Governor Berkeley, who had ruled Virginia
for more than three decades, recalled the de-
structive Pamunkey Indian Wars under
Opechancanough in 1644 and sought peaceful
accord with his neighbors. But in July 1675,
following a raid by Doegs upon a settler’s
house, the militia mistakenly slaughtered a
group of innocent Susquehannocks in retalia-
tion. This, in turn, induced the enraged
tribesman to strike back at numerous planta-
tions along the frontier. By March 1676 Bacon
had emerged as a vocal opponent of what he
and other frontiersmen considered appease-
ment by Berkeley. He demanded a commis-
sion authorizing him to undertake official
punitive measures against “the Indian enemy.”
Berkeley and the colonial assembly refused,
fearing that such a move might trigger a mas-
sive uprising like King Philip’s War then un-
folding in New England. However, they did
agree to construct nine forts at strategic loca-
tions along the frontier to curb future vio-
lence. When this scheme failed to halt raids,
Bacon, a lawyer by training with excellent or-
atory skills, was made commander of the ad
hoc frontier rebels by popular acclamation.
If the governor would not comply with
frontier demands, Bacon determined to con-
duct a private war without authorization. The
English militia apparently made no attempt to
distinguish between friendly and hostile
tribesmen, tragically, and they marched di-
rectly upon Occaneechi territory in south-
western Virginia. The Occaneechi tribe, previ-
ously friendly, was more than happy to assist
in the destruction of the neighboring Susque-
hannocks, something they accomplished with
relish. However, when a dispute over the divi-
sion of war booty arose, Bacon’s men at-
tacked their erstwhile allies, killing upward of
50 warriors. Bacon returned to Jamestown in
triumph and demanded that Berkeley grant
him a commission. Instead, the aged governor
had Bacon declared an outlaw and arrested.
Once brought before Berkeley, Bacon rather
shamelessly got on his knees and apologized,
swearing loyalty to the administration. The
governor, wishing to restore order, pardoned
him for these near-treasonable offensives, and
he departed. It was hoped the affair would
end there.
No sooner had Bacon returned home, how-
ever, than he gathered up 500 followers and
marched en masse upon Jamestown. At
swordpoint, the rebels demanded that Bacon
be granted a commission with full military
discretion to call out the militia for war. “God
damme my blood,” he thundered. “I came for
a commission, and a commission I will have
before I goe.” The governor and the assembly,
clearly intimidated by this show of force,
granted Bacon’s request, and off he went back
to the frontier. Another fruitless campaign
was then conducted against friendly Indians,
in this instance the Pamunkeys, who had been
nominal and cooperative allies since the close
of the 1644 uprising. But in Bacon’s absence,
Governor Berkeley again declared him a rebel
and began raising a force of his own. Virginia
was now threatened by the twin specters of
civil strife and an all-out Indian war.
Bacon’s men plunged headlong into the
Dragon Swamp, where they chased and cor-
nered the Pamunkey Indians, killing upward
of 50. When Bacon learned of Berkeley’s ac-
tivities back at Jamestown, he regrouped his
forces and marched back, intent on a military
showdown. Berkeley, meanwhile, having
called out the militia and discovering that it
was mostly sympathetic to Bacon, perceived
his position as precarious and fled by boat to
the Eastern Shore. He returned soon after,
only to be besieged by Bacon’s forces. As a
measure of protecting his battery against the
governor’s forces, Bacon ordered the wives of
several prominent Loyalists to be placed on
the ramparts as a shield against their fire.
Some half-hearted fighting then ensued, and
Berkeley fled a second time. The rebels then
occupied Jamestown amid mock triumph in
September 1676.
Once in control, Bacon made several ap-
peals to the people of Virginia for their contin-
uing support against what he characterized as
a corrupt governor and his circle of rich
friends. Apparently, many colonists beganBACON, NATHANIEL