The telescope. (Columbia, S.C.) 1815-1818, August 06, 1816, Image 1
n
[Vol? 1.] COLUMBIA, (8. C.) TUESDAY, AUGUST 0, 1816. [\,?. .-.y]
rVRLtMBO WW*IT
BY THOMAS W. LORRAIN.
.Tlrww ?/ Snbteription.?'Three Dollar* per annnm, pay*
nblc in advan<-c....No paper to f>o discontinued, but at
ilu* option ol'the Kdltor. until nil ?rrr*rmff?s arc paid.
Ailvenitement$ not exceeding fourteen line*, inserted
the (Irat time for aeventy-fivc cents, attd forty cent* for
each anbrfetpient innertlou. to the IViilor muti
be postpaid,or the poitoxe will bo charged to the writer.
HISTORICAL.
WACOM'S HBllKMdON IS VIIKUNIA
t-oxriNCKn.
Uur coimttee being sat, the Queen of Pamun
ky (descended from Oppechankenough a formor
hinperor of V irginia) wan introduced, who on
trod the cltainlhT with n comportment graceful I
to admiration, bringing on lier right nand an
ttnglishmau inntcrpretcr, and on tho left her sttfi
a stripling twenty years of age, she having
round her head a plat of black and whito want
puni |>eagun three inchos broad in imitation of a
crown, and was cloathed in a mantle of dress*t
deer skins with tho hair outwards and tho edgo
cut round 6 inches deep which made strings ro
trembling twisted frenge from the shoulders to
to tho feet; thus with grave courtlike gestures
and a m^jestir.k air in her face, she walk'd up
our long room to the lower end of tho table,
where after a few intrcaties alio sat down ) tli*
interpreter anil her son standing by tier on ei
ther siilo an they had walked up, our chairman
wked her what men she would lend usfor guides
in the wilderness and to assist us against our e
ncmy Indiana, she spake to th* interpreter to
inform her what the chairman said, (tho* wo be
lieved she understood him) he told us she bid
him ask her son to whom tho Knglish tongue was
fatiiiliur, and who was reputeil tho son of an
Knglish colonel, yet neither woud ho speak to
or seem to understand the chairman but tli* in
terpreter told us, ho referred all to his mother,
who being againe urged she after a little musing
with an earnest passionate countenance as if
tears were ready to gush out and a fervent sort
of expression mode a harangue about a quarter of
an hour, often interlacing (with a high shrill
vohse and vehement passion) these words " Th
tapatamoi Chepriack,?i. e. Tatapamoi dead, Coll.
Hill being next to me, shook his head, I ask'd
hint what ivas the matter, he told meal! 9hesaid
was too true to our shame, and that his father
was general! in that battle, where diverse years
before. Tataiutamoi her husband had led a hun
died of his Indians in help to th* English against
our former enemy Indians, and was there slaino
with most ot his men ; for which no compensa
tion (at all) had been to that day rendered to her
wherewith she now upbraided us.
Her discourse ending and our morose chair
man not advancing one cold word towards ass
waging tho anger and grief her speech and de
meanour mauilcsted under her Appressirtn, nor
taking any notice of all she had said, neither
considering that we (then) were in our great ex
igency, supplicants to her for a favour of the
snfeie Kimi a* the former, for which we did not
deny the having been so ingrate, he i udely pushed
agame the same question " what Indians will
you now contribute, ike. ? of this disregard site
signified her resentment by a disdainful! aspect,
and turning her head half aside, sate mute till
that cimc question being pressed a third time,
alio not returning her face to the board, answer
ed with a low slighting voice in her own language
six, but being further importun'd she sitting a
little while sullen, without littering a word be
tween said " twelve, tho* she then ?iad a hun
dred ond fifty Indian men, in her town, and so
rose up and gravely walked away, as not plea
sed with her treatment.
Whilst someduies passed in setting the quo
fa s of men arms and' ammunition provisi
ons otc. each county was to furnish, one morn'mir
early a bruit ran about the town Bacon is fled,
Hacon is fled, whereupon I wfrnt straight to Mr.
