Makers of Virginia history

Preface

Virginia has been called the '^ Mother of States and of Statesmen " — a compliment justly due the " Old Dominion." In this little book an effort has been made to give biographical sketches of some of those great leaders who have placed Virginia in the forefront of American states. One great difficulty, however, has presented itself to the author in preparing these sketches : the impossibility of treating the many great men whom our state has produced. When we consider, in addition to those who are treated here, such names as Morgan the Thunderbolt, Wythe, Giles, the Barbours, Gary, Garrington, the many Lees, Doddridge, Baldwin, Tazewell, Taylor, the Masons, Stewart, Leigh, Grayson and scores of others, there seems to be no end to Virginia's distinguished sons. Each locality in the state undoubtedly has some citizen who can truly rank as a maker of Virginia history, though his name is not mentioned in this book. Our purpose, therefore, has been to select only a few characters in the different periods of our history, and to narrate the chief events in their lives in such a way as to give the story of Virginia history from 1607 to the present day. We believe that the best way to teach V.rginia history is by holding up before the boys and girls the deeds of those men who have done so much in the making of our history,

PREFACE.

and at the same time to give them, on a whole, characters worthy of their imitation. Children should get from their school work laudable ambitions, and there is no better way to stimulate and inspire them than through the history of our great men. This book may be used in two ways :

(1) As a history. It may be put into the hands of the pupils and taught in the same way as any history of Virginia that may be a purely chronological treatment. For this purpose review questions and geography study have been added to each chapter.

(2) As a supplementary reader. Every school in Virginia should have a reader which deals entirely with Virginia history, and nothing will be found so profitable and interesting to children as a reading lesson about the men who have made our history.

One result which the author earnestly hopes may be accomplished by this book is a deeper interest in the local history of the state. May evefy teacher in the state try to find out something about his or her locality, and about the great men of that community. Let this information be taught to the children, and they will grow each day more patriotic. If a spirit of patriotism and of admiration for our great men is firmly imbedded in the youth of our land, then Virginia will have a race of high-minded men in whose hands the future of our dear old Commonwealth -will ever be safe.

J. A. C. Chandler.

Contents

CHAPTER

PAGE

I. — John Smith, the Adventueer . . 11

Chapter II. John Smith

2. ''The Founder of Virginia/'

When Smith was a boy, he had heard of Virginia, that wonderful country across the Atlantic, where the English had tried to make a settlement under the direction of Sir Walter Ealeigh. Before learning of Smith's j adventures in Virginia, you should likewise know of

Raleigh's attempt to colonize America.

In 1584, Sir Walter Raleigh, | a distinguished courtier and I scholar, received from Queen Elizabeth a charter allowing i him to send settlers to Virginia. Before sending over a colony, Captain Philip Amidas and Captain Arthur Barlow were dispatched with two ships to explore the country.

Amidas and Barlow landed on the coast of the Carolinas on the fourth day of July, 1585, and were greatly

SIR WALTER RALEIGH.

impressed with the fertihty of the soil and its products.

Here they found the melon in its full fruitage, beautiful

flowers, and vast forests where roamed the deer and

bear, and where birds of

beautiful plumage sang

with melodious song.

From the Indians they

heard stories of the

great mountains to the

west filled with gold

and precious jewels.

For the first time, they

saw and learned the use

of turkeys, potatoes and

tobacco. They carried

back to England some

of these products, and

spread abroad the news of the ^^good land,'' which the

Virgin Queen Elizabeth named in honor of herself,

'^ Virginia." At that time, Virginia was a vast region

described as follows: '^The bounds thereof on the east

side are the ocean; on the south lieth Florida; on the

north Nova Francia (New France); as for the west

thereof, the limits are unknown.'' But the English

always held that Virginia ran to the South Sea or

Pacific Ocean, which then was thought to be only a

THE VIRGIN QUEEN.

20 MAKERS OF VIRGINIA HISTORY. i

few hundred miles west of the Atlantic. Thus Virginia in its beginning was practically all the present United States.

