Near Dinwiddie in Dinwiddie County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Campaign of 1781

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 21, 2021

1. Campaign of 1781 Marker

Inscription. British Lt. Gen. Charles Cornwallis ordered cavalry commander Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton to raid Southside Virginia in the summer of 1781. Tarleton left Surry County before turning back. His objective was to destroy stores of ammunition, clothing, and food before these supplies could be sent to American Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene in South Carolina. His men damaged property, took prisoners, and engaged in skirmishes, but the majority supply stores had already been sent south. A number of enslaved African Americans escaped with the troops. Tarleton passed near here while traveling eastward to reunite with Cornwallis in Suffolk at the end of the 400-mile raid.

Erected 2017 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number S-62.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1781.

Location. 37° 3.825′ N, 77° 36.378′ W. Marker is near Dinwiddie, Virginia, in Dinwiddie County.

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

It is at the intersection of Gatewood Road (Virginia Route 656) and Boydton Plank Road (U.S. 1), on the right when traveling south on Gatewood Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 15106 Gatewood Rd, Dinwiddie VA 23841, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Southside Virginia,

and specifically in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Dinwiddie Courthouse (approx. 1.3 miles away); Scott's Law Office (approx. 1.4 miles away); Dinwiddie Court House (approx. 1.4 miles away); Battle of Dinwiddie Court House (approx. 1.4 miles away); a different marker also named The Battle of Dinwiddie Court House

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 21, 2021

2. Campaign of 1781 Marker

(approx. 1.4 miles away); a different marker also named Early Education in Dinwiddie County (approx. 1.4 miles away); Dinwiddie Confederate Monument (approx. 1.4 miles away); The War of 1812 / Winfield Scott (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dinwiddie.

Other markers no longer nearby. Campaign of 1781 (was a few steps from this marker but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it); Chamberlain's Bed (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been confirmed missing); Early Education in Dinwiddie County (was approx. 1.4 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Old Marker At This Location also titled "Campaign of 1781".

Credits. This page was last revised on November 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 21, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 408 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 21, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.