Virginia by the Indians under Powhatan. The full details of the rescue with Pocahontas were not published in the story until 1624, seven years after Pocahontas's death. Moreover, in the interviewing years, it was told as a Spanish work with a similar Indian princess rescue of a white man from her cruel father's execution tale, which appeared in London, painting a more vivid picture of the same tale. Some nineteenth-century American scholars remarked on the delay in publication of the tale, and noted discrepancies among Smith's various capture accounts, questioning the authenticity of the Pocahontas rescue.

Meanwhile, there was dissent within the colony. The Englishmen were hurting, due to lack of supplies, laziness, and periodic attempts at escaping by many of the colonists, and personal conflicts among Smith and various leaders, as well as disagreements over new policies being formulated in London. As a result, Smith left Jamestown to explore and map the Chesapeake Bay region and traded with the Indians for food, to enforce order and work among the settlers, in doing so he probably saved Jamestown Colony from complete extinction.

By rights, Smith's presidency was determined, and even Smith must have known it, but the papers to prove it were missing with the shipwrecked vessel on which they had been message and, standing on ceremony, Smith refuse to surrender power until his term expired in September, nor would he establish a new council with which to share power in the meantime.

The newcomers later settled for electing Francis West as a sort of president in waiting, and Smith moved to patch things up with his disappointed subjects over the issue. He also tried to build up his powers by gaining the assurance of the fleet's sailors. He also instituted a policy of strict discipline, strengthened defences, and encouraged farming. Because of his strong leadership, the settlement survived and grew during the next year. The settlers had arrived too late in the year to plant