The Battle of Great Bridge was a battle of the American Revolutionary War, fought in the area of Great Bridge, Virginia, which resulted in the end of British Colonial government of the colony. Combatants American Revolutionaries, France, Netherlands, Spain, Native Americans Great Britain, German mercenaries, Loyalists, Native Americans Commanders George Washington Comte de Rochambeau Nathanael Greene William Howe Henry Clinton Charles Cornwallis The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence, was the military component of the American... December 9 is the 343rd day (344th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1775 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Great Bridge is a small area located in the independent city of Chesapeake in the U.S. state of Virginia. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 35th 110,862 km² 320 km 690 km 7. ... William Woodford was born in Caroline County, Virginia in 1734. ... Lord Dunmore John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore (1730–February 25, 1809) was the British governor of the Province of New York from 1770 to 1771 and the Virginia Colony, from September 25, 1771 until just before the American Revolutionary War began in June 1775. ... The Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War became the central area of operations on land after France entered the war on the side of the United States. ... The Battle of Moores Creek Bridge was fought on February 27, 1776 between North Carolina patriots and Scottish Loyalists. ... The Battle of the Rice Boats was a battle of the American Revolution that took place in the Savannah River on the border between the Province of Georgia and the Province of South Carolina. ... The Battle of Alligator Bridge took place on June 30, 1778, and was the major engagement in Colonel Elijah Clarks third, and final, unsuccessful campaign to conquer East Florida. ... The Battle of Kettle Creek took place on February 14, 1779 in the extreme western portion of Wilkes County, Georgia on Kettle Creek which used to drain into the Little River (the creek has since dried up). ... Combatants Patriot militia Loyalist militia Commanders John Ashe Samuel Elbert Archibald Campbell Augustine Provost Strength ~400 2,300 Casualties ~400 killed, Elbert captured 5 killed The Battle of Briar Creek was a Revolutionary War battle that took place on March 3, 1779. ... hi The Siege of Savannah was a battle of the American Revolutionary War in 1779. ... This article needs cleanup. ... The Battle of Camden was an important battle in the southern theatre of the American Revolutionary War. ... The [[Battle of Kings Mountain]], October 7, 1780, was an important rebel victory in the Southern campaign of the American Revolutionary War. ... Combatants United States Great Britain Commanders Daniel Morgan Banastre Tarleton Strength 1,000 1,100 Casualties 12 killed 61 wounded 110 killed 830 captured {{{notes}}} The Battle of Cowpens (1781) was an overwhelming victory by American revolutionary forces under Brigadier General Daniel Morgan. ... Combatants Britain United States Commanders Charles Cornwallis Nathanael Greene Strength 1,900 4,400 Casualties 93 killed 439 wounded 26 missing Total: 558 79 killed 185 wounded 1,046 missing Total: 1,310 The Battle of Guilford Court House was a battle fought on March 15, 1781 inside the present... The Battle of Hobkirks Hill was on April 25, 1781. ... The Battle of Eutaw Springs was a battle of the American Revolutionary War, the last engagement of the war in the Carolinas. ... The Battle of Yorktown can refer to: Battle of Yorktown (1781) Battle of Yorktown (1862) ... Combatants American Revolutionaries, France, Netherlands, Spain, Native Americans Great Britain, German mercenaries, Loyalists, Native Americans Commanders George Washington Comte de Rochambeau Nathanael Greene William Howe Henry Clinton Charles Cornwallis The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence, was the military component of the American... Great Bridge is a community located in the independent city of Chesapeake in the U.S. state of Virginia. ...

This battle was responsible for removing Lord Dunmore and any other vestige of English Government for the Colony of Virginia during the early days of the American Revolution. Shortly thereafter, Norfolk, Virginia (at the time a Tory centre) was captured and destroyed. A cannon ball fired from the English ship Lord Dunmore was fleeing Virginia on is incased in the wall of St. Pauls Church in Norfolk. That cannon ball remains on display in its final resting place in the southeast wall of the church. Lord Dunmore John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore (1730–February 25, 1809) was the British governor of the Province of New York from 1770 to 1771 and the Virginia Colony, from September 25, 1771 until just before the American Revolutionary War began in June 1775. ... -1... The American Revolution was a revolution that ended two centuries of rule of the Thirteen Colonies by the British Empire and created the modern United States of America. ... Nickname: Motto: Crescas (Latin for, Thou shalt grow. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

From E. B. Hanbury's pamphlet on The Battle of Great Bridge:

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 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. December 9 is the 343rd day (344th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1775 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... U.S. Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence is the document in which the Thirteen Colonies declared themselves independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain and explained their justifications for doing so. ... Combatants Province of Massachusetts Bay Kingdom of Great Britain Commanders Major General Israel Putnam and Colonel William Prescott Major General William Howe Strength 1,500 2,600 Casualties 140 dead 271 wounded 30 captured {20 POWs Died} 226 dead 828 wounded {{{notes}}} Bunker Hill was a battle of the American... January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... This article is about the year 1776. ...

John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore, colonial governor of Virginia, had, in growing disfavor, retreated from Williamsburg but 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 30 November 1775, "I really believe we should reduce this colony to a proper sense of their duty." This is a list of colonial governors of Virginia. ... Nickname: The Burg Motto: Official website: http://www. ... November 30 is the 334th day (335th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 31 days remaining, as the final day of November. ... 1775 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

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." George Washington (February 22, 1732–December 14, 1799) was the successful Commander in Chief of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1783, and later became the first President of the United States, an office to which he was twice elected unanimously, and held from 1789... Illustration depicting uniforms and weapons used during the 1779 to 1783 period of the American Revolution by showing four soldiers standing in an informal group General George Washington, was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army on June 15, 1775. ... The Continental Congress is the label given to three successive bodies of representatives: The First Continental Congress met from September 5, 1774 to October 26, 1774. ...

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 2nd 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." William Woodford was born in Caroline County, Virginia in 1734. ... The 2nd Virginia Regiment was raised on July 17, 1775 at Williamsburg, Virginia as a state militia unit and later for service with the Continental Army. ...

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. Edmund Pendleton (1721-1803) was a Virginia politician, lawyer and judge, active in the American Revolutionary War. ...

Used by permission from E. B. Hanbury's pamphlet on the Battle of Great Bridge