This material includes research by Susan F
Sili, whose authorship and
copyright is fully acknowledged. I am actively working to
contact the author to request her assistance. This material
can be found in full here
General William Woodford
When the French threatened to take over Virginia
lands in the Ohio Valley, the royal governor sent young George
Washington to the frontier to hold back the French and marauding
This incredibly small band of militia was ordered to defend the
frontier. With this force, was a unit from Caroline commanded by
Woodford was raised in an atmosphere of culture and refinement at
his father's estate in Caroline, known as Windsor.. His father had
been one of Governor Spotswood's Knights Of the Golden Horseshoe.
His ancestors had been distinguished soldiers in the British Army
and he had inherited a love of military life.
Woodford had been with Washington earlier with another small force
which had attempted to block the French at Ft. Necessity. His bravery
on that campaign was the beginning of one of the most brilliant
military careers in the history of Virginia.
William Woodford of Caroline,
two years younger than Washington, Woodford's considerable abilities
were noticed by his senior officer. They enjoyed a close association
with Woodford becoming one of Washington's most trusted
After the end of the French and Indian War, the colony began to
experience trouble with the Cherokee Indians. After fighting failed
to bring about a satisfactory conclusion, Woodford was sent to into
the disputed area. Through negotiation and working with pioneer
scouts, he managed to reach the Cherokee headquarters, where after
much difficulty, he persuaded a party of braves to accompany him to
Williamsburg to talk to the royal governor. This established a peace
in Virginia which lasted over a decade.
At the beginning of the war with Great Britain, Virginia troops
assembled in Williamsburg. Woodford, who was then a colonel, was
ordered to take command of the Second Regiment. With the gathering
of the troops in Williamsburg, the royal governor, Dunmore fled to
the area of Norfolk. Woodford's first mission was to drive Dunmore
from the Norfolk peninsula.
His assignment was critical because it was there Dunmore awaited
British reinforcements by sea. The fort the governor occupied was at
Great Bridge the only overland route to Norfolk. The fort was
heavily armed with cannon and the Virginians had no artillery.
Woodford was afraid to attack the front of the fort so he placed his
troops behind breastworks and laid in for a siege.
Under cover of night. Dunmore began to send troops along the narrow
bridge which connected the fort to the mainland in an attempt to
surprise the Virginians. Under Woodford's orders, the colonists
opened fire in the direction of the bridge. The redcoats were cut
down and their bodies fell into the dismal swamp on either side of
the narrow gangplank.
This was the first battle of the Revolution to be fought on Virginia
soil. Governor Dunmore retired his forces by sea leaving the route
to Norfolk open. Woodford proved himself to be a humanitarian while
occupying Norfolk. He made no attempt to disturb the British
warships at anchor only a short distance from shore. He allowed the
wives and children of the Tories, who had fled to the ships to come
to shore, to escape the unbearable living conditions on board the
At the battle of Brandywine, in 1777, Woodford was severely wounded.
He recovered and returned to the field only to be captured at the
siege of Charleston. He was taken on board a British war ship and
sent to New York where he died in captivity in 1780. He was buried
there in Trinity Church yard.
This material includes research by Susan F Sili, whose authorship and
copyright is fully acknowledged.