Bacon's Rebellion

Uprising in Virginia 1676 under the lead of Nathaniel Bacon, a planter, who asked permi ion to take measures for defense against the Indians, whose movements seemed to threaten the extermination of the whites. Though this was not granted, he gathered his forces and won two signal victories, one of them at "Bloody Run," in the present bounds of Richmond. Bacon extorted from Gov. Berkeley a major's commi ion, a letter to the king exculpating himself and followers, the repeal of some statutes, and the enactment of others. As Berkeley soon reversed this action, and proceeded against Bacon as a rebel, Bacon captured and burned James town, the governor taking to his fleet. Bacon's career was cut short by his death Oct. 29, 1676. His motives seem to have been pure and patriotic, and his rebellion to have had abundant justification in the condition of the colony. After his death the people still sought the re-enactment of "Bacon's laws."