On December 9, 1775, William "Billy" Flora, a free Black man, fought in the Battle of Great Bridge.

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Commentary
Remembering William ‘Billy’ Flora, a free Black Virginian and American patriot

Appreciating Flora’s role in the revolutionary era leads to a more nuanced understanding of American history as we look ahead to the semiquincentennial observations in 2026, writes guest columnist E Thomas Ewing.

Tom Ewing
December 22, 2025
5:20 am

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No images exist of William “Billy” Flora, but he is depicted in this painting by Jeremy Horne, featured on a historical marker in Great Bridge, Virginia. (Photo courtesy Jeremy Horne/The Historical Marker Database)

The Battle of Great Bridge on December 9, 1775 was an important step on the road to American independence, as rebellious Virginia soldiers defeated a detachment loyal to royal governor Lord Dunmore. The role of William “Billy” Flora, a free Black man, in this battle is now widely acknowledged, yet this recognition of his contribution to the revolutionary cause is a relatively recent achievement.

Fifty years ago, as Americans celebrated the bicentennial of this battle, Flora received little attention, thus ignoring the extensive documentation available from Black historians. This transformation in public knowledge confirms the importance of bringing diverse, inclusive and equitable perspectives to commemorations of America’s semiquincentennial in 2026.

William “Billy” Flora was born in 1755 to free Black parents in Portsmouth, Virginia. At age 20, Flora joined a militia mobilized to challenge the royal forces of Lord Dunmore. ... On December 9, 1775, Flora and other Virginians stood on the Great Bridge over the Elizabeth River facing a larger force of oncoming British soldiers. Flora fired eight times at the approaching soldiers, marching six abreast, before withdrawing back to the waiting Patriot forces. The Virginian marksmen fired at the soldiers, causing extensive casualties, forcing the British troops to retreat, and securing the first battlefield victory for revolutionary forces in Virginia.

This version of the Battle of Great Bridge is easily accessible now through many resources, including VA 250, the American Battlefield trust, Dictionary of Virginia Biography, and two historical markers in Portsmouth and Chesapeake. Yet this recognition of Flora is relatively new in historical and popular understanding.

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