Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-07-06
An Early American Rebellion.

The event l want to tell you about
took place more than two hundred years
ago. and it was exactly one hundred
years before the Declaration of Indend-
ence was framed at Philadelphia-which
makes the date 1915. an easy one to re-
member. If you will recollect this date
and the story of Bacan's Rebellion, you
will have learned of one of the most i'm.
pOrtant and interesting occurrences in
the history of our early colonies.
The Governor of Virginia at this time
was Sir William Berkeley, who had been
appointed to the post by his King, Charles
II. of England. Sir William was not a
popular officer; and in everything he did
he sought to make great show and to
appear very grand. He made a great
deal of money from the Indians, to
whom he sold gunpowder; and as he
was only one allowed to trade in that
dangerous commodity, you may be sure
his profits were enormous.
Although the savages often attacked
sheep, the Governor would not seriously
attack them, and issued a mandate for
bidding any company of settlers to do
30.
Among the owners of plantations was
a young man of good family, named Ma
thaniel Bacon. He was warm-hearted
and generous; the sufferings of his
neighbors had awakened his sympathies,
and he determined to make some effort
to lessen their troubles. Although only
thirty years old, the settlers must have
had great confidence in him, for they
had already elected him to a seat in the
Governors council.
When, therefore, this man called his
nighbors together and said that, wheth-
or the Governor liked it or not,he meant
togo out against the Indians with whoev-
or would follow him, four hundred men
Immediately placed themselves under
his command.
The company started; but they had
not gone FAR when messenger came up
with them, and, in the name Of the Gov
ernor, denounced all those as rebels who
should not return Immediately to their
houses and abandon the expedition.
None understood better than Bacon's
men the danger they ran in disobeying
Sir Williams command; and although
the four hundred were attached to their
young leader, only fifty-seyen had the
courage to stick to him.
The little band now pressed forward
into the wilderness, and for many days
they wandered about, keeping up an
earnest but fruitless search. Then a
new trouble appeared the supply of food
ran low; starvation looked them in the
face.
Bacon's pluck, however, never failed
ne sought to encourage his men by cheer.
ing words and TO push on till food could
be obtained of some friendly tribe. 1t
was in this, their darkest hour, when all
were disheartened, that they suddenly
came upon the hostile Indians The
spirits of the little bapd of white men
rallied instantly. Now was the time to
show that it was not safe to rob and kill
the English settlers. Before the say.
ages had time to prepare, an attack was
made on their stronghold. For a time
the tight was fierce; but quickly the In
dians wayered, deserted their defense,
and fled into the thick woods. The vic
tory was complete, although the red
men numbered three times as many as
the little company of half-famished set
tiers.
Bacon hurried back to jamestown.
The news had gone before him, and the
people received the brave leader and his
men with every show of joy and esteem /:
they insisted that, in spite of his being
rebel, be should again occupy in the
council the seat to which they had elect
cd him.
OF course, Bacon's triumph over the
Indians did not add to Berkeley's regard
for him. But the Governor was shrewd
enough to see this was no time 10 inflict
punishment; so, after the young man
had asked forgiveness for going against
the Indians without permission, he no
doubt thought it great condescension
when, few days after, the Governor
accosted him in the Council-room, say
ing, with great deal of affected sorrow !:
"Mr. Bacon, if you Will live civilly but
until next quarter court, l will promise