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.
Black Patriots and Black Loyalists of the American Revolution exhibitThe Black Patriots and Black Loyalists exhibit will be on display in the Carriage House at Oatlands. The exhibit is a joint project of the Black Histo... Read More
Divided Loyalties: The Dulany Family and the American RevolutionThe coming of the American Revolution divided communities and families across the British empire as political differences fractured society at every l... Read More
81st Waterford FairCome shop, play, tour, and make memories during this 80-year-old tradition- the Waterford Foundation's Waterford Fair! The fair is a celebration of he... Read More
81st Waterford FairCome shop, play, tour, and make memories during this 80-year-old tradition- the Waterford Foundation's Waterford Fair! The fair is a celebration of he... Read More
Reluctant Witness: Nicholas Cresswell Views the Revolution from LoudounRaise a glass with Nicholas Cresswell! Learn about the life, travels, and observations of Cresswell, an English visitor to Loudoun and America as the ... Read More
Leesburg, Loudoun, and the American Revolution TourLocal historian, Rich Gillespie will lead a historic walking tour, Leesburg, Loudoun and the American Revolution on Saturday, November 1, beginning at... Read More
Historic Encounter DaysVisit the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum to enjoy 18th century living history along with the visit of the VA250 Mobile Museum Experience. ... Read More
1775 and the Early Days of the American RevolutionHistorian and retired U.S. Army officer Bill Wilkin talks about the battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill, sharing insights about the people ... Read More
Canada and the American RevolutionHistorian and retired Army officer Bill Wilkin recounts the 1775-76 invasion of Canada by two American armies and highlights Ben Franklin's efforts to... Read More
The 1776 Liberation of BostonHistorian and retired Army officer Bill Wilkin shares how an amateur group of Patriots dragged sixty tons of artillery across 300 miles in winter to s... Read More
Loyal Drums at Ferry FarmJoin us at George Washington's Ferry Farm for a free Drum Corp event, with Colonial-style entertainment such as military reenactors, Colonial dancers,... Read More
The Empire Strikes Back: Battles at Charleston and New York CityHistorian and retired Army officer Bill Wilkin shares stories of the log fort that saved Charleston and the Patriots' incredible escape by small boats... Read More
Tracy J. Gillespie
July 3, 2023
Loudoun Now
