George Weedon facts for kids
George Weedon (1734–1793) was an American soldier. He played an important part in the American Revolutionary War. He was from Fredericksburg, Virginia. Weedon became a brigadier general in the Continental Army. This was the main army of the American colonies. Later, he also served in the Virginia militia. After the war, he joined a special group called the Society of the Cincinnati.
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Early Military Service
George Weedon started his military career early. He was a lieutenant under George Washington. This was during the French and Indian War. His main job was to guard forts. These forts were in western Virginia.
Weedon's Tavern and a Special Document
After the French and Indian War, Weedon moved to Fredericksburg. He opened a tavern there. A tavern was like an inn or restaurant. In January 1777, something very important happened at his tavern. Thomas Jefferson, a famous American leader, wrote a document there. It was called the Statute of Religious Freedom. This was a groundbreaking document. It was the first of its kind. It said that the government should respect religious freedom. People could believe what they wanted.
Fighting in the Revolutionary War
In 1775, the Revolutionary War began. George Weedon became a lieutenant colonel. He helped create the 3rd Virginia Regiment. This was a new army unit. He worked with Hugh Mercer to train these soldiers.
Weedon was promoted to colonel in 1776. He took command of his regiment. In 1777, he became a brigadier general. He fought in several major battles. These included the Battle of Trenton, the Battle of Brandywine, and the Battle of Germantown.
Winter at Valley Forge
During the harsh winter of 1777-1778, the Continental Army stayed at Valley Forge. George Weedon commanded a brigade there. A brigade is a large group of soldiers. His brigade was part of General Nathanael Greene's division. It included soldiers from Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Return to Virginia and Yorktown
In 1778, Weedon left the Continental Army. He had a disagreement with the Continental Congress. This was the government of the new United States. He returned home to Virginia.
The governor of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson, asked for his help. Weedon then led a brigade of Virginia militia. These were citizen soldiers. He played a key role in the Yorktown campaign. This was the final major battle of the war. His soldiers successfully stopped a British unit. This unit was led by Colonel Banastre Tarleton. They blocked the British escape route at Gloucester Point. This helped trap the British army. It led to their surrender.
