South Virginia. After the execution of Charles I., an effort was made to force the Marylanders to observe the forms of the Protestant religion; and for a short time this was successful, and the .Roman Catholics were excluded from the pale of religious freedom. But Oliver Crom- well, the Lord Protector of England, refused to sanction this, but ordered the commissioners "not to busy them- selves about religion, but to settle the civil govern- ment ; " and the Catholics were again restored to their rights. I have told you that the Episcopal had been the established form of religion in Virginia, as well as in England ; but the contest between Charles the Eirst and his Parliament worked a change in both countries. The Parliament of England was composed of members from Scotland, who were staunch Presbyterians, whilst those from England were, of course, Episcopalians. The members who adhered to King Charles were mostly of his own faith, and when they were defeated, the Presby- terians, or Puritans as tney were called, were in the majority; and when they took possession of the gov- ernment of Virginia, although the use of the Prayer- book was permitted, the Scotch form of worship was also sanctioned. I havo thought it right to call your attention to these HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 83 matters concerning religious forms, because the changes I have spoken of constitute the first steps toward that freedom of religion which has ever been the pride of America. Oliver Cromwell ruled England for eleven years, and they were years of great prosperity and peace ; not only for the mother country, but for her colonies in America. At the time of his death, the English people were so well satisfied with the form of government he had inaugurated, that they had no wish ever again to have a king to rule over them; and had there been another man like Oliver Cromwell, who could have governed them wisely and well, they would probably have con- tinued in the same state of mind. But his son, who succeeded him, was not capable of filling his place, wnich caused great dissatisfaction ; and many began to turn their eyes to Charles, the son of their late king, and to think that perhaps they would be happier under his government. This ended in his being invited to occupy the throne, which invitation he gladly accepted; and at the period which w T e have now reached, he governed the kingdom under the tit|resented this petition, and the grievances were considered sufficient to justify a declaration of war against the Indians. Five hundred men were enlisted, and the forts garrisoned. One of these forts was on the .Rappahannock where Freder- icksburg now stands, another on the Mattapony, an- other on the Pamunkey, and another at the falls of the Appomattox, near the present site of Petersburg. The little army was put under the command of Sir Henry Chichelcy ; but just as he was about to march against the Indians, to the general surprise and dissatisfaction of the colony, he was ordered by Sir William Berkeley to disband his forces. The continuance of the Indian out- rages exasperated the colonists greatly; and they deter- mined if their Governor would not defend them, they t^ould defend themselves. This determination was strengthened by the news of fresh outrages on the fron- tiers; and looking around for some leader qualified to direct their operations, they found just the man they wanted in Nathaniel Bacon, a young gentleman of great popularity, who had his residence on the James river, near where JUchmond now stands. The Indians had killed hid HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 87 overseer and one of his servants ; for this he had vowed vengeance. lie was chosen General by the colonists, who had risen now to the number of near six hundred men, and he at once applied to Sir "William Berkeley for his commission. The old Governor was secretly out- raged at this infringement of his authority, but was afraid to resist the demands of this formidable body of men with arms in their hands. In order to gain time, he returned an evasive reply to Bacon's demand for the commission, and sent some of his friends to persuade him to disband his forces. The Governor also issued a proclamation, declaring all such as should not return to their homes within a certain time, rebels and traitors. This looked so serious that those who had property, fearing confis- cation, deserted Bacon and returned home. Stimulated rather than intimidated by the course of the Governor, Bacon refused to yield, and with only fifty men, pursued his course towards the frontier. Sir William Berkeley, collecting a troop of horse, pursued Bacon about forty miles, and then returned home. Bacon, with his small body of men, proceeded up the river. Many days elapsed before they encountered the Indians ; but at length they found a fort in which were entrenched a party of Mannakins, a tribe which had always been friendly to the English. Bacon, calling to them from across the river, asked for food, offering to pay them liberally. They put him off with promises for three days, when Bacon, with some of his nearly starving men, waded across the river and again demanded food. Just then a shot was fired from the side of the river Bacon had just left, and one of his men was killed. The idea at once occurred to him that Governor Berkeley had concerted a plan with the Indians for the destruction 88 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. of his little army, and that they had been kept there by false promises for three days until the Governor should arrive In a storm of indignation he ordered his men to advance, and, without taking time for thought, utterly demolished the fort and all that it con- tained ; killing a hundred and fifty Indians, and himself BACON BEFORE BERKELEY. oniy losing three men. This was a great stain upon the character of Bacon, which was otherwise remark- able for moderation and clemency; Out nothing can excuse such slaughter. He seems to have been shocked at his own act, as, after this, he disbanded his men and returned home. No immediate steps were taken against him. He was elected to the House of Burgesses from the county of Henrico, and going down to take his place in the Assent HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 89 bly, was arrested and sent a prisoner to Jamestown, where he was forced to humble himself and ask pardon for his offences, and to give his word of honor that ho would not again offend. He was permitted to take his place in the House, and was promised a commission to go against the Indians j but hearing through a friend that Sir William Berkeley was dealing falsely with him, and was plotting against his liberty and life, he escaped from Jamestown. So great was the indignation felt throughout the whole country at the humiliation to which he had been subjected, that in a few days four hundred men joined him; and with this force ho marched towards Jamestown, determined to obtain by force the commission which had been promised him. Sir William Berkeley, in alarm, summoned the whole militia of the country to defend JamestoAvn; but could only collect one hundred men, all the rest having nocked to the standard of Bacon ; and half, if not all of these which were left, being favorable to his cause. In four days Bacon marched into Jamestown, unresisted. No- thing could exceed the panic of the House of Burgesses at his appearance ; while the citizens rejoiced. Drawing up his forces on the green in front of the State House, Bacon demanded an interview with the Governor. The old man rushed out into the midst of the rebels, and baring his breast, cried out in an agitated voice four or five times without stopping, " Here ! shoot me, 'fore God, fair mark, shoot ! " Bacon advancing courteously towards him, raised his hat as he said, " No, may it please your Honor, we will not hurt a hair of your head or an}^ other man's. In order to save our lives from the Indians we are come for the commission which you have so often promised, and now we will 90 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. have it ! " ind Bacon commenced walking up and down excitedly before his men. Sir William withdrew to the State Houue to consult with the Burgesses, and Bacon followed him, while a company of his men with their jnins cocked advanced to the windows of the room where the Burgesses were assembled, exclaiming " We will have it ! we will have it \ " One of the Burgesses going to the window, waved his handker- chief, exclaiming " You shall have it ! you shall have it ! " Bacon harangued the Assembly upon the subject of the Indian outrages, the enormous taxes, and other griev- ances, and demanded authority to redress at least some of them. The Burgesses were nearly all favorable to Bacon, but only the Governor could give the commission, and he was not easily brought to terms. Finding, however, that there was no escape, he at length signed the com- mission, and Bacon and his men departed in triumph. They had scarcely left Jamestown before Governor Berkeley declared Bacon and his followers rebels and traitors, and that his commission was forfeited. Berke- ley then repaired to Gloucester county, where he believed he had many friends, and summoned all who were loyal to the King to rally around him and support him against these disturbers of the public peace. He met with a very different response from what he expected. Tho men of Gloucester told him that thc} r regarded Bacon as their friend and brother, that he was doing their court* try a service by fighting the Indians, and they had no wish to bear arms against him ; when he should really become a traitor, the Governor might depend upon them. Berkeley gnashed his teeth with rage at this rebellion Against his authority, but stood too much alone to force HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 91 their compliance. Intelligence of these events was con- veyed to Bacon by Drummond and Lawrence, two of his friends, and he said bitterly 'twas a hard case that while he was hunting wolves which were destroying innocent lambs, that he should thus be hunted in the real like a savage animal. He added, " I am like corn be- tween two mill-stones, which will grind me to powdei if I don't look to it." Eetracing his steps, he marched towards Gloucester, intending to force Sir William into a different course of action ; but the old Governor having no idea of risking a personal encounter, calling together the few friends who still clung to his fortunes, crossed the Bay and took refuge in Accomac county, where he not only hoped to be out of reach of the "rebellion," but to find many friends to aid him in his time of need. In this latter hope he was disappointed. By looking at the map of Virginia you will find that Chesapeake Bay runs up into its territory, leaving a long slip of land on its eastern side, which terminates m a peninsula, at the southern extremity of which is Capo Charles. When Captain Smith first brought his colony to Virginia, this peninsula was inhabited by the Acco- mac Indians, and from them it was named Accomao county ; and here it was that Governor Berkeley ex- pected to find hosts of friends. Instead, he soon per- ceived that the county was filled with earnest sympa- thizers with Bacon, who looked so coldly upon him that he was forced to conclude that his presence was endured, not desired. When the Virginians discovered that Sir William Berkeley had withdrawn himself from the State, as Ac- comac was regarded in some sort as independent of the government of Virginia, they determined to act as 92 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. though he had abandoned the conduct of affairs. Bacon called together the most prominent men of the colony at Middle Plantation, where Williamsburg now stands, to consult as to the best mode of conduct under the cir- cumstances. The period for which the Governor was elected was ten years, and the fact that this time had long passed was unnoticed so long as Berkeley was re- garded as a just and wise ruler, with the good of Vir- ginia at heart; but as this was no longer the case, they determined to regard his office as vacant, and proceed accordingly. The meeting was characterized by that enthusiasm which such stirring times and critical situations alwaj r s engender. Patriotic speeches were made, in which even the women seem to have had a voice. There was with Bacon one William Drummond ; he may be regarded as one of the leaders of the rebellion. Sarah Drummond, his wife, was also an ardent supporter of the cause. She was present at this meeting of the pa- triots, and rose in the Assembly and said, "The child that is unborn will have cause to rejoice at this rising of the country." A paper, which all signed, was drawn up, in which they set forth the grievances which the country suffered, the burdensome taxes under which the pcoplo groaned, the Navigation Act which restricted their commerce, and, above all, the horrors of the Indian outrages to which they were constantly subjected. They spoke of the ardor with which Nathaniel Bacon and his followers had striven to redress these last-men- tioned grievances, at the hands of the Governor and others, and they bound themselves by an oath to join Bacon against the common enemy, and to defend him against the Governor and his adherents; they even HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 93 went farther, and declared that inasmuch as Sir William Berkeley had informed the King that the people of Vir- ginia were rebels and traitors, and had requested him to send troops to subdue them, they wore resolved to resist those troops, until the King could be rightly in- formed as to the true state of the case. After this meet- ing, Bacon departed with his gallant army to attack the Indians. He destroyed several of their towns, and then proceeded to a point where he expected to encounter their whole force. "Bacon's Quarter Branch," a little stream on the outskirts of the city of Eichmond, marks this point. lie met the Indians at Bloody Eun, another stream in the same neighborhood, and here routed them so completely that the Indian power in Virginia was forever broken. Questions for Examination. 1. When did these events take place? 2. What of Sir William Berkeley ? 3. What relations existed between the Indians and Virginians? 4. How did the secret animosity of the savage now begin to show itself? 5. In what respects was the Government of Virginia like that of Kngland? 6. How did the Governor act in this crisis, and how was his conduct regarded by the Virginians? 7. Whom did the Virginians choose as their leader, and what of him? 8. What did Paeon do, and how did the Governor regard his demands? 9. How did the Governor act? 10. What did Bacon do? 11. Relate the circumstances of the storming of the Indian fort. 12. Was Bacon excusable lor the massacre? 13. What did he do next? 14. What happened alter his election to the House of Burgesses? 15. Tell of his leaving Jamestown. 16. What was his next step? 17. How was he received by the Governor and House of Eur* gesses? 18. Did they comply with his demands? 19. What course did the Governor adopt when Bacon left James- town ? 20. How did the people of Gloucester receive the Governor? 21. How did Bacon receive the news of these events ? fl HISTORY OF VIRGINIA, 22. What course did he talc a? 2:5. Where is Accomac County? 24. What did the Virginians do when they found Berkeley hatf g me to Accomac? 25. What was the character of the meeting at Middle Planta- tion? 26. Repeat some of the sentiments of the people. 27. What was Bacon s course ? CHAPTER XTTT. 1675. — Continued. Nathaniel Bacon had scarcely accomplished this vic- tory over the Indians, before he received intelligence which again turned his attention to the enemy in his rear. Giles Bland and William Carver, two of Bacon's followers, had seized a ship of four guns, which was commanded by one Captain Laramore. Putting a number of men on board of her, they proceeded down James River and into Chesapeake Bay, which they crossed, and anchored near Accomac county, in the neighborhood of Governor Berkeley's refuge. The object of this expedition was nominally to intercept supplies going to the Governor, as Bacon had ordered all vessels to be seized which were found thus employed. Now though this was their avowed object, it is not im- probable that they intended, should the opportunity occur, to take possession of the person of the Governor, and by carrying him to Jamestown, force him to make a peace which would securo Bacon from the annoyance of an enemy in his rear. Bland had already seized several vessels, and was cruising in the Bay, near the shores of Accomac, when HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 95 Captain Laramore secretly sent a message to the Gov- ernor, that if he would send a sufficient force, under an officer of tried fidelity, that he would promise to put him in possession of the ship, whose capture could easily be followed by that of the entire squadron belong- ing to the rebels. This message threw the Governoi into a state of great agitation. On the one hand, Lara- more was known to be an unprincipled and profligato man, and it was not improbable that this very message might be part of a plan to decoy him into the hands of his enemy ; on the other hand, his condition was desperate ; few of the Virginians still clung to him in his fallen fortunes, and his personal safety was every day becoming more insecure. His spirits rose at the mere thought of the great advantages which would accrue to his cause were Laramore only true to his promises. While he was in this state of indecision, Philip Ludwell, one of his most devoted followers, sought an interview with him, and begged that he might have the manage- ment of the affair. The Governor consented, and Lud- well, securing two boats, embarked at midnight, with twenty-six of his friends. Laramore had promised them a certain signal, and they were encouraged by seeing it as they neared the fleet. Guided by it, they were soon alongside the ship, which they boarded before thei* presence was discovered. Bland and his men, roused from their slumbers by the unusual noises on deck, rushed from their cabins, only to find themselves prisoners in the hands of their foes ; and in a few hours the whole navy fell a prey to the Governor's forces. Xothing could exceed the delight of Sir William Berkeley at this success, which gave him an opportunity to retrieve his depressed fortunes. He at once embarked for Jamestown, which 96 HISTORY OF VIRGINTA. he knew could make no resistance, as Bacon was far away on his Indian expedition with the flower of his army. With the greatest exultation, the Governor took possession of his former home, proclaimed Bacon a rebel, and commanded his followers to surrender him and dis- perse, if they would not themselves be punished as traitors. He then called a meeting of the Council, filling it up with only such men as he knew to be devoted to his cause. Inspired by the example of Ludwell, many now flocked to Jamestown, anxious to show their zeal for the King ; and in a few days Sir William Berkeley found himself at the head of an army of near a thousand men. This was the news that struck Bacon like an electric shock, as he was returning victorious from his Indian expedition. In a moment he saw the full danger of the situation. His followers, under the impression that since the defeat of the Indians there could be no immediate call for their services, had many of them dispersed to their homes ; and Bacon found himself with an army of scarcely three hundred men, worn down with the fatigues of their Indian campaigns, in want of the bare necessaries of life, in tho face of an enemy more than three times their number, and provided with everything necessary for their comfort and success. It is no wonder that for a moment the heart of the young leader failed him; but it was only for a moment. Nathaniel Bacon was of too brave a spirit and too san- guine a temper for despondency to master him ; indeed the very difficulties he had to encounter but stimulated his ardor. He made a stirring speech, the eloquence of which so fired the enthusiasm of his men that they rallied around him, professing their determination to HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 97 follow him without reinforcements, and never to seek repose until he had led them to a victory which would be the last blow to the hopes and machinations of their tyrants. Their enthusiasm rose when they commenced their march ; want and fatigue were all forgotten, and they listened only to their indignation BACON ADDRESSING HIS MEN. as they thought of Jamestown, the cradle of the infant colony in the new world, now in the hands of the man who was plotting against their freedom. The army, as it passed through the country, presented the appearance of a triumphal procession. In the centre were placed their Indian captives, with the arms and plunder which had been taken in battle 5 covered over with flags 08 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. and other gaudy displays of military pomp, by which they proclaimed those past achievements upon which they based their hope of coming victory. In their front, upon a spirited steed; rode a gallant figure, whose ani- mated countenance and courageous bearing proclaimed him one well qualified to inspire an army to dare great deeds and win their way against any odds. This was Kathaniel Bacon, whose eloquence chased away despon- dency and revived the ardor of that army of which he was the idol. The sun was just setting when the little army arrived in sight of Jamestown. From a neighboring height they overlooked the little town, now bright with the rays of the departing sun, and again the indignant blood flushed the cheeks of the war-worn patriots as they saw before them evidences of the presence of their hated foe. General Bacon ordered a cannon to be fired and trumpets to be sounded in token of defiance ; then dismounting, with his own hands he drew the lines for entrenchments. In this moment of inaction for the weary men, nature was loudly asserting her claims, and again the spirit-stirring voice of their leader entreated them not to give her hearing until they could rest Becurely without fear of their foes. He himself set the example, and soon all signs of weariness disappeared ; their cheery and brave voices rose in mirth and exulta- tion, patriotic songs mingled with the plaintive evening hymn, as their entrenchments roso like magic beneath the full light of an October moon. Their labor ended, they fell, with the implements of their work still in hand, beneath that master which would no longer bo resisted, and slept in security behind the breastworks. At dawn their labors again commenced. Refreshed HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 90 by slumber, they pressed forward eagerly to receive the commands of their General. A small party was dis- patched to skirmish near the enemy's lines, in order to ascertain their strength, while the rest of the army waited in the rear, as patiently as they could, the onset of the Governor's troops. Nor was Sir "\Yilliam Berkeley anxious to delay matters. A stern old soldier, in whom the courage of youth still lived despite his years, he believed that he was but performing his duty to his King in subduing this dangerous rebellion against lawful authority; he had nothing to gain by delay, as ho did not expect re- inforcements unless the King's troops should arrive in time from England, which he had no reason to antici- pate. Hearing Bacon's army was receiving hourly accessions to their numbers, the Governor at once mustered his troops, and placed them under the com- mand of Ludwell and Beverley, his two staunchest ad' herents. They sallied forth ; but soon the difference in the spirit of the two armies became apparent. Berkeley's army was made up of men picked from the idle and dissolute, most of them without a foot of ground they could call their own, inspired* only by their hopes of gain, and the promises of plunder and confiscations which the Governor had made to them before they would engage in his service. Bacon's men, on the other hand, fought for their firesides, and for that liberty of opinion and action, the love of which the free life in the wide forests of the new world seems to have inspired in the hearts of ths colonists since the earliest settlement in Virginia. The Governor's troops, under their leaders Ludwell and Beverley, advanced towards the entrenchments with a considerable show of ardor, but the contest lasted only 100 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. a few minutes ; for -when these paid mercenaries received tho steady and well-directed fire of Bacon's patriotic little army, they ignominiously turned and fled back to Jamestown, although their officers implored them with tears in their eyes to turn and stand their ground, and thus wipe off this stain upon their courage. But such arguments had no effect upon tho panic-stricken fugi- tives ; on they fled, until they reached the protection of their batteries and the cannon from their ships. Bacon, surprised at this sudden result, suspected it was a trick to draw his men into an ambush, and checked the pur- suit a short distance from his own lines. Had he not done so, the story of this contest might have been ended in a few words, as there is little doubt, so great was the panic, that if the little army had then pressed forward they might have entered Jamestown almost without opposition, and Sir William Berkeley and all the other officers of the royal government falling into their hands, they might have dictated such a peace as would have placed the name of Nathaniel Bacon where that of Gcorgo "Washington stands one hundred years later, as tho Father of Independence. Another disappointment awaited Governor Berkeley. His army not only retreated disgracefudy to Jamestown, but threw down their arms, and declared their determi- nation never to tako them up again. In vain were threats of punishment, in vain were promises of reward ; they were too much in the majority to fear the former, and the rewards were nothing in comparison to tho danger to their miserable lives. Thus the Governor found himself in hourly expecta- tion of an assault from the enemy, with only twenty men upon whom he could rely. Even then the proud HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 101 old man, goaded by his misfortunes into recklessness, would Lave remained to meet his fate, and if need be have died at his post rather than retreat from it ; but the arguments of his friends convinced him that it would be better to await at a distance another smile from that fortune which had been so fickle to him. At mid- night he and the few friends who remained to him, silently and sadly embarked upon the boats which, under cover of the night, had drawn in to the shore for the pur pose, taking with them everything of value, and the fleet dropped quietly down the river to await further results. The astonishment of Bacon and his men, as these events disclosed themselves on the following morning, may be better imagined than described They could scarce believe the evidence of their senses as they looked upon the deserted city, and missed first the sentinel from his post and the mustering soldier from the streets; the drum and the trumpet were silent, and missing all other signs of an army of occupation, they drew nearer to interpret for themselves the meaning of the strange stillness. They found the desolation complete; only two or three frightened inhabitants crept from the houses to give them welcome, and to tell to their Wondering audience the events of the past few hours. Not only was the city deserted, but the houses were stripped of everything of value they contained which could be removed, and what could not be carried off was wantonly thrown into the river. The enraged and disappointed patriots stood with burning cheeks and flashing eyes upon their desolated hearth-stones ; while the fleet lay within their sight, but far out of their reach, down the river, calmly awaiting their departure in order that Berkeley might return and occupy the city. 102 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. But in this expectation he too was doomed to disap- pointment. " If Jamestown no longer affords a shelter for true Virginians it shall never be a harbor for her enemies," said General Bacon, in burning words to his soldiers. As usual, they caught the inspiration from his lips, and soon were seen hurrying with naming torches BURNING OF JAMESTOWN. from house to house. Many a hardy soldier stood upon his own hearth-stone with the fire-brand in his hand and a tear in his eye, as the thought of wife and child and homely joys rose before his mental vision; and then as the flags of the fleet waving in the distance betrayed the presence of his enemy, and he thought of tho oppressor of his country finding shelter under his roof, HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 103 be cast down the torch and turned away, leaving it to do its work. Even the old church was not spared, where for nearly a hundred years prayers had ascended to God. Sir "William Berkeley viewed with astonishment and indignation this last desperate resort of a determined people, and vowed vengeance against the authors of the outrage. Questions for Examination. 1. What is the date of the events contained in this chapter? 2. What news met Bacon when returning from tbe conques of the Indians? 3 What did Bland and Carver intend to do? 4. What was the cause of the failure of their scheme? 5. Tell of the capture of Bland and Carver. 6. How did the Governor receive his success? 7. Relate circumstances connected with his return to Jame# town. 8. What was Bacon's condition when he heard the news? 9. What steps did he take ? 1<>. How was his speech received ? 11. Tell of the march to Jamestown. 12. Of their arrival at that place. 13. Of the preparations for battle. 14. Of the fight itself. 15. Of the retreat of the vanquished. IS. What happened the next day? 17. What condition of things did Bacon and his men Und when they entered Jamestown ? 