Personal Facts
- Born: October 6, 1734.
- Parents: Major William Woodford (father) and Anne Cocke (mother).
- Spouse: Mary Thornton (1762).
- Died: November 13, 1780, in New York City. He was 46.
- Buried: Old Trinity Church Yard in New York.
Key Details
- William Woodford led Virginia Militia forces in Virginia in 1775.
- He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in the Continental Army in 1777.
- Woodford fought at Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth Court House.
- He was taken as a prisoner after American forces surrendered at the Siege of Charleston (1780).
- Woodford died in captivity, as a prisoner in New York City, in November 1780.
- His wife, Mary Thornton, was the granddaughter of Mildred Warner Washington, the grandmother of George Washington.
Biographical Notes
Early Career
- William Woodford was born in 1734 and came from a prominent family in Virginia.
- His father was Major William Woodford, and his grandfather was Dr. William Cocke, a colonial secretary.
- Woodford received the typical education for a wealthy young Virginian.
- He gained military experience as a militia officer during the French and Indian War (1754–1763).
Patriot Cause
- In 1774, Woodford joined the Caroline County Committee of Correspondence.
- He was a member of the Committee of Inspection that enforced the Continental Association in 1774.
- From July 17 to August 9, 1775, he served in the Virginia Convention, in place of Edmund Pendleton.
AHC Notes
- Committees of Correspondence — Committees used by the Sons of Liberty and Colonial Legislatures to create an intercolonial communication network in order to share critical information and coordinate opposition to British policies.
- Continental Association — An organization created by the First Continental Congress to enforce a trade boycott against British merchants until Britain repealed the Intolerable Acts.
Opposition to Lord Dunmore
Two days after the Battles of Lexington and Concord, British sailors removed 15 half barrels of gunpowder from the magazine in Williamsburg, Virginia, triggering the Virginia Gunpowder Incident and hostilities in Virginia.
- The removal was ordered by John Murray, Lord Dunmore, the Governor of Virginia.
- Patriots in Virginia gathered and started marching to Williamsburg, threatening Dunmore.
- While these actions were taking place, no one in Virginia was aware that the Siege of Boston (1775–1776) had started.
- Dunmore threatened to “declare Freedom to the Slaves and reduce the City of Williamsburg to Ashes.”
- Patrick Henry and Carter Braxton negotiated with Dunmore, who paid for the gunpowder, but kept it in his possession.
Following this, Dunmore organized his military and tried to restore order. Virginia Patriots responded by organizing militia forces to oppose him. On August 5, 1775, Woodford was appointed Colonel of the 3rd Regiment and clashed with Dunmore’s forces
Battle of Hampton (October 24–25, 1775) — Hostilities in Virginia escalated when British naval forces carried out raids on plantations near Hampton. Local militia, including Woodford, engaged British ships, driving them back to Norfolk. Despite casualties on both sides, the Americans successfully defended Hampton without sustaining losses.
- Woodford arrived with 100 men from the Culpeper County Militia on October 25.
- When British ships sailed into the harbor later in the morning, Woodford and his men opened fire, forcing the British to withdraw.
Battle of Kemp’s Landing (November 15, 1775) — Virginia Patriots in Princess Anne County organized their militia forces under Woodford. Upon hearing this, Dunmore led 150 men south toward Great Bridge, including experienced British Regulars, Loyalist Militia, and members of the Ethiopian Regiment, which was made up of freed slaves. The Americans were easily defeated and withdrew.
Battle of Great Bridge (December 9, 1775) — Nine miles outside of Norfolk, British and Loyalist troops, led by Captain Samuel Leslie, attacked Woodford and his militia forces at Great Bridge. The Americans fought off the attack and drove Leslie’s men from the field of battle. The retreat enabled the Americans to take control of Norfolk.
- The Third Virginia Convention ordered Woodford to mobilize his men and counter British raiding parties. Woodford’s force also included riflemen from the Culpeper Minutemen.
- Woodford and his men arrived at Norfolk on December 2, set up camp, and built defensive works.
- The British advanced on the defensive works, but were driven back.
