The Birth of the Nation, Jamestown, 1607

Utterly unconscious of the mine about to be sprung under his feet, Captain Smith mustered all his forces for effective work in the planting season. He probably gave no thought t...

The Emperor Powhatan was now living at Werowocomoco, twelve miles from Jamestown. This had been his favourite residence until the arrival of the English, but he soon "tooke so l...

In December, 1608, there were two hundred men within the palisades at Jamestown; already, although the weather was delightful, "affrighted with famine." The little wooded penins...

Hidden in a dense forest on the banks of the Pamunkey, was Uttamussac, the greatest temple in Powhatan's kingdom. In every territory governed by a "werowance" there were smaller...

Five only of the ships of the fleet of nine sailed from Jamestown October 14, 1609,--one had been lost at sea, one had been wrecked at Bermuda; two, the _Virginia_ and the _Swal...

The sun was just rising, on a frosty morning in February, when the sentinels on guard at Jamestown challenged a company of Indians who were seen defiling through the woods; and...

Lord Delaware followed his prayer at the gate of Jamestown with his own earnest efforts to bring about its fulfilment. He was a wise ruler and generous friend to the colony. The...

Captain Newport found the friends of the colony eager for news from Virginia. He had brought over the first mail from America--a small package of letters which he could easily b...

Now that the _Ph[oe]nix_ had left food enough to sustain the colony all summer, Captain Smith had leisure to heed the restless stirrings of his adventurous spirit. He had long w...

The "Old Stone House" on Ware Creek, according to the Virginia historians, was the resort, at three different times, of the disembodied spirits of famous historical characters....

When Lord Bacon was informed that his great Queen Elizabeth had died just before daybreak, he exclaimed, "A fine morning before sun-rising,"--the rising of King James the First....

Newport had been for many weeks overdue. The weather was already bitterly cold. A great central camp-fire was kept burning, day and night, which they fed from the limbs of the t...

While Captain Smith was engaged in the life-and-death struggle for food with the Indian Emperor, Newport was arriving in England and unloading, along with his clapboards and soa...

The voyage of the Virginia colonists began, as it ended, in a storm. One of their number, Thomas Studley, tells the story in quaint language:[11] "By unprosperous winds we were...

As Newport had settled his men on land owned by the Paspaheghs, that tribe was the first to hold intercourse with the colonists. Before the landing, when Captain Newport was exp...

The most momentous hour in the history of this country was when three small ships "fell down the Thames from London," freighted with one hundred and five Englishmen on their way...

The church that was burned in the Jamestown fire of January 17, 1608, was the wretched affair of logs, sedge, and dirt, built by the colonists to take the place of the awning be...

Pocahontas seems to have led a quiet life on her husband's tobacco plantation near the city of Henricus, until she visited England in 1616. Captain Smith, learning of her presen...

With Sir Walter Raleigh the history of the English colonies in America begins. He was a prime favourite with Queen Elizabeth, and she knew how to exalt and abase, to create and...

We must soon take our leave of the troublesome old gentleman with the sour look. Governor Dale sends Raphe Hamor on a delicate errand--to ask for his young daughter in marriage-...

The time is at hand when the curtain must be rung down upon the scenes I have tried to present. I was constrained to follow the fortunes of John Smith and Pocahontas, for do wha...

When the colonists looked around them on the first day in their new home, they beheld a scene which will never again in the history of this world be spread before the eyes of man.

We are about to commemorate the settlement of the English at Jamestown three hundred years ago. Under God's blessing, we are not only at peace with all the world, but are bound...

Smith Hard at Work. The Traitor Dutchmen. Wochinchopunck 243-271 captured and Escapes. Smith's Retaliation for Indian Outrage. An Indian's Eloquence. Smith gains Influence over...

The First Mail to England. Enthusiastic Praise of New Country. 96-115 Policy of Colonists to encourage Immigration. Sir Walter Cope's Letters. Council discuss Abandonment of Col...

