GENERAL CUSTER'S LAST CHARGE.
The Battle of the Little Big Horn Run, fought in 1876, by General Custer, in command of United States troops against the Sioux Indians, resulted in the entire destruction of the troops and their brave commander. It was the last great battle with the Indians in America.
OPECANCANOUGH IN CAPTIVITY
Among the emigrants who came over with Newport were three Germans, who believed because of the woful state of the colony that it could not last much longer. They gave their views to Powhatan, and were base enough to offer to help him in putting all the English to death. The old chief fell in with the plan, and agreed that the first step necessary was to "remove" Captain Smith. Powhatan tried many tricks to get him in his power, but that wise man outwitted him every time. The chief warned his warriors that if they failed to kill Smith he would have them slain. About this time a strange accident brought safety to the sturdy governor. One of Powhatan's men had by some means got hold of a quantity of gunpowder, which he told his friends he could handle as well as the whites themselves. Several gathered round to watch him, when the stuff suddenly blew up and killed the Indian and two of his companions. Powhatan and the others were terrified, and filled with a desire for peace. They brought back many stolen articles, and, in 1609, sent half their crop of corn to the settlers. About this time, Captain Smith was so shockingly burned by the burning of his powder bags, that he went to England for surgical aid and never returned to Virginia. It should be added that of the three wicked Germans, one died miserably, and the others were slain by order of Powhatan, because of their deception.
The colonists told the chief that Smith was dead, but he would not believe it, and some time later sent one of his chiefs, Tomocomo, to England, to learn what had become of him. Tomocomo was also ordered to find out all he could about the country, and to learn how many white people were there. The faithful servant began his duty by carrying a long stick into which he cut a notch every time he met a stranger. Needless to say that this means of taking the census proved a failure. When he came back to Virginia and Powhatan asked as to the population on the other side of the deep water, Tomocomo made his famous answer: "Count the stars in the sky, the leaves on the trees, and the sand upon the seashore, for such is the number of people in England."
Powhatan had many broils with the English, but it is only just to say the fault lay more often with the latter than with him. The most shameful of all outrages was that of Captain Argall, who while cruising up the James, invited Pocahontas to visit his ship under the escort of a squaw that had been bribed to betray her. Argall made Pocahontas a prisoner, and took her to Jamestown. He believed Powhatan would hasten to ransom her for a large amount of corn which the settlement needed, but the enraged parent hastily prepared to go to war. During these evil days, John Rolfe and the dusky maiden fell in love with each other, and were married in the quaint old chapel at Jamestown in the month of April, 1613. This pleasing event made Powhatan the friend of the white man and as such he died five years later.
We recall that Pocahontas and her husband visited England in 1616. She received much attention from the court and the leading people of the kingdom, but when about to sail for her native land fell ill and died. She left an infant son Thomas, who was educated in London by his uncle Henry Rolfe.
