Jack Jouett: Portrait of An American Hero A brave man, a devoted horse, and a daring midnight ride. Those are the exciting ingredients of this true account of an American hero, Captain Jack Jouett. His son Matthew tells this amazing story set in the midst of the Revolutionary War — a conflict that ended in triumph for the United States because of brave souls like Captain Jouett. JACK JOUETT is best remembered for his June 3, 1871 ride to warn Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia legislature of coming British cavalry who had been sent to capture them. Jack and Sally Jouett eventually moved to frontier Kentucky where they built their Federal-style brick home in Woodford County in 1797.