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Salvaging Revolutionary Relics from the York River

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Salvaging Revolutionary Relics from the York River 1. Contemporary dockyard model of the 44-gu1Z frigate "Cbaron." Tn the collection of tbe Science iHlIseu'IJI. Scale 1:48. The "Charon" was built in /778 and slink off Yorktown three years later. [Extract from William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine: Series 2, Volume 19, Number 3, July, 1939. Courtesy of DR. E. G. SWEM, Editor.] SALVAGING REVOLUTIONARY RELICS FROM THE YORK RIVER By HOMER L. FERGUSON~ President, The Mariners' _M"uSe'ltllL) Newport News, Virgin'ia FOREWORD The following article was read on May 12, 1938, at a meeting of the Newcomcn Society of England, American Branch, at the Chamberlin Hotel, Old Point Comfort, Va., 011 the occasion of the Society's pilgrimage to Tidewater Virginia. It attempts to present a resume of the activities jointly effected by The Mariners' Museum and the Colonial National Historical Park in the reclamation of objects [rom British warships sunk off York- town during the Siege of 1781. In addition to describing the actual opera- tions used to recover the relics which are nO\\1displayed by these two or- ganizations, mention was made of the naval side of the historical background of the Siege. This paper does not purport, however, to form a complete history of that most Illomentou_soccasion in the history of this country. It would be impossible to name all those persons who contributed in- valuable assistance to the successful outcome of our salvage work. We wish to mention, however, the enjoyable relations evoked between the Museum and the Park and to thank particularly Mr. B. Floyd Flickinger, late Superintendent of the National Park, for his unfailing encouragement, as- sistance, and hard work, without which the project might never have been effected. Likewise, Mr. Joseph T. Holzbach, Superintendent of The Marl- uers' Museum and director of the diving operations, is due our special vote of commendation. In addition, numerous officials of the Newport [CopyriglJt, 1939, The Mariners' Museum, Newport News, Virqinial News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company rendered much valued help: among others, Messrs. M. M. Fitzhugh, Plant Engineer; Ralph L. Angell; V. L. Chapman; and the late James Lamphier, Foreman of the Yard Riggers Department. As presented herewith, the following article is illustrated with photo- graphs taken during the operations, the source of each print being acknowl- edged. We wish to thank the Director of the Science Museum, South Kensington, England. for permission to reproduce a photograph of a rigged model of the Frigate Charon in that collection. Also thanks are tendered to the Secretary of the British Admiralty, London, for gracious permission to reproduce the 1780 Admiralty drawings of the Churon. We wish also to acknowledge the assistance of Mr. Alexander C. Brown, Corresponding Secretary of The Mariners Museum, in supplying historical data and pre- paring this article for publication. H. L. F. * * * * In 1934, The Mariners' Museum, in conjunction with the Colonial National Historical Park, started salvaging from the York River a unique collection of relics from British vessels sunk in 1781 at the Siege of Yorktown. It will be recalled that the allied American and French forces succeeded in effectively con- fining the British forces to the York River in September 1781. The French Fleet maintained a blockade of Chesapeake Bay and also of the York River where it joins the Bay, and the allied land forces under Washington and Lafayette surrounded Yorktown and brought about Cornwallis' surrender on October 19, 1781, thus assuring the independence of the American colonies. Many changes have been wrought during the one hundred fifty odd years since that time. The settlement of Yorktown, once the scene of feverish activity and resounding with the roar of cannon and the tramp of marching feet, reassumed the role of a quiet peaceful village. As time passed, the rerouting of lanes of commerce even deprived the settlement of the commercial bustle of Colonial days. Except for a brief period during the War between the States when cannon roared again, Yorktown has through the years of American independence remained a quiet town. As in many other Tidewater Virginia communities, one of the principal industries of Yorktown is oystering, and epicures state that there are none finer than the succulent York River bivalve. The fact that in Revolutionary Days the British had a small fleet in the York River which was fated never to sail out again would perhaps have been forgotten save by historians who had lovingly buried and embalmed it there, were it not for the fact that complaining oystermen working over the York River beds would occasionally fout their lines or break their tongs on submarine obstructions. [ 2 ] Space forbids other than mere mention of the splendid re- storation work at Yorktown of the Colonial