Chronology of American Revolution Events and Arlington
Late July or early August 1770
Virginia Nonimportation Resolution
Drafted by George Washington and George Mason, and circulated in what is now Arlington. Most of the 63 men who signed lived in what is now Arlington. At least 20 signers lived along Four Mile Run, including Moses Ball, Moses Ball Jr., and John Ball
Fairfax Resolves
Adopted at a meeting in Alexandria (Fairfax County residents traveled to Alexandria for adoption and would have included those from the Arlington area)
July 17, 1774
Sep. 21, 1774
Fairfax Independent Company of Volunteers
Formation of the Fairfax Independent Company of Volunteers (some members were from Arlington) with George Washington named as Commander.
Fairfax Independent Company of Mechanics formed
Late 1774
Nov. 3, 1774
Fairfax Independent Company drilling in Alexandria
The militia practice by shooting an effigy of Lord North.
Washington offers to buy property
George Washington offers to buy property in Arlington from James Mercer.
Dec. 26, 1774
Jan. 16-17, 1775
George Washington reviews drill of Fairfax Independent Company in Alexandria
additional company of militia raised in Fairfax County
additional company of militia raised in Fairfax County including now-Arlington; Fairfax Independent Companies of gentlemen and Mechanics (150 men total) reorganized as part of Fairfax Militia; Fairfax Committee adopts a poll tax of 3 shillings to pay for ammunition and directs the Sheriff to make a list of anyone refusing to pay
Jan. 17, 1775
Feb. 18 - May 1, 1775
Fairfax Militia drill in Alexandria under command of George Washington
In March the militia is reported to have a “formidable appearance”
Fairfax Independent Company writes General Washington offering to report to Cambridge
July 8, 1775
Aug. 1775
George Johnston and John Fitzgerald Raise Revolutionary Companies
Captain George Johnston’s Company of the 2nd Virginia Regiment organized with men from Fairfax, Prince William and Loudoun Counties. Captain John Fitzgerald’s Company of Fairfax County minutemen formed as part of Colonel William Grayson’s Battalion of Minutemen. All male persons above the age of 16 and under age 50 are enlisted in the County militia and ordered to muster every two weeks from March through November beginning in March 1776.
Battle of Great Bridge
Captain Johnston’s Company marches to Great Bridge, Virginia to join the 2nd
Virginia Regiment at that battleSep. 1775
Sep. 29, 1775
Fairfax Militia officers appointed
Gov. Dunmore rumor
rumor that Gov. Dunmore and 4000 men were sailing up the Potomac to destroy Alexandria – people from Alexandria move out of town and would have passed through Arlington
Oct. 23, 1775
Dec. 1775
Captain Fitzgerald’s Company of Fairfax Minutemen ordered to Williamsburg
Col. Theodorick Bland’s Light Cavalry Battalion
Col. Theodorick Bland’s Light Cavalry Battalion including Captain Henry Lee III ride north to join George Washington and the Continental Army – probably crossed at Georgetown Ferry
Jan 1776
Jan. 31, 1776
Civilians flee Alexandria
Civilians flee Alexandria because Dunmore’s fleet has moved up the Potomac to
Mason’s Neck; Fairfax Committee of Safety requests arms because the Fairfax Militia is armed
with clubs.3rd Virginia Regiment commanded by Col. Hugh Mercer
Men from Fairfax County, including now-Arlington, were organized.
January through Feb. 28, 1776
Feb. 29, 1776
3rd Virginia Regiment stationed at Dumfries instead of Alexandria
3rd Virginia Regiment encamped at Alexandria and Dumfries but General Lee orders the regiment to Williamsburg
Apr. 2, 1776
Apr. 10, 1776
3rd Virginia Regiment begins march to Williamsburg
3rd Virginia Regiment begins march to Williamsburg but General Lee reverses order and commands the 3rd Virginia Regiment to return to Alexandria
Col. Mercer receives General Lee’s Order and begins march back to Alexandria
Apr. 14, 1776
Aug. 1776
3rd Virginia Regiment marches north
to join Washington and the Continental Army probably crosses Georgetown Ferry. David Griffith, who would three years later become the minister of Fairfax Parish and move to the Glebe House in Arlington, is the chaplain and surgeon of the Regiment
Travel’s through Arlington
North Carolina Regiment and other American forces march north and probably cross Potomac on Georgetown Ferry. British Brig. Gen. Donald MacDonald and other officers captured at the Battle of Moore’s Creek in North Carolina marched to Philadelphia, presumably up the Kings Highway.
