New London

(Obverse) At New London, Patrick Henry made one of his most famous speeches. John Hook, a Tory, brought suit for two steers impressed for the American army in 1781. Henry, the opposing counsel, so pictured the sufferings of the patriots in that critical year and their joy at Cornwallis's surrender, and so ridiculed Hook, that the case was laughed out of court. (Reverse) This place, on the old stage road, was the first county seat of Bedford; the first courthouse, built in 1755, was standing until 1856. In 1781, New London was raided by the British cavalryman, Tarleton, seeking military stores. It came into Campbell County in 1782. An arsenal here was afterward removed to Harper's Ferry.