Unsung War Hero

My ancestor and 8th great grandfather John Jack Jouett, was an unsung hero of the American Revolutionary War. Not many people know his name or what he did to shape the face of American History as we know it. Paul Revere wasn't the only historical figure to ride through the night, warning his countrymen of British invasion. Although, history gives him all the credit. In Virginia in the year 1781, Jack Jouett rode through the backwoods, undetected and undefended, to warn Thomas Jefferson and his men of a planned attack and intended capture of these American government officials earning him the alias, Paul Revere of the South.

In the summer of 1781, twenty-six year old John Jack Jouett rode 40 miles through the cover of darkness on the evening of June 3rd, not stopping to rest, through the wee hours in the morning to reach Monticello, the estate of Thomas Jefferson. The young Mr. Jouett rode to warm Jefferson at his great estate of the impending British ambush. He had been tipped off that British soldiers were mobilizing to capture Thomas Jefferson, who was serving as the governor of Virginia at the time. Jouett's heroic ride through the black of night of took place six years after the infamous ride of Paul Revere.

John Jack Jouett was living in the small town of Charlottseville, VA. A small town near the governor's estate. The turmoil caused by the ongoing Revolutionary War had caused the government officials of Virginia to evacuate the capital in Richmond VA, and scatter throughout the area. Some ended up with Jefferson at his infamous estate, Monticello.

Lord Cornwallis of the British army had gotten word that The Virginia legislative officials and assemblymen were planning to reconvene in Charlotesville, not far from Jefferson's estate. It was the perfect set up to plan a surprise attack to take Jefferson and the rest of the assemblymen hostage as prisoners of war, or possibly to kill them.

Cornwallis dispatched Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton to nab the governor and his countrymen on June 3rd, 1781. Tarleton was known to travel mostly at night, under the cover of darkness. It was his hope to catch the legislative officials by surprise, but he wasn't familiar with the area. Tarleton was forced to take a short break near the Louisa Courthouse to rest his horses and men. It was here that my ancestral, great grandfather saw the British troops and guessed Tarleton's plan to ambush the Governor and his men.

Thomas Jefferson believed that Jouett's knowledge of the back roads of the countryside gave him the advantage he needed that led him to discover the enemy's post. After his lucky hunch, assuming the British army were headed directly to Monticello, he rode swiftly through the night and was able to reach Jefferson and company before sunrise on the day of the planned attack. The journey treacherous, and Jouett still had to warn the remaining assemblymen in the neighboring town.

After Jack left to warn the others, Jefferson ordered a carriage to take his family to safety and stayed behind to gather important papers and documents. It was in these last moments that he received a second warning from his neighbor, Christopher Hudson.

Hudson found Jefferson calm, cool and collected as he informed him the troops were ascending the hills around Monticello, and urged him to leave immediately. Within minutes the British soldiers had the house surrounded, but Jefferson had already made his escape. Although, Tarleton managed to capture 7 of the men, a majority escaped to safety.

Jefferson avoided the main roads to avoid detection by the British, and reunited with his family believing his role as governor had surely come to an end due to his decision to flee his post. A general Assembly reconvened in Staunton, VA to review the governors actions.

The inquiry into his abandonment of his duties was later dropped. Jefferson publicly declared that he was unprepared to lead, and admitted to abandoning his duties as a commander of armies. Although he succeeded in justifying his actions, it would haunt him throughout his personal and professional life. However, the allegations of Thomas Jefferson abandoning his duties as governor during the events of June 4th, 1781 were not enough to prevent him from becoming the third president of The United States in 1801.

The council recognized John Jack Jouett's heroism by awarding him two pistols and a sword for his bravery as symbols of their gratitude, which took him a few years to actually collect. Although he rode through undefended territory for 40 miles without stopping to rest, thereby saving the life of our third president and founding father Thomas Jefferson, he never received widespread fame or recognition for his heroic deed. John "Jack" Jouett played an important role in the outcome of American History as we know it today.

Let's take a moment to recognize the bravery of my great ancestor for putting his life on the line to save one of our founding forefathers. Imagine if Thomas Jefferson was captured and killed by the British army. Our country's history would have surely played out differently...whether it would have been for better or worse.

Thanks for reading this little know fact in American History. If you ever find yourself in Kentucky, you can visit my ancestral home and take a tour. They have since made the small farmhouse into an historic museum. Until next time, dear readers! Follow me on twitter @MissWendy1980. In the meantime be kind to yourself and one another.