The American Revolution

American Revolution on the Potomac

Though there are few notable battles that look place on the banks of the Potomac River, its navigability allowed for the transportation of soldiers and materials crucial to efforts of the Continental Army. Many of the soldiers fighting in the war were also from the Potomac River Region.

 

Rising Tensions in the Colonies in Alexandria and Fairfax

Alexandria served as an important port city throughout the Revolution. During BritishImperial rule, Alexandria’s community leaders opposed Parliamentary taxation. Outraged at the Coercive Acts passed against Massachusetts following the Boston Tea Party and fearing that British would punish their port city with similar measures, Alexandria established a committee to communicate with nearby towns to organize British policy opposition. Alexandria and Fairfax County also raised money to support Boston during the closure of the port.Shortly after, a committee that included George Washington and George Mason, drafted the Fairfax Resolves, which contained resolutions arguing that the colonies had the right to govern their internal affairs and that Parliament could not tax them without their consent. These resolutions additionally called for colonial unity and the permanent abolition of the slave trade. Tensions continued to rise, and after the war began at Lexington and Concord, many feared attacks to Alexandria.

 

A map displaying Jones Point on the Potomac River.

Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division.

Revolutionary War Standoff at Jones Point

In 1781, in an attempt to prevent Lafeyette’s American Army from crossing the Potomac River, a British fleet was sent to sail up the river and raid the plantations along its banks in Maryland and Virginia. On April 11, the British fleet appeared off of the coast of Alexandria. In response, an American militia formed and marched into a fort along the river, the location of which is unknown today. It is likely that it is close to the location of the 19^th century Jones Point Lighthouse. With his collection of men, Colonel John Fitzgerald made such a display that the British did not land out of fear, however, they would sail back down the Potomac, continuing their raids.

Not long after departing Alexandria, they would land near George Washington’s Mt. Vernon home. They torched and raided warehouses and demanded payments from plantation owners along the river. At the same time, Lund Washington, a cousin and appointed caretaker of the Mt. Vernon estate, boarded the British ship and begged they spare the home. In exchange for a large sum, and the freedom of seventeen African Americans enslaved by George Washington, Mt. Vernon was saved. Upon his return, George Washington was furious and embarrassed that his home was spared while those loyal to the rebellion watched their homes and property go up in flames.

 

Battle of St. George’s Island

St. Mary’s County in Southern Maryland supplied a large number of soldiers to the army and was also home to Maryland’s largest battle of the Revolution. On July 12, 1776, warnings began to come in that a British fleet was spotted near Point Lookout, Maryland. Calls were quickly made to Annapolis to send back soldiers to St. Mary’s County for aid in fending off the British. At the same time, ten boats full of British soldiers landed on St. George’s Island. Local Maryland militia lined up in bushes along the shore and fired on landing boats. By July 19 hundreds of militiamen had returned to the island, and the British were forced to retreat.