Nathaniel Bacon's Revolution
A TL
Part 1: The Fall of a despot
Nathaniel Bacon
October 26th, 1676- Nathaniel Bacon recovers from a spell of Dysentery. Celebrating this personal victory he leads his burgeoning forces towards the Chesapeake River where the next stage of Virginia fighting was set to take place. His ragtag forces slowly were gaining experience and they likely would be able to go head to head with the British Naval Squadron.
November 1st, 1676- As the British navy glided up the Chesapeake Bacon's forces began digging in. They believed that the British would make an amphibious attack and the Virginians planned to face it head on. They also camouflaged their area in order to confuse the enemy.
November 2nd, 1676- Seeing how many forces the enemy has assembled Bacon sends his close friend John Ingram to gather forces to fight in the other colonies as part of "an all out revolution to end our Indian woes!" Ingram complies and sets out immediately southward for the Carolinas
Women and priests helping take care of the fallen
November 3rd, 1676- Captain Thomas Grantham commands his forces to land on the Virginia shore. Initially the mission appears to be a success, however, when the soldiers accidentally walk into the rebels trap it turns into a bloodbath. The English squadron is almost completely wiped out by Bacon's forces. In a moment of ingenuity Bacon devises a plan in which his men use the clothes of the Sailors to sneak close to the York at which point they plan to either capture of sink it. His men comply and at dusk arrive at the ships hull. The British sailors, not knowing anything different, pull the men aboard at which point they see they are rebels. They attempt to cry out but the rebels act quickly killing all active men on deck. Meanwhile below deck a silent slaughter takes place. All but 9 of the crew lie dead and the York is taken hold of by Bacon's men with the leader himself coming aboard the conquered ship. The rebels now have weapons, transportation, and momentum on their side as they now turn their eyes towards southern Virginia settlements. Bacon now admits in his private journal:
"This is now about more than the favoring of Natives, more than the removal of a despot, this is about our freedom as colonists to set our rules and lead our people. I wish for this idea to spread. Burning across all the colonies until our mother country has nothing to do but comply. Today we are colonists tomorrow, I hope, full Englishmen."
Governor Berkley
November 7th, 1676- Governor Berkley was found by Bacon's land forces while the leader himself was leading naval battles on the river. Unsure of what to do with the now deposed despot they bound him and take him the the revolts capitol which consists primarily of tents. There he his kept under observation without food and water until Bacon returns.
November 8th, 1676- Bacon himself arrives early in the morning and tells his men what to do with the Governor. His response is very vague. He somewhat mumbled "make an example out of him" towards a group of slaves/ indentured servants. Seizing their opportunity they set upon the Governor and taking out all of their frustration beat him to death mercilessly. Bacon is somewhat shocked upon finding how the Governor perished the following morning but uses a quote from Shakespeare instead of stressing his minor case of grief. He states: "Sic Semper Tyranus" and goes about his daily business. Towards the evening hours, however, he commands his men to make ready to cross across the Potomac into the Catholic colony of Maryland. Though it was only a handful of men chosen Bacon counted on the fact he would be joined by the unemployed, poor indentures of Maryland as well as slaves. Little did he know how right he was.
Ingram rallies North Carolinians to revolt along with their fellow colonists
November 12, 1676- Bacon's assistant John Ingram strikes a chord with North and South Carolina frontiersmen. He convinces them of the Indian danger but goes further in saying that to have complete control of the Native situation the colonies must have complete and total autonomy. Many rural men join him and ,as he sends with a messenger to Bacon, prepare to assault New Bern in the very young colony of North Carolina. It seems to many that the original goal of the Revolution is long gone and now the people must take a side.