^;OfCAlIFO% "^(?AavaaiH o 5= if II mor f r. M %. : -i(ij;iV \\U ik\i- "C/AilFiiaU it^' "J-i. ^^ 7 w 'if .^WEUNIVERS-/A 2 Or ;j>clOSANGElfj^, ^n\^m-m'^ o 3^ i^ ? ^OFCAIIFO/?^ .\WEUNIVfl?,r;rx >- I -n ■<, ^^ T> OQ — .vNlOS-^NCPlfr, C: "^^mmw^ % ,vvlOSANGflfj> >Md 1 30 -< § 1 ^ i? ^lUBRARYQr c: imAtjrnr,- > ..AlNrt-3V^ 73 ^OFCAllfO% o ^^OFCALIFOff.' ...^ ^aT-Pn-DY^^^ ^\WEUNIVER% ^ u. . inC.Ailr ilr. ^ '^-. _ jp^ O r iZPVI ^ ,JA!Nni\\- CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH MAKING TOYS FOR POCAHONTAS. STORIES OF THE OLD DOMINION FROM THE SETTLEMENT TO THE END OF THE REVOLUTION BY JOHN ESTEN COOKE ACXnOR OK " I-EATHER STOCKING AND SILK PIIOFKSSOR PRESSENSEE C/^T----, NEW YOIJK 11 A n p F, R .t i; i: o T II K K s, r u in, i s ii e R s V M A N K I, I N S g i; A K K 1 s 7 5) By JOHN ESTEN COOKE. Stories of tLe Old Dominion 12mo, Cloth, $1 50 Henry St. John, Gentleman 12mo, Cloth, 1 50' Leather Stocking and Silk 12mo, Cloth, 1 50 Mr. Grantley's Idea 3 2 mo. Paper, 25 Professor Pressensee 32rao, Paper, 25 Published by HARPER & BROTHERS, New York. Any of the above works sent by mail, postage prepaid, to any part of the United States, on receipt of the price. Copyright, 1879, by Harper & Brothers. TO MY BOYS EDMUND PENDLETON COOKE AND ROBERT POWEL PAGE COOKE These Stones from the History of Virginia are Pciiicatci) The Briars, Virginia, 1879. 9626'^4. A FEW WORDS TO MY 0^yN AND OTHER BOYS. In these stories I mean to tell you some interesting incidents in the history of Virginia, which, in former times, was called the " Old Dominion," Many of these I look upon as more striking than fic- tion — that is, than stories which are not true, and only written to amuse people. You cannot find them easily in the long histories of Virginia ; and when you do find them, little is said about many of them, and that little is buried in words. I do not mean to speak ill of the histories, but I nmst say they are not very interesting to me. As much time is taken to tell us what is dull and commonplace, as to relate the striking events which everybody should know about. This is wrong, I think. There is wheat and there is cliaff, and if you mix them both together the wheat is of no value. It is better to clean up the wheat and skim the cream from the milk of history — that is, dwell on the interesting scenes, and say little of the unimportant ones. This I mean to try and do in my book. I shall aim to tell you the most striking events in the annals of the "Old Dominion," and leave the rest to take care of themselves. There arc plenty such incidents. Vir- 8 TO MY OWN AND OTHER BOYS. ginia history is full of remarkable scenes, and she has produced some of the greatest men M'ho have lived in America. By telling you of these I hope to interest you, and, what is better still, to inform and improve you. I call my stories a book, but I wish you to feel as if I were talking to you like an old gentleman in his arm- chair, with his young ones gathered around him. Easy talk of this sort is often better than long words ; but you must not think that I talk carelessly, without mind- ing what I say. I wish all to listen to me — even the "grown-up children," as men and women are sometimes called; and with these I must be careful. They will know if I am telling the precise truth, and I can only say I have made every effort to do so. I have written a number of books in my life, and this has been one of the hardest of them — for nothing is more difficult than to be simple. This is all I have to say before beginning my stories, which are meant for my own boys, and for any others who will read them. I even hope, as I have said, that o-rown-up persons will like them, and here and there meet with something which will be new to them. CONTENTS. About my Storiks Page 7 I. THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH. I. How he made himself a Soldier 17 II. His Fight with Three Turks 20 III. Is taken Prisoner, and Kscai)es 26 IV. Sails for Virginia 29 V. The Settlers at Jamestown S2 VI. lie Visits Powhatan VII. Pocaliontas 40 Vlil. He Exi)lores the Ciiesapeake 47 IX. His Last Meeting with Pocahontas 50 X. His Death r.* II. WHY VIRGINIA WAS CALLED THE ''OLD DOMINION:' I. Richard Lee's Visit to Breda ;'>6 11. The Sunender to Parliament GO III. THE GREAT REBELLION IX VTRGINIA. I. Sir William Rcrkeley and Bacon <]r> IF. Tiie Scene in front of the State-house 71 III. Tlic Fight at Bloody Kmi 73 IV. The Battle at Jamestown "i^t V. The Death and Burial of Bacon 77 V!. The Clovernor's Cruelty 71) TV. THE K NIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE. I. Alexander Spotswood ■'^2 II. The March of the Knights H-'> III. Over the Mountains ^'^ IV. The Horseshoe "-'2 CONTENTS. V. GEORGE WASHINGTON, THE TOUNG SURVEYOR. I. George and Lord Fairfax Page 94 IF. The Ride beyond tlie Blue Kidge 101 III. Back to Greenway Court 107 VI. WASHINGTON IN THE WILDERNESS. I. He Visits the Chevalier de St. Pierre 110 II. Tlie Indian Guide 114 III. On the Raft in the Ice 117 IV. The Surrender at Great Meadow 119 VII. BRADDOCK AND HIS SASH. I. At Cumberland 123 H. The March 126 III. The Battle 130 IV. The Retreat 135 VIII. POINT PLEASANT, AND THE DEATH OF CORNSTALK. I. Andrew Lewis and his Men 140 II. The Battle with the Indians 14.5 III. Cornstalk 149 IV. Cornstalk and his Son 153 IX. PATRICK HENRY, THE "■MAN OF THE PEOPLE.'' 1. His Early Years 158 II. His First Speech 162 III. In the Burgesses 167 IV. In the Convention 173 X. THOMAS JEFFERSON, THE "PEN OF THE REVOLUTION.'' I. His Youth and Marriage 180 IL The Declaration 184 HI. His Old Age, and Death 187 XI. A PALL AT THE CAPITOL. J. In the Capitol 193 II. Henry, Pendleton, and Jefferson 197 CONTENTS. XI III. Mason, Lee, and otliers Page 109 IV. 'I'he Council-chamher 202 V. The Ball 203 XII. LORD DUXMOIiE AND THE GUNPOWDER. I. Robbing the Magazine 205 II. Tiie Battle uf Great Bridge 211 III. Lord Dunmores Flight 214 XIII. ELIZABETH ZANE: THE STORY OP A BRAVE GIRL. I. The Border People 219 II. The Fort at Wheeling 223 in. The Attack of Girty 227 IV. The Keg of Gunpowder 230 V. M'Ciilloch's Leap 231 XIV. TIIE FATE OF COLONEL ROGERS. I. How I found out this Story 230 II. Down La Uelle Kivieie 238 III. The Surprise 242 XV. THE CAPTURE OF VINCENNES. I. George Rogers Clarke 245 IF. Kaskaskia 247 III. The Drowned Lands of the Wabash 251 1\'. Vincennes 253 XVI. JOHN MARSHALL, THE CHIEF-JUSTICE. I. Lieutenant of " Minute-men " 257 II. The Old (ientlernan and the Turkey 2(10 III. Marshall and the Sceptics 203 XVII. JOHN R.iNDOLril OF ROANOKE. I. The Boy and his Mother 207 II. l{:ind()lph and Patrick Henry .• 271 in. How he looked in Old Age.' 273 I\'. Ills Character 275 XU CONTENTS. XVIII. ROSEWELL, AND SELI3I THE ALOERINE. I. Governor Page and his House Page 278 II. The Wild Man's Story 280 III. His Portrait 283 XIX. MORGAN, THE ''THUNDER-BOLT OF THE REVOLUTIONS I. His House and his Battle 289 II. The Old Soldier 294 XX. CORNWALLIS, AND ''THE ROT'' LAFAYETTE. I. Arnold the Traitor in Virginia 298 II. Phillips, and his Death 307 III. Tarleton 310 IV. Cornwallis and Wayne 315 XXI. THE SURRENDER AT YORKTOWN. I. In the Tr.ip 319 II. The Sea-fight 323 III. The Attack 327 IV. The Attempt to Escape 329 V. The Surrender, and Washington's Farewell to his Generals ... 331 A Last Word to the Boys 3.35 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Captain John Smith makisg Toys for Pocahoxtas Froutkpiece Captain John Smith 18 Holland in the Oldhn Time 20 Ship in a Storm 21 Flight of the Saracens 23 Form of Raleigh's Ships 31 Chesapeake Bay 32 Jamestown 34 Indians 37 Poisoned Arrows 38 Pocahontas Interceding for John Smith 44 Pocahontas 4G Marriage of Pocahontas C2 LoG-CAItlN 57 The King at Boscobel 02 Jamestown Island 67 Bacon Addressing the Council GO Indians Fighting 74 Bloody Kln 75 Blackdkard, the Pirate 84 A River View 88 Young Washington's Mimtaky Aspirations 9(5 Residence of the Washington Family 08 Greenway Court 1 02 Indian with S<;alp 1 no f)HI0 RiVKK 112 Washington on his IIomewaud Journey 118 Benjamin Franklin 1 24 <»N the MAHfH 127 1 4 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Military Encampment 129 Braddock's Defeat, 1755 138 Indian Council 141 In tue Mountains 143 An Indian Attack 149 Portrait of Patrick Henry 159 Patrick Henry's Statue 161 Hanover Court-house 167 Stamp Act Riots 170 St. John's Church 174 " Give me Liberty, or Give me Death " 177 Thomas Jefferson 180 Raleigh Tavern 182 monticello 183 The Apollo Room 186 University of Virginia 190 Thomas Jefferson's Statue 191 The Old Capitol 193 Remains of Guard-house 194 Richard Henry Lee 200 Peyton Randolph 201 Independence Hall, Philadelphia 206 Minute-man 208 The Old Magazine 209 Culpeper Flag 210 View of Great Bridge 213 Gwyn's Island 215 Spanish Fort 239 American Flag 240 George Rogers Clarke 246 John Marshall 257 Old Tavern 264 John Randolph 267 Daniel Morgan 289 Flag of Morgan's Rifle Corps 291 Montgomery's Monument 292 Gates's Head-quarters at Saratoga 295 Benedict Arnold 299 John Andre 301 ILLUSTRATIONS. 15 PAGE Captcre of Andre ... 304 Andre's Moscment 306 Lafayette 308 bolusgbrook 309 corswallis 311 General Anthony Wayne 314 Le Comte De Grasse 319 Washington as Commander-in-chief 322 View at Yorktown 325 CoRNWAXLis's Cave 327 Nelson House 328 Surrender of Cornwallls at Yorktown 331 Moore House 332 Mount Vernon 333 STORIES OF THE OLD DOMINION. THE ADVEXTURES OF CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH. I. YiRGixiA was founded by Captain Joliii Sinitli, and I oiiglit to begin my stories witli an account of his won- derful adventures. At that time nearly all tlic Western world was called Virginia. This name was given to it in honor of Queen ElizabetlijWho was never married, and therefore was called the "Virgin Queen." The country was known to be rich, and adventurous Englishmen attempted to settle it; but for a long time these attempts all failed. The Indians drove away the settlers, but the i)lan was not abandoned; and at last, in I)ecemV)er, IGOG, three small vessels sailed from England to establish a colony in Virginia. Among the men in the ships was a young soldier of remarkable character. lie was not quite twenty-eight, but he had scon many countries, and fought in nearly ev- ery part of Europe. His liCc from boyhood liad been a series of romantic adventures, and he was destined soon, as I will show you, to meet with more adventures still in Virginia, ^'ou must have heard of this celebrated man — Captain J(»hn Smith. He was the founder of the United States, wf may say, as Janjcstown was the first English 18 STORIES OF THE OLD DOMINION. settlement in the New World, and everything about him is interesting. In addition to this, he was so brave and devoted to his duty that his life is an example for boys to follow. I will therefore tell you his story; and his adventures were so singular that they are certain to in- terest you. He was born at a town called Willoughby, in England, in the month of January, 1579. Nothing is known about CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH. his parents, except that they died when he was a child, and he was left alone in the world without any one to take care of him. But young John Smith was not cast down by his lonely situation. He was a brave and inde- pendent boy, and resolved to make his own way in the world. He was fond of adventure, as most boys are; so, while he was still a youth, he wandered away to Holland, a country of ICnrope, and spent some years of military ser- THE ADVENTUKES OF CAPTAIX JOHN SMITH. 