know how to charge for them? More than one-third the cost of cloth and making!"-Herald.

The above account of three pounds, thirteen shillings, and nine pence, proved by the oath of John Smith.

September 24th, 1770.

GEO. ABYVON.

1769. Imports of Virginia, principally of the port of Norfolk, £851,000.

We now approach an eventful era in the history of Norfolk and vicinity, as well as that of the entire country,—the trying yet glorious period of the great conflict with the power of Britain;-years that were dark and gloomy indeed, and still not causing despair.

contest.

As before intimated, our town was thriving and prosperous enough until the commencement of this important and unequal And how sudden was the change! how soon were a thousand hopes disappointed, and the brightest prospects blasted! -one day presenting the appearance of wealth and prosperity, and inspiring the most confident hopes of future greatness, and, ere the dawn of the next, a heap of smouldering ruins!

CHAPTER VII.

1775-1776.

Lord Dunmore-Preparations for War-The Battle of the Great BridgeGlorious Victory-Heroism and Generosity of the Virginians-Miss Polly Miller-Officers, &c., who were in the Battle at the Bridge.

1775. LORD DUNMORE, on hearing of the warlike preparations that had been made in this part of the State, directed special attention to Norfolk. He erected batteries, threw up entrenchments, furnished the blacks and tories with arms and ammunition, concentrated a considerable military force here, and ordered the farmers to send in provisions.

"The government of Virginia despatched, with all speed, a detachment of minute-men, under the command of Colonel Woodford, into the county." Dunmore, with but little delay, took a strong position at the Great Bridge, then a thriving village, situated about ten miles from the town, and which took its name from the bridge over the southern branch of the Elizabeth. "This point was upon the direct route of the provincial troops. Here he threw up works on the Norfolk side, and furnished them with a numerous artillery. The entrenchments were surrounded on every part with water and marshes, and were only accessible by a long dike. . . . The Virginians took post over against the English, at cannon-shot distance. Before them they had a long, narrow dike, the extremity of which they also fortified. In this state the two parties remained for several days, without making any movement."

"Lord Dunmore," says the Virginia Gazette, "had erected his fort in such a manner that his cannon commanded the causeway on his own side, and the bridges between him and us, with the marshes around him." The causeway to our camp was also commanded by the enemy's cannon.

"The causeway on our side, in length, was about one hundred and sixty yards, and on the hither extremity our breastwork was

up.

thrown From the breastwork ran a street, gradually ascending, about the length of four hundred yards, to a church, where our main body was encamped."

It appears that Dunmore had been induced to believe, by stratagem, that there were only about three hundred shirt-men (as the Virginians, who wore a kind of hunting-shirt, were often called); and he despatched to the bridge about two hundred regular soldiers and three or four hundred blacks and tories. Meanwhile, the news of these warlike preparations spread in every direction; and a number of patriotic individuals hastened to the battle-ground, carrying such arms and ammunition as they could procure with the least possible delay. From different sections of Norfolk, Princess Anne, and Nansemond Counties, active and heroic young men, middle-aged and old men, even of threescore years and more, shouldered their muskets, rifles, or fowling-pieces, hurried on to the scene of danger, and rallied nobly around the standard of liberty.

"On Saturday, the 9th of December, the enemy crossed the bridge, fired the remaining houses, and attacked our guard in the breastwork. Our men returned the fire, and threw them into some confusion; but they were instantly rallied by Captain. Fordyce, and advanced along the causeway with great resolution, keeping up a constant and heavy fire as they approached. Two field-pieces, which had been brought across the bridge and placed on the edge of the island, played briskly at the same time upon us. Lieutenant Travis, who commanded in the breastwork, ordered his men to reserve their fire until the enemy came within fifty yards, and then they gave it to them with terrible execution. The brave Fordyce exerted himself to keep up their spirits, reminded them of their ancient glory, and, waving his hat over his head encouragingly, told them the day was their own. Thus pressing forward, he fell, within fifteen steps of the breastwork. His wounds were many; and his death would have been that of a hero, had he met it in a better cause. The progress of the enemy was now at an end. They retreated over the causeway with precipitation, and were dreadfully galled in

the rear.