Raleigh determined to send settlers at once to Virginia, and he experienced no trouble in securing them because of the reports of the wonderful country which contained marvelous wealth. In 1585, Ralph Lane, as governor, with one hundred colonists, landed at Roanoke Island just off the coast of North Carolina, and began the first English colony in the New World. The settlement suffered greatly from the Indians, who attempted to destroy it. When the settlers were on the point of perishing from starvation, they were surprised by a visit from the bold sea captain, Francis Drake, who took them back to England. Raleigh still felt that Virginia should be settled, and in 1587 sent over a second colony under John White as governor. White went directly to Roanoke Island where the colonists at once began to rebuild the houses that had been abandoned the year before. Among the colonists were Mr. Dare and his. wife, who was a daughter of Governor White. Shortly I after their arrival a little girl was born to them, and in honor of the country she was named Virginia Dare. She was the first English child born in America.

Governor White soon returned to England for provisions, but he was detained in England on account

JOHN SMITH.

of war with Spain.

When, after two years' absence, he returned to Roanoke Island, not a man, woman or child could be found. In vain did he search for the colony. On a tree was written the word, " Croatan," which was supposed to mean an Indian village near by, but the neighboring Indians knew nothing of it I or of the colonists.

In North Carolina to-day, there is a tribe of Indians known as the Croatans, and some think that they have in their veins the blood of Raleigh's colonists, because many of the

THE STONE MARKING THE bITE OF OLD FORT RALEIGH.

INSCRIPTION.

On this site in July-August, 1585 (O. S.), colonists, sent out from England by Sir Walter Ealeigh, built a fort, called by them " The New Fort in Virginia."

These colonists were the first settlers of the English race in America. They returned to England in July, 1586, with Sir Francis Drake.

Near this place was born, on the 18th of August, 1587, Virginia Dare, the first child of English parents born in America — daughter of Ananias Dare and Eleanor White, his wife, members of another band of colonists, sent out by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1587.

On Sunday, August 20, 1587, Virginia Dare was baptised. Manteo, the friendly chief of the Hatteras Indians, had been baptised on the Sunday preceding. These baptisms are the first known celebrations of a Christian sacrament in the territory of the thirteen original United States.

Indians of this tribe have light

MAKEES OF VIRGINIA HISTORY.

hair and blue eyes. But this is merely a guess. No one has ever discovered what became of the settlers,

and to this day Raleigh's colony is spoken of as the " lost colony of Roanoke.''

Raleigh made no further attempts to colonize Virginia, but he always believed that England would occupy the vast region between the St.

Lawrence River and Florida and that some day in this fertile territory would be a great English nation. History has shown that Raleigh was a far-seeing man.

For twenty years the colonization of Virginia was laid aside by the English. During this time Queen Ehzabeth died, and was succeeded by King James I. The king was learned in books, but without common sense or good judgment; however, when many merchants of his kingdom pressed him with regard to Virginia, he saw that if a successful settlement were made

EOANOKE ISLAND, THE HOME OF THE "lost colony."

JOHN SMITH.

there, it would greatly increase the power of England, and, may be, would add to his own wealth. Moreover, James was a man of true religious impulses and he was anxious that the savages should be converted to Christianity. He consented to form two companies; one ' called the London Company, and the other the Plymouth

I Company. To these companies he granted in 1606, a charter, by

I which the London

j Company was to be allowed to settle in

isouthern Virginia,

j somewhere between

I the Cape Fear (N. C.)

land Hudson (N. Y.)

I rivers. The Plymouth Company was to be allowed to settle in northern Virginia between what is now the northern boundary of Maine and the mouth of the Potomac River. Both of these

] companies were trading enterprises, and hoped to find in the New World gold and silver in great quantities, and to acquire much wealth by trading with the Indians.

KING JAMES I.

