From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Burning of Norfolk Date January 1, 1776 Location Norfolk, Virginia Participants United States Robert Howe Kingdom of Great Britain Lord Dunmore Outcome Destruction of the town by combined action of British and Whig forces The Burning of Norfolk was an incident that occurred on January 1, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War. British Royal Navy ships in the harbor of Norfolk, Virginia began shelling the town, and landing parties came ashore to burn specific properties. The town, whose significantly Tory (Loyalist) population had fled, was occupied by Whig (Revolutionary) forces from Virginia and North Carolina. Although these forces worked to drive off the landing parties, they did nothing to impede the progress of the flames, and began burning and looting Tory properties. After three days, most of the town had been destroyed, principally by the action of the Whig forces. The destruction was completed by Whig forces in early February to deny use of even the remnants to the British. Norfolk was the last significant foothold of British authority in Virginia; after raiding Virginias coastal areas for a time, its last Royal Governor, Lord Dunmore, left for good in August 1776.
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 12:41:22 +0000
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