19 vice in an Englisli army there. Tliis made hira long to become a soldier. lie tlierefore came back to Willougliby and set about training himself; and you will be interested in hearing how he did so. Instead of passing his time in idleness with other young men in the town of Willonghby, he went out to the woods near, and built a sort of house for himself of the boughs of trees. In this he intended to live, and as to supporting himself, be meant to shoot deer and live on the venison. He then got together as many books as he could on war- like matters, and retiring to his "Bower," as he called it, set about studying them. By this means he taught him- self the art of war; but as he knew that a soldier must fight with his own hands, he resolved also to learn how to use every sort of weapon. At that time men fought on horseback often, and one of the most important of their weapons was the lance. This was a long wooden affair with a sharp iron point, and soldiers held the head straight in front of them, to strike their enemies as they rode against them at full gallop. Young John Smith had a horse and lance, and ho now practised to make himself skilful. This he did by suspending a ring to the bough of a tree, after which he went off to some distance and rode at it at full gallop, pointing his lance at the ring, in order to carry it off from the bough. By repeating this over and over, he at last became expert in it, and then he knew he could strike an enemy on horseback. lie also practised with his sword to make his eye keen and his wrist tough, and fired at the trees with liis pistol to be- come an export marksman. By this moans he grew to be a skilful soldier; and thi-n he set out in search of advent- ures. These adventures, ho know, would not be wanting, if ho only had a brave heart to seek thoin. War was going on 20 STORIES OF THE OLD DOMINION. HOLLAND IN THE OLDEN TIME. with the Turks in Eastern Europe, and all good soldiers were welcome there, to help the Christians. So Smith set forth gayly with the design to fight hard, and, if he could, make a name for himself. II. Wherever young John Smith went, something singular happened to him. His life was crowded with strange ad- ventures; and though I cannot tell you the whole of them, I will relate the chief ones, which will give you a good idea of them all. THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH. 21 lie crossed the Channel between England and France ; but as soon as he had landed on the other side, three Frenchmen who had come over with him in the ship took advantage of him. They saw that he was a mei-e boy, and stole a small trunk containing his money and clothes. This left him in great distress, as he was in a strange country, without friends; but he kept up his courage, and soon showed that lie could take care of himself. The French- men had escaped ; but he afterward met one of them, and as he knew him at once, he drew his sword and ran it through his breast, killing him. lie then wandered on, meeting many kind persons on the way who helped him. and at last came to the city of Marseilles, on the Mediter- ranean Sea. You know that his plan was to go and help the Chris- tians to fight the Turks, so he went on board a ship bound for Home, which was of a hill at night; ami by this means he spelled out a whole sentence, which was understood by the Christians in the fortress. The restdt of this was that ihe Turks were attacked on both sides and defeated ; and Smith was made a captain, and given a company of horsemen caUed the "Fiery Dragoons." 24 STORIES OF THE OLD DOMINION. This probably filled the young man with delight, and he longed to show that he was ready to fight hard. He soon had an opportunity. The Turks had shut themselves up in a fortress called Regal, and the Christians surround- ed the fortress and besieged them. As no fighting was o-oino- on, the times grew tedious, and a Turkish lord named Turbashaw sent out word that he was ready to fight any Christian soldier who would meet him. This ofier was accepted, and the Christian soldiers drew lots who should fight him. The lot fell on John Smith ; and when the day came he rode forward to meet his enemy. Turbashaw was ready, and presented a splendid appear- ance. His rich armor was covered with jewels, and two large wings made of eagles' feathers sprung from his shoulders. Martial music went before him as he came out of the gates of llegal, and a great crowd of Turkish sol- diers and ladies was seen on the walls. The two enemies then rushed upon each other; but the fight was a very brief one. Smith's lance pierced the Turk's forehead, and he was hurled back dead from his horse. Smith then leap- ed to the ground and cut ofl" his head, and the whole Chris- tian army burst forth into shouts of triumph. A second Tuik then appeared to revenge his friend. His name was Grualgo, and he and Smith rode at each other. Both their lances were shivered, but Smith fired his pistol and broke his enemy's arm. He fell from his horse, and Smith once more leaped down, and struck ofl* his head as he had struck oft'Turbashaw's. The young soldier was now in high spirits, and sent a challenge to the Turks. If any of them would meet him, he said, they might have the heads of their friends, and his own, too, if they overcame him. The challenge was accepted by a famous Turk, called Bonnymulgro. It was agreed that they were to fight hand to hand with their THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH. 25 swords, pistols, and battle-axes ; and on the day appoint- ed jxi'eater crowds than before assembled to see the two champions meet. They rushed at full gallop on each oth- er, firing their pistols, and then began to fight hand to hand with their battle-axes. Bonnyniulgro was a power- iiil man and a dangerous enemy. He struck Smith so heavy a blow on the head that he reeled in his saddle and dropped his axe. At this a loud shout rose from the Turks on the walls, and they shouted louder still as they saw Smith wheel his horse and fly, with the big Turk after him. But this was only pretence with the young soldier. As soon as Bonnyniulgro caught up with him and raised his axe to beat out his brains, Smith suddenly wheeled his horse, and ran his sword through the Turk's breast. He fell from the saddle, but tried to fight still. But Smith cut him down, and struck o9" his head, which he held up by the hair to show that the combat was ended. This was the last of the fighting. There were no more challenges, and the whole Christian army escorted Smith in triumph to the general's tent. The three fine horses of the dead Turks were led in front, and the ghastly heads of the warriors carried aloft on the points of pikes. In this manner they came to the tent of the general, and he made his appearance, and embraced Smith in his arms. He tlien gave him a fine hoi'se and sword, and made him a major; and the Grand Duke Sigismund, who was carry- ing on the war, sent him his portrait in a golden frame. He also promised Smith a reward of three hundred ducats, or about two thousand dollars, a year, and told him lie might wear on liis "coat of arms," as it was called, three Ttirks' heads, in memory of his exploits. Whether he ever received the money I do not know, as princes often forget such things; l;ut for this he probably did not fare. He had fought for fame, and not in order 26 STOKIES OF THE OLD DOMINION. to be paid for it ; and he no doubt looked upon the honor and glory he had won as far better than the golden ducats. I will now go on, and soon finish with his adventures in Europe. III. John Smith was now a distinguished young soldier, but he was soon to find that war is not entirely made up of triumphal processions and rich rewards and success. A day came when ill-fortune befell him. In a book which he afterward wrote he speaks of " the dismal bat- tle of Rottenton, in the valley of Veristhorne, where the soldiers of Christ and his Gospel did what men could do; and when they could do no more, left there their bodies in testimony of their minds " — by which he means that the Christians fou2;ht as long as thev could, and fell in- stead of retreating, in order to show tliat they were in earnest in making war on tlie Turks. They were defeat- ed in this "dismal battle," and young John Smith was wounded and left on the field. He lay there until night, when some prowling thieves, who had come to rob the dead bodies of anything they found upon them, heard him groaning from the pain of his wound, and stopped. He had on a very rich suit of armor, and from this they sup- posed that he was some great lord. They therefore did not kill him, but resolved to carry him away, and keep him prisoner until he jDaid a large ransom for his free- dom again. John Smith did not tell them that they were mistaken in tins, as his life depended on his saying nothing. They then carried him to a city called Axiopolis, and here they found that he was only a poor soldier. He was there- fore sold in the slave-market as a common slave, and was bought by a Turk named Bogall, who sent liim as a pres- ent to a lady in Constantinople named Charatza Tragabig- THE ADVEXTUEES OF CAPTAIX JOHN SMITH. 27 zanda. On the way be was driven along, chained by the neck to other Christian prisoners, and at last they reach- ed Constantinople. Charatza received him kindly, and soon became very much attached to him. Smith found that his master, Bogall, had written a letter pretending iliat he had made the young man prisoner liimself, by which he hoped to persuade Charatza that he was a great soldier; but Smith told her the triilh. At last she grew so fond of him that she determined to make a Turk of him and marry him. He was in danger, however, in Con- stantinople, so she sent him to a brother of hers, called the Tymor of Xalbritz, living on the shores of the Sea of Azov, requesting him to treat Smith kindly for her sake. This by no means pleased the Tymor. He thouglit it highly absurd in his sister to take so much interest in a slave. So he stripped off Smith's clothes, and ordered him to put on coarse sheepskins. He next shaved his head, and jmt an iron ring around his neck, after which he or- dered him to go to work among the rest of his slaves. His situation was now very miserable. He Avas the " slave of slaves " to all the rest, he says. He therefore determined to take the first opportunity to escape. At last this opportunity came. His work sometimes took him to a lonely barn on the Tyraor's large estate, where his busi- ness was to thresh out grain with his flail. One day ho was thus engaged, witli no other person with him, wlicn the Tymor rode up to ilu; barn. He was in a very bad humor; and at such times, you know, people like to have some one to quarrel with. As he looked upon Smith as only a miserable slave, he began to curse him and ofler liim every insijlt. This excited the young soldier's anger, and he looked around. Not a soul was in sight, and he had in his hand his heavy flail, which consisted of two pieces of wood joined by a leatlier tliong, and was (piite 28 STOKIES OF THE OLD DOMINION. a dangerous weapon. At last the Tymov, after cursing him for some time, struck him with his riding- whip ; at which John Smith sjirung upon him and dashed his brains out Avith his flail. The great thing now was to get away, and the young fellow did not hesitate. He stripped the clothes from the Tymor's dead body, and then took off his own coarse sheep- skins. He next put on the Tymor's suit, and hid the body under the straw ; after which he leaped on the dead man's horse and rode off" at full gallop. He meant to make his way to Russia, where he knew he would be safe, but he did not know the route. Day after day he wandered about, not daring to ask his way of anybody, and nearly starved. But at last he saw, along the road which he was travelling, a number of wooden crosses, and by this he knew that he had at last found his Avay. The crosses showed that he was coming to a Christian country. He followed the road joyfully, and at last reached a Russian fortress; and here he saw that he had nothing more to fear. He was received with the greatest kindness, as the Turks and Russians were enemies ; the iron ring was struck from his neck; and' at last he went on his way toward Austria, " drowned in joy," he says, at his deliverance. His sufferings Avere now over. His old friends met him in the Avarmest manner, and the Grand Duke Sigismund made him a present of three or four thousand dollars in gold as some recognition of his serA'ices. He then set out for Paris, and then for Spain, Avhere he embaiked on a ship to go and fight the JNIoors in Barbary. What he heard of the war there, however, disgusted him, and he resolved that he Avould take no part in such heathen pro- ceedings. He therefore left the Mediterranean and made his Avay back to England, Avhich he reached without fur- ther adventures. TUE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH. 29 IV. Young John Smith was now only a little more than twenty, but he was already a famous man. He had left liis home at Willoughby a poor unknown boy, and had come back a distinguished young soldier. All London was talking of tlie brave young fellow who liad passed through so many Avonderful adventures. They even made his life the subject of plays in the theatres, for lie says that " his fatal tragedies were acted on the stage." It is therefore highly probable that he made the acquaint- ance, among other people, of the great dramatist Sliak- speare, who was always looking out lor men of remarka- ble characters. At that time the "Mermaid," and otlicr London taverns, were full of swaggering soldiers returned from the wars. They walked about rattling their swords, curling their mustaches, and boasting of their exploits, wliile in some quiet corner jMr. William Shakspeare, as lie was called, looked at them witli a quiet smile on his lips, ^ and listened to all they said. We know that this was his liabit, as he has drawn the portraits of a number of such persons in his plays. He made fun of them; but if he knew Smitli, lie must have seen that Jie was a very dilfer- ent sort of person. Xo doubt he did know him, as I have already said, and, if so, lie must have had a great respect for him. Tlie rest were swaggerers and boasters, passing their time in drinking and idleness, while Smith did noth- ing of tlie sort, and was a brave, modest young soldier. Young John Smitli soon found tliat London was no ])lace for a man like hiiiisclf. He could not remain idle, and his restless disposition made him long for new ad- ventures. He had seen life in Europe and Asia, and now turned liis tlioughts to America. Tiiis was discovered, you know, by Columbus, in the year 1492, but little was 30 ' STORIES OF THE OLD DOMINION. known of it, except that it was a wonderful country. The strangest and most exciting stories Avere told about it. Now and then sailors had visited it ; and when they came back they reported that the earth was full of gold and precious stones, and that the rivers ran over golden sands. More sinirular things still were believed about the New World, as it was called. There was said to be a fountain there which made old people young again, if they only bathed in it. It was called the "Fountain of Youth," and many people really believed in it. The gold attracted others ; and the educated people, who knew that the Foun- tain of Youth was mere folly, were just as anxious to see the country settled as the rest. In fact, tlie whole world of Europe at that time was ex- cited in the highest degree. There had been a great movement called the Reformation, and everybody's mind was in a sort of ferment. People longed for something- new: they were tired of old times and things. Tlie world was like a man wlio has had a long sound sleep, and gets up strong and refreshed, and ready to begin some great business. The rulers of England saw this, and they deter- mined to take advantage of it. For this they had two main reasons. One Avas to increase the power of England and get ahead of the French and Spaniards, who were looking; toward this new world : and another was to con- vert the Indians to Christianity. They were earnest about this latter thing, little as was afterward done ; but they ^had at heart first the enlargement of English territory. Amono; these great men was the famous Sir Walter Ra- leigh, who was so eager for such voyages that people called him the " Shepherd of the Ocean." And all these persons Smith no doubt knew. He was quite ready to sail for the western land as soon as an expedition was ready; and this event soon took THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN* JOHN SMITH. 