7. VII.
“Blackbeard, as the fair trader, Edward Teach, had provoked
the hostility of the planters in and about Pamplico. The stranger
hunter had been among them before he sought the pirate.
He had gathered all their evidence, had learned, like them, to
distrust the justice of the ruling authorities of North Carolina in
their dealings with the pirates, and had secretly sought the succor
of the government of Virginia. Governor Spotswood had
used his influence with the British commodore on the Virginia
station to employ an adequate force for the capture of Blackbeard.
For the command of this enterprise a volunteer had been found,
in the person of one Robert Maynard, a Virginian, but a lieutenant
in the royal navy. To catch Blackbeard was no easy
matter; and Maynard found it advisable to make himself personally
acquainted with the force of the pirates, his place of harborage,
and to plan, on the spot itself, his mode of operations.
We have seen the progress which he has made, thus far, in the
character of the Virginian hunter.
“While he thus employed himself two sloops were got in
readiness with equal secrecy and expedition. Blackbeard, as
we have seen, was not left unapprized of his danger. But, in his
debauch, he had made light of the intelligence, and moreover, it
was not thought by those who bore the tidings that the expedition
would have such early despatch. In those days enterprises
were undertaken as pilgrimages, with great deliberation,
the adventurer stopping to get himself well shod, to provide
himself with a select staff, and, only after protracted meditation
and perhaps devotions, to take the field. The enterprise of
young Maynard proved an exception to the common practice,
and his sloops were ready to go to sea, while he was discussing
with Blackbeard the preliminaries and the profit of future voyages
which they might take together.
“Beginning thus vigorously, Maynard did not relax in his exertions.
His sloops left James river on the 17th November, 1718.
When fairly at sea, he broke the enterprise to his followers, all
of whom were picked men. He read to them the proclamation
of Governor Spotswood, offering a reward of £100 for the apprehension
of Blackbeard, £15 for every officer, and £10 for
every common sailor made captive with him. The proclamation
was received with three hearty cheers, and all parties braced
themselves up for the conflict which, it was very well understood,
would be anything but child's play. On the 21st of November,
Maynard passed the bar of Ocracocke, and rapidly drew
near to the pirate. At this period, his force was small, consisting
of twenty-five men; the rest were at sea, with his other vessel,
under the command of Vaughan and other lieutenants.
“Blackbeard was taken by surprise. He certainly would
never have waited at his anchorage and with so small a force,
had he dreamed of his enemy's approach so soon. In truth, he
had been waiting for his hunter, Mainyard,— whom he looked to
supply the place of his captain of marines, one Hornsby, who
was very sick on shore, and not expected to recover. He did
recover, as we shall see hereafter, but not in season to take part
in the conflict.
“Though thus caught napping, Blackbeard was a man of resources,
and prepared himself for defence. Maynard standing
directly for the pirate, received his fire which was delivered with
terrible effect. Unfortunately, his own vessel run aground, in
the shallow water of the river, and this increased the odds against
him. Before he could extricate himself, he had lost twenty of
his men, and the pirate prepared to board him. Seeing this,
Maynard hurried his men below, with orders to keep ready for
the hand-to-hand conflict which was impending. Blackbeard
bore down upon him, threw in his
granades, and, seeing the decks
bare of all but the slain and wounded, he boarded without hesitation.
Then Maynard rushed upon deck, followed by his crew,
and they fell together upon the assailants. Maynard's costume,
on this occasion, was that in which he had made the pirate's acquaintance.
Blackbeard knew him at a glance.
“`Ha! traitor! Ha! villain!' he cried as the young lieutenant
confronted him; and with the words both of them fired. Then
they closed with their dirks. Blackbeard was now reminded of
the wrestle they had had together, and the recollection made him
desperate. It was ominous of the result in the present contest.
He was overmatched, and slashed almost to pieces, but fighting
to the last, he fell at the feet of his conqueror, who immediately
smote off his head with his cutlass, and lifted it, all reeking and
streaming with blood, in the sight of the remaining pirates. As
the black and bloody mass, with its wilderness of beard was
raised on high, the horrid eyes glaring, and glazing even as
they glared, the spectacle overwhelmed the pirate-crew. They
threw down their weapons, such as still survived the combat, and
were ironed on the spot. The capture of the pirate-vessel followed,
but had nearly proved a fatal conquest; since a desperate
negro stood over the magazine, stationed there by Blackbeard's
orders, with a blazing match, prepared to apply it at a given
signal. It was only when the gory head of his master was
thrust before his eyes, that he consented to resign his torch and
leave his perilous duty unattempted. The victory of Maynard was
complete, and he sailed up to the town of Bath, and finally returned
to James river, with the head of the pirate, in terrorem,
hanging at the bowsprit of his vessel.”
