Captain Jack Jouett, sometimes referred to as the Paul Revere of the South, was an American hero known for his daring ride during the American Revolutionary War. In 1781, Jouett undertook a perilous 40-mile horseback ride to warn Virginia Governor Thomas Jefferson and the state legislature (who were then in Charlottesville) about approaching British forces. Thanks to his timely warning, Jefferson and the legislature were able to escape capture by British troops led by Colonel Banastre Tarleton.