Leetown, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leetown, West Virginia
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 Leetown, West Virginia
Location in West Virginia
Leetown, West Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Jefferson |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1554937 |
Leetown is a small place in Jefferson County, West Virginia. It's called an unincorporated community. This means it's a town that doesn't have its own local government. It's located where West Virginia Secondary Route 1 meets Leetown Pike.
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A Glimpse into Leetown's Past
Leetown has a cool history, especially because of three important military officers. These officers were British-born but later became American heroes. They all served under General Braddock in the British army. They were involved in a tough battle against French and Native American forces at Fort Duquesne (which is now Pittsburgh). Later, they fought for America under George Washington during the American Revolutionary War.
Famous Residents and Their Homes
The town of Leetown is named after General Charles Lee. He was a British officer born in 1732. In 1774, he bought land in Virginia. He named his estate "Prato Rio". The main house of this estate is still standing just south of Leetown today.
Another important person was Major General Adam Stephen. He built a hunting lodge called "The Bower" in 1750. It was about a mile west of Leetown, along Opequon Creek.
Their friend and fellow Revolutionary War general, Horatio Gates, also lived nearby. General Gates was famous for winning the Battle of Saratoga. His estate, called "Traveler’s Rest", was about four miles north of Leetown.
St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church
St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church is a beautiful building in Leetown. It was officially opened in 1846. This was a time when the Episcopal Church was growing again in Virginia after the Revolution. Sadly, the church was badly damaged during the American Civil War.
Leetown During the Civil War
Leetown played a part in the American Civil War. On July 3, 1864, a battle happened right through the town. Troops led by Lieutenant General Jubal Early fought against Federal (Union) forces. After some initial struggles, Early's troops won. This victory helped clear the way for Early to move into Maryland. This was part of the third and final time the Confederate army tried to invade the North. This invasion ended with a difficult victory at Monocacy Junction in Maryland on July 8.
After the war, an artist named David English Henderson lived in Leetown. He used his memories as a soldier in the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia to create paintings.
