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Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Park Service Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail U.S. Department of the Interior Massachusetts to Virginia Delaware “ When the news arrived here of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, the citizens to manifest their joy, erected a flag pole near the State House, on which were hoisted the American Continental Colors a little above those of the British.”—Delaware’s celebration reported in the Pennsylvania Packet, 1 November, 1781 Map of the route to Yorktown Washington and Rochambeau in the ROCHAMBEAU MAP COLLECTION, Siege of Yorktown, October 17th, 1781 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS by Louis-Charles Auguste Couder © RMN-GRAND PALAIS / ART RESOURCE, NY France & Independence In 1781, the American and French allies combined their The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National armies at a pivotal turning point in the War of Independence. Historic Trail follows the routes used between 1781 and 1783 by George Washington: 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 Vimeur, comte siege of Yorktown, Virginia. 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 Continental Army in The French nobleman and distinguished Yorktown, Virginia. In a decisive victory, they captured the Columbia. 1775. His strategic insight and leadership officer was appointed commander of the French Army sent to America in 1780 to fight British Army under General Charles Cornwallis, 1st culminated in American independence. the British. After success there, he continued Marquess Cornwallis. This single campaign ensured Take this Revolutionary Route and explore historic sites and After the war, Washington resigned his his military career until 1792. Arrested in 1794 military command. He became the flrst American independence. communities that once hosted Revolutionary War soldiers. during the French Revolution, he was released Learn the stories of people who helped pave the way to President of the United States in 1789. A POWERFUL ALLIANCE later that year and retired to his estates. victory and an independent United States. BOTH PORTRAITS COURTESY OF INDEPENDENCE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK Caesar Rodney, President of Delaware River to Chesapeake Bay Delaware (1728-1784), Fighting Blue Hens & Unsung Heroes commemorated on the US quarter. It took several days for the French and Despite its small population, the City of His administrative authority ensured The soldiers of the state’s one regiment African-Americans were legally not allowed Continental troops to pass through 26 miles Wilmington rivaled Philadelphia in the a steady, continuous purchase and participated in many of the important to serve in the militias of Delaware during of Delaware on their way to Yorktown, from importance of its commerce, being a major delivery of supplies before and battles of the war and were particularly the Revolutionary War and later. However, September 4 through September 7, 1781. source of fine flour and destination for during the march to Yorktown. critical to the success of the Continentals in one free black—Edward Harmon—joined Some 4,300 French soldiers alone marched tobacco transported overland from “Head of Rodney prevented significant the southern theatre. Their bravery earned Captain Robert Kirkwood’s 1st Delaware through Wilmington, Delaware, along with Elk” (Elkton, Maryland), to be loaded on ships desertions of Continental troops and them the nickname of “The Fighting Regiment as a common soldier in 1777. He nearly 2,000 horses, 800 oxen, close to 1,000 plying the Delaware River. tamped down fights that broke out Delawares” and “Blue Hen’s Chickens” after was the only African-American from officer servants, over 300 waggoners, dozens between Loyalists and Whigs in a gamecock with a fierce reputation. The Delaware who applied for, and was of female camp assistants, equipment and Reaction to the French army’s presence was southern Delaware. Blue Hen was adopted by the Delaware granted, a pension in 1818. Remarkably, baggage trains. While encamped in mixed. Many Huguenots, Moravians, and General Assembly in 1939 as the official several other African-Americans, slave and Wilmington, the largest town in Delaware, Quakers had fled religious persecution and state 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. University of Delaware. in the Delaware Regiment, possibly as population. many were pacifists. Some Delawareans had headed southwest from Wilmington on dirt Christiana was one of the 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 their loyalty by paying The troops followed the “King’s Highway” French and Indian War. On the other hand, 1781. French troops passed through a day trade center on the route from Philadelphia taxes in bushels of wheat for the support (today’s Philadelphia Pike/Route 13) into the many Delawareans remembered with later, in two separate groups. A contingent to Baltimore. Northern Delaware as a whole of the army, just like their white neighbors. City of Wilmington. It was the only road resentment the month-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. Caesar Rodney 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 that 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 services. Silver coin temporarily 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. in 1781. patrolling the Atlantic coast. The Troops Return North The allied troops took the same The British and Americans had signed overland route from Head of Elk/ the Preliminary Articles of Peace. Dr. James Tilton was instrumental in Elkton through Delaware, returning improving care for the sick and from Yorktown, as they had heading Lauzun’s Legion 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 different groups, the Continentals and stayed at the Wilmington professional training and experience, Indian Hut of Dr. James Tilton (1745-1822). The hut was first used successfully during November of 1781, by land Academy until the following spring. he joined the local militia that became to combat disease at the Continental encampment at Morristown, New Jersey, “...Many a fine fellow have I seen and water, and the French by land in The Legion’s 550 men were available part of the First Delaware Regiment. in the severe winter of 1779-1780. Delaware officers played important August of 1782. The allied troops to support a French detachment in As the regimental surgeon and COURTESY OF THE U.S. NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE roles in the Washington-Rochambeau Baltimore if needed. Rochambeau, commander of several military brought into the hospital, for slight took with them more than 1,600 story, including (l to r) Dr. James too, returned south, traveling across was known about the causes and hospitals, he saw firsthand the sick and wounded (some 14% of the Revolutionary Health Care Tilton, Physician and Surgeon General Delaware to Baltimore in January of treatments of common illnesses. The horrific conditions at the hospitals. syphilitic infections and carried out French troops alone) who would rest of the United States Army; Allen 1783. He would sail to Annapolis the Disease claimed more lives of soldiers few existing military hospitals lacked To counteract these conditions, he at hospitals along the way, including McLane, a master spy for George same day and embark January 8 on than did the battles themselves. An adequate sanitation, with patients invented the “Indian Hut,” or “Tilton dead of a hospital fever.” the Wilmington Academy. 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 —Dr. James Tilton, commenting on Revolutionary War hospitals in ”Eco- Kirkwood (not shown), a hero of the Boston, ultimately bound for the with his son and sixteen officers. died during active military service, of buildings. Thousands of cases of construct isolation wards and erect nomical observations on military hospitals : and the prevention and Southern campaigns. Avoiding the British, they returned to which about 8,000 died in battle and typhus, smallpox and dysentery were barriers against cross infection West Indies, but in 1783 received cure of diseases incident to an army,” 1813. TILTON: COURTESY OF THE U.S.

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