Bedford County was probably named for the English statesman John Russell, fourth duke of Bedford, who as secretary of state for the Southern Department from 1748 to 1751 had general supervision of colonial affairs. Bedford was formed from Lunenburg County in 1753, later gained parts of Albemarle and Lunenburg Counties, and has its county seat at Bedford. The scenic Peaks of Otter and Poplar Forest, Thomas Jefferson's country retreat, are located there. Campbell County was formed from Bedford County in 1781 and named for Gen. William Campbell, one of the heroes of the Battle of King's Mountain in 1780, and its county seat is Rustburg. British Lt. Col. Bonastre Tarleton passed through the area in July 1781 to burn supplies in Bedford County. During the Civil War, Confederate forces under Maj. Gen. Jubal A. Early defeated Union forces under Maj. Gen. David Hunter at the Battle of Lynchburg, fought partly in Campbell County, 16-18 June 1864.