Jack of Harts

The Virginia Defense Force detachment in Lynchburg had been watching the situation in Lexington go wildly out of control all day, but Richmond ordered them to remain in place. They were the closest VDF detachment, and they mobilized despite those orders when the killing started. The VDF linked up with Lexington’s surviving police department and moved to intercept the Federal and Commonwealth convoy holding the mayor. They caught the convoy in the Rockfish Gap, shortly after the relief column out of Richmond made rendezvous. The Lexington police demanded the release of their mayor, and when the Feds refused, the VDF moved to execute the mayor’s release. The Feds opened fire, the Commonwealth officers joined in, and the Virginia Defense Force returned fire. The long and bloody engagement stretched long into the night.