On-line Virginia Bulletin Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution __________________________________________________________________ 2014-15 Volume XXXVIII No. 4 GREAT BRIDGE REMEMBERED The Commemoration of the Battle of Great Bridge by the National and Williamsburg Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Great Bridge Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution was held on December 6, 2014 at Great Bridge, Chesapeake. In the battle, which took place December 9, 1775, Virginia and North Carolina Patriots defeated British regu- lars and Loyalist troops, which led to the expulsion of British government from Virginia. In an attempt to break up the Whig gathering, Dunmore ordered an at- tack across the bridge, which was decisively repulsed. William Wood- ford, the Patriot commander at the battle, described it as "a second Bun- ker's Hill affair". - Lew De Seif, Williamsburg Chapter (L-R) Wayne Rouse, Past President, Co. Fielding Lewis Chapter SAR, Caroline Fox, Presi- dent, Cavalier Chapter Children of the American Revolution, Sylvia Ryder, Regent, Prin- cess Anne Chapter DAR, Harley Stewart, Secretary, Williamsburg Chapter SAR, Lindsey Brock, President General, National Society SAR, Emily Holmes, Regent, Great Bridge DAR FROM THE GUEST EDITOR’S DESK Compatriots, I began Revolutionary War reenacting in 1989 and was active until age began to catch up with me. Now, my participation is confined to living history activities which has allowed me to keep a hand in the hobby. Years ago when I was first getting my uniform and equipment together, my “sergeant’ told a group of us recruits that a clown dresses up and in order for us to become real reenactors and to avoid being clowns, we needed to learn the drill and unit history, to become knowledgeable about our uniform, uniform kit, and weapons. He said that real “Revwar” reenactors knew not only about the history of war but also about the colonial time period, and learned about the living conditions of soldiers and civilians. Real reenactors could properly erect a tent and lay out an authentic campsite. We were encouraged to read history, visit Revolutionary War era sites including battlefields, forts, historical villages and towns such as Coloni- al Williamsburg or Old Salem, North Carolina. In order to get a feel for what we represented, we were to walk the streets of the reconstructed colonial towns and visit the buildings; to walk the battlefields to get an idea of terrain, distances, and obstacles the soldiers encountered and; we were to help prepare meals on the campfire to understand what they ate and drank. Bob Vogler While I acknowledge that most SAR members are not going to partici- pate in reenacting or living history activities, as descendents of American patriots, it is important for us who have elected to join a heritage organization to learn as much as possible about the period of the American Revolution. I recommend that we all learn about our “Revwar” ancestor beyond his bare vital statistics. It can be done by reading pension statements which may mention the ancestor or the events in which he participated. Read the histories of the military units in which he was a member and the engagements in which he was a participant. If your ancestor rendered patriotic service rather than military service, learn about the civilian, social, and political side of the war and the challenges those patriots faced. Read about the history of the colonial time period and the American War for Independence in books and journals. Visit Nation- al and state parks devoted to the era of the American Revolution and take time to read the display information and not just walk past it. Walk the battlefields for a fuller understanding of the action which occurred there and don’t just look at the monuments - read the information they contain. As members of a national patriotic and heritage organization, it is important for us to remember the words of historian Brue Cat- ton: “We are people to whom the past is forever speaking. We listen to it because we cannot help ourselves, for the past speaks to us with many voices. Far out of that dark nowhere, which is the time before we were born, men who were flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone, went through fire and storm to break a path to the future. We are part of the future they died for. They are part of the past that brought the future. What they did – the lives they lived, the sacrifices they made, the stories they told and the songs they sang and finally, the deaths they died – take up a part of our own experience. We cannot cut ourselves off from it. It is as real to us as something that happened last week. It is a basic part of our heritage as Americans.” I am extremely proud to be a SAR compatriot and hope you will consider the above suggestions to help you enhance your