Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-07-11


Berkeley, and dissatisfied al his conduct
spoke rather too freely 10 the Governor
for which he was suspended from tn,
council.
Bacon then left jamestown in an IN hu
mour, with his forty men, il his sloop.-
The governor named a long boat ant
pursued him, until the chase grew so hot
that Bacon leaped into the sloop's boat Il
make the more haste. The Governor
however, had sent word to the ships III
the river, to intercept Bacon's flight, auc
he was accordingly stopped at Sand,
Point, and taken back to jamestown.
He was kindly received by the Cover.
nor, who felt conscious Of having exceed.
ed his powers in suspcnding Bacon from
the council.
Bacon was re-admitted into tho coun.
ell. He, however, still insisted on recei-
wing the commission oil General.
In the mean time, news Of fresh murders,
and rohberies committed by the Indians,
arriving, Colonel Bacon stole privately
out of jamestown, put himself at the head
OF SIX hundred men, whom he found in
arms, and marched forthwith to James.
town.
The Colonial Assembly was sitting at
the time. Bacon drew up his men In ar.
ray before the House, and urged them To
grant the Commission. This net Gov.
Berkeley resented more than all-and Il.
red with indignation, barred his breast and
called upon the soldiery to shoot him.
But the Assembly were intimidated !;
they prepared the commission, and the
Governor by their persuasion, was reluc-
family induced to sign il.
No sooner, however, had Bacon set
out with his soldiers, than the Governor.
by advice of,he Council, proclaimed him
a rebel, and commanded his followers 10
surrender him up to the civil authority
and disband at the same time issuing or
ders to call out the militia against them.
Bacon's little army, upon this, passed
a resolution, that not a hair. of his head
should fall to the ground, and they imnie-
diately marched back 10 jamestown.
Gov. Berkeley seeing that affairs were
beginning 10 assume a more threatening
aspect, fled over the bay TO Accomac.-
lie there learned the instability of the
popular will, for the people instead Of raj.
lying around him, took advantage Of his
necessities to extort from him a redress
of grievances and liberty of trade.
Bacon, in the meanwhile, called a con.
vention Of the leading gentlemen in those
parts, and obliged the people to take an
oath Of obedience TO HIM as General
He next summoned the assembly, and is
sued wits Of election, signed by himself
and four Of the council. TThls oath was
administered August Sd, 1916, one hun
dred years before the Declaration OF Ia
dependence.
1t charges the Governor with foment-
ing civil war, and asserts that they will
at all times support Bacon and his army
against the Indians, and that they will
discover, apprehend, and secure for fur
Their order Of The General, all evil dispo.
sed persons and they further swear that
they will protect Bacon against tie
Kings forces, until his majesty hears the
true state of the case.
After this, some skirmishes between
the Governors soldiers and Bacon's en-.
sued, but the rebellion was suddenly ex-
tinguished by the death OF Bacon, who at
this c%onjuncture fell sick, and died at the
house Of one Doctor Green, in Gloucester
county.
During this rebellion, jamestown was
burnt to the ground by Capt. Lawrence,
one of Bacon's officers, who, when his
mea refused, set fire to the town himself.