18. What course did they take ? CHAPTER XIY. 1676. Sir William Berkeley having now no place in which to organize his government, returned to Accomac; and Bacon dismissed tho great body of his followers, after engaging them to join him upon the first news of dis- 104 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. turbance to the public tranquillity, nor did he relax for one instant his efforts to keep alive their enthusiasm. He went from place to place, inspiring all by his zeal and example ; he kept before the people the fact that although all seemed secure, yet was danger close at hand. Sir William Berkeley had transmitted to England an ac- count of the rebellion, which he represented as wide- spread and dangerous, and entreated the King to send a sufficient force to restore order. The answer to this appeal was daily expected, and Bacon was determined to resist any army that should be sent against him. Though disbanded, every man was a soldier, prepared to defend with his life, the cause which was the cause of all "Virginians. It is always" a great mistake to place the issue of an important undertaking upon the life of a singlo individual, and never was this more apparent than in the history of Bacon's rebellion, for though ho had many brave officers, they were but the creatures of his will, incapable of acting alone. In the prosecution of his plans, Bacon visited all the different military posts, undergoing great fatigue, which, added to a cold he had contracted in the trenches at Jamestown, developed a fatal disease. But he did not permit his exertions to abate on account of his illness, though its effects were plainly visible. At length, how- ever, he was obliged to yield to a will stronger than his own, and died at the residence of Doctor Pate, in Glou- cester county, in the thirty-first year of his age. The death of Bacon was the knell of the cause for which he sacrificed himself. He left none to fill his place. Two of his captains, Ingram and Walklate, at- tempted it, but under their leadership the army melted away, and as their fortunes declined those of Berkeley HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 105 revived. Bacon's followers were hunted down like wild animals. Among the first captives was Thomas Hans- ford, ono of Bacon's warmest friends. After undergoing the mere form of a trial, ho was hurried away to the gibbet. His heroic spirit did not quail ; ho only im- plored passionately that he might bo shot like a soldier, and not die on the gallows like a criminal j but he was told that ho was not a soldier but a traitor. He met his fate bravely, calling upon all persons present to wit- ness that he had simply done his duty in taking up arms against oppression, and that he gave up his life willingly for his country. He was the first Virginian who suffered death upon the gallows. This was but the beginning of the revenge which Berkeley visited upon his victims. It is said that such was his rage against Bacon, that he made search for his body, that he might dishonor him dead who had defied him while living. But his grave was never found ; his faithful friends religiously preserved his dust from outrage. As fast as the prisoners were brought in they were led to execution. One Captain Wilford made his appear- ance before the Governor with his wife by his side; she knelt at his feet, and entreated that if one must die that she might be executed, since she had encouraged her husband to join the rebellion ; but the demon of revenge had too entirely hardened the heart of Sir William Berkeley for this touching appeal to reach it ; he answered her with insults too gross to be repeated. Wilford had lost an eye in battle, and when allusion was made to it, he answered bitterly that it made no differ- ence, for he had no doubt but that Governor Berke- ley would give him a guide to the gallows. This 5* 10G HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. proved too true, as the unhappy young man was led out from the presence of his wife to execution. When William Drummond was captured, the passion- ate old G-overnor seemed to lose even the control of common decency in his vindictive triumph. He bent BERKELEY WELCOMING DRUMMOND. low before him, with affected courtesy, as he said mock- ingly, " Mr. Drummond, you are very welcome. I am more glad to see you than any other man in Virginia ; 'foro God I you shall hang in half an hour ; " and he was hung as soon as the gallows could be prepared for him. Nor did Berkeley's fiendish malignity end here ; for ho pursued the wife of Drummond with his persecutions, confiscated her property, and turned herself and five children out to starve ; nay, ho would have brought her HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 107 to a felon's death had not an order from the King come in time to save her. How far Berkeley's passions would have carried him is not known, for commissioners arrived, appointed by the King to inquire into the condition of things, and many pardons were issued; but even these, in some instances, Berkeley dared to set aside ; as in the case of Giles Bland, who, you remember, was captured on the coast of Accomac, and had ever since been in irons. His friends had sent over to the King, who granted him a special pardon, and with this in his pocket, the Gov- ernor sent him to the gallows. He met his fate with conscious innocence, and his name was afterwards one of the most distinguished in the annals of American freedom. Berkeley's thirst for blood seemed to Increase with what it fed on, and as one of the Burgesses said, " He would have hanged half the country if he had been let alone." Charles II., King of England, whose father you remember perished on the scaffold, and who himself had received, both during his exile and after his restoration, many gratifying proofs of the loyalty of his subjects in Virginia, was horror-stricken when the news of Ber- keley's severity reached him. He said, "That old fool has hanged more men in that naked country than I have done here for the murder of my father." To such an extent did he carry his revenge that he succeeded in disgusting even the House of Burgesses, which was made up of creatures too much like himself to be easily touched with compassion. They voted an ad- dress imploring him not to shed anymore blood, as "none could tell how, where or when it would terminate." When his active cruelty was over Sir William Berkeley 108 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. had time to note the change of feeling towards him, in this people over whom he had ruled so acceptably for nearly forty years, and whose love and veneration for him had turned to detestation and abhorrence. Charles II., in order to put an end to these scenes of blood, sent over commissioners to Virginia, and these issued a general invitation to all to come and state their griev- ances. At once the tribunal was crowded with sufferers from Berkeley's cruelty. The widows and orphans of those who had been executed came weeping and invok- ing justice upon the head of the tyrant ; men whose lives had been spared only to see* all of their property confiscated, begged for bread for their wives and chil- dren. The Commissioners applied to the Governor for the restoration of the property of these unfortunates, but he had either taken it for his own use or bestowed it upon his favorites, and refused to give it up. That best of all books, the Bible, says, " Be sure your sin will find you out," and this was verified in the case of Sir "William Berkeley, who, though he affected to despise the opinion of the people, could not help being mortified at the course the Commissioners were taking by the order of the King, and which showed such undis- guised disapproval of his conduct and disregard for his wishes. At length he resolved to go to England, and make a statement of his position to his Majesty, which he felt sure would reinstate him in the royal favor. But in this he was mistaken; if possible, ho found fewer friends in England than he had left in America. The King positively refused to receive him at court, and the proud old man, unable to support the mortification of this blow, died a short time after his arrival in England. He was succeeded in the government of Virginia by HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 109 Herbert Jeffries, who exerted himself wisely and well to restore peace to the country. He made a treaty with the Indians of the west, which unhappily they did not regard for any length of time. Sir Herbert Jeffries did not live long to see the fruits of his wise government ; he was succeeded by Sir Henry Chicheley, who took active measures against the encroachments of the In- dians, causing forts to be erected in various unprotected places, and in many other ways he ingratiated himself into the respect and affection of the people. Very different was the course of Lord Culpeper, his successor. At first he was so popular that the people voluntarily increased his salary, and in other ways gratified his desire for wealth ; but it very soon became evident that the love of gain was the ruling passion of his heart, and to this the advantage of the people over whom ho ruled must give way. He received an immense grant of land from the King, in what is known as the Northern Neck of Yirginia, which embraced the territory lying between the .Rappahannock and Potomac rivers, back as far as the Blue Eidge Mountains. When Lord Culpeper succeeded in amassing great wealth he had no idea of remaining in the forests of a new country, where he could have no enjoyment of it; so leaving Sir Henry Chicheley as his deputy, he returned to England, where he lived in great luxury at Court, without spend- ing many thoughts upon his deserted people. After his departure commenced what is known as tho Tobacco Eebellion. I have told you before that from the time of its first settlement, tobacco was regarded as the most valuable production of Yirginia soil. Nearly a hundred years had now passed away since Sir Walter Raleigh f o cleverly weighed the smoke from his pipe of 110 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA tobacco, and received the broad gold pieces from the hand of Queen Elizabeth of England, and ever since that timo the demand for the fragrant weed had been on the increase. For a long time it was used as money by the colonists. Articles, instead of being valued at so many dollars, were sold for so many pounds of tobacco ; and it would have looked very strangely to you, I suppose you will think, if you could have seen the wives and daughters of the old Virginia planters going into James- town on their shopping expeditions, with their wagon- load of tobacco behind them, and purchasing rich silks, linens and laces at so much tobacco a yard. Nor was this all : the preachers, the lawyers, the doctors, were all paid for their services in tobacco. Now this did very well at first, but at length a change became necessary. You are all old enough to have observed the importance which the world places upon the possession of money. Some twenty years or more ago news was brought to this country of great discoveries of gold in California, and the same fever pervaded the land which almost destroyed Captain Smith's colony when they thought they had found gold in the forest-stream ; the farmer left his plough and the mechanic his tools, the physician his patients and the lawyer his courts, and all flocked to the gold-fields of California, and dug in the earth for the wealth which was more sure if more slow at home. The very spirit which actuated men in these more modern times, led the Virginians, in the days of which we are now speaking, to devote the largest part of their time and land to raising this great source of wealth. Laws at length had to be made restricting the raising of tobacco, and forcing the planters to plant corn and other crops necessary to their subsistence ; and at HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. Ill last to a great degree the custom of using it in com- merce was done away with, though the salaries of the ministers, and some other matters of the same nature, were still and for many years after paid in tobacco. Notwithstanding this apparent decrease in the use of tobacco it was still a great source of wealth, and the people were permitted to plant as much of it as they pleased. Vessels came from England, and returned loaded with the precious weed. For many years after the settlement of Virginia, Jamestown was the only town in the State; and after it was burned, the necessity of some place where trade could be carried on was severely felt ; and in order to facilitate the building of towns, the House of Burgesses passed a law that certain places along the river banks should be selected as the sites for future cities ; and in order to force the people to congregate on these particular points, the law pro- vided that all ships which came to Yirginia for purposes of trade should receive their cargoes only at the desig- nated places, instead of being loaded as had heretofore been done at the plantations upon the river — the idea being that the planters would thus be compelled to build warehouses and other conveniences for storing their crops, and so the foundation of the desired cities would be laid. Now this plan may have been wisely conceived and very successful if it could only have been carried out, but this was the difficulty ; and the very effort to force compliance with an inconvenient and unpopular law was near producing another rebellion. The planters living upon the rivers thought it a hard case that in- stead of loading the vessels at their own doors, that they should have the great inconvenience and expenso 112 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. of transporting their crops to these imaginary cities. The vessels would often go up to the designated points, find no cargo ready for them, have to wait at great expense until it could be hauled from considerable distances, and, as it often happened, have to return home empty. Out of these inconveniences grew a dis- regard of the law. The planters would load, and the captains of vessels would receive their cargoes where it was most convenient ; the high-spirited Virginians re- fusing to submit to what they considered an innovation of their rights. In Gloucester county some of the planters, who were forcibly prevented from disposing of their tobacco as they pleased, fell to work and destroyed their entire crop ; and their example was followed by many others. This looked like open rebellion. The Assembly which had made the law, frightened at the storm which they had raised and found themselves unable to still, in their dilemma appealed to the King, who ordered Lord Cul- peper back to quell the disturbance. His Lordship obeyed, in no amiable mood at being thus forced to leave the luxuries of the English Court to contend with rebels in the forests of Virginia. He determined to end his exile and the revolt as speedily as possible. His measures were sufficiently vigorous, as the jails were soon filled with prisoners, and a penalty of death was proclaimed against all "plant cutters." Six men were actually executed for this trifling misdemeanor. This summary mode of proceeding had the desired effect, and the planters submitted to what they could not cure. Thus ended the Tobacco Kebellion. HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 113 Questions for Examination. 1. What year heads this chapter? 2. What sad event occurred to put a stop to the war? 3. How did Governor Berkeley behave ? 4. Who was the first Virginian who died on the gallows ? 5. Relate the circumstances. 6. Did Berkeley's cruelty end here ? 7. Relate the story of Captain Wilford. 8. Of William Diuniniond and his wife. 9. Of Giles Bland. • 10. How did the Burgesses regard Berkeley's conduct? 11. What did King Charles say about it? 12. What did the Burgesses do? IS. What steps did the King take to stop bloodshed? 14. What condition of affairs did the Commissioners find? 15. What became of Berkeley ? ' „„„** 16. Who succeeded him and what is related of his government? 17. What of Sir Henry Chicheley ? 18. What of Lord Culpeper? ^ ,„,.„ oW 19. Relate circumstances which had made tobacco so largely cultivated in Virginia. 20. What steps were taken to restrict its cultivation? 21. Was it still valuable after it ceased to be used as m °ney ? 22. How did the government try to force the building of towns? 23. What effect did it have ? „ . IIljm „ 24. Relate circumstances of the "Tobacco Rebellion. 25. How was it quelled? CHAPTER XV. 1684-1723. After the Tobacco Rebellion affairs in Virginia resumed their old routine, and for the next twenty years there are few incidents in the history of the colony which deserve more than a casual glance. Lord Howard, of Effingham, succeeded Lord Culpeper as Governor of Virginia, and it was during his term of office that hos~ tilities with the Indians were recommenced. This was followed speedily by a treaty of peace with the tribes known as the Five Nations, who came from what is now the western part of the State of New York. These were the Mohawks, the Oneidas, the Onandagas, the Cayugas, and the Senecas ; and if you will glance at the 114 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. map of New York, you will find their names in those of the cities and lakes in that vicinity. These Indians were generally esteemed to be the most powerful and dangerous tribes in North America. In war they were terrific, and united the cunning and sagacity of the savage to the skill of civilized nations. Even the Eng- lish, with all their knowledge of the art of war, found it difficult to deal with them, and the rumor of their advance was always received with horror and consternation. A writer of the times, in describing them, says : "They advanced like foxes, attacked like lions, and retreated like birds." They had subdued all other Indian tribes and united them with themselves, and were extending their power even into southern Vir- ginia. The colonies of the different States became alarmed, and Governor Howard, of Virginia, and Governor Don- gan, of New York, met at Albany the chiefs of these several tribes, and after complaining of their aggres- sions and acts of cruelty, threatened to retaliate, unless they would make a firm treaty of peace with the whites, but if they would consent to the terms laid down in this treaty, the chain of friendship was to be brightened and made more strong and lasting than ever. An orator of the Mohawks replied in a speech full of the figures jbr which their language is remarkable. He promised that the peace between themselves and the English should be firmly kept; and then, after the manner of their people, they buried five axes, in token of the burial of strife; after which all the Indian tribes united in singing the peace-song, with demonstrations of much joy, and thanked the Governor of New York for his HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 115 mediation with the Governor of Virginia in their behalf. The following year there was another change in the government of England. Charles the Second died, and was succeeded by his brother, James the Second — the first Bornan Catholic sovereign who had sat upon the TREATY OF FIVE NATIONS. English throne since Mary, the sister of Queen Eliza- beth. For reasons which have no bearing upon the history of Virginia, the English expelled him from the throne after he had been king only two and a half years. He was succeeded by William, Prince of Orange, and his wife Mary, who took possession of the throne under the title of "William and Mary." The 116 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. next year Francis Nicholson was appointed Governor of Virginia. During his term of service, the King and Queen of England granted to Virginia a charter for the establishment of a college in that State. This was a very important advance in the interests of Virginia. It had heretofore been the custom to send the young men of the colony to England to be educated; but Governor Nicholson, upon his introduction into office, suggested the idea of a Virginia college, and put his own signature at the head ©f a subscription paper for the purpose. In a very little time, with the assistance of some merchants in London, twenty-five hundred pounds were subscribed, and the Virginia Assembly sent "Parson Blair" to Eng- land to solicit a charter from the King. He was success- ful, and the foundation of the college was laid at Middle Plantation, where, you remember, Bacon and his men held their deliberations after the burning of Jamestown. The town was called Williamsburg, in honor of the King, and the newly-founded college was called William and Mary. The streets of the city were laid out so as to form the letters W and M, a handsome compliment to the joint sovereigns of England, but a most inconvenient device for a city. Mr. Blair was appointed the first president of the college, which became the pride of Virginia. It is the oldest college in the United States, except Harvard in Massachusetts. The seat of government was removed to Williamsburg, which thus became the centre, not only of learning, but of the wealth and fashion of Vir- ginia. In 1706 the college was burned to the ground, and many years elapsed before it was rebuilt. Years now rolled quietly away, marking only increased prosperity to Virginia. William and Mary passed from HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 117 an earthly throne to give an account of their steward- ship in tho courts of heaven, and Anne, the sister of Mary, succeeded her. It was daring her reign that a gentleman was appointed Governor whoso name Vir- ginia will always cherish with gratitude. Alexander Spottswood, a Scotchman, who had distinguished him- self in the British army, left the hardships and honors of the battlefield to fill the office of chief executive in Virginia. He did more for the improvement of the State than any of his predecessors. Contemplating the wide-spread territory before him, his imagination fired at the thought of broad lands, mountains and rivers which were as yet unexplored, and the desire filled him to signalize his term of service by extending his know- ledge of this great country. Accordingly he formed a scheme for the furtherance of his design, presented him- self before the General Assembly of Virginia, and de- sired their assistance in his plan, which was to head an expedition across the "Appalachian chain of moun, tains," as the Alleghanies were then called. After some discussion, he succeeded in obtaining their consent ; and they also promised to furnish him with ample means to carry oat his design. As soon as it became known that Governor Spottswood was organizing an expedition for the purpose of new discoveries, he had no difficulty in filling up the ranks of his little army; and soon a gal- lant array of cavaliers presented themselves, eager to share in an enterprise which promised so much variety, honor, and increase of wealth, with enough sprinkling of danger to make it all the more attractive to the bold Virginians. The hardiest horses in the country were pressed into service, and soon the streets of Williams- burg presented a busy scene as the gay cavalcade, with 118 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. the Governor at its head, started forth with their faces turned towards the distant mountains. In our day, when genius and energy have cut their way through these very mountains, have made the sea their servant, and have even linked continents together with the aid of the telegraphic wire, it is difficult to realize what a formidable undertaking it was to attempt the passage of the mountains, which, for tho hundred and more 3-ears which had elapsed since the first settlement of Virginia, had reared their lofty forms as a barrier to the progress of the white man. It seemed like an attempt to conquer Nature itself; but the ro- mance and peril of the attempt acted as a stimulus to the Governor and his followers, who fondly imagined that their names would go down to posterity side by side with that of the great Alexander. They crossed the York river, and started merrily upon their journey ; stopping at night with friends upon the route, and gathering recruits for their little army as they went along. Upon the Rappahannock, not far from where Fredericksburg now stands, they encamped for some days, and regaled themselves with the abundant pro- visions which had been provided by the loving house- wives at home, and brought with the party upon pack- horses. We can well imagine the merry encampment, where great fires were kindled, and venison and bear's meat roasted for the luxurious repast, and toasts drank, and the laugh, the song and tho jest awoke new echoes in those forest haunts. So leisurely did they proceed that more than a month elapsed before they commence* I the toilsome ascent of the mountains. Think of them as they wound along through the trackless country which the foot of the white man was treading for th« HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 119 first time ; now over rocks and chasms, now pausing to catch through the openings in the trees a glimpse of the country beyond, and now mingling their voices with the sound of the trumpet that rang for the first timo through these old mountains. When at length they KNIGHTS OF THE HORSE-SHO PRINKING THE KING'S HEALTH. gained the summit, their ecstasy was too deep foi words ; they fairly drank into their souls the beauty of the panorama which lay spread before them. The glorious valley of Virginia, smiling in the freshness of early summer, met their gaze; the streams, as if wearied with their dash down the mountain sides, wound quietly 120 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. and calmly along like silver threads until they were lost in the misty distance. Upon the top of the moun- tain they drank the health of His Majesty, and called it Mount George, in honor of him. The next peak they named Mount Alexander, after the Governor. Descend- ing the mountain, they crossed the Shenandoah river, which they playfully named Euphrates. On its banks they rested for some hours, or beguiled the time by hunt- ing, fishing and feasting. Some carved their names on the trees; seme, more ambitious, climbed the steep sides of the rocks, and tried to carve imperishablo memorials upon their granite surfaces ; and the Gover- nor wrote upon a sheet of paper, "I take possession of this country in the name of His Majesty King George of England," and signing his name upon it, enclosed it in a bottle and buried it on the banks of the river. I never heard that this interesting record of the journey had been found, and in all probability it still remains buried to this day. Turning their faces home- wards, they reached Williamsburg in safety, after an ab- sence of about six weeks, and dispersing to their different habitations, recounted to eager listeners their adven- tures in this the first expedition across the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia. The Virginians had been accustomed to ride their horses unshod, the soft sandy soil of the lowlands re- quiring no protection for the horse's hoofs ; but for the trip to the mountains they had provided a quantity of horse-shoes. In allusion to this circumstance, and as a memorial of the expedition, the Governor, upon his return, gave to each of his companions a miniature golden horse-shoe, to be worn upon the breast. King George, when he heard of the expedition, bestowed HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 121 upon Spottswood tho honors of knighthood, and also presented him with a golden horse-shoe set with jewels, which is said to be still in possession of one of his des- cendants. All who took part in the expedition were recognized by tho title of "Knights of the Horse-shoe." Governor Spottswood's administration was marked by the steady prosperity of Virginia ; he neglected nothing which could minister to this end. He at- tempted what was neglected by most of the other governors, namely, the improvement of the Indians. He sent good men among them to teach them the arts of civilization, and even had some of the Indian boys admitted to William and Mary College, to be instructed in whatever would conduce to their advancement. During his administration the shores of America were infested with pirates, who captured vessels going to and from the country, and perpetrated acts of the most terrible ferocity. One of the most distinguished of these pirates was known as Blackbeard, and his ferocity made him the terror of the seas. The stories that are told of this fiend in human form almost exceed belief. He is said, on one occasion, to have dressed up his crew to personate devils, and he himself represented the chief fiend. Many unavailing efforts were made to capture Black- beard j Governor Spottswood offered large rewards for his person living or dead. Hearing definitely of his whereabouts, Lieutenant Maynard, commander of a small English ship-of-war, started in search of him. He found him lying in wait at one of the inlets to Pimlico Sound, and at once bore down upon him without giving him time to escape. Blackbeard discovering the ship of war close to him, made preparations for battle, placed 6 122 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. one of his men at the powder magazine with orders to blow it up if there was danger of capture, and drank brandy until he was ready for any reckless deed what- soever; and so the fight began. A terrible one it was, and the pirate was defeated; the wretch, covered with wounds, waited until the English boarded his vessel, and then gave orders to blow up the magazine, intending that his captors should share his destruction. But he was disappointed ; the courage of his man failed, and ho threw down the fatal match. Blackbeard sprang up, his face distorted with anger, cocked his pistol and aimed it at the delinquent, but before he could fire it off he fell back on the deck and expired. Although Governor Spottswood was so much beloved by the people of Yirginia, yet he fell under the dis- pleasure of the British Ministry, who did all they could to thwart his plans for the good of the State, and at length removed him from office. He retired to his country-seat in the county which was called in his honor "Spottsylvania," and there dispensed a generous hospitality, of which some pleasant stories are told. An old friend of his, Colonel William Byrd, who went to visit him, describes the town of G-ermanna, which ho gays consists a of Colonel Spotswood's enchanted castle on one side of the street and a baker's dozen of ruinous tenements on the other side ; there was also a chapel about a bow's-shot from the Governor's house, at the end of an avenue of cherry trees." When he arrived he found only Mrs. Spottswood at home. She received him with a gracious smile, and took him into the dining- room, which amongst other handsome furniture con- tained several costly mirrors, and where also the hospi- table tea-table was laid to which she invited her visitor. HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 123 Mrs. Spottswood had amused herself in her solitude by taming a variety of animals, among them a brace of deer, which ran familiarly about the house. One of them coming to the door to stare at the visitor, causrht sight of his own figure in the mirror opposite, and mis- taking it for one of his companions, sprang over the tea table, shattered the glass into a thousand pieces, then fell back upon the table, making a terrible clatter amongst the china and silver, and frightening the guest considerably ; but Colonel Byrd adds, after telling the story, that it was worth all the lost china to see the moderation and good-humor with which the hostess boro this disaster. In the evening the old Governor came in, and they spent the hours until bed-time in recounting old stories, of which probably the expedition across the mountains formed part. The next morning they visited his iron founderies, of which he was very proud. In this peaceful retreat Governor Spottswood closed his life in the year 1739. Questions for Examination, 1. What Is the date of these events? 