Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-08-21
by W. Il. CridlIn.
secretary, Virginia Historical PaE-


cant Association.
l6-2-The death OF powhatnn in
1918 had left az successor 20 his
throne. after short iu,crrcgnuu. the
ii"a"hcrouS aud yindict!v. Op.chan-
can"u.h. deadly secret enemy of
tht rol"nists. Protesting love and
affection for them. for four years n.
rI"ti"d their destruction. while with
crafty ANA unrclenting dcliherution
ne sought aud secured the promise O.
cooperation from the sub-chicfs
and tribes who either acknowledged
his "v"r-lordship or came within Tn.
sphere OF his influence.
The marriage OF Rolfe and poca-
h"n'"s. while staying the hand Of
fowhatan. and causing him faithfully
10 observe the treaty OF peace the n
entered into. had not produced III"
"'S!'hH eject nor good will and
understanding among the two races
hS hhd at first seemed fully consuu-
mated. The Indians were deeplv Of
tended that the English refused to
l"!!"w the example OF Rolfe and
failed I" continue intcrmarriagc
WIN the women OF their tribes Not
only ala the settlers decline these adj
sance*, Du, sent to England for
their wives
Feeling Of Offended Pride.
Unfortunately. the coIonists. not
Yet understanding the true traits OF
lhh'an character. We're unaware OF
having thus instIlicd into the hearts
OF their savage neighbors, a feeling
OF offended pride and modification.
Little did they then realize that an
Indian never forgets nor forgivcs an
atfront Yet. they had. not been ne
elected by the colonists. for attempts
at conversion had been made trade
had been established and many we're
employed by individual planters to
assist In the various vocations of the
time.
Encouraged in the cultivation OF
friendly intercourse they were vel =
coined guests AT the planters tables
and admitted into their homes and
hahitations. Though accepting the
tender Of hospitality, encouraged BY
their willy chicftain. the spirit OF
hate was ever cultivated and revenge
round !odEmcnt in the secret re-
c"sscs OF their savage breasts 1t
was during this unguarded inter
course with tho whites that the In
dians formulated their plan for a
general massacrc-the indiscrirninate
slaughter al. every man. woman and
child in the colony.
. tpechancanough. distinguished for
irarlcssness ana rancorous hate, re-
ncwcd the treaty that his more hui
name brother. powhatan, had en-
tered into and faithfully guarded,
and. thus availing himself OF the
feeling OF security this act produced
among the whites, he prepared his fol-
lowers for the final act in the great
tragedy. projected with such con-
su'nmatc SKIN.
Each tribe. except those on the
Eastern shore. who were without the
sphere OF his influence. he carefully
prepared for the day OF massacre
with that single Kindness OF pur-
pose characteristic OF Indian revenge
borrow Bnnts TO Carry Ont Plot.
y writer OF that period asserts
t'at. IN notwithstanding tho long inter-
val that elapsed between the form
ation and execution of their present
enterprise, and the perpetual inter-
course that subsistcd between them
and the white people. the most i'm
pcnctrahlc secrecy was preserved
and so consnmmatc and fearless was
their dissim mutation. that they were
accustomed to borrow boats from
the English To cross the river in or
der TO concert and communicate the
progress Of their designs"
The death of Ncmattanow. one OF
their celebrated sub-chicfs. seems to
have furnished Opcchancanough the
final argument TO sharpen the fero-
city of the waiting Indians and give
them sense of ample provocation
The Indian. Ncmattanow, by
courage. craft and good fortune,
had Obtained great rcputc among his
countrymcn. In skirmishcs and en-
SagcmcntS with other Indian tribes
and in former hostile clashes with
the English, he had exposed his per-
son with bravery that so surprised
ms savage companions and so in
stillcd them with awe and astonish-
mcnt that to them his body was ap-
pnrcnily invulnerablc: therefore, his
person had been invested with the
character OF sanctity.
ERboldencd by his continued sue
ccssful achievements. Nemattanow
trcachously murdered q planter
named Morgan. hut fell. in turn, vic
tim to rcvcnEcful fury of the farm
cr's sons. Upon finding the pangs
of death fast approaching he entrcated
his captives TO conceal his fate and
grave, that the secret OF his mortality
ihiSht never DC revealed. The young
men accedcd to the request, but the
secret was discovered, and amidst the
lamentations Of his tribcsmen. One
chancanough issued his secret call 70
arms.
Instructed Them in Firearms.
The coionists. unsuspicious of tn (,
trcachery of their friends (O. not
only continued instructing them In
the handling Of firearms, but fur
nished them with rifles. powder and
ball to assist them in hunting and in
defense against their enemies God
pity the innocence OF these confid-
Ing Englishmen.
Differing from the colonists in
New England and New Amsterdam
who mostly seated themselves in
towns and fortified stockadcs, the
liberty loving Virginians had dis
burscd themselves along the rivers
and lowlands of the Tidewater sec
ton. each intent to found Il home In
which he and family could enjoy the
blessings OF peace. undisturbcd by an
over abundance OF neighbors. The
land was fertile. the climate ideal.
the arrangement happy readjust-
,ment OF conditions left behind them
In the mother country, now far re-
hn