./ "When the news arrived here of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, the citizens to manifest their joy, erected afla g pole near the State House, on which were hoisted the American

Continental Colors a little above those of the British."-oelaware's celebration reported in the Packet. 1 November, 1781

Map of the route to Yorktown and Rochambeau in the , October 17th, 7781 by Louis-Charles Auguste Couder

France & Independence In 1781, the American and French allies combined their The Washington-Rochambeau Route National armies at a pivotal turning point in the War of Independence. Historic Trail follows the routes used between 1781 and 1783 by : 1732-1799 Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte Under the command of General George Washington allied American and French forces to and from the successful de Rochambeau: 1725-1807 and French General Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vlllleur, comte i-icge of Yorktown, . This network of roads and water Congress chose George Washington de Rochambeau, the armies marched south to lay siege to trails winds over 700 miles through nine states and the District of to command the in The French nobleman and distinguished officer was appointed commander of the Yorktown, Vlfginia. In a decisive victory, they captured the ( 'olumbia. 1775. His strategic insight and leadership French Army sent to America in 1780 to fight culminated in American independence. under General Charles Cornwallis, 1st the British. After success there, he continued After the war, Washington resigned his Marquess Cornwallis. This single campaign ensured 'fake this Revolutionary Route and explore historic sites and his military career until 1792. Arrested in 1794 American independence. communities that once hosted Revolutionary War soldiers. military command. He became the first during the French Revolution, he was released Learn the stories of people who helped pave the way to President of the in 1789. A POWERFUL ALLIANCE later that year and retired to his estates. victory and an independent United States.

Caesar Rodney, President of River to Delaware (1728-1784), Fighting Blue Hens & Unsung Heroes commemorated on the US quarter. African-Americans were legally not allowed It took several days for the French and Despite its small population, the City of Hts administrative authority ensured The soldiers of the state's one regiment par ticipated in many of the important t o serve in the militias of Delaware during Continental troops to pass through 26 miles Wilmington rivaled in the a steady, continuous purchase and battles o f the war and were particularly . the Revolutionary War and later. However, of Delaware on their way to Yorktown, from importance of its commerce, being a major delivery of supplies before and critical to the success of the Continentals in one free black-Edward Harmon- joined September 4 through September 7, 1781. source of fine flour and destination for dunng the march to Yorktown. the southNn theatre. Their bravery earned Captain Kirkwood's 1st Delaware Some 4,300 French soldiers alone marched tobacco transported ov<>rland from "Head of Rodney prevented significant them the nickname of "The Fighting Regiment as a common soldier in 1777. He through Wilmington, Delaware, along with Elk" (Elkton, Maryland), to be loaded on ships desertions of Continental troops and " and "Blue Hen's Chickens" after was the only African-American from nearly 2,000 horses, 800 oxen, close to 1,000 plying the . tamped down fights that broke out a gamecock with a fierce reputation. The Delaware who applied for, and was officer servants, over 300 waggoners, dozens between Loyalists and Whigs in Blue Hen was adopted by the Delaware granted, a pension in 1818. Remarkably, of female camp assistants, equipment and Reaction to the French army's presence was southern Delaware. baggage trains. While encamped in mixed. Many Huguenoh, Moravians, and General Asse mbly in 1939 as the official several other African-Americans, slave and Wilmington, the largest town in Delaware, Quakers had fled religious persecution and stat e bird and is the mascot for the free, are noted on pay records as serving these troops more than quadrupled the wars in Europe to settle in Delaware, and The main body of Continental soldiers where the allied forces were to re-group. . in the Delaware Regiment, possibly as population. many were pacifists. Some Delawareans had headed southwest from W ilmington on dirt Christiana was one of t he most important express riders, cooks, and teamsters. fought the French previously during the roads, arriving in Christiana on September 6, shipping centers in Delaware and a crucial Others showed t heir loyalty by paying The t roops followed t he "King's Highway" . On the other hand, 1781. French troops passed through a day trade ce nter on the route from Philadelphia taxes in bushels of w heat for t he support (t oday's Philadelphia Pike/Route 13) into the many Delawareans remembered w ith later, in two separate groups. A contingent to Baltimore. Northern Delaware as a whole of the army, just like their white neighbors. City of W ilmington. It was the only road resentment the mont h-long British of Continental troops had arrived a few days was strategically important as a supply from the south to Philadelphia and points occupation of Wilmington in 1777. earlier by boat to help unload artillery, depot and military transportation corridor Delaware's African Americans supporting north. took this road on his ammunition and other supplies from boats throughout the Revolutionary War, a the troops emphasizes the irony of famous 18-hour journey on the night of July Delawareans also prized the hard currency that came up Christina Creek from the critical overland link in the transport of freedom denied for some who fought for 1/2, 1776. He rode to Philadelphia to cast the t hat the French used to pay for goods and Delaware River. troops and materials between the freedom. The 1790 census shows 70 crucial vote for the colonies to unanimously se rvices. Silver coin temporar; ly replaced Delaware River and Chesapeake Bay. percent of the state's black population declare independence from Great Britain. fluctuating Continental dollars and state Christiana was the critical staging area These operations could avoid remained enslaved after the American currency as the state's only legal tender prior to the 10-12 mile march to Elkton, exposure to the British warships Revolution. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~lffl781. ~~ ~ patrolling the Atlantic c-east.

