The War of 1812 / British Landing at Nomini Ferry

During America’s War of 1812 with the British, caused in part by impressment of Americans into British service and violations of American ships, Virginians suffered beginning in 1813 from a British naval blockade of the Chesapeake Bay and from British troops plundering the countryside by the bay and along the James, Rappahannock, and Potomac rivers. The Virginia militia deflected a British attempt to take Norfolk in 1813 and engaged British forces throughout the war. By the end of the war, more than 2000 enslaved African Americans in Virginia had gained their freedom aboard British ships. On 20 July 1814, Adm. Sir George Cockburn sent about a thousand marines ashore at Nomini Ferry to attack the Westmoreland County militia under Lt. Col. Richard E. Parker. Parker’s Virginians defended their positions but were soon outflanked by superior British forces and forced to retreat to Westmoreland Court House (Montross). Before leaving the next morning, the British marines burned and destroyed a number of houses and several plantations in the immediate area, including Bushfield, and ransacked nearby Nomini Church.

Virginia · United States