The Bombardment of Norfolk, 1776

The bombardment and burning of Norfolk helped fuel the American Revolution. In retaliation for Norfolk’s refusal to supply provisions for his ships, British Royal Governor Lord Dunmore ordered his fleet to fire on the town on the afternoon of New Year’s Day 1776. The borough’s entire waterfront was under siege from the man-of-war HMS Liverpool lying in the Elizabeth River near here and from six other vessels, including HMS Otter and HMS Kingfisher, extending westward to Town Point. Landing parties were sent ashore to burn buildings used by snipers shooting at the ships, and Dunmore’s troops destroyed 19 buildings. Partly to prevent the British from occupying the borough’s strategic location, Virginia and Carolina militiamen then rampaged through Norfolk, further burning and plundering it over the next two days. When Colonel William Woodford and General Robert Howe regained control of their patriot troops, about two-thirds of Norfolk, 863 buildings, had been destroyed.

Norfolk, Virginia · United States