2. Who was Governor of Virginia after Lord Culpeper ? 3. What important treaty did he assist in mating? 4. Who were the Five Nations, and where did they live? 5. How do the writers of the times describe them ? 6. Tell of the treaty. 7. What important changes took place in the English Govern* ment ? 8. Who did King William appoint Governor of Virginia? 9. What important privilege did he solicit for Virginia? 10. What steps did lie take to accomplish his purpose? 1 1. With what success ? J 2. Tell of the foundation and name of the new college. 13. What happened to it in 1706? 14. Who was appointed Governor by Queen Anne? 124 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 15. What of him? 16. What scheme did he devise? 17. What steps did he take for accomplishing his purpose? 18. How does the attempt iook to us uow, and why? 19. Tell of the journey. 20. What names did they give the mountain peaks? 21. Tell the rest of the story. 22. What were the adventurers called, and why ? 23. What other improvements did Governor Spottswood under- take? 24. What infested the shores of Virginia? 25. Who was Black eard ? 26. What steps did the Governor take for his apprehension? 27. Tell of Maynard's expedition. 28. Tell of Blackbeard's death. 29. Why was Governor Spottswood removed from office? 30. Tell of Colonel Byrd's visit to Mrs Spottswood. 31. Where did the Governor die, and when ? CHAPTER XVI. 1723. Hugh Drysdale was appointed G-overnor in the place of Governor Spottswood. His administration was a short one, and devoid of interest. Colonel William Gooch, one of the best Governors of whom Virginia can boast, succeeded him. About this time the colonies in North America began to draw more closely together ; heretofore their govern- ments had been almost as distinct as those of England, France and Germany, now they began to feel their dependence upon each other. New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia were like a band of young sisters, bound together by ties of a common interest, and united for purposes of self-defence, though their governments were still distinct. During the administration of Governor Gooch a quarrel aroso between the neighboring States of Vir- ginia and North Carolina about their boundaries, each HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 125 claiming a tract of land lying upon their "borders; and for a long time persons living upon this disputed territory did not know which State to claim as their home. This led to many difficulties, as some would pay taxes to North Carolina which Virginia claimed, and then just the other way. At last it was determined to settle the matter before the disagreement became too serious to be cured ; so the Governors of the two States each appointed commissioners to meet and travel through the country with engineers, and run the line over again straight, so there could be no further mistake. At the head of the Virginia Commission was Colonel William Byrd, a gentleman of great distinction and originality. He has left a narrative of his adventures, which is full of interest, in which he tells many amusing stories, besides giving us a picture of the settlements in that part of the country in these early days. Many of these are valuable contributions to the history of the State. The most lasting memorial, however, which he has left is the city of Eichmond, of which he laid the foundation ; also of Petersburg, about the same time. It was expected that these two cities, one at the head of navigation on James River, and the other on the Appomattox, would become great centres for the trade of Virginia, as the two rivers upon which they were situated constituted convenient outlets into Chesapeake Bay. Settlements now began to be made in the beautiful Valley of Virginia. From Pennsylvania came a number of Scotch-Irish settlers, who, in consequence of religious persecution in their own country, emigrated from the north of Ireland to America, and had at first fixed their homes in that State, but finding the fertile fields of the Valley open to their occupation, they moved onward and 126 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. took possession. William Penn had so wisely conciliated the Indians in Pennsylvania by buying their lands and in other ways, that they regarded him as a benefactor, and this movement into the Yalley was not interrupted by them. The new settlers also proposed buying the lands as William Penn had done ; this they did to some extent, but a serious difficulty arose. The Yalley was looked upon as a common hunting-ground, and no tribe could be found who claimed it as their particular property. A number of families, headed by Joist Hite, obtained a grant for forty thousand acres of land, which they located in the lower part of the Yalley of the Shenandoah; and having settled on it, gradually extended their settle- ments up the Yalley to a point near the spot where the town of Woodstock now stands. Two small houses were erected on what was known as Shawnee Spring, the present site of the city of Winchester, which was afterwards the frontier outpost for the settlers in that part of the Yalley. The reports brought back by Gov- ernor Spottswood and his party about the Yalley, reach- ing the ears of two newly arrived emigrants to Yirginia, named John Mackey and John Lewis, they visited it with a pedlar named Sailing, and so delighted were they that the three determined to fix their abode there. John Lewis obtained a grant of a hundred thousand acres of land, which he located in this valley, and was visited in his mountain home by an agent of Lord Fair- fax named Burden, who spent some months in hunting through the forests. Returning to Williamsburg, Burden presented Governor Gooch with a young buffalo calf which he had captured, and in return the Governor gave him a grant for five thousand acres of land in the valley, upon condition that within ten years he would settle HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 127 upon it one hundred families ; and if this was accom- plished, he should have one thousand acres in the neigh- borhood of every house. This being a difficult task, he went over to England and begged the King to conclude the matter, giving him at the same time a list of names of families living on his land. The King granted his re- quest, but it was found that he had resorted to a deceitful trick, as he had bestowed names upon every horse, cow and dog he owned, representing them as so many heads of families. This trick was discovered too late ; he sold the land in small tracts to the emigrants, and went off with the money. His grant covered a greater part of Rockbridge county, and was settled by the McDowells, Alexanders, Paxtons, and many other names of which Virginia knows the worth. They were mostly Scotch Presbyterians, and were distinguished for their simplicity and integrity. They devoted themselves to agricultural pursuits, built churches, and in the enjoyment of re- ligious freedom and home duties they passed their simple lives. Thus was the whole Yalley of Virginia settled. Nearly twenty years passed away before the settlers had any difficulty with the Indians, though the Delawares and Catawbas were engaged in a war at the time the Valley was first known, and this continued many years afterwards. Many signs are now found throughout the Valley of the furious contests between these two powerful tribes. It was one of the customs of the Indians to bury their dead, not in single graves, but in mounds, and some of these mounds have been found which are eighteen or twenty feet high and fifty or sixty feet wide. It was fortunate for the new settlers in Virginia that their savage neighbors were so deeply engaged in their 128 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. own affairs that the colonies had time to grow without interruption, and were in some degree able to defend themselves when defence became necessary. Some of the customs of these early inhabitants of the Yalley of Virginia were curious ; most of them were derived from the Germans. I will tell you about their marriage ceremony. A wedding, then as now, excited the atten- tion of the whole neighborhood. It was celebrated at the house of the bride, and was almost the only frolic which their lives of hard labor allowed. On the morning of the wedding-day, the groom and his four attendants met at his residence and proceeded to- ward that of the bride, which they were obliged to reach by noon, that being the hour at which the cere- mony was generally performed. Then the fun began, and all the neighbors joined in it. The groom and his party found the narrow roads obstructed by fallen trees and grape-vines tied across the way, and these they must stop and remove. Next they were am- buscaded, and a discharge of guns enveloped them in smoke. But in spite of these interruptions, the groom could not be behind-hand, and the hour of noon would generally find him at the appointed place. The bridal-party proper consisted of the bride and groom ; four groomsmen, dressed in moccasins, leather breeches, leggings, and linsey hunting^shirts, all home-made ; the ladies were dressed in linsey petticoats, with linsey or linen gowns over them, coarso shoes, coarse stockings, cotton handkerchiefs, and buckskin gloves. If the cere- mony took place at the church, the whole party — mounted on horses caparisoned with old saddles, old bridles, and a blanket or bag thrown over them — would have to encounter the same obstructions in their j>ath- HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 129 way to matrimony, placed there by their fun-loving neighbors. After the ceremony was performed they would return home, and the way thither was beguiled by various amusements, one of which I will tell you about. It was called " running for the bottle." A big bottle, which was named " Black Bettie," was filled with whiskey and placed at some designated point (generally KUNNING FOR THE BOTTLE. at the house of the bride) on the road ; then two young men, mounted on their horses, would run a race for this prize, taking an even start, which was announced by an Indian whoop. Off they would go, their horses at full speed, dashing over rocks, stumps, and any other im- pediments, The victor announced his success by an- other yell, and then returned to the company, holding the bottle high above his head. 'Twas presented first to the bride, who must at least taste it, then to the groom, and then to each of the party, no one being 1^0 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. allowed to refuse to take a drink. Immediately after arriving at the bouse, dinner, for which literally the fatted calf had been killed, was announced, and a most substantial meal it was: consisting of beef, pork, fowls, bear's meat, venison, bread, butter, honey, maple sugar, wine (if it could be had), potatoes, cabbage, and other vegetables. These were set out on old pewter dishes and plates, wooden bowls and trenchers ; if knives were scarce, the guests made use of the scalping-knife which each man wore in the belt of his hunting-shirt. During the meal the greatest hilarity prevailed. The younger part of the company attempted to steal the bride's shoe ; the four groomsmen were obliged to guard her, and he who failed to do so was obliged to pay a forfeit for the redemption of the shoe, and the bride was not permitted to dance until it was restored. Next came the ceremony of throwing the stocking. A stocking was rolled in a ball and given to each of the young ladies in turn, who, standing with her back to the bride, threw it over her shoulder, and the first who succeeded in striking the bride's head was the next to be married. The young men then went through the same ceremony, only throwing it at the groom's head. The dancing, which Avas kept up often through the whole night, con- sisted of jigs, reels, and square dances ; and if any of the company, through weariness, attempted to conceal himself for the purpose of sleeping, the luckless wight was dragged out upon the floor, and the fiddler ordered to play " Hang out till morning." These festivities were sometimes kept up for a week or more, until the revellers, perfectly exhausted, had to claim several days of rest before they were fit for their employments. HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 131 Questions for Examination. 1. What is the date of these events? .2. Who fcn^ceeded Governor Spottswood ? 3. What i elations existed between Virginia and her sister colo- nies? 4. What dispute arose between Virginia and North Carolina ? 5. Who was then Governor of Virginia? 6. How was tbe dispute settled? 7. Who was Qolonel nyrd? 8. What two cities did lie found? 9. Give an account of the settlements in the lower Valley. 10. What settlements were made by Mackey, Lewis, and Sailing \ 11. Tell of Burden's visit to Lewis. 12. What present did he make to the Governor, and how was he rewarded ? 13. To what trick did he resort, and with what success? 14. What portion of the Valley did his grant cover? 15. What was tbe character of the settlers upon it? 16. What of the Indiau tribes in the Valley of Virginia? 17. Did they molest the early settlers? IS. Tell the manner in which a marriage was conducted among the early settlers. 19. What of the feast? CHAPTEE XYII. 1732-1755. On the twenty-second day of February, 1732, in the county of Westmoreland, was born George Washington, who, from the place he holds in the history of the United States, but especially in that of Virginia, merits more than ordinary mention in these pages. He was the son of Augustine Washington and Mary Ball, both by birth Yirginians. When he was about five years old, his father removed to Stafford county; and upon the banks of the Rappahannock, nearly opposite Fred- ericksburg, the childhood of George Washington was .passed. He received only a plain English education; his first schoolmaster being an old sexton named Hobby, who lived to see the renown of his pupil, and used to boast that the foundation of George Washington's great- ness was laid between his knees. But it is far more likely that the wise counsels and good example of his 132 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. .father had more to do with the formation of the char acter of the future patriot than the ABC teachings of old Hobby. "Truth, George," said his good father to him one day, "is the loveliest quality of youth. I would ride fifty miles, my son, to see the little boy whose heart was so honest, and his lips so pure, that I could depend on every word he says." With such nurture of the tender shoot, it is no wonder that the tree spread out great branches. Young Wash- ington seems to have taken a position amongst his com- panions at an early age, as one whose word could bo depended upon. His father died when he was ten years old, but he never lost the impression made upon him by his teachings ; on the contrary, they seemed to grow with his growth and strengthen with his strength. He went to school in Westmoreland county, to a Mr. Williams ; and here he was distinguished for his skill in athletic sports, running, jumping, and wrestling, showing great disdain for such tame games as tops and marbles. It is told of him that, when he was only in his eleventh year, he gave evidence of military talent. He used to divide his school-fellows into two parties, one of which he called French and the other American. The French were commanded by a big boy named William Bustle ; George himself commanded the Americans ; and every day, at recess, the little armies would seize their corn-stalk muskets and calabash drums, and turn out to fight their mimic battles with great fury. At the ago of sixteen he left school, and obtained a situation as surveyor for Lord Fairfax, who owned all the land in what is called the Northern Neck of Virginia, lying between the Rappahannock and Potomac rivers, and from the Chesapeake Bay back to the Alleghany moun* HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 133 tains. This tract was first granted to Lord Culpeper, former Governor of Virginia, and inherited by Lord Fairfax, who married Culpepers daughter. Washington remained m this employment until his twentieth year; working hard as a woodsman, and spending his leisure hours in athletic sports with his young companions, the Stevenses and Crawfords. Such was his physical training ; and his heart seems to have been equally well disciplined, for he always retained the tenderest feelings towards the companions of his youth. It is said that he received an appointment on a British man-of-war, and his trunk was actually on board, but when he came to take leave of his weeping mother, who told him her heart was breaking, he declined the ap- pointment and stayed at home to gratify her. From this time he seems to have imbibed a passion for mili- tary life, and spent his leisure time in practising military tactics; and attracted so much attention by the skill he manifested in all military arts, that when he left the service of Lord Fairfax he was appointed Adjutant General of the Virginia forces on the Northern Neck, who were training for service against the Indians. Here his history becomes invoh r ed with other events, which I must pause to relate. £± You remember that, when the first colonists came to this continent, England claimed, by right of discovery, the entire country stretching in length from Canada to the southern border of North Carolina, and in breadth from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean. Now, if you will look at your maps, you will see what a great extent of territory this comprises, and that the Mississippi river cuts it in two, and with its tributaries waters the entire country, as well as that to the south of it. It is 134 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. true that England had no idea of the immense territory she was claiming ; nevertheless her title to it all was con- sidered perfect. The French owned Canada, and one of her Jesuit missionaries, sailing down the Wisconsin river in an open boat, entered the great Mississippi, passing the mouths of the Missouri and Ohio; and then returned to tell of the beautiful country he. had dis- covered, and claimed in the name of his sovereign ; either not knowing or not caring for the fact that England had laid claim to the country nearly two hundred years before. This happened about seventy years after Virginia was colonized by Captain John Smith. Nine years after the expedition of the Jesuit missionary, another Frenchman, named La Salle, des- cended the Mississippi river to its mouth, and named the surrounding country Louisiana, after his sovereign Louis. The possession of this country was never dis- puted by the English, as it was not within the bound- aries of their claim ; but as time went on, and the English settlements were pushed back towards the Mississipjn, it became a contested matter whether the English or the French should own the magnificent country which was watered by the Mississippi and its tributaries. Many years before this time, Governor Spottswood had advised the English Government to send companies to explore this splendid country, to make English settle- ments, and to build forts along the Ohio river for their protection. Had he been listened to, a bloody war might have been averted ; but ho was not, and the colony of Virginia had now to suffer the consequences of the disregard with which his warnings had been treated. Information reached Governor Dinwiddie, of Virginia, that the French had made treaties with HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 135 all the western tribes of Indians, and were building forts on the Ohio river, which they intended to claim ; and Governor Dinwiddle, after trying other means, determined to send a message to the com Blander on the Ohio to remonstrate against his en- croachments, and to warn him that if he did not at once withdraw his forces, he would compel him to do so. But a difficulty arose as to who would be the bearer of this message, through trackless forests where the silence of nature had never been broken, save by the Indian war-whoop and the roar of wild beasts, where dangers known and unknown must beset every step. Dinwiddie did not have long to wait for a messenger. Young George Washington, hearing of the difficulty, at once presented himself to the Governor and tendered his services. They were gladly accepted ; and the next day, which was the thirty-first of October, he left Williamsburg, and passed through Fredericksburg up the Potomac to Alexandria, thence over the mountains to Winchester, and thence again to the point on the Potomac where the city of Cumberland now stands, beyond which there was no European settlement. The prospect before him would have daunted any heart less brave than his own, but Washington did not linger long enough to think of the dangers of the way. The firmness which his early education had imparted to his character, now displayed itself. At the head of his little party, over the snow-crowned Alleghanies, he slowly and cautiously made his way. How the journey was ac- complished has ever since been a wonder to all. In the middle of winter, through difficulties of which language can convey no idea, our young hero pushed on. They crossed the larger rivers on rafts, and had to fell trees 136 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. across the rapid mountain torrents. At length they reached the point where the Monongahela and Alleghany rivers unite and form the Ohio ; it was a beautiful country, and the keen eye of Washington at once fixed upon it as a most important position for a fort. Twenty miles further on, he again paused, and collecting as many of the Indian braves as he could, made them a speech, in which he told them the object of his mission and asked their assistance. He was answered by a young Indian king from whom he learned that his people were not unwilling to assist in putting a stop to the progress of the French, as they were beginning to view their movements with apprehension and jealousy. After resting a few days, "Washington again set out on his journey for the headquarters of the French, which was about one hundred and twenty miles from the Ohio River. The young Indian king and three of his men accompanied him. By j>erseverance they at length reached the place, and were courteously received by the French commander, St. Pierre. Washington presented Governor Dinwiddie's letter; St. Pierre, in reply, said that the matter must be decided by the Governor of Canada ; his duty was simply to obey orders, which obliged him to maintain his present posi- tion ; and with this unsatisfactory answer, Washington was forced to return. We will not follow his course back. He reached Williamsburg about the middle of January, after an absence of only two months and a half, and delivered his message to Governor Dinwiddie. It was decisive; war between the English and French was at once declared. The service of the young officer in this expedition was highly appreciated. Going into the House of Burgesses one day, he took his seat in the gallery, HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 137 just in time to hear Speaker Bobertson say, " Gentle- men, it is proposed that the thanks of this House be given to Major "Washington, who now sits in the gallery, for the very gallant manner in which he has WASHINGTON RECEIVING THANKS OF THE HOUSE OF BURGESSES. executed the important trust lately imposed in him by his Excellency Governor Dinwiddie." In a moment the House rose as one man, and turning towards the blush- ing young officer, saluted him; ho tried to reply, but so 138 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. completely confounded was this young hero, who had not feared to encounter the dangers of the American forest, that he stood blushing like a girl as this the first leaf in his crown of laurel, was placed on his head. At last he found voice to articulate faintly, " Mr. Speaker — Mr. Speaker!" and then was silent. Old Speaker Rob- ertson called out to him, laughingly, " Major Washington ' — Major Washington, sit down, your modesty alone is equal to your merit." %+ As soon as the news reached England of the unsuc- cessful mission of Washington to the French, orders were issued by the British ministry for the colonists to arm and unite in repelling the aggressions of the French. Virginia raised two companies of one hundred men each, and placed them under the command of Wash- ington, who, in obedience to orders, early in April marched towards the fork of the Ohio, to completo the erection of a fort which had been commenced some time before.* Before he reached there, however, he heard that the fort had been surrendered to the French, with a quantity of valuable property and a large body of men. This was the first open act of hostility on the part of the French. Upon hearing this news, Washing- ton moved slowly forward, intending to be guided in his course by any circumstances of which he could tako advantage. lie had many difficulties to encounter, with the Indians particularly. At one time as he was making his way down the mountain, his Indian guides refused to go any further without reward, and he was obliged to promise them his coat and his ruffled shirt at the end of the journey. At length the opportunity to meet the enemy, which he had so ardently longed for, presented itself, as his Indian scouts reported quite a large body *He here Joined Colonel Fry, who assumed command. HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 139 of French approaching with apparently hostile inten- tions, and these the young officer determined to antici- pate. Guided by friendly Indians, among whom was the young half King Tanachariscn, who gave many proofs of affection and fidelity, Washington, after divi- ding his men into two parties, marched under cover of a very dark night in the direction of the valley in which the enemy were encamped, and before morning dawned the French commander awoke to the consciousness that he was completely surrounded. There was a rush to arms, but it was too late; and the whole party were forced to surrender, which they did not do until they had lost their commander and ten men. This was the first blood shed in the war between the French and English.* Questions for Examination. 1. "When and where was George Washington born? 2. Relate the circumstances of his early life. 3. What was the real foundation of his honest character? '4. Relate the story of his scbool-days. 5. What place did he fill when he left school? 6. Where is the " Northern Neck of Virginia," and to whom was it granted ? 7. How long did he act as surveyor to Lord Fairfax? 8. What proof of filial love did he give? 9. What situation did lie next receive? 1«. Point out on your map the territory claimed by England. 11. What great river cuts this in two and waters it? 12. Where were the French possessions ? 13. What circumstances led them to claim this country? 14. Of what pot tion of the country did La Salle take possession, and what did he name it? 15. What difficulties arose out of these French claims? 16. What advice had Governor fcpottswood once given upon this subject? 17. What news reached Governor Dinwiddie? 18. What step did he determine upon? 19. Who was chosen as messenger? 20. What course did Washington pursue? 21. Relate the circumstances of his journey. 22. Tell of his interview with the friendly Indians. 23. Next his interview with the French officer. *I would ad visa teachers to make the pupils stu:ly these lessons with the aid of maps, as it is important that they should have a proper idea of these localities. 140 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 24. Of his return home. 25. Of his appearance in the House of Burgesses. 26. How was the news of French aggressions received in Eng- land? 27. What position was given to Washington? 28. To what point did he direct his course? 29. What condition of things did he find? 30. What course did he pursue next? 31. Tell of his first battle with the French. CHAPTEK XYIII. 