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Yorktown Battlefield COLONIAL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK YORKTOWN BATTLEFIELD Yorktown Battlefield COLONIAL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK YORKTOWN BATTLEFIELD Scene of the allied French and American victory over Cornwallis in 1781, climax of the American Revolution, and a decisive victfiJY in world history. ""'-f .••• Redoubt No.9. The surrender of the British Army at Colonial Williamsburg, Inc., while the York- Yorktown on October 19, 1781, marked the town Battlefield, Colonial Parkway, and virtual close of the American Revolution. It much of Jamestown Island are included in ended almost 7 years of war. While the Colonial National Historical Park. The treaty of peace was not signed until 2 years park, too, includes the Cape Henry Memorial later, the victory at Yorktown was the deci- at the entrance to Chesapeake Bay where the sive event in the struggle to make the United settlers, in 1607, first landed in Virginia. States an independent nation. The victory came 174 years after the The Colonial Town of York founding, just 23 miles away at Jamestown, Yorktown was established by the Act of Ports of the first permanent English settlement, of 1691, which looked to the founding of in 1607. Midway between Yorktown and trade centers in Virginia. During the early Jamestown is Williamsburg, where colonial 1700's the town grew and prospered be- life in the Virginia tidewater reached a peak. cause of the rich tobacco trade which passed There, also, developed strong leadership in through its harbor and warehouses. Its pros- the quest for independence. Jamestown, perity reached its peak about 1750, when Williamsburg, and Yorktown are connected there was a population of about 2,500, in- by the scenic Colonial Parkway. Together cluding a. number of wealthy merchant fami- they help reveal much of the story of our lies with fine homes. With the gradual colonial period in Virginia. decline of the tidewater Virginia tobacco Williamsburg is an historic community re- trade, the importance of the town and port stored by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., through of York dwindled. The Siege of 1781 Countermanding orders soon reached him, however, directing him to fortify a naval base in the lower Chesapeake. In 1781, the American War of Independence Cornwallis, on advice of his engineers, reached its seventh year. The British had chose Yorktown for the base and transferred practically abandoned efforts to reconquer the his whole army there early in August. He northern states, but still had hopes of regain- began fortifying the town and Gloucester ing the southern part of the country. Corn- Point opposite. Meanwhile, a large French fleet, under the Comte de Grasse, was moving wallis, in the spring of the year, marched up from the West Indies for combined opera- into Virginia from North Carolina at the tions with the allied French and American head of a British Army. He believed that Armies. De Grasse proceeded to blockade if Virginia could be subdued the states to the the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, to cut off south of it would readily return to British Cornwallis from help by sea. Washington allegiance. moved his forces toward Virginia to attack The Marquis de Lafayette, with a small by land. These forces included part of the American force, was operating in Virginia, main American Army operating on the Hud- but was unable to meet Cornwallis in open son, and the French Army under Comte de battle. The British Army marched up and Rochambeau. down the State almost at will, but failed While De Grasse maintained a strict block- to break the resistance of the people. In ade by sea, the combined armies, numbering July, in response to orders from his superior over 16,000 men, gathered at Williamsburg officer in New York, Cornwallis moved across during the middle of September. On the the James River to Portsmouth, in prepara- 28th they marched down the peninsula and tion for sending part of his army to New laid siege to Yorktown, with its British gar- York, which Washington was threatening. rison of 7,500. Cornwallis almost irnrne- The Moore House. T he Grand French. diately abandoned his outer line and retired Yorktown Today within the town. On the night of October 6, Yorktown, though smaller than in colonial the allied armies opened entrenchments and days, continues as an active community. a few days later, with their batteries in posi- Several of the houses and other structures of tion, began a heavy bombardment of the colonial times are still standing and give the British position. Their fire soon subdued town much of the character of a long-van- that of Cornwallis' guns, and they were able ished period. Along Main Street are the to close in at shorter range. Two outlying Customhouse, the Nelson House (part of British redoubts were stormed on the evening York Hall), two Digges homes, and the of October 14, and the position of the British Somerwell and Session houses, all 18th cen- Army became desperate. Cornwallis made tury or earlier. Within a block of Main an attempt to escape by way of Gloucester, Street are Grace Episcopal Church, originally but his boats were scattered by a storm. On built in 1697, and two other colonial build- the morning of October 17 he sent out a flag ings-the Smith House and Ballard House. of truce and asked Washington for a discus- The Swan Tavern group of buildings has sion of terms of surrender. been reconstