• Virginia had three famous Revolutionary War battles.Virginia state contour against blurred USA flag image by Stasys Eidiejus from Fotolia.com
  
  Virginia battles, in a sense, bookend the Revolutionary War. The Battle of Great Bridge occurred very early in the war, but others at Petersburg and the famous siege at Yorktown were near the war's end. During much of the war, Virginia remained relatively untouched, which enabled it to become an important source of supply for the American soldiers and civilians to the north and south.
  
  

Great Bridge

• The Continental Army won an early victory in the Chesapeake area at the Battle of Great Bridge on Dec. 9, 1775. The significance of Great Bridge is that it led to the eventual expulsion of Lord Dunmore, the British Royal Governor of Virginia, from the colony. Although a small affair, three aspects of Great Bridge make it an important battle in the war's history. First, it was the first Revolutionary War battle in Virginia. Second, Dunmore promised freedom to any slaves who would join the Tory cause, and thus slaves fought alongside the British during the battle. In addition, the victory at Great Bridge went a long way toward the relative quiet that Virginia enjoyed until the war's end in 1781.
  
  

Petersburg

• The outcome of the Revolutionary War Battle of Petersburg (also called the Battle of Blandford) on April 25, 1781, played a critical role in the eventual American victory in the war. In December 1780, the British launched an invasion of Virginia in an attempt to control the colony and relieve pressure on Cornwallis in the Carolinas. Petersburg became an important target in this invasion because of its warehouses and transportation/communication lines. Although eventually defeated, the Virginia militia stubbornly held Petersburg before retreating, despite facing superior numbers. This slowing of the British force helped Lafayette gain precious time to assemble in Virginia and provide crucial aid to the American army.
  
  

Yorktown

• The Siege of Yorktown (Sept. 28--Oct. 19, 1781) ended in a decisive defeat for the British Army under Cornwallis. A combined force of Americans under Washington and French under the Comte de Rochambeau initiated a naval blockade to prevent Cornwallis' escape. Then, a prolonged bombardment began. On Oct. 14, Washington began a series of attacks on weakened British defenses that caused Cornwallis to capitulate on Oct. 19. Yorktown proved to be the last major battle of the Revolutionary War as Cornwallis' defeat prompted the British to seek peace.
  
  

Information for Tourists

• A portion of the Great Bridge battlefield was to be made accessible beginning late in 2010 because of a collaborative effort to open the Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways Historic Park & Visitor Center. In Petersburg, visitors can see an annual reenactment of its battle at Battersea. The Yorktown Battlefield is operated by the National Park Service as part of the Colonial National Historical Park. Visitors can tour the battlefield and its earthworks, the visitors center and the Yorktown National Cemetery. At the Colonial National Historical Park, at the Cape Henry Memorial, visitors can also learn about a Revolutionary War naval battle (Battle of the Chesapeake) between the British and French on Sept. 5, 1781.