John Smith Blog

 For this week's post I went and found a site that covered the whole John Smith story and his impact on forming Jamestown and keeping it alive. 

This is the site: http://colonialancestors.com/biographies/johnsmith.htm

Throughout the story I went and copied and pasted certain parts that I thought were very interesting or good to know-- the reflections are below them in what I have to say about that section.

"The Indians kept the wretched settlers in constant terror of their lives. Each man had to take his turn "every third night " lying on the damp, bare ground to watch against attack, although at times there were not five men strong enough to carry guns."

- This part really surprised me because I always thought of the Indians as friendly people, not people who terrorized the settlers. The fact that the settlers switched on and off to keep an eye out for the Indians' attacking on them was also very shocking.

"From that time his life (Smith's), according to his own story, was full of stirring incidents, only a few of which we can tell here. While traveling through France he was robbed and left helpless in a forest on the high-way, where he would have died from exposure and lack of food but for the kindly aid of a peasant who chanced to find and rescue him. Going to Marseilles he took passage on a ship with some pilgrims bound eastward on a journey to the Holy Land. During the voyage a severe storm arose, which greatly alarmed the pilgrims, and, believing that in some mysterious way their strange passenger was the cause of their misfortune, they threw him overboard. Smith managed to save himself from the sea, however, and a little later fought in a war against the "Turks, three of whose mighty warriors he slew in single combat. Afterward he was captured and enslaved by the "Turks, but he seemed to lead a charmed life, and with his usual good fortune again made his escape."

-They talk about how Smith already had had a tough life prior to making this voyage and shows how strong he was. This was probably how he got so smart and skilled to keep his men alive in Jamestown for so long. He is obviously a lucky man and doesn't give up on himself since he escaped death twice. This shows a lot of character to me about John Smith and makes me respect him more.

"Smith started one very cold December day on a journey of exploration. He sailed up the Chickahominy River in search of the South Sea, as the Pacific Ocean was then called. This was generally believed to be just beyond the mountains. When the stream had become too shallow for the barge, Smith with his four companions, two men and two Indian guides, continued his journey in a canoe. Landing near what is now called White Oak Swamp, he left the white men in charge of the canoe, and with one Indian pushed his way into the forest. Soon they were set upon by a band of two hundred Indian warriors, but Smith so bravely defended himself that he killed two of the warriors, and held out against the entire force until he sank in the mire and had to surrender. Having tied their prisoner to a tree, the Indians were about to shoot him with an arrow when he aroused their curiosity by showing them his pocket-compass and by asking that he might write a letter to his friends at Jamestown. Granting the request, they delivered the letter and brought back the articles for which it called. They were greatly amazed that the white man was able to make paper talk, and , believing him to be a superior being, they spared his life."

 -They really make Smith look like a god when showing how manipulative and sweet-talking he is to the Indians. He always seems to get his way when he really needs something and does it for the good of the colony he is trying to prosper.

"The old chief  (Powhatan) was tall and stalwart, with a round face and thin gray hair hanging down his back. Dressed in a robe of raccoon skins, he sat before the fire on a sort of bench covered with mats, with a young maiden sitting on each side; at his right and left stood the warriors, and close to the wall on either side a row of squaws."  

-I threw this in here because it really has a lot of detail about the Indians life and how much they cherished Powhatan. He was a huge part of their tribe and they state that he was surrounded by mats, ladies, warriors, and squaws. His clothing was some of the best because he held such high honor in their society.

"Smith, who knew so well how to manage the Indians, was equal to the occasion. He used smooth words if they served his purpose; if not, he used threats or even force."

-Since the Indians didn't continue to give them food because Powhatan thought they were getting too strong Smith stepped up and makes sure his people are getting what they deserve on this land. He fights for his people and this also shows a lot of character.

"He (Smith) boldly seized Powhatan's brother by the scalp-lock, put a pistol to his breast, and cried, "Corn or your life ! " The Indians, awed by Smith's fearlessness, no longer held out, but brought him corn in abundance." 

-More about Smith's character and how he manipulated and forced them to give food. He got more than he was asking for hence the "abundance."




Overall, none of this could have been done without John Smith, he was necessary for their colonization being prospered and working with the Indians to make it a more peaceful place in the end.