He was captured at the Siege of Charleston, South Carolina and died of disease in New York City about six months later aboard a British prison ship.

[citation needed] During the war, Woodford served as an ensign in Colonel George Washington's Virginia Regiment, and was later promoted to lieutenant in 1761.

No Virginians died in the first significant battle of the Revolution on Virginia soil, although the Tory forces had 45 casualties.

[5] Recovering by June 28, 1778, Woodford led his brigade at the Battle of Monmouth, where he took control of a rise known as Comb's Hill and was able to pound the British left flank with artillery.

In late 1779, Woodford and his brigade were sent to join the Southern Continental Army and fought at the Siege of Charleston, where he and his unit were captured in May 1780.