31 KOriM OF BALEIOH S SHIPS. place. James I., who was king of England now, granted the right to Sir Thomas Gates and others to form a set- ilenient in the Xew World; and in December, 1606, the tliree small ships which I liave mentioned set sail for the shores of America. John Smith was on board one of the vessels, and I will soon tell you what happened to him. First I will speak, however, of the voy- age, which was over what was call- ed the "old ti'ack." The ships, with one hundred and five men in them, crossed the ocean in safety, and reached the West India Islands. They then sailed north- ward along the coast of Florida and the Carolinas, looking tor a good harbor. When they reached the mouth of Chesapeake Bay they were tossed by a violent storm, but managed to get in without being wrecked. This was in April, 1607, and some time was spent in looking for a place of settlement. Before them was a broad river, which was calle names of the "councillors" who were to rule over the col- ony. The paper containing their names was sealed up in a box, which was not to be opened tnitil tlw ships reach- 0* 34 STOKIES OF THE OLD DOMINION. ed Virginia. But the time liad now corae : the box was opened, and the name of John Smith was found among those who were to be councillors, or leaders. They there- fore released him, but refused to let him sit in the council; JAMESTOWN. SO he found that he had no more authority than the poor- est of the settlers. But in this world brains and courage will show them- selves, in spite of everything. The colonists soon saw that Smith had more sense and energy than all the worth- less council put together. From the first he was the real loader in the colony. His martial figure was seen mov- TllK ADVKXTURES OF CAPTAIX JOIIX SMITH. So ing about everywhere. The settlers felt that he was a true soldier, and the man to look to. And this is a good opportunity to tell you what his appearance and charac- ter were at that time. Any one could see at a glance that John Smith was a thorough soldier. He was just twenty-eight, and a hand- some, brave -looking man. His forehead was broad and high, and his bright eyes looked everybody straight in the face. He wore long mustaches and a full beard, and his dress was martial. It consisted of a steel hauberk, which was a soi-t of armor covering the body down to the hips, and liis boots came to his knees, and the tops turned over. Around his waist was buckled a belt, from which hung his heavy broadsword ; and he generally carried a car- bine, that is, a short gun with a large barrel. He had to use this carbine more than once, as you will see, against llie Indians; and one look at him showed that he was ready to fight witli it or any other weapon. He was po- lite and friendly, but he was not a man to be tiifled witli. He had come to do hard work, and he meant to do it. His bold off-hand manner sliowed that he was a soldier, and i)eoplc were forced to res|)cct him, whether they liked hitn or not. The best and bravest of the colonists, how- ever, liked hiiM very much, for they saw tliat he was worthy of it. He was not only a resolute and unselfish man, but liad no vices whatever. He never uttered an oath, or played cards, or drank, and did not even use to- bacco, which was ihcii the fashion as now. He was con- tent to live roughly and <1() his duty, ami never seemed to be thinking of his own jileasuie in llie least. He hated idleness, and set an example by working himself In fact, hard work and hard lltrhting seemed to be his idea of the li^^lit way of living in this woiM. If he said he would do a thing, lie always kept liis word ; and :i man who estab- 36 STORIES OF THE OLD DOMINION, lishes that character is looked up to and trusted. His " old soldiers," as the men called themselves, loved him, and had the highest respect for him ; and you will see that these old soldiers who fought under him and shared his hardships were right when they said that he was one of the bravest and truest of men. Rough houses of felled trees were soon built at James- town; and then Smith began to think what it would be better to do next. The councillors were a poor set, and nobody had any respect for them. They passed their time in idling and eating and drinking, and seemed to have no idea of the dangers all around them. They had seen little of the Indians, and very foolishly paid no at- tention to them. Besides this, nothing was done to raise corn for food; and Smith looked on in astonishment at such childish folly. He knew that the woods were full of Indians, who would soon attack them. He also knew that the food in the ships would not last forever. He therefore resolved to go and explore the country, and find what they had to expect by making the Indians a visit. With a small party of men Smith, therefore, rowed up James River, as they had called it, to visit the emperor of the Indian tribes, who lived in that direction. VI. The name of the Indian emperor was Powhatan. He was an old and famous monarch, Avho ruled over all the Indians of tidewater Virginia, amounting at that time to about eight thousand in number. The Indians were a strange people, and not at all like other savages — those of Africa, for instance. They were tall and powerful, and as brave and cool as they were bloody. They were very fond of hunting and war, and when they were going into battle, painted their naked THE ADVEJJTURES OF CAPTAIX JOHJ^ SMITH. 37 bodies in a frightful manner. As to their arms, these were bows and arrows, and a sort of hatchet made of flint, which they called a " tomahawkee ;" and they lived in Avigwams or rouo'h locr-cabins. Wigwams were made by bending together the heads of saplings, and tying them with bark. Skins were then stretched around them, and a hole was left at the top to allow the smoke to rise. The food of the Indians was game, chiefly deer and wild turkeys or ducks, and their bread was made of corn-meal, as they had no wheat. They smoked tobacco in long stone pipes, and when any one visited them in their wigwams or cabins, they would take a whiff" and then pass the pipe to their guest, which was looked upon as a proof of friendship. They had a sort of money made of shells, which tlicy strung on a string; and their clothes were deer or raccoon skins, rarely worn except in winter. This will give you some idea of these singular peo- ple ; but I ought not to for- get to say that they also had a sort of religion. They believed in a god of their , INDIANS. own, whose name was (Jkec, or Kiwasa, and thought the tliiindcr was his voice, and tlic lightning the flash of his eyes. They also believed in a future world of happiness or misery. If they were good, they expecteublic speaker, and very popidar with his friends and neighbors, from his polite and cordial manners. 68 STOKIES OF TUE OLD DOMINION. Although he was a new-coraer, as it was called, he was made a member of the " King's Council ;" and as only the oldest and ablest planters were generally aj^pointed to this council, this was a high compliment to Bacon. No doubt old Sir William thought he was an Englishman in his feelings, and would support him in his doings against the Virginians. But he was very much mistaken. Bacon determined to oppose him, and take the Virginia side; and his friends, who saw how brave he was, resolved to have him for their leader. Trouble soon began. Rebellions or revolutions gener- ally begin with some small matter; and so it was on this occasion. Bacon had a plantation near the Falls in James Rivei-, where the city of Richmond now stands, and one day he heard that the Indians had attacked the plantation, and killed his overseer and one of his servants. This high- ly excited him, and he resolved to act at once. He sent word to his neighbors to meet him and march on the In- dians ; and on the day appointed a large number of them assembled. Bacon then addressed them, and spoke of the wrongs done them by the governor. He was an enemy of the Virginians, he said, and Avould not protect them from the Indians. These barbarous savages were killing the women and children, and yet the governor would not fight them ; but if he would not, he, ISTathaniel Bacon, would. Then he asked his neighbors if they were ready to march with him, and, if so, whom they would choose for their leader. At this they uttered a shout, and declared that they were ready. He should be their leader, they declared, and Bacon accepted the command. First, however, he re- solved to send to Sir William Berkeley to obtain his leave, and one of the men was sent to ask the governor for a commission, as it Avas called. This the governor refused, THE GREAT KEBELHOX IX VIRGINIA. 71 and the messenger came back without it. Bacon, no doubt, expected tliis, and had made up his mind. He told his friends that as to himself he was ready to march without any commission. He would take all the risk, and any who wished to go with him could do so. This was followed by another shout, and tlie men mount- ed their horses. Bacon took command, and the whole body set forward. They marched up James River, and into the woods near the Falls, and here they found the Indians and attacked them. The result was a complete victory over tlicm. They were all killed or driven off And then Ba- con and his men marched back homeward in triumph. But while they were fighting up the river a great ex- citement had taken place at Jamestown. Governor Berke- ley was enraged when he heard that Bacon had marched in defiance of him. So he issued a proclamation that Ba- con and his men were all traitors, and got together a body of troops to attack them. Nothing occurred, however. Sir William set out, but found that there was trouble behind him. The Virginians everywhere sympathized with Ba- con, and were ready to rise in arms ; so the old governor changed his mind, and marched back again with his forces to Jamestown. If. This was a great triumph for Bacon, and all Virginia nearly was in his favor. The old governor was obliged to submit, and said lie had no objection to what tlie peo- ple demanded. They might make any new laws they wished, as far as he was concerned ; and so a new House of Burgesses was at once elected. Bacon was chosen one of the members, as lie was now extremely |»f>]>ular, and set out down James Kiver in liis sail-boat for Jamestown. I'ut the governor was ready. As soon as he arrived lie had liim arrested and brought 72 STORIES OF THE OLD DOMINION. into the State -bouse. Here Sir William and the king's council were waiting to receive him, and a stormy inter- view followed. We know how high- tempered the old governor was, and he received Bacon fiercely. But that had no effect upon him. He w-as too cool a man to cower before Sir William's anger, and discussed the w'hole mat- ter with bira in a very plain manner. He knew that be bad acted illegally, be said, in fighting without the com- mission, and was ready to say so, if the commission was now given to him. To this the governor at last agreed ; but he did not keep his word, and Bacon determined that he would force him to do so. He accordingly left Jamestown, and went home and told his neighbors how matters stood. He was resolved to have the commission, be said, and they said they would assist him. In a short time about four hundred planters assembled, and at the head of them Bacon marched toward Jamestown. As soon as he arrived he drew up his forces, on the State-house green, and then sent word to Sir Wil- liam Berkeley that he had come for bis commission. This greatly enraged the old governor. He was quite as brave as Bacon, and rushed out in front of the men. Tearing open bis ruffled shirt so as to leave his breast naked, be exclaimed, violently, " Here, shoot me — 'fore God, a fair mark ! — shoot !" But Bacon bad no intention of hurting the governor. He advanced toward him and bowed, and said, "No, may it please your Honor, we will not hurt a hair of your head or any other man's. We have come for a commission to save our lives from the Indians, which you have so often promised, and now we Avill have it before we go." There was then great confusion, and an angry scene followed. But Bacon stood firm, and declared that be TUE GEEAT REBELLION IX VIRGIKIA. 