Valley Forge of the South

Valley Forge of the South. Forgotten Patriots: Virginia's Black Soldiers in the Revolution. Before the start of the American Revolution, free Black men were enrolled in local county militias across Virginia. When the war began, these men often volunteered to enlist in Virginia's Continental battalions. Hundreds of Black patriots, including Princess Anne County militiaman William Flora, served with distinction in Virginia's militias or in the Continental Army. Flora fired the first shots of the Patriot's victory at the Battle of Great Bridge (modern day Chesapeake) on December 9, 1775, and later enlisted in the 15th Virginia Continental Regiment, serving for over three years. A report General Washington's staff drafted at Valley Forge in 1778 showed 162 Black soldiers in the ranks of the Virginia Line, indicating that White and Black Virginians were serving side-by-side in many of the companies and battalions of the Virginia Line., By the winter of 1780-1781, dozens of Black Virginians were stationed at Chesterfield Courthouse. Private Jesse Wood, a 4' 10" planter who was 16 when he enlisted, was born in Hanover County, but resided in King William County. Perhaps due to his youth and small stature, he was detached in March 1781 from his company and sent to Captain John Peyton's Clothier Department. He served as one of several soldiers who would transport and guard clothing going to the army in the field. In his pension, it was written that he "...marched from thence to the south in a company under command of Captain John Peyton, and joined General Greene (in NC)...returned to Chesterfield Barracks.", 18-year-old Charles Barnett from Albemarle County, a "free man of color" as listed on his pension, enlisted in 1780 and served with Lt. Colonel Thomas Gaskins' Continental Battalion through 1781. After enlisting, Barnett "...marched thence to Richmond where the company was inspected by General Muhlenburg, thence to Chesterfield Ct House where his company joined the Regiment commanded by Colonel William Davies.", Gaskins' Battalion campaigned across Virginia with both Steuben and Lafayette. Charles Barnett was present at the Siege of Yorktown and witnessed the British surrender on October 19, 1781. He was so well-regarded that after Yorktown he was detailed as part of Steuben's baggage guard until mustering out several months later., Virginia's Black patriots fought, and sometimes died, on dozens of battlefields during the American Revolution. For many of these men, the sacrifices and contributions that helped achieve victory began here on the grounds of Chesterfield Courthouse in 1780-1781., (caption) Revolutionary War muster role showing the number and disposition of Black troops in various brigades.