On our trips to and from the Outer Banks from Virginia, we always drive through Chesapeake, where we cross the impressive Elizabeth River and the Intracoastal Waterway, with marshes galore in between.
Long wanting to visit the Battle of Great Bridge, located smack in the middle of all that water, I suggested we drop by on our way home from the Outer Banks.
Although Great Bridge is very near the Intracoastal Waterway, we could only access it from a long distance off the main road.
Crossing a large draw bridge, then immediately turning right to the museum, we soon learned that was not the site of the Great Bridge, after which the battle is named.
The Great Bridge of 1775 crossed the Elizabeth River, a short distance away.
This giant drawbridge is for the canal…more on that later.
MARSHES EVERYWHERE
Because of all the water in the area, when settlers first came here in the mid-17th century, they built a series of causeways and bridges to allow transportation from Norfolk (near the Atlantic Ocean) to the other side of the Elizabeth River.
The largest of the bridges crossed the nearby southern branch of the Elizabeth River.
Due to its size, at 40 yards long, it was called the Great Bridge.
DASTARDLY LORD DUNMORE
Fast forward about one hundred years, when Lord Dunmore became the royal governor of Virginia in 1771.
Tenuous from the start, unlike other royal governors, Dunmore created a rift when he dissolved the House of Burgesses on May 26, 1774.
Inciting more trouble, Dunmore had the gunpowder seized the Williamsburg magazine on April 20, 1775, dubbed the Gunpowder Incident.
The day before the British marched on Lexington and Concord to seize their gunpowder.
PATRICK HENRY REPLIES
Meanwhile Patrick Henry, only a few weeks before, proclaimed:
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, peace, peace—but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! -Patrick Henry, St. John’s Church, Richmond, March 20, 1775
In response to the Gunpowder Incident, Patrick Henry led the Hanover militia into Williamsburg on May 3, 1775.
DUNMORE FLEES WILLIAMSBURG
Due to escalating tensions, Governor Dunmore and his family fled Williamsburg by early June.
Fleeing to Hampton Roads, Dunmore sought to take control of the Chesapeake Bay area.
Strengthened by British units, he had them build a fort (named Fort Murray) built near Great Bridge since that was the only land access to and from Norfolk in the area.
SECOND VIRGINIA REGIMENT AND CULPEPER MINUTEMEN
That autumn, Culpeper Minutemen, famed for their sharp shooting, marched to Norfolk with their Virginia long rifles with the Second Virginia Regiment.
BATTLE OF GREAT BRIDGE
When an advance unit was sent ahead, they were immediately caught in skirmishes with the British upon arrival to the Great Bridge.
Arriving 4 days later, the rest of the Second Virginia Regiment and Culpeper minutemen arrived amidst th skirmish.
As they built earthworks, skirmishing lasted a full eleven days.
Suddenly, Lord Dunmore announced an attack on December 9, 1775.
After a short 30 minutes, the battle was over, as the Virginians watched the British retreat.
MEMORIALS
Part of the Culpeper Minutemen included future Supreme Court Justice John Marshall, and his father, Thomas.
BRITISH RETREAT
Trudging to Norfolk, Lord Dunmore and his troops boarded their ships to regroup, before bombarding Norfolk on January 1, 1776.
Eventually moving on to Portsmouth, and then to the Rappahannock to await supplies and reinforcements, the Virginians now controlled Hampton Roads.
When aid did not come to Lord Dunmore, he ordered the ships to sail to New York.
VIRGINIA NAVY
While they controlled this strategic area, the Virginia regiments transported food and supplies across the Chesapeake Bay to supply troops.
By 1776, the Virginia navy had amassed up to 29 ships, more than any of the former colonies.
However, the British eventually took them down.
BENEDICT ARNOLD
ALBERMARLE AND CHESAPEAKE CANAL
Although Lord Dunmore proposed building a canal for this area in 1772, to more efficiently transport supplies, two wars intervened: American Revolution and War of 1812.
Finally, construction began in 1855, a time when mechanization provided greater equipment to pull out petrified stumps from the Dismal Swamp, which surrounds Great Bridge.
Creating two canals between the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia and Albermarle Sound in North Carolina, crews built an engineering marvel, now part of the Intracoastal Waterway.
Built 30 miles apart, the Virginia section was built 8.5 miles long between the Elizabeth River and the North Landing River, while the North Carolina section was built 5.5 miles long between Currituck Sound and the North River.
For all kinds of maps and details about this canal, check this source.
1775 GREAT BRIDGE LOCATION
Heading north to continue home, we drove across the south branch of the Elizabeth River, which the Great Bridge of 1775 once spanned.
I love these marshy areas! What a fun experience!
