grow the town of Williamsburg。 Here he camped； and here took counsel with
Lawrence and Drummond and others； and here addressed； with a curious； lofty
eloquence； the throng that began to gather。 Hence； too； he issued a
〃Declaration；〃 recounting the misdeeds of those lately in power； protesting
against the terms rebel and traitor as applied to himself and his
followers； who are only in arms to protect his Majesty's demesne and
subjects； and calling on those who are well disposed to reform to join him
at Middle Plantation； there to consider the state of the country which had
been brought into a bad way by 〃Sir William's doting and irregular actings。〃
Upon his proclamation many did come to Middle Plantation； great planters
and small； men just freed from indentured service； holders of no land and
little land and much land； men of all grades of weight and consideration
and all degrees of revolutionary will； from Drummond…with a reported
speech； 〃I am in overshoes； I will be in overboots！〃 and a wife Sarah who
snapped a stick in two with the cry； 〃I care no more for the power of
England than for this broken straw！〃to those who would be revolutionary
as long as； and only when； it seemed safe to be so。
How much of revolution； despite that speech about his Majesty's demesne and
subjects； was in Bacon's mind； or in Richard Lawrence's mind and William
Drummond's mind； or in the mind of their staunchest supporters； may hardly
now be resolved。 Perhaps as much as was in the mind of Patrick Henry；
Thomas Jefferson； and George Mason a century later。
The Governor was in Accomac； breathing fire and slaughter； though as yet
without brand or sword with which to put his ardent desires into execution。
But he and the constituted order were not without friends and supporters。
He had； as his opponents saw； a umber of 〃wicked and pernicious
counsellors； aides and assistants against the commonalty in these our cruel
commotions。〃 Moreoverand a great moreover is that！it was everywhere
bruited that he had sent to England； to the King； 〃for two thousand Red
Coates。〃 Perhaps the Kingperhaps England…will take his view； and； not
consulting the good of Virginia； send the Red Coats！ What then？
Bacon； as a measure of opposition； proposed 〃a test or ecognition；〃 to be
signed by those here at Middle Plantation who earnestly do wish the good of
Virginia。 It was a bold test！ Not only should they covenant to give no aid
to the whilom Governor against this new general and army； but if ships
should bring the Red Coats they were to withstand them。 There is little
wonder that 〃this bugbear did marvellously startle〃 that body of Virginia
horsemen； those progressive gentlemen planters； and others。 Yet in the end；
after violent contentions； the assembly at Middle Plantation drew up and
signed a remarkable paper； the 〃Oath at Middle Plantation。〃 Historically；
it is linked on the one hand with that 〃thrusting out of his government〃 of
Sir John Harvey in Charles I's time； and on the other with Virginian
proceedings a hundred years later under the third George。 If his Majesty
had been； as it was rumored； wrongly informed that Virginia was in
rebellion； if； acting upon that misinformation； he sent troops against his
loyal Virginians…who were armed only against an evil Governor and
intolerable woes then these same good loyalists would 〃oppose and suppress
all forces whatsoever of that nature； until such time as the King be fully
informed of the state of the case。〃 What was to happen if the King； being
informed； still supported Berkeley and sent other Red Coats was not taken
into consideration。
This paper； being drawn； was the more quickly signed because there arrived；
in the midst of the debate； a fresh Indian alarm。 Attack threatened a fort
upon the York…whence the Governor had seen fit to remove arms and
ammunition！ The news came most opportunely for Bacon。 〃There were no more
discourses。〃 The major portion of the large assemblage signed。
The old Government in Virginia was thus denied。 But it was held that
government there must be； and that the people of Virginia through
representatives must arrange for it。 Writs of election； made as usual in
the King's name； and signed by Bacon and by those members of the Council
who were of the revolt； went forth to all counties。 The Assembly thus
provided was to meet at Jamestown in September。
So much business done； off rode Bacon and his men to put down this latest
rising of the Indians。 Not only these but red men in a new quarter； tribes
south of the James； kept them employed for weeks to come。 Nor were they
unmindful of that proud old man； Sir William Berkeley； over on the Eastern
Shore； a well…peopled region where traveling by boat and by sandy road was
sufficiently easy。 Bacon； Lawrence； and Drummond finally decided to take
Sir William captive and to bring him back to Jamestown。 For this purpose
they dispatched a ship across the Bay； with two hundred and fifty men；
under the command of Giles Bland； 〃a man of courage and haughty bearing；〃
and 〃no great admirer of Sir William's goodness。〃 The ship proceeded to the