The allied troops took the same overland route from Head of Elk/ Dr. James Tilton was instrumental in Elkton through Delaware, returning improving care for the sick and from Yorktown, as they had heading Lauzun's Leg ion returned to wounded during the Revolutionary south. They made their way in Wilmington in late October of 1782 War. One of few physicians with solid and stayed at the Wilmington professional training and experience, different groups, the Continentals Indian Hut of Dr. James Tilton (1745-1 822). The hut was fi rst used successfully Academy until the following spring. he joined t he local militia that became during November of 1781, by land to combat disease at the Continental encampment at Morristown, , ". ..Many a fine fellow have I seen The Legion's 550 men were available part of the First Delaware Regiment. Delaware officers played important and water, and the French by land in in the severe winter of 1779-1780. August of 1782. The allied troops to support a French detachment in As th e regimental surgeon and brought into the hospital, for slight roles in the Wash ington-Rochambeau took with them more than 1,600 Baltimore if needed. Rochambeau, commander of several military story, including (I tor) Dr. James sick and wounded (some 14% of the too, returned south, traveling across Revolutionary Health Care was known about the causes and hospitals, he saw fi rsthand the syphilitic infections and carried out Tilton, Physician and Surgeon General French troops alone) who would rest Delaware to Baltimore in January of treatments of common illnesses. The horri fic conditions at the hospitals. of the ; Allen at hospitals along the way, including 1783. He would sail to Annapolis the Disease claimed more lives of soldiers few existing military hospitals lacked To counteract these conditions, he dead of a hospital fever." Mcl ane, a master spy for George the Wilmington Academy. same day and embark January 8 on than did the battles themselves. An adequate sanitation, with patients invented the "Indian Hut," or "Tilton Washington; and Captain Robert Rochambeau's forces headed to the French frigate Emeraude along estimated 25,000 American soldiers crowded into filthy tents and Hut." This pioneering effort to Kirkwood (not shown), a hero of the with his son and sixteen officers. died dunng acllve military service, of buildings. Thousands of cases of construct isolation wards and erect - Or. James Tilton, commenting on Revolutionary War hospitals in " Eco­ Boston, ultimately bound for the nomical observations on military hospitals : and the prevention and Southern campaigns. , but in 1783 received Avoiding the British, they returned to which about 8,000 died in battle and typhus, smallpox and dysentery were barriers against cross infection cure of diseases incident to an army," 1813. ~·TV< ()I ~bY W ~~ NA" ·~ Lil '1UYOf ~.'lDIC.~•t. ·.~ ;.;.:., ~ --~· ,,__ ~..:-1.JS.l word they would be returning France several days later, along with the rest from disease Hospitals were contracted in the hospitals. greatly reduced the spread of to France. the best wishes of a grateful nation. few, tools were crude, and not much infectious disease in army hospitals. Along Delaware's Allied Route Today

Discovering a Bosto 1781 Revolutionary War Trail :::::===:J Alhe