Chesterfield Dedicates Walkway at Historic Courthouse Green

TL;DR: Chesterfield County will dedicate a brick walkway memorial and Daughters of the American Revolution marker on October 10 at the Historic Courthouse Green to honor Revolutionary War troops who trained there in 1780-1781.

The story

Chesterfield County will mark the nation's 250th commemoration of the American Revolution with a dedication ceremony on Saturday, October 10, at the Historic Courthouse Green. The event will unveil a brick walkway memorial honoring the troops who trained at the site during 1780-1781, a crucial period when Governor Thomas Jefferson designated the courthouse village as a training post and encampment for Continental Army reinforcements from the southern states. The ceremony will also feature the dedication of a National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution Pomeroy Foundation marker.

The dedication program will include period music, living history demonstrations featuring British soldiers, Virginia Continental soldiers, and interpretations of the Continental Army Hospital and the women who worked at the Chesterfield Barracks. County officials and dignitaries will address the historical significance of the site, which served as one of the largest training areas for Continental troops during the Revolutionary War. Admission is free and open to the public, with free registration required. The Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia is accepting orders for engraved bricks to support the walkway project.

The Chesterfield Courthouse site holds substantial Revolutionary War significance. In 1780, Baron Friedrich von Steuben trained militia at the location. During the winter of 1780-1781, soldiers trained there under brutal conditions and later participated in key battles including the Siege of Yorktown in fall 1781. In May 1781, British forces under Banastre Tarleton raided the courthouse, capturing militia troops in what marked the last Revolutionary War combat in Chesterfield County.

Key players

• Chesterfield County: Host and organizer of the dedication ceremony
• Daughters of the American Revolution: Dedicating a Pomeroy Foundation historical marker
• Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia: Co-organizer of the event; facilitating brick purchase for the walkway

Key dates

• 2026-10-10: Chesterfield Barracks Memorial Walkway Dedication ceremony, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Why it matters: The dedication recognizes Chesterfield County's significant but often-overlooked role in the American Revolution, helping residents understand the county's colonial military heritage alongside its better-known Civil War history.

Places

• Historic Courthouse Green
• Iron Bridge Road
• Chesterfield Courthouse

Related links

• VA250 Events
• Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia
• Chesterfield County Revolutionary War History Map

Read the original at WRIC 8News Local →

Sources

• VA250 Chesterfield Barracks Memorial Walkway Dedication
• Chesterfield's Revolutionary War Interpretive Signs
• Chesterfield County Revolutionary War History Map