USA > Virginia > Virginia, a history of the people > Part 20
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That was not, however, apparently the view of affairs taken by his angry adversary. Suddenly, in the midst of his campaign, came intelligence that Governor Berke- ley had a second time proclaimed Nathaniel Bacon and his followers rebels and traitors.
XVII.
THE OATH AT MIDDLE-PLANTATION.
SIR WILLIAM BERKELEY had imitated his master, Charles I. The King had fled for refuge against rebellion to his loyal shire of York ; and the King's Governor now fled to York River and set up his flag there.
This was the natural sequel of the scene in front of the State House at Jamestown. Gloss over it as people might, the course of Bacon there was rebellion and
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treason. By force of broadswords and "fusils," he had compelled his Majesty's representative to comply with his demands ; and now it was to be decided to whom Virginia was to belong, -- whether to Bacon and his rebels, or to Berkeley and his loyal King's-men. Some of the best men in Virginia were ranged on cach side, for the absurd old theory that the Berkeley men were all time-servers and mercenary pcople has nothing to support it. Still, the great mass of the people of all classes liad sided with Bacon, and it seemed that his Majesty's representative would soon be a Governor without a government. In this cruel emergency a gleam of sunshine broke through the black clouds, set- tling down on the head of the ancient Cavalier. From Gloucester, beyond the York, came post-haste a King's- man, with a missive for his Honor from that most loyal county.
Gloster, as the old writers spell it, was " the place the best replenished for men, arms, and affection of any county in Virginia," - the affection being for his Maj- esty and his Majesty's Governor. Bacon's horsemen had galloped about the country, disarming the adher- ents of Berkeley there ; and this had naturally made an unpleasant impression. Now the truculent rebel was absent about his Indian business ; the coast was clear for the true men to show their faces again ; and the Gloster men sent a petition asking that Governor Berke- ley would come and protect them from the Indians. Sir William promptly responded to the welcome request. This rich domain, full of loyal planters, was the place for the loyal Governor. He repaired thither at once, erected his standard, and summoned the people to array themselves under it.
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The result was discouraging. The Gloster men were not so loyal as Berkeley had supposed. Twelve hun- dred people assembled on the day appointed, but the public pulse was low. They would support the Gov- ernor's authority, but "they thought it not conven- ient at present to declare themselves against Bacon, as he was now advancing against the common enemy," the Indians. That would not be to act like good Vir- ginians ; and so the men of Gloster and Middlesex positively declined to enroll themselves against Bacon. They showed their sentiments in an unmistakable man- ner. At the first words of Berkeley the crowd began to murmur, "Bacon ! Bacon !" -ominous incident. As his Excellency went on urging them, they grew weary, and refused to listen. They "walked out of the field, muttering as they went, 'Bacon ! Bacon ! Bacon !' Icav- ing the Governor and those that came with him to them- selves." Such was the depressing condition of public feeling in this loyal country. The Gloster men would not even listen to the fiery Cavalier, with his passion- ate appeals to their loyalty. Their response was that ominous muttering and speedy disappearance from the place of meeting.
It seemed that this was the end. Rebellion had caught even the loyal Gloucester in its vile clutches. There was, then, no hope, save from other people somewhere, not yet poisoned ; where were these to be found? There was one place of retreat : the remote country sometimes called the "Kingdom of Accomac," across the water. So, leaving the ungrateful Gloucester men to arrange their matters with General Bacon, the Governor em- barked on a small vessel, and, as the chronicle says, "wafted over Chesapeake Bay thirty miles to Acco-
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THE OATH AT MIDDLE-PLANTATION.
mac," - last refuge, or supposed refuge, of the loyal cause in Virginia.
Before departing, Sir William set up his proclamation in all public places, declaring Bacon a traitor (July 29, 1676) ; on the 29th of May, just two months before, the rebel had been assailed by a similar blow. The news of all this was brought to Bacon on the upper waters by his friends Lawrence and Drummond. He at once marched back. His situation was critical ; he "was fallen like the corn between the stones," says one of the old writers, "so that if he did not look the better about him, he might chance to be ground to powder." He himself used an equally strong simile.
" It vext him to his heart," he said, " for to think that while he was hunting (Indian) wolves, tygers, and foxes, which daily destroyed our harmless sheep and lambs, that he and those with him should be pursued with a full cry, as a more savage or a no less ravenous beast."
