The Virginia Gazette

Thursday evening last a number of prisoners on board the guard ship mutinied, seized and disarmed the guard, consisting of eight men, cut the cable, and drove ashore near Lechmore's Point, leading up Cambridge river. On the alarm being given, the town Major (John Rice, Jun. Esq.) attempting to go on board with an additional guard to quell the mutiny, was fired on from the guard ship, when the sergeant, Thomas Bickford, was killed; on which, the Major calling to the shore, and informing of what had happened, it being very foggy, the town was alarmed, when a number of boats went off to his assistance, and quelled the mutiny. After which 21 of the prisoners were brought on shore, and committed to prison. A jury of inquest being summoned to sit on the body of the deceased, after about forty four hours examination of the prisoners separately, found from their own confession, eleven principals and accomplices, accessory to the murder, who are now in jail waiting for trial.