Basically the tour is a seven-mile drive covering the British Inner Defense line, the Allied Siege lines, the Moore House, and Surrender Field. The audio CD follows red arrow signs and gives detailed information along the way and at each of the stops.
The tour starts at the visitor center where we walked around and viewed exhibits and views of the battlefield.
All around the Visitor Center were cannons that were used by the British and American Allies.
While in the Army I was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C. in the Artillery. I loved playing with the cannons so I had to show you what I use to fire. Here is a 155 MM Howitzer like the one I hauled around North Carolina and fired. It is a little larger than the ones used in the American Revolution.
Next we headed out of the parking lot following the audio CD and red arrow signs. Our first stop was at the British Inner Defense Line. After Washington and Rochambeau's (French Commander) allied armies arrived, Cornwallis withdrew his troops from most of his outer defenses to consolidate his position behind these earthworks.
The town of Yorktown was surrounded by a ditch and thick parapet. The parapet was formed of trees cut in the woods and placed inside then filled with earth from the ditch. The outside was formed of "fascines"; (The pointed logs sticking out of the ground.)
Approximately 2,000 runaway slaves were promised freedom in exchange for working with the British forces. These slaves provided labor to construct the British Inner Defense Line. Ironically, while the American army secured political liberty for the United States with their victory at Yorktown, These slaves lost their bid for freedom with the British defeat.
The next stop was the Grand French Battery. During the night of October 6, under cover of darkness and rain, Allied troops constructed the first siege line.
The troops of the line were there ready with entrenching tools and began to entrench, after General Washington had struck a few blows with a pickax, a mere ceremony, that it might be said "General Washington with his own hands first broke ground at the siege of Yorktown.
To construct the siege line they first made these "Gabions" (baskets made of vines and branches - it took two soldiers 30 minutes to make each one.) which they filled with dirt to form the foundation for the earthworks. Next they covered them over with dirt forming the siege line.
The night was dark and rainy so the British troops manning the eastern portion of the British inner Defense Line remained unaware of the Allied soldiers to their fromt, enabling the allies to work all night without interference.
On October 9, allied artillery opened fire on the British, and the bombardment began. The Grand French Battery was the largest gun emplacement on the first siege line.
From here we were able to see the Yorktown National Cemetery a Civil War Cemetery.
In the spring of 1862, war again scarred Yorktown's landscape as a Union army prepared to besiege Confederate forces holding the town. On the night of May 3 - 4, 1862, in the face of Union siege artillery Confederate forces withdrew from the area. Yorktown then became a Union garrison for most of the Civil war and provided hospital services to wounded and sick soldiers.
By war's end, the remains of approximately 600 Union soldiers had been buried in this area between the 1781 Allied Siege Lines. In 1866 the cemetery was designated a national cemetery and Union dead from over 50 field burial sites within 50 miles of Yorktown were re-interred here.
Onward to the next stop the Second Allied Siege Line. On October 11 Allied troops began this second line within point blank artillery range of the British. The line could not be completed, however, because two small detached British earthen forts, Redoubts 9 and 10, blocked the way to the river.
Redoubt 10
Redoubts 10 was was partly reconstructed where a fragment of its moat was found in 1956. The remainder of it, as well as parts of adjacent works, was washed to sea during the 175 years of crumbling river banks.
Outside Redoubt 9
Inside Redoubt 9
On the night of October 14, French troops attacked Redoubt 9 while American troops stormed Redoubt 10, capturing both positions in less than 30 minutes. This allowed the Allies to complete their second siege line and construct a Grand American Battery for siege artillery between the two redoubts.
Three days later, Cornwallis proposed a cease-fire.
Great view from the back yard of the Moore House
Slowing the process was Laurens' insistence, with Washington's support, that the British submit to similar terms granted by the British to the defeated American army at Charleston, S.C., in 1780. Those terms had deprived the American soldiers to surrender with the army's personal honor intact.
The British argued for better terms but the Allies prevailed and around midnight a draft of the "Articles of Capitulation" was completed with 14 provisions, including two conditions that denied the British the "full honors of war".
We then headed for the Surrender Field. On October 19, 1781, Cornwallis's army marched onto this field and laid down its arms. This ended the last major battle of the Revolutionary War and virtually assured American independence.
The British were held as prisoners of war all along the east coast for the next couple of years.
The rest of out tour covered the American Artillery Park, General Washington's Head quarters, French Cemetery, French Artillery Park, and French Encampment area.
We had a great time touring the battlefield and learned many things. The audio CD was very enjoyable and kept us informed along the way. This sure brings history to life.
For more information:
Colonial National Historical Park
P.O. Box 210
Yorktown, VA 23690
www.nps.gov/colo
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