CONTENT WARNING
Materials in the Library of Virginia’s collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical and mental ability; and gender and sexual orientation.
Context
The Battle of Great Bridge, fought in December 1775, was Virginia’s first large-scale battle in the American Revolution. The Virginia militia fought against British regular troops and Loyalist militia that included a unit of Black soldiers. The battle ended in a victory for the patriot troops.
After the battles at Lexington and Concord, in Massachusetts, in April 1775, Virginia's royal governor removed the gunpowder stored in the magazine in Williamsburg. In June Governor Dunmore fled the capital to safety on a British battleship and led raids on several communities in Hampton Roads. The Third Virginia Convention began meeting in July and created a military for the colony's defense. This army consisted of two regiments of regulars and supplemented by militia from sixteen districts across the Commonwealth. The two regiments were led by Colonel Patrick Henry, who had called for the colony to organize its defenses at the Second Virginia Convention, and Colonel William Woodford, who had fought with George Washington during the Seven Years' War (also known as the French and Indian War).
Patrick Henry resigned, and during the autumn of 1775 Colonel Woodford led the patriot troops towards Norfolk, where Dunmore's men had been raiding. The patriots mustered in Williamsburg and engaged in several skirmishes with British forces, which included enslaved men who had been armed. After a British victory at Kemp’s Landing, Governor Dunmore issued a proclamation in November 1775 declaring that men enslaved by patriots would be freed if they joined his new Ethiopian Regiment.
Ultimately, the American and British forces, including the Ethiopian Regiment, squared off at Great Bridge, which crossed the southern branch of the Elizabeth River about ten miles south of Norfolk. Late in November, the Virginia militia began building defenses on the south side of the bridge while Dunmore ordered the construction of a fort on the north. After several skirmishes, the British force attacked on December 9, 1775. They found themselves slowed by missing bridge planks that had been removed by patriot sentries, including Wiliam Flora, a free Black militia private. Crossing the bridge with six men abreast, the British were an easy target for the American troops who had built entrenchments from which to fire. Patriot forces mowed down the British regulars, and Loyalist militia refused to cross the bridge to meet the same fate.
The patriots forced a British retreat to Norfolk. The British suffered heavy losses—almost half of its 120-soldier regiment was killed, captured, or wounded. It also strengthened patriot resolve, and showed the potential strength of the American military, which reported only one mildly injured soldier after the battle took place.
Later on December 9, Colonel Woodford wrote this letter to the president of the Third Virginia Convention and described the battle as he witnessed it.
Citation: Letter of William Woodford, Dec. 9, 1775, Virginia. Convention (1775: Dec. 1-1776 Jan. 20), Accession 30003, Library of Virginia (available online in the Virginia Revolutionary Conventions Digital Collection)
After the battles at Lexington and Concord, in Massachusetts, in April 1775, Virginia's royal governor removed the gunpowder stored in the magazine in Williamsburg. In June Governor Dunmore fled the capital to safety on a British battleship and led raids on several communities in Hampton Roads. The Third Virginia Convention began meeting in July and created a military for the colony's defense. This army consisted of two regiments of regulars and supplemented by militia from sixteen districts across the Commonwealth. The two regiments were led by Colonel Patrick Henry, who had called for the colony to organize its defenses at the Second Virginia Convention, and Colonel William Woodford, who had fought with George Washington during the Seven Years' War (also known as the French and Indian War).
Patrick Henry resigned, and during the autumn of 1775 Colonel Woodford led the patriot troops towards Norfolk, where Dunmore's men had been raiding. The patriots mustered in Williamsburg and engaged in several skirmishes with British forces, which included enslaved men who had been armed. After a British victory at Kemp’s Landing, Governor Dunmore issued a proclamation in November 1775 declaring that men enslaved by patriots would be freed if they joined his new Ethiopian Regiment.
Ultimately, the American and British forces, including the Ethiopian Regiment, squared off at Great Bridge, which crossed the southern branch of the Elizabeth River about ten miles south of Norfolk. Late in November, the Virginia militia began building defenses on the south side of the bridge while Dunmore ordered the construction of a fort on the north. After several skirmishes, the British force attacked on December 9, 1775. They found themselves slowed by missing bridge planks that had been removed by patriot sentries, including Wiliam Flora, a free Black militia private. Crossing the bridge with six men abreast, the British were an easy target for the American troops who had built entrenchments from which to fire. Patriot forces mowed down the British regulars, and Loyalist militia refused to cross the bridge to meet the same fate.
The patriots forced a British retreat to Norfolk. The British suffered heavy losses—almost half of its 120-soldier regiment was killed, captured, or wounded. It also strengthened patriot resolve, and showed the potential strength of the American military, which reported only one mildly injured soldier after the battle took place.
Later on December 9, Colonel Woodford wrote this letter to the president of the Third Virginia Convention and described the battle as he witnessed it.
Citation: Letter of William Woodford, Dec. 9, 1775, Virginia. Convention (1775: Dec. 1-1776 Jan. 20), Accession 30003, Library of Virginia (available online in the Virginia Revolutionary Conventions Digital Collection)
Standards
VS.5, USI.6, VUS.5
Suggested Questions
Preview Activity
Scan It: Look at the document. What words stand out to you, and why? What do you think of his description of the British regulars vs. the Loyalist and Ethiopian regiments?
Post-Activities
Be the Journalist: Imagine you are interviewing Colonel William Woodford for a story in the Virginia Gazette. What three questions would you ask him, and why? How would you write the story? What would you tell your readers about this incident, and what conclusions would you draw?
Draw It: Based on Colonel William Woodford’s descriptions, draw what you think the battle map would look like. Where would American and British troops be? What would the bridge look like?
Scan It: Look at the document. What words stand out to you, and why? What do you think of his description of the British regulars vs. the Loyalist and Ethiopian regiments?
Post-Activities
Be the Journalist: Imagine you are interviewing Colonel William Woodford for a story in the Virginia Gazette. What three questions would you ask him, and why? How would you write the story? What would you tell your readers about this incident, and what conclusions would you draw?
Draw It: Based on Colonel William Woodford’s descriptions, draw what you think the battle map would look like. Where would American and British troops be? What would the bridge look like?