The London Company determined to plant a colony at once. The chief leaders in the enterprise were Bartholomew Gosnold, a sea captain of great courage and bravery; Sir Thomas Gates and Sir George Somers, two English gentlemen of piety; Robert Hunt, an English clergyman; Edward Maria AVingfield, a prominent London merchant, and Captain Smith. The latter has been called the ''soul of the enterprise and the founder of Virginia.''

In December, 1606, three small vessels, Susan Constant, Discovery and Godspeed, sailed down the Thames on their way to Virginia. There were on board, besides the ship's crew, one hundred and five settlers, of whom fifty-four were classed as gentlemen, being men unused to hard work. Only twelve were classed as laborers, the others being goldsmiths, carpenters, perfumers, barbers, masons, tailors, etc. Among the gentlemen were Edward Maria Wingfield, Captain Bartholomew Gosnold, Mr. George Percy, brother of the Earl of Northumberland, Robert Hunt, the clergyman, and Captain John Smith. Hardly had they put to sea before Wingfield charged that Smith intended to ' ' usurp the government, murder the council and make himself king,'' and caused Smith to be arrested and carried a prisoner to Virginia.

On the 26th of April, 1607, the ships came into the

JOHN SMITH.

mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. The capes through which they passed were called Cape Henry and Cape Charles, in honor of the Princes Henry and Charles, the sons of James I. Into the bay flowed a broad river, which was named James, in honor of the king. The

THE LANDING OF SETTLERS AT JAMESTOWN.

settlers went up the river and on the thirteenth day of May, 1607, landed on a peninsula, which is now an island, on the north side of the river, and there began the settlement of Jamestown. This was the real beginning of the English colonies in America. When the settlers started on their voyage to Virginia,

King James did not indicate who should compose the council to govern the colony, but gave written instructions which were placed in a sealed box, not to be opened until Virginia was reached. After entering the Chesapeake Bay, the colonists opened the box, and it was found out that Christopher Newport, Bartholomew Gosnold, Edward Maria Wingfield, John Smith, John Rat cliff e, John Martin and George Kendal were the members of the council. According to the instructions, the council proceeded to elect one of their number as president, and the choice fell upon Wingfield.

At first Smith was not allowed to become a member of the council because he was still under arrest. On his demand, he was granted a trial, at which he proved that he was not guilty of the charges made by Wingfield, and he was, therefore, acquitted. Kendal, who acted as prosecutor, was condemned to pay Smith two hundred pounds ($1,000) damages, which the captain generously presented to the colony. Smith and his prosecutors then partook of the holy communion, and Smith was permitted to take a seat in the council.

The May weather was pleasant and everything seemed to indicate a prosperous beginning. At once the settlers began to build houses. While waiting for the erection of a church, an old sail was stretched between some trees for a place of worship, and here the

JOHN SMITH.

Rev. Mr. Hunt preached twice every Sunday and read the services daily. It is an interesting fact that of this settlement, which began with religious services, nothing now stands except an old church tower surrounded by some tombstones which are fast crumbling to dust. The old church tower I now to be seen at Jamestown was the ipart of a church built jsoon after the settlejmenthad been made.

I Hardly had work I

[begun before summer was at hand, land a terrible fever {broke out among the {colonists. In telling of the suffering of the settlers, George Percy wrote : ' 'Burning fevers destroyed them. Some departed suddenly, but for the most part, they died of famine. There ^ere never Englishmen left in a foreign land in such misery as we were in this new discovered Virginia. It Was indeed a pitiful thing to hear the groaning of the starving and dying.'' In a few months, more than half

RUINS OF THE OLD CHURCH TOWER AT JAMESTOWN.

28 MAKERS OF VIKGINIA HISTORY.

of the settlers were dead and among them was Bartholomew Gosnold. AVingfield and Kendal, anxious to escape the ravages of the fever, tried to seize the little boat which belonged to the colonists and to sail back to England. Their design was discovered, and they were at once deposed from the council. Ratcliffe was then elected president of the council in place of Wingfield, but the colonists were as distrustful of him as they had been of Wingfield.

