Skirmish between the Virginia Militia and the British during the War of 1812 at Farnham Church.
In October, 1814, a force of British troops came up the Coan River and marched to Heathsville. This force with some mounted troops continued their march up through the Neck, pillaging, burning and destroying as they went. At North Farnham Church, in Richmond County, a skirmish was fought between the raiders and the Virginia militia, leaving bullet holes in the walls of the church to mark the battle.
In September, 1814, the British were on their way to bombard the city of Baltimore. The Sunday before at their camp on Tangier Island, in the Chesapeake Bay, they had been warned of their coming defeat by Joshua Thomas, the Methodist "Parson of the Islands."
At Fort McHenry the "Parson's" prophecy came true, and at the same time an immortal song was born—"The Star-Spangled Banner."
STEAMBOATS
The Chesapeake was the first steamboat on Chesapeake Bay. She made her first run in 1813. The next steamer to make her debut was the Washington, on the Potomac, in 1815. The next year the Virginia started running from Norfolk to Richmond.