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A History | Revolutionary War Battles | The Battle of Great Bridge - December 9, 1775
The Battle of Great Bridge - December 9, 1775
The complete defeat of the British in the Virginia Colony at the Battle of Great Bridge on December 9, 1775,
seven months before the Declaration of Independence, was at the
time called the Second Battle of Bunker's Hill. It resulted in the capture of Norfolk by the "rebels"
(Americans) and the bombardment and complete destruction of Norfolk three weeks later on January 1, 1776. It
ended the rule of the British Crown in Virginia.
Lord Dunmore, colonial governor of Virginia, has, in growing disfavor, retreated from Williamsburg but in
Norfolk was considered a "nest of Tories", and Dunmore thought he was making headway against the
rebellion by pillaging the plantations of patriots, winning slaves over to his side and seizing printing
presses. With just one more regiment and a few more battalions, he wrote on the last of November, 1775,
"I really believe we should reduce this colony to a proper sense of their duty."
On the other side General George Washington, commander-in-chief of the
Continental Army, urged that Dunmore "should be instantly crushed" lest his forces grow. He wrote
the president of the Continental Congress from New England: "I do not mean to dictate, I am sure they
will pardon me from freely giving them my opinion, which is, that the fate of America a good deal depends
on his being obligated to evacuate Norfolk this winter or not."
According to contemporary accounts in the Virginia Gazette, Lord Dunmore, after defeating the opposition at
Kemp's Landing (now Kempsville) moved ten miles south to Great Bridge on the South Branch of the Carolinas.
Great Bridge was the shipping point to nearby Norfolk of shingles, tar potash and turpentine from the
Carolinas. Finding resistance increasing, he built a stockade on the North (Norfolk) side, removed the bridge
planking, destroyed five or six houses on the opposite shore and fortified the narrow causeway bridge
approaches with two twelve pound cannons.
Col. William Woodford, in charge of the second Virginia Regiment, was
gathering forces at Great Bridge of minute men from Fauquier, Augusta and Culpepper Counties, in the western
part of the Colony as well as volunteers from Princess Anne and Norfolk Counties. Woodford reported two
hundred fifty Carolina men arriving under Colonel Vail "composed of regulars, minute men, militia and
volunteers..." The Virginia Gazette reported "150 gentlemen volunteers had marched to Virginia
from North Carolina on hearing of Lord Dunmore's insolences and outrages."
Dunmore, misinformed of the strength of the opposition, sent sailors from the Otter at Norfolk, "plus
some sixty townsmen" on a surprise attack on Great Bridge. In the early morning hours the column within
fifteen steps of the American forces before falling mortally wounded. Lieutenant Travis, in command of the
American advanced breastworks, had ordered his handful of twenty five men to reserve their fire until the
enemy came within fifty yards. The staggered British were rallied under Lt. Samuel Leslie, who was later
captured. Col. Woodard's main group, moving through Great Bridge, received a heavy cannon barrage. It was
all over, however, in half an hour's time.
Royal authority in the Virginia Colony was at an end. It was a complete rout. The loss of men to the
British was reported as one hundred two killed or wounded, and only eleven of Fordyce's grenadiers survived.
Only one American was injured.
The British retreated to Norfolk. By the time George Washington had written the Continental Congress from
New England, Colonel Woodford was able to report to Edmund Pendleton, president of the Convention at
Williamsburg, that he and Col. Robert Howe were in complete command in Norfolk with 1275 men, and that the
Tories and their families had removed themselves to Dunmore's ship, Otter, in the harbor.
Americans Commanded by Gen. William Woodford
| Forces |
Killed |
Wounded |
| 1.000 |
- |
1 |
British Commanded by Lord Dunsmore
| Forces |
Killed |
Wounded |
| 600 |
102* |
- |
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