Captain Thomas Nash late of Gosport Virginia was one of the faithful and courageous soldiers who fought at the Battle of the Great Bridge. In that battle he was slightly wounded in the hand. Captain Nash was well known as an honourable man. I knew him well. To honour his memory for his virtues, his Patriotism, his Charity, his manners I partly write this note. In his Manners he was the “Old Virginia Gentleman.” Capt Nash has been dead many years; long before I had ever seen any of the quotations or letters preceding these remarks.
I will here relate one or two reminiscences which Capt Nash was fond of telling when ever the subject was on the Carpet. “That at the Battle of the Great Bridge Billy Flora was the last sentinel that came in to the breast work, that he did not leave his post untill he had fired eight times. Billy had to cross over some loose plank to get to the breast work and had got some distance over when the Idea struck him that it would be well to go back and pull the plank over on his side, which indeed he did, thereby stopping the headway of the enemy. And he did amidst a shower of bullets.”
Billy Flora was a coloured man he was respected by the Inhabitants of Portsmouth for his Good Conduct during the Revolution, and for his Civility Generally. I well recollect that when the troops of Norfolk & Portsmouth were called into service for a few days in 1807 on account of the attack on the Frigate Chesapeake.
That Billy made his appearance armed and equipped. He observed that he had brought with him the same musket which he fought with at the Great bridge, and that he would “be buttered” (the only oath he swore) if he could not use his “Old Betty” (the name of his musket) again.
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After the few Gun Boats that were then at the Navy Yard Gosport were in readiness, Billy volunteered under Commodore Decatur, where he remained untill the services of the volunteers were no longer necessary. Billy died in Portsmouth at a good old age. Peace to the memory of faithful Billy Flora.
