Kempsville in Virginia Beach, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Skirmish at Kemp’s Landing
Photographed By Brandon D Cross, May 20, 2019
1. Skirmish at Kemp’s Landing Marker
Lord Dunmore, royal governor of Virginia, led a detachment of the British 14th Regiment to this area on 15 Nov. 1775 to disrupt militiamen forming in resistance to royal authority. The Princess Anne militia, waiting in a thicket, fired on the British advance guard. Heavy return fire scattered the militia and killed several men. Dunmore’s force, augmented by African American volunteers who had escaped from slavery, took a number of prisoners, including Col. Joseph Hutchings. The emboldened Dunmore issued a proclamation declaring martial law and offering freedom to slaves willing to fight for the king. Many militiamen and others subsequently signed oaths of loyalty to the Crown.
Erected 2018 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number KV-27.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Colonial Era • Patriots & Patriotism • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 15, 1775.
Location. 36° 49.598′ N, 76° 9.65′ W. Marker is in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It is in Kempsville. Marker is on South Witchduck Road (Virginia Route 190) just south
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Skirmish Of Kempsville (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Princess Anne County Courthouse (about 600 feet away); Kempsville (about 700 feet away); Filipinos in the U.S. Navy (approx. 0.7 miles away); Filipino American Veterans of Hampton Roads (approx. ¾ mile away); Filipino American Sea Service Veterans (approx. ¾ mile away); Princess Anne County Training School / Union Kempsville High School (approx. 1.1 miles away); New Town (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Virginia Beach.
Photographed By Brandon D Cross, May 20, 2019
2. Skirmish at Kemp’s Landing Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 29, 2019, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 599 times since then and 50 times this year. Last updated on March 31, 2022, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 29, 2019, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
