Battle of Bloody Run (1656): Difference between revisions
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|place= Bloody Run Creek, currently paved over, previously near 32nd Street, Richmond, Virginia |
|place= Bloody Run Creek, currently paved over, previously near 32nd Street, Richmond, Virginia |
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|result= defeat of English and allied [[Pamunkey]] tribe |
|result= defeat of English and allied [[Pamunkey]] tribe |
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|combatant1= |
|combatant1="Richahecrian" tribe <br/> |
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|combatant2=[[Great Britain]] <br/> [[Virginia Colony]] <br/> Pamunkey tribe |
|combatant2=[[Great Britain]] <br/> [[Virginia Colony]] <br/> Pamunkey tribe |
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|commander1=unknown |
|commander1=unknown |
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|strength2=~200 (100 Colonial Rangers and 100 Pamunkey warriors) |
|strength2=~200 (100 Colonial Rangers and 100 Pamunkey warriors) |
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The '''Battle of Bloody Run''' was fought in 1656 near [[Richmond, Virginia]]. |
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The '''Battle of Bloody Run''' was fought in 1656 near [[Richmond, Virginia]]. The English colonists of the area were concerned because of the sudden southward migration of a tribe of the [[Manahoac]] confederacy. The Manahoac were enemies of both the [[Iroquois]] and the [[Powhatan]], who were allied with the English. In an attempt to remove the threat, the colonists, together with their Native American allies, attacked the newcome tribe. |
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In 1654, the expansion of the Iroquois Nation (during the [[Beaver Wars]]) displaced several tribes from their homelands around [[Lake Erie]]. One tribe moved south into Virginia, settling temporarily around the [[James River]]. Records of the time refer to these people as the "Rechahecrians", while James Lederer refers to them as "Mahocks and Nahyssans". The colonists in nearby Richmond were uneasy with the proximity of a potentially hostile force. Within two years, the [[Virginia General Assembly]] had given permission to Colonel Edward Hill to remove the Indian presence. His orders specifically stated<ref>Noel, Tricia. ''The Battle of Bloody Run''. Church Hill People’s News. 2014-12-02. Web. Retrieved 2015-03-23. [http://chpn.net/news/2014/12/02/the-battle-of-bloody-run_38689/ The Battle of Bloody Run]</ref> that war should only be a last resort. |
In 1654, the expansion of the Iroquois Nation (during the [[Beaver Wars]]) displaced several tribes from their homelands around [[Lake Erie]]. One tribe moved south into Virginia, settling temporarily around the [[James River]]. Records of the time refer to these people as the "Rechahecrians", while James Lederer refers to them as "Mahocks and Nahyssans". The colonists in nearby Richmond were uneasy with the proximity of a potentially hostile force. Within two years, the [[Virginia General Assembly]] had given permission to Colonel Edward Hill to remove the Indian presence. His orders specifically stated that he was not to use force unless necessary.<ref>Noel, Tricia. ''The Battle of Bloody Run''. Church Hill People’s News. 2014-12-02. Web. Retrieved 2015-03-23. [http://chpn.net/news/2014/12/02/the-battle-of-bloody-run_38689/ The Battle of Bloody Run]</ref> that war should only be a last resort. |
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Colonel Hill led the Colonial Rangers, reinforced by 100 Pamunkey warriors under Chief Totopotomoi. During the battle, Hill and his men retreated, resulting in the slaughter of their Indian allies, including Totopotomoi himself. The large number of casualties—nearly all of the Pamunkey warriors, and a good part of the Colonial Rangers—earned the site its name of Bloody Run, as the creek was said to have run red with blood. Afterward, Hill was disgraced because of his defeat, censured by the Virginia Assembly, and stripped of his rank. |
Colonel Hill led the Colonial Rangers, reinforced by 100 Pamunkey warriors under Chief [[Totopotomoi]]. When five "Richahecrian" chiefs came to negotiate, Hill ordered they be taken and killed, which resulted in the attack by the opposing force. During the battle, Hill and his men retreated, resulting in the slaughter of their Indian allies, including Totopotomoi himself. The large number of casualties—nearly all of the Pamunkey warriors, and a good part of the Colonial Rangers—earned the site its name of Bloody Run, as the creek was said to have run red with blood. Afterward, Hill was disgraced because of his defeat, censured by the Virginia Assembly, and stripped of his rank. |
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The creek was the site of another bloody battle 20 years later,<ref>Howe, Henry (1852). ''Historical Collections of Virginia''. Wm. R. Babcock. p. 334.</ref> during [[Bacon’s Rebellion]], in 1676. More Indian incursions led the Virginia colonists to authorize [[Nathaniel Bacon (colonist)|Nathaniel Bacon]] to march against the Indians. The battle of Bacon’s Quarter Branch<ref>Howison, Robert Reid (1846). ''A History of Virginia: From Its Discovery and Settlement by Europeans to the Present Time, Volume 1.'' Carey & Hart. p. 359-60.</ref> took place near Bloody Run, and the creek was once again christened with blood. |
The creek was the site of another bloody battle 20 years later,<ref>Howe, Henry (1852). ''Historical Collections of Virginia''. Wm. R. Babcock. p. 334.</ref> during [[Bacon’s Rebellion]], in 1676. More Indian incursions led the Virginia colonists to authorize [[Nathaniel Bacon (colonist)|Nathaniel Bacon]] to march against the Indians. The battle of Bacon’s Quarter Branch<ref>Howison, Robert Reid (1846). ''A History of Virginia: From Its Discovery and Settlement by Europeans to the Present Time, Volume 1.'' Carey & Hart. p. 359-60.</ref> took place near Bloody Run, and the creek was once again christened with blood. |
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Revision as of 03:15, 23 December 2015
| Battle of Bloody Run | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
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"Richahecrian" tribe |
Great Britain Virginia Colony Pamunkey tribe | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| unknown |
Colonel Edward Hill Chief Totopotomoi † | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 500 - 600 | ~200 (100 Colonial Rangers and 100 Pamunkey warriors) | ||||||
The Battle of Bloody Run was fought in 1656 near Richmond, Virginia.
In 1654, the expansion of the Iroquois Nation (during the Beaver Wars) displaced several tribes from their homelands around Lake Erie. One tribe moved south into Virginia, settling temporarily around the James River. Records of the time refer to these people as the "Rechahecrians", while James Lederer refers to them as "Mahocks and Nahyssans". The colonists in nearby Richmond were uneasy with the proximity of a potentially hostile force. Within two years, the Virginia General Assembly had given permission to Colonel Edward Hill to remove the Indian presence. His orders specifically stated that he was not to use force unless necessary.[1] that war should only be a last resort.
Colonel Hill led the Colonial Rangers, reinforced by 100 Pamunkey warriors under Chief Totopotomoi. When five "Richahecrian" chiefs came to negotiate, Hill ordered they be taken and killed, which resulted in the attack by the opposing force. During the battle, Hill and his men retreated, resulting in the slaughter of their Indian allies, including Totopotomoi himself. The large number of casualties—nearly all of the Pamunkey warriors, and a good part of the Colonial Rangers—earned the site its name of Bloody Run, as the creek was said to have run red with blood. Afterward, Hill was disgraced because of his defeat, censured by the Virginia Assembly, and stripped of his rank.
The creek was the site of another bloody battle 20 years later,[2] during Bacon’s Rebellion, in 1676. More Indian incursions led the Virginia colonists to authorize Nathaniel Bacon to march against the Indians. The battle of Bacon’s Quarter Branch[3] took place near Bloody Run, and the creek was once again christened with blood.
Today, the site of the battle had been paved over and the creek and spring have dried up. The only indication of the site is a state-erected marker commemorating the event.[4]
External links
References
- ^ Noel, Tricia. The Battle of Bloody Run. Church Hill People’s News. 2014-12-02. Web. Retrieved 2015-03-23. The Battle of Bloody Run
- ^ Howe, Henry (1852). Historical Collections of Virginia. Wm. R. Babcock. p. 334.
- ^ Howison, Robert Reid (1846). A History of Virginia: From Its Discovery and Settlement by Europeans to the Present Time, Volume 1. Carey & Hart. p. 359-60.
- ^ Noel, Tricia. The Battle of Bloody Run. Church Hill People’s News. 2014-12-02. Web. Retrieved 2015-03-23. The Battle of Bloody Run