Osbornes S14
The town of Osbornes was named for Thomas Osborne who settled nearby at Coxendale in 1616. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Osborne’s plantation wharf was a tobacco inspection station and local shipping center. Thomas Jefferson, grandfather of the President, was born here in 1677. On April 27, 1781, British General Benedict Arnold destroyed nine ships of the American fleet and burned the town’s warehouses and stores. George Washington visited Osbornes in 1791 during a national tour designed to afford citizends the opportunity to see there first national hero.

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Warwick S2
Located eight miles downstream from Richmond, Warwick was an important 18th-century James River port and manufacturing center. During the Revolutionary War, Warwick’s craftsmen turned out clothing and shoes, and its mills ground flour and meal for the Continental troops stationed at Chesterfield Courthouse. On April 30, 1781, British troops under Benedict Arnold burned the town, destroying ships, warehouses, mills, tannery storehouses and ropewalks.

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British Invasion of Richmond January 1781 S1
On 4 Jan. 1781, British troops led by Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold landed at Westover in Charles City County and began marching to Richmond. Learning of the threat, Govenor Thomas Jefferson directed the removal of public records and military stores to safety before evacuating the capital. On 5 Jan., Arnold’s troops easily dispersed colonial forces arranged on defensive positions here on Church Hill and Shockoe Hill and occupied Richmond for twenty-four hours. Before returning the following day to Westover, the British burned some private buildings and public storehouses containing military supplies, and destroyed the foundry and some public records at nearby Westham.

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Fort Nelson K265
On the site of Portsmouth Navel Hospital stood Fort Nelson. There, Virginia’s Revolutionary government late in 1776constructed the fort of timber and rammed earth. Three years later, the British fleet commanded by Admiral Sir George Collier confiscated its artillery and supplies and destroyed most of the parapet. In 1779-1781, both Lord Cornwallis and General Benedict Arnold occupied the fort. It was reconstructed in 1799 of earth lined with brick, following a design by architect S. Henry Latrobe, and abandoned after the War of 1812. The Confederate government strengthened Fort Nelson, but on 10 May 1862 the Union army occupied Norfolk and Fort Nelson.

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Benedict Arnold at Portsmouth Q8E
Arnold, after going over to the British, was sent to Virginia to make war on the state. He reached Hampton Roads in December, 1780, raided to Richmond and came to Portsmouth, January 19, 1781. Establishing his headquarters in Patrick Robinson's house, and using the old sugar house on Crawford Street as a prison and barracks, Arnold remained here until spring. Then again he went up the James to open the fateful campaign of 1781 that won the war for America.

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Arnold's British Defense, 1781 Q8O
This marks a line of British redoubts erected in March 1781 by order of Brigadier General Benedict Arnold who, under Major William Phillips, commanded British troops occupying Portsmouth. The line of fortifications extended in an arc along Washington Street from the northern waterfront to Gosport Creek and defended Portsmouth from American attack from the west.

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Arnold's British Defenses, 1781 Q8P
This marks the Northern limit of a line of British redoubts erected in March 1781 by order of Brigadier General Benedict Arnold who, under Major General William Phillips, commanded British troops occupying Portsmouth. This line of fortifications extended in an arc south along Dinwiddie and Washington Streets to Gosport Creek an? defended Portsmouth from American attack from the West.

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Arnold's British Defenses, 1781 Q8Q
A brick windmill near here was close to the southern limit of a line of British redoubts erected in March 1781 by order of Brigadier General Benedict Arnold who, under Major General William Phillips commanded British troops occupying Portsmouth. This line of fortifications extended north in an arc along Washington Street to the waterfront near Court Street.

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Coggin's Point K210
Four miles north on James River. When Benedict Arnold fell back down the James after his raid to Richmond, Baron Steuben, at Coggin's Point, observed his fleet, January 10, 1781. From the bluff General D. H. Hill bombarded McClellan's camp on the north side of the river, July 31, 1862

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Col. Matthew Smith PA324
Captain of Lancaster Co. militia with Col. Benedict Arnold on 1775 midwinter march to Quebec. In 1779, served as Vice-President of Pennsylvania Council. Died in 1794; buried here in an unmarked grave.

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