knowledge of the American War for Independence and, in turn, your pride as a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. Your Servant, Bob Vogler Colonel George Waller Chapter, VASSAR 2 2014-15 VASSAR OFFICERS President 1st Vice President Bill Broadus Reverdy Wright 10133 Brandon Way 705 Circle Drive Manassas, VA 20109-6254 Blacksburg, VA 24060-3207 703-627-3907 540-961-2452 [email protected] [email protected] 2nd Vice President 3rd Vice President Ed Truslow Mike Elston 110 Moray Firth PO Box 336 Williamsburg, VA 23188 Lorton, VA 22199-0336 757-565-2460 703-680-0866 [email protected] [email protected] Secretary & Asst. Treasurer Treasurer Wayne Rouse Rick Elofson 71 Hope Springs Lane 21 Paula Maria Drive Stafford, VA 22554-5238 Newport News, VA 540-659-5258 757-596-6825 [email protected] [email protected] Chancellor Registrar Eric Monday Jack Sweeney 936 Mulberry Road 6485 Topsails Lane Martinsville, VA 24112 Springfield, VA 22150-7836 276-252-1032 703-921-1132 [email protected] [email protected] Chaplain Historian Rev. Howell Sasser Larry Aaron 11944 Artery Lane 185 Martindale Drive Fairfax, VA 22030-6710 Danville, VA 24541-4515 703-631-0466 434-770-3258 [email protected] [email protected] Surgeon National Trustee Dr. Ken Wallenborn Phil Williams 700 Rugby Road 841 W. Leigh Drive Charlottesville, VA 22903-1627 Charlottesville, VA 22901-7748 434-293-6779 434-977-1949 [email protected] [email protected] Alt. National Trustee Asst. Secretary Kent Webber Bob Carr 9405 Delancey Drive 8718 Bradgate Court Vienna, VA 22182-3410 Alexandria, VA 22308-2308 703-938-8141 703-780-3066 [email protected] [email protected] Asst. Registrar Asst. Chaplain Mike Taimi1 Rev. Roy Martin 3851 Springstone Drive 317 Congers Lane Clifton, VA 20124 Massanutten, VA 22840 703-631-8377 540-480-0030 [email protected] [email protected] 3 BATTLE OF KEMPS LANDING - SCOTT AIKEN On the cold but sunny Saturday morning of November 15, 2014, Norfolk Chapter sponsored a commemoration of the Battle of Kemps Landing. This was an important precursor action that occurred on November 15, 1775, further setting events in motion for the Battle of Great Bridge that would occur the following month. Although the assem- bled Patriot militia was routed at Kemps Landing, the action within present-day Virginia Beach, Virginia, set the conditions for the complete, violent elimination of Royal authority in Virginia. During the battle, militia companies from Princess Anne County assembled near Kemps Landing to counter regular British troops under the command of Virginia’s last colonial governor, John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore, that had landed at nearby Great Bridge. Dunmore was investigating reports of Patriot troop arrivals from North Carolina, rumors that turned out to be false. When he heard of activity by the Princess Anne militia, he marched to Kemps Landing and unfortunately defeated the Patriots’ attempt at an ambush. Encouraged, Dunmore followed up this quick victory with a reading of his proclamation, declaring martial law and promising freedom to slaves belonging to Patriot owners, if they served in the British military. This proclamation soon increased popular opposition to his activities, and such opposition eventually led to him being forced to leave Virginia, by way of a good dose of Patriot gunpowder at Great Bridge. This year’s commemoration occurred at the Virginia Historical Marker for Kempsville at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church. Col. Scott Aiken, master of ceremonies, described the bat- tle and its significance, and spoke to the perils of the ambush in combat. Representatives of Norfolk Chapter SAR and District I VADAR laid wreaths. Mr. James Carver, vestry member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Norfolk com- patriots, and members of Lynnhaven Parish, Ft. Nelson, and Great Bridge NSDAR chapters par- Dr. Tom Whetstone, President, Norfolk Chapter SAR ticipated in the brief ceremony. James Carver - member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church Vestry, Nancy Miller, District I Director VADAR 4 DEDICATION OF COLONEL JOHN JAMESON BOULEVARD - BILL SCHWETKE Six Culpeper Minutemen Chapter (CMM) members and two wives attended the dedication of Col John Jameson Boulevard in Culpeper on December 24. The near freezing drizzle abated and, though it was still quite cold, there was a good turnout of about fifty people for the dedica- tion of the new .61 mile long boulevard with three roundabouts that will greatly improve the traffic flow on the northeast side of Culpeper. The CMM Color Guard provided the colors for the ceremony and CMM President Bill Schwetke presented a short biography of Col Jameson for the program. The new boulevard is named for John Jameson, a captain and company command- er in the 1775 Culpeper Minutemen, and later Colonel in the Continental Army.