Jack Jouett – The Man Who Saved Thomas Jefferson

Jack Jouett, known affectionately as the “Paul Revere of the South,” is a lesser-known hero of the American Revolution. Much like Mr. Revere, Jouett embarked on a dangerous journey to defend cause of liberty.

The Ride of Jack Jouett

During the summer of 1781, in the midst of the Revolutionary War, the legislature of Virginia – including Thomas Jefferson, who was governor at the time – planned to reconvene in Charlottsville. They had evacuated from Richmond after British General Lord Cornwallis moved into the state from the south, forcing the Virginia government to “scatter,” according to the official website of Monticello, Jefferson’s historic plantation.

Word of the legislature’s plan reached Cornwallis, who ordered Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton to capture Jefferson and the assemblymen. Tarleton immediately left for Charlottsville and hoped to catch the Virginia politicians by surprise, but he stopped to rest near the Louisa Court House, where a 26-year-old John “Jack” Jouett saw him and his men.

A clever resident of Charlottesville, Jack Jouett guessed what Tarleton was up to and immediately sprang into action, riding roughly 40 miles to warn Jefferson and the assemblymen of the British officer’s plans.

Thomas Jefferson wrote about Jouett’s daring journey in notes that are now referred to as the Jefferson Papers:

“[Jouett] knowing the by-ways of the neighborhood, passed the enemy’s encampment, rode all night, and before sun-rise of the 4th. called at Monticello with notice of what he had seen, and passed on to Charlottesville to notify the members of the legislature.”

Jefferson said some officials were staying at Monticello at the time, so he delayed leaving to enjoy breakfast “at leisure with [his] guests.” The visitors left for Charlottesville after eating, at which point another rider warned Jefferson that British troops were “ascending the hill to the house.” Jefferson continued:

“I instantly sent off my family, and, after a short delay for some pressing arrangements, I mounted my horse, and knowing that in the public road I should be liable to fall in with the enemy, I went thro’ the woods, and joined my family at the house of a friend where we dined.”

While Tarleton managed to detain a handful of assemblymen, most of Virginia’s legislators avoided capture, escaping to Staunton over the Blue Ridge Mountains. Jefferson took his family to their farm in Lynchburg where they stayed “until the middle of summer.”

The General Assembly eventually resumed business in Staunton, at which point the group voted to award Mr. Jouett with a pair of pistols and a sword for his courageous expedition.

Jouett’s Legacy

While Jack Jouett never became as famous as Paul Revere despite riding more than twice as far, the heroic southerner is honored by his hometown of Louisa, Virginia.

According to Visit Louisa, the local government’s official tourism website, legend has it that Jouett was “covered in lifelong facial scars as a result of the brambles along his journey.” Even though his son had a career as a painter, the only likeness that remains of Jouett is a silhouette.

Louisa County is also home to the Jack Jouett Day Festival, an annual event honoring the Revolutionary War hero’s daring ride.

1. Jack Jouett rode approximately 40 miles to warn Thomas Jefferson that he was being targeted by British troops.
2. Jefferson and most of the Virginia legislature were able to escape British capture thanks to Jouett’s bravery.
3. Jouett is believed to have suffered lacerations from thorny bushes known as brambles during the journey that left lifelong scars all over his face.