Thus protesting, no doubt with impetuous delivery and knit brows, in the midst of liis men, with thought- ful Mr. Lawrence listening quietly, Bacon marched back at the head of his horsemen toward the lower waters. An incident occurred on the way. A de- serter from the Berkeley side came in, but was found to be a spy. Bacon offered to spare his life if one man in the army would say a good word for him. But no one spoke, and he was executed; General Bacon being " applauded for a merciful man" for thus giving liim a chance for his life. Perfect order was kept on the march ; no opponent's house was plundered, but patrols of cavalry arrested prominent friends of Berkeley ; and Bacon soon arrived at Middle-Plantation, midway be-
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VIRGINIA: A HISTORY OF THE PEOPLE.
tween Jamestown and York River, afterwards the city of Williamsburg.
His horsemen bivouacked around the little cluster of houses forming the village, and their General went at once to work. Virginia was in flagrant revolution ; the constituted authorities had fled, and the business before Bacon was to bring order out of this chiaos. With Berkeley away in Accomac, a distant region, vaguely looked upon at that time as scarcely part of Virginia, Bacon was master and Governor de facto. He was looked to as the head of all things, and had advisers, who suggested decisive action. William Drummond, that sober Scotch gentleman, who was "over shoes " in rebellion, and meant to be " over boots," advised Bacon to depose Berkeley, and put Sir Henry Chiche- ley in his place. At this the Baconians murmured, when the sober Scot replied : --
" Do not make so strange of it, for I can show from ancient records that such things have been done in Vir- ginia " - a reference, doubtless, to the " thrusting out" of Governor Harvey.
Bacon would not agree to so revolutionary an act as the formal deposition of Berkeley. His temper was excitable, but his brain was cool - a common trait with men of strong natures. It bore the strain on it now, if visions of military usurpation and Virginia Lord Pro- tectorism tempted him. There was a very long head on the shoulders of this impetuous youth. He pro- ceeded in an orderly manner, and displayed the great- est good sense. First he issued his "Remonstrance," a hot protest against Berkeley's proclamation denounce ing as rebels and traitors himself and his followers, good subjects of his Majesty, who were in arms only against
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THE OATH AT MIDDLE-PLANTATION.
the bloody savages. Then he comes to the public griev- ances, and pays his respects to his adversaries. Some in authority were without capacity ; others had come to the country poor, and were now rolling in wealth, for they had been " spunges that have sucked up and devoured the common treasury." He propounds the damaging query, " What arts, sciences, schools of learn- ing, or manufactures hath been promoted by any now in authority ?" and "saith something against the Gov- ernor about the beaver trade ; and so concludes with an appeal to King and Parliament." But the young rebel must have personal consultation with the chief men of Virginia. Therefore, all who have "any regard for themselves, or love to their country, their wives, chil- dren, and other relations," are prayed to attend at Mid- dle-Plantation on a certain day, and enter their protest against "Sir William's doting and irregular actings."
On the day appointed (August 3, 1676), "most of the prime gentlemen of those parts," four of whom were members of the Governor's Council, appeared at the ren- dezvous, and a stormy scene followed. Bacon made as usual "a long harange," and it was agreed that a " test or recognition " should be subscribed that no one would aid Berkeley to molest the " Generall and army." All agreed to that, but the imperious Bacon suddenly threw a fire-brand amongst them. They must bind themselves further, he said, "to rise in arms against him," Berkeley, "if he with armed forces should offer to resist the Generall ; and not only so -if any forces should be sent out of England at the request of Sir Wil- liam or otherways, to his aid, that they were likewise to be opposed" until his Majesty could be heard from.
Then an explosion. That was armed rebellion against
270 VIRGINIA: A HISTORY OF THE PEOPLE.
the King, and " this bugbear did marvellously startle " them. They were willing to sign the test, but not to sign that ; whereupon Bacon, with his impetuous tem- per, suddenly flames out. If they would not sign all, they need not sign any ; " he would surrender up his commission, and let the country find some other servant to go abroad and do their work ! 'Sir William Berke- ley hath proclaimed me a rebel,' " he exclaimed, "'and it is not unknown to himself that I both can and shall charge him with no less than treason !'" Governor Berkeley would never forgive them for signing any part of the test, he urged ; and they might judge for themselves "how many or few he would make choice of to be sent into the tother world." The passionate eloquence of Bacon is vividly described in the old narratives. He would have all signed, or nothing --- " the whole swallowed or none." A sudden incident determined the wavering assemblage. The " gunner of York Fort" rushed through the crowd, wild-eyed and dismayed. The savages were advancing on his fort ! The Governor liad removed all his arms! The fort was filled with poor people who had fled before the Indian tomahawk from the woods of Gloster !
