The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-12

n thriving settlement about ten miles
from Norfolk, towards the Dismal
swamp. dts name was taken from n
large wooden causeway over an arm of
the elizabeth river. Situated In the
must or marshes and swamDs, 1t was
considered the pass to Norfolk from the
land side. I - :
NoiFolkswas then the largest and
wealthiest commercial centre in the
Commonwealth. 1T had a large trade
with English. French and Dutch ports,
and Furnishing commerce with the
East Indies. The large Tory element
caused Dunmore to pay special attention
TO the ,fortiflacation of this wealthy and
loyal borough AS the Americans had
no navy, 1t was amply protected on the
water front to she English fleet i'm
Hampton Roads. To protect dt from
land forces Dunmore built and rarrI-
soncd Il fort at the Great Bridge on
this side OF the river.
On November It'll, ITS, he issued n
Proclamation offering freedom and arms
TO all nble-hodied slaves who would rise
against their masters or Join the Brit
ish forces.
This proclamation aroused all of the
patriotism that had lain dormant In
Princess Anne. Norfolk and Nansemnnd
counties. especially around Norfolk,
where all commercial interests were on
tile sue OF tne Crown.
Recruits came in daily to the Contl-
mental forces, and 'orders were issued to
William Woodford, of CaroliI> county
10 advance on Great Bridge.
This officer had seen service in tho
Wrench and Indian wars, and was
lieutenant colonel of the Second Bo;-
TALON of the Second Regiment, I'm which
Patrick Henry bore commission as full
colonel.
The next in rank in the Second Bat
taHon were Charles Scott anu Alexan-
der SpottSwood.
Inc virginia troops had no artillery
with which Dunlr'ore was well sunnlia1
so ut sight of the well fortified rarrj-
son on the other side of the river thnv
halted at Great Bridge, intrcnchcd
themselves hchipg u strong stocl,ado
and awaited reinforcemcnts from the
| carolina troops under Colonel Robert
Howe.
The position OF both forces wasvtronr
against attack which had to he made on
he causeway. only admitting advance
III column of six. Dunmorc's scouts an
,rlSed nm OF the advance of tIlc Caro-
INA troops, but undercStimated Wood
lords force. Under .his imprcssion mo
ordered an attack before dawn on De
cetnDer 9TH, 1175, and ATTEMPTED n sur
prise. This failed, as the senlries were
Oh guard, and the patrfJts were ready
Tor them. Woodford had no cannon ond
ordered the fire TO be withheld unlil thc
ahtacking party was at close quarters
Wncn a deadly discharge of muske;ry
zen on the exposed advance of the Brit
lsh grenadiers while crossing tho cause
way. Inc carnage was frightful, hut
Hhcy continued to advance "like Eng
lisnnen, as Woodford said in his dis
patches After half hours hot fight
N tit.n, 4 H..
uead and many wounded
ME Nirginians rushed out undcr hot
IRE TO succor the wounded Of the enc
my Here occurred an incident worthy
W "hc GAYS or romance and chivalry.
Capt:rin Leslie, of the rrenadiers. seninr
TINS brave and gallant action, spranI
forward, needless OF the ceaselcss fire
from Dunmore's guns. barred his head.
Ht , WIN naked saber saluted, mercy,
''l.rHirS ana Daring In this dnultless foe
MOI SO the wounded I2ritons 1hev
Thought the rescuers n scolninr MI.
ior buhmore had maligncd the cow.
nlsts to Nhc British army, and they wore
regarded as half Indians i'm blood ond
customs. VII"
Polly Miller, n young woman IN +bc
'hiagc' opened her fathers house to thn
wounded and nursed them ,raltbru,lv
m'.h u devotion equal to the followers of
P"'h!ot ana lived to see the growth of
our great nation -
Turing this engagement V5oo1r,ra
ana NOT lose q single man. Nov. do,
nunnore evacuated tho port. and Wood
iord marched in, taking nossession M
EirSe stores, besides arms and ammnni-
.i"ii' ana after the arrival of the Caro-
NH troops he marched on ESrfolk and
/ occupied 1t without hindrancc
4 lD1 1.t..,
me stores behind him. For several
weeks skirmishes took place between an,
opposing forces. and nothing of any mo-
"ient occurred until New Years d,v
Whlch was marked by the Destruction ~
! Norfolk by fire. VI
inc origin OF thc connagration was
Que 10 the orders of Lord Dunmorn
nohe historians do MT believe that no
.r'chueu Ihc total destruction of III,
.uMn' us the majority Of THE population
were IoEal 10 the Crown Some rbclinvn
that mad spirit or dcstruction sniynd
me townsncoplc. ana that the Torias
urea thcir own warehouses and dwell.
lhSS 10 save them from the patriots
Wh!e me Americans fired many build
ihgs to Keep them from the English.
Dunmore'S malignant hatred of the
coioniSts was SO often shown during b;s
career III the province that the Interest {
Vi me iostl cltiHenS would hardly have
appealed TO him. rs they were all do
'eS'eu Americans. This theory is cor
rohorated by letters from British naval
officers, who icjlinced over tho do,
struction of The ''hated town of Nor
FOIL" ~
ne liamcs rioted all through that aw
III New Years day Warehouses filed
with rich Eastern silk and dainty.
Sauzy tissues fitted for the fair maids
ana matrons of the colony, were reduced
TO ashes, and Il punGcnt odor Of burning