Charles City in Charles City County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Eye Witness to a Revolution

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, March 28, 2009

1. Eye Witness to a Revolution Marker

Inscription. Charles City Courthouse was an eye witness to the American Revolution (1775-1783). Soldiers enlisted here before marching off to join the Continental Army. Local militia encamped on the grounds, and armies marched by throughout the course of the war. The area was even the site of a small battle between Queen’s Rangers and Virginia militia - an engagement that ended in defeat for the patriots. After the war old and disabled warriors and their widows came here to claim bounties and pensions for wartime service.

On January 8, 1781, General Benedict Arnold sent Lt. Col. John Grave Simcoe and the Queen’s Rangers to attack militia encamped at Charles City Courthouse. The Virginia militia, commanded by Col. Dudley, was surprised and fled. One ranger and four or five members of the militia were killed in the engagement.

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Raverly Going enlisted in the 6th Virginia Regiment of the Continental Army. He died in service, during the northern campaign, and his heirs were awarded a bounty for his service. Would it surprise you to know that he was a free African American?
Correspondence or bounty papers. Courtesy Library of Virginia.

Erected by Charles City Courthouse, Waste Management.

Topics. This historical marker is listed

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in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1901.

Location. 37° 20.505′ N, 77° 4.353′ W. Marker is in Charles City, Virginia, in Charles City County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Courthouse Road (Virginia Route 155) and Watermelon Fields Road. The marker is on the lawn of the old Charles City Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Charles City VA 23030, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Veterans Memorial (here, next to this marker); Shifting Ground (a few steps from this marker); Confederate Memorial (a few steps from this marker); John Tyler (a few steps from this marker); Three Courthouse Essentials (a few steps from this marker); America’s 3rd Oldest Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Isaac Brandon Lynched, 6 April 1892 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Charles City Court House (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charles City.

More about this marker. On the upper left is a "Jean-Batiste-Antoine de Verger water-color drawing of American foot-soldiers during the Yorktown campaign, 1781. Courtesy Anne S. K. Brown Military Collection, Brown University Library."
On the upper right is a page from

American Revolution panel and nearby War Memorial. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, March 28, 2009

2. American Revolution panel and nearby War Memorial.

"Charles City Militia Book. Courtesy Library of Congress." Also on the upper right are portraits of “Gen. Benedict Arnold” and “Lt. Col. Simcoe”.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 26, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 8, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,196 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 8, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.