The colony was now greatly in need of food, and so many were ill with fever that it seemed that all would perish. Smith now came to the rescue. He acted with promptness and energy. Going at once to a village near what is now Hampton, he demanded corn of the Indians. When they refused his request, he fired upon them, and captured their god, Okee, which they carried to battle with them. The loss of their god caused the Indians to yield at once to Smith's demand, and they gave him all the corn that he needed. With this he returned to Jamestown in time to save the colony from starvation, and also to prevent Wingfield and Kendal in their second attempt to seize the pinnace.

The colony being well provisioned with the supplies secured from the Indians, Smith now moved up the James River and entered the Chickahominy, looking for a route to the Pacific Ocean, which, according to the belief of those times, lay but a short way from the Atlantic. About the last of May, Smith and some others had gone up the James River as far as the falls where Richmond now stands. Knowing that he could make no further progress in his boat up the James, he determined to explore the Chickahominy. In the swamps of this stream, he lost his companions and was captured by the Indians, who took him to Opechancanough, the chief of the Pamunkey tribe.

Smith had with him a circular compass of ivory with a dial face under glass on either side. He presented this to the chief, who stood in amazement at the movement of the needle and at the glass which permitted him to see the needle without touching it. At once Smith saw his opportunity for making the Indians stand in awe of him, and by this means he hoped to save his life. He therefore talked to Opechancanough about the roundness of the earth, the courses of the sun and moon, and the use of the compass. The Indians, however, fastened Smith to a tree and were about to shoot j him to death with arrows, when suddenly the old chief held up the compass, whereupon all the warriors laid down their arms and untied Smith. At last he was taken by order of Opechancanough to the latter's brother, who ruled over the Powhatans, a tribe of Indians living along the James and York rivers. Their

30 MAKEBS OF VIRGINIA HISTOHY.

ruler was called after the name of the tribe, Powhatan.

The Powhatan who was ruling at the time that the English settled in America is described as a sour-looking man, but tall and well built. His hair was gray and his beard was so thin that it seemed none at all. Although about sixty years old, he was still able to endure much hardship. About his person a guard of forty or fifty of the tallest men of his country was in constant attendance.

To this Powhatan, who was residing at Werowocomoco (Gloucester county) on York River, Smith was sent by Opechancanough. When Smith was ushered into the presence of the brawny emperor of the woods, he beheld him seated before a fire in his royal robe of raccoon skins, and surrounded by two hundred of his braves. On either side of the Indian chief sat a young woman of sixteen or eighteen years, and behind them were many women with their heads and shoulders painted red, and their necks bedecked with great chains of white beads. As Smith entered, all the people gave a great shout. The Queen of the Appomattox was appointed to bring him water to wash his hands, and another woman brought him a bunch of feathers for a towel. Then the Indians feasted him on turkey, after which Powhatan and his warriors held a meeting to decide what should be done

JOHN SMITH.

to the Englishman. The conclusion was reached that the white man should be put to death.

While the Indians were consulting, an Indian maiden twelve years old stood looking on. She was the favorite daughter of Powhatan and she was called Pocahontas, which means "bright stream between two hills.^^ She w^as filled with pity for Smith, and was greatly concerned

Yom an old engraving.

CAPTAIN SMITH RESCUED BY POCAHONTAS.

jwhen the Indians brought out two large stones and laid Smith's head upon them. Just as the Indians were

labout to beat out his brains, she ran up, threw herself jupon Smith, seized his head in her arms and laid her

32 MAKERS OP VIRGINIA HISTORY.

head upon his. She thereupon begged her father not to kill Smith. After much entreaty, the old chief consented to spare Smith's life, and ordered him to make bells and beads for his daughter. Thus, in an unexpected way, God saved the life of Smith and the first colony of Virginia.