1755. After this battle, the command of the Yirginia forces by the sudden death of Colonel Fry devolved upon Washington. lie was reinforced at a place called ; ' The Meadows" by two companies, one from New York and one from South Carolina. At the Meadows he erected a small fort which he called "Fort Necessity," and when this was done, at the head of nearly four hundred men he turned towards Fort Duquesne. He had gone thir- teen miles in this direction when he was met by some friendly Indians, who told him that the troops in Fort Duquesne were as numerous as the pigeons in the woods. A council of war was held, and it was reluctantly deter- mined to return to Fort Necessity; here Washington strained every nerve to complcto the fort, as he had no doubt that the French, trusting to their superiority of numbers, would make a descent upon him. The result showed the foresight of the young officer, for before his preparations were complete, fifteen hundred French and Indians came bearing down upon Fort Necessity, commanded by Monsieur De Yilliers, who, confident in his superior numbers, expected to secure an easy prey. Surrounding the small fort, they commenced a furious fire from all points at once ; but now the wisdom HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 141 .. of "Washington in the choice of its position was shown. It was erected in the middle of level ground, with noth* ing to obstruct the eyo for a long distance on any side. The French shots were thrown away on account of the distance, and as they ventured nearer they were picked out and shot down by the keen American marks- men. All day long the fight continued, Washington animating his troops by exhortations and personal example. Ho had early taken a position on the outside of the fort, where the men fought from morning until evening in the ditch up to their knees in mud and water. De ViLiers was astonished ; he was not prepared for so earnest a resistance from these untutored Americans. After hours of contest he had made no impression on the fort, and had lost two hundred of his men killed and disabled. Knowing that it was impossible for the little garrison to escape, and that it could be reduced by fam- ine, he sent a message to Washington proposing terms of capitulation ; but the conditions laid down were too humiliating to be thought of for an instant, and the young officer returned for answer that he and his com- panions would sacrifice their lives one by one in the ditch where they had fought rather than submit to dishonor. The haughty Frenchman began to understand what sort of a man he had to deal with, and during the night sent another message, proposing that the Americans should be permitted to retire from the fort with their arms and baggage, and to march without molestation into the inhabited parts of Virginia, and that the French should retire to Fort Duquesne. These terms were accepted ; but Washington had scarcely commenced his march before he discovered that the terms he had ac- cepted were not honorably observed, for the Indians in 142 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. the employ of the French hovered about his little army continually, committing the most wanton outrages and barbarous cruelties ; his men dared not close their eyes for fear of the terrible war-whoop and the scalping knife. At length, with diminished numbers, spent with fatigue and hunger, the little army arrived at Win- chester. The House of Burgesses returned a vote of thanks to the officers and men engaged in this expedition, and gave about nine hundred dollars to be divided between them. Governor Dinwiddie immediately formed a plan for another campaign, and sent orders to Washington to retrace his steps across the Alleghanies, to defeat the French and Indians, and to capture Fort Duquesne. Nothing could exceed "Washington's astonishment at these orders; he knew that it was madness, with his exhausted army, to attempt to march through the wil- derness in the midst of winter without supplies to ac- complish the defeat of a daring foe who had double his number entrenched in fortifications. In this dilemma the Virginia Assembly came to his relief, and refused to vote the money required to carry out Governor Din- widdie's plan of campaign. During the next winter the English Government sent Governor Dinwiddie ten thousand pounds for carrying on the war, but it was accompanied by orders which threw everything into confusion. The whole army in Virginia was to be divided into companies, and no officer was to have a higher, grade than that of captain ; so that Washington, who had fairly won his position as Colonel of a Virginia regiment, was degraded to the rank of Captain, with English officers, who had seen no HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 143 / \ service, ranking him. His high spirit refused to brook such injustice ; he resigned his position in the army and retired to private life. He was not permitted long to remain in retirement. Early in the spring of this year Major-General Brad- dock arrived with a sufficient body of troops to carry on the war with vigor ; and hearing of the merits of the young Virginia officer, and knowing how important would be his knowledge of the country in the approach- ing campaign, he sent for him and entreated him to ac- cept the position of aide upon his staff, with the rank of Colonel. "Washington was only too glad to accept this offer, as it had been a severe trial to him to lay down his arms which had been raised in defence of his country. General Braddock, a brave and experienced officer, had won many laurels upon the battle-fields of Europe, but he knew nothing of fighting in America. He expected to march his men through the thick forests in heavy columns as he had done over the plains of Europe, to cut down trees, level obstructions, and bridge every brook. You may imagine that the progress of his troops was very slow; they were nearly one month going eighty miles from Cumberland towards Fort Du- quesne. Unfortunately Washington was taken sick and obliged to stay behind, so that General Braddock lost the benefit of his advice ; but it is doubtful whether he would have availed himself of it had Washington been with him, for he is described as being a haughty, impe- rious man, unwilling to accept counsel from an inferior officer. At length they arrived at the Monongahela, and here Colonel Washington, weak from illness, joined them : but the ardor of his spirit and the urgency of the situ- 144 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. ation forced him to enter upon the duties of his position without delay. On the morning of the ninth of July, General Braddock made preparations for crossing the Monongahela. Washington in later days often spoke of the beauty of the scene. The British troops, perfectly disciplined and in full uniform, marched through the forest with the regular step of the parade-ground. Braddock had retained but three Virginia companies, and those probably out of compliment to Washington ; the others were left in the rear. They were now within seven miles of Fort Duquesne, and Washington saw, with the deepest anxiety, the incautious rapidity with which General Braddock advanced. In vain he warned him of the dangers of ambush, and entreated that he- might lead the way with the Virginia Hangers and search the country well before the advance of the whole army. Bejecting his advice, the haughty commander gave him to understand that he was presuming upon his position, lie retired with flushed cheeks, and as his eye glanced over the splendid army, a sad feeling struck to his heart. How many of the brave fellows before him, so confident of victory, would that day bite the dust ! The result was worse even than his anticipations. Just above the crossing of the river, as they were ascending the slope from its banks, a heavy fire was opened upon the front and left, from an unseen foe. The van of the army, startled by this fire, fell back. A panic com- menced ; and now the fire opened upon them from every side, though not a man was to be seen. General Brad- dock was a brave man, and did his utmost to rally his troops ; but again his ignorance of American warfare misled him. Instead of ordering his men to charge into the trees and brushwood, and thus to dislodge the HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 145 hidden enemy, he formed them in solid columns, as he had been accustomed to do upon open battle-fields. This was playing into the enemy's hands, as the French and Indian sharpshooters poured in continuous volleys BRADDOCK'S DEFEAT. upon these masses, and no exhortations, no examples, could stay the panic that ensued. Crowded together like sheep in a slaughter-pen, as if the fire of the enemy was not destructive enough, they added to the bloodshed 7 146 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. of their own men by their random firing. Their un- fortunate General did all that man could do to restoro order; he was always to be seen in the front, riding from place to place, trying to rally his men; but it was in vain. Five horses were killed under him, and two of his aides were shot down by his side. Nearly half of his army was either killed or wounded, and the ground was literally strewn with the dead. The Indians picked out the officers by their brilliant uniforms. The Vir- ginia troops, in this terrible havoc, behaved with the great st bravery. Unlike the British, they made no attetf pt to keep in close order, but scattering them- selves in the woods, fought from behind the trees. To speak in the language of the time, they fought like men and died like soldiers ; but their bravery did not save them from destruction. When the battle ended, but thirty remained alive of the three hundred that had gone into it; out of one company of twenty-nine, twenty-five were killed; of another, only one private survived. Colonel Washington also distinguished himself by his coolness and resolution. After the death of the General's aides, the whole duty of carrying his orders to different parts of the field devolved upon him; this duty he performed in the midst of an incessant fire. It is said that an Indian chief marked him, as he rode to and fro through the field, and, taking deliberate aim, fired; but the intended victim rode on unharmed. Tho fire was repeated with a like result, and then, calling his men around him, the warrior pointed out the young brave whose life he sought, bidding them direct their rifles upon him ; but still the young hero passed on un- harmed, until the superstitious Indians desisted, bclicv- HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 147 ing that ho hore a charmed life. He had two horses shot under him, four bullets passed through his clothes, but not a hair of his head was hurt ; and, by his cool- ness and activity, ho saved the remains of the army. The unhappy General was not thus protected. He re- ceived a ball through his lungs, and was borne from tho field by Washington and another of his officers. After this, the rout became general. Everything was de- serted, the artillery, baggage and colors were all abandoned, and this probably saved the remnant of tho army, for tho Indians stopped the pursuit to revel in the plunder. Fortunately, a portion of Braddock's army had been left some distance in the rear, under Colonel Dunbar. To his camp, at Fort Cumberland, Braddock was carried, and there he died. It is said that in his dying moments he confessed to Washington that he had erred in not taking his advice upon that fatal morning. After his death the entire army retreated to Winchester; nor did Dunbar, who succeeded to the command, consider him- self safe even there, for he announced his intention of taking up winter-quarters in Philadelphia in the middlo of summer. Washington sent a message to Governor Dinwiddie, to inform him of the defeat and death of General Braddock, and of Dunbar's departure to Phila- delphia. The whole frontier was open to the enemy. Nothing could exceed the dismay of the people of Vir- ginia at the reception of this news. A meeting of the Burgesses was immediately called; a sum of money was voted to Washington and his surviving officers, as a token of approval of the part they had borne in the unfortunate campaign, and their confidence in Washing- ton was shown by bestowing upon him the command 148 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. of a regiment which was to proceed at once to the pro- tection of the border. Questions for Examination, J. In what year did these events occur? 2. What promotion was conferred upon Washington after the battle? 3. What fort did he erect? 4. What prevented his marching against Fort Duquesne? 5. What was Washington's next step? 6. Tell of the attack on Fort .Necessity. 7. Of the close of the affair. 8. Of Washington's retreat to Winchester. 9. How did the House of Burgesses acknowledge his services? 10. What plan of campaign did the Governor form? 11. What prevented its execution? 12. What did the English Government next do? 13. What course did Washington take? 14. What induced him again to take up arms? 15. What of General Braddock, and his idea of fighting in Amer- ica? 16. Tell of his march. 17. Where was Washington ? 18. What happened on the ninth of July? 19. Relate the order of the advance. 20. What remonstrance did Washington make, and with what effect ? 21. Relate the story of the fight. 22. Tell of the panic. 23. What course did the Indians take? 24. What of the behavior and loss amongst the Virginia troops? 25. How was Washington wonderfully protected? 26. Tell of Braddock's death. 27. What became of the rest of the army ? 28. What remarkable course did Dunbar take? 29. What did the House of Burgesses do ? CHAPTEE XIX. 1756-1763. The prompt measures thus taken were not prema- ture for, before Washington could return to Winchester, news was received that the Indians, encouraged by the defeat at Fort Duquesne, had gathered in great num- HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 149 bers, and were already spreading devastation throughout the whole country. Had the Government furnished him with men and means sufficient to take Fort Du- quesne at once, the heart-rending details of savage butcheries upon the frontier might never have been told. The whole country was terror-stricken at the fate of Braddock's army, and no representations of Washington could induce the authorities to order another advance. Thus the French were enabled to concentrate their forces at this most important place ; and it is no doubt true that this civilized nation used every means in their power to send the murderous savage with his tomahawk and scalping-knife upon the defenceless inhabitants of the frontier of Yirginia. Washington did all he could in its defence, but this was little ; for how could sixteen hundred men guard a frontier of three hundred and sixty miles ? He built a large fort at Winchester, which he named in honor of Lord Loudoun, who was now in command of the British forces in America; and besides, twenty-three smaller forts were erected along the mountain ranges. Amongst these he divided his forces, and to these places of refuge would men, women and children fly for safety when the war-whoop of the savage awaked the echoes of the forests. The history of the following three years is written in blood, and the heart of the brave commander of the Yirginia forces sickened at the sights which daily met his eye, and which he was powerless to avert. Steadily he pursued his course, going from fort to fort. At one place ho found a man lying in the furrow beside his plough, with his story written in his forehead by the terrible tomahawk ; and at a short distance stood the ltO HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. ruins of his cottage, with the bones of his wife and children bleaching in the ashes. But why should we dwell on such horrors ? How can the writer of history paint the American Indian as brave and generous with such facts before him? — his distinguishing character- istic being to fight under cover, and not only to murder, but to torture defenceless women and children. During all this time "Washington continued to advo- cate the attack upon Fort Duquesne, but in vain, until Din widdie was removed from the government of Virginia, and Lord Fauquier appointed in his place. He at once saw the wisdom of this movement, and an army was raised, which after many dangers and delays reached Fort Duquesne to find it deserted, so that this im- portant position fell into the hands of the Virginians without a blow. It was now their duty to bury the remains of those who were slain in Braddock's defeat, and which now lay bleaching upon the battle-field. Dis- figured, mutilated by wounds, torn by birds and beasts of prey, they presented a spectacle horrible to the sight, and many a brave soldier dropped a tear as he walked silently and solemnly through this army of the dead. It is related that one Major Halket had lost a father and a brother in this battle ; an Indian guide told him of an old officer whom he had seen fall, and of a young man who in stooping to help him fell across the body, and he pointed out the two skeletons as they lay. Quiver- ing with emotion, the strong man stood by the side of the bones ; stopping an instant to think, he recalled some peculiarities connected with his father, and as he raised tho skeleton and perceived the mark for which he sought, he exclaimed " It is my father ! " and fell HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 151 back in the arms of his companion. This is but one touching instance among many. There were some there who had escaped the slaughter of that terrible day, and told of its horrors with all the eloquence of eye-witnesses. At length, with pious care they gathered together the sacred dust and buried it in one grave. Having performed this duty, they made a treaty with the Indians, and having taken proper steps for the protection of the frontier, General Forbes returned with his army to Philadelphia. The fall of Fort Duquesne put an end to the war between the French and English upon the frontiers of Virginia, and Washington, after five years of active service, was not sorry to lay down his sword and return to Mount Yernon. It is a remarkable fact that in Washington's career, though often unsuccessful, he never lost the confidence of his countrymen. ~No one blamed him for Braddock's defeat, on the contrary his reputation rose upon that battle-field; ministers in the pulpit thanked God for preserving the life of the young hero, and the Burgesses presented him with a token of their confidence in him. .For some years after this, Virginia grew in strength and prosperity. The northern colonies were involved in war with the French, but everywhere the English were victorious, France was humbled, and the civilized world once more desired peace. The pop .lation of Virginia increased rapidly, and she was unconsciously preparing for the great struggle in which she was to take the lead. She had now passed her infancy, her childhood, and even her youth, and she was slowly learning the high duties to which she was to be called, and in whose faithful performance she won 152 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. for herself a name of which her sons to the latest genera- tion will be proud. England in the meantime had been involved in so many wars that she was deeply in debt, and began to think seriously of forcing her prosperous colonies in America to assist her in paying these dues. This she had no right to do, and I will tell you why in a few words. You remember some chapters back I tried to explain to you about the government of England. Her Parliament, like our Congress and Legislature, is made up of men elected by the people to represent their interests, and the people are then taxed to pay the expenses of the government and to lay up a fund by which their own wants will be supplied. Now you can see by a little thought how well this would conduce to the benefit of all parties concerned. This great body of men, selected from the most intelligent in the country, met together and consulted about the good of the whole j and after the wants and wishes of all were made known, they then decided how the sum of money they had in hand, and to which all had contributed, could be best used to meet these necessities. Having fixed this in your minds, you will be able to understand what injus- tice it would be if one particular part of the country should have been prevented from sending her men to Parliament to represent her washes, and had still been forced to pay her share of the money in the treasury. Now this was exactly the state of the case with America. She was not allowed to send any men to the Parliament of England to represent her interest, and therefore she very properly thought that England had no right to tax her, particularly as each State had her own govern- ment to support. If you will try and comprehend these _ HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 153 few simple facts perfectly, you will Lave no difficulty in understanding the causes which led to the Bevolu- tionary "War. Yuestions for Examination. 1. "What years are Included In this chapter? 2. What happened before Washington returned to Winchester ? 3. What was the cause of these misfortunes, and how inight they have been averted ? 4. What steps did Washington cake? 5. What of the following three years? 6. What course did Washington advocate, and with what suc- cess ? 7. Give an account of the return to the scene of Braddock's defeat, and the burial of the dead. 8. "What put an end to the war between the French and Eng- lish ? 9. What is a noticeable fact in Washington's career? TO. What progress did Virginia make after these events? 11. What was the condition of the British Government, and how did she propose to relieve herself of her difficulties? 13. Explain why England had no right to tax America » CHAPTEE XX 1765-1770. An important and interesting duty of the Yirginia historian is to make the reader acquainted with her great men j those who by heroism, by eloquence, by states- manship, by the power of the pen, and by patriotism, have made their names immortal. You have already had a portrait of the great hero George Washington, who stands as the Father of his country. The circum- stances of America at this time called for other weapons than the sword. Yirginia was in sore difficulties ; more than the other States was she devoted to the mother 7* 154 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. country. She bad been tbe last to desert King Charles I., and tbe first to welcome King Charles II. to the throne. But there was something that Yirginia loved more even than she did her King, and this was justice and freedom, and these she found endangered by the proposition to tax her in order to enable England to pay her heavy debt. I have told you about the navigation laws which for- bade America to trade with any country but England. When the colonies were too feeble to think of resistance, they had forced them to pay a tax upon all articles which were brought from England to America. These things though wrongs, Yirginia had become accustomed to ; but when her submission in this matter encouraged her English rulers to put still greater burdens upon her, she became alarmed, and looked around anxiously to see which of her sons would give voice to her indignation : nor did she look in vain. A young lawyer from the county of Hanover, with neither birth, wealth nor connections to recommend him, came forward. This was Patrick Henry, whose name as an orator will go down side by side with that of Demosthenes ; and there is no person in history the study of whose character should give more encourage- ment to the young. He had not even enjoyed the advantage of a first-rate education ; he was awkward and ungainly in appearance, and had a natural in- dolence to contend against, which made success doubly difficult ; but with all this, he had a thirst for knowledge which was unconquerable. History was his favorite study, particularly that of his native State. With this be made himself perfectly familiar, from the time that James the First gave tho charter to the London Com- HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 155 pany, down to the present; and thus fortified by a knowledge of her past, when Virginia wanted help he was ready to give it. Tho question of the right of England to tax her colonies was being discussed in the Assembly of Virginia. There were many eloquent men in this body, but still there was something wanting. It was a serious matter to oppose England. It was not only the love of a child for a mother which made Virginia pause to think, but the knowledge that the opposition to her would produce a struggle from which the boldest shrank, and which many thought had better be avoided, even by allowing the right of England to tax the colony. Fortunately this was not the opinion of all. The colonies now resembled a smouldering fire which only required a strong breath to kindle into a flame. This breath was supplied by the news which reached Virginia that the Parliament of England had passed a law known as the " Stamp Act." In these days it is not difficult to understand what this was. You all know that every article which is purchased from a store has a stamp upon it ; that many business papers and instru ments of writing are not worth anything unless they have a stamp upon them ; but you do not know pro- bably that these stamps are a tax which the Government levies upon all articles. The United States issues these stamps, and sells them to the people; the money thus obtained is put into the Treasury, and provides a fund for the payment of the debt of the country. 1 have nothing to say against this plan : it is perhaps the best that could be devised ; and every American is interested in having the debts of the country paid, and no one feels sensibly the few cents which these stamps cost. But when England made it a law that America should buy her stamps and use them they determined to resist. 156 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. The Virginians were a proud race, and very jealous of any attack upon their liberties. It was not the money that they cared for, but it was the principle in- volved in the matter They would willingly have voted a large sum to assist England in paying her debts, but they knew that this small tax was but the first link in the chain which was to bind them as slaves to the mother country. Admit her right to levy this upon them, and it would bo followed by a larger and a larger tax until the burden would become intolerable. .Nor was Vir- ginia alone in this opinion ; the voice of indignation §Jj|_ rose from all jjjjp the colonies. B|Wheii the r Stamp Act was issued in [2f- : Boston, it was ™JS seized torn in pieces and trampled un- PATRICK HENRY. d er f 00 t. ThO Virginia lawyers declared that they would rather give up their profession than use the stamps ; and when the English agent arrived to distribute them, he was so rudely treated that he was obliged to seek safety in flight. These are the circumstances which prepared the way for the great orator, Patrick Henry. As I have said the Virginia Assembly met to discuss this act. I to-B/\\. HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 157 will tell you something about a few of the great men of the Assembly, whose names should live in the history of Virginia. There was Eichard Henry Lee, who was called the Cicero of Virginia, from his great reputation as an orator, and from his appearance, which was formed in the Roman mould. He had lost one of his hands, by an accident, and he al- ways wore a silken bandage over it, which is said to have added to, rath- er than taken from, the effect of his man- ner. He was so graceful that many thought he must practise speaking before a mirror. Next came Peyton Eandolph, the At. torney-General, who was no orator, yet RICHARD HENRY LEE. a man of much learning and influence. Then there was Eichard Bland, who was a wise statesman, but a better writer than speaker. Last I will mention Edmund Pendleton, who was left an orphan, poor and uneducated, and who, after ploughing all day, pur- sued his studies at night, working hard, and spend- ing all that he could spare, from his earnings, in books. He had no skill as a writer, but spoke with great power. These were the sons whom Virginia called around her in her time of trouble. In front of, and greater than them all, stood Patrick Henry. He was twenty-eight 158 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. years old when he became a member of the House of Burgesses, to which he had not been elected, but one of the members resigned his place and gave it to him, in order that he might speak upon this great subject. He found the House divided into two parties ; one advo- cating submission in the matter of the Stamp Act, and the other opposed to it. Finding that the party for submission was about to pass the Stamp Act, he took out his pencil and wrote upon a leaf of an old book some resolutions which he presented to the House. They set forth the facts that Virginians had a right to all the privileges of English subjects; that having no represen- tatives in Parliament, they should not be taxed by Parliament; that the right of these colonies to tax themselves had always been recognized by the Kings and Parliaments of England ; and last, that no one had a right to tax Virginians but the General Assembly of Virginia, and were such a thing allowed it would destroy American freedom. These were the boldest words which had ever been uttered in that place, and the bravest hearts shrunk from the results which might follow them. A stormy discussion took place, in the midst of which Patrick Henry rose. The party op- posing him laughed almost without reserve at his ap- pearance. He was plainly, even coarsely dressed, and awkward his figure and manner, formed a striking contrast to the fashionable gallants, who filled the House, with their powdered hair and ruffled shirt- fronts. Their amusement did not last long, for soon a great change camo over the speaker; his eye kindled as ho warmod with his subject, his form became erect, and even graceful, his voice thrilled like music as he spoke as no Virginian had ever dared > HISTORY OF VIRGINIA, 159 do before, of the wrongs of the colony and the dangers which lay before her. Not a sound broke the stillness; every eye was turned upon him as he painted Virginia in chains to the power of England. The blood ran cold in their veins as they listened. It seems a pity that this wonderful speech was not preserved; no one thought PATRICK HENRY BEFORE THE HOUSE OF BURGESSES. of writing it out as he uttered it, and only a portion of it has come down to us. " CaBsar," he cried, " had his Brutus, Charles I. his Cromwell, and George III. — " Here he was interrupted by loud cries of " Treason ! treason ! " He knew that he stood upon the brink of a precipice ; Virginia was not yet able to bear the daring words ho would have uttered ; he did not Iohq 160 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. his self-command, but straightening himself up, he con- tinued, " and George