Skirmish at Kemps Landing

The Skirmish (battle) at Kemps Landing was one of the smallest battles of the American Revolutionary War. It was the first battle of Virginia, followed by the more famous Siege of Yorktown and Raid on Richmond.  The port of Kemps Landing was founded in the 1600s by George Kempe of England. The Elizabeth River channeled profitable goods such as lumber and bricks to Kemps Landing. With the start of the Revolution, tensions began to rise over military supplies. Lord Dunmore, then Governor of the Province of Virginia, knew control of Kemp's landing supply chains led to direct control of the supplies going to Norfolk. Control of Norfolk was the ultimate goal of his troops, ensuring greater power over the commerce system. 

The American Revolutionary War (April 1775- September 1783) was sparked by a rebellion of the thirteen American colonies of Great Britain. The colonists wanted to break away from the British, as the British were attempting to remain in control of the territory in the colonies. France, Spain, and Holland fought on the side of the 13 colonies, as the British fought with German mercenaries, loyalists, and Indian tribes. The Treaty of Paris ended the war in 1783 and determined the United States to be separated from the British Empire. 

Lord Dunmore ordered British troops to seize weapons from the storehouses in Kemps Landing. Tensions additionally rose between Patriots and Loyalists. Lord Dunmore declared all patriot slaves free if they served the British Army. This act caused the patriots to retaliate further and organize an ambush on Dunmore’s troops, 10 miles from Kemp’s Landing. Dunmore heard rumors of the ambush and sent 120 of his own men. The Patriots were unprepared and many had been drinking, resulting in the surprise attack happening too soon. During the skirmish, 18 patriots were captured and 7 killed by gunfire and or by drowning in a nearby creek. One British soldier was wounded. 

Skirmish at kemp's landing: Facts, information & history. Revolutionary War. (2020, March 4). Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://www.revolutionary-war.net/skirmish-at-kemps-landing/

Schweitzer, G. K. (1997). Revolutionary War Genealogy. G.K. Schweitzer.