Albemarle Barracks facts for kids

Albemarle Barracks was a special place during the American Revolutionary War. It was a prisoner-of-war camp, a place where soldiers captured in battle were kept. This camp held British soldiers who were prisoners during the war.

The Story of Albemarle Barracks

How the Camp Started

The story of Albemarle Barracks begins in 1777. A British general named John Burgoyne lost an important battle called the Battle of Saratoga. After this defeat, thousands of British and German soldiers were captured. These German soldiers were called Hessians and Brunswickians. They were part of what was known as the Convention Army.

These captured soldiers were first marched to Cambridge, Massachusetts. The American leaders, known as the Continental Congress, wanted to move them further south. A member of Congress, Colonel John Harvie/Harvey, Sr., offered some of his land. This land was located near Charlottesville, Virginia.

Moving to Virginia

In late 1778, about 2,000 British soldiers and 1,900 German soldiers began a long march south. Around 300 women and children also traveled with them. They arrived at the new camp site near Ivy Creek in January 1779.

The buildings at Albemarle Barracks were not very strong or complete. Because of this, the officers who were prisoners were allowed to live outside the camp. They were "paroled," meaning they promised not to fight again. They lived in towns like Richmond, Virginia and Staunton, Virginia.

Life Inside the Camp

The camp often did not have enough supplies for everyone. Even so, the prisoners worked hard to improve their living conditions. They built many things to make life better. These included a church, a coffeehouse, and even a theater. They also built pubs and simple log huts for shelter.

It was not easy to guard so many prisoners. Because there were not enough guards, hundreds of prisoners managed to escape from Albemarle Barracks.

The Camp Closes

By late 1780, the British army was moving north from the Carolinas. The remaining prisoners at Albemarle Barracks were then moved again. They were sent to other places like Frederick, Maryland and Winchester, Virginia.

Where is Albemarle Barracks Today?

Finding the Historic Site

Today, the original site of Albemarle Barracks is on private land. It is located northwest of downtown Charlottesville. You can find it at the bottom of Barracks Farm Road.

A special historical marker shows where the camp once stood. This marker helps people remember important places from the past.

Remembering the Burials

In 1983, the Albemarle County Historical Society placed another marker. This one is for the burial site of Albemarle Barracks. It is on what is now Ivy Farm Drive. This spot marks where several graves were found when the land was being developed for homes.

If you want to see the marker, drive west from Charlottesville on Barracks Road. Then turn onto Barracks Farm Road. The marker is on the north side of Ivy Farm Drive. It is in a private yard, a short distance from where Ivy Farm Drive splits from Barracks Farm Road.