73 would not go without the paper; so the governor was obliged at last to submit. lie consented to what Bacon demanded, and he received his commission, when he mount- ed his horse again and marched his men out of Jamestown. III. This act of Bacon's was open defiance, you see, of the king's authority, for Sir William was his representative in the colony. Tlie governor was a brave old fellow, and resolved to fight; so he suddenly left Jamestown, and crossed York River to Gloucester, where be raised his flag, and called on his friends to assemble. But Bacon was quite as resolute as he was. He was not afraid to make war on the king himself, though he risked his head in doing so ; and at once set out with a small army to fight Sir William. When the governor heard of this he fled across Chesapeake Bay to Accomac, and Bacon was in possession of the whole country. He and his men then acted like true patriots. A new House of Burgesses was ordered to assemble, and in the mean while they pledged themselves not to lay down their arms. As Sir William had sent to England for soldiers to fight for him, they bound themselves to fight these soldiers, as they had fought the governor; and they signed a pa- per to tliis effect, whose date was August, 1G76. This was just one Imndred years before the American declaration of Independence, you sec, and there is not much diflference between the two pa])er.^. In the midst of all this, Bacon heard that the Indians were making trouble again, so he resolved to march at once and put an ejid to them. The tribes which murdered the settlers lived in the neighborliood of the present city of Richmond, and Bacon soon reached the spot and jircpared to attack tlieni. 4 74 STORIES OF THE OLD DOMINION. They had built a strong stockade, or fort, on a lofty hill east of the city, and in this they had placed their women and children, and were ready to fight. Their bravest war- riors were in the log-fort, and they knew that the battle would decide everything. It was a very strong position, with a steep descent in front; but Bacon rushed up at the head of his men, and a desj^erate fight followed. The In- INDIANS FIGHTING. dians did their best, but the Virginians were too strong for them. They captured the fort, and either killed or made prisoners of all the Indians who did not fly. It was a bloody aifiiir, and blood ran down the hill, it is said, into a small stream at the foot, which is called "Bloody Run" to this day. This was the last of the Indian troubles in Eastern Vir- ginia. They never fought again, and Bacon was looked THE GREAT REBELLION IX VIRGINIA. 75 upon as the deliverer of the country. But a new enemy- was waitino: for him, to strike him in the rear. Sir William BLOUDY BUN. Berkeley had collected troops in the lower counties, and Bacon now heard that he was again in possession of James- town, wilh eighteen ships in the river, and an army of about eight hundred men. IV. Bacon lost no time. lie had resolved to fight the old [Tovernor until one or the other got the best of it, and he set out at once for Jamestown. On the way he did what he had no right to do. A num- ber of prominent men had sided with Sir William, and Ba- con stopped at their plantations, and took their wives pris- oners. They were, no doubt, permitted to ride in their carriages, as the men moved on, but their arrest was a very unjustifiable proceeding. Bacon sent word to their luisbands at Jamestown that he had taken the ladies pris- oners, and would hold them as liostages for the good be- havior of the gentlemen. This was quite unworthy of a 76 STORIES OF THK OLD DOMINION". high-toned man like Bacon, but he certainly did it ; and as I am telling you a true story, I have no intention of omit- ting the incident. He marched on steadily, with his lady -prisoners, and soon found that Sir William Berkeley was ready for him. The old governor was in high spirits, for he was brave and determined. Two friends of Bacon, named Bland and Car- ver, had attempted to cross to Accomac and capture him ; but he had caught and hung them, and hoped soon to catch and hang Bacon himself. His ships, armed wi^ cannon, were in the river near the town; his soldiers were drawn up in Jamestown ready to fight; and it was plain that a battle would soon take place. The sun was just setting when Bacon and his men ar- rived. It was the month of September, when the leaves of the trees are just beginning to turn red and yellow, and the moon was shining. Bacon lost no time, but went to work at once. A long ditch was dug, and the earth thrown up in front so as to form a breastwork. Trees were then cut down, and laid one on the other so as to strengthen the works against cannon balls, and the whole was soon finished. While the men were working, the governor did not fire his cannon at them from Jamestown or from the ships. He was afraid he would kill the ladies whom Ba- con had taken prisoners, and a very discreditable story is told of their treatment. It is said that they were placed in front of the men while they were building the earth- work ; and if so. Bacon acted in a manner unworthy of him. No civilized nation makes war on women any more than on children, and to endanger these ladies' lives was not like a soldier. They Avere not to blame because their husbands had sided with Sir William Berkeley, and per- haps the story was made up by Bacon's enemies. I hope it was untrue, and that the ladies were soon sent back THE GUEAT KEBELLION IN VIRGINIA. "77 home, and that the men were allowed to fight the matter out among themselves. The night passed quietly, but in the morning old Sir William marched out to attack Bacon. He had about eight hundred men, and Bacon's numbers were probably about the same. Tlie battle began at once, and it must have been a hard tight. There is no full account of it ; but we know enough about it to feel certain that some historians are very foolish in sayins: that Sir William's men were "degraded" people who would not fight, while Bacon's men \?is4;e the "very chivalry of Virginia," and rode right over their enemies. The fact was that a large number of the bravest gentlemen of the colony had sided with Sir William, because they thought it wrong to take up arms against the king's authority ; and they no doubt fought just as bravely as their opponents. It is true, liowever, that Bacon won the victory. After fighting- hard, old Sir William found that Bacon was too strong for him, and he retreated from the field, on which many of his soldiers lay dead or groaning from their wounds. There was no course left for him now but to fly. This was, no doubt, "gall and wormwood" to him, but there was no help for it. There was danger that he would fall into the "rebel" Bacon's hands, wlien every one would laugh at him; so he hastened to take refuge on board his ships. Ilis troops hurried after him, in the midst of the cheers of the "rebels;" and then the ships set sail down the river, followed by cannon balls which Bacon fired at them from the hills near Jamestown. V. The capital of Virginia was now in Bacon's hands, and he set it on fire and burned it to ashes. Why this was done it is hard to say. They pi'obably 78 STORIES OF THE OLD DOMINION. meant to show that they had conquered Sir William Berke- ley, or it may have been done to prevent him from ever returning to it as governor. It was a great pity to thus burn the old town which John Smith and the early set- tlers had built ; but fire was set to it, and no one made the least objection. Two gentlemen in Bacon's army, named Lawrence and Drummond, had houses in the place, but they set fire to them with their own hands; and soon the fiimous old place was nothing but a heap of ashes. All now seemed over with Governor Berkeley and liis people, but new enemies suddenly made their appearance. An army of a thousand men was marching from toward the Rappahannock against Bacon, and he set forward, with- out loss of time, to meet them. But no battle took place. Instead of fighting, the men of the two armies shook hands. The up-country men then returned to their homes, and Bacon led his army back toward James River. He was now master of Virginia, and might easily have declared himself governor. His men would have made him their ruler at a single word, but he had too much re- spect for the law to agree to that; and if he had been elected he would never have been governor. His life was near its end, and he M-as destined to die in the very hour of his triumph. He had caught a fever while directing the men how to work in the trenches at Jamestown ; and at last he grew so ill that he saw his last hour was approaching. He had gone to Gloucester County, probably to pursue Sir William Berkeley ; and here he grew worse and worse, and at last expired. This was a terrible blow to his followers. They feared that old Sir William would now win back all he had lost, and even dig up Bacon's body and hang it upon the gal- lows. They therefore resolved to conceal his grave. He TUE GREAT REBELLION IX VIRGINIA. 19 was buried by night, in a lonely spot ; and althougli we have no description of the scene which took place, we may imagine it. His friends, no doubt, dug a grave secretly with their own hands, and then, when it was dark, placed the dead man's body in a wagon, and took it to the spot and buried it. If it was by moonlight, or even if the stars were shining, it must have been a strange and solemn sight. Xo doubt some clergyman was present and read prayers over the grave when the body was lowered into it, while his friends stood around with their hats off and their heads bent down in sorrow. Large stones were then laid on the coffin, the grave was filled up, and the grass was smoothed down in order to conceal it. This was done so carefully that Bacon's grave Avas never discovered, and the wrath of Sir William Berkeley was not expended upon his enemy. He had the living to take revenge on, as I will show you in ending my story; but Bacon he could not reach. The body of that brave soldier was sleeping in the woods of Gloucester, and the great trees guarded the secret of his resting-i)lace. vr. The "Great Kebellion," as Sir William Berkeley called it, was now over. When a famous leader dies, it is hard to find any one to take his place; and as soon as news came that Bacon was dead, his men returned to their homes in despair. A {aw kept up a show of resistance, but ihey soon gave way like the rest, and Sir William Jk-rkeley marched back in triumph. I liave told you tJie character of this fiery old ruler. He was brave and determined, and had some other good (jualities; but he was narrow-minded and cruel, and hated the "rebels" bitterly for defeating him; so he resolved to take a bloody revenge upon them. 80 STOEIES OF THE OLD DOMINION. Every friend of Bacon's whom he could lay his hands on was put to death. Thomas Hansford, a brave young planter, was one of these. He was captured, and, after a pretended trial, was at once hung, although he begged them to shoot him. Another was Captain Wilford, Avho fought hard not to be taken prisoner, and had one of his eyes put out by a bullet. When some one spoke of this he said it was no matter, as Sir William Berkeley would have him led to the gallows ; and he too was soon hung. Another was Major Cheeseman, whose wife knelt before Sir William and begged her husband's life, telling him that she had persuaded him to join Bacon, In rej)ly to all her tears and prayers, the governor, it is said, offered her a vulgar insult, instead of pitying her; and Major Cheese- man soon afterward died in prison. A more important prisoner still was William Drummond, one of Bacon's warmest friends. Sir William Berkeley hated him, and felt a cruel triumph when he was brought before him. "Mr. Drummond," said tlie governor, in a sneering voice, " you are very welcome ! I am more glad to see you than any man in Virginia ! Mr. Drummond, you shall be hang- ed in half an hour!" Drummond was tried at once; and as there was no trou- ble in proving that he had been one of the leaders of the "rebels," he was found guilty and at once hung. The governor hated him more than all the rest, and his prop- erty was at once seized ; but the King of England, as soon as he heard of this, ordered it to be restored to Mrs. Drum- mond, his widow. These were a few of the victims of Sir William's cruel- ty. Altogether more than twenty persons were hung; and Charles II. exclaimed when he heard of it, "That old fool has hanged more men in that naked country than I did for the murder of my father !" THE GUEAT REBELLION IX VIRGINIA, 81 All the changes in the laws made by Bacon were now repealed, and Governor Berkeley found no enemies to op- pose him. But he felt ill at ease. The people of Virginia hated him for his cruelty, and he had scarcely a friend in the whole colony. He therefore resolved to visit England, fearing, it seems, that he had as few friends there, and thinkino- that it would be better to go and defend himself He therefore sailed for England, and his departure was a joyful event. The Virginians fired cannon and illuminated their houses, and he never afterward returned to the col- ony. When he got to England the king refused to see him, and this filled him with so much mortification that he soon afterward died. And that was the end of old Sir William Berkeley. lie and Bacon were two remarkable men, but Bacon was by far the greater. He was a fearless soldier, and a true lover of his country, lie had nothing to win by fight- ing and everything to lose, for the governor Avould have liung him and seized upon all liis property if he had de- feated him. But his duty was ])lain to him. The Vir- ginians were oppressed, and he meant to risk his life against their oppressor. This Avas acting precisely as George "Washington did a hundred years afterward. One succeeded, the other failed ; but the man who does his duty is as great in fail- ure as in success. Nathaniel Bacon did his, and has left a noble name in history. 