- The Americans moved out and took positions where they continued to fire on the British at long range.
- The British were eventually forced to withdraw and took refuge on ships in the harbor.
- Woodford and his men occupied Norfolk.
Woodford wrote a letter that appeared in the Virginia Gazette on December 15 that said, “This was a second Bunker’s Hill affair, in miniature; with this difference, that we kept our post, and had only one man wounded in the hand.”
Burning of Norfolk (January 1, 1776) — British forces attacked Norfolk for roughly 25 hours. Nearly two-thirds of the buildings in Norfolk were destroyed by fires that were initially set by the British. However, American forces were responsible for most of the destruction after setting fire to buildings owned by Loyalists. American involvement was downplayed, and the incident was used to rally support for the Patriot Cause.
- Woodford was joined by reinforcements, led by Colonel Robert Howe.
- The British set fire to the town.
- The Americans did not make a serious effort to put the fires out because most of the homes belonged to Loyalists.
- Woodford ended the destruction on January 3, after two-thirds of the buildings had burned down.
AHC Notes
- Woodford was involved in a disagreement with Patrick Henry over who should command Virginia Militia forces.
- Henry was the Colonel of the First Regiment and, technically, the senior officer.
- Normally, Henry would have led the main military actions in Virginia.
Continental Army
On February 13, 1776, Woodford became Colonel of the 2nd Virginia Continental Regiment in the Continental Army.
- He resigned in September 1776, after Andrew Lewis was promoted over him.
- Congress appointed Woodford as a Brigadier General on February 21, 1777, prompting his return.
AHC Notes
- Andrew Lewis (1720–1781) — Lewis emigrated from Ireland to Virginia in 1732 and gained military experience in the French and Indian War. He won the Battle of Point Pleasant (1774) during Lord Dunmore’s War and became a Brigadier General in the Continental Army in 1776. After resigning in 1777 over a missed promotion, he served in the Virginia Militia and was a member of Thomas Jefferson’s executive council.
Philadelphia Campaign
Woodford was with Washington’s Army during the Philadelphia Campaign and fought at Brandywine and Germantown. He was with the army during the Winter at Valley Forge and then fought in the Battle of Monmouth Court House.
Battle of Brandywine (September 11, 1777) — British forces attacked the Americans along the banks of the Brandywine Creek and at Birmingham Hill. The British won the hard-fought battle, which allowed them to capture Philadelphia two weeks later.
- Woodford led the 3rd Virginia Brigade and was held in reserve at the start of the battle.
- After the right side of the American line on Birmingham Hill collapsed, Woodford and his men covered the retreat.
- Woodford received a wound in his hand.
Battle of Germantown (October 4, 1777) — American forces launched a surprise attack on British forces at Germantown, Pennsylvania. Despite initial success in the battle, the Americans were overwhelmed and forced to withdraw, which gave the British the victory and allowed them to maintain control of Philadelphia.
- Woodford led the 3rd Virginia Brigade and was part of the column led by General Adam Stephen.
- The column approached the town from the north, but drifted out of position due to thick fog and the confusion of battle.
- Woodford and his men joined the attack on British forces who were barricaded inside the Chew House.
Winter at Valley Forge (1777–1778) — Following the defeat at Germantown, Washington’s Army went into winter quarters at Valley Forge, outside of Philadelphia. While there, the army faced severe shortages of food, supplies, and clothing. Despite the hardships and suffering, the soldiers were trained under the guidance of Friedrich von Steuben, which improved morale and discipline.
- Woodford, George Weedon, and John Peter Muhlenberg engaged in a dispute with each other over their ranks.
Battle of Monmouth (June 28, 1778) — General Henry Clinton withdrew from Philadelphia and marched his army through New Jersey, toward New York City. With his newly trained army, Washington decided to intercept Clinton in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The initial attack faltered, allowing the British to regroup and organize their forces. Washington was able to restore order within his ranks and pressed the attack. The battle lasted until nightfall, and both armies were exhausted from the day’s extreme heat. While Washington prepared to resume the battle the next morning, Clinton withdrew and marched to Sandy Hook.