"Hitherto, on our side, only the guard, consisting of twenty

five, and some others,-in the whole, not amounting to more than ninety, had been engaged. Only the regulars of the 14th regiment, in number one hundred and twenty, had advanced upon the causeway; and about two hundred and thirty negroes and tories had, after crossing the bridge, continued upon the island. The regulars, after retreating along the causeway, were again rallied by Captain Leslie, and the two fieldpieces continued playing upon our men. It was at this time that Colonel Woodford was advancing down the street, to the breastwork, with the main body, and against him was now directed the whole fire of the enemy. Never were cannon better served; yet, in the face of them and the musketry, which kept up a continual blaze, our men marched on with the utmost intrepidity. Colonel Stevens, of the Culpeper battalion, was sent round to the left to flank the enemy, which was done with so much spirit and activity that a rout immediately ensued. The enemy fled into their fort, leaving behind them the two field-pieces, which, however, they took care to spike.

"Many were killed and wounded in the flight; but Colonel Woodford very prudently restrained his troops from pursuing the enemy too far. From the beginning of the attack till the repulse at the breastwork might be fourteen or fifteen minutes; till the total defeat, upwards of half an hour. It is said that some of the enemy preferred death to captivity, from fear of being scalped, which Lord Dunmore cruelly told them would be their fate, should they be taken alive. Thirty-one, killed and wounded, fell into our hands; and the number borne off was much greater. Through the whole engagement, every officer and soldier behaved with the greatest calmness and courage. The conduct of our sentinels I cannot pass over in silence. Before they quitted their stations, they fired at least three rounds as the enemy were crossing the bridge; and one of them, posted behind some shingles, kept his ground till he had fired eight times, and, after he had received the fire of a whole platoon, made his escape across the causeway to our breastwork. The scene was concluded with as much humanity as it was conducted with bravery. The work of death being over, every one's attention was directed to the succour of the unhappy

sufferers; and it is an undoubted fact that Captain Leslie was so affected with the attention of our troops to those capable of assistance, that he gave signs from the fort of his thankfulness. What is not paralleled in history, and will scarcely be credible, except to such as acknowledge a Providence over human affairs, -this victory was gained at the expense of no more than a slight wound in a soldier's hand; and one circumstance that renders it still more amazing is that the field-pieces raked the whole length of the street, and absolutely threw double-headed shot as far as the church, and afterwards, as our troops approached, cannonaded them heavily with grape-shot.

"Several of our soldiers ran through a hot fire, to lift up and bring in some that were bleeding, and who they feared would die, if not speedily assisted by the surgeon. The prisoners expected to be scalped, and cried out, 'For God sake, do not murder us! One of them, unable to walk, cried out in this manner to one of our men, and was answered by him, 'Put your arm around my neck, and I will show you what I intend to do.' Then taking him, with his arm over his neck, he walked slowly on, bearing him along with great tenderness to the breastwork. Captain Leslie, seeing two of our soldiers tenderly moving a wounded regular from the bridge, stepped upon the platform of the fort, and bowing with great respect, thanked them for their kindness. These are instances of a noble disposition of soul. Men who can act thus must be invincible."

Truly, indeed, and most justly, may it be said of the conduct of the Virginians on that occasion, that they manifested a "noble disposition of soul;" added unfading honour to our arms, and undying glory to the State and to the Union. And most true it is, also, that men who can act thus cannot be conquered; for, as in other cases during that struggle for freedom, an unseen power and an influence from above, more powerful than all the dread engines of death, were present, to protect and "save to the uttermost" the heroes who fought and conquered in Liberty's holy cause.

There resided at the Great Bridge, in Revolutionary days, an active, energetic, and patriotic female, who was long known