III. may profit by their example. If this be treason, make the most of it." The effect of this speech is best known by its result — the reso- lutions passed by a majority of one. At the door of the house, listening with delight to this speech, stood a student of William and Mary College. It was Thomas Jefferson, who afterwards wrote the Declaration of Inde- pendence. The news of the adoption of these resolu- tions spread like wild-fire, and caused intense excitement throughout the whole country. The other colonies adopted similar resolutions, and determined that nothing bearing the stamp of England should come into the country. Clubs were formed named " The Sons of Liberty," and the members bound themselves by an oath to resist oppression, Massachusetts proposed that all of the colonies should send delegates to New York in October to consult about the best means to be adopted in this crisis. This was the first American Congress. The States heretofore had separate governments, and this was the first time they united for a common defence. On the first of November, the day fixed upon for the Stamp Act to take effect, signs of indignation and mur- muring were visible everywhere. In Boston a funeral, which they called the Funeral of Liberty, took place ; muffled drums beat dead marches, the bells were tolled, and long processions of black-robed mourners passed through the streets following a coffin, which was solemnly interred. When the news of this opposition reached England, it created a great excitement in Parliament. Many members thought America was perfectly right in her course, and one of them, William Pitt, rose from a sick* HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 161 bed to make a speech in behalf of the Americans. "We are told," said he, "that America is obstinate, America is in open rebellion. I rejoice that America has resisted oppression ; three millions of people so dead to all feelings of liberty as voluntarily to submit to be slaves, would have been fit instruments to make slaves of all the rest." The result of American firm- ness was, that England repealed the Act, that is, did away with it; and the Americans, strengthened by this triumph, determined that they never again would submit to a wrong from England. For some time after this affairs went on quietly in Virginia. Governor Fauquier died, and was succeeded by forborne Berkley, Baron of Botetourt, who was chosen as Governor of Virginia because it was supposed that he would check rebellion and see the King's com- mands enforced. He was a good and a great man, loved his new people, and was continually perplexed by the desire to obey his King, and yet do justice to those over whom he ruled. Notwithstanding all the trouble about the Stamp Act, England still debated how she could make the colonies help to pay her debts. Virginia had also another complaint to make. There had for many years existed a law that when a person was accused of crime in Virginia, he should be sent all the way over to England to be tried. The year after Lord Botetourt was appointed Governor of Virginia, the General Assembly passed two resolutions: first, that Virginia would no longer submit to be taxed by Eng- land, nor would she send criminals to England to be tried. Now though the Governor knew perfectly well that the Assembly was right in this, yet he thought 162 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. that his duty to the King compelled him to take notice of, what seemed rebellion against his authority. He told the Assembly that he had heard of their resolutions, but that his duty was not to countenance rebellion, therefore he dissolved the Assembly. It had always been the custom, when the Assembly was dissolved, for the members to return quietly to their homes; but the spirit of freedom and independence was now aroused, and instead of dispersing, they met at a private house in Williamsburg, and resolved that they would not bring into the country anything from England upon which a tax was laid. Copies of these resolutions were sent all through the country, and the other colonies joined Yirginia in making the same resolution. Now it is one thing to resolve and another thing to perform. Americans did both. Glass, lead, paper and tea had been taxed, and not one of these articles was permitted to be brought to America. So determined were the colonists, that when some time afterwards a vessel loaded with tea entered Boston har- bor, a number of citizens who feared the people might be tempted by a sight of the commodity, disguised themselves as Indians, went on board the ship in the night, and threw overboard three hundred and forty-two chests of tea, and then returned to their homes. Questions for Examination. 1. What is a very important duty of the writer of the History of Virginia? 2. Who was the great military hero of Virginia? 3. What condition of affairs in her colony called for other weapons than the sword? 4. What effect had the submission of Virginia to the navigation laws produced ? 5. What did she do in her dilemma ? HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 163 6. Who was Patrick Henry? „«„„„- 7. Why should his life be an encouragement to the young? 8. What circumstances fitted him to become the defender of 9. Wha^constderations had prevented the men of Virginia from resisting the oppressions of England? 10. Explain what the "Stamp Act" was. 11. Why did Virginia determine to resist the execution of the Btamp Act? 12 How was it received in the other colonies? 13. What of Richard Henry Lee? „,,___. .„ 14 What of Peyton Randolph and Richard Bland? 15*. What of Edmund Pendleton? # tj„ ««««»»«* 16 How did Patrick Henry get a seat in the House of Burgesses? 17* What division of opinion did he find in the House? IS. What resolutions did he present to the House? 19. How were they received? 20. Describe the orator's appearance. D „ Mlr « 21. What change came over him when he began to speaK? 22. Repeat a portion of his speech. 23. What effect did it have? 21. Who was the student listening at the door? 25. What effect did the news of these events have through the country ? 26. Tell of the first American Congress. 27. What was done in Boston? i„^« 2S. What effect did these events have upon England? 29. Who succeeded Lord Fauquier? 30 Of what other grievance did Virginia complain? 31." What steps did she take in the matter? 32. What did the G jvernor do ? 33. Lid the Assembly disperse? 34. Lid America act as well as resolve? 35. What decisive step was taken at Boston? CHAPTEE XXI. 1774. This year died Lord Botetourt, beloved and respected by all who knew him. His death was doubtless hastened by the troubles and perplexities of his position. The people of Virginia showed their appreciation of his worth by erecting a monument to him at Williamsburg, and naming after him one of the most beautiful counties in the State. He was succeeded by Lord Dunmore, who stands lowest of all the G-overnors of Virginia. He was not only harsh and rude in his manners, but perfectly 164 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. unprincipled in his morals, and haughty and tyrannical in the extreme. He came to Virginia accompanied by a favorite, Captain Foy, and with the determination to draw from the people, by every means in his power, both fair and unfair, money to enrich himself and his friend. But the Virginians were not so easy to deal with as he had expected. The Assembly investigated closely, and refused to sanction his attempts to cheat the people out of their property. His next proj ec t was to bring on a war between Virginia and Pennsylvania about their bounda- ries, thinking that if he could inflame the States against each other, they would not be able to join together to oppose England, and besides, would be so much in- terested in this quarrel, that he would be at liberty to carry out his own private plans without molestation. Again he was mistaken. The colonies were more closely drawn together than ever before, by a common interest, and this was the resistance of oppression. The difference between Virginia and Pennsylvania was peace- fully settled; and hearing that, as a punishment to the Boston people for throwing the tea overboard, her port was closed, and no vessel permitted either to come in or go out (thus cutting off her trade), the Virginians, at the next meeting of the Assembly, offered resolutions expressing sympathy for their oppressed brethren. Lord Dunmore, in a great rage, immediately dissolved the Assembly ; but, instead of dispersing as ho had intended, they adjourned to the Raleigh Tavern, and there, in indignant terms, denounced tea as the source of all their troubles, and declared their purpose not to send ono pound of tobacco to England until the port of Boston was opened. In the meantime, Governor Dunmorc's schemes to HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 165 produce a diversion from himself and his affairs had revived a fearful evil, which perhaps even he did not in- tend. The Indian war-whoop was again heard upon the frontiers, and again were defenceless men, women and children flying from their savage foe. Eeports of these horrors thrilled all hearts at Williamsburg. The white men seem to have commenced these outrages; one Captain Cresap had headed a fearful massacre of the Indians, in which the entire family of a great chief named Logan had been killed. Logan had been a warm friend to the white man, and had done all in his power to keep the peace between the Americans and his own race; but this outrage aroused his savage nature, and he himself led his tribes to the war and wreaked his vengeance upon the frontier settlements. An army was raised and placed under the command of General Lewis, who marched to Point Pleasant, where the Kanawha river empties into the Ohio. Here he remained some time without seeing the Indians ; but one day two young men, venturing out for the purpose of hunt- ing, were suddenly attacked by a large body of Indians; one was killed, and the other fled wounded to the camp to rouse his comrades. In a few mo- ments the whole force was under arms. The Indian war-whoop was heard, and fifteen hundred savages came yelling like an army of demons. They were led on by a gigantic warrior named Cornstalk, whose great skill and cruelty were well known. The In- dians now understood the use of fire-arms almost as well as the Americans, and a terrible fire poured from their ranks, which killed and wounded many of the whites. Colonel Charles Lewis, a brother of the General, was mortally wounded, and only con* 166 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. trived to drag himself within the camp before he ex- pired. When all seemed lost, a reinforcement arrived under Colonel Flemming, who ordered the army to adopt the Indian method of shooting from behind trees. Instantly, as if by magic, both armies dis- appeared, and little was seen of the fight except the flash of fire-arms. The hrge figure of Cornstalk glided from tree to tree, encouraging his men ; and his loud voice was heard above^the din of battle, calling out " Be strong! be strong ! " J Colonel Flemming received two balls through hi3 wrist and one through his lungs, but still continued cheering on his men. The firing continued all day, and the loss of life was terrible. By the advice of Colonel Flemming, the Virginians adopted a very cunning strat- agem. Holding up their hats from behind the trees, when the Indians fired they let them fall; the In- dians thinking they were men, rushed forward with their scalping-knives, only to be shot down by the Virginians. At length the Indians began to give way ; the Virginians having been reinforced by Colonel Field, who was killed while leading the pursuit. The Indians fought for every inch of ground as they retreated, and it was not until after sunset that they withdrew. Corn- stalk himself brought up the rear, and with his own hand struck dead one of his men who showed signs of cowardice. This victory, though complete, was dearly bought, the Virginians having lost one hundred and forty men, among whom were many valuable officers. Lord Dunmore, who had promised to join Lewis, in- stead of doing so took another direction ; and immedi- ately after the battle, an order came for Lewis to join him at Shawneetown, eighty miles further on, as he had HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 167 succeeded in securing a treaty of peace with the savages. General Lewis at first refused to obey, as he did not think the Indians meant peace, but at length yielded to Governor Dunmore, only stipulating that every precau- tion should be taken to prevent treachery. The Indians were encamped within their fortifications, from which only eighteen besides their chiefs were permitted to pass at a time ; and they were forced to deposit their arms with the guard at the gate. The negotiation was opened by Cornstalk, who made a long speech in a loud tone of voice, which was heard all over the camp. He ac- cused the Yirginians of commencing the war by their massacres, which was undoubtedly true ; after this the terms of the treaty were settled, and the prisoners on both sides delivered up. It was observed that Logan, the great Canga chief, was not present at this interview ; but although he would not personally have anything to do with those who had murdered his family, yet on account of his people he consented to the peace. "While the treaty was going on, a man appeared bearing in his hand a letter with the signature of Logan ; he found it tied to a war-club in a cabin at some distance from the camp. It was addressed to Lord Dunmore, and was afterwards published throughout England and Amer- ica. It is considered one of the finest specimens of savage eloquence that was ever penned. I give it to you complete, because I am sure that its simple pathos must touch the hearts of all who read it : " I appeal to any white man to say if ever he entered Logan's cabin hungry, and he gave him not meat ; if ever he came cold and naked, and he clothed him not. During the course of the last long and bloody war, Logan remained idle in his cabin, an advocate for peace. 1G8 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. Such was my love for the whites, that my countrymen pointed as they passed, and said 'Logan is the friend of white men.' I had even thought to have lived with you, but for the injuries of one man. Colonel Cresap, the last spring, in cold blood and unprovoked, murdered all the relations of Logan, not even sparing my women and children. There runs not a drop of my blood in the veins of any living creature. This called on me for revenge. I have sought it; I have killed many ; I have fully glutted my vengeance; for my country I rejoice at the beams of peace. But do not harbor a thought that mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not turn on his heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan ? — Not one." But a more obstinate contest was in progress than that with the Indians. Thick clouds were swiftly gath- ering, which were to burst in the storms of war between England and America. Notwithstanding the remon- strances of patriots on both sides of the water, notwith- standing the firm determination, strictly adhered to by the colonists, not to send anything to England or to receive anything from England until their grievances were removed, still the evil increased rather than diminished. In the month of ]\Iarch of this same year, the Vir- ginia Convention met at .Richmond, which was then a small town of wooden houses built over the hills which sloped down to the river. Upon what is now called Church Hill there stands an old wooden church, with which some of you at least are familiar. It was in this very building that the Convention met, to deliberate upon the course to be pursued in tho gathering crisis. Virginia had not yet acknowledged, even to herself, HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 1C9 170 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. that war was inevitable ; but when day after da}' ships arrived from England bringing armed troops, which were quartered in the town ; when over the waters of Chesa- peake Bay she saw the English vessels of war hovering upon her coast, she knew that if libcaty was to be pre- served, she must, without delay, put herself in a posture of defence ; and it was for the purpose of consulting upon the best mode of doing this that the Convention had now assembled.. It was composed of representatives from all the different counties in the State; and it is interesting and instructive to read the bold instruc- tions which the hardy patriots at home dared to give to these delegates^ I have now before me a curious relic of this time. It is a document printed on white satin, and contains the instructions from the free-holders of Augusta County to their representatives to this Convention. The satin is yellow with age, but the principles imprinted upon it should ever remain fresh in the breasts of freemen. It was in effect, a declaration of their determination to be a free people. After expressing loyalty and attachment to their Sovereign, the King of England, the men of Augusta declare that their fathers left their native land and came to the wilderness to enjoy liberty of con- science and the rights of human nature, and these rights they were fully determined should never be sur- rendered to any Parliament or body of men on earth in which they were not represented. 2s~or did Augusta fctand alone; other counties gave similar instructions to their delegates. So that the body of men who gathered in convention at Richmond, went strength- ened by the knowledge that whatever course might bo decided upon for the defence of Virginia, the people HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 171 at home were ready to lay down their purses and their lives to accomplish it. Patrick Henry proposed that the citizens of the differ- ent counties should be formed into military companies and drilled in the arts of war. This looked so much like threatening England, that the more timid members drew back in alarm. " What is the use," said they, " of taking a bold stand which we have no means of main- taining ? Without soldiers, without arms, and without officers, shall we attempt to contend against the strong- est military power in the world ? " Acknowledging their loyalty to England, they pictured the comforts and luxuries they might continue to, enjoy, were only peaceful means used to assert their rights. Then outspoke that voice of Virginia, Patrick Henry. Turning his piercing eyes from one member ot tho the Convention to another, he thrilled every heart with his fiery eloquence. I wish I could give you his whole speech; I feel sure that your hearts too would glow with the enthusiasm which moved him. He besought the members to give up at once the idea that tho storm of Avar could by any means be averted; he reminded them how again and again they had prostrated them- selves before the throne of England, petitioning simply for their rights, and had met with nothing but disregard and insult; if they wished to be free, they must fight, and He who had declared that the " race is not to tho swift nor the battle to the strong " would help them in their helplessness, and raise up friends for them in their weakness. His wonderful speech closed with these memorable words : " Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at tho price of chains and slavery ? Forbid it, Almighty Clod ! I know not what course 172 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or givo mo death ! " Not a sound broko tho stillness as the great orator took his seat. His words had reached every heart ; there were no timid men now in the Con- vention ; all were ready to give up their lives in the de- fence of liberty. Mr. Henry's proposition was adopted ; men from every county were enrolled in tho army of Virginia, and trained with all diligence in military duties. But these preparations had scarcely begun before news arrived which still more fired the hearts of tho Vir- ginians. A battle had been fought on the plains of Lexington, in Massachusetts, between tho British forces and the Massachusetts militia, in which tho first blood of tho Kevolutionary War was shed. Questions for Examination. 1. What is the date of these events ? 2. What probably caused the death of Lord Botetourt ? 3. What was the character of his successor, and how did ho seek to accomplish his ends ? 4. Did he succeed in his schemes? 5. Why did he dissolve the Assembly, and did they dlsperso at his bidding ? 6. What fearful evil did Dunmore's schemes bring upon Vir- ginia? 7. What did Colonel Cresap do? 8. Who was Logan ? 9. To what point did Colonel Lewis conduct his men? 10. Give an account of tbe battle of Point Pleasant. 11. Which side gained the victory? 12. Give an account or the treaty at Shannestown. 13. How did Logan act? 14. Read aloud his letter to Lord Dunmore. 15. What difficulties were gathering over America? 10. Where did the Virginia Convention assemble? 17. Give an account of the condition of affairs in Virginia. is. Who composed the Convention? 19. What Instructions did Augusta and other counties give their representatives? 20. What was Patiick Henry's proposition, and how was it x - e- celved? 21. What did Patrick Henry answer? 2-*. Give the closing words of his speech. 2:$. What was the result of his eloquence? 24. What news from Massachusetts still more fired the hearts of tho Virginians? HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 173 CHAPTEJR XXII. 1775. "When the news of the proceedings of the Convention, followed closely by that of the battle in Massachusetts, reached Lord Dunmore, he became alarmed, and de- termined, as far as he could, to take from the Virginians the power of resistance. There was, in the city of "Wil- liamsburg, a magazine containing a quantity of powder which belonged to the colony. In the dead of night a body of armed sailors came up to the city, and, by order of Lord Dunmore, removed twenty barrels of powder to their vessel, which lay in York river. This caused the most intense excitement in "Williamsburg. Groups of men, with gloomy and angry faces, gathered in knots about the streets. The Common Council sent an address to the Governor, asking an explanation ; they reminded him that the powder had been placed in the magazine for public use, and that he knew, moreover, that if their slaves who had been urged by wicked persons to in- surrection, should now rise, the people would be utterly defenceless. Governor Dunmore returned a most unsatisfactory answer, and when, a short time afterwards, he heard that the citizens were in arms, in ei great passion he swore that if a hair of his head, or 3f those who had been instrumental in taking away the powder, was touched, he would himself arm the slaves and burn "Williamsburg to the ground. Those who knew Lord Dunmore best, knew that this tvas no vain threat : he was wicked enough to commit this or any other outrage; but this knowledge, instead Df allaying, increased the excitement, and as the news 174 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. spread through, the country it roused indignation every- where. A party of citizens entered the magazine at night, and took from it a number of pistols, muskets, and other military articles. There were, at this time, lying in the waters of Vir- ginia, a number of English war vessels. One of them, "The Fowey," was in York river, directly opposite Yorktown. As soon as the arms were removed from the magazine, Lord Dunmore sent a messenger to the captain of the Fowey, asking him to send a body of armed men to protect him in his palace. This request was complied with, and after the departure of the troops, the captain of the Fowey addressed a letter to Thomas Kelson, a prominent citizen of Yorktown, who had been very active in soothing the discontent among the people and upholding the authority of the King in the colony. The letter informed Mr. Kelson of Lord Dunmore's request and his compliance with it, and then went on to express a hope that they would meet with no molestation in Williamsburg, as it was his determin- ation, in such an event, to open his guns upon York- town, which was full of defenceless women and children. You will easily understand the barbarity of this deter- mination, when you consider that the people of York- town were in no way responsible for the acts of the people of Williamsburg, and that it was too late for them to protect themselves by an appeal to them, as the sailors had already gone to Williamsburg. Patrick Henry watched the progress of affairs with intense interest. He believed that the time had arrived for active measures, and allowed himself to be placed in command of a body of volunteers, organized for the purpose of retaking the powder which Lord _ _ ., >> HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. !<•) /// ■' _ S Dunmore had stolen. The effect was magical. His name aroused the enthusiasm of the entire country. Companies of horse and foot flocked to his standard, and in a short time not less than five thousand men were in arms, ready to march at a moment's warning, and to undertake any work he might order. Lord Dunmore was alarmed, and sent a messenger to Mr. Henry, offering to pay for the powder which had been taken. This being the object which they wero determined to accomplish, Mr. Henry and his men, after receiving the money, disbanded and returned in triumph to their homes. This incident, though it ended peace- fully, convinced the Governor and the British Ministry that Virginia was in earnest, and that it was dangerous to trifle with her earnestness. In the hope of allay- ing the excitement, Lord Dunmore summoned a meeting of the Assembly on the first day of June. This was the last meeting of the House of Burgesses ; the next time these patriots assembled it was as a Legislature, to make laws for their government without regard to royal authority. In obedience to this summons, the Burgesses arrived in "Williamsburg, when their serious, resolved faces showed their sense of coming danger. Many of them wore hunting-shirts, and brought in their hands the rifles which were afterwards used upon the field of battle. At the opening of the session the Governor made a very courteous speech, in which he said that England was ready to hold out the olive branch of peace, provided the Virginians would agree to pay their proportion of the public debt of the mother country. If this offer had been made at an earlier period, there is little doubt that it would have been accepted \ but 176 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. Virginia began to be conscious of her strength, and was in no mood to be conciliated by half measures. Thomas Jefferson prcsentea a paper to the House, in which he declared that the people of Virginia had a right to bestow their money where they pleased, and that they would not be forced by taxation or otherwise to pour it into the treasury of England, who had invaded their country by sea and land, and from whom they had nothing to expect but injustice and oppression, but in spite of whom they intended, by the help of Heaven, to gain their rights. Soon after this, the Virginians were further inflamed by the discovery of an infamous plot of Lord Dun- morc's, for destroying his opponents in tne Assembly. On the night of the 5th of June several young men went into the magazine at Williamsburg for the purpose of getting arms. As they passed the door a cord at- tached to it fired off a spring-gun, by which one of the men had his shoulder torn to pieces, and another lost three of his fingers. When this catastrophe became known, the fact was recalled that Lord Dunmoro had always kept the key of the magazine, and had that very day officiously insisted upon giving it into the possession of the Houso of Burgesses, in order that they might inves- tigate the removal of the gunpowder. Suspicion being thus aroused, an examination was forthwith made, and the diabolical plot revealed itself. Three or four barrels of gunpowder were found concealed under the floor of the magazine, intended to be used doubtless as a mine to blow up the committee appointed to investigate the matter of the powder removal. The indignation of the people at this discovery was extreme, and there is no telling what punishment they might not have inflicted I HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. IT 7 upon the wicked Governor, had he not taken the alarm and fled from the palace with his wife and servants. He took refuge on board the Fowey at Yorktown. The House of Burgesses dispatched a message to him, assuring him of safety, and of their readiness to unite with*him in re- storing order to the country. He could not be induced to trust his precious person in their hands, but sent the House an insolent order to come on board the Fowey to consult with him there. Of course this was declined; all correspondence between Dunniore and the Assembly ceased, and soon afterwards the House of Burgesses adjourned. With it passed away forever the royal authority in Virginia. Before their separation, the members agreed to meet in convention at Richmond, and there they instituted vigorous measures for arming Virginia. VTar was no longer a matter of doubt. Wash- ington (who may be termed the sword of Virginia, as Patrick Henry was her tongue and Thomas Jefferson her pen) was with the main army in the North, where the Revolution had fairly commenced. Arrangements for the defence of Virginia were not begun a moment too soon, for the malignant and treacherous Dunmore was taking every step for her total ruin. He had sailed out of York river in the Fowey, and had fixed his head- quarters at Norfolk, then the most flourishing town in Virginia. Under his command, besides the Fowey, were three other vessels — the Mercury, the Kingfisher, and the Otto — besides a number of smaller vessels. Now look on your maps for Norfolk ; a short distance off, and at the end of the peninsular between York and James rivers, you will see the little town of Hampton. Here the first battle in Virginia was fought. For some time the small vessels of Lord Dunmore had been 8* 178 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. harassing the coast, plundering the people and de- stroying their property, and the town of Hampton was daily expecting an attack. The people made such simple arrangements for their defence as their limited means allowed. Remember that Yirginia had no navy and no regularly organized army, and was in these respects no match for the English under Lord Dunmore. But the battle is not always with the strong, and vigilance, activity, and bravery in a good cause some- times make up for the difference in numbers. Colonel Woodford, with the Culpeper riflemen, num- bering one hundred men, hearing of the expected at- tack, marched all night through a heavy rain, and at eight o'clock on the morning of the twenty-fifth of October was ready to aid the gallant militia at Hamp- ton in repelling the attack. He found them embold. ened by a slight success they had met with, the day before, when six tenders full of armed men under Captain Squires, had approached the town, and not ex- pecting any opposition, had landed under a heavy fire to cover their attack. To their surprise, they wero received by a shower of rifle-bullets; marksmen con- cealed behind fences and in the town poured a precise and deadly fire upon them, and they were glad to escape to their boats, which they did not accomplish without the loss of a great many men. The Virginians, reinforced by Colonel Woodford and his riflemen, awaited quietly the second attack. They had sunk ob- structions in the river immediately in front of the town, but these the British removed in the night, and in the morning they discovered the fleet drawn up in the harbor with the guns bearing upon the town. Do not forgct ; that in this fight the Virginians had no fire- HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 179 arms but their rifles to oppose the English cannon. When the cannonade commenced, the riflemen drew ATTACK ON HAMPTON. close to the water's edge, and concealing themselves behind trees, bushes, houses and fenjces, opened their unerring fire upon the British vesselsV The men at the 180 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. guns were killed, and not a sailor touched a sail with- out being shot by the deadly balls from the Virginia rifles. Soon confusion was manifested upon the British decks. It was impossible to guide the vessels or to man the guns, because of the fatal jn-ecision of the Virginia riflemen. In dismay, the British tried to draw off and make their escape into the Bay. Some succeeded, but two of the tenders drifted ashore and were captured, with a great many prisoners. There can be no doubt as to which was the victorious party in this the first battle of the Revolution upon the soil of Virginia; it was with great difficulty that any of the vessels escaped. A number of men went down to a narrow channel to oppose the egress of the British into the Bay, and tho whole fleet would have been captured but for the report that a large body of the British were advancing from another direction. The Virginians retreated and the vessels escaped. Soon afterwards, an attack, made by Dunmore upon Jamestown, was repelled with great spirit. Alarmed at the boldness everywhere manifested, and seeing the great necessity for striking a blow that would create terror and discouragement, Dunmore left Norfolk and went to Princess Ann county, to cap- ture some cannon which belonged to the colonists. lie took with him a large force, composed of regulars, fugitive slaves, and Tories (the name given to those who took the part of England against their own country- men). Encountering a body of Virginia militia under Colonel Hutchings, they attacked them suddenly, threw them into confusion, the Virginians retreated, leaving Colonel Hatchings wounded upon the field. You would think from Lord Dunruore's exulta- HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 181" tion over this slight success that all opposition had been overcome; and, emboldened by it, he issued a proclamation commanding everybody to return to their allegiance to His Majesty, the King, under penalty of being declared traitors and having their property con- fiscated. This, so far from striking terror to the hearts of the colonists, as he expected it would do, had just the opposite effect ; for the Virginians everywhere left their ordinary employments and flocked to arms, and the difficulty of the committee on military affairs was not how to obtain men, but to furnish them arms and ammunition. Questions for Examination. 