Yorktown Battlefield

Yorktown was the site of the last major ground battle in the American Revolutionary War. The battle began on September 28, 1781 when General George Washington and his 17,000 Continental and French troops began the siege of 9,700 British troops commanded by General Lord Charles Cornwallis. The siege included a blockade of the York River by the French fleet commanded by Rear Admiral Francois Joseph Paul, the Comte de Grasse to prevent the British Royal Navy from reinforcing or evacuating the British troops at Yorktown and Gloucester. After bombardment weakened the British lines, two columns were dispatched on October 14^th to attack the last major remaining outer defenses of the British. A French column took redoubt #9 and an American column took redoubt #10. This allowed the allies to finish a second parallel and begin firing artillery from very close range. With around the clock bombardment, the British position was untenable. Cornwallis asked for capitulation terms on October 17^th. The surrender ceremony took place on October 19^th. Peace negotiations began in 1782 and culminated with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783.

We visited the battlefield in October 2014. The visitor center houses an information desk, bookstore, theater, restrooms and offices. The 15 minute orientation film, "The Siege at Yorktown", is another excellent National Park Service production. We bicycled the seven mile Battlefield Tour Road as well as the nine mile Encampment Tour Road.

Reconstructed Redoubt on the high ground approaching Yorktown

Part of the Second Siege Line including a redoubt in the distance

Civil War era National Cemetery from the Second Siege Line

Redoubt #9

Walking path to Redoubt #9

Example of artillery used in the siege

Another example of artillery used in the siege

A final example of artillery used in the siege

Redoubt #10

Moore House, site of the surrender negotiations

Rear of the Moore House

Reflections on Wormley Pond

Pavilion at Surrender Field

Plaques at the pavilion provide details of letters from both commanders:

I have the honor to inform Congress, that a reduction of the British Army under the Command of Lord Cornwallis, is most happily effected. - General George Washington to the President of the Continental Congress, October 19,1781

I have the mortification to inform your Excellency that I have been forced to give up the posts of York and Gloucester, and to surrender the troops under my command, by capitulation on the 19th instant, as prisoners of war to the combined forces of America and France. - Lieutenant General Charles Lord Cornwallis to General Sir Henry Clinton, Commander in Chief British forces in America, October 20, 1781

Surrender Field from the pavilion

Approximate location of colonial roadway to Surrender Field

Trophies of War

Beaverdam Creek

Most of the tour is a one-way single-lane paved road

French Cemetery

Colonel D'Aboville's Headquarters, French Artillery

Agriculture covered most of the high ground around Yorktown

This two-way section of the loop road leads to the French Encampment area

The tents of the French Regiments Agenois, Gatinois and Touraine covered this field

Autumn colors on the edge of the field

More colors along the tour road

Driving back to Williamsburg along the Colonial National Historical Parkway, we passed the US Naval Weapons Station at Stony Point and saw a destroyer tied up at the pier. This one just happened to be one of very few American warships named for foreigners and a very famous one at that.

USS Winston S Churchill, DDG 81 from the Colonial Parkway

The entrance fee to the Yorktown Battlefield is $7 per person for seven consecutive days. Admission to the NPS area of Historic Jamestowne is included. Other options include a Colonial Annual Park Pass for $30, an Interagency Annual Pass for $80 and a lifetime Interagency Senior Pass for those age 62 and older for $10.

The battlefield park website is http://www.nps.gov/york/index.htm.