British Invasion of Richmond, January 1781

On 4 Jan. 1781, British troops led by Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold landed at Westover in Charles City County and began marching to Richmond. Learning of the threat, Governor Thomas Jefferson directed the removal of public records and military stores to safety before evacuating the capital. On 5 Jan., Arnold's troops easily dispersed colonial forces arranged on defensive positions here on Church Hill and Shockoe Hill and occupied Richmond for twenty-four hours. Before returning the following day to Westover, the British burned some private buildings and public storehouses containing military supplies, and destroyed the foundry and some public records at nearby Westham.