SHORT HISTORY OF THE BATTLE OF GREAT BRIDGE REENACTMENT GROUPS INDIVIDUALS On a chilly morning, the 9th of December 1775, in southeastern Tidewater, Virginia, two opposing forces came together to face each other across a narrow causeway and bridge, 7th Virginia Regiment called “the Great Bridge”- the Patriots on the southern side, the 64th Regiment of Foote British on the northern side. “The Great Bridge,” actually a 76th Regiment of Foote series of causeways and bridges, spanned the southern branch of 14th Regiment of Foote the Elizabeth River and surrounding swamps twelve miles south Roger’s Rangers of Norfolk and served as a strategic link between Virginia and the Queen's Own Loyal Virginia Regiment southern colonies. HMS Otter Acting on misleading “intelligence” that the Rebel force Youth Virginia Regiment was small and low on ammunition, the Royal Governor of DECEMBER 8 and 9, 2018 Bill Blair portraying Colonel William Woodford Virginia, Lord Dunmore, ordered the British attack to break the Dave Pondolfino portraying Lord Dunmore stalemate before the Rebels could be reinforced. A head-on attack against the entrenched Rebel forces came as reveille was beating in the camp of the 900 2nd Virginia Regiment “regulars” CONTRIBUTING ORGANIZATIONS and Norfolk County militiamen. The ensuing Patriot volleys of rifle fire cut down the City of Chesapeake - Parks, Recreation and Tourism advancing Redcoats and drove the British forces of about 350 (14th Regiment of Foote, Loyalist militia, volunteers and Lord Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways History Foundation Dunmore’s Loyal Ethiopians), with heavy casualties, back into Fort Murray – a wooden stockade fort at the northern end of “the Norfolk County Historical Society Great Bridge.” The British abandoned the fort that night and retreated to Norfolk. This led Lord Dunmore, the British forces, Great Bridge Chapter - National Society and Loyalists to eventually board ships for safety and abandon Daughters of the American Revolution Norfolk, after bombarding and burning that city on January 1, Chesapeake Chapter - National Society 1776. Daughters of the American Revolution The Battle of Great Bridge, considered the “Southern Bunker Hill” by many historians, is not generally well known, Norfolk Chapter - National Society but the importance of this Patriot victory was significant to Sons of the American Revolution Virginia and to the Patriot cause. It led directly to the British evacuation of Virginia and the loss of Norfolk as a base of 7th Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line military operations in the South. It also restored the Patriot north-south supply line between Virginia and the southern Girl Scout Troop 955 colonies. The British defeat demoralized many southern Loyalists Battlefield Park South Kiwanis Club of Great Bridge and led to their conversion to the Patriot cause. It caused many 120 Reservation Road others, who were as yet undecided as to their allegiance and on (South of the Great Bridge’s Bridge and Lock) Chesapeake Fire Department Auxiliary the verge of joining the British, to side with the Patriots. Many southern Patriots on the verge of “giving up” were encouraged to continue to fight because of the American victory at the Battle of Great Bridge. SATURDAY SUNDAY SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES* BATTLE OF GREAT BRIDGE SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES* 10:00 a.m. Encampments Open to Public 10:00 a.m. Encampments Open to Public SATURDAY (off-site ceremony) 11:00 a.m. Small Skirmish 10:00 a.m. Church Service Battlefield Park 1:00 p.m. Large Skirmish 11:00 a.m. CEREMONY & RECEPTION 11:00 a.m. Small Skirmish 2:00 p.m. Encounter: BATTLE OF GREAT BRIDGE 12:30 p.m. Encounter: Lord Dunmore & Colonel Woodford Lord Dunmore & Colonel Woodford OBSERVANCE DAY 3:00 p.m. Reenactment: Commemorating 1:00 p.m. Reenactment: the Battle of Great Bridge on Battle of Great Bridge Battle of Great Bridge December 9, 1775 3:30 p.m. Public Q & A with Reenactors TH 1:30 p.m. Public Q & A with Reenactors 65 ANNUAL WREATH LAYING 4:00 p.m. Encampments Closed to Public Great Bridge Chapter 2:00 p.m. Encampments Closed to Public National Society On-Going Activities: Daughters of the American Revolution On-Going Activities: TH Camp Life & Firing Demonstrations 8 ANNUAL CELEBRATION Camp Life & Firing Demonstrations Parlor Games (Children’s Activity Tent) Norfolk Chapter Parlor Games (Children’s Activity Tent) Period Crafts (Children’s Activity Tent) National Society Period Crafts (Children’s Activity Tent) Historical Displays Sons of the American Revolution Historical Displays Sutler Tents Sutler Tents Drilling the Militia (Children’s Activity) Drilling the Militia (Children’s Activity) *Note: Schedules and activities subject to change. .