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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Cornwallis at Portsmouth Q8F
Lord Cornwallis, commanding the British troops in the south, reached Portsmouth, July, 1781. He prepared to send a portion of his force to New York before the movement was made. Orders came for him to take up a position at Old Point, Cornwallis selected Yorktown, however, and Portsmouth was abandoned.

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Trebell's Landing W49
At Trebell’s Landing on the James River, a mile southwest of here, the artillery and stores of the American and French armies were landed in September 1781. They were then conveyed overland some six miles to the siege lines at Yorktown. The troops disembarked at landings near Williamsburg. During the next few weeks, the allied armies under Gen. George Washington and the comte de Rochambeaubesieged the British army commanded by Gen. Charles Cornwallis until he surrendered on 19 Oct. 1781, effectively ending the Revolutionary War.

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Maycock's Plantation K213
Six miles north on James River. The place was patented about 1618 by Samuel Maycock, slain in the massacre of 1622. In 1774, David Meade became the owner. There Cornwallis crossed the river, May 24, 1781. Anthony Wayne crossed there, August 30, 1781.

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Battle of Brandywine PA102
After fording the branches of the Brandywine, British troops under Cornwallis turned SE here early in the afternoon to attack the rear of the American right wing under Sullivan, 3 miles downstream. Conflicting intelligence reports on this movement prevented formation of a proper defense by Sullivan.

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Battle of Brandywine PA103
Howe planned two separate attacks against the American line. In early morning, the British Army divided here, Knyphausen's troops went east to engage the center of the line at Chadds Ford, while a force under Cornwallis marched approximately 6 miles north, then 3 miles east, to outflank Washington's right wing and attack from the rear.

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Battle of Brandywine PA105
The center of the American line, Wayne commanding, was near Chadds Ford and faced west. In late afternoon as Cornwallis was making the main assault on the American right wing, 3 miles north, Knyphausen's division of British and Hessians crossed Brandywine Creek, attacked Wayne and forced him to retreat.

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Hundred WV381
Henry Church, who died in 1860 at the age of 109, was familiarly known as "Old Hundred" and the town was named for him. He was a soldier in the British Army under Cornwallis and was captured by American troops under Gen. Lafayette.

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