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The Library of Virginia records this exact date as McDowell’s promotion to colonel. McDowell had served in the Continental Army and participated in the Yorktown campaign. He later became sheriff of Rockbridge County, served as a longtime trustee of Washington College—now Washington and Lee University—and commanded Virginia militia during the War of 1812. He was the father of James McDowell, governor of Virginia from 1843 to 1846 and later a United States congressman.
James Wood was an officer of the Continental Army who commanded Virginia troops during the Philadelphia and Monmouth campaigns. He later supervised prisoners from General Burgoyne’s captured army, served on Virginia’s Executive Council and acted as governor during the absences of sitting governors. Several months after signing this commission, Wood was elected governor of Virginia and served three consecutive terms.
The reverse contains a July 1796 Rockbridge County court certification recording that McDowell produced the commission in court and qualified according to law.
A historically significant early Virginia military appointment connecting two prominent Revolutionary veterans, the governorship of James Wood, the War of 1812 and the influential McDowell family of Rockbridge County.
Printed and manuscript document on laid paper, approximately folio size when opened, bearing the partially preserved embossed seal of the Commonwealth. Considerable age and administrative wear, including heavy folds, extensive fold separations, paper losses, staining, edge wear and old reinforcement over the seal. Despite these faults, the principal James Wood signature, McDowell’s name and rank, date and essential appointment language remain legible.
