Three Notch'd Road(also calledThree Chopt Road) was acolonial-eramajor east-west route across centralVirginia.It is believed to have taken its name from a distinctive marking of three notches cut into trees to blaze the trail.[1]By the 1730s, the trail extended from the vicinity of thefall lineof theJames Riverat the future site ofRichmondwesterly to theShenandoah Valley,crossing theBlue Ridge MountainsatJarmans Gap.[2]In modern times, a large portion ofU.S. Route 250 in Virginiafollows the historic path of the Three Notch'd Road, as does nearbyInterstate 64.[3]
Jack Jouett's Ride
editDuring theAmerican Revolutionary War,a young Virginian namedJack Jouettis credited with an epic nighttime ride by horseback. He sounded a warning alert atMonticelloand the town ofCharlottesvilleof secretly approaching British troops seeking to capture theGovernor of Virginiaand key members of theVirginia General Assembly.Portions of Jouett's famous ride took place on the Three Notch'd Road.
In late May 1781, after GeneralBenedict Arnold,who had defected to the British, had attacked the Virginia capital ofRichmond,GovernorThomas Jeffersonand Virginia's legislature, includingPatrick Henry,Richard Henry Lee,Thomas Nelson, Jr.,andBenjamin Harrison Vfled toCharlottesville, Virginia[4](Jefferson's home,Monticello,was nearby). Learning of this, British GeneralCharles Cornwallisordered Lieutenant ColonelBanastre Tarletonto ride to Charlottesville and capture them. On June 3, with 180 cavalrymen and 70 mounted infantry of theRoyal Welsh Fusiliers,Tarleton left his camp on theNorth Anna River,[4]marching his force covertly. With a fast maneuver designed to catch the politicians completely unaware, he had planned to cover the last 70 miles (110 km) in 24 hours.[5]
Captain Jack Jouett of the Virginia Militia,[6]then twenty-seven years old, was asleep on the lawn of theCuckoo Tavern(or by another account at his father's house) inLouisa County, Virginiathat night[5]when he heard the sound of approaching cavalry and spotted Tarleton's British cavalry.[7]Jouett was acutely aware of the military situation; his father and brother Matthew were also captains in the Virginia Militia, as was brother Robert in the Continental Army.[6]He correctly suspected that the cavalry were marching to Charlottesville, where he knew that the legislature was completely undefended. Realizing the only hope for Jefferson and the legislators was advanced warning in time to escape, Jouett quickly mounted his horse, a bay mare named Sallie,[8]and, as the British paused for a 3-hour rest, began the 40-mile (60 km) ride. Lit by a full moon, he had to ride fast enough to beat the British and warn the Virginians.[5]Reaching Monticello about 5:00 AM, Jouett warned Governor Jefferson, and then went on to Charlottesville, where most of legislators were staying at the Swan Tavern, which was owned by Jouett's father. The legislators decided to flee west on the Three Notch'd Road, cross the Blue Ridge, and reconvene inStaunton,35 miles (56 km) away, in three days. Jouett's warning allowed most legislators to escape, but seven were caught. On the way west, as the British closed in, Jouett used a diversionary tactic to help GeneralEdward Stevens,who was recovering from wounds he received at theBattle of Guilford Courthouse,escape.[5][9]Recognizing their debt to Jouett, the legislature passed a resolution on June 15, 1781 to honor him, and "Jack Jouett's Ride" became a legendary portion of Virginia's history.
Marquis de Lafayette
editLate in the Revolutionary War,Marquis de Lafayette,the General commanding the French troops supporting theContinental Army,camped inAlbemarle Countyalong the Three Notch'd Road at Giles Allegre's Tavern (Later named Lafayette Hill Tavern,37°59′17″N78°18′50″W/ 37.988085°N 78.31379°W) on Mechunk Creek while guarding important munitions stored at the Old Albemarle County Courthouse located atScottsvilleon the James River.[10]
U.S. Route 250
edit
Much of the currentU.S. Route 250(established in the 1930s) fromShort PumpinHenrico Countywest toCrozetin Albemarle County closely follows its path. In the City of Charlottesville, which was established near the headwaters of theRivanna River,West Main Street and part of University Avenue near theUniversity of Virginiafollow its original course.[1]In the 1960s and 1970s,Interstate 64was completed nearby, also closely paralleling the Three Notch'd Road.
In Henrico County, Richmond
editAnother portion of the old road, now known as Three Chopt Road, runs from Short Pump through western Henrico County and the City of Richmond, ending at the former unincorporated town of Rio Vista at the intersection ofState Route 147.Research by the Henrico County Historical Society revealed a map of Henrico County dated 1819 showing the road marked as "Three Chopped Road". Years later, they found the spelling of the road changed to Three Chopt on a map of 1853.[11]
References
edit- ^ab"Three Notch'd Road".Charlottesville.org.RetrievedApril 16,2015.
- ^"The Route of the Three Notch'd Road: A Preliminary Report"(PDF).Virginiadot.org.RetrievedApril 16,2015.
- ^"The Route of the Three Notch'd Road: A Preliminary Report"(PDF).3chopt.RetrievedApril 16,2015.
- ^ab[1]ArchivedAugust 8, 2007, at theWayback Machine
- ^abcd[2]ArchivedJune 25, 2010, at theWayback Machine
- ^ab"Captain Jack Jouett's Ride to the Rescue: The Colonial Williamsburg Official History & Citizenship Site".History.org. November 5, 2009.RetrievedApril 16,2015.
- ^"Jack Jouett".Americanrevolution.org.RetrievedApril 16,2015.
- ^[3]ArchivedFebruary 27, 2009, at theWayback Machine
- ^"Newspaper Article: Jack Jouett, the 'Paul Revere' of the South, Rode to Save Jefferson".Richmondthenandnow. Archived fromthe originalon September 27, 2011.RetrievedApril 16,2015.
- ^"Three Notch'd Road - Virginia Historical Markers on".Waymarking.RetrievedApril 16,2015.
- ^"Henrico County (Virginia) Historical Society - Henrico County's Three Chopt District".Henricohistoricalsociety.org.RetrievedApril 16,2015.