The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-17

Ees,lming his Indian campaign, he de-
feated the Appomattox Indians at a point
near what is now Petersburg, swept
down the south side and scattered all the
SaVageS encountered, and returned to
West Point, where he dismissed all but a
detachment of his men on a Through.
Suddenly word came that Berkeley had
returned from AccOmac to James town,
and, with the decision of the true soldier
he at once fastened with his small force
to confront him. Orders few on the wire
less winds to the faithful-for Bacon. like
Marcoid, was a. wizard in quick cor,mll-
nication-and when he reached James
town it was as leader of several hundred
men.
1f1erc some. of the historians Charge
Nathaniel Bacon's character with its only
biem1sh. They claim that he arrested sew
eral ladies. the wives of the Old Cav
alters followers, and, whte-aproned he
sent some to Jamestown to inform Sir
William that the others would be placed
III Iront of his men about to erect II pal
isadc opposite the one already built by the
Governor, and If there was any firing
from the cavaliers it would be on their
ladies-not his men. Discussion tof this
unchivairous charge is saved meaby the
fact that the ladies Of Virginia have
erected here their memorial 10 Nathaniel
Bacon. Had their verdict not swept this
charge away, it would still be hard to
reconcile it with the otherwise conceded
chlVal1y OF the soldier and gentleman!
berkeley was as brave in defence or
his bad cause as Bacon was i'll S.. ,ort
OF ms righteous one, and he now BURST
forth with his longshoremen from Ac-i
comac i'll a fierce assault, which was IN
Stantly repulsed. The awkward; fish
ermen were no match for the young gem
n~ fS ,S,,,r
old cavalier, detected and mortified,
withdrew beyond his palisade. Bacon
followed up his advantage by cannonad-
ing the town, forcing Berkeley to evacu-
ate i'll the night
lie now decided to burn the old capl-
tai, that, as he expressed 1t, the rogues
should harbor there no morc' This was
a sad sight for the beautiful September
morning. Let us look at it, The fresh
ness of the night is yet i'll the air, the
dew is on the grass. The feverish Sep
tember sun is creeping over the hill
through the early autumn-tnted foliage.
By the little village just awakening
from its last sleep the current of the
James sweeps seward, bearing Berke-
ley's retreating sails, yet III s.aht. SLOW
~ the flames creep about the streets.
clutching first the palace with its plate
and wines, then the State house, with
us dlCillNeS ana eCtlOeS OF .,dlS, Inc
old Garter Tavern with its shavings or
Whitfield sticks and rebellion; the long
line of warehouses and stores, with their
tobacco and corn, and, lastly, the proud
old church with its sacred memories.
How sad must have been the heart OF
the bigoted but devoted old churchman
as he beheld from the deck of his fleeing
ship the first church of the New World
wrapped in flames! AS Mr.. Tucker says,
that devoted old church was seen In
its rainlent OF fire, like some old mar
tyr, hugging the flames which cansumed
it, and pointing, with its rapering stee-
pie, to an avenging Heaven"
Bacon turned from the e,nDcrs or
Jamestown to confront a force coming
from the Potomac, under Colonel Brent,
4 lieutenant of Berlieley's, but on meet
ing it in Gloucester the men deserted
their leader and fed to Eacon, as they
thought the coming, but really the de-
parting, man. The malarial mistss Of the
September nights i'll the trenches around
jamestown had poisoned him, and now,
though his spirit was unconqucred. his
body was burning with fever.
The Gloucester men had not yet taken
the oath of allegiance to his cause-tnat
oath under which the treacherous saw
ages had been swept from the fron..er
and the incompetent authorities from
Jamestown, and under which. ii neces-
sary, the kings own soldiers should be
hurled back from whence they came. SO
he now summoned them to attend h m
II the courthouse.
THE SOLDIERS LAST SPEECH.
This was the last speech OF the soldier.
We can see now the Startled look on the
faces OF the men of Gloucester as the
blistering eIoQuence Of his Ievered lips
fell on them; as he begged Them to dl-
vide with him the glory OF lighting
against oppression: as he pictured to
them Virginia preserved to happiness ana
to freedom by their efforts; as. he re-
minded them of their brave fellows bat
Ting on the frontier, in the swamps ana
trenches and needing their aid. This last
spark. thrown from his wasting frama.
fired their hearts and linked them to his
fortunes. Poor fortunes! So soon to be
their misfortunes.
AS the burning blood qutckened through
his veins his iron will hardened. and tie
planned an expedition to Accomac
against Berkeley. but death was to
thwart this last project Of mis- wasting
life.
Els followers removed him 10 the nome
of Major Pate. a friend, where he I'm
gered a few days, and died ,ona a ttne,t
October night.
His burial place is unknown. His de-
voted followers kept it secret. Some of
the old chronicles say that he was buried !
In the woods of Gloucester, where he died:5I
others say that his body was sunk In the
r,,,r,