Thereat, "the General is somewhat startled," and looks with eyes of passionate appeal to the crowd, hav- ing either arranged this dramatic scene beforeliand, or feeling as much startled as the rest. The effect was decisive. It "did stagger a great many, and there was no more discourses." The prime gentlemen agreed to sign the whole paper, with the express understanding that it was not to affect their allegiance. Upon that point Bacon promptly reassured them. Affect their allegiance? Far from it! "God forbid," he cried,
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THE OATH AT MIDDLE-PLANTATION.
" that it should be so meant or intended ! Himself and army, by his command, had some few days before taken the Oath of Allegiance !"
So the oath was taken and the paper subscribed by these loyal prime gentlemen, who were so punctilious about their allegiance to the King - the oath to fight the King's troops if they came to Virginia.
This Middle-Plantation meeting was a stormy affair. The struggle had continued from noon to midnight, and the scene lit up by torches in the summer night must have been striking. In the centre of the excited crowd is the young Cromwell of twenty-eiglit, his face flushed and his eyes blazing as he urges this or that argument showing the necessity of the proposed oath. Around him are the prime gentlemen with doubtful or resolute faces, and the well-armed housekeepers girt with broad- swords, looking and listening. No doubt that quiet gentleman youder is thoughtful Mr. Lawrence, who sees with delight that the "resolute temper " of the young General has swept away all opposition, and that the Virginians are going to " see the King's peace kept by resisting the King's viceregent."
The paper signed at Middle-Plantation on this 3d of August, 1676, is a notable document. It begins by setting forth that " certain persons have lately contrived the raising forces " against General Bacon and the people, " thereby to beget civil war;" and they will en- deavor to apprehend "those evil disposed persons, and them secure until further orders from the General ; " -- so much for his Excellency. And as Sir William has informed the King that Virginia is in rebellion, and he needs troops, " We, the inhabitants of Virginia," will " to the utmost of our power oppose and suppress all forces
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272 VIRGINIA: A HISTORY OF THE PEOPLE.
whatsoever of that nature, until such time as the King be fully informed of the state of the case by such person or persons as shall be sent from the said Nathaniel Bacon, in the behalf of the people, and the determina- tion thereof be remitted hither."
This was plain. His Majesty's Governor and repre- sentative was making war on Virginia. His Majesty's true representative was not this traitor, but General Bacon. As the most loyal of the King's subjects they meant to crush the King's Governor if they could; to inform the King of all things ; and meanwhile to op- pose and fight the King's troops if they came to Vir- ginia. The last clause bore a strong resemblance to an important feature in another paper, signed at Phila- delphia July 4, 1776. This engagement taken by the Virginians was signed August 3, 1676, nearly a hun- dred years before.
The great business was thus finished. The leading men were banded together in support of Bacon, and the next step was to organize a government. None but the Virginia people had authority to do that; and Ba- con issued writs for the representatives of the people to assemble early in September. The writs were in the name of his Majesty, and signed by four members of the Council who were present at the meeting. Then, without loss of time, swift couriers bore them away to the four winds ; and Bacon, secure now, as he said, that in his absence " to destroy the wolves " the foxes would not "devour the sheep," set off with his army again to finish his Indian campaign.
He left behind him a mighty tumult. Virginia had risen for the right. The New World had defied the Old. The oath on the Virginia Field of Mars to fight Eng.
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THE OATH AT MIDDLE-PLANTATION.
land, sworn by torchlight in the midst of grim faces, stirred up a great wave of rejoicing, which rolled over all Virginia, from the lowland to the mountains. Every- where men and women hailed it with enthusiasm. "Now we can build ships," they said, " and, like New England, trade to any part of the world!"- an evidence of the aversion to the navigation laws. Sarah Drummond, the wife of the sober Scottish conspirator, exclaimed : -
"The child that is unborn shall have cause to rejoice for the good that will come by the rising of the coun- try !" And when a person beside her croaked, -
" We must expect a greater power from England that will certainly be our ruin," Drummond's wife picked up a stick, broke it in two, and said disdainfully, -
"I fear the power of England no more than a broken straw ! "
When others faltered, she exclaimed bravely, "We will do well enough !" and that was the hopeful feeling of the great mass of the people. Thousands of men and women - and the hearts of women are braver and more devoted than the hearts of men, often - were ut- tering, doubtless, similar words, full of the true ring, all over Virginia. The country was with Bacon, and swore the oath with him.
