burning norfolk burning norfolk incident occurred january american revolutionary war british_royal_navy ships harbor norfolk virginia began town landing parties came ashore burn specific properties town significantly loyalist population fled occupied whig revolutionary forces virginia north_carolina forces worked drive landing parties progress flames began burning looting properties days town destroyed principally action whig forces destruction completed whig forces early february deny use remnants british norfolk significant british authority virginia raiding virginia coastal areas time royal governor lord left good august background tensions british colony virginia raised april roughly time hostilities american revolutionary war broke battles lexington concord rebellious known patriots control provincial assembly begun recruiting troops march leading struggle control colony military supplies orders 4th earl royal governor virginia british marines removed gunpowder colonial royal_navy ship members colonial legislature prompting militia uprising incident resolved violence fearing personal safety left june placed family board royal_navy ship small british fleet took shape norfolk port town merchants significant loyalist tendencies town whig support threat posed british fleet played role activity town confrontations minor skirmishes continued virginia october acquired military support begin organized operations rebellious general british commander chief north_america ordered small detachment 14th regiment foot virginia response pleas military help troops began raiding surrounding counties rebel military supplies october activity continued end october small british ship ran aground captured skirmish near navy boats sent punish townspeople repulsed continental_army troops militia brief resulted killing capture sailors reacted event issuing proclamation november declared martial law offered whig held slaves virginia willing serve british_army proclamation alarmed whig alike concerned idea armed slaves potential loss property able recruit slaves form raising company called queen local forces supplemented companies 14th foot sole british military presence colony successful recruiting drive prompted write november soon able reduce colony proper sense duty virginia assembly sent companies militia command colonel 2nd virginia regiment october militia continued arrive force swollen men advanced great bridge early december troops fortified north bridge began position bridge militia companies arrived surrounding counties north_carolina december british troops attempted disperse force decisively repulsed following battle british retreated norfolk shortly entire force withdrew royal_navy ships anchored norfolk harbor remaining population town force continued grow arrival colonel north_carolina regulars day battle continental_army occupation norfolk december whig forces having grown militia arrivals howe moved norfolk colonel howe held senior continental_army commission assumed command occupying forces adopted hard line dealings royal_navy captains denying delivery supplies ships insisting exchange prisoners howe concerned possibility british attack appealed additional troops consideration realized british fleet easily maneuver town garrison consequently recommended virginia assembly town abandoned rendered useless enemy december liverpool arrived accompanied store ship loaded supplies munitions positioned ships liverpool threatening line town waterfront setting exodus people possessions town christmas eve liverpool captain sent amounted ultimatum town stating preferred purchase provisions instead taking force howe rejected ultimatum prepared bombardment december demanded whig forces cease changing guard waterfront found offensive suggested women children leave town howe refused withdraw men telling officer point conceive duty burning looting new year day howe guards ships british fleet opened fire town mounting guns town evening hours landing parties sent ashore retrieve provisions set fire buildings whig posts fire fleet british movements particularly coordinated succeeded setting waterfront whig militia resisted landing parties little stop flames spread winds loyalist properties targeted burning looting shortly bombardment began including local british ended operations day fires continued rage morning colonel howe reported town doubt day burning looting occupying continued days time order restored town destroyed aftermath damage town whig forces significantly exceeded british destroying buildings valued estimated million modern pound sterling comparison british bombardment destroyed properties worth addition damages lord british occupation norfolk colonel howe report omitted role whig forces burning repeated recommendation town destroyed newspaper account published lord prompted questions whig circles event assumed british forces responsible damage inquiries immediate aftermath convention approved howe plan february remaining structures destroyed extent whig participation burning acknowledged whig forces withdrew ruins town completing destruction took posts nearby towns organized march general arrived command continental_army mobilized militia camp established near portsmouth finally abandoned virginia good august lands established later fortified defensive positions weak prevent british_royal_navy bombarding norfolk result following war bought fortified land norfolk established fortifications reinforced prevent naval assaults cities lie marker city hall avenue norfolk commemorating action
Burning of Norfolk