250th Anniversary of the Revolutionary War Culpeper Minutemen Muster

The 250th Anniversary of the Revolutionary War Culpeper Minutemen was held on October 25 at Yowell Meadows Park in Culpeper. Yowell Meadows park was the original muster and training spot for the Culpeper Minutemen when the site was called Clayton's Old Field or later, Catalpa Farm. Organized in July 1775 after the Virginia Convention of May 1775 ordered Virginia divided into 16 military Districts. Wach District was ordered to raise and train a battalion of men "to march at a minute's notice". The District of Culpeper, Fauquier and Orange Counties (now includes Greene, Madison and Rappahanock Counties) was the most successful and became the most well known of early Virginia Minute Battalions.

The Culpeper Minutemen adopted uniforms consisting of hunting shirts of strong, brown lines, dyed with an extract of the leaves of trees (probably the broad of oak leaves). On the breast of each shirt was worked in large white letters the words: "LIBERTY OR DEATH." Their flag had a rattlesnake with 13 rattles, coiled in the center, ready to strike. Underneath it were the words: "DON'T TREAD ON ME." On either side were the words: "LIBERTY OR DEATH." And at the top "THE CULPEPER MINUTE MEN."

The Culpeper Minutemen were called out in response to increasing tensions between the forces of the Royal Governor and Virginians. Riflemen of the Battalion were instrumental in Patriot Victories at the Battle of Hampton on October 26-27, 1775 and the Battle of Great Bridge on December 9, 1775. At the Battle of Hampton one participant wrote to Thomas Jefferson "It is incredible how much they dread a rifle.” The writer of the letter was referring to sailors and officers of English ships who were on the receiving end of highly accurate rifle fire from Patriots ashore.

The efforts of the Culpeper Minutemen were major contributors to Lord Dunmore leaving Virginia, and Virginia becoming the first State with an independent Government and Constitution.

Representing the Loudoun County based Sgt Maj John Champe Chapter were Ken Bonner, Barry Schwoerer, and Mark Sink. Each man participated in the three-shot musket volley.