battle great bridge battle great bridge fought december area great bridge virginia early american revolutionary war victory continental_army militia forces led departure governor lord remaining british power colony virginia early days conflict following increasing political military tensions early rebellious whig leaders recruited troops engaged struggle available military supplies struggle eventually focused norfolk taken refuge aboard royal_navy vessel forces fortified critical river crossing south norfolk great bridge whig forces occupied attempt break whig gathering ordered attack bridge decisively repulsed whig commander battle described second bunker hill affair shortly norfolk time center abandoned fled navy ships harbor whig occupied norfolk destroyed january action begun completed whig forces 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 small british fleet took shape norfolk port town merchants significant loyalist tendencies threat posed british fleet played role whig activity town incidents continued october acquired military support begin operations rebellious 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 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 prelude lord arrival norfolk ordered fortification bridge miles south norfolk village great bridge bridge formed natural defense point road leading south norfolk north_carolina bordered sides great dismal swamp access bridge sides narrow sent men 14th foot bridge erected small fort called fort murray norfolk bridge removed bridge crossing difficult fort armed cannons smaller swivel guns men 14th augmented small companies queen regiments bringing garrison size men response proclamation virginia assembly ordered troops march norfolk colonel leading continental_army 2nd advanced bridge regiment december arrived bridge set camp bridge british fort arrival british set destroying buildings near fort ensure clear field fire unwilling assault british position lack cannons overly generous estimate garrison strength began position bridge militia companies arrived surrounding counties north_carolina cannons eventually arrived contingent north_carolina men useless lacked carriages concerned heard rumors large number joined forces rumors partly true fact families men skilled arms december force whig camp grown nearly fit duty learned acquired cannons unaware concerned safety garrison decided attack whig position necessary plan called attack companies garrison spot bridge draw attention garrison reinforced additional troops norfolk attack bridge early morning light battle best intelligence informed whig forces numbered night morning december captain led reinforcements arriving arrival learned detachment intended diversion fort dispatched routine deployment nearby crossing failed send orders ensuring availability operation decided proceed attack resting troops little dawn sent men replace bridge finished captain led company bridge briefly whig raising alarm camp men joined company navy gunners brought operate field artillery attack companies norfolk bridge whig leadership camp thought early typical morning salute paid little shortly severity alarm apparent camp mobilized whig company numbering prepared british advance earthworks carefully withheld fire advancing fixed yards fire british column leading column went hail musket fire steps earthworks men ranks british advance dissolved whig musket fire continued half force killed injured navy gunners provided covering fire retreated bridge small cannons impression earthworks colonel time organized forces whig camp marched face british exchange musket fire long range sent left position weapons longer range muskets began fire british position far bridge navy gunners weapons british available contest range position threatened large whig force approaching earthworks guns retreated bridge captain ordered men retreat fort murray minutes attempt stop patriot buildup near norfolk turned aftermath following truce permit british remove dead wounded forces night return norfolk captain buried military honors near site battle casualty estimates ranged official report killed wounded escaped patriot report british losses totaled excluding militia casualties claimed whig casualty man slight wound thumb reinforced arrival troops north_carolina colonel blamed decision attack accompanying diversion outcome battle different diversion given force sizes following days supporters took refuge ships royal_navy norfolk occupied victorious whig forces danger posed rebel cause eliminated general george_washington commander chief continental_army knew wrote letter late december warning continued danger despite flight navy told lee man crushed spring formidable life liberty secure peace virginia series whig refusal allow provisions delivered vessels commodore decided bombard town january norfolk destroyed action begun royal_navy ships landing parties completed whig troops continued burn stronghold lord occupied portsmouth february base raiding operations late march general successfully forced fleet raiding operations british fleet left new_york_city august returned virginia highway marker placed state virginia near battle site response construction threats battlefield local citizens organized preserve area
Battle of Great Bridge