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dians were defeated with considerable loss. Their main body was posted on an eminence, and defended by a palisaded fort, through which the English broke with a fury which the savages could not resist. By these attacks of the insurgent army the power of the Indians in this quarter was broken with but little loss to the colony.

The insurgents, not contented with the triumph so lately gained over their governor, determined to surprise him at Accomack. For this purpose a number of armed men, with one Giles Bland at their head, privately embarked in two or three small vessels and proceeeded towards that place. The intention of Bland had fortunately been conveyed to sir William Berkeley by a captain Larimore, whose vessel had been pressed into the service. In consequence of this information, twenty-six men under the guidance of Larimore embarked at midnight in some boats, and by a sudden and bold attack made themselves masters of the whole naval force of the enemy. This fortunate adventure gave to the affairs

of sir William Berkeley a brighter aspect, and put into his hands the naval empire of Virginia. He was able soon after to raise a force of about six hundred men, with which he marched to Jamestown and reinstated himself in the government. The insurgents were now on their return from the frontiers, when hearing of the counter-revolution at Jamestown they hastened their march and arrived before that place just as the sun was setting. They immediately proceeded to form a kind of intrenchment to defend them from the attacks of the loyalists, and having completed their works about midnight retired to rest. They were not allowed long repose. The governor with all his force, which wanted in discipline and valour what it was superior in numbers, marched out to attack the insurgents. He was beaten back with the loss of several of his men killed in the engagement. The loyalists embarked next night on board their vessels, taking with them whatever was most valuable; and dropping down the river, came to anchor out of reach of the batteries on the island. Finding that their

enemies had evacuated the town, Bacon and his followers entered in triumph, but were much disappointed on discovering that their parsimonious opponents had left them nothing to plunder. The enraged conquerors immediately set the houses on fire, and reduced the infant ✔ metropolis of Virginia to ashes.

Bacon found himself once more at the helm of affairs in the colony, and thinking himself placed above the power of the loyalists, he dismissed his followers, and retired to his former residence at Middle Plantation. Death soon after closed the career of this restless dema. gogue, and left his seditious partisans without a leader.*

*Note No. I. Appendix.

CHAPTER VII.

THE death of their leader had broken the strength of the insurgents, and the sad reverses of fortune had taught the loyalists not to rely on her smiles. Both parties appeared tired of the contest, and disposed to close hostilities by an amicable adjustment. Commissioners were accordingly appointed to meet at West Point, for the purpose of settling all differences betwixt them. Terms equally agreeable to both, consisting of a general indemnity on the part of the government and submission on that of the insurgents, were settled without difficulty.

Sir William Berkeley has been charged with violating the promise of general pardon, and accused of treating the rebels after his restoration with great severity. It is stated that a number of the insurgents suffered death under the sentence of martial law, and many were confined in gaols by the severity of legal process.

So great was the rigour of punishment that some were preparing to leave the colony, when the aspect of affairs was fortunately changed by the arrival of commissioners from England, with power to examine and redress the grievances of the colony. They brought with them a regiment of regulars, for the purpose of suppressing rebellion and restoring peace and order to the community. The disturbances had already ceased among the people, but the rigour of the governor against the insurgents still continued.

The conduct of sir William Berkeley at this time does not well accord with his general character, which had not hitherto been marked by either duplicity or cruelty. His resentment however was so great, that he refused to publish an act of general indemnity brought over by the commissioners. This general pardon included all who would submit to the government, with the exception of Bacon alone, who was now beyond the reach of human justice. Finding the governor inflexible, the commissioners proceeded to open their court for hear

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