THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 10, 1995 TAG: 9512080199
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER C. O'DONNELL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
Two hundred and twenty years ago, British soldiers and American militiamen fought the first Virginia land battle of the Revolutionary War in Great Bridge.
The battle, now known as the Battle of Great Bridge, was a major victory for the American patriots. None of the patriots was mortally wounded, but the British suffered some 40 fatalities and another 70 were wounded.
Just as significant is the fact that in less than half an hour, the British lost the use of Norfolk as a base of operations.
Saturday, on the grounds of the Central Library off Cedar Road, members of the Great Bridge Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will honor the American patriots that fought in the area's only Revolutionary War battle.
``There's a lot of misconception out there concerning the battle,'' said Elizabeth Hanbury, past president of the DAR. ``Some residents think the battle took place during the Civil War.''
To help educate the public, the DAR has arranged for members of the 1st Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line and the Culpeper Minutemen, two reenactment groups, to demonstrate what life was like for servicemen of the war.
``The reenactors will bring their families with them because that's what the men did during the Revolutionary War,'' said Caroline Phillips, one of the organizers.
The reenactors will perform drills every hour on the hour and give cooking and weaponry loading demonstrations to the public.
A wreath-laying ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. at the Great Bridge Monument, located near City Hall.
The encampment and demonstrations will take place behind the Central Library on Cedar Road from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Two hundred and twenty years ago, British soldiers and American militiamen fought the first Virginia land battle of the Revolutionary War in Great Bridge.
The battle, now known as the Battle of Great Bridge, was a major victory for the American patriots. None of the patriots was mortally wounded, but the British suffered some 40 fatalities and another 70 were wounded.
Just as significant is the fact that in less than half an hour, the British lost the use of Norfolk as a base of operations.
Saturday, on the grounds of the Central Library off Cedar Road, members of the Great Bridge Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will honor the American patriots that fought in the area's only Revolutionary War battle.
``There's a lot of misconception out there concerning the battle,'' said Elizabeth Hanbury, past president of the DAR. ``Some residents think the battle took place during the Civil War.''
To help educate the public, the DAR has arranged for members of the 1st Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line and the Culpeper Minutemen, two reenactment groups, to demonstrate what life was like for servicemen of the war.
``The reenactors will bring their families with them because that's what the men did during the Revolutionary War,'' said Caroline Phillips, one of the organizers.
The re-enactors will perform drills every hour on the hour and give cooking and weaponry loading demonstrations to the public.
A wreath-laying ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. at the Great Bridge Monument, located near City Hall.
The encampment and demonstrations will take place behind the Central Library on Cedar Road from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by CNB