William Flora facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Flora
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| Born |
Portsmouth, Virginia Colony, British North America, British Empire, present-day Portsmouth, Virginia
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| Died | 1818 |
| Other names | Billy Flora |
| Occupation | freight company owner, livery stable owner, land speculator, soldier |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Virginia,  United States |
| Service/ |
Virginia State Forces (1775-1776)
Colonel William Woodford's 2nd Virginia Regiment Continental Army (1776-1781) Captain William Grymes's company 15th Virginia Regiment, Virginia Line Consolidated into Consolidated into |
| Years of service | (1775–1781) |
| Rank | Private |
| Battles/wars | American Revolutionary War
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William "Billy" Flora (lived around 1755–1818) was a brave African American man from Virginia. He was born free, not enslaved. William Flora served as a soldier for the Patriot side during the American Revolutionary War.
He is famous for his courage at the Battle of Great Bridge in December 1775. As a guard at the bridge, he was the last to retreat. While under heavy fire from the British, he pulled up a wooden plank from the bridge. This stopped the British from crossing, forcing them to turn back. His quick thinking helped the Patriots win the battle.
Before the war, Flora owned a successful business that rented out horses and carriages. After the war, he continued to grow his businesses and became quite wealthy.
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Early Life and Business
William Flora was born in Portsmouth, in the Virginia Colony. His exact birth date is not known. He came from a family of free African Americans. Even before the war, he owned a successful business. He ran a stable where people could rent horses and carriages. This showed he was a smart and hardworking person.
Heroic Actions in the Revolutionary War
During the American Revolutionary War, William Flora joined the fight for American freedom. He served in the Virginia State Forces. His most famous moment was at the Battle of Great Bridge in December 1775.
The Battle of Great Bridge
William Flora was a guard at the Great Bridge. As the British soldiers moved forward, he was the last Patriot to leave his post. While the British were shooting at him, he bravely pulled up a large wooden plank from the bridge. This made it impossible for the British to cross. They had to go back to their ships. The American side had only one soldier injured, and that soldier spoke highly of Flora's bravery. Many people call him the hero of this battle.
Fighting with the Continental Army
After the Battle of Great Bridge, William Flora continued to serve. In November 1776, he joined Captain William Grymes's company. This company was part of the 15th Virginia Regiment. He fought in several important battles in 1777, including the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown. In 1778, he also fought in the Battle of Monmouth.
Later, in 1780, Flora was with his fellow soldiers in South Carolina. He managed to avoid being captured by the British during the Siege of Charleston. Many soldiers from his regiment were captured there. As the war went on, his unit became smaller. It was combined with other groups, first into the 11th Virginia Regiment and then the 5th Virginia Regiment. William Flora also fought in the final major battle of the war, the Battle of Yorktown in 1781.
Life After the War
After the American Revolutionary War ended, William Flora returned to his life as a businessman. He owned a company that transported goods. He also bought and sold land, which is called land speculating. Through his hard work and smart decisions, he earned a good amount of money. He built a successful life for himself after serving his country.