Lawrence, who (formerly) was of Oxford uni
versity, and for wit, learning and sobriety was
equalrd there by few, und who some yearsWore
(as Col. Lee tho* one of Che council and a friend
of lho govern*!-* infoi m'd me) had been partial
ly. treated at law, for a considerable estate, on
behalf of a corrupt favourite ; which Lawrence
complaining loudly of, tho govorn'r bore him a
crudgo ana now shaking his head, said, "old
treacherous villain, and that hi* house was
searcht that morning, at daybreak, but Bacon
was escaped into the country, having intimation
that ho governors generosity in panning him,
and his followers and restoring him to his seat in
council, were no other than previous wheedles
to amuse turn and his adherents and to circum
vent them by stratagem, forasmuch as the tak
ing Mr. Bacon again into the council wa* first to
keep htm out of tho assembly, and in tho next
pjtco the governor knew the countroy pontile
*ere hostninv down with dreadful! threatniiiffs
to double revenue all wrongs should be done to
Mr. Uacon or his men, or whoever shou*d have
had tho leant hand in 'em."
And so much was true, that thi.< Mr. young
Nathaniel Bacon (not yet arrived to JO years)
had a nigh relation namelv Cut. Nathaniel lla*
con of long standing in th'e council a very rich
fnliijck in a it, ond^ childless, designating this
trisman lot- his heir, who (not without much
paincs) had prevailed with his uneasy cousin to
deliver the fbrcmentioncd written recantation
at the bar, liaving compiled it ready to his hand
?nd by whose mcuues 'twas supposed that timely
Intimation was conveyed to tho ynuiijr irentle
uian to floe for his life, and nl#o in ;) or 7 daivs
after Mr. Bacon was first xci/.M I saw abun
dance of men in town como thither from the
heads of the rivers, who finding him restor*d and
i. ft J*eturn'd homo satisfied t a
few dales afteri which tho govern V seeing all qui
?t, gave Aut private warrauts to take mm again*.
intending as was thought to raise the militia,
and so to dispose things as to prevent his friends
from gathering any more into a like numerous
body and coming down a second timo to iave
him.
In three or flour dales afier this escape, upon
news that Mr. Bacon was 30 miles up the river,
nt the head of four hundred men, the govern'r
scnt to the parts adjacent, on both Hides James
river for the militia and all the tnen could be got
ten to come and defend the town, express's came
almost hourly of th' army's approaches, who in
I less than 4 daies after the fir at account of 'em
2 of the clock entered the town, without being
withstood, and form'd a body upon a green, not
a flight shot from the end of the state house of
horso and (Toot, as well regular as veteran troops,
who forthwith possest themselves of all the aven*
uc?, disarming all in town, and coming thither
in boats or by land.
In half an hour after this tho drum beat for the
house to mcot, and in less than an hour more
Mr. Bacon came with a file of ffusileors on either
hand near the corncr of the state house whore
the govern'r and councill went forth to him ; we
saw from tho window tlio govern'r open his
breast, and Bacon strutting betwixt his two files
4f men with his left arm on Kenbrow flinging
his right arm every way both like men distract*
ed ; and if in this moment of fury that enraged
multitude had fain upon the govern'r and coun
cil all of the asembly oxpccteii the same iincdi
ato fato j I stopt down and amongst the crowd
of spectators found the soamen of my sloop, who
pray'd me not to stir from them, when in two
minutes, the gover/i'r walk'd towards his nri
vate apartm't. a coits cast distant at th' other
end of tho state house, tho gentlemen of the
council following him and after them walked Mr.
Bacon with outrageous postures of his head
arms body and leggs, often tossing his hand from
his sword to his hat and after him came a do
tachment of ffiisileers ^muskett* not bejng there
in use} who with their cocks bent presented
thoir flusils at a window of tho assembly cham
ber filled with faces, repeating with menacing
voices '* we will have it, we will have it, half a
minute when as one of our house a person known
to many of them, nhook his handkercher out at
the window, saving you shall havo it, you shall
have it, .1 or 4 times ; at these .words they sate
down their fusils unbent their locks and stood
still until Bacon coming back, they followed
him to their main body ; in this hubub a servant
of mine got so nijrh as to hear the govern'rs
words, and also followed Mr. Bacon, and heard
what he said, who came and told me, that when
the govern'r opened his breast he said " here !
shoot me, foregod fair mark shoot, often rehear
sing the same, without any other words; where
to Mr. Bacon answer'd " no may it please yo'r
hon'r we will not hurt a hair of yo'r head, nor of
any other mans, we are come tor a commission
to save our lives from th' Indians, which you
so often promised, and now we will have it be
fore we go.
