His father had moved westward from New Kent County in Virginia's Tidewater region into the Piedmont after securing a royal land grant, and married at least twice.

Virginia Governor Barbour instructed them to defend the Ohio Valley, augmenting the command of Gen. Harrison.

The Virginians convened at Point Pleasant on the Ohio River on October 16, 1812, and were joined by a Pennsylvania brigade in November.

They arrived at Upper Sandusky, Ohio on December 18, 1812, and at Fort Meigs on January 21, 1813 (which defended the Maumee valley).

However the 6 month enlistments had expired by April, so only the Petersburg Volunteers (not under Leftwich's command) remained when the main British and Indian attacks on Ft. Meigs began in the spring.

WIlliam C. Greenhill's regimentsof men from Bedford, Campbell, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Charlotte Counties.

[7] As the British fleet continued in Chesapeake Bay after burning the national capital, Virginia's Governor Barbour dispatched additional troops to defend the Baltimore area on October 6, 1814.

[9][5] Bedford County voters elected Leftwich to represent them twice in the Virginia House of Delegates, in 1792 and 1793.