After two days, Powhatan asked Smith to return to Jamestown, and send him two guns and a grindstone. With professions of great friendship, Powhatan furnished Smith twelve guides to conduct him back to the settlement. They spent the night in the woods, where Smith feared that he would be put to death. The next morning they reached Jamestown, and the colonists received Smith with great joy and treated the savages with kindness. Smith showed the Indians two cannon and some grindstones, which he told them to take to their chief. He caused the cannon to be fired into the trees, and down came the boughs and icicles. The Indians ran away in fear, but Smith finally persuaded them to return and get the presents and the grindstones which he was sending to Powhatan.

Smith reached the colony at a time when his services were greatly needed. The people, reduced to forty, were on the point of starvation, and Ratcliffe, who was then president, was a poor leader. Pocahontas with her attendants came every four or five days, bringing

Smith provisions of venison, turkey and corn. ''Her kindness/' said Smith, ''saved many of the Hves that for all else had starved with hunger.'' The people blessed Pocahontas and loved her for her kindness, but the president and the council began to envy Smith because Powhatan sent him so many presents, and because Pocahontas brought him so many things to eat.

Smith was regarded by the Indians as one who could foretell what would happen. His knowledge of the stars and of the use of the compass had made them believe that he was more than human, and consequently he could do almost anything with them. But when Captain Newport, arriving shortly after this, called upon Powhatan, and attempted to trade with him, the crafty old Indian chief ^said: "Captain Newport, it is not agreeable to my greatness in a trifling manner to trade with trifles. Therefore, lay down all your commodities and what I like, I will take, and give you what I think fitting their value." Newport did as Powhatan desired and to his surprise, the Indian took all of his trinkets and gave him four bushels of corn, instead of twenty hogsheads, which quantity Newport had expected.

On another occasion Powhatan sent Newport twenty turkeys and asked for twenty swords in return, and Newport actually complied with the request. With

Smith, Powhatan had more difficulty. For twenty turkeys which he sent Smith, he did not receive a single sword. He thereupon became angry and planned to destroy Jamestown, but Smith, by his watchfulness discovered the plot, and by his firm and stern treatment of the Indians prevented them from succeeding. All the while Pocahontas was befriending the English and doing many kindnesses to Smith.

Shortly after this, Smith went upon an expedition to explore the Chesapeake Bay. He entered the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers and sailed along the eastern shore. The accurate map which Smith made of his voyage shows that he was a wonderful navigator. When he returned to Jamestown in September, 1608, he again found the colonists in a frightful condition. Many had died, others were sick, and all the provisions in the storehouse had been ruined by rain. Ratcliffe, the president, had been arrested for mutiny. With these conditions existing, the council and people forced Smith to become president of the colony.

Smith put the colonists immediately to work. The palace that Ratcliffe had begun for himself was torn down, the church and fort were repaired, a roof was put on the storehouse to prevent any further damage to the provisions, and the people were drilled so that they might be prepared for an attack from the Indians.

While these things were going on, Newport arrived from England with supplies. Among other presents he brought a crown and a robe for Powhatan. King James had given instructions that Powhatan should be crowned a king after royal fashion.

Captain Smith was sent to Werowocomoco to tell Powhatan of his presents, and to invite him to Jamestown to be crowned. The Indian chief was not at home when Smith and his companions arrived; so he was sent for, and, in the mean time, Pocahontas and her women entertained the Englishmen. Smith and his companions were seated in an open field before a fire when they heard a great noise and shrieking. They seized their arms, thinking that Powhatan had treacherously planned to surprise them, but presently Pocahontas came and assured Smith that no harm was meant, and that she would suffer death herself before any hurt should befall him. Then came thirty young women from the woods, their bodies painted with many colors, but each one in a different fashion. Pocahontas, their leader, had a pair of buck's horns on her head, an otter's skin at her girdle, and a bow and arrow in her hand. The Indian maidens rushed from the woods with great shouts, and forming a ring around Smith and his companions, they executed a peculiar dance.

