William Flora Historical Marker

This painting by Jeremy Horne, featured on a historical marker in Great Bridge, depicts William "Billy" Flora’s stand against advancing British troops. Flora was a free Black man who served three years in the Continental Army in several Virginia regiments. He was on guard duty on the morning of December 9, 1775, when the British left their fortifications to attack the Virginians at Great Bridge. While other sentinels retreated, Flora held his position in a vulnerable location on the bridge and managed to fire eight shots at the enemy.