The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-01-22
BURNING OF NORFOLK
Interesting Facts Regarding the Event
Which 0esOlated the Town Years Ago.
PROF. WEBS1Ea'S VALUABLE PAPER
Tho Situation In she state ut That
Time, December and Janunry, lz7G
Hattie of kompsvIIIe and Grcnt
Bridge = BombnrtImcnt and De.
struction OF the Town.


sirmction Of the Town.
The old question as to the burning
of Norfolk. ever interesting 10 the peo-
pie hereabouts. has been revived again
by the publication of the following COM
munication In The Virginian of the 18th
inst:
bid ar DID Not "Lord Dunmore' DC.
stroy Norfolk on Jan. I, 1870.
Norfolk. Va. Jan. IL. 1896.
Editor of The Virglnlan:
Colonel w. II. Stewart. in his late adj
dress before the Fort Nelson" Chapter
of the Daughters of the Revolution, re-
produces the commonly accepted ac-
count of that affair.
| have been led to believe that the
original version of 1t has been entirely
derived from and based on Colonel
Howe's report of January 9, l776, and
taken mainly from the Virginia Gazette,
issued on February 9. ZIG, and put down
as history from that.
But the documents of the Virginia
Legislature. 1885, 1856. on motion of John
w. MurdouGh. the member from Ports
mouth. the report OF the commissioners
appointed In l1T1 to ascertain the losses
OF the late inhabitants of the borough of
Norfolk Is printed I'm full (sec part
~.
1896. and was furnished by mc.)
In that report Is separately stated the
losses occasioned by Lord Dunmorcs
bombardment LIST January, 177G. which
shows tsmalD what was destroyed
month later by the Continental troops
and added to that which was destroyed
in March by the orders of the conven-
lions
The commissioners met In Norfolk in
September, l777. and did the work as
signed. and may be reasonably presum-
ed to have had all facts there fresh I'm
memory.
lnasmuch as we have records that (see
Pilot, issue of April 8, 1896 the court
documents and even the borough fire en-
gines were removed to Eemp's landing,
etc, brought back in 1854; there was
time allowed not probable In n sudden
attack.
am aware this may be a knock out to
school history.
l obtained after long hunt a copy of
the report as stated, and a year ago de-
posted 1t with William H. Sergeant,
Librarian of the Norfolk Library Asso-
citation, CRANKY street and College
| Place. where. If any are curious. it can
be seen base all say on that alone.
THOMAS b. ROWLAND.
PROF. WEBSTER WRITES.
In this connection the following has
been received from Prof. N. h. Webster
Nlneland. n. j.. Jan. Is, 1897.
| Editor of The Ylrginian:
Dear Sir:-The enclosed question ha.
been sent me. Reference to your file.
| for January l, 1876 Uwcnty-one year.
| ago., will show that the Chen ODD Ques
| ton was answered in your columns OF
the centennial anniversary of the event
| Lord Dunmore ordered the destruction
| and the Virginia convention ordered TN,
| completion of what Dunmore began. a.
| the condensation of the centennial ar.
ticle would be difficult. hope you will
agree with me that It's republication will
be opportune now. Respectfully.
n. b. WEBSTER
| The Issue referred to above (of Jan.
uary l. 1876 contains an extended ar
| ticlc from the able pen of Prof. Web
ster, treating of the battle of Kemp:
Landing, Great Bridge, and the burning
of Norfolk 1t was prepared after care
| full and precise research and will prov,
valuable reading to those Interested II
the history of the city and the solution
| of the question propounded at the heal
of Mr.. Rowland's communication. Prof
| WehSter'S account starts out as follows
the reader bearing in mind that 1t wa
| published tWenty-onc years ago:
THE OLD TIME NORFOLK.
| One hundred years ago Norfolk wa
| Il flouIishing town, containing abou
5000 inha bitants. loyal subjects to Hi
Majesty George ii, loyal to traditional
ana revercd customs and precedent
usually called the Constitution of tn
Mother Country. but many of then
more loyal Ia the great principles of civi
liberty enunciated in the Great Charte
and B!ll of Rights. 1t is true there wer
tories in those days who secretly, an,
some OF them openly. sustained the crue
and tyrannical acts of the last Colonia
Governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore
and Norfolk had more than it's share O
them. The representatives of the Col
ony and Dominion of Virginia, Assem-
bled in General Convention on the 1871
of December, 1II5. declared the consti
tuition and laws of the country ha,
been violated by the assumption O
powers by Lord Dunmore. which eve-
the King himself could not exercise
Among these assumed powers was tn
declaration of martial law; that all VIII
would not Immediately submit to hi
arbitrary mandates and subscribe 10 hi
IRON CLAD OATH"
were rebels subject TO penalties implied
and the offer of freedom TO servants an,
slaves who We're to be armed to GEh
against their masters. Dunmorc actual
| lily seized many peaceable and innocen
citizens and dragged them to prison
and armed hundreds of negroes to sus
tain his lawless oppression.
THE proclamation of Dunmore dis
mayed none Of the noble band of pa
iriots. but considering him the real rebe
they took up arms as they had a RICH