battle landing battle landing known skirmish skirmish american revolutionary war occurred november militia companies princess assembled counter british troops command virginia colonial governor lord landed nearby great bridge investigating rumors patriot troop arrivals north_carolina turned false instead moved princess anne militia defeating attempt ambush routing followed victory reading proclamation declaring martial law promising freedom slaves belonging patriot owners served british military increased opposition activities eventually forced leave virginia background tensions british colony virginia raised april roughly time hostilities american revolutionary war broke battles lexington concord rebellious control provincial assembly begun recruiting troops march leading struggle control colony military supplies orders 4th earl royal governor virginia british troops removed gunpowder colonial dominated colonial legislature incident resolved violence fearing personal safety left june placed family board royal_navy ship assembled small british fleet norfolk port town merchants significant loyalist tendencies threat posed fleet played role whig activity town incidents continued october acquired military support begin operations rebellious accumulated significant body men general british commander chief north_america ordered small detachments 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 skirmish resulted killing capture sailors reacted event writing proclamation november declared martial law offered whig held slaves virginia willing serve british_army immediately proclamation able recruit slaves form raising company called queen local forces supplemented companies 14th foot sole british military presence colony prelude virginia began organizing troops send norfolk response actions forces raised led continental_army colonel leave november shortages equipment supplies prevented crossing week british ships sent patrol river operating royal_navy ship landed rank file norfolk near great bridge november investigate rumors patriot militia arrived area north_carolina landing prompted militia princess anne county called men responded militia issued local militia commander prominent local landowner mustered miles great bridge set ambush road great bridge search great bridge area day confirmed rumors false heard militia leaving company troops defend causeway bridge begin construction defenses took regulars loyalists landing skirmish patriot ambush inexperienced opened fire early disciplined regulars returned fire moving woods flush rebels militia scattered ensuing chase captured slaves able escape battle captured days later total patriots captured seven killed british soldier suffered single minor wound aftermath securing town raised british standard read text proclamation day previously opposed swore oath crown claiming forced arms patriots moved norfolk raised standard began developing defenses town force eventually reached great bridge joined companies north_carolina threat prompted order attack december battle great bridge won decisive victory afterward withdrew norfolk burned january combination patriot loyalist action continued raiding operations virginia coastal communities august departed new_york_city landing incorporated county seat princess anne county princess merged urban neighborhood city
Battle of Kemp's Landing