At a river crossing near Norfolk called Great Bridge, American patriot forces repulsed a British attack on Dec. 9, 1775 … 250 years and two days ago. The patriots suffered one man wounded. The British had dozens, up to 100, killed and wounded.
This was a great victory for the American forces; a great defeat for the royal governor Lord Dunmore, who ordered the attack; and a precursor to the burning of Norfolk, which hardened colonists’ resolve to break free of the British crown.
The English controlled Hampton Roads and their supply lines went through Norfolk. Dunmore was determined to protect the city and, alarmed by patriot buildup nearby, ordered the ill-fated attack.
Lingering nearby on the flotilla where he had taken his government after fleeing from Williamsburg earlier in the year, Dunmore pondered. Possibly he sulked. He was not any closer to regaining control of his rebellious colony and we can imagine that he saw Virginia slipping away.
Christmas was not calm and certainly not ...