In late 1675 and early 1776 the Doeg and Susquehannock Indians had a series of skirmishes with the colonist who were tobacco farmers in the Chesapeake region of Virginia. Nathaniel Bacon, a well-born Englishman wanted to lead an attack on the Native Americans, and punish them for their attacks on the colonist. Bacon petitioned the Governor of Virginia, William Berkeley, whom he was friends with, to authorize an attack on the Native Americans. Governor Berkeley refused, but an enraged Bacon led his army of over one thousand colonist volunteers on an attack of the Native Americans anyway. When Governor Berkeley heard this he ordered an arrest of Nathaniel