He was, meanwhile, at work again. Having issued his proclamation that all friends of the cause should, on "the arrival of the forces from .England, retire into the wilderness and oppose them," he crossed James River at Curles, according to one account, attacked the Appo- mattox Indians at what is now Petersburg, and killed or routed the whole tribe. He then traversed the south side toward the Nottoway and Roanoke, dispersed all the savages he encountered, and early in September
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"draws in his forces within the verge of the English Plantations." At West Point, his "prime rendezvous or place of retreat," he dismissed all but a detachment, to go home and rest ; and this was the state of things, when the whole face of affairs suddenly changed.
News came that Sir William Berkeley, with seven- teen ships and a thousand men, had returned from Accomac, sailed up James River, and was again in possession of Jamestown.
XVIII.
THE WHITE APRONS AT JAMESTOWN.
THE fortunes of Sir William Berkeley in the " King .. dom of Accomac" had been a checker-work of sun and shadow. The first outlook there seemed gloomy indeed ; the chill wind of disloyalty blew steadily over that sandy region, as it blew across the green hills of Vir- ginia. Few gleams of hope cheered the black darkness around the old King's-man. The virus of rebellion had infected the Eastern Shore men as well as the West Shore men. His Excellency could get no substantial planters to espouse his fortunes ; and it seemed that if he returned at all, it would be at the head of a handful of "rabble."
But all at once the skies cleared. A lucky accident cheered the heart of the despondent Cavalier. Bacon, after attending to matters at Middle-Plantation, had sent one of his friends to confine the Governor in Acco- mac, or capture him. This person was Mr. Giles Bland, "a gentleman of an active and stirring disposition, and no grate admirer of Sir William's goodness." He was
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THE WHITE APRONS AT JAMESTOWN.
to go and "block up" his foe Sir William, or induce the people to surrender him, - "thinking the coun- try, like the Friar in the Bush, must needs be so mad as to dance to their pipe." So, General Bacon hoping that liis Lieutenant, Bland, might "go forth with an empty hand but return with a full fist," placed this business in his charge, and went after the Indians.
These phrases of the old chronicle show the eccen- tric humor of the times. Such turns of expression constantly crop up in these uncouth writings, and re- lieve the tragedy of the narrative. The authors sym- pathize really with Bacon, but then he and his friends are rogues and rebels ; and it is the " Rogue's March" they are going to pipe to make the Accomackians dance. The performance soon begins, but a dirge is to wind up the gay lilt for some people. Bacon's " Lieutenant- general Bland, a man of courage and haughty bear- ing," set forth on his enterprise. He had two hundred and fifty men, and one ship with four guns, under com- mand of an old sailor, Captain Carver, who was "re- solved to adventure his old bones " for the rebel cause. This one ship was insufficient, however, and Bland seized another, lying in York River, which belonged to a Captain Laramore, probably a trader and a friend of Berkeley's. This seizure irritated Laramore and was the cause of many woes. He had been arrested and confined in his cabin, but dissembled, professed sym- pathy, and was restored to the command of his ship; and then Bland sailed for Accomac. On the way he captured another vessel, making four in all; and with this fleet came in sight of the Eastern Shore.
At the appearance of the four ships mounted with cannon Sir William gave up all for lost. His days in Accomac had not been happy days. Instead of
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anathematizing Bacon, the planters echoed the public complaints, and few had joined his standard. Now he found himself threatened with capture by a rebel fleet ; and his situation was not unlike that of his master Charles I. in his darkest days. An incident changed everything. Laramore's mind was still rank- ling with resentment at the seizure of his ship; and he privately sent word to Berkeley that if assistance were given him he would betray Bland. At the time, the vessels were at anchor, and Captain Carver of the four-gun ship, Bland's second in command, had gone on shore to see Berkeley. Laramore's offer resembled a trap, but a friend of the Governor's, Colonel Philip "Ludwell, offered to vouch for him, and to lead the party to assist in Bland's capture. Sir William there- upon agreed to everything, and Ludwell "prepared an armed boat in a creek not far off, but out of sight." At the time appointed he rowed toward Laramore's ship : was supposed to be coming to parley ; and Bland did not fire on him. The sequel quickly came. The boat ran under the ship's stern, and one of Ludwell's men leaped on board and putting a pistol to Bland's breast said, " You are my prisoner." The rest fol- lowed and disarmed the crew, who were said to be drunk, but probably were Laramore's friends; and Carver soon returning, he and Bland were " amazed and yielded." No further resistance was made, and Colonel Ludwell returned in triumph with his prison- ers to Berkeley.1
1 The hero of this exploit, Colonel Philip Ludwell, was Berkeley's secretary, and after the Governor's death married "Dame ffrances Berkeley," who had been a young widow when Berkeley married her. Of her three husbands she seems to have preferred the second, as she continued to call herself "Lady Berkeley " to the time of her death.
