Bacon's Rebellion

1676]          NARRATIVE OF THE COMMISSIONERS           129

in company with the ship Adam and Eve Capt. Gardner Com-
ander 16 or 17 Sloopes and about 600 men in armes goes up to
James Towne, which hee fortifies as well as he could and again
Proclames Bacon and his Party Rebells and Traytors, threat-
ening them with the utmost severityes of Law.

      Upon this Bacon calls his few men together which upon a
muster made a little after the last skirmish with the Indians
(with Baggatiers¹ and all) were but 136 tyr’d men, and told
them how the Governor intended to proceed against him and
them.

      But this rather animated and provoked new courage in
them than any wise daunted them, soe that among other
cheerfull expressions they cry’d out they would stand by him
their Generall to the last.

      He hearing such hearty expressions from tyred soldiers
who embraced his service and refused the Plunder hee now
offer’d them, was highly pleased and said to them:

     Gentlemen and Fellow Soldiers, How am I transported with
gladnesse to find you thus unanimous, Bold and daring, brave and
Gallant; you have the victory before you fight, the conquest before
battle. I know you can and dare fight, while they will lye in their
Place of Refuge and dare not soe much as appeare in the Field before
you: your hardynesse shall invite all the country along as wee
march to come in and second you.

      The Indians wee beare along with us shal be as soe many mo-
tives to cause Reliefe from every hand to be brought to you. The
Ignomy of their actions cannot but soe reflect upon their spirits, as
they will have noe courage left to fight you. I know you have the
Prayers and wellwishes of all the People in Virginia, while the other
are loaded with their curses.

     Bacon in most incens’d manner Threathens to be revenged
on the Governor and his party, swearing his soldiers to give
noe quarter and professing to scorne to take any themselves,
and soe in great fury marches on towards James Towne,² onely

    ¹“Baggage-carriers,” apparently.

     ² Bacon marched from New Kent County down the left bank of the Chicka-
hominy to Green Spring, where Berkeley’s house stood, and thence south to the
clearing formerly known as Argall’s Gift or Town, about a mile northwest of
Jamestown. The lower half of this clearing was called Paspahegh Old Fields,
and there Bacon made his last halt preparatory to attacking Jamestown.