1. In what year did these events take place? 2. What effect did the news have on Lord Dunmore ? 3„ What steps did he take to reduce the Virginians to helpless- ness ? 4o What did the Council do, and what reply did Dunmore make? Ol. What effect did this have upon the citizens? 6. What was Lord Dnnmore's next step, and how was he aided in his designs by the Captain of the Fowey ? 7. How did 1 atrick Henry interfere at this juncture, and with what effect? 8. What was t'ie effect of these proceedings on the Governor ? 9. Give an acconnt of the meeting of the House of Burgesses. 10. Did they accept terms from England ? 11. What plot wis now discovered, and how? 13. What did Lord Dunmore do? 13. Give an account of the adjournment of the last House of Burgesses. 14. How did the people of Virginia employ themselves? 15. Who were the three most influential men in Virginia, and how may they be described ? 16. What was Lord Dunmore's situation? 17. Give an account of the first battle of the Revolution in Vlr ginia. 18. Which side had the advantage in numbers and munitions of war? 19. Who commanded the Virginians? 20. Which side gained the victory? 21. Who were the Tories? 2vJ. What slight advantage did Dunmore soon after gain? 23, What effect did this success have upon the opposing parties? 182 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. CHAPTER XXIII. 1775. An event now occurred which exasperated the people still more against the infamous Dunmore. A man named Connelly, who was suspected of carrying com- munications from Dunmore to the British commander, General Cage, at Boston, was arrested at Hagerstown, Maryland. Upon searching his haggage, a large sum of money was found, and the outline of a scheme for the ruin of Virginia. There was a letter from Dunmore, addressed to White-Eyes, an Indian chief, written in the figurative and flowery style which he supposed would please the Indians. He begs his " dear brother, Captain White-Eyes," to call together Cornstalk and all the other chiefs, and entreats them to take up the hatchet against the "Long Knives" (which was their name for the Virginians). As a reward for this, ho promised them rich presents and ample protection, in addition to the money sent by Connelly. Comment is unnecessary ; for how can we sufficiently condemn the man who, not content with rousing the slaves to fight against their masters, was now inciting savages to bring the tomahawk and scalping-knife upon the defenceless inhabitants of Virginia ? Happily his machinations were defeated. About twelve miles from .Norfolk, the " Great Bridge" crossed a branch of Elizabeth river. It was surrounded by a swamp, through which a road led to tho city. On a little piece of firm ground on tho Norfolk side, Lord Dunmore had erected a fort which commanded the bridge. Tho Virginians took possession of a small HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 183 village, a short distance off. In this state the two armies remained for several days, watching each other, and prepared to seize upon any circumstanco which would give one the advantage over the other. This* Great Bridge was looked upon as a very importanA point, commanding the possession of the city of Korfolk. In order to precipitate a contest, the Virginians had recourse to a stratagem. A negro boy, belonging ~ U (rl MfiL/? HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 185 of truco to his comrades, in which ho gratefully ac- knowledged the kindness and courtesy he had received. The Virginia Convention at their next meeting voted a letter of approbation to Colonel Woodford, the ofiicer in command of the patriots, and instructed him always to treat the vanquished with lenity and kindness. Such conduct on the part of the Virginians cannot ho too much admired. The Convention obeyed the Scrip- ture injunction to "return evil with good;" as Dun- more had not only heaped insult and contumely upon them, but had basely plotted their destruction by treachery, fire and sword, by the furious savage and the brutal slave. We may well feel proud of a descent from such noble and generous spirits as the patriots of the Eevolution. Nothing could exceed the rage of Lord Dunmore at this defeat ; he raved like a madman, and threatened to hang the messenger who brought him the tidings, but there was no time for the indulgence of passion. Cou- riers arrived, saying that Woodford with his men was approaching Norfolk, as there was nothing now to ob- struct his progress. Men, women and children crowded the streets, entreating help ; for during the long occu- pation of the city by British troops, the Tories had flocked into it from all parts of the State, and naturally feared to meet their injured countrymen. But they could hope for nothing from Lord Dunmore, who was brave enough when danger was at a distance, but whose cowardly heart quailed at its approach. He measured his fears by his deserts, and thinking only of his own safety, went hastily aboard a man-of-war in the harbor. All the Tories who could, took refuge on the English fleet. 13G HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. Meanwhile, Woodford had been reinforced by Colonel Howe of North Carolina, who brought with him four hundred fresh troops. They took possession of Norfolk without opposition, and were warmly welcomed by those brave citizens who had remained faithful to their State in its hour of trial. Woodford issued a proclama- tion offering protection to the country people, and inviting them to bring their supplies into the town. Wo read of but one punishment meted out to those who had been most active in betraying their country. Such of them as were taken in arms were sent to places of confinement handcuffed with their negro fel- low soldiers; this was considered but just, they having fought against their country upon equal terms with the negroes. It might now be hoped, and naturally expected, that Dunmore, having retired from the town, would not seek to molest or injure it in any way, particularly as he knew that a large portion of its inhabitants were friendly to him; but what did he care for his friends? His kindly consideration never went beyond himself. lie at first contented himself with idle threats and clamors for provisions. lie had been so long accus- tomed to luxuries, that he could ill bear being reduced to the naval stores, and reinforced his larder constantly by marauding upon the unprotected planta- tions and towns upon tho rivers ; but even this did not satisfy him, he must have those luxuries which the city of Norfolk alone could afford him, and he sent a message to the commanders that he would be sorry to fire upon the town, but that ho should do so unless a plentiful supply of provisions were sent to him and his men. This of course was refused; but a HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 187 supply was continually sent for the Captain's private table, which did not satisfy the unreasonable com- mander, and was made the excuse for burning the city of Norfolk to the ground. This happened on the first day of January, 1776, a year which from its beginning to its end was replete with momentous events to the people of America. Be- tween three and four o'clock in the afternoon the English opened a heavy cannonade upon the devoted city ; under cover of this, some sailors landed and set fire to a number of wooden houses upon the wharves. Tho efforts of the 188 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. Americans to stop the conflagration were unsuccessful ; the wind was against them and blew fiercely from the shore, carrying the burning timbers into the heart of the town. The horrors of the scene were heightened by the continuous roar of the cannon from the ships and the musketry from the shore ; for fighting was going on above the ruins of the houses. The intrepid Stevens added to his fame in this affair, as he rushed to the water's side and drove back a large party of British who had just landed, and compelled them amidst slaughter to retreat. The fire lasted for three days, and nine-tenths of this the most flourishing and richest town in Virginia were destroyed. Its beautiful harbor and other natural advantages had promoted its growth, and wealth had poured in upon it. Such was the great catastrophe which deprived four thousand people of their homes. Those who were truly Yirginian, were too much interested in the success of their struggle to mind mere personal loss. One of these patriots wrote to a friend upon this occasion, " We do not care for our towns, and the destruction of our houses does not cost us a sigh. I have long since given up mine as lost ; and I feel such indignation against the authors of our calamities, and such concern for the public at large, that I cannot think of my own puny person and in- aio-nificant affairs." And now the career of the wretched Dunmoro was happily drawing to a close. His fleet consisted not only of men-of-war, but of more than fifty transports, filled with unhappy Tories and negroes, and a rabble of convicts and other low characters, all of whom had to be fed. So he cruised up and down the Bay, landing at ono place, burning a house, stealing private property HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 189 at another, and committing depredations of every sort after his own fashion. Just at this time Congress appointed Major-General Charles Leo to the command of the forces in Virginia. He was an Englishman by birth, but a Virginian in feeling, and was well fitted by his talents and his bravery for the command to which he had been appointed. Ho saw that the only way to deal with Dunmore was to cut off his supplies ; so he ordered that all the inhabitants near to the sea-coast, with their live-stock and other property, should be removed to the interior; and that any Virginian who should be found in correspondence with the enemy should be treated as a traitor, and should be sent a handcuffed prisoner to Williamsburg. These seemed to be harsh measures, but they were necessary com- mands, and their wisdom was soon evident, for Lord Dunmore found himself and companions in imminent danger of starvation. But the brave Dunmore was not easily daunted in pursuit of creature comforts. There lies at the mouth of the river Piankatank, in Matthews county, a beautiful island, now called Gwynn's Island. It contains about two thousand acres of land, its natural fertility had been greatly improved by culti- vation, and it abounded in fruits, cattle, vegetables, fine water, and everything that could make it a desirable asylum for the floating colony of Lord Dunmore. General Lee had stationed his vigilant soldiers along the shore, to keep watch over the English fleet and pre- vent any landing from it. The guards were surprised to see the whole flotilla come out of Hampton roads, one May morning, and, after sailing in one direction, and then in another, until the watchers were completely puzzled, suddenly put on all sail and move rapidly up K( 193 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. the Bay. Before the object of these manoeuvres could be guessed, the fleet had entered the mouth of Rappa- hannock river, and the motley crew had occupied and entrenched themselves on Gwynn's Island. They were not to remain masters of this Eden, the mark of Cain was imprinted on their foreheads, and the Virginians could not rest satisfied while this degraded band, with their execrated leader, found refuge within their terri- tory. General Andrew Lewis with a party of men, was sent to dislodge them. This brave officer had already dis- tinguished himself in the fight with the Indians at Mount Pleasant, and he joyfully accepted a position which would give him the opportunity of chastising one who had been a greater enemy to Virginia than all of the savages combined. He threw up entrenchments on a point of land opposite Gwynn's Island, and upon these mounted his great guns. The enemy, entrenched Within fortifications on the Island, with their ships lying in the deep waters around, could be plainly seen. One of the ships, " The Dunmorc," lay about five hun- dred yards from the shore. General Lewis himself opened the engagement by firing a gun at this vessel, aboard of which was the Governor. The great cannon gave a roar as it sent out its terrible messenger, which passed directly through the hull of the vessel and did great damage. It was followed by another ball, and then another, each of which did its duty nobly, break- ing the timber and scattering splinters in every direc- tion. One of the latter wounded Dunmorc, smashed his china around him, and so frightened his Lord- ship that he cried out, "Good God! that ever I should have come to this." The fight did not last HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 191 very Jong. The captains of tlio vessels were glad enough to cut their cables and make off in great haste, and yet they would all have been captured had not the wind favored their retreat. General Lewis could not immediately go over to the island for the want of boats; but the next morning, having collected a sufficient number to transport his troops, he crossed over. A terrible scene met his eyes. During the month in which Dunmore had held posses- sion of this beautiful island, the small-pox and other diseases had committed such ravages upon his miserable crew, that five hundred are supposed to have died; corpses m a state of putrefaction lay strewed along tne shore in half-dug trenches, and miserable dying crea- tures had craAvled to the water's edge to beg that they might be saved from death. The enemy in their haste left behind them a great deal of valuable property, which fell into the hands of the victors. Driven from this retreat, Dunmore found another on St. George's Island in the Potomac river, and this too he was soon compelled to abandon. While ascending the river, he landed near the mouth of Acquia creek, and wantonly burnt a beautiful dwelling belonging to Mr. Brent, and was proceeding to destroy a valuable mill hard by, when the Prince William militia arrived and drove him to his boats. The fleet dropped down the river on the ensuing day, and some of his vessels, driven ashore by 2, gale of wind, were lost. As one resource after an other failed him, his malignant spirit began to break. The excessive heat of the season, the impurity of the water, the bad quality and scanty supply of provisions, engendered fearful diseases in the crowded vessels, which nourly plunged numbers into a watery grave. 192 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. Thus loaded with the execrations of the people he had been appointed to govern, defeated in all his schemes for their ruin, hunted from place to place by their just re- sentment, Dunmorc found himself a fugitive from tho land where he had hoped to plant the standard of victory, and upon whose people he had hoped to wreak a terrible vengeance. He returned to England, and here our history leaves him. He never returned to the shores of Virginia, and her people will never forget tho events which connected him with her history. Questions for Examination. 1. What is the date of these events ? 2. What liscovery was made which still further exasperated the Virginians against Dunraore ? 3. Where was the " Great Bridge," and what was its import- ance? 4 To what stratagem did the Virginians resort in order to bring on the fight ? 5 How did Lord Lunmore receive the news? 6. How did he seek to stimulate his troops? 7. Who commanded the English? 8 Give an account of their advance. 9. Give an account of the battle. 10. How is the scene described ? 11. How did the victors behave to their prisoners? 12. What did the Virginia Convention do? 13. How did Lord Duntnore behave under defeat? 14. What course did he adopt ? 15. Give an account of the occupation of Norfolk by the Virginia troops. 16. What was Dunmore's course? 17. What dastardly revenge did lie next take? 18. Give an account of the burning of .Norfolk. 19. How did ihe patriots feel about the loss of their property? 20. What class of persons- composed Dunmore's fleet? 21. Who was appointed to the command of the Virginia forces? 22. vVhat steps did he take ? 23. Describe the retreat of Dunmore to Gwynn's Island. 21. What steps were taken to dislodge him? 25. Describe the battle and retreat of Dunmore. 2tt. What condition of affairs was discovered on the Island? 27. Where did Dunmore next go? J£S. What was the end of his story ? HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 193 CHAPTER XXIV. 1776. "Virginia was now fairly launched in the war of tho Revolution. She had sought peace, but her plea having been rejected, she no longer wished for it, unless free* dom came hand in hand with it. The blood of her sons had been shed, her towns had been desolated and her property pillaged by the King's troops. More than once tho British had been forced to acknowledge her victory over them upon hard-fought fields, and now, while her soldiers were winning freedom with the sword, her statesmen were carving out for her a govern- ment worthy to last through all succeeding genera- tions. In June of this year, the General Convention, com- posed of delegates from the several counties of Virginia, met at Williamsburg, and passed what was called a Declaration of Rights, which was drawn up by George Mason, in which the principle was laid down that all men, being entitled to certain rights — ■ namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, the means of acquiring and possessing property, and of obtaining happiness and safety — the government of a country ought to be administered for the protection of the peo- ple and the maintenance of these rights, and that 11 whereas, George tho third, King of Great Britain, had endeavored to pervert the government of Virginia into an unsupportable tyranny, by imposing taxes without the consent of the people, by cutting off their trade with all parts of the world, by plundering their seas, ravaging their coasts, burning their towns and destroy- 9 194 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. ing their lives ; by inciting the negroes to rise in arms against them, and endeavoring to bring upon the in- habitants of the frontiers, the merciless Indian savages whose known rule of warfare is an utter destruction of all ages, sexes and condition of existence, and by answering their repeated petitions for redress by a rep- etition of injuries — that for these and many other acts of misrule and tyranny, the government of Virginia, as exercised under the crown of Great Britain, is totally dissolved. This decisive stop produced the greatest benefit ; it re- moved all doubt and uncertainty from the public mind; the people felt that separation from Great Britain was a fixed fact, and demonstrations of joy everywhere showed the popular approval of the course the Conven- tion had taken. At Williamsburg military parades, discharges of artillery, dinners, toasts and general illu- minations showed the pleasure which both the citizens and soldiers felt at the decisive step which dissolved their union with a tyrannical and unnatural mother. The Declaration of .Rights in Virginia was soon fol- lowed by the Declaration of Independence, in which all of the American Colonics united. This was written by Thomas Jefferson, to whom you will remember we have given the title of the Pen of Virginia. It expressed the same sentiments as the Declaration of Bights, which you know was the work of George Mason. It was adopted on the 4th of July 1770. Each colony then framed a constitution for its separate government. This was to consist of a Governor and a Legislature ; the duty of the latter was to make laAvs, and that of the Governor to execute them. Besides there were to bo threo different courts, which were to make decisions in HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 195 doubtful cases. For instance, the Legislature makes a law that every murderer must be hung ; when a man be- comes liable to this penalty, he is tried first by the lowest 30urt, and if condemned, he has a right to demand a trial by a second court, and then again by a third ; if all of the courts find him guilty of murder, he is con demned to die, and the Governor has to order his exe- cution. Patrick Henry was chosen the first Governor of Virginia. His appointment was received by all classes with the greatest satisfaction. A committee was ap- pointed to wait upon him and inform him of the honor which had been conferred upon him. The regiments which he had commanded since the beginning of the troubles, congratulated him in the warmest terms upon his unsolicited election " to the highest honor which a free people could bestow." " Once happy under your military command " they said, " we hope for more ex- tended blessings under your civil administration ; our hearts arc willing and our arms are ready to support your authority as Chief Magistrate, happy that we have lived to sec the day when freedom and equal rights, es- tablished by tho voice of the people, shall prevail throughout the land." In returning thanks for this ad- dress, so expressive of their confidence and affection, after announcing his determination to do all in his power for the safety, dignity and happiness of tho new commonwealth of Virginia, the Governor went on to say that, whilst the officers of the State were exerting themselves to create such a form of government as would best conduce to the happiness and welfare of the people, it remained for them, the soldiers, to save by their valor all that was most precious to mankind. u Go \J 106 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. on, gentlemen," no said, " to finish the great work which you have so nobly and successfully begun ; con- THE MILITARY CONGE ATULATINQ PATRICK HENRY UPON HIS ELECTION. vinco tyrants again that they shall bleed, and that you will bleed to the last drop before their wicked schemes find success." HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 197 And now, perhaps, you will wonder that these brave young colonists were not dismayed at the perils which surrounded them. In their weakness they had defied tho strongest power in Europe; yet their hearts beat high. "What to them was the smallness of their army and their empty treasury ? Free and independent they were determined to live, or not to live at all. All through the country the same enthusiasm was manifested wkich characterized Virginia. The Amer- ican army was then at New York. The Declaration was read to each brigade, it was listened to in respectful silence, which was followed by bursts of enthusiastic applause. In the evening the equestrian statue of George the Third, which had been erected six years before, was laid prostrate, and the lead of which it was composed was converted into bullets to fight him with. Rather a comical idea, don't you think? to make old George assist in his own destruction. In Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore, demonstra- tions even more enthusiastic than those we have de- tailed, occurred. Every trace of royalty was obliter- ated; you would have thought that the people were taking off the sword of victory instead of putting it on. After the Constitution of Virginia had been adopted, tho subject of interest which next engaged her states- men was the choice of a device and motto for her seal ; for every country, 3-011 know, has its seal. A great many suggestions were made, but at length, after much discussion, one proposed by Mr. George Wythe was chosen. You have doubtless seen it. A female figure, resting on a spear with one hand and holding a sword in the other, represents Virtue ; her foot rests upon the neck of Tyranny, represented by a prostrate man, 198 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. VIRGINIA. complete its work. with a crown falling from his head, a broken chain in his left hand, and a scourge in his right. Over the head of the female figure is engraved the words "Sic Semper Tyrannis" which means "Thus always to tyrants," and underneath, " Virginia." The Convention which met this memorable year did not I have told you more than once in the course of this history that the early government of Virginia was formed after the model of that in Eng- land. In the first place, the English or Episcopal was the established Church, and although many efforts had been made to do away with some of the restrictions im- posed upon other denominations, and to some extent tol- erance had been granted, yet the laws against "Dissent- ers " (as all who were not members of the Church of Eng- land were called) were still in full force, and were very op- pressive. All dissenting congregations had to support not only their own ministers, but also had to contribute to the support of the Episcopal Church. Moreover, they were liable to be tried and punished for serving God through the forms they most approved. All of the differ- ent religious sects were now represented in Virginia, and there was much bitterness of feeling between them and the established Church. That peaceable sect called Quakers, strange to tell, were held in particular aver- sion and subjected to special persecution. But now a spirit of freedom pervaded all classes, and the time had come to apply the same spirit to religion. The Legis- lature of Virginia Avas beset with petitions from dis- HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 199 senting denominations, that the laws which j)laced one church above another might be repealed, and that a free people might worship God by whatever form they thought best. Stormy were the discussions between the members advocating the different sides of this ques- tion. Edmund Pendleton, the venerable Speaker of the House, was a strenuous advocate for the Episcopal Church, while Thomas Jefferson, in the spirit which dictated the Declaration of Eights for Virginia and the Declaration of Independence for America, strongly urged religious freedom. After some time he succeeded in establishing his views, and that most valuable of all liberty, liberty of conscience, was secured to a free people. Another English law which had been in force in Vir- ginia up to this time remained to be repealed; of this I must tell you. It was called the law of " Primogeni ture." In England, when a rich man dies, he does not divide his property equally among his children, but the great bulk of it descends to his eldest son, who is called his " heir." The advantage of this is that it prevents the property from being cut up, and keeps -t in the family for centuries; but the disadvantages arc greater than the advantages ; for while it places one son, not from any merit of his own, in wealth and luxury, it forces the others, without fault of tlicirs, to a life of comparative poverty and toil. This unjust law was now repealed, that is, done away with, and ail the members of one family were placed on an equal footing. I have been thus particular to make you comprehend these things, which may at first seem a little dull to you, because they constitute a very important j:>art of the history of Virginia, and show you by what rapid 200 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. strides her government came forth from the despotism of the British monarchy, into the full free light of constitutional freedom. Questions for Examination, 1. In what year did these events take place? 