Virginia was at the heart of the American Revolutionary War, from the earliest colonial protests against British rule through to the conflict's decisive military conclusion in 1781. That end came at the Siege of Yorktown, where combined American and French forces surrounded and defeated British General Cornwallis, an outcome that effectively ended the fighting and secured American independence.
Throughout the war, Virginia produced some of the Revolution's most important leaders. George Washington, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Jefferson all came from the colony, and each shaped the course of the struggle in profound ways, from military command to political leadership to the articulation of the ideals that justified the break with Britain.
Written by Aubrey Research from Virginia in the American Revolution on Wikipedia, cited as a reference and not reproduced.
Chronology
Revolutionary fighting in Virginia spanned 1775 to 1781. Select a year for the engagements of that season nationwide.
Where these engagements were fought
Select a marker to see the engagement and open its page. Larger red markers are surveyed battlefields with a mapped boundary.
Engagements in Virginia.
Notable engagements
| Engagement | Year | Outcome | Forces or losses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yorktown | 1781 | American victory | 88 killed; 301 wounded; Total: 389; Hesse-Kassel: 142-309 ki |
| Kemp's Landing | 1775 | British victory | Virginia Committee of Safety; Patriot militia: 7 killed; 18 |
| Great Bridge | 1775 | Patriot victory | Virginia Committee of Safety; Patriot militia: 1 wounded; Pr |
| Green Spring | 1781 | British victory | United States: 28 killed ; 122 wounded; 75 killed and wounde |
| Chesapeake Capes (1) | 1781 | French victory | France: 220 killed or wounded; Great Britain: 90 killed ; 24 |
| Storming of Redoubt 10 | 1781 | Allied American victory victory | 9 killed, 25 wounded / 8 killed, ~20 wounded, 25 captured |
| Skirmish at Waters Creek | 1781 | American victory victory | 7 killed4 captured / 2 killed2 wounded |
| Battle of Spencer's Ordinary | 1781 | n/a | United States: 9 killed; 14 wounded; 32 captured; Hesse-Kass |
| Francisco's Fight | 1781 | n/a | None; 1-3 killed; others driven away (some wounded); 8 horse |
| Westham Canon Foundry Raid | 1781 | British victory | British 200 |
| Williamsburg Raid | 1781 | British victory | British 800; American 400 |
| Chickahominy Shipyard Raid | 1781 | British victory | British 200 |
Plus 10 further documented engagements in the Virginia record.
Battlefield locations and boundaries are compiled from public records, including the National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program (public domain) and the American Revolution GIS work of Charles E. Frye (CC BY-SA 4.0).