Accomac shore； anchored in some bight； and sent ashore men to treat with
the Governor。 But the Governor turned the tables on them。 He made himself
captor； instead of being made captive。 Bland and his lieutenants were
taken； whereupon their following surrendered into Berkeley's hands。 Bland's
second in command was hanged； Bland himself was held in irons。
Now Berkeley's star was climbing。 In Accomac he gathered so many that； with
those who had fled with him and later recruits who crossed the Bay； he had
perhaps a thousand men。 He stowed these upon the ship of the ill…fated
Bland and upon a number of sloops。 With seventeen sail in all； the old
Governor set his face west and south towards the mouth of the James。
In that river； on the 7th of September； 1676； there appeared this fleet of
the King's Governor； set on retaking Virginia。 Jamestown had notice。 The
Bacon faction held the place with perhaps eight hundred men； Colonel
Hansford at their head。 Summoned by Berkeley to surrender； Hansford
refused； but that same night； by advice of Lawrence and Drummond； evacuated
the place； drawing his force off toward the York。 The next day； emptied of
all but a few citizens； Jamestown received the old Governor and his army。
The tidings found Bacon on the upper York。 Acting with his accustomed
energy； he sent out； far and wide； ringing appeals to the country to rouse
itself； for men to join him and march to the defeat of the old tyrant。
Numbers did come in。 He moved with 〃marvelous celerity。〃 When he had； for
the time and place； a large force of rebels； he marched； by stream and
plantation； tobaccofield and forest； forge and mill； through the early
autumn country to Jamestown。 Civil war was on。
Across the narrow neck of the Jamestown penin sula had been thrown a sort
of fortification with ditch； earthwork； and palisade。 Before this Bacon now
sounded trumpets。 No answer coming； but the mouths of cannon appearing at
intervals above the breastwork； the 〃rebel〃 general halted； encamped his
men； and proceeded to construct siege lines of his own。 The work must be
done exposed to Sir William's iron shot。
Now comes a strange and discreditable incident。 Patriots； revolutionists；
who on the whole would serve human progress； have yet； as have we all； dark
spots and seamy sides。 Bacon's parties of workmen were threatened；
hindered； driven from their task by Berkeley's guns。 Bacon had a curious；
unadmirable idea。 He sent horsemen to neighboring loyalist plantations to
gather up and bring to camp； not the plantersfor they are with Berkeley
in Jamestownbut the planters' wives。 Here are Mistress Bacon （wife of the
elder Nathaniel Bacon）； Mistress Bray； Mistress Ballard； Mistress Page； and
others。 Protesting； these ladies enter Bacon's camp； who sends one as envoy
into the town with the message that； if Berkeley attacks； the whole number
of women shall be placed as shield to Bacon's men who build earthworks。
He was as goodor as badas his word。 At the first show of action against
his workmen these royalist women were placed in the front and were kept
there until Bacon had made his counter…line of defense。 Sir William
Berkeley had great faults； but at timesnot alwayshe displayed chivalry。
For that day 〃the ladies' white aprons〃 guarded General Bacon and all his
works。 The next day； the defenses completed； this 〃white garde〃 was withdrawn。
Berkeley waited no longer but； though now at a disadvantage； opened fire
and charged with his men through gate and over earthworks。 The battle that
followed was short and decisive。 Berkeley's chance…gathered army was no
match for Bacon's seasoned Indian fighters and for desperate men who knew
that they must win or be hanged for traitors。 The Governor's force wavered
and； unable to stand its ground； turned and fled； leaving behind some dead
and wounded。 Then Bacon； who also had cannon； opened upon the town and the
ships that rode before it。 In the night the King's Governor embarked for
the second time and with him； in that armada from the Eastern Shore； the
greater part of the force he had gathered。 When dawn came； Bacon saw that
the ships； large and small； were gone； sailing back to Accomac。 Bacon and
his following thus came peaceably into Jamestown； but with the somewhat
fell determination to burn the place。 It should 〃harbor no more rogues。〃
What Bacon； Lawrence； Drummond； Hansford； and others really hopedwhether
they forecasted a republican Virginia finally at peace and
prosperouswhether they saw in a vision a new capital； perhaps at Middle
Plantation； perhaps at the Falls of the Far West； a capital that should be
without old； tyrannic memoriescannot now be said。 However it all may be；
they put torch to the old capital town and soon saw it consumed； for it was
no great place； and not hard to burn。
Jamestown had hardly ceased to smoke when news came that loyalists under
Colonel Brent were gathering in northern counties。 Bacon； now ill but
energetic to the end； turned with promptness to meet this new alarm。 He
crossed the York and marched northward through Gloucester County。 Bu