2. What was now the situation of Virginia? 3. What "was ihe action of the General Convention? 4. Who wrote the Declaration of Rights ? 5. What did it lay down as a principle? 6. How had the rights of the colony heen violated? 7. In view of these things what did the paper declare? 8. What effect did this step produce? 9. What followed the Declaration of Rights? 10. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? 11. When was it adopted ? 12. What was the character of the Ptnte Constitutions? 13. Who was the first Governor of Virginia? 14. In what terras did his boldiers cougiatulate him ? 15. What did lie answer? 16. Hrw did the colonies regard their situation? 17. how was the Declaration of Independence received? 18. Who furnished the device for the Seal of Virginia? 10c Describe it. 20. What church had teen the Established Church of Virginia, and why ? 21. What objections were now made to this? 22. What controversies arose, and how did it end? 23. What other English law had been In force in Virginia? 24. What were the provisions of this law ? 25. Was it repealed ? 26. Why is it necessary for the student of Virginia history to understand these things? CHAPTEE XXY. 1776-1781. Virginia, after passing through her first difficulties, was to find by a hard and bitter experience, that free- dom was not to be obtained without a long struggle and many discouragements. The terrific sounds of war were now heard throughout the length and breadth of the land. "Washington, struggling in vain against the disciplined troops of England, had been defeated at HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 201 Long Island, and was now retreating through Xew Jersey and Delaware ; while the enemy who followed on his track, marked their course with rapine and violence. Fields were wasted, cattle destroyed, and houses burned. It is much easier to plan a great enterprise than to carry it through the midst of dangers. Virginia, for a moment, bent beneath the blast; her Legislature seemed to lose all hope, and to look beyond their present resources for help in this bitter hour. One of the members recalled the history of Rome. "Who, when torn with intestine strife and deluged in blood, put a Dictator at her head. Some of the Virginians who were struggling to escape from a tyrannical monarchy, talked calmly of giving themselves up to a far more dangerous government, in which the entire power was to be placed in the hands of one man, to be used as he pleased. Strange infatuation ! There is little doubt that Patrick Henry was the man thought of to fill the position of Dictator, but it is not believed that he countenanced the idea for an instant. During the dis- cussion in the Legislature, the feelings for and against the proposition were bitter in the extreme ; the excite- ment became so great that it is said that the opponents not only would not speak to each other, but would not even walk on the same side of the street. One of the bitterest opposers of the Dictatorship was the Speaker of the House, the venerable Archibald Cary, who meet- ing the brother-in-law of Patrick Henry one day, addressed him with a great deal of passion and said, " Sir, I am told that your brother wishes to be Dictator ; tell him for me that the day of his appointment shall be the day of his death, for he shall feel my dagger in his heart before the sunset of that day I " He waa 202 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. answered that Patrick Henry had never approved that or any other measures which would endanger the liber- ties of the country. Had he been on the spot, one word from his eloquent tongue would have brought the Assembly to its senses ; but he had been obliged by sickness to go some distance into the country, and before ho returned, the madness of the hour had passed away, and the project was abandoned. The next year he was re-elected Governor; the manner in which he had performed the duties of the first term having more than satisfied his friends. This same year there passed through the State of Vir- ginia, on their way to join the American army in the North, two young foreign noblemen, Baron Lafayette, a Frenchman, and Baron DeKalb, a German by birth but a Brigadier-General in the French army. These distinguished men, who were about to do battle for American liberty, were received with the greatest en- thusiasm by the Virginians. Their stay was brief, as they were anxious to join the army; but they were both destined to revisit Virginia, and Lafayette won most of his laurels in this State during the closing scenes of the .Revolution. For nearly three years after this timo there was very little fighting in Virginia, although she took her full part in the war by her contributions of men and money. The fortunes of the united colonics during these years were at their lowest ebb ; nothing but their determina- tion to be free, or die in the attempt, could have sup- ported them under their dreadfal discouragements. There was one gleam of light, however, in the midst of the darkness, and this was a treaty with France, by which she not only acknowledged their independ- HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 203 cnco of England, but promised her assistance in secur- ing it. This was the turning-point in the history of the .Revolutionary war, as it had the double effect of en- couraging the Americans and of discouraging the English. At the expiration of his second term of office as Governor of Virginia, Patrick Henry would have been re-elected by the unanimous voice of the people, as there was no one in the State who held more complete sway over the inhabitants than he, but he refused the honor, and Thomas Jefferson was appointed in his place. The British successes in the North were followed by still more decided victories in the South. Thus the English Government began to look forward with cer- tainty to the conquest of the entire country. Virginia was regarded as the heart of the rebellion, and it was de- cided to carry their victorious arms into that State, as the surest way of bringing the war to a speedy conclusion. In May of this year a fleet of armed vessels, under the command of Admiral Collins, and carrying two thousand troops, entered Hampton Roads. The Virginians had built a fort a short distance below Portsmouth, for the defence of Norfolk and Gosport navy-yard; this was the first point of attack. The British fleet attacked it in front, while land forces assaulted it in the rear. But it did not hold out long. The Virginians, under Captain Matthews, had no means of defending them- selves, so they abandoned the fort and took refuge in tho Dismal Swamp. Tho whole country was thus left open to the British, who did not hesitate to take advantage of the opportunity. Their course was marked by devasta- tion; they burned houses, and destroyed all property which they could not carry away. They burned tho 204 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. town of Suffolk, where there were a great many stores which had been accumulated for the use of the army, and after having laid wasto the whole country as far as it was possible, they returned to New York. Though this seemed to be a misfortuno to Virginia, yet in the end it was not without its advantages, as for some time her attention had been so constantly directed to the main army that she had forgotten the defence of her own territory ; now, however, she saw tne impolicy of this inaction, and the Legislature immediately authorized the Governor to call twenty thousand militia into the field, if necessary. Nor were they too early in taking these more active measures. General Gates, finding that Lord Cornwallis, the British commander, was already passing through North Carolina on his w ^S&Jt^ Yirginia, determined, if possible, to intercept y^ygj^ They met at Camden, North Carolina, and the Ameri- cans under Gates were totally defeated. Never did American soldiers act more disgracefully than in this battle ; and I am sorry to relate that the Yirginia militia were among those who ingloriously fled from the field. The brave Colonel Stevens, who commanded them, was almost maddened by their conduct ; but in vain he entreated, m vain he even exerted all his per- sonal strength to turn their bayonets again towards the enemy ; they were panic-stricken, and even bore him away in their flight. It is said that this defeat was caused by a mistake of General Gates, who had, before this, been a most successful general ; and this brings me to a very interesting incident. Some time prior to these events, while General Gates was in command of a portion of the army in tho North, he met the British General Bur- HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 205 goyne at Saratoga, and forced him to surrender with his whole army, consisting of about six thousand men. It is not a part of the history of Virginia to give a full account of this battle, which filled all America with joy ; but there is a portion of the story with which we have to do. The prisoners were at first marched to Boston. From this place they would have been sent to England on their parole, but in the meantime some dis- satisfaction arose between the two Governments, and it was deemed necessary to keep the prisoners, who were known hereafter as the Convention troops ; but what to do with them was a serious question. To subsist six thousand men, prisoners, ki the city of Boston, was scarcely possible; they must select some place both secure and comfortable for them. After some time, the neighborhood of Charlottesville, Yirginia, was chosen. On the top of a ridge, five miles from the town, barracks were built for their accommodation, which cost about twenty thousand dollars ; and to these, as soon as possible, the prisoners were transferred, under proper escorts. When they first arrived, considerable fear was felt that so large an increase of population could not be sustained; but such apprehensions were soon removed. The country was very productive, and the planters were glad enough to have purchasers for their crops. Soon everything assumed an air of comfort. The ground around the barracks was laid off in several hundred gardens, which the soldiers amused themselves by enclosing and culti- vating. One general, a German, is said to have spent two hundred pounds in garden seeds, for the use of his own troops. The officers rented houses in the neigh- borhood, and in many instances their families joined them. They purchased horses, cows, and sheep, and 206 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. spent their time in farming, and Governor Jefferson himself, acted the hospitable host in devising amuse- ments to make their captivity as pleasant as possible. His own residence was at Monticello, and here the officers would visit him ; and he placed his fine library at the disposal of those who were fond of literature. Others who had a taste for music and painting found in him a cultivated companion. Thus Mr. Jefferson gained over the hearts of these enemies of his country a bloodless victory ; and amongst his letters have been found many from these officers, after their return home, expressing in warm terms their admiration for him. Years after, while passing through Germany, Mr. Jeffer- son was recognized by one of the soldiers who had been among these prisoners. The news spread, and he was soon surrounded by officers, who spoke of Virginia with feeling. But captivity, even under the most favorable circum- stances, is not desirable ; and notwithstanding the com- HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 207 forts which surrounded the prisoners, desertions became so frequent that, after they had been two years in Albe- marle, it was thought necessary to remove them, so part were taken to Fort Frederick, Maryland, and the rest to Winchester, and here we will leave them. Questions for Examination. 1. The events of what, years are included in this chapter? 2. What condition had the colonies or America reached? 3. What insane idea was suggested in Virginia? 4. Who was to be chosen Dictator? 5. Give an. account of the strife of opinion. 6. Where was Patrick Henry during the excitement? 7. What distinguished visitors passed through Virginia? 8. Give a brief review the history of Virginia for the next three years. 9. Who was elected the next Governor of Virginia? 1». What course were the British victories assuming? 11. Tell the story of the fight near Portsmouth. 13. How did the British behave after this victory? 13. What effect did these excesses of the enemy have upon the Virginians ? 14. What measures did the Legislature take? 15. Give an account of tiie battle of Camden. IB. Who were the Convention troops? 17. To what portion of Virginia were they transferred, and why ? is. What preparations were made for their reception ? 18. How did the prisoners spend their time? 21>. How did Mr. Jefferson behave to them? 21. What happened when Mr. Jefferson was afterwards traveling through Germany? 22. What became of the Convention troops . CHAPTEE XXYI. 1781. "We have now reached that point in the history of Virginia when the war of the Eevolution was in a great degree transferred to her soil. The beginning of this year was signalized by tho princely donation 208 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. which the Legislature made to the Union, which was nothing less than the huge territory north-west of the Ohio river, out of which were formed the States of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. On the last day of the old year information was re- ceived that twenty-seven British ships had entered Chesapeake Bay, and were coming up towards the mouth of James River. It is much to bo regretted that at this time there was no officer in Virginia to direct her military affairs; had there been, Eichmond, the capital of Virginia, would have been rendered im- pregnable against assault. But G-eneral Nelson, who was in command of the Virginia forces, was striving to organize militia in the counties near the coast, and there was no one else who was efficient for the purpose. The means of defence in Richmond, had there been any one to command, would have been amply sufficient. At the foundry, about six miles from the city, there were five tons of gunpowder and other military stores, and in the city there were five brass cannon and a plenty of muskets; and the natural situation of the city is so •itrong, that a few resolute men, and an efficient leader Who knew how to make use of the resources at com- mand, could easily have defended the city. But unfor- tunately these were wanting, and Mr. Jefferson took another view of the situation and determined upon abandoning Eichmond to the enemy. Ho ordered the five brass cannon to be thrown into the river, and set the teamsters and negroes to work loading arms and ammunition, which were driven off to Westham, seven miles from the city. Why it should have been thought a safer place than Eichmond it is hard to understand, as nothing was easier for the enemy, if they reached the city, than to go to Westham. HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 209 On the fourth of January news was received that the British had arrived at "Westover. They were under the command of the wretched traitor Arnold, who had once been an officer high in rank in the American army, but who accepted a bribe of ten thousand guineas and the rank and pay of brigadier-general in the British army, to betray his country and Washington into the hands of their enemy : his plot failed, but he received his reward. This was the man who now ap- proached the city at the head of nine hundred British soldiers. Nothing could exceed the terror and dismay all through the country when this was known. Fami- lies left their houses to the mercy of the enemy, and fled to some place of safety, out of reach of the traitor, the mere mention of whom filled them with terror. The whole country was thus left open to a ruthless enemy, and Arnold landed his forces at Westover and marched without opposition to .Richmond. On the evening of the 4th of January 1781, the Governor left Richmond, and his example was followed by most of the inhabitants, and at one^o'clock the next day the in- famous Arnold entered it. lj Eichmond at this time contained about three hundred houses, and was rapidly extending in size and import- ance. Arnold at once despatched Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe to Westham, who destroyed the foundry and military stores at that place. Two days were spent by the army in Richmond, in pillaging and destroying pub- lic and private property, the buildings were burnt, warehouses broken open and emptied of all that they contained. Amongst other of their contents, were a quantity of casks containing spirits ; these were emptied into the streets, and the liquor ran down tho gutters liko 210 HISTORY OF YIEGIXIA. water, and it is related that the cows and hogs drinking of it were seen staggering about the streets. What do you think of that as an argument against intem- perance ? The enemy found the five brass pieces which had been thrown into the river, which they, of course, rendered useless. After having in a few hours done all the in- jury possible, Arnold and his men leisurely left the city, reached their fleet, and embarked without having met with any opposition. This was a severe humil- iation to the capital of the proud Commonwealth, and one which was never forgotten. From this time great exertions were made to place the State in a pos- ture of defence. Arnold did not escape, however, en- tirely unmolested; some of the vessels ventured up the Appomattox river, and were fiercely attacked by Gen. Smallwood with three hundred militia, armed only with muskets, whereupon they returned precipitately to City Point. General Smallwood pursued them to this place, and having obtained two small cannon, opened upon the ships and drove them down the river. There was in the American army a brigadier-general named Baron Steuben, who understood well the art of war. He had undertaken to drill the militia. AVith a party of these, he marched rapidly down James river, hoping to meet some of Arnold's troops, but he was disappointed, as Arnold was too quick for him. Now there was with Baron Steuben's command an heroic officer, George Rogers Clarke, who was called the "Con- queror of Illinois," as he had by almost incredible bra- very and perseverance rescued the whole of that coun- try from the French. He now stepped forward and en- treated to be placed in command of two hundred and HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 211 forty men, with whom he hoped to be able to strike a blow against the departing forces. His request was granted. Placing his men in ambush where Arnold and his troops were landing in the night, he gave them a close volley, which killed seventeen and wounded thirteen men. They were thrown into confusion, but soon recovered and returned the fire. Clarke's force was too small to make any further demonstrations, so Arnold marched 212 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. on slowly towards Chesapeake Bay, destroying every- thing in his way except the tobacco, which he car. ried off with him. lie was superceded in command by General Phillips, who made another expedition up the James and Appomattox rivers, but not without op- position. The Virginia forces, however, were not yet sufficiently organized to make a successful resistance. Baron Steuben with his militia contested the way most gallantly, but they were obliged to retreat before the enemy, who took possession of Petersburg, and burned the tobacco and some small vessels lying at the wharves. General Phillips despatched Arnold to Chesterfield Courthouse, where he destroyed the bar- racks and burned a quantity of flour ; he then rejoined Phillips, and they marched together to Manchester, which is on the opposite side of the river from Rich- mond, intending to pay that city another visit. But they found this rather more difficult than they expected. You remember I told you, some time back, of two gallant noblemen who marched through Virginia to join tho forces in the North. One of them, De Kalb, nearly one year before this time, had laid down his life on tho fatal field of Camden ; tho namo of the other, De La Fayette, is from this period so closely connected with the history of the .Revolution in Virginia that you will become well acquainted with him. There is no name, except that of Washington, which is dearer to the heart of Americans than that of Marquis de La Fayette. It is hard to find terms of praise or admiration too strong for him. Born of the best blood of France, he early imbibed a love of those principles of liberty which ac- tuated America in her struggles with England. His en- thusiasm in her cause was so great that ho would havo HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 213 joined her in the beginning of the war, but for the op* position of his friends ; ho yielded to their opposition, until those dark days when he heard of Washington and his brave troops being driven from State to Stato before the victorious arms of Great Britain; then this gallant hero determined no longer to allow himself to be eon- trolled by others, but to link his fate, for good or ill, to that of struggling America. I have told you of the enthusiasm with which ho and his companion had been received in Virginia, and this reception seems to have made a lasting impression on the young hero ; for although he fought willingly by the side of "Wash- ington, ho sought every opportunity to obtain a com- mand in Virginia; and at this most important juncture, Washington, who had the greatest confidence in him, placed in LA FAYETTE. his charge the defence of V da, towards which the turning as the future eyes of both armies were now theatre of war. La Fayette arrived in Eichmond on the twenty-ninth of April. Two days afterwards Phillips and Arnold made their appearance at Manchester ; but hearing 1 hat 214 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. La Fayette was in command of the city, they aban- doned all thought of attacking it, and marched down the river, destroying tobacco, mills, and shipping on the way. Re-embarking at a point called Bermuda Hundreds, they proceeded down the river towards Chesapeake Bay ; but they were not to leave Yirginia so soon as they expected. "While they were still sailing down the James, General Phillips received dispatches from Lord Cornwallis, the British General, who had defeated General Gates at Camden, telling him that he was marching with his whole force as rapidly as he could to form a junction with him at Petersburg. Phillips therefore turned back again, and on the ninth of May re-entered Petersburg. It was not designed by Providence, however, that General Phillips should any longer share either the triumphs or the defeats of tho British army, as he died at Petersburg four days after entering it, and Arnold again assumed command. So great was the hatred of Virginians toward this man, that tho Governor issued a proclamation offering a reward of five thousand guineas to any one who should capture him; but the traitor, knowing his danger, never trusted himself out of his quarters without a largo body-guard. On the twenty-fifth of April Cornwallis marched towards Halifax, sending before him the dashing cavalry officer Colonel Tarleton, with one hundred and eighty dragoons, to scour the country in front of him. They met with no opposition ; and on the twentieth of May, Cornwallis united the two armies at Petersburg. A few days afterwards he crossed the James river at Westover and proceeded towards Bichmbnd; but Ar- nold, who had no idea of trusting his precious person UISTOBY OF VIIIGIXIA. 215 within reach of the Governor of Virginia, applied fop permission to return to New York. Cornwallis, glad to be relieved from the company of a man whom he despised, promptly complied with his request. Exult- ing m the superiority of his numbers over those of La Fayette, flushed with hopes of a brilliant campaign, and confident of his triumph over the youthful officer who was opposed to him, Cornwallis wrote to England "The boy cannot escape me"; but La Fayette, though young brave and impetuous, had also the prudence which was requisite for his position. Although he had only about three thousand men to oppose the immense force of Cornwallis, and he felt humiliated at being obliged to ieave the capital of the State, his judgment neverthe^ less prompted him to act for the best interests of the people whose cause he had espoused. Accordingly he evacuated Eichmond, and retreated in such a manner as to protect the military stores in his rear, until he was reinforced by General Wayne, who, with eight hundred men of the Pennsylvania Line, was rapidly approaching ,rom the North. Crossing the Chickahominy, he rc°- tired towards Fredericksburg, and in Culpeper county Was joined by General Wayne. Questions for Examination. 1. In what year did these events take place? 2. How was tin." year signalized ? 3. What happened on the last day of the old venr? t* £^ d ? r what ^advantages did Virginia labor? 5. What mean- of defence had Richmond ? 6. What course was determined upon and adopted? Rto™"* n Command of the British, and what was hia 8. How was i,h- news of Arnold's approach received ? 9. Give an account of the evacuation of Richmond ? 10. Civ© au pcccrnt of Arnold's occupation of the city ? 216 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 11. What was its effect upon the people of Virglaia? 12. Did Arnold escape unmolested? 13. Who was Baron Steuben? 14. What was Colonel Clarke's history? 15. Tell of his attack on Arnold. 16. What did Arnold do afterwards? 17. Give an account of the expedition of General Philips. 1H. Of Arnold's expedition to Chesterfield Courthouse. 19. What was Baron Be Kalb's fate? 20. Who was La Fayette? 2!. What was his course toward America? 22. What command was now conferred upon him? 23. What happened after his arrival in Richmond? 24. Give an account of the course of Philips aud Arnold. 25. How did Virginia show her abhorrence of Arnold? 20. What British General was now marching into Virginia? 27. What became of Arnold? 28. How did Cornwallis regard the situation? 21). What course did La Fayette take? CHAPTER XXVII. 