Religion of Powhatan's Tribe. Kiwassa. Okeus. Sacrifice of 64-84 Children. Conversion of Indians almost Impossible. Temple at Uttamussac. Dress and Chants of Priests. Immortalit...

Smith's Enemies in England. A New Charter. Its Most 228-242 Significant Article. Limits of the Colony Defined. New Rulers for Virginia. The Governor's Arbitrary Power. This Nati...

Famine Threatened. "Gentlemen" and Hard Work. A Remedy for 206-227 Profanity. "Noblesse Oblige." Indian Summer. Soap and the Plague. The First Marriage. A Fortunate Family. Powh...

Indians conduct Smith to Jamestown. His Enemies There. He is 156-176 sentenced to be Hanged. Newport arrives and releases Smith and Wingfield. Smith sends Gifts to Powhatan. The...

Winter of Unusual Severity. Starvation Threatened. Idleness 116-132 and Waste. Corn procured from Indians. Plans made and Abandoned. Newport Long Overdue. John Smith explores th...

Werowocomoco. Powhatan's Absolute Power. His Cruelty. Indian 133-155 Cookery. Bathing. Worship. Powhatan's Wives and Children. His Affection for his Children. Pocahontas. The Dr...

The Patriots of Jamestown. Their Services as Founders of the 332-339 Freedom of America. Address of Hon. Roger A. Pryor. The Town after Seat of Government was removed to William...

Chief of Paspahegh Tribe welcomes Newport. His Appearance. His 85-95 Behaviour. Work of Colonists. Interviews with Indians. Wochinchopunck. Indians' Skill in Archery. Expedition...

Exploration. Greed of the London Company. Dread of Banishment 187-205 to Virginia. A Voyage of Adventure. Smith's Map of Virginia. Golden Dreams Dispelled. Mutineers. Smith made...

Unruly Youths returned to England. Mischievous Letter from 272-293 Ratcliffe. Ratcliffe's Death. Percy's Administration. "Beggar's Bush." Loss of Smith Disastrous. Indian Rising...

England's First Colony. Emigrants Subject to Commercial 34-44 Corporation, to Domestic Council, to Superior Council, to Arbitrary Rule of King. The Three Ships. Christopher Newp...

Story of Voyage by Thomas Studley. George Percy. Dissensions 45-55 among Voyagers. Career of John Smith. Ships enter Chesapeake Bay. A Virginia Welcome. Council as appointed by...

Delaware's Wise Rule. A Nemesis for Traitors. Delaware's 294-313 return to England. Strachey's Manuscripts. Friendly Indians. The Marriage of Pocahontas to Kocoun. Indian Marria...

Death of Queen Elizabeth. James I., Appearance and Character. 16-33 Corrupt Court. Poverty of Common People. Highway Robbers. London Company undertakes Virginia Colony. The Nece...

The Church Rebuilt. The Arrival of the _Ph[oe]nix_. Smith's 177-186 "True Relation of Virginia." Powhatan's Plot. Indian Thieves Captured. Released at the Prayer of Pocahontas....

Governor Dale asks in Marriage Powhatan's Youngest Daughter. 314-321 Powhatan's Reception of the Messenger. The Alliance Politely Declined. The Last Years of the Old Emperor. Hi...

Sir Walter Raleigh. Expedition to Islands near North Carolina. 8-15 Glowing Reports. Failure of First Colony. Enmity of Indians. Second Colony to Roanoke Island. Virginia Dare....

Pocahontas at Court. Smith writes the Queen of her Goodness to 322-331 the Colony. Her Dignified Deportment. King James's Jealousy. Pocahontas reproaches John Smith. Her Death a...

Jamestown Celebration. Legends of the Discovery of America. 1-7 Columbus. The Cabots. Pope Alexander VI. Amerigo Vespucci. The Power of Spain. Queen Elizabeth's Patent. Sir Hump...