But when Mr. Bacon followed the govern'r
and council with the forementioned impetuous
ijiko delirious) actions whil'st that party pre
sented their (fusils at tho window full of'faccs,
he said " Dam my hloud lTle kill govern'r coun
cill assembly and all, and then 'fle sheath my
sword in my own heart's bloud; and afterwards
'twas said Bacon had given a signall to his men
who presented their lusils at those gasing out at
the window, that if ho had should draw his sword,
they were on sight of it to fire, and slay us, so
near war the masacre of us all that very minute,
had Bacon in that paroxism of phrantick fury
but drawn his sword before the pacitick hanker
cher was shaken out at window.
In an hour or more alter theso violent concus
sions Mr. Bacon came up to our chamber and
desired a ciimission from us to go against tho
Indians ; our speaker sat silent, when one Mr.
Blayton a neighbor to Mr. Bacon and clcctcd
with him a member of assembly fur tho same
county (who thereforo durst speak to him) mndc
answer, M 'twas not in our province, or power,
nor of any other, save the king's vicegerent our
governor, ho prcss'd hard nigh half an hours ha
rangue on th? preserving our lives from tho In
dians, inspecting the punlick revenues, tli' ex
orbitant taxes and redressing the grievances and
calamities of that deplorable country, whereto
having no other answer, lie went away dissatis
fied.
Next day there was a rumour the goveiVi
and council! had agreed Mr. Bacon sliou'd have
a coinission to go general! of the (forces, we then
were raiting, whereupon I being a member for
Stafford, the. most northern frontier, and where
the war begun, considering that Mr. Bacon
dwelling in the most southern (frontier county,
migh( the lens regard the parts I represented, I
went to Coll. Colo (an active member of the
council!) desiring his advice, if applicacons to
Mr. Bacon on thu? subject were then seasonable
and safe, whim he approving and earnestly ad
tiding* I went to Mr. Lawrence who was es
fccin'd Mr.Bacons principal! consultant,to whom
lie took me with liim, and there left me where 1
was fptertained tior 3 hours with the particular
relacotis of diverse before recited transactions ;
rind as to the matter I spake of, he totd me, that
th' govern'r had indeed promised him the co
ntain! of the forces, and if his hon'r shou'd keep
liis word (which he doubted) he assured me " tho
like care should be tukeu of the remotest corners
in the laud, as of his own dwelling-house, and
pray'd me to advise him what persons in those
parts were most fit to bear com and s I frankly
gave him my opinion that tho most satisfactory
gentlemen to govern'r and people, would lie co
ntenders of tho militia, wherewith ho was well
pleesed, and himself wrote a list of those nomi
nated.
That evening I mode known xvhat had past
with Mr. Bacon to my colleague Coll. Mason
(whose bottle attendnuce doubled my tank) the
matter he liked well, but questioned the go*
vcrn're approbacon of it.
I confess'd the case required sedate thoughts,
reasoning, that he and such like gentlemen must
either comand or be comanded, and if on their
denials Mr. Bacon should take distaste, and be
constrained to appoint coinanders out of thu rab
ble, the governor himself with the persons and
estates of all in the land woud be at their dis
nose, whereby their own ruino might bo owing
to themselves ; in this he agreed and said 44 If
the governV would give his own comission he
woud be content to aerve under generall Bacon
(as now he began to be intituled) but first woud
consult other gentlemen in the same circumstun
ces t who all concurr'd 'twas the most safe bar
rier in view against pernicious designcs, if such
shoud be put, in practice ) with this I acquaint"
ed Mr. Lawrence who went (rejoicing) to Mr.
Bacon with tho gOod tidings, that tho militia
comandera were inclined to serve undor him, as
their generall, in case the govern'r woud please
to ffive them his own comissions.
Wee of the house proceeded to finish the bill
for tho war, which by the assent of tho governV
and council-being past into an act tho governV
I sent us a letter directed to his majesty, wherein
| were these words 44 1 have above 30 years go*
verned the most flourishing country <hu sun ever
shone on, but am now encompassed with rebellion
like waters in every respect like to that of Mas
sanello except their leader, and of like import
was the substance of that letter, but we did not
believe his hono'r sent us all he wrote to his ma
jesty.
Home judicious gentlemen of our house like
wise penn'd a letter or remonstrance to be sent
his maj'tie setting forth the gradations of those
crupcons, and two or three of them with Mr.
Mingo our clerk brought it mo to compile a few
lines for the conclusion of it, which I did, (tho'
not without regret in the watchfull times, when
every man had eves on him, but what I wrote
was with all possible deference to the govcrn'r
and in the most soft terms my (ten cou'd And the
case to admit.