1781. Lord Cornwallis, finding his young enemy too wary to be entrapped, stopped the pursuit, and encamping on the North Anna river in Hanover county, rested until he could take a full view of the situation. A large part of the State of Virginia lay open before him. Tho Legislature had withdrawn from Richmond to Char- lottesville, and Mr. Jefferson, whoso term of service as Governor of Virginia had just expired, was at Monti- eello, about threo miles from the village. At a place called Point-of-Fork, now Columbia, at tho junction of tho Rivanna and James rivers, tho Virginians had accumulated a quantity of stores, leaving Baron Steu- ben with only six hundred raw militia to guard them. Cornwallis thought that if he could capture Mr. Jeffer- son and tho Legislature at Charlottesville, and destroy tho military stores at Point-of-Fork before La Fayetto HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 217 could interfere, he would by this double blow convince the Virginians of his power, and disgust them with a government which was too weak to protect thorn. Accordingly, he divided his cavalry into two parties, one of which he placed under the command of Colonel Simcoe, an officer of great activity and bravery, and the other under Colonel Tarleton. The latter with two hundred men was to proceed to Charlottesville, and after accomplishing his object there, was to join Simcoe and aid him in destroying the stores. The two forces started nearly at the same time. When Simcoe reached the Point-of-Fork, he found that Baron Steuben had received notice of his approach and had removed all the stores across the river; seeing this, he had recourse to a stratagem which proved su<> cessful. He thought that if he could make Steuben believe that Cornwallis's whole force was with him, he would become frightened and abandon his stores. ' As night approached, he set his men to work to cut down timber and build camp-fires over a largo extent of coun- try. When it grew dark, Steuben seeing the wide extent of the encampment, hastily packed up the lighter baggage and went off, leaving behind him all the heavy baggage, which Simcoe destroyed, and re- joined Cornwallis the next morning. Tarleton was not so successful. He dashed off through the county of Louisa towards Charlottesville, and had he gone straight forward would no doubt have accomplished his object ; but he stopped to burn twelve wagons containing clothing for the southern army, and then visited the house of Dr. Walker, where he captured a number of gentlemen of the county. This delay caused the failure of his main object, for one of the gentlemen guessing 10 218 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA Tarleton's object, mounted his horse, and taking a sho'r* cut across the country, did not draw a rein Until ho TIIK ANNOUNCEMENT OF TAKLETON's APPROACH. reached Charlottesville. Rushing into the midst of the Legislative members, he announced that Tarlcton was HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 219 at his heels coming to capture them. They hastily adjourned to meet in Staunton on the seventh of June and then scattered like a covey of partridges. A few hours afterwards Tarleton, knowing nothing of the flight came along at a sweeping pace, fully expecting to can- toe his prey and great was his disappointment when he found the birds had flown. Before he reached Char- iottesville he had detached a party under the command of Captain McLeod, with orders to capture Mr Jeffer- son Monticello, the residence of Mr. Jefferson was built upon the top of a high mountain, which could onl y be approached by a road which wound round and round it. Mr. Jefferson, not dreaming of danger, was enter. taming some friends, when a servant rushed in and told him that the British were coming. No time was to be lost ; in a few moments the carriage was at the door and Mrs. Jefferson and her three children were put into it, and sent off by a road opposite to that by which the enemy were approaching. She took refuge at a friend's house about six miles distant ; and Mr. Jefferson mount- ing his horse, plunged into the recesses of the mountain and so made his escape. It is due to Captain McLeod to say that he did not allow anything to be disturbed at Monticello, and Mr. Jefferson found all of his books, papers and other property just as he had left them. Tarleton was a great boaster, and it was an intense mortification to him to be obliged to return to Corn- wall with his few gentlemen prisoners, for whose capture he had sacrificed the main object of the expedi- tion. He allowed his men to depredato upon the coun- try,, and incidents of his progress are still preserved amongst the descendants of those who suffered from the license of his soldiery. At on* house everything, in 220 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. the way of poultry, was taken off except one old drake, and the family display a picture in which the angry house-wife is sending this sole denizen of her poultry- yard after Tarleton as a present from her, as she had no use for it. Meanwhile Cornwallis, advancing from the Korth Anna river, took possession of one of Mr. Jefferson's farms, called Elk Hill, slaughtered and drove off the cattle, appropriated the horses which were fit for use, and with wanton cruelty cut the throats of all that were too young for service. Thirty thousand slaves, also, are supposed to have been carried off from the country, of whom twenty-seven thousand died of small- pox and other diseases in the course of six months. Altogether, property amounting to six millions of pounds sterling was either taken away or destroyed. But Cornwallis's reign of terror was nearly over. A fearful retribution awaited him. lie had received in- formation of a quantity of military property which was stored at Albemarle Old Courthouse (now Scotsville.) These he determined to destroy ; but he was no longer to mark his courso through Virginia with fire and sword without meeting an arm of defence raised against him, for the brave La Fayette was ready for him ; he had been watching with an eagle eye his every movement, and now the time for action had arrived. Reinforced and in command of an ample body of troops, he moved cautiously from Culpeper to Boswcll's Tavern, near the Albemarle line. Cornwallis was between him and Albemarle Courthouse, where the stores were; there was but one way in which he could intercept him, and this La Fayette took. He set all of his men to work to open a road across tho country, and the next morning HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 221 Cornwallis saw, with astonishment and rage, the Ameri- cans encamped in an impregnable position, just beta him and Albemarle Courthouse. At the same time he received a dispatch from Sir Henry Clinton, Comman- der-in-chief of the British forces in America, ordering him to proceed at once to the sea-coast and to Bend him all the men he could spare, as there was reason to be- lieve that New York would be the next point of attack. Cornwallis without delay set his face towards the Bea, and now he was the pursued, and La Fayette the pursuer. Cornwallis moved slowly, and La Fayette watched keenly every step he took. Once, and only once, was La Fayette off his guard ; but happily his want of v lance was not attended with serious consequences. On the fourth day of July, Cornwallis was preparing to transport his entire army across James river, having lected Jamestown Island as the proper point. Inex- perienced spies had informed La Fayette that the British army had crossed, leaving the rear-guard on the north side of the river. This he determined to attack, and did not discover his mistake until he had driver in the pickets and found himself in the midst of tho full strength of the British army. Two field-pieces were cap- tured, and had it not been for the darkness of the night which enabled La Fayette to accomplish a retreat, tho Americans must have been utterly ruined; as it was, there was little real damage done, and Cornwallis with- drew his forces across the river and continued course towards Chesapeake Bay followed by La Fay. He soon received dispatches from Sir Henry Clinton, in- forming him that his apprehensions about an attack on New York were relieved, and ordering him to retain his whole force in Virginia, selecting Yorktown as his base 222 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. of operations. Of this place lie took possession, and threw up entrenchments. La Fayette saw at a glance the advantages of the situation, and lost no time in informing Washington of his view of the matter, in which the commanding officer concurred, and turned his face without delay towards Virginia, and with his combined French and American troops was far on his southward march before the British General had any idea of the contemplated move- ment. Before "Washington joined La Fayette, he learned with joy that Count de G-rasse had entered Chesapeake Bay with a fleet of twenty-five ships, on board of which were three thousand French troops. It was near the last of September when Washington joined La Fayette, and immediately mounted cannon around Yorktown, which was soon, with the aid of the ships of Le Grasse, completely invested, and the proud Cornwallis soon saw himself caught in a trap of his own setting, while the Americans determined that he and Ms army should never leave Yorktown except as prisoners of war. General Washington knew as soon as Sir Henry Clinton heard of the situation of Cornwallis, that he would make every effort to relieve him ; his aim there- fore was to prepare for a defence from an outside at- tack, as well as to secure the army in Yorktown. Cornwallis on his part was not idle, but strove in every way to escape from his precarious situation ; but day by day his hopes grew fainter, until at length they rested alone upon the anticipated help from Sir Henry Clinton. After a while food became scarce, and still the Americans built their entrenchments closer and closer to the fated city. General Xelson, who was now Governor of Yirninia, had his home in York- HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. town — he was the same gentleman to whom the captain of the Fowey had addressed his cruel epi some years before. Observing,* one day, that in com- pliment to him, the gunners would not aim at his house while firing into the town, though it was known to be the headquarters of the British offici he remonstrated, and insisted that the guns should open fire in that direction. His wish was complied with; the first shot killed two officers, and the entire building was soon demolished. Conscious of his desperate situation, and beginning to despair of help from without, Cornwallis made an attempt to cut his way through the American liuea, but he was driven back. lie then determined to abandon his sick and wounded and his materials of war, and to escape with his men across the river. The boats were in readiness, and some of the troops had actually cm- barked, but Heaven armed against them. A storm of wind and rain arose, which drove the boats back on the Bhore, and the attempt was abandoned. The hopes of Lord Cornwallis were now at an end, and unwilling to sacrifice any more of the troops who had so bravely stood the horrors of the siege, on the morning of the 17th of October he despatched a flag of truce with a letter to General Washington, proposing a cessation of host Lli for twenty-four hours, in order that the terms of sur- render might loe settled. Washington, fearing thai inforcements might, arrive from New York and chai the aspect of affairs, declined a Longer delay than two hours. With this Cornwallis was fore 1 to be - but two days clap-' bef e all of the prelimina were settled, and at twelve o'clock on the 1 9th the surrender was made. The allied armies were drawn up 22-i HISTORY OF VIRGINIA, in two lines more than a mile in length, the French on SURRENDER OF LORD CORNWALLIS. one side of the road and tho Americans on the other. HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 225 The Count do Rochambeau and his staff, handsomely mounted, occupied a position in front of the French and Washington on a noble steed, with his stair. beside the Americans. The French presented a brilliant appearance in their complete uniforms, and marched to the field with a band of music in full play. The Ameri- cans, in spite of their shabby dress, which bore the marks of hard service and great privations, wore a proud soldierly air, which was better than me re out- side adornment, and made their countrymen who looked on very proud of them. About two o'clock the British garrison sallied forth from Yorktown, and passed through the two lines of their conquerors. They marched with slow Bad Bteps, their arms shouldered and their flags furled and their drums beating a solemn march. They were Led by General 0'IIara, who at once marched up to Washing- ton and apologized for the non-appearance of Lord Cornwallis on account of sickness. He then led his men forward to the field where they were to ground their arms. Their aspect as they followed their leader was sullen, which was very natural, the circumstances con- sidered. The British had indulged in a very bad habit, this was to parade a contempt for their American foe which probably they did not altogether feel, but which doubt- less increased their mortification when they came to this final humiliation. Many of the men threw their muskets violently on the pile, as if unable to conceal their i-ao-e ; and Col. Abercrombie, one of the as he stood by, compelled to witnee the hilt of his sword, and turned away his head as if completely overcome. 10* 226 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. The importance of this surrender "was indeed ines- timable. It was not only that it enriched America by the capture of men, guns, stores, ammunition and ships, but it produced the happiest moral effect. Those who were disposed, through discouragement, to abandon the cause, soon became its most earnest supporters ; enthu- siasm prevailed everywhere, and Great Britain, con- scious that her strength was being wasted on a people determined to be free, abandoned the contest. Peace was not formally declared for nearly two years after, but the independence of the Republic was recognized, and the new country invited to trade, on equal terms, with the power which had ruled over her for cen- turies. Thus ended the War of the Revolution, and Virginia may well be proud of her part in the struggle. On her soil independence first began, and on her soil the last great battle was fought. Her sons were always fore- most in the field and the council-chamber. The voico of Patrick Henry was the first which sounded the cry of liberty; George Mason penned the Declaration of Rights, and Thomas Jefferson the Declaration of Independence ; and George Washington, pre-eminent in all of those quali- ties which constitute a man and a soldier, kept alive the courage of his countrymen in the darkest hour and led the American army to final triumph. Nor does tho list of Virginia's heroes end here. There are Mercer. Morgan, Stevens, and Clarke, amongst her soldiers, and Lee, Randolph, Bland, Pendleton, and Wythe, amongst her statesmen, whose names should be cherished so long as Virginia has an existence. HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 227 Questions for Ex< 1. What is the dnto rA these events? 2. What was the next step of Lord Corn wall Is? 3. Where were the Legislature and Mr. Jefferson? 4. Where was Baron bteuben? 5. What did Cornwallis propose to do? 6. What part of the plan was given to Simcoe, and how did he accomplish his object ? 7. What work was assigned to larlcton ? 8. What caused the failure of his object ? 9. Relate the story of his raid up in Charlottesville. 10. How did the Legislature escape? 11. The command of what enterprise lid MeLeod undertake? 12. Was he successful? 13. How did Tarleton behave under lisappolntnu nt ? 14. Give an account of Cornwall is'a reign of terror. 15. Who was waiting to oppose him? 16. What piece of military strategy did La Fayette accomplish? 17. What happened to change Cornwallls's plans? IS. What course did he pursue? 19. Describe the retreat of his army t o Yorktown. 20. What did Washington do when lie heard the news? 21. What was the situation of the two armies? 22. What was Cornwallis's onlv hope? 23. What did General Nelson do? 24. Tell of Cornwallis's attempt to escape. 23. What proposals did Cornwallis make, and how were (hey received? 26. Describe the manner In which the allied armies were drawn up at the time of surrender. 27. Give an account of the surrender. 28. What was the importance of this surrender? 29. What part had Virginia taken in the Revolution? 30. Give the names of some of her Revolutionary soldiers and statesmen. CHAPTEJR XXYIII. 17S1-1S00. It is pleasant to turn aside for a moment from the turmoil of war and the difficulties which beset the ship of state, now being launched upon the waters of time, to narrate a simple story of a man whose name deserves a higher place than it at present occupies in I There has been a great deal written about the invention of the "team-engine ; you are all so accustomed to it in common use, that but few of you realize how won- 228 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. derful was the genius which first conceived the idea of using steam as a locomotive power There are records as far back as the year 1543 of the conception of some such idea, but no one had ever been able to put it in execution. This is the introduction to my story. James Bumsey was a native of Maryland, and had his residence at Bath, Morgan county, Virginia, and afterwards in Shepherdstown. He was employed by the Potomac Company to improve the navigation of the Potomac river, and here his attention became directed to different modes of propelling vessels, and particularly to utilizing steam for this purpose. Ho was a simple man, but one of considerable inventive powers and great earnestness of purpose. In spite of the ridicule of his ignorant neighbors, who dubbed him "Crazy Eumsey," he huilt a boat on the banks of tho Potomac, and succeeded in launching it upon the waters of that river, propelling it by steam against the current at the rate of four or five miles an hour. This seems very slow to us, because we travel so much more rapidly now, but it was considered wonderful speed by the people of the country, who called it " the flying boat." It was about fifty feet long, and the whole machinery did not occupy more than six feet square. The boiler held about five gallons of water, only a pint of which was required at a time ; and it used from four to six bushels of coal in twelve hours. Eumsey was working at his idea nearly four years before he developed it ; and there is a path along the banks of the Potomac, near Shep- herdstown, which was called .Rumsey's Walk, because hero the poor fellow walked up and down, day after day, meditating upon his project. At length the "flying boat" was ready for its trial HISTORY OF VIEGINIA. 229 trip, and amongst other distinguished persons who on board, upon this its first voyage, was General Wash- ington himself, who was convinced of the utility of the idea, and gave his certificate to that effect. Thus encouraged, Eums y resolved to go to England for the purpose 01 obtaining skilful workmen, and Buch machinery, for the carrying out of his plans, as he could not obtain in this country. But here the difficulty beset him which so often lies in the way of greal pro- jects — want of money; and he was obliged to abandon his main scheme, and turn his attention to something else until he could raise the means to resume it ; be had even to sacrifice a large interest in his invention m order to escape a London prison ; but still he Btruggled on, and at length completed a boat of about one hundred tons burden, and named a day for its public exhibition, and an evening before this appointment to be devoted to an exposition of his project, in order to solicit help from the public. The evening arrived, and, to poor Rumsey'fl astonishment, the hall was filled, to overflowing, with the learning, fashion, and beauty of Liverpool. He was perfectly overwhelmed at the sudden prospect, which presented itself, for "the fulfilment of his dearest h< When he arose to begin his lecture, he was so overco that he could not control his feelings. A gentleman near, observing his agitation, handed him a glasfl water. He thanked him incoherently, sank into bus chair, and never spoke again. He died two days after, leaving his project to be completed by others; and, Dearly twenty years after, Fulton succeeded in improving upon his idea, and is recognized as the great master of Bteam navigation, while poor Rumsey fills an unhoi though no hictory of Virginia should neglect to record his name upen its pages. 230 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. Now that the sword was laid aside, you may think that this new country had nothing to do but to grow rich without being subject to English taxation, and to enjoy the independence she had so hardly won ; but you are greatly mistaken. The people had succeeded, it is true, in throwing off an oppressive yoke, and in this they rejoiced; but an arduous task lay before them: the country had now to take her place in the family of nations, and to prepare herself to support that position with honor. The experience which her rulers had enjoyed of a monarchical form of government, which you know is one in which the King is the chief ruler, had not satisfied them ; and they determined to make an experiment which had never yet been quite successful in the history of the world, namely, to have a government in which all of the officers were elected by the people, and no office held for life ; so that if the chief ruler did not prove a good one, his government could not be a lasting evil, for in a short time another election would take place, and another man fill the position. It was also deter- mined that each State should have a government of its own, consisting of a Governor and Judiciary Legislature, which would render it entirely independent of the others ; but that there should be a General Government, in which all should unite, over which should be placed a President and Congress, and that matters should be so arranged that the one would not interfere with the other. There were at that time thirteen different States : there are now a great many more ; but it was agreed that each new State, which was formed, should join the Union subject to the same regulations. And now the subject which engaged the attention of all was how these two Governments should be consti- msTom? of vibgikia. 23] tutcd, so that tho one would not interfere with i he 01 her • and this was an undertaking fall of difficulty. States had adopted their own forms of government and they were not prepared to surrend< r the power entir. ly into the Lands of tho United States. General Washing. A MOUNT VERXOV. ton, when peace w&a fully established, had taken a final leave of the officers and soldiers of the army which ha long acknowledged him as their leader : and at a meeting of Congress, hacLteurrendered his commission as Com- mander-in-chief.-'' LUlcr this he retired to Mount Vernon 232 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. and engaged in domestic pursuits, but never for an in- stant did he lose sight of what he considered the best in- terests of the United States, and he keenly shared in the anxiety for the adoption of such a Constitution as would promote this object. Years passed away before the matter was definitely settled. In May, 1787, a Convention met at Philadel- phia, when a Constitution or Code of Laws was pre- pared, which was presented to each of the different States for their discussion in convention. In Yirginia this produced the greatest excitement. Nothing was talked of but the new Constitution, and the election of members to the Convention which met at Richmond on the 2d of June of the following year, 1788. Never be- fore or since, in the history of the State, was there such an array of talent and patriotism as met on that occa- sion. Of course Patrick Henry was there, and Pendle- ton, and TV r ythe, Lee and .Randolph, Madison and Marshall, and many others, all of whom came to the Convention with the love of their State as the ruling passion of their hearts, but differing widely as to the best means of securing her good. Patrick Henry op- posed the new Constitution with all the power of his great eloquence ; he thought that Yirginia ought not to give the General Government so much power over her. Mr. Madison and Mr. Randolph and others opposed him. They thought that Yirginia did not give away any power necessary to the existence of her State Gov- ernment, and she would be strengthened and elevated by a Federal Union with her sister States. The result of many stormy discussions was the adoption of the Constitution by a majority of only ten votes, and by this Yirginia became a member of the Union of States. HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 2 :•; Heretofore we have closely kept in view our plan of presenting Virginia alone to your view, but dow, when she becomes united with the other States, through the Constitution which she and they had adopted, it comes more difficult to give her a separate position, and for the seventy years which remain for our consider- ation there are but few events which mark her history with any distinctness. The year after the adoption of the Constitu- tion, George "Washington was' elected to fill the office of President of the United States. He had been a great advocate for the Union, and a member of the Conven- tion which met at Phila-iH I delphia to frame Constitution, but it was with the greatest reluc- tance that he accepted the post of Chief Magistrate of the new cqnntry. He was growing old, and was wearied with life of toil, which he had led, and only desired t<> spend the evening of his days in the quiel of hi- borne at Mount Vernon; but ho could not decline the call from the country of which he was the father, and bo became the first President of the United Sun.-, and Patrick Henry was elected Governor of Virginia. On first acts of the new government was the admission of a new State to the Union. This was Kent ink young daughter of whom Virginia was justly proud. GKOKGE WASH!'. 234 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. Twenty years before the period at which we have now arrived, the whole of this beautiful land had been in possession of the Indians; but like the rest of the country, it fell into possession of the white man. It would be very pleasant to me, and interesting to you, could I pause to tell you of how Daniel Boone entered this wild country, which, from the many terrible battles which were fought there, was known as the " dark and bloody ground," and how, after a terrible struggle, it was rescued from the savages ; but we can only tell the story in a brief sentence. As years passed away, the fertility of her soil and the healthfulness of her climate invited settlers within her boundaries, and she was soon known as " the Garden of the West," and each year marked her progress in strength and vigor, until she was ready to take her place with her sisters as a State of the Union, which she did with honor and credit, in the year 1792. About this time arose two great political parties in the country, Avho were known by the titles of " Federal- ist" and " Republican." The Federalists were tho.-e who approved of the General Government, and thought it ought to be strong enough to keep under its power all of the State Governments. The Republicans, on the contrary, looked with great jealous}' and distrust upon the power already granted to the General Government by the new Constitution ; and zealously contended for the right of the different States to govern themselves ; this last party was the strongest in Virginia. In our day, when the youngest of you have some idea of the bitterness of feeling which arises from a differ- ence of opinion in politics, we can well understand the extent to which party-spirit was carried upon these all- HISTORY OF VI IK I IMA. 236 important subjects. The tongue and the pen were kept busy; and if we could have heard the speeches and read the opinions expressed on the differenl Bides of the question, we would understand how curiously honest patriotic statesmen, with the good of their country equally at heart, can differ about the means of attain- ing that good, and hate each other bitterly for the dif- ference of opinion. I have said that the Republican party was the strongest in Virginia, and for this rei the Legislature of the State adopted every means to strengthen the -State government, by increasing her means of defence. Laws were passed for arming tho militia, and an armory was built at Richmond la enough to store away ten thousand stand of arms; two hundred and twelve pieces of cannon were mounted around the yard, besides six beautiful brass siege-pi and two mortars. These last were supposed to I been brought over in a French vessel during the Biege of Yorktown, and presented, after tho fall of Cornwallis, to the Commonwealth of Virginia. This same year (1798) events occurred which mado the opposition between the two great political parties of the country more bitter thau'ever. Some laws were passed by the United States styled the " Alien and Sedi- tion Laws." The first named gave the President the power to send any foreigner out of the country whom he regarded as dangerous to the peace of the United Sta1 and if he remained in the country after the order t<> leave had been issued, he was to be impri term not exceeding three years. The "Sedition Law" empowered the Government to seize any one who should write, speak or publish I thing false, scandalous or malicious against the Govern- 236 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. ment, Congress, or President of the United States and fine or imprison them. When it became known that these two laws had been passed, it roused the greatest excitement all through the country. The Federalists contended that it was all right, and necessary that the General Government should thus act ; and the Eepublicans said that it placed too much power in the hands of the President and Con- gress, and was sure to lead to tyranny, by bringing under punishment many who were only suspected, and ought to be tried before condemnation, and besides, it restricted the "liberty of the press," by forbidding the publication of opinions, whatever they might be. In Virginia the feelings of two parties were particularly bitter, and the discussions in the Legislature were stormy enough, and a great deal of talent and eloquence was arrayed on both sides. Patrick Henry, although he had opposed the adoption of the Constitution, yet after Virginia had agreed to bind herself to the Union, thought her best interest lay in doing everything to strengthen the tie. Mr. Madison drew up some reso- lutions, which have ever since been celebrated as the " Eesolutions of '98." These, full of patriotism both to the United States Government and to the State, declare the intention of Virginia to maintain and defend the Constitution of the United States against all opposition, but at the same time avow her intention to oppose anything which went beyond this Constitution and en- dangered the liberty of individuals and of the States, which were sovereignties independent of the General Government, and particularly to guard the liberty of the press and of conscience. The Alien and Sedition Laws were declared to bo aimed against such rights, and HISTOT1Y OF VIBGIKIA. 237 therefore were opposed. Even before this action by Virginia, Kentucky passed resolutions which were written by Thomas Jefferson, and which were even stronger than those which were passed by Virginia. But these were the only two States that took open ground against the Federal Government. Patrick Henry, though a very old and feeble man, allowed himself to be brought before the people of Charlotte county as a candidate for tho Vir- ginia Senate, in order that he might once agau r. his voice for what he considered the best inteT of his beloved State. Before his election, a day was ap- pointed for him to make a speech to the people of ( !har lotte Courthouse, in order that he might tell them what course he intended to pursue should they elecl him to the Legislature of Virginia. He mounted the stand fixed for him, and the tears gathered in many eyes as they ! aw the sad change wrought by years and ill-health upon his honored form. But soon his eye lighted up, nd his voice gave forth such eloquent words as none had ever heard from him before. He said he had opp the adoption of the Constitution, and the Alien and Sedition JUaws were but the fruits he expected ; hut it was too late for Virginia to set herself against the Government. Then clasping his hands, and waving his body backward and forward, he said: " li' we wrong, let us all go wrong together." The crowd was so excited that the entire mass of people waved with him. and as he fell exhausted into the arms of tho crowd, a friend exclaimed, "The sun lias set in all his glory .' " The appiause over Patrick Henry's speech wae at its height when a youthful figure, of ungainly and unprepossessing appearance, stepped forward, and \<>,