4* 82 STORIES OF THE OLD DOMINION. THE KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE. I. I WILL now relate a romantic little incident which oc- curred in the summer of 1*714, about thirty years after Ba- con's death. This was the ride beyond the mountains of the " Horseshoe Knights," as they were afterward called ; and I will give you, in the first place, a short account of the man who led them. He was Alexander Spotswood, Governor of Virginia at the time, and his life had been adventurous. He was born on board a ship, in the Mediterranean Sea, in 1676, and it is not known how this singular event happened. But there seems to be no doubt about the truth of the state- ment, and he may have sailed about with his father, who probably commanded the ship, and thus acquired while he was young his love of adventure. As soon as he was old enough, he became a soldier in the English army under Marlborough, who was then fighting the French ; and at a great battle, called Blenheim, he distinguished himself by his bravery, and was Avounded by a cannon-ball. This occurred when he was about twenty-eight years of age ; and as he was sent over to be Governor of Virginia when he was only thirty-four, you will see that he must have shown that he was a man of strong sense and firm char- acter. He looked older than he really was, for that mat- ter. His portrait is still to be seen in an old countrA-house in Virginia, with a picture of the field of Blenheim in the background; and this jjortrait shows that he was a tall. THE KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE. 83 Strong man, with many wrinkles in his forehead, and a de- termined expression of countenance, which expressed his character. As soon as Spotswood reached Virginia, he set to work to improve everything, and make the country as prosper- ous as possible. He had a curiously shaped magazine built ill Williamsburg, the capital of the colony, to hold gunpowder to use in case of war; and this is still stand- ing, lie then built a good house for the governors to live in, and sent word to the few Indian tribes left that they might bring their boys to the college of "William and I\Iary," at Williamsburg, if they wished, where they would be educated free of expense. He next set about making iron for the use of the Virginia people. This was very important. Iron, you know, is a metal that no one can do without, as axes, ploughs, and hundreds of other useful implements are made of it. The Virgin- ians, like everybody else, required it, but they were obliged to send to England for it; and as England always aimed to make as much as she could out of her colonies, they had to pay a very liigh price for all that they bought. You now see why Governor Spotswood was anxious to show them how tlioy mi^ht make iron for themselves, and not send to England and ))ay so much for it. When iron is in the ground it is mixed with earth and stones; and bo- fore it is of any use it is necessary to cleanse it, which is done by melting it in large furnaces built for the purpose. Spotswood knew that there was an abundance of iron in the soil of the colony, and built the furnaces, which jirovcd perfectly successful. They were the first ever seen in America, and made him (piite famous; and the people gave liim the name of the "Tubal-cain of Virginia," an explanation of which will be found in the I>ook of (Jenesis. These exertions for the good of the countrv made (tov- 84 STORIES OF THE OLD DOMINION, eriior Spotswood very poi^ular. He was a determinetl ruler, and had more thau one quarrel with the House of Burgesses, who were as hard-headed as himself. But he was very much respected, for the Virginians saw plainly that he was resolved to put down evil-doers and have the laws obeyed ; as he showed, among other things, by his treatment of a bloody marauder named Blackbeard, Blackboard was a pirate who sailed along the shores of the Carolinas and Virginia, attacking any ships he met, and killing all who were on board of them ; after which BLACKBEARD, THE PIRATE. the goods in them were seized and the ships were burned. This had gone on for some time, and at last Spotswood grew tired of it. He therefore sent a ship-of-war to at- tack Blackbeard, or John Theach, as his real name was, and the two vessels came in sight of each other oflf the coast. Blackbeard now saw what was before him. He knew he THE KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE. 85 must fight, and that if he was captured he would be hung in chains to a gallows ; he therefore determined to die first. He ordered one of his men to stand with a lighted match near the magazine of powder in the ship; and if the Virginians boarded them and got the better in the fight, he was to set fire to the powder and blow up all together. The fight then began. The two vessels came up side by side, and the Virginians leaped on board the pirate ship, armed with their cutlasses. Blackbeard and his men met them and fought dtjsperately, but in vain. He himself was in front, but his foot slipped in the blood on the deck, and as he staggered, one of his enemies cut him down and struck off his head. At this the rest lost heart and sur- rendered. Blackboard's head was stuck on the bowsprit of the Virginia vessel, and it returned home in triumph, where the rest of the pirates who had been captured were soon afterward executed. This is only one instance of Governor Spotswood's way of dealing with people who would not respect the laws and defied his authority. I might tell you other incidents of the same sort, but this must suflice. I will now come to the expedition beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains, which conferred on him and his friends the name of " Sir Knicrhts of the Golden Horseslioe." II. It may surprise you to hear that at that time people thought that the Mississippi River rose in the Blue Ridge. In fact, nothing was known certainly about the great coun- try beyond the mountains. They called it "Orange Coun- ty;" anieces were put together, and at last some- thing was made of them : o 'Sir Alexander Spotswood, 17—." This much was read upon iho fragments of stone; and it thus became plain that the small enclosure was the burial- place of the brave Spotswood. He was one of the best governors that Virginia ever had, and his bones were laid, you see, in the land he loved so well. 94 STOKIES OF THE OLD DOMINION. GEORGE WASHINGTON, THE YOUNG SUR- VEYOR. I. My stories are not only meant to inform and interest you, but to show you how the great men of Virginia did their duty always, and especially how their characters came to be shaped. There is one of these men who rises above all the rest, and is looked upon as one of the greatest human beings who have lived in this world. I mean George Washing- ton, who is called the " Father of his Country ;" and it is extremely interesting to see how he passed his boyhood and early manhood. He was no better than other peo- ple in many things. He had quick and excitable pas- sions, which he soon found he had to control, or they would control him. But he had the highest sense of duty, and determined to make a good and useful man of himself; and in this story I mean to show you how he set about it. He was the son of a farmer who lived in Westmoreland County, Virginia, and was born on the twenty-second of February, 1V32. His father, Augustine Washington, had large landed possessions on the banks of the Poto- mac, and was well to do in the world; but as often hap- pened at that time, when people did not think so much of show, he lived in a small plain house, and here George was born. While he was still a child his fi\ther moved to another house in Staiford County, on the Rappahan- Cf'.>.' ^ 10UNG WASHINGTON S MILITARY ASPIRATIONS. GEORGE WASHINGTOX, THE YOUNG SURVEYOR. 97 nock River, where he sent George to what is called an "old field-school" — a sort of log-house, generally with only one room, where children were taught to read and write and cipher. "While he was at school, George is said to have been very fond of playing at soldiering with the rest of the boys, which he probably gained a liking for from listening to the talk of his elder brother Lawrence, who had been a soldier in the West Indies. When his father died, which he did at the age of forty- nine, George was left to the care of his mother. But he could not have had a better person to look after hiui. "Mary, the Mother of Washington," as she is called, was •a lady of the highest character, with a very strong mind, and as pious as she was intelligent. She determined to make her boy a good man, and taught him to love God, and kneel beside her and say his prayers night and morn- ing. She also taught him always to tell the truth and do Ills duty in everything. These lessons of his mother while he was still a small bo)' were the main cause of his becoming afterward so great a man. He was very fond of out-door pleasure, riding and hunt- ing, and games that require skill and bodily strength. Tliese made him grow tall and strong. It is said that he once threw a stone across the Kappahannock River, at the city of Fredericksburg; and there are very few men who could do as much, lie did not, liowever, neglect improv- ing his mind, and learning everything that would prove useful to him in his after-life. He kept a book in which he wrote down wise maxims and lulcs to follow: he also taught himself how to keep accounts, and all about sur- veying land, which, as you will sec, soon became of the greatest use to liim, and had a very important influence upon his career in life. When George was fourteen years of age he was a tall, 5 98 STOKIES OF TUE OLD DOMINION. robust boy, and longed to lead the life of a soldier or sail- or. He thought that he would like being a sailor the bet- ter of the two; and as his brother Lawrence was rich and influential, he had not much trouble in having George ap- pointed a midshipman in the English navy. But his poor mother grieved at the thought that she was going to be separated from her boy, and might never see him again. He had persuaded her to let hina go, and she had consent- ed ; but she could not conceal her tears when the time ar- RESIDENCE OF THE WASHINGTON FAMILY. rived. When George came, in his tine new uniform of a midshipman, to tell her good-bye, she covered her face with her hands and cried ; and at this the boy gave way. He could not bear to distress his mother, and at once gave up the idea of leaving her. He took off his fine uniform, re- signed his commission as a midshipman, and stayed at home to take care of his mother. Instead of going away as a brave young sailor, George went back to school, and the time passed on until he was sixteen years of age. He often went to see his brother Lawrence at his house, called " Mount Vernon," on the Potomac River, and was a greajt favorite with everybody GEORGE AVASHINGTOX, THE YOUNG SUEVEYOR. 