The United Colonies
In response to King George’s earlier declaration that the Colonies were in a state of open rebellion, on Dec. 6, Colonial Congress passed language declaring the Colonies’ right to resist the usurping of their rights as English subjects. In turn, on Dec. 22, Parliament passed the Prohibitory Act, banning all trade with the Colonies as well as declaring an embargo of the Colonies as enemies. This was effectively a declaration of war against the Colonies by Great Britain.
In Canada, the forces of General Richard Montgomery and Colonel Benedict Arnold united and began a siege of Quebec. They launched an attack in a blizzard Dec. 30-31 which ended in defeat with approximately 100 Colonial casualties, including the death of General Montgomery and the serious wounding of Colonel Arnold, and 400 colonists being captured.
On Dec.r 6, 1775, Henry Knox, a book seller who was recently appointed Washington’s head of artillery, began an arduous winter journey. His mission was to transport 60 tons of artillery and supplies through winter weather conditions and difficult terrain from captured Fort Ticonderoga on sleds pulled by oxen for the fortifying of Dorchester Heights outside of Boston.
In South Carolina, battles were fought from Dec. 22-30, the first known as the Battle of Great Cane Break and the rest known as the Snow Campaign.
Virginia
The first major battle of the Revolution in Virginia was fought Dec. 9 at the Great Bridge over the Elizabeth River, a critical point through the Dismal Swamp for land access to Norfolk. The British forces, composed of Regular British Army troops, Loyalist Militia and the recently formed Ethiopian Brigade of slaves, attacked the entrenched Patriot force of 900 commanded by Colonel William Woodford on the south side of the bridge. The British suffered an estimated 80 casualties before withdrawing. Only one Patriot casualty was recorded. William “Billy” Flora, a free black man, was the advanced Colonial sentry and was cited for his bravery in standing his ground and repeatedly loading and firing, which alerted the Virginians to the assault.
Colonel Woodford occupied Norfolk on Dec. 14, driving the British into ships in the harbor.
The Fourth Virginia Convention met in Richmond on Dec. 1, adjourning to Williamsburg on Dec. 5. Edmund Pendleton, president of the Committee of Safety, was elected president of the Convention, thus becoming the de facto equivalent of both Governor and Speaker of the House today. The Fourth Convention focused on the defense of the colony, forming seven additional regiments and began formation of a Virginia Navy. The Fourth Convention also passed a resolution making English common law prior to 1607 the basis of Virginia law.
Botetourt
As mentioned in an earlier article, there is a dearth of court records in December 1775, as the court met three times in November.
One item of note from the county court’s meeting of Nov. 27, with George Skillern, Richard May and Andrew Woods presiding, was referral of the case of David Halley, Jr. to the General Court in Williamsburg for trial on charges of breaking and entering the home of William Mason and theft of property therefrom.
The trial was to take place the second Tuesday of December 1775 in Williamsburg. John Neely, David Chadwell, Robert Perryman and William Mann were called to appear and testify at that trial and were ordered to post 200 pounds bail to the King which would be returned after they appeared in Williamsburg to testify in this case.
Unfortunately, I could not find records from the meeting of the General Court in Williamsburg on this case.
~ Submitted by Ed Holt, for the Botetourt Preservation Partnership (BPP)