National Historical Park under the direction of the National Park Service! and of the inception, aims, and attainments of The Mariners' Museum of Newport News, Virginia.e Suffice to say, the irate oystermen's broken tongs soon assumed a role of considerable importance in the minds of these organizations, and it was agreed in the faU of 1933 that a joint investigation would be made with a view to reclaiming articles from the river bottom. * * * * Before coming to a more detailed account of the actual sal- vage operations jointly effected by the Park and the Museum and a description of the articles recovered, let us briefly review the naval situation at Yorktown a century and a half ago, for it was on this account that the venture was promoted. During the summer of 1781, Lord Cornwallis, in charge of His Majesty's forces in the campaign in Virginia, decided to remove his base of operations from Williamsburg to a point nearer the sea where both land and naval forces could be united in anticipation of the arrival of a large British Fleet. He first went to Portsmouth, but after considering both this site and that of Old Point Comfort, he determined, despite General Clinton's protests, to locate his Army at Yorktown, where, since the river was narrow, shore batteries could prevent the passage of enemy craft." Thus unwittingly Cornwallis voluntarily entered the trap which was later to capture him. The names of the principal vessels participating in the evacua- tion of Portsmouth are mentioned in dispatches addressed to Rear Admiral Graves, commanding His Britannic Majesty's naval forces in America." The larger number of these craft were destined never to leave the York River. Shortly after Cornwallis had established himself at York- town, the expected British Fleet under Lord Hood arrived and 1 See: B. F. Flickinger. Historical Methods used il~ the developmeHt of the Colonial National MOHftmelLl; in TYilHa.1H & Mary College Q'llorterly, Series 2, Vol. 16, No.3, July, 1936, pages 352~358. 2 See: H. L. Ferguson, The Mariners' Museum; in 1937 Transactions 0/ the Societv of Naval Architects a.lld Marine Engineers, New York, Vat. 45, pages 364-378. S Commander A. H. Miles, Sea Pinner end the YorktowH Campaign: in U. S. Naval Institute P.roceedings, Vol. 53, No. 11, Annapolis, November, 1927, pages 1172-3. 4 Admiral F. E. Chadwick (Editor), The Graves Papers and 'other Documents ·relating to the Ncool Operations of the Yorktoum Campaign. I1tl)! fa October 1781, New York, Naval History Society, 1916, page 37. [ 3 ] made their landfall south of the Virginia Capes on August 25, 1781.5 Finding everything serene with no indication of enemy vessels in the Chesapeake, the fleet immediately proceeded on to New York, leaving Cornwallis to complete his arrangements. They had hardly left, however, before a French Fleet under the command of Count De Grasse arrived from the West Indies and established itself almost without interference near the mouth of Chesapeake Bay." When this news reached the British Fleet, they promptly turned back to attempt to intercept the French. Their opportunity of controlling the Chesapeake had passed, however, for the French Fleet now held the better position and in the famous Battle of the Capes all September 5, the French were victorious in that the British were driven off and forced to re- turn northward in the face of approaching equinoctial storms." Reenforced by the timely arrival of another fleet under De Barras, entrance to the Chesapeake was now controlled by the French and a blockade of the York River was established. This was not exactly what Cornwallis had anticipated, but the next move of the allied forces being plain, preparations were made to withstand a siege if necessary. Since the ships at his disposal were at best of insignificant force, being practically useless within the narrow confines of the York River, Cornwallis ordered their cannon and equipment taken ashore to enlarge the land batteries that he had already established' This small fleet contained the following ships: the largest was the 44-gl1n Frigate Charon, a third rater of 891 tons, built at Harwich to the design of Sir Thomas Slade in 1778: next in size came the 28-gun Frigate Cu.adalaupe (1763); the 24-gun Frigate Fawey (1749); ancl the 14-gun Sloop Bonetta (1779), all classed as sixth raters. In addition to these vessels, there was one ex- pressly built fireship, the Vulcan, and a considerable number of transports and other lesser craft. During the month of September the allies began their con- centration around Yorktown. Lafayette entered Williamsburg while Washington's troops were brought southward with all dis- patch from the Hudson. On September 27, the actual march 011 Yorktown began. Cornwallis, becoming desperate, made one attempt to dis- perse the blockading vessels in the York River. On the night of . 5 Col. H. L. Landers, The Vi1'ginia Ca'lJI.paign and the Blockade and Sieoe of Y01"ktoWlL, 1781, Washington, Government Printer, 1931, page 163.
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