What's in a name? | Woodford Drive, Chesapeake | HamptonRoads.com

By Mike Saewitz
The Virginian-Pilot
© May 30, 2008

Brig. Gen. William Woodford is a name that most Chesapeake residents have never heard of. He wasn't born here. And he didn't die here. But Woodford, on Dec. 9, 1775, is credited with leading Virginia forces against the British to win the Battle of Great Bridge.

Kentucky named a county after Woodford. Chesapeake has Woodford Drive, a shaded street less than a half-mile from the battle site. There's also Woodford Square, a shopping center across from Chesapeake General Hospital.

Woodford, a colonel during the Battle of Great Bridge, never got quite the attention given to other heroes of the that time.

There is a two-volume, 1,400-page book about Woodford in the Chesapeake Central Library. It notes that "Woodford, though not a star of first magnitude, nor a planet visible to all, might be likened to a moon of Jupiter, revolving around the central figure of (George) Washington."

The book's author argues that Woodford "has almost been lost to posterity" because he was captured in the 1780 siege of Charleston, S.C., and died on a British prison ship.

Durwood Curling, a former city manager who helped name Chesapeake's streets, said that Woodford has a place in local and American history.

"He was the leader of the troops, the first time we beat the British in anything," Curling said. "He symbolized the willingness to step up and be counted."

Mike Saewitz, (757) 222-5207, mike.saewitz@pilotonline.com

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This is important

Submitted by TommyNorfolk on Sat, 05/31/2008 at 1:46 am.

You would think that since since this area is so rich in american history we can have more monuments instead of shopping malls and street names, we should make this area an extension of the Historical Triangle found on the Pennisula. With the pilgrams first landing near sea shore state park to where the americans won a battle for the first time since the begginning of the revolutionary war. There is also the the modern military history of MacArthers Museum and the Wisconsin.