Fluvanna County militia
The Fluvanna County militia was a component of the Virginia militia during the American Revolutionary War. It was based in Fluvanna County, Virginia for the majority of the war and only saw action near the end of the conflict, in 1781.
Size
The exact size of the Fluvanna militia at different times during the war is unknown. Local writings list the station of Revolutionary War units at six companies.[1] As of January 13, 1781 Thomas Jefferson knew there to be 260 men enlisted in the militia. It is known that Thomas Jefferson asked for one quarter of the county's militia, 65 men, to fight at Green Spring, West Virginia in 1781, near the end of the war.[2]
What is known is that Fluvanna was the site of Point of Fork Arsenal, a major center of arms manufacturing for the Virginia government during the Revolution.[3]
Origins
Like other county militias, the Fluvanna militia was formed as a local branch of the Virginia militia. It was led by Captain Richard Napier.
In order to join the militia, men were required to take a "Test Oath" renouncing King George III and pledging themselves to defend the Commonwealth.[4]
Known members
This is a list of known members of the militia and their rank, if appropriate.[4][5][6][7]
| LAST NAME | FIRST NAME | RANK | KNOWN SERVICE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | James, Jr. | 2d Lieutenant | Sep 4 1777[8] |
| Anderson | Benjamin | 1st Lieutenant | Sep 4 1777[8] |
| Beckley | John | 1st Lieutenant | Sep 4 1777[8] |
| Bibee | William | [8] | |
| Cole | James | Ensign | Mar 1778 |
| Duncan | George | Captain | Sep 4 1777[8] |
| East | James | ||
| Ford | John, Sr. | Private[5] | |
| Grant | Robert | ||
| Haden | Anthony | Ensign | 1779 |
| Haden | Anthony | Captain | April 2, 1779 |
| Haden | Joseph | Captain | Sep 4 1777 |
| Haden | John Mozeley | 1st Lieutenant | Sep 4 1777 |
| Haden | John M. | Ensign | April 2, 1779 |
| Haden | William | Ensign | April 2, 1779 |
| Hall | Richard | 1st Lieutenant | April 2, 1779 |
| Hancock | Benj. | Ensign | April 2, 1779 |
| Haslip | Henry | 2d Lieutenant | Sep 4 1777 |
| Henry | William | Lieutenant | Sep 4 1777 |
| Johnson | William | Ensign | Sep 4 1777 |
| Johnson | Walter | Ensign | |
| King | Sackville | 2d Lieutenant | Feb 1 1781[9] |
| Lee | Benjamin | Ensign | Sep 4 1777 |
| Logan | Alexander | Private | |
| Martin | Benjamin | Ensign | Sep 4 1777 |
| Martin | Henry | 1st Lieutenant | Sep 4 1777 |
| Martin | John | 2d Lieutenant | Sep 4 1777 |
| Martin | William | 2d Lieutenant | Sep 4 1777 |
| Mays (Mayo?) | Joseph | 2d Lieutenant | May 6, 1779 |
| Moore | Jesse | 2d Lieutenant | Sep 4 1777 |
| Moss | Alexander | 1st Lieutenant | Sep 4 1777 |
| Napier | John | Captain | Sep 4 1777 — April 4, 1779 |
| Napier | Richard | Captain | Sep 4 1777 |
| Napier | Thomas | Colonel | Sep 4 1777 |
| Omohundro | Richard | Ensign | June 4, 1778 |
| Quarles | Tunstall | Major | |
| Rice | Holman | Captain | |
| Rishardson | Samuel | Captain | |
| Thompson | George | Major | Sep 4 1777 |
| Thompson | Leonard | Captain | Nov 6 1777 |
| Thompson | Roger | Lieutenant Colonel | Nov 6 1777 |
| Thurmond | Thomas | Captain | Sep 4 1777 |
| Tilman | Daniel | 1st Lieutenant | Sep 4 1777 |
| Tilman | Daniel | Captain | Dec 3 1778 |
| Tinsdale | Thomas | 2d Lieutenant | Sep 4 1777 |
| Williamson | John | 2d Lieutenant | Sep 4 1777 |
| Woody | William | 2d Lieutenant | April 2, 1779 |
| Wynne | Thomas | Ensign | Sep 4 1777 |
Timeline of Events
| 1775 | Capt. Thos. Holt was recruiting men in this County for several months.[8] |
| 1777 | Capt. Joseph Hayden's Company was in service about three months.[8] |
| 17 — | Capt. Saml. Richardson's Company was in service at Hampton.[8] |
| 17 — | Capt. Samuel Richardson's Company was in service at Williamsburg.[8] |
| 1779 | Capt. Samuel Richardson's Company was in service at Albemarle Barracks.[8] |
| 1779 | Capt. Joseph Hayden's Company was in service about Williamsburg.[8] |
| 1780 | Capt. Anthony Henderson's [Haden's] Company was in service at Albemarle Barracks.[8] |
| 1780 | Capt. Levi [Leonard] Thompson's Company was in service at Cabin Point.[8] |
| 1781 | Capt. Anthony Hayden's Company was in service at the time of Tarleton's Raid.[8] |
| 1781 | At least one of the militiamen was engaged in making gun stocks for the army.[8] |
| 1781 | Capt. Richard Napper's [Napier's] Company was at the Siege of York.[8] |
References
- ↑ FluvannaChamber.org - History
- ↑ books.google.com Fluvanna County militia
- ↑ wscottsmith.com - Virginia Campaign
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 PennHistoryReview.com
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 ForGen.tripod.com
- ↑ Virginians.com
- ↑ Fluvanna County, Virginia Order Book, 1779-1782
- ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 8.14 8.15 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ sites.google.com SackvilleKing
- Bibliography
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- Writings of Thomas Jefferson, [1]
- History of the 5th Virginia Regiment, 1781, [2]
- 5th Virginia Regiment (pre-1780), [3]
- The Virginia Campaign of 1781, [4]
- Action at Point of Fork Arsenal, [5]
- Siege of Yorktown, [6]
- Pictoral Field Book of the Revolution, [7]
