The revolution’s first battle outside Northeast was in Virginia. It started with a dispute over a runaway slave.

The revolution’s first battle outside Northeast was in Virginia. It started with a dispute over a runaway slave.

Joseph Harris must have been scared when the hurricane roared up the coast of Virginia, scattering the British fleet in Hampton Roads and blowing his small ship aground at Hampton. He must have been even more terrified when a band of local residents showed up at the wreck and took the sailors prisoner. After all, he was no ordinary crewman: He and two fellow crewmen had escaped slavery and joined the British Navy. Now here were some armed Virgin…