1776
Dec. 1776
George Mason and others recruiting for Virginia Continental Regiments and Militia in Fairfax
Smallpox innoculations in Alexandria
Apr-May 1777
11 June 1777
10 th Virginia Regiment marches north to join Continental Army
crosses Potomac at Georgetown Ferry?
1 st Virginia State Regiment marches north to join Continental Army
July 1777
1777
Fairfax Militia posted to Mount Vernon and Alexandria on several occasions
Fairfax Militia under Col. William Rumney called up for three months and ordered to march to Pennsylvania to join George Washington and Continental Army
Milestone Content goes here
Early Sep. 1777
10 Sep 1777
Col. William Rumney leading 247 Fairfax Militia crosses ferry to Georgetown
53 additional men cross ferry to join Rumney
11 Sep 1777
11-16 Sep 1777
1 st Virginia State Regiment under Col. George Gibson
Fairfax Militia called up for 20 days to defend Mount Vernon and Alexandria from British ships raiding on the Potomac
Jun 1778
Jul. 15, 1778
George Washington advises John Parke Custis not to purchase Abingdon Plantation
Gen. Benjamin Lincoln rides south to take command of Southern Department
Oct. 1778
Dec. 1778
John Parke Custis purchases Abingdon
Milestone Content goes here
David Griffith resigns from Continental Army to become Minister of Fairfax Parish
Mar. 18, 1779
Mar. 21, 1779
Nellie Custis is born at Abingdon
Rev. David Griffith and his family are residing in the Glebe House
May 22, 1779
May 1779
Fairfax Militia called up for 30 days to defend Mount Vernon and Alexandria from British ships raiding on the Potomac
Fairfax Militia called up for 30 days to defend Mount Vernon and Alexandria from British ships raiding on the Potomac
Sep. 1779
1780
North Carolina and Virginia Lines of Continental Army march south to Charleston
likely crossed Potomac at Georgetown Ferry
Fairfax Militia called up for 30 days to defend Mount Vernon and Alexandria from British ships raiding on the Potomac
May 1780
Oct. 1780
Fairfax Militia called up
Originally called up for 30 days to defend Mount Vernon and Alexandria from British ships raiding on the Potomac. However, under Captain William Mason, the militia marches south to join General Greene’s Army in South Carolina. They returned home in February 1781
General Nathaniel Greene rides south to take command of Southern Army
General Von Steuben rides with him to take command in Virginia. Lt. Col. Light-Horse Harry Lee and Lee’s Legion ordered south to join Southern Army
Nov. 1780
Jan. 1781
Maryland cavalry crosses at Georgetown ferry to reinforce Steuben
Milestone Title
Feb. 17, 1781
Mar. – Apr. 1781
Fairfax Militia defends Alexandria against British fleet raids on the Potomac including Mount Vernon
Lafayette and Light Infantry Corps of 1200 men cross Potomac at Georgetown ferry
21 Apr. 1781
22-23 Apr. 1781
Lafayette’s Corp encamped at Alexandria
George Washington Parke Custis born; lives with family at Abingdon
Apr. 30, 1781
July 25, 1781
George Washington writes John Parke Custis
300 French Hussars under Col. Rene Marie Vicomte d’Arrot cross Georgetown ferry in the evening
The Hussars camped on the banks of the Potomac, likely in what is now Arlington.
15 Sep. 1781
Sep. 1781
John Parke Custis leaves Abingdon to join George Washington’s staff at Yorktown
Fairfax militia ordered to prepare road from Georgetown ferry to fords of the Occoquan for the American and French wagon trains going to Yorktown
9 Sep. 1781
10 Sep. 1781
General Rochambeau and his staff cross the Potomac probably at Georgetown Ferry
American wagon train crosses Georgetown ferry
19 Sep. 1781
24 Sep. 1781
Cattle (800 head) drive down Glebe Road
French wagon train crosses Georgetown ferry
“During the crossing of the wagon train 1 horse and 1 man were drowned.” The wagon trains included about 1500 horses and 220 wagons
24-25 Sep 1781
Sep. 1781
Fairfax militia gathers flour to send to Continental Army at Yorktown
American Army marches north after Yorktown
Nov. 1781
Nov. 5, 1781
John Parke Custis dies outside of Yorktown
American wagon train crosses Potomac to Georgetown heading north
15 Nov. 1781
14 July 1782
Lauzun’s Legion crosses Potomac into Georgetown
French Army marches from Alexandria
Encampment on Kings Highway through now-Arlington to cross the Potomac at Georgetown ferry.
July 18-21, 1782