An article highlighting an obscure piece of local Revolutionary War history—an account of the only patriot casualty in the Battle of Cricket Hill—was published last week in the Journal of American History.
The Battle of Gwynn’s Island/Cricket Hill took place in the summer of 1776 as British royal governor John Murray, the Earl of Dunmore, made his last stand in Virginia.
The article, “Cricket Hill and Gwynn’s Island: Captain Arundel’s Only Fight,” written by Dr. Patrick H. Hannum, a member of the Norfolk Chapter Sons of the American Revolution and a contributing author to the journal, tells the story of French patriot Louis d’O’hickey Arundel.
A French artillery officer by background, Captain Arundel “was one of many French volunteers who sought commissions from the Continental Congress,” Hannum wrote. “During this early portion of the Revolution, the skills of many trained, educated and professional European military officers were needed but not always appreciated because of the many ...