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After a sharp skirmish Bacon recaptured the capital (Berkeley again took flight) but, fearing that he could not hold it against attack, set fire to the town.

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Final answer:

The question relates to Bacon's Rebellion, a historically significant event in 1676. It involved Nathaniel Bacon's insurrection against Governor William Berkeley's policies leading up to the destruction of the capital and continuous struggles until the rebellion's end.

Step-by-step explanation:

The events described pertain to Bacon's Rebellion, a significant conflict in 1676 in Virginia where Nathaniel Bacon led a rebellion against Governor William Berkeley. After a series of confrontations, Berkeley briefly recaptured the capital, but lost it almost immediately to Bacon, who decided to burn the city instead of trying to hold it, focusing instead on attacking more Native American tribes.

Bacon's pursuit of power and control was a response to Berkeley's policies, which were seen as favoring the Native Americans and established planters, creating discontent among the poorer colonists. Bacon passed away due to natural causes in the midst of the conflict on October 26, 1676, but the rebellion continued until Governor Berkeley regained control in January 1677.

Eventually, both Bacon and Berkeley's actions were to be scrutinized by English officials, and neither lived long after the rebellion; Berkeley passed on June 16, 1677, before he could defend his governance.

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