Col. Spcnr.er being my neighbour and intimate
friend, and a prevalent member in the councill
I pray'd him to intreat the governV we might
be diaaolved, for that was my first and uhoud be
my last going astray from my wonted sphere of
merchandize and other my private concernments
into the dark and slippery meanders o'f court
embarrassments, he told me the governor had
not (then) determined his intention, but he
wou'd move his honoV about itt. and in 2 or 3
dayea we were dissolved, which I was most
heartiW glad of, because of my getting louse a
gaine from being hampered amongst those per
nicious entanglem'ts in the labyrinths and
snares of state ambiguities, and which until then
I had not seen the practice nor tho dangers of,
for it wasobservM that several! of the members
had secret badges of distinction fixt upon 'em, as
not docill enough to gallop the future races, that
court seeni'd dispos'd to lead 'em, whose max
irncs 1 had oft times heard whiaper'd before, and
then found confirnt'd by diverse considerate
gcntlem'n viit. " that the wise and rich were
prone to ffaction and sedition but the l'ooli and
poor were easy to he governed.
Many members being mot one evening nigh
sunse.tt, to take our leaves cach of other, in or
der next day to return homeward*, came Genii.
Macon with his hand full of unfolded papers and
overlooking us round, walking in tlx; room said
" which of these gcntlem'n shall I intreut to
write a few words for me. where every one look
ing aside as not willing to meddle ; Mr. Law
rence pointed at me saying "that gentleman
writes very well which I endeavoring to excuse,
Mr. Bacon came stooping to the ground and said
" pray Sir do me tho lion'r to write a line for
me.'*
Thit surprizing accostm't shockt me into a
melancholy consternation, dreading upon one
hand, that Stafford county wood feel the smart
of hi* resentment, if I should refuse him whose
favour I had so lately sought and been generous
ly promised on their behalf; and on tli' other
hand fearing the governY? displeasure who I
know woud soon hear of it j what seom'd most
| prudent at this hazardous dilemma, was to ob
viate the present impending peril s so Mr. llaron
Lmade mc sit the whole ni^fit by him filling up
those papers, which 1 then saw wero blank co
missions sign'd by the govornV inccrting such
names and writing other matters as he dictated >
which I took to ho tho happy ed'ecU of the con
sult before meiittoned, with the comanders of
the militia because he gave me the names of ve
i v few others to put into these comissioiis, and
in the morning he left mc with an hours worke
or more to fiti'sh, when nime to me (Japt. Car
ver, and said had baen to wait on thd' fJeno
rail for n commission, and that he was resolved
to adventure his old bones against Indian rogues
with othtr the. like discourse, and at length told
me that I was in mighty favour??amino was
hid to tell me, that whatever I de.dred in the ge
neral's power, was nt my service, I pray'd him
humbly to thank hi* hon'r and to acquaint him I
had no other boon to crave, than Ids proinis'd
kindnesvic to Stafford county, for beside tho not
being worthy. 1 never hnd'bcen conversant in
military matters, and also having lived tender
ly, mv service rou'd be of no benefit because the
hardship* and fatigues of a wilderness campaigue
would put a speedy period to my duios, little ex
pecting to hear of more intestine broiles, 1 went
nonie to 1'atomack, where report* wore after
wards \arious ; we had account that Gcncrall
Macon was march'd with a thousand men into
the fforest to seek the enemy Indians, and in
a few daiei after our next now# was, tlmt the go
vern'r Imd sumoned together the uiilitia of Glo*
cester and Middlesex counties *o the number of
twelve hundred men, and proposed to them to
follow and suppress that rebell Bacon \ where
upon arose a murmorinjz he lore hit fuce " Bacon,
Bacon, Bacon," and ail walked out of tho field,
muttering a? they wont44 Bacon Bacon Bacon,"
leaving the governor and those that came with
him to themselves, who being thus abandoned
wofted over Chesepiacke bay .10 miles to Occo
mack where aro two counties of Virginia.
Mr. Bacon hearing of thit came back part Of
tho wuv, and sent out parties uf horse patrolling
through every county, carrying away prisoner*
all whom he distrusted might any more molest
his Indian uroHccucon yet giving liberty to such
as pledp'd him their oaths to return home and
live quiet; the conies or contcuts of which oath*
I never saw, but heard were very strict, tho*
little observed.