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THE WHITE APRONS AT JAMESTOWN.
Thus ended in gloomy disaster the attempt to make the Accomackians dance to the rebel piping. Bland, with all his courage and activity, had been caught in a trap, and Berkeley put him in irons and otherwise ill-treated him. As for Captain Carver, his "old bones " were to rattle on a gibbet, if like another foe of Berke- ley's, he was hung in chains. His Excellency " honored him with the gift of a halter," but spared Lieutenant- general Bland, either as a gentleman of too much con- sideration to be executed, or for fear of Bacon. Poor old Carver was hung on the Accomac shore a few days afterwards ; and Laramore's men joined the forces under Berkeley.
These were now considerable in numbers if not in quality. The 'longshoremen had agreed to assist him, and at this fortunate moment, Captain Gardener, a Berkeleyan, arrived at Accomac in his ship the Adam- and-Eve, with ten or twelve sloops which he had col- lected along the coast. Bland's captured ships made in all about seventeen; and on these the forces em- barked, in number about a thousand. The Governor had promised them, it was said, the estates of all who had taken " Bacon's Oath;" and further proclaimed that the servants of all gentlemen fighting under Bacon should have the property of their masters in case they enrolled themselves under the King's flag.
Berkeley sailed for Jamestown and reached it safely (September 7, 1676), the news of his approach "out- stripping his canvass wings." The place was held by Colonel Hansford, one of the youngest and bravest of Bacon's lieutenants, with eight or nine hundred men. Berkeley anchored and summoned Hansford to surren- der, promising amnesty to all but Lawrence and Drum-
278 VIRGINIA: A HISTORY OF THE PEOPLE.
mond, then in the town. Hansford refused, but by tlie advice of these two leaders, determined to evacuate the place, which he did during the niglit. About noon next day Governor Berkeley landed on the island, and, like Lord Delaware before him, " knelt down and ren- dered thanks to God for his safe arrival." In the town he found only a few people, above all no Lawrence or Drummond. These gentlemen had prudently retired, and the chronicle makes merry over thoughtful Mr. Lawrence for his dread of capture. So "distracted " was he at the vision of a halter that he " forsook his own house with all his wealth and a fair cupboard of plate entire standing, which fell into the Governor's hands."
Meanwhile, as the triumphant Cavalier is feasting his eyes on his enemy's cupboard, the owner of the cupboard, with his friends Drummond and Hansford, is speeding northward at a swift gallop to find General Bacon.
They find him at West Point, the head of York River, and are the first to communicate the startling intelligence that Sir William Berkeley has recaptured Jamestown. The enemy supposed to be crushed has returned, thirsting for vengeance ; the whole " King- dom of Accomac" has declared for him ; the fierce wrestle apparently at an end has just begun, it seems.
Bacon's proceedings were those of a soldier. IIe had only a body-guard with him, but mounted in liot haste and set out for Jamestown. Couriers scattered in all directions to summon the Baconians to join him. As he advanced his force steadily increased, and marcli- ing with "a marvellous celerity, outstripping the swift wings of fame," he came in sight of Jamestown, at the head now of a force of several hundred men.
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THE WHITE APRONS AT JAMESTOWN.
Sir William was ready to receive liim. A strong earthwork and palisade had been erccted across the neck of the island, and Bacon rode forward to recon- noitre. He then ordered his trumpets to sound and a volley to be fired into the town. But no response came back. Berkeley, it is said, expected that his enemy would retire for want of provisions; but in this he was disappointed. Bacon was a rough campaigner, and supplied himself from the Governor's own larder, as the Governor had supplied himself from thoughtful Mr. Lawrence's cupboard. He made his headquarters at " Greenspring," the mansion of Sir William; and cattle, pork, grain, horses, and stores of every descrip- tion were mercilessly appropriated.
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