99 there. Lawrence had married a daughter of Mr. William FairfaXj-a rich Englishman, who lived at a place called "Belvoir," not far from Mount Vernon; and here the boy met with an old English lord of singular character, named Thomas, Lord Fairfax, a cousin of William Fair- fax. Lord Fairfax was a very curious old man, and his life had been an interesting one. He was born in England, and when he was a young man, went up from his home in the country to live in the great city of London, where lie moved in the highest society, and was one of the finest dressed young men of his day. He did not pass all his time, however, in idleness and visits to ladies. He be- came acquainted with many authors, and among the rest, with a famous one named Addison, who wrote a number of papers under the title of the Spectator. These papers were very much admired at the time, and are admired still for the bcauliful style in which they are written. Young Fairfax offered to help Addison, and wrote some of the Spectator papers for him. And now one of the main things that people remember the rich, finely dressed young lord by, is that he assisted the poor, shabbily dress- ed Mr. Addison in writing his Spectator. Lord FairHix soon met with a lady who pleased him, and they were at last engaged to be married. But the lady treated him very badly. She saw that another per- son of higher rank was ready to marry her, and refused to keep her word with young Fairfax. This distressed him deeply, and he went back to liis home in the country, resolved never to marry anybody, which he never did. And I will now tell you what brought him to Virginia. Hi.s mother was a daughter of Lord Culpcpor, who had been at one time (iovernor of Virginia. While lie was living in Virginia, Lord C'ul|»e])cr found how rich 100 STORIES OF THE OLD DOMINION". the laud was between the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers; and when he returned to England he aeked the king to give him all this land, which was then only partly inhabited — proraisiug that he would have it settled and cultivated. To this the king consented, and Culpeper received what was called a patent for the whole country — which did not at all please the Virginians, and was one of the great causes of complaint leading to Bacon's Ile- bellion, about which I have told you. When Lord Cul- peper died, his daughter inherited the land; and as Lord Fairfax was her son, he became the owner of it after her death. His cousin, William Fairfax, of Belvoir, had man- aged his great property for some time, but at last Lord Fairfax determined to cross the ocean to look after it himself. He did so; and this accounts for his living with his cousin at Belvoir, where young George Washington made his acquaintance. I have told you this story of Lord Fairfax because he had a great deal to do with the fortunes of the youth who afterward made so great a name for himself. If he had not met with Lord Fairfax, Washington's whole life would probably have been different. The old Englishman put him in the way of making a man of himself, and gaining the reputation which led to his being appointed command- er-in-chief of the American armies in the Revolution. And I will now tell you how he did so. Belvoir was a pleasant house to visit at; and as Mrs. Lawrence Washington was a daughter of William Fair- fax, you know, the two families were on the most intimate terms. When George was at Mount Vernon he often went to Belvoir, as I have said, and he and Lord Fairfax soon became great friends. The old Englishman, who was a tall, gaunt, near-sighted man, was very fond of hunting, and liked to have George go with him. So they GEORGE -SVASIIIXGrOX, THE YOUXG SURVEYOR. 101 often rode out fox-hunting together, and Lord Fairfax came to like the boy very much. Pie saw that he was a stout, manly, intelligent young fellow, with a great desire to make himself useful in some way; and this gave him the idea of appointing George to survey his wild lands beyond the Bine Kidge Mountains. These lands were of very great extent, as they reached as far up as the head-waters of one branch of the Poto- mac River; but large as they were, they were of no great value unless they were surveyed and laid off to be sold or rented to such people as wished to settle on them. Per- haps you do not know exactly what is meant by survey- ing. It means measuring land, which is generally done by means of a chain, and laying it off into tracts, which are then marked by catting gashes in the bark of certain trees, or describing other trees or prominent objects as landmarks in a book carried for the [)urpose. When you grow older you will understand the use of the compass and the calculation of angles in surveying; but this is all I can say of it at present. Lord Fairfax wished very much to have his lands in the Valley of Virginia thus surveyed, and ])roposed to young George Washington that he should undertake the work. The boy at once consented. Nothing could have pleased him better than an occupation of this sort. He loved the open air and horseback riding; he would have an opportunity to explore a ]tictui'esque and beautiful country, full of Indians and wild animals; and he set about at once making preparations for liis expedition. 11. • It was a fine day in early spring of the year 1748 when George set out on his ride to the valley. Tie had a com- panion, George William Fairfax, a son f.f William of IJcl- 102 STORIES OF THE OLD DOMINION. voir, who was about twenty-two years of age, aud they rode along in high spirits toward the mountains. George was at an age when the world seems full of enjoyment. He was just sixteen, and in high health, and no doubt felt delighted, as boys will, at the thought of be- ing his own master and meeting with all sorts of advent- ures. He had brought his gun with him to hunt, and his surveyor's instruments were packed in a leather valise GUEENWAT COURT. beliind his saddle. I have myself seen these instruments, which his family still have; and it was interesting to look at them, and remember that they were used by so great a man when he was young and unknown to the world. The two friends crossed the Blue Ridge at Ashby's Gap, and forded the bright waters of the river Shenan- GEORGE WASHINGTON, THE YOUXG SURVEYOR. 103 doah. They then turned a little to the left, and made their way toward "Green way Court." This was a sort of lodge built by Lord Fairfax in the woods, and after- ward his place of residence. It was a house with broad stone gables, and a roof sloping down over a long porch in front. On the top of the roof were two belfries with bells in them, which were meant, it is said, to give the alarm to all the settlers in the neighborhood when the Indians were coming to attack them. Some fast rider would bring the news; then the bells would be rung, and every man would prepare for the Indian attack. Green- way Court was thus a famous place in the e3'cs of every one, and business with Lord Fairfax's manager broujjht a great many people to the spot. To direct these visi- tors, a white post, with an arm pointing in the direction of tlic place, was set up at some distance from it. When- ever this post fell, from the wood decaying or by any ac- cident, another was erected in its place ; and one stands in the very spot to-day, in the middle of the village of White Post, which takes its name from it. George and his friend came in sight of the white post, and soon reached Greenway Court, where they were hos- l)ilably received by Lord Fairfax's manager; and then, after a short rest, they began to survey the lands along tiie banks of the Shenandoah River. This must have been a deliglitful employment to tliem. The spring was just opening, and the leaves beginning to bud iti the woods. The sun was shining briglitly, the birds were chirping, and on every side, as far as the eye could reach, were long blue ranges of mountains, like higli walls |>lacc'd tliorc to guard the beautiful Valley of tlie Sheiiand(jali. Tliis country is very attractive now, with its green wiioat-fiehls or waving corn, and its clumps of trees, in the midst of which are seen old houses, the abodes 104 STORIES OF THE OLD DOMINION. of happy families; but it was far more striking and pict- uresque at that time. Old people, whose memories went a long way back, said that in former times the land wa? covered with majestic forests and broad prairies. In these prairies, they said, the grass was so tall that a man on horseback could tie the heads together across the saddle in front of him, and the whole beautiful expanse, waving in the wand, was bright with flowers. Surveying itself is hard work, but the free open-air life that surveyors lead makes it very attractive. This life was highly agreeable to George and his friend. They worked faithfully all day, and at night stopped at the rude house of some settler in the woods; or, if no house was seen, they built a fire, wrapped themselves in their cloaks, and slept in the open air. They went on in this manner until they reached the Potomac River. They then rode up the stream and over the mountains until they reached what is now called Berkeley Springs, or " Bath," where they camped out, as usual, under the stars. There were no houses there then, but a town was built in course of time, and Washington often spent a part of the sum- mer there long years afterward with his family, to bathe in and drink the mineral waters, which are good for the sick. George and his friend did not meet with many advent- ures, but they had a sight, for the first time in their lives, of the savages. They stopped at the house of a settler one day, and were soon afterward surprised by the sudden appearance of a band of Indians. They were about thirty in number, with their half-naked bodies covered with paint, which signified that they had been at war with their ene- mies, and one of them had a scalp hanging at his belt. Perhaps you do not know what a scalp means, so I M'ill explain it. When the Indians killed any one, they made INDIAN WITH SCALP. GEORGE WASHINGTON, THE YOUNG SUKVEVDK. 107 a deep cut with a knife around the forehead and behind the head of the corpse, and then tore off the whole skin from the head, with the hair upon it. Sometimes they thus scalped their enemies before they were dead, and it was so painful that scarcely any one ever lived after it. The scalp was then hung to the belt ; and the Indians were proud of it as a proof of victory over their enemies. George and his friend must have been shocked at see- ing the bloody scalp, but the Indians soon made them laugh. Some liquor was given them, and they executed their war-dance, as they called it. One of them stretched a deer-skin over an iron pot and drummed upon it, while another rattled a gourd with a horse's tail tied to it, in which were some shot. While this was going on, one of the savages leaped up and began to dance and turn and tumble about in the most ridiculous manner, while the rest yelled and whooped around a large fire which they had built. Altogether it was a singular sight, and the two young men must have looked on with wonder at such strange doings. III. Several weeks were sjKMit by the young surveyors in this wild country, during which they were busy attending to their duties. They cooked their meat by holding it to the fire on forked sticks, and chips served for dishes. Sometimes it rained heavily, and they were drenched. At one time some straw on which they were sleeping caught fire, and they woke just in time to save themselves from being burned. Sometimes they slept in houses, but this was not much better than the open air. " I have not slejjt above tliree or four nights in a bed," George wrote to one of his friends; "but after walking a good deal all the day, I have lain down before the lir<'. on a little straw, or fod- der, or a bear-skin, whichever was to be liad, w itii man, 108 STORIES OF THE OLD BOMINIOX. wife, and children, like dogs and cats; and happy is he who gets the berth nearest the fire." In the month of April the two young men recrossed the mountains, and again reached Greenway Court. Here they found good beds and every comfort, and rested after their long ride. I have visited Greenway Court; and while walking over the green lawn under the old locust-trees in front of it, and looking at the old stone gables with the belfries on the roof, I thought of the bright boy of sixteen, with his brown curls and rosy cheeks, who once looked at the same objects and sat on the same porch there before my eyes. The old house should have been taken good care of, from these associations with the youtli of Washington, But Greenway Court is gone! It was pulled down for some reason, and no human eye will ever look upon it again ; so I thought I would give you this description of it, just as it looked when I saw it about ten years ago. Soon afterward George and his friend crossed the Blue Ridge and returned home. Lord Fairfax was higlily pleased with what they had done, and George was no doubt very much gratified. He was paid for his work in surveying at the rate of about three dollars and a half a day when he was only riding aroimd, and about seven dollars a day when he was regularly engaged in survey- ing. This was the first money that he liad ever earned in his life, and he must have enjoyed spending it, as he knew that he had worked for it. Another subject of gratifica- tion to him was the good opinion Lord Fairfax formed of him from the manner in which he had executed his duties. The old Englishman now knew how valuable his property was, and what a fine country the valley was for hunting; so he removed to Greenway Court, and spent his last years there. GEORGE WASHINGTON, THE YOUNG SURVEYOR. 