SAR Commemorates 250th Anniversary of Daniel Morgan’s Beeline March in Winchester

On July 26, 2025, the Colonel James Wood II Chapter of the Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution held a powerful and patriotic ceremony to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of Daniel Morgan’s Beeline March, a legendary feat in the founding of the Continental Army and the early fight for American independence.

The commemoration began at the Old Stone Church in downtown Winchester, where a muster of riflemen gathered beside the statue of General Daniel Morgan, the frontiersman and Revolutionary War hero who led one of Virginia’s first Continental Army companies. Reenactors, dressed in period uniforms, stood at attention as Captain Daniel Morgan (portrayed by Paul Parish) conducted a safety inspection of his troops before marching to Mount Hebron Cemetery, the final resting place of Morgan himself.

There, the troops were greeted by General George Washington (portrayed by Ken Bonner) in a symbolic meeting. When asked where they came from, Captain Morgan replied with historical flair: “From the right side of the Potomac, Sir!” A moment that sparked applause from spectators gathered to witness the living history event.

The Beeline March, carried out in July 1775, involved Morgan’s company of riflemen covering 600 miles from Winchester, Virginia to Cambridge, Massachusetts in just 25 days. This extraordinary effort was in response to a call from the Second Continental Congress, which had requested militia rifle companies from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia to reinforce the troops outside Boston. Virginia responded with two companies: one led by Hugh Stephenson of Berkeley County, and the other by Daniel Morgan of Frederick County.

These companies became part of the foundation of the United States Army, and Morgan’s men became known for their deadly accuracy, able to hit a target three times at 100 yards with Revolutionary-era flintlock rifles — a requirement to join his elite unit. Their frontier-style tactics, which included fighting from behind trees and natural cover, were a stark contrast to traditional European battlefield formations and proved vital to American successes during the war.

National Society SAR President General Michael Elston was among the keynote speakers, delivering remarks that honored Morgan’s leadership and the importance of the Beeline March in shaping the outcome of the war. He was followed by Virginia SAR President Dr. Michael Weyler, Winchester Mayor Les Veach, and George Schember, who resides in a home that once belonged to Morgan’s daughter.

SAR participants. (Photo courtesy of Thomas “Chip” Daniel.)

As part of the solemn tribute, Warner Workman of the Sgt. Maj. John Champe Chapter SAR rang a liberty bell 13 times, representing the original 13 colonies and honoring the men who marched under Morgan’s command.

A three-round musket salute echoed through the cemetery, offered by SAR guardsmen from 12 chapters across Virginia, who stood in full uniform to honor the occasion. Participating color guard units included members from Colonel James Wood II, Fairfax Resolves, Great Bridge, George Mason, Sgt. Maj. John Champe, Col. William Grayson, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Col. Fielding Lewis, Williamsburg, General Daniel Morgan, and the Culpeper Minutemen Chapters.

Muskets preparing to march (Photo courtesy of Warner Workman).

Wreaths were laid at Morgan’s grave by a wide array of organizations. In addition to President General Elston, President Weyler, General Washington, Mayor Veach, and George Schember, the France Society SAR also presented honors, reinforcing the international ties and historic legacy of the American Revolution.

Numerous SAR chapters participated, including Col. James Wood II, Thomas Jefferson, George Mason, George Washington, Williamsburg, Culpeper Minutemen, Fairfax Resolves, Fort Harrison, Jamestown Headquarters, Col. Fielding Lewis, and Sgt. Lawrence Everhart from Maryland.

Above and below – Morgan (Paul Parish) and Washington (Ken Bonner) are reviewing the troops. (Photo courtesy of Thomas “Chip” Daniel.)

Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) were also strongly represented, with wreaths and honors presented by chapters such as Fort Loudoun, Prince William Resolves, Ketoctin, Lanes Mill, Nelly Custis, Montpelier, and Providence, along with representatives from the National Society of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.

The Beeline March remains one of the most extraordinary military achievements in early American history. The speed, endurance, and dedication shown by Morgan’s men in 1775 set the tone for what the fledgling nation’s army could accomplish. Saturday’s commemoration not only honored that spirit but kept it alive for the hundreds who gathered to remember.

As SAR President Michael Elston noted in his remarks, “The legacy of Daniel Morgan and his riflemen reminds us that courage, commitment, and unity are timeless virtues — just as important today as they were 250 years ago.”