About

Due to its geographic location and its large population, Loudoun County played an integral role in Virginia’s Revolutionary War experience. By the time the War of Independence began in 1775, Loudoun County was home to an ethnically and religiously diverse population in one of the most agriculturally productive regions of Virginia. Well settled villages and towns, including Leesburg, Waterford, and Lovettsville were connected by a network of roads that tied Virginia’s eastern tidewater region to the Shenandoah Valley to the west. As relations with Great Britain became increasingly strained in the 1770s, Loudoun residents responded with the drafting of the Loudoun Resolves in the summer of 1774. These resolves expressed local support for the people of Boston and Loudoun’s commitment to resist British overreach into colonial affairs.

When war broke out in 1775, Loudoun’s large militia served in the county, collecting supplies, guarding prisoners, and suppressing local loyalists. Hundreds of men from the county also enlisted in the Continental Army, serving in nearly every battle of the war. With many men gone, local women took a leading role in managing farms and industries and performed vital work in keeping their families, communities, and the army fed, clothed, and supplied. Far from the fighting, Loudoun County became a “breadbasket” for the American armies, supplying food, livestock, and other goods. Loudoun roads were filled with marching soldiers and wagons full of supplies moving to the important theaters of war. Not all Loudouners supported the Revolutionary cause, however. Many Quakers were harassed and imprisoned for their pacifist beliefs, while many of the enslaved people looked to the British for freedom from bondage. Loudoun County’s many diverse stories help to highlight the rich complexity of the American Revolution and our understanding of this vital period in our nation’s history.

Local Events

Outlander: The Revolutionary War & Beyond
October 27, 2024 - October 27, 2024
Loudoun County

This Outlander-inspired tea program includes a full afternoon tea, Outlander trivia, Revolutionary War commentary, a craft, and a raffle with lots of ... Read More

Leesburg, Loudoun, and the American Revolution Tour
November 02, 2024 - November 02, 2024
Loudoun County

Leesburg, Loudoun, and the American Revolution, a leisurely two-hour history exploration of Leesburg and Loudoun County's past, led by local historian... Read More

Revolutionary War Case Study: Enoch Furr of Loudoun County
November 07, 2024 - November 07, 2024
Loudoun County

This program will be held virtually. During and after the Revolutionary War, many records were created for soldiers. Most researchers are familia... Read More

Historic Encounters Day
November 16, 2024 - November 16, 2024
Loudoun County

Step into the past with Claude Moore Park, Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum, and the Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area Association, and engage in immersive,... Read More

Patrick Henry "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" Reenactment
December 15, 2024 - December 15, 2024
Loudoun County

Stephen P. Wilson, Executive Director of the St. John’s Church Foundation, will present a program on Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me... Read More