On December 6, 1814, British naval and marine forces landed at nearby Morattico on the Rappahannock River and marched inland to destroy militia then gathering at Farnham Church. Defending at Farnham Church was a Richmond County artillery unit of nearly one hundred men commanded by Capt. Vincent Shackleford. During the skirmish with British forces, two militia soldiers were killed and two were wounded, including Captain Shackleford, who was captured and later paroled. He carried a musket ball in his leg until his death on February 12, 1820. In his will, Captain Shackleford requested that the ball be extracted and the "indelible impression to be made by such a memento, may instill the strongest and lasting principle of courage and patriotism in the young and tender minds of our mutual offspring."