- Woodford and his men took control of Comb’s Hill during the battle, helping break the left of the British line with artillery.
Siege of Charleston
On December 13, 1779, Woodford was ordered to take approximately 700 Virginia Continentals to Charleston to help defend the city against an impending attack from British forces led by General Clinton.
- Woodford and his men marched 500 miles in 28 days through winter conditions.
- They arrived at Charleston on April 8, 1780, a week after Clinton laid siege to the city.
British forces slowly closed in on the city, forcing General Benjamin Lincoln to surrender his army, along with the city, on May 12.
- The British victory at the Siege of Charleston dealt a devastating blow to American forces in the Southern Theater.
Prisoner of War and Death
- The British captured at least 2,500 Continentals as prisoners of war, including Woodford.
- Woodford and many others were held on prison ships and did not survive the terrible conditions.
- He died in captivity on the prison ship Packet on November 13, 1780.
- Woodford was buried in Old Trinity Church Yard in New York.
- In 1789, Woodford County, Kentucky, was named in his honor.
Appendix
Narrative
AHC Note — This narrative of the life of William Woodford is adapted from the Dictionary of American Biography (1943). Please note that text corrections have been made and spacing has been added to improve accuracy and readability.
William Woodford was a soldier from Caroline County, Virginia. His father, Major William Woodford, was an Englishman who immigrated to Virginia in the latter part of the 17th Century. His mother, Anne Cocke, was the daughter of Dr. William Cocke, secretary of the colony.
Woodford enjoyed the educational advantages customary among young men of his class in Virginia. He served as a commissioned officer in the provincial forces during the French and Indian War and as a Justice of the Peace in Caroline County. On June 26, 1762, he married Mary Thornton, the daughter of Colonel John Thornton. They had two children..
On January 1, 1774, he was elected a member of the Committee of Correspondence of Caroline County, and on December 8, a member of the Committee of Inspection to enforce the Continental Association. From July 17 to Aug. 9, 1775, he sat as alternate to Edmund Pendleton in the Virginia Convention.
On August 5, he was appointed Colonel of the 3rd Regiment, and on October 25, his troops repulsed an attempt on the part of Governor Dunmore’s men to burn Hampton. Shortly thereafter, he was directed by the Virginia Committee of Safety to proceed with his regiment and the Culpeper Militia to the vicinity of Norfolk for the purpose of keeping Dunmore’s movements under observation. The order meant “the passing over in favor of a subordinate commander of Patrick Henry, colonel of the 1st Regiment and ranking officer of the Virginia forces.” As a result, a disagreement arose between Henry and Woodford regarding the scope of their respective commands.
On December 9, Woodford defeated more than 300 Loyalists, convicts, and slaves, and 200 British Regulars at Great Bridge. This forced Dunmore to evacuate Norfolk and take refuge on board a ship. In the meantime, 200 North Carolina troops under Colonel Robert Howe arrived. Although Howe outranked Woodford, the two officers exercised joint command over their combined forces during the subsequent operations around Norfolk.
On February 13, 1776, the Continental Congress took the recommendation of the Virginia Convention and appointed Woodford as Colonel of the 2nd Virginia Regiment. A year later, on February 21, 1777, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General.
He fought at Brandywine (where he was wounded), at Germantown, and at Monmouth, and shared the sufferings of the patriots at Valley Forge.
In 1778 and 1779, he was with the Continental Army in New Jersey. On December 13, 1779, Washington ordered him to proceed with a detachment of 700 men to the aid of Charleston, South Carolina, which was under siege from the British. Going from Morristown, New Jersey, to the Elk River, Woodford journeyed by water to Williamsburg, Virginia, and then overland to Charleston, where he arrived on April 17, 1780, having made a march of 500 miles in 28 days.
Upon the capture of the city by General Henry Clinton on May 12, 1780, Woodford was made prisoner. He was taken to New York, where he died and was buried in Old Trinity Church Yard. In 1789, Woodford County, Kentucky, was named in his honor.