109 I have only one other incident to relate of Lord Fairfax, which took place just before his death. He was an Eng- lishman, and opposed to the Revolutionary war ; but he continued to live in Virginia, at Green way Court. At last the year 1781 came, and Lord Fairfax grew very ill. He was at Winchester at the time, which is not far from Greenway ; and one day he heard the people shouting and cheering in the streets. He asked his old servant what it all meant, and he told him that the people were shout- ing because Lord Cornwallis, the great English general, had surrendered to General Washington at Yorktown. At this the old lord groaned. "Take me to bed, Joe," he said, in a low voice; "it is time for mc to die !" And you no doubt understand what the old English- man meant. He had been the friend of young Geoi'ge W^ashington, and brought him on in life; and now this same young fellow had defeated the great Lord Cornwal- lis, and compelled England to give up America. It was time for him to die, therefore, he said ; and soon afterward he expired, greatly mourned, there can be no doubt, by Washington. This was the end of old Lord Fairfax. His life was a sad one, in P]»ite of his great wealth, for his last days were spent in the lonely forests beyond the Blue Ridge, without wife or children to cheer his declining years. I never heard that Washington visited him there in these latter years. The boy with the rosy cheeks and the curly locks, who had stopped at Greenway Court, was now the grave commander-in-chief of the American army, and had no time to spare. But he must have wished to visit the old house again, and its master, who had been the friend of his boyhood. 110 STORIES OF THE OLD DOMINION. WASHINGTON IN THE WILDERNESS. I. It is SO interesting to follow George Washington through these first years of his career, that I will go on now and tell you of an expedition which he made at this time into the " Great Woods," as they were called, beyond the Ohio River. Both the English and the French claimed this country. The English, you know, had settled at Jamestown in 1607, but the French had possession of Canada long before, and it was now a question to whom the western country be- longed. It was full of English and French hunters, who traded with the Indians ; and it became a great point with both sides to secure the friendship of the savages, in case fighting broke out, as it probably would. This led to the expedition I now mean to tell you about. Governor Dinwiddle of Virginia and the Governor of Can- ada were watching each other; and at last Dinwiddle re- solved to send the French a message. This message was to the effect that the western country belonged to Eng- land, and that as the French had no right to it, they were not to build their forts on it. The person to be sent was also to make friends of the Indians ; and for this impor- tant expedition Governor Dinwiddle selected young George Washington. The events here spoken of took place in the year 1753, when Washington was twenty-one years old. It was a proof of the confidence placed in him, to choose so young WASHIXGTOlN IX THE WILDERNESS. Ill a man for a mission requiring the utmost prudence and sood-sense, as well as courage. But Washinofton was now very well known. He had not done much, but had im- pressed every one with a high opinion of his character. A proof of this is that at the age of nineteen, three years be- fore this time, he had been appointed adjutant-general of one of the military districts of Vii'ginia. In performing his duties as such, he must have shown that he was a ca- pable person, as he was now selected by the governor to carry his important message into the wilderness. He set out on the very day he received his commission from the governor at Williamsburg. At Winchester bis party was waiting. It consisted of three white hunters and two friendly Indians, and a Mr. Gist, who was an ex- ])eriencod woodsman. As the weather was very cold (the month being November), small tents were packed on horses, which were intrusted to the white men ; and thus equip- ped the party set forward and reached the Monongahela. The point Washington aimed for was an Indian vil- lage called Logstown, a little below where the city of Pittsburg, in Pennsylvania, at present stands. As the river flowed in that direction, it would enable him to float the tents and baggage down in canoes; so some of these were procured and the loads placed in them, in charge of some of the men, while the rest of the party Ibllowed along the bank. They at last reached the Forks of the Ohio near Pitts- burg. The weather was intensely cold, but Washington stopped to look at the position, lie saw at a glance how strong it was, and that it was the very place for a fort; which was a proof of liis good-sense, for Fort Dnqucsnc was afterward erected there l»y the French. At last he reached I^ogstown, and here he had a long talk with the "Half King" of the Indians, whose name 112 STORIES OF THE OLD DOMINION. was Tanacharisson. The object of this talk was to per- suade him to promise to have nothing to do with the French; l»nt Tanacharisson, although he was friendly to the English, was afraid to do so, and evaded making any promises. He was full of polite speeches, after the In- dian fashion ; but the French commander, he said, was at OHIO liivEK. a fort near Lake Erie, and, if Washington wished, he would go with him to see this commandant. Washington accepted his offer, and set out with Tana- charisson and other Indians, who guided him to a place called Venango. Here a cunning old French captain, WASHINGTON IX THE AVILDERXESS. 113 named Joncaire, met them, and set plenty of drink before them. The object of this was to make Wat^hington drunk, and induce him to talk freely; but the plan did not suc- ceed, and he soon left Captain Joncaire, and pushed on with the Indians toward the fort near Lake Erie. After a long and freezing ride he reached the fort, and was courteously received. Tlie commandant was an old French officer, called the Chevalier de St. Pierre, with a silvery head, and clad in a fine uniform. He made the young Virginian a low bow, and invited him into the fort, and Washington then handed him a letter which he had brought from Governor Dinwiddle. This the chevalier received with another polite bow, and then he retired to read it. Two days then passed, and, on one pretence or other, the old chevalier delayed giving an answer to the letter. Washington soon saw what this meant. The chevalier was extremely polite, but he was quite as cunning, and during all this time was endeavoring secretly to persuade Tanacharisson to remain friendly to the French, Wash- ington found this out, and was very angry ; but the smil- ing old Frenchman informed him that he was mistaken in supposing any such thing; and at last he gave him a reply to Governor Dinwiddle's letter. This showed that the chevalier was a good soldier as well as a diplomatist. He informed his Excellency Governor Dinwiddie that he would send his letter to the INIarquis Duqucsne, in Can- ada; but as to giving up the country, he could not and would not do so : he was ordered to hold it, and he meant to obey his orders. This was all Washington cuuld obtain from liini, and he now prepared to set out on his return. Tlic old Clieva- lier de St. Pierre was both j)olitc and cunning to the last. He furnished Washington with plenty of canoes to carry 114 STORIES OF THE OLD DOMINION. his baggage, and a quantity of provisions, but secretly tried to persuade Tanacliarisson not to return with him. But in this he failed. Tanacharisson went back with Washington in the canoes, which were rowed down French Creek. The horses followed by land. And that was the last they saw of the old Chevalier de St. Pierre. II. The boating expedition down French Creek was a diffi- cult affair. It was full of floating ice, and several times the canoes were nearly staved to pieces. Now and then the men were obliged to jump into the water and drag them over shallows ; and once they found that a bend in tlie river was so full of broken ice that they were com- pelled to take the canoes on their backs, and carry them a quarter of a mile before they could find open water again. At last they reached Venango, where they parted with Tanacharisson and the rest of the Indians, and Wash- ington determined to push on, on foot, for Virginia. He was induced to do this by tlie terrible condition of the roads. They were now almost impassable. The wa- ter and snow in them had frozen, and at every step the horses broke through and stumbled, and more than once fell beneath their riders. It was plain, therefore, to Wash- ington that he would never reach Virginia if he depend- ed upon the horses to carry him there; so he and his friend Gist strapped knapsacks on their backs to carry their provisions and papers, took their rifles, buttoned up .their overcoats, and pushed into the woods, leaving the rest of the men, with the horses, to come on in the best manner they could. The long and danarerous march of Washinjjton and his single companion then began. The obstacles before them were enough to dishearten them. It was the depth of WASHINGTON IN THE WILDERNESS. 115 winter, and the weather was freezing. They were in the heart of the wilderness, which was covered with snow, and could only guess at their way ; and, what was worse than all, they were surrounded by hostile Indians, the friends of the French. Perhaps in all Washington's long life he was exposed to no peril greater than on this occa- sion. It seemed veiy doubtful indeed whether he and Gist would ever return alive to Virginia. But they pushed forward fearlessly, and Providence watched over them. They ate, when they were hungry, some of the provisions carried in their knapsacks, and at night slept by a fire in the woods. All day long the steady tramp continued through the desolate woods, and at last they reached a place bearing the gloomy name of Murdering Town, where they came upon a band of In- dians. As soon as he saw these Indians, Gist, who was an old woodsman, began to suspect them. IIo did not like their looks, and their side glances excited his suspi- cion. He therefore strongly advised Washington not to stop, but to push on ; and as one of tlie Indians offered himself as a guide, his offer was accepted, and he accom- panied them. It soon became evident that Gist was right in his sus- picions. The first thing the Indian guide did was to offer to carry Washington's gun. This he was far too wise to consent to, and refused, which made the Indian sulk3^ He had evidently hoped to induce Washington to give up his gun, and his next attemi)t was to get the two men in liis power. Night was coming, and they looked about for a place to build a camp-fire; but the Indian advised them against tliis. There were some Ottawa Indians in the woods, lie said, who would certainly come upon them :iiicl murder them; but his own cabin was near, and if they would go with him they would be safe. 116 STORIES OF THE OLD DOMINION. This was very suspicious, and they resolved to be on their guard. The good-sense of this was soon seen. They refused the Indian's offer, and went on looking for water, near which they meant to encamp. The Indian guide was walking ten or twenty yards in front of them, when, just as they came to an open space where the glare of the snow lit up the darkness, the Indian turned and levelled his gun at Washington and fired. The bullet did not strike him, and the Indian darted behind a tree. But Washington rushed upon him and seized him before he could escape. Gist came up at once, and was eager to put the guide to death. But for some reason Washington would not consent to this. He took the Indian's gun away from him, and soon afterward they reached a small stream, where they made tlie guide build them a fire to camp by for the night. Gist was now very uneasy. He knew tlie Indians much better than Washington did, and told him that if he would not put tlie guide to death they must get away from him. This was agreed to, and the Indian was told he could go to his cabin, if he chose, for the night. As to themselves, they would camp in the woods, and join him there in the morning, which they could easily do by following his tracks in the snow. The guide was glad to get away, and was soon out of sight; Gist followed him cautiously, listening to his foot- steps breaking the dry twigs in the woods. As soon as he was sure that the Indian was gone, he came back to Washington and told him that if he valued his life he had better get away from this spot, as he was certain that the guide meant to bring other Indians to murder them ; so they again set forward through the woods. When they had gone about half a mile they kindled another fire, but did not lie down to sleep. The fire was only to deceive the Indians. Instead of going to sleep. WASHINGTON IN THE WILDERNESS. 