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

Joel Leftwich

(1760-1846)

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 4, 2026

1. Joel Leftwich Marker

Inscription. Within a few miles of here lived and died Joel Leftwich, militia general, legislator, justice of the peace, and Revolutionary War veteran. In the War of 1812, he commanded a brigade of Virginia militia that marched in the winter of 1812-1813 to assist Gen. William Henry Harrison defeat the British in Ohio. While there, his men helped build Fort Meigs, the largest wooden-palisaded fort in North America. In the summer of 1814, he also commanded a militia brigade that marched to the outskirts of Baltimore to assist in protecting Washington and Baltimore from further British threats.

Erected 2010 by Virginia Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number KM 6.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War of 1812 • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical year for this entry is 1812.

Location. 37° 19.459′ N, 79° 29.906′ W. Marker is in Bedford, Virginia, in Bedford County. It is on East Lynchburg-Salem Turnpike (U.S. 460) west of Hull Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bedford VA 24523, United States

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of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest 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: Home of John Goode (approx. 1½ miles away); Site of Bedford Courthouse / 202 E. Main Street (approx. 1½ miles away); Bedford’s Volunteer Company (approx. 1½ miles away); Bedford (approx. 1½ miles away); Vietnam Veterans Memorial (approx. 1½ miles away); Supreme Sacrifice Memorial (approx. 1½ miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 1½ miles away); Bedford County WWII Memorial (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bedford.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 4, 2026

2. Joel Leftwich Marker

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 5, 2026

3. Joel Leftwich Marker

Brig. Gen. Joel Leftwich Grave image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 5, 2026

4. Brig. Gen. Joel Leftwich Grave

Leftwich Mount Airy Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 5, 2026

5. Leftwich Mount Airy Cemetery

Capt. Thomas Leftwich Grave (foreground), Brig. Gen. Joel Leftwich Grave (background) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 5, 2026

6. Capt. Thomas Leftwich Grave (foreground), Brig. Gen. Joel Leftwich Grave (background)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 19 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 14, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.