Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

The Powhatan Creek Trail in James City County links to a number of historic sites along its path including the Tomb of the Unknown Patriot Solider of the American Revolution, the Church on the Main and Mainland Farm.The path is accessible to walkers, joggers and bikers.

Tomb of the Unknown Patriot Soldier of the American Revolution

During the Revolutionary War Battle of Green Spring, which took place in the fields and woods near Church on the Main on July 6, 1781, American forces under the command of the Marquis de Lafayette engaged the army of British Lord Cornwallis. Surviving soldiers on both sides fought again a few months later at the decisive Battle of Yorktown, 16 miles to the east, which concluded with the British surrender on October 19, 1781.

The human remains enclosed in the Tomb of the Unknown Patriot Soldier of the American Revolution were discovered in 1978 by archaeologists from the Virginia Research Center for Archaeology on the nearby Harris Plantation, three-quarters of a mile to the west of Church on the Main. It was there that the most intense combat action took place. The soldier was hurriedly buried where he fell, in a shallow pit, clothed in his waistcoat and breeches, but lacking a coffin. Based upon analysis of the bones by the Smithsonian Institution in 2015, this white male was between 23 and 28 years old. During his 37 year stay at the Smithsonian, it was revealed that based on stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values, revealing a corn diet, likely a northern states soldier. He was probably one of the 22 Pennsylvanians who died in the battle. The musket ball found above his right waist likely contributed to his demise. This Patriot represents all those unknown soldiers who died for Independence.

The tomb has an inscription that reads:  

Unknown Patriot Soldier

of the American Revolution

Fell at the

Battle of Green Spring

6 July 1781

Thou that Passest by

Tell them that Here

I Died for Independence

Thank you to Alain Outlaw and the James City County Historical Commission for their contributions to the Patriot Soldier of the American Revolution.