117 Washington and Gist set out again, and travelled all that night and the next day without stopping. They knew that their lives depended on getting away quickly from that dangerous country. And at last they reached the banks of the Alleghany, a little above the present city of Pittsburg. III. They had expected to cross to the eastern bank of the Alleghany on the ice, but this they now found was impos- sible. Instead of presenting a level floor of ice from bank to bank, the river was only frozen about fifty yards from each shore, and the channel in the middle was open and full of drifting ice. It came down in large masses, and there was no possibility of crossing ; so the two travellers lay down for the night, to consider what they would do in the morning. There seemed no hope of crossing except by means of a raft, that is, by binding logs together in some manner, and floating over upon them. This they resolved to at- tempt. As soon as daylight came they began the work. Gist probably had a hatchet with him, as woodmen gener- ally carried one, and trees were cut down and tied togeth- er with grape-vines. Tliis rough raft was then dragged to the edge of tlie ice, and tlie two men got upon it and pushed it into tlie water. This was done by means of long poles, whidi they had cut for tlie ])urposc; and soon the raft was driving on into the midst of the broken ice. Their situation soon became dangerous. The current was strong, and in spite of all they could do to force the raft across, the ice swept it down, and they could not rcacli the shore. P]very exertion was made to steady it, and in attempting to do so Washington mot with a very dangerous accident. He was leaning on his long ])ole, resting on the bottom of the river, which was about ten 118 STORIES OF THE OLD DOMINION. feet deep, wlien the ice crashed against it, and he was thrown into the water. Few things are more perilous than this. The water was freezing cold, and he no doubt had on his heavy overcoat, and this clogged his move- ments and threatened to sink him with its weight. And here let me stop a moment to give you some advice which may save your life some day. Never ford a deep stream WASHINGTON ON HIS HOMEWARD JOURNEY. on horseback or otherwise with an overcoat on. First take it off, with your arms, if you carry any ; then you may swim out if an accident happens. If you do not, you will probably be drowned. Fortunately Washington succeeded in getting back on the raft, in wliich Gist no doubt assisted him. They were then swept along, and gave up all attempts to reach the WASHINGTON IN THE WILDERNESS. 119 shore, where they had intended at first to do. At last they saw a chance for safety. The ice drove the raft near a small island, and they managed to get upon it. The raft was then carried away, and disappeared in the floating ice, and they found themselves on firm ground again. But their situation seemed nearly as bad as ever, if not worse. They were upon a small island which had no fuel upon it, it seems, for we are told that they could not make a fire. The shore was still at some distance, and they had no means of reaching it ; and the cold was so intense that Gist had his hands and feet frozen. It was a miserable night, and they must have remembered it for years after- ward. They lay down in their overcoats and shivered through the dark hours, until at last day came and they looked around. Providence had befriended them. The floating blocks of ice had frozen together during the night, and they saw that there was a solid pathway to the shore. They reach- ed it without trouble, though his frozen feet must have given Gist intense pain in walking; and then they set forward again with brave hearts toward the South. Soon their troubles were over. Tliey reached without further accident the house of a trader whom they knew, on the Monongahcla Iliver, and he received them cordially and supplied all tlieir wants. Wasliington then bought a horse, as his own were far behind; and sixteen days afterward he was hundreds of miles distant, in "Williamsburg, informing Governor Din- widdle of tlie results of his expedition. IV. Tl)is adventurous journey through the Great Woods crave Washington a higli reputation. It was seen that 120 STOKIES OF THE OLD DOMINION. he was a man who could be depended upon, and in the next spring (1754) he was appointed one of the officers to command an expedition against the French. I have not time to give you a full account of this ex- pedition; but as it is well to know the main facts, I will tell you these before I finish my story of Washington's adventures in the wilderness. The old Chevalier de St, Pierre's letter to Dinwiddle was not at all satisfactory, and the governor determined to send a body of troops and drive the French out of the country. This was approved of by everybody, and Washington was appointed to command a part of them. In April he was ready, and marched to Cumberland, then called Wills' Creek; but here he heard unwelcome news. Some Virginians had gone in front to build a fort at the forks of the Ohio, on the very spot .selected, you may re- member, by Washington on his way to visit the Chevalier de St. Pierre. The force sent was small, and they were suddenly attacked by several hundred French and In- dians, who easily captured them. The French then set about finishing the fort for themselves, after which they marched toward Virginia, to attack the forces sent against them. This was the news received by Washington, and, at the head of one hundred and fifty men, he advanced to meet the enemy. On the way he was joined by his old acquaintances. Gist and Tanacharisson, who told him that a large body of French and Indians were not far off. He therefore halted at a place called the Great Meadows, and threw up an earthwork. This he called Fort Neces- sity, and here he waited. Tanacharisson, with some Indians, then went forward into the woods, and soon came back and reported that they had found a force of Frenchmen a few miles oflT. WASUIXGTON IX THE AVILUERXESS. 121 They numbered oirfy about fifty, he said, and Washington determined to advance quietly and take them by surprise. This was done, and a fight followed. Tlie French were posted behind rocks, but the Virginians attacked and de- feated them, killing several, among whom was their com- mander, De Jumonville. All were now in high spirits, and other forces joined them. "Washington had four hundred men, and he march- ed forward to otter the French battle. On the way, how- ever, he received intelligence which made him hesitate. The enemy had been re -enforced heavily, and were ad- vancing to attack him. He therefore retreated again to Fort Necessity, and the French and Indians, to the num- ber of about nine hundred, soon appeared in front of it. They were commanded by an otticer named De Villiers, a brother-in-law of De Jumonville's, and the fighting at once began. Tlic Yii'ginians fought well, but were op- posed to more than double their number. They Avere also suffering for food, and the rain was pouring, and they could not see the French and Indians, who were concealed in the w'oods. All this was very discouraging. They could not vent- ure far into the woods for fear of being surrounded, and they could not stand a siege, as they had no provisions. After fighting for some time, the French demanded their surrender; and as the terms were favorable, Washington consulted with his officers, and resolved to accept them. He agreed to surrender, and did so on July the Fourtli (lTo4). llis men marched out of Fort Necessity, leaving their cannon behind theni, and the Frencli were thus mas- ters of the whole country. This was what is known in history as the "Surrender at Great ^^eadows." It was not a very glorious affair, as the Virginians had four liiindred men, if the enemy 6 122 STORIES OF THE OLD DOMIJNIOX. had nine hundred. But I suppose Washington did what was most prudent. He certainly did not act from fear, for his whole life proves that he never had any ; and the Governor and House of Burgesses approved of his course, and thanked him for what he had done. The events here related will show you what Wash- ington's character was, and why so much confidence was placed in hitn. Although quite a young man, he was cool and determined, as he clearly showed in his dealings with Joncaire and St. Pierre, and afterward in the expedition I have just spoken of If he had been thoughtless and hot-headed, as young men are apt to be, he would have failed in everything, and i)erhaps shed his men's blood for nothing at Great Meadows. But he seems to have acted as coolly as he afterward did when he was a gray- haired general. He saw what was the best to do, and he did it to the best of his ability ; and to say that is the same as saying that he was a great man even then. BRADDOCK AND HIS SASU. 123 BRAD DOCK AND HIS SASH. I. TuERE was one other evciiL in the old " Frencli War," as it was called, which I must relate. It was a remarka- ble incident, which many persons long remembered, and went by the name of " ]>raddock's Defeat." I have told you of the surrender at Great Meadows in 1754. When the news reached England it caused great excitement. At last the long dispute between France and England had ended in fighting, and troops were sent over to make war on the Frenchmen. These troops were first to march and capture Fort Duquesne ; then they were to move on and attack the other French strongholds one after another; and as no one supposed that they could be defeated, it was expected that the whole country would be in possession of the English by the end of the year. This was a fine plan to write down upon paper, but much harder to carry out. The English soldiers knew nothing whatever about fighting in the woods, and the ffcneral wlio commandt.'d thcjn was so headstrong that he would take advice from no one His name was General Braddock, and he was about forty years of age. lie was a stout, bluff, red-faced, obstinate soldier, with the highest possible opinion of himself and his men, but very little respect for the " provincials," as he called the Americans. He did n(»t look u]iiiu them as soldiers, and swore that his "regulars" would show tin iii liuw to fight. The provin- cials, he said, might y crossing at these l)e could advance straight on the fort; and he made all his arrange- ments to do so at davlight on the next morning. G* 130 STORIES OF THE OLD DOMINIOX. That was the last night on earth for many of the brave fellows in the little army. Death was coming upon them swiftly. And I will now relate what took place. Iir. At daylight the army was drawn up and roadv to march. It was the morning of the 9th of July, 1755. The force was the advance, you know, of twelve hun- dred men and ten pieces of artillery. They were partly English regulars and partly Virginians, and at the word they inarched down to the ford and crossed without trou- ble. The regulars went in front, though Washington had strongly advised Braddock to allow the Virginians to go before. These "Rangers," as they were called, were far better acquainted with fighting in the Avoods, he said, than the English regulars. But this only irritated Brad- dock. He gave a very short answer, and would not make any change. And what he now did was still worse. In- stead of advancing in silence, so as to surprise the ene- my, as he should have done, he ordered tlie drums to be beaten and the fifes to be blown, as if he was anxious to inform the French that he was coming. In this man- ner the English marched on, in their bright red uniforms, and with their muskets glistening in the sun. The flags floated, the cannon rumbled, the drums and fifes "were in full blast; and Washington afterward told his friends that it was the finest sight he had ever looked upon in his life. They were soon at the second ford, and found that there was no trouble in crossing here either. The water was shallow, and the men waded, and were followed by tlie cavali-y and cannon. The drums were beating still and the fifes sounding shrilly; so if the FrencH had not known of Braddock's approach, they would have known it novr. BRADDOCK AND HIS SASH. 131 Before them, beyond the river, tliey saw a plain ; and as Braddock knew that he Avas near the enemy, he made liis ])reparations for battle. A part of the array was to advance in front nnder Colonel Gage, and Braddock himself was to follow with the reserve or main bod}', ■which was to sni)port the advance if it was attacked. Flanking parties were then sent out on both flanks of the army, which at once moved forward toward Fort Dn- quesne. Tlie name of the ofiicer in command of the fort at this time was De ContreccEur. As the whole country was full of reports about the expedition, he knew that Braddock was coming to attack him. This lie was very much afraid of Ilis force was not large, and he feared that he would not be able to defend the place, but be compelled to retire and give it up to the English. But this did not suit a young French officer in the fort, named Ue Beau- jeu. He oflered to take a party of French and Indians and march to meet Braddock, and to this De Contrecceur consented. De Bcaujeu accordingly selected his men, and, placing liimself at the head of them, set forward to meet and fight the i^nglish. The bloody encounter followed very soon. I have men- tioned the plain over which the J-Cnglisli were marching. Beyond this plain, in fiont, was a rising ground, Ijchind which were woods; and on each side of tlic army, as it marched up the liill, were two ravines or liollows full of bushes antl trees. Here the battle took place. Colonel Gage was march- ing up steadily, with liis men in close order, and followed l)y I>rad