The 7^th Virginia Regiment adopted the 14^th Regiment of Foote as its British “enemy counterpart” interpretation, affectionately known as “Insta-Brit” persona within the Rev War reenacting community.  While primarily developed to support the Annual Battle of Great Bridge reenactment conducted by the City of Chesapeake Department of Parks and Recreation and sponsored by the 7^th Virginia Regiment, it is also provides a common uniformed impression for fielding enemy British troops, usually sparse in number, at other Rev War reenactments based on the need of the event coordinator.

On December 8^th, 1775, a detachment of 14^th Regiment, under the overall command of Capt. Samuel Leslie, was dispatched by Lord Dunmore to attack rebels entrenched at Great Bridge.  At day break, supported by a company of 14^th Regiment Light Infantry, an armed regiment of freed slaves called the Queen’s Loyal Ethiopians, and loyalist members of the Norfolk County militia and under the cover of cannon fire from naval guns brought from ships in the Norfolk harbor, Capt Charles Fordyce led his company of grenadiers over the cause-way and bridge to assault and dislodge the entrenched rebels.  Upon nearing the entrenchment, a heavy fire was opened upon them by a rebel force of superior numbers consisting chiefly of riflemen of the 2^nd Virginia Regiment under the command of Colonel William Woodford and supported by rebel members of the local Norfolk County militia.  Captain Fordyce and twelve of his grenadiers were killed within a few yards of the breastwork and a Lieutenant Batut and sixteen other grenadiers were wounded and taken prisoner.  The remaining grenadiers fell back across the bridge and, along with the rest of the detachment, retreated into a small post, Fort Murry, built a month earlier to command the causeway.  The post was abandoned under the cover of night and the whole British detachment withdrew to Norfolk.  The rebels buried Capt Fordyce with full military honors.  The rebel forces increased and moved on Norfolk and the 14^th Regiment withdrew with Lord Dunmore onboard ship into the Norfolk harbor where skirmishing between royal and rebel forces resulted in the burning of Norfolk in January of 1776.  The royal forces were withdrawn to Gwynn’s Island in the Chesapeake Bay where a skirmish with the 7^th Virginia Regiment led to their complete evacuation of Virginia and return to join Lord Howe’s army in New York and reunion with the 14^th Regiment of Foote detachment that had been left in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  A portion of the 14^th Regiment deemed fit for service was drafted into other regiments and took to the field fighting the rebels in America.  A detachment of the 14^th Regiment was assigned to Major Furgeson to take part in the trial use of the Furgeson rifle during the battle of New York.  A part of the 14^th Regiment was quartered on Staten Island and returned to England in the summer of 1777 to begin recruiting to rebuild the regiment.

If you are interested in the 14th Regiment as an additional impression, contact a unit officer for the Soldier's Manual.

14th Regiment of Foote Colors





Distictive 14th Reg't of Foote Lace