Point of Fork Arsenal facts for kids
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Point of Fork Arsenal
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Point of Fork on a French map of the 1781 campaigns
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Point of Fork |
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| Nearest city | Columbia, Virginia |
| Area | 225 acres (91 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000242 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 1, 1969 |
The Point of Fork Arsenal was an important place during the American Revolution. It was a military storage and repair center. This arsenal was built in the 1700s near what is now Columbia, Virginia.
On June 5, 1781, a British group called the Queen's Rangers, led by Col. John Graves Simcoe, attacked and destroyed it. But the arsenal was rebuilt! It was used again to make and fix weapons. It even supplied materials to help fight the Whiskey Rebellion and the Battle of Fallen Timbers. The arsenal stayed open until 1801. Then, a new, bigger arsenal was built in Richmond, called the Virginia Manufactory of Arms.
Today, Point of Fork is a historic archaeological site. This means experts can dig there to find old items. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. This list helps protect important historical places.
History of the Arsenal
The Point of Fork Arsenal was built in a special spot. It was located where the Fluvanna River and the Rivanna River meet. The Fluvanna River is actually the name for the James River west of this meeting point.
During the American Revolution, some American soldiers were stationed here. These included parts of the 5th Virginia Regiment and local soldiers from the Fluvanna County militia.
In May 1781, a famous military leader named Baron von Steuben came to the arsenal. He was not happy with the soldiers he found there. He said there were too few men and not enough supplies.
Baron von Steuben quickly started getting the 5th Virginia Regiment ready. He wanted them to join General Greene's army in South Carolina. This plan caused some arguments with the Virginia General Assembly. They worried that sending soldiers away would leave Virginia's rivers unprotected.
The Attack and Destruction
By May 1781, General Cornwallis, a British commander, wanted to weaken Virginia. He sent Lt. Col. Simcoe and his rangers to capture Point of Fork. At the same time, another British force, led by Col. Tarleton, tried to attack the Virginia General Assembly. They also wanted to capture Governor Thomas Jefferson and burn any supplies that the Marquis de Lafayette's army might use.
When Simcoe reached the arsenal, he hoped to surprise the American soldiers. Baron von Steuben thought Simcoe's small group meant that Cornwallis's entire army was nearby. So, he left the Point of Fork Arsenal. He abandoned it and headed towards Charlottesville and Governor Jefferson.
Tarleton failed to capture Governor Jefferson or the Virginia General Assembly. But he did destroy many supplies. He burned "one thousand new muskets, four hundred barrels of powder, several hogsheads of tobacco, and a quantity of soldier's clothing." After this, he returned to Point of Fork. He went to Elk's Hill, a plantation owned by Jefferson. There, he completely destroyed the supplies and goods.
Who Was Responsible?
Many people blamed Baron von Steuben for abandoning the Point of Fork Arsenal. The Virginia General Assembly even started an investigation into his actions.
Von Steuben strongly argued that the supplies and soldiers were not as good as the government claimed. He was also in a hurry and believed Cornwallis's entire army was close. He famously said, "Every farmer is a general … but nobody wishes to be a soldier." This showed his frustration.
However, the 5th Virginia Regiment fought bravely in 1781. This was true even though they lacked clothing, muskets, and other gear. They pushed very close to the British lines at Yorktown. This happened before Cornwallis surrendered on October 19, 1781.
