A January 1776 issue of the Virginia Gazette told a gripping story: British warships bombarding one of the largest cities in colonial North America, flames consuming it and defiant patriots holding their ground.
“Notwithstanding this heavy firing, and the town in flames around them, our men had the resolution to maintain their posts…” the January 6 issue read of the scene five days prior.
It was a powerful image of the destruction of Norfolk — and, for the most part, a carefully crafted one…