About this tinm was a spie detected pretend
ing hiinBcIt' a deserter w ho had twice or tluice
come and gone from party to party and wan br
council! of warr sentenced to death, after which
Bacon declared openlv to him ?? that if any one
man in the army wouM speak a word to save
him, he shou'd not sulfur, which no man ap
pearing to do, ho wn?executed, upon this inn
nifostation of clemeucy Bacon was applauded
for a mcrcifull man, not willing to npill Cnris
tian bloud, nor indeed was it said, that he put
any other man to death in cold bloud, or plunder
any house \ nigh the same time catnc
Langston with his troop of horse and quartered
| two nights at my house who (after high compli
montsTrom the generul!) told me I was desired
44 to accept the lieutenancy for preserving the
peace in Ute s. northern countics uetwixt Poto
mock and Rappahannock rivers, I humbly thank'd
his hon'r excusing myself; as Iliad done before
ou that invitation of the like nature at James*
town, but did hear he was mightily offended at
my evasions and threatened to remember me.
The govcrn'r made a 2d attempt coining over
from Accomack with what men he could procure
in sloops and boats, forty miles up the river to
Jamestown, which Bacon hearing of, came a*
gaino down from his (forest pursuit, and finding
a bank not a flight shot long, cast up thwart the
neck of the peninsula there in Jamestown, he
stormed it, and took the town, in which attack
were IS men slaine and wounded but the go
vernor with most of his followers fled back,dowQ
the river in their vessells.
Here resting a few daies they concerted the
burning of the town, wherein Mr. Lawrence
and Mr. Drumond owning the two best houses
save one, set fire each to nis own house, which
example the souldiera following laid the whole
town (with church and state-house) in a3hca#
saying, the rogueB should harbour no more there.
On these reiterated molestacons Bacon calls a
convention at Midle plantation 15 miles from
Jamestown in the month of August 1796, where
an oath with one or more proclamations were
formed, and writts by him issued fur an assem
bly ) the oaths or writts I never saw, but ono
proclamation comandcd all men in the land on
pain of death to joino him, and retire into the
wildernesso upon arrival! of the forces expected
from England, and oppose them untU! they
should propose or accept to treat of an ?cco<n?
modatiou, which we who lived comfortably could,
not have undergone, so as the whole land must
have become an Aceldama if God's exceeding
mercy had not timely removed him.
During these tumults in Virginia a 2d danget
menaceu Maryland by an insurrection in that
province, complaining of their heavy taxes
; where 2 or J of the leading malecons (men other*
wiso of laudable characters) were put to death,
which stifled the farther spreading of that flame*
|Mr. Macon (at this time) prcss't the best ship in
| James river carrying 20 suns aud putting into
her his lieutenant general! Mr. Bland (n gentle
I man newly come thither from England to pos
sessc the estate of his deceased uncle late of the
I council!) and under him the foremention C'apt.
Carver formerly a comauder of inerch'ts ships
with men aud all necessaries, he sent her to ride
before Accomack to curb ana intercept all smal
ler vessel Is of war cominisaion'd by tnegovern'r
coming often ovor and making depredutinns on
the western shear, as if we had been (foreign t*
nemiex, which gives occasion in this plucc to dl
grcs.se a lew wo/'riu.
Ait first assembly after the peace came a met
?tago to them from the govcrn'r for some marke
of distinction to be sett on his loyal friends of
Accomack, who received him in his adversity
which when came to be considered Col. Warner
(then speaker) told the house 14 ye know that
what mark of distinction hishon'r corn! have sett
on those of Accomack uulesse to give them ear
mar ks oi burnt mirks fur robbing and ravaging
honest people, who stay'd at home and preserv'u
the estates ofthose who ran away when none in
tended to hurt 'cm.
Nor returning to Capt. Carver the govcrn'r
sent for him to come oil shoar, promising his
peaceable return, who ntiswer'u, he could not
trust his w?jrd hut if ho woud send his hand and
seal, ho wou'd adventure to wait upon his Itou'r
which was done,aud Carver went in his sloop
well armed and inan'd with the most trusty jjf
his men where ho was caress'd with wine &c.
aud largo promises, if he would forsake Bacon,
resign* his ship or joiue with him ) to all which
he answer'd that 4* if he served the Devil) he
woud bo true to his trust, hut tliut he was resoU
veil to go home and live quief.
In the time of this rccepcou and parley, an
armed boat was prepared with many oars in a
creek not far off, but out of sight, which when
Carver sail'd, row'd out of the crtek, and it be
ing almost calm the boat outwent the ntoop
whilst all on board the ship we.v upon thodeck,
'tiling at hot1), thinking the bi-iti company