Crewe in Nottoway County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Tarleton's Southside Virginia Raid

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 24, 2021

1. Tarleton's Southside Virginia Raid Marker

Inscription.

Tarleton's Southside Virginia Raid. . , British Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton was tasked by Lord Charles Cornwallis to raid Southside Virginia and destroy ammunition, clothes, and "stores of any kind" destined for Continental military use., Tarleton's Assignment , The 27-year-old Tarleton's main targets were armaments and supply depots at both Prince Edward Court House (now Worsham) and New London (Bedford County). Tarleton was to collect intelligence on Nathanael Greene, intercept returning southern troops, liberate any British prisoners of war with them and "have all persons of consequence, either civil or military, brought to me before they are paroled." Tarleton was provided three light wagons, a puncheon of rum and good horses. He departed Cobham on July 9, 1781 with 180 dragoons and 80 mounted infantry. His raid ended at Portsmouth on July 24, 1781. The period map below depict his route., In Amelia County, the raiders burned a granary at Mannboro and 700 bushel of public wheat. They struck Amelia Court House where the jail held arms for local militia., Militia Captain Daniel Verser with five local men went to the court house to obtain weapons and offer resistance, but were charted by Tarleton's dragoons before they could even dismount. Verser was captured, but managed to escape under a hail of bullets. Militia man John Field Jones was captured and forced to act as a guide for the raiders. Also captured was Colonel William Arter. He died of smallpox while a prisoner. Tarleton proceded through Jenning's Ordinary to Miller's (now Burke's) Tavern, encamped overnight and traveled to Prince Edward Court House the next day. Jones related that when Tarleton heard of the dragoon killed in Francisco's Fight, he said, "I am not sorry for him, he was out plundering." After the surrender at Yorktown, a Lieutenant of Tarleton's Dragoons also remarked on the incident telling Captain Verser and Captain Benjamin Ward the death of the dragoon "was no matter, the soldier killed at Captain Ward's was a plunderer, and no loss to his Majesty."

British Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton was tasked by Lord Charles Cornwallis to raid Southside Virginia and destroy ammunition, clothes, and "stores of any kind" destined for Continental military use.

Tarleton's Assignment
The 27-year-old Tarleton's main targets were armaments and supply depots at both Prince Edward Court House (now Worsham) and New London (Bedford County). Tarleton was to collect intelligence on Nathanael Greene, intercept returning southern troops, liberate any British prisoners of war with them and "have all persons of consequence, either civil or military, brought to me before they are paroled." Tarleton was provided three light wagons, a puncheon of rum and good horses. He departed Cobham on July 9, 1781 with 180 dragoons and 80 mounted infantry. His raid ended at Portsmouth on July 24, 1781. The period map below depict his route.

In Amelia County, the raiders burned a granary at Mannboro and 700 bushel of public wheat. They struck Amelia Court House where the jail held arms for local militia.

Militia Captain Daniel Verser with five local men went to the court house to obtain weapons and offer resistance, but were charted by Tarleton's dragoons before they could even dismount. Verser was captured, but managed to escape under a hail of bullets. Militia

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man John Field Jones was captured and forced to act as a guide for the raiders. Also captured was Colonel William Arter. He died of smallpox while a prisoner. Tarleton proceded through Jenning's Ordinary to Miller's (now Burke's) Tavern, encamped overnight and traveled to Prince Edward Court House the next day. Jones related that when Tarleton heard of the dragoon killed in Francisco's Fight, he said, "I am not sorry for him, he was out plundering." After the surrender at Yorktown, a Lieutenant of Tarleton's Dragoons also remarked on the incident telling Captain Verser and Captain Benjamin Ward the death of the dragoon "was no matter, the soldier killed at Captain Ward's was a plunderer, and no loss to his Majesty."

Erected by The Town of Crewe, Virginia; funded in part, by the James Allen Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 9, 1781.

Location. 37° 10.695′ N, 78° 7.74′ W. Marker is in Crewe, Virginia, in Nottoway County. Marker is on West Virginia Avenue (U.S. 460) just west of Lee Street (County Road T-1031), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 24, 2021

2. Tarleton's Southside Virginia Raid Marker

. Marker is at or near this postal address: 414 W Virginia Ave, Crewe VA 23930, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Peter Francisco's Fight: Fact or Fiction? (here, next to this marker); Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Peter Francisco: Hercules of the Revolution (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Peter Francisco: Washington's One Man Army (about 300 feet away); Crewe (about 500 feet away); Roger Atkinson Pryor (about 700 feet away); Lottie Moon (approx. 0.7 miles away); Civilian Conservation Corps Company 1370 (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Crewe.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 26, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 26, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 336 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 26, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.