The Perils of Rogue’s Road

There was a portion of the old Carolina Road in Loudoun County, Virginia which was called “Rogue’s Road”. It was along this section of the road where highwaymen committed bold robberies. A particularly noted highwayman of the day was Captain Harper who regularly patrolled it and terrorized all those who lived nearby. Women, afraid of this dashing and bold highwayman, dared not venture out alone.

A rather pretty story is related in this connection — a young Virginia maiden was walking this road alone one evening about twilight, hurrying home after a visit to a neighbor who rode up and reined his horse beside her.

“Are you not afraid to walk this road alone on account of Captain Harper and his band?’ he asked. ‘No’ replied the maiden ‘for I have always heard Captain Harper was a gentleman.”’

The dashing horseman looked at her a moment and then walked his horse beside her until she reached the gate leading to her home. And then raising his hat and bowing he said: ‘Captain Harper bids you good night’ and digging the rowels into his steed he vanished as he came.”

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Source: Legends of Loudoun: An account of the history and homes of a border county of Virginia’s Northern Neck by Harrison Williams