The next day Powhatan arrived. He received the

MAKERS OF VIRGINIA HISTORY.

message from Newport, after which, drawing himself up Hke a great monarch, he said : "If your king has sent me presents, I also am a king and this is my land. Eight days I will stay to receive them. Your father is to

THE CROWNING OF POWHATAN.

come to me, not I to him." Thus Powhatan refused to go to Jamestown to be crowned, and Captain Newport, therefore, came to Powhatan's home on York River with the presents from King James. After much persuasion old Powhatan put on the scarlet robe, but when he was ordered to kneel to receive the crown, he positively refused to bend his knee. '^At last, by leaning hard on his shoulders, he a little stooped, and Newport put the crown on his head.'' The English then fired a salute in honor of Powhatan, the King, who started up with great fear until he saw that no harm was meant.

Smith had much trouble with the settlers because they would not work. Newport had been told in England to get a lump of gold, and so the colony was looking for gold all the time and neglecting the crops. Therefore, the settlers were frequently in great want. Smith complained that there were too many gentlemen among the colonists. He had written a letter to the London Company asking that they send over more laborers, but each new band of settlers contained chiefly gentlemen who were unwilling to work in the fields.

During the winter of 1608-1609, the colony needed corn and other provisions which Smith determined to get from the Indians. As he was going down James River, he met with a friendly Indian who said to him: ^'Captain Smith, you shall find Powhatan to use you kindly, but trust him not, and be sure he has no opportunity to seize your arms, for he has sent for you only to cut your throat.'' With this warning Smith proceeded to the home of Powhatan at Werowocomoco. The river was frozen, but he landed by breaking through the ice. When he asked Powhatan for corn, the old king pretended he did not have any to sell, and valued a basket of corn at more than he did a basket of copper. Finally, Powhatan told Smith that the English could get corn if they would come ashore unarmed, but, if they brought their arms, the Indians would be afraid and would not furnish the corn. Smith paid no attention to this, but landed his men with their arms. Then Powhatan supplied the corn with which Smith loaded his boats.

Powhatan was now very genial and pleasant and entertained the English with great hospitality. In the night Pocahontas came through the dark woods and told Captain Smith of Powhatan's plot. A great feast of many delicacies had been prepared, and while Smith and his companions were eating, the Indians would try to seize their weapons and kill them. She implored Smith and his men to leave. For her kindness, Smith offered her many presents, but she would receive none, and ran away with tears in her eyes. In an hour's time, eight or ten lusty Indians came with great platters of venison and other eatables. Fearing poisoned food, Smith made them taste every dish. He and his companions then enjoyed the feast, and though the Indians assembled in a great crowd, they did not dare attack the English, who had their guns by their sides. Thus, from one place to another Smith went among the Indians,

JOHN SMITH.

who held him in great fear. On one occasion, he seized old Opechancanough by his hair and led him out in front of all his braves and placed a pistol at his

JOHN SMITHS PISTOL.

Now in possession of the Virginia Historical Society.

breast. Of course, he got all the provisions that he wanted.

By the middle of 1609, the colony contained about six plantations, or forts, along the James. Jamestown was the largest, and had about fifty or sixty houses. Among the plantations was West's settlement, near the present site of Richmond. In September, 1609, as Smith was returning to Jamestown from West's plantation, a bag of gunpowder exploded and severely wounded him in the hip. Smith was so crazed by the wound, that he jumped into the water and was rescued by his companions with great difficulty. When he returned to Jamestown, he found a vessel on the point of starting for England. He at once put the government in the hands of George Percy, in order that he might go to London for medical treatment. The colony at the time contained some four hundred and ninety persons, and was more prosperous than it had been at any time since its estabhshment.

Smith never again returned to Virginia, though he Uved twenty-two years longer. For five years he remained quietly in England, but in 1614 he made a voyage to the coast of New England, and was thereafter known as '^Admiral of New England.'^ The last years of his life were spent in writing his History of Virginia, which was published in 1626. He never married. He died in London in 1631 and was buried in St. Sepulchre's Church. On his tomb is carved his shield with the three Turks' heads; and beneath is a long inscription in poetry of which the following is a part :

" Here lieth one conquered that hatli conquered kings, Subdued large territories and done things Which, to the world, impossible would seem But that truth is held in more esteem.