ys Bancroft, "Dunmore repeatedly landed
detachments to seize arms wherever he could find them. Thus far Virginia
had not resisted the British by force. The war began in that colony with
the defence of Hampton, a small village at the end of the isthmus
between York and James rivers. An armed sloop had been driven on its
shore in a very violent gale; its people took out of her six swivels and
other stores, made some of her men prisoners, and then set her on fire.
Dunmore blockaded the port; they called to their assistance a company of
"Shirtmen," as the British called the Virginia regulars, from the
hunting shirt which was their uniform, and another company of minute
men, besides a body of militia."

"On the 26th Dunmore sent some of the tenders close into Hampton Roads
to destroy the town. The guard marched out to repel them, and the moment
they came within gunshot, George Nicholas, who commanded the Virginians,
fired his musket at one of the tenders; it was the first gun fired in
Virginia against the British. His example was followed by his party.
Retarded by boats which had been sunk across the Channel, the British on
that day vainly attempted to land. The following night the Culpepper
riflemen were despatched to the aid of Hampton; and William Woodford,
Colonel of the 2nd Regiment of Virginia, was sent by the Committee of
Safety from Williamsburg to take the direction. The next day the
British, having cut their way through the sunken boats, renewed the
attack; but the riflemen poured upon them a heavy fire, killing a few
and wounding more. One of the tenders was taken, with its armament and
seven seamen; the rest were with difficulty towed out of the creek. The
Virginians lost not a man. This was the first battle of the revolution
in the ancient Dominion, and its honours belonged to the
Virginians."[380]

In consequence of this failure of Lord Dunmore to burn the town of
Hampton, he proclaimed martial law and freedom to the slaves. The
English Annual Register states that, "In consequence of the repulse (at
Hampton) a proclamation was issued (Nov. 7th) by the Governor, dated on
board the ship _William_, off Norfolk, declaring, that as the civil law
was at present insufficient to prevent and punish treason and traitors,
martial law should take place, and be executed throughout the colony;
and requiring all persons capable of bearing arms to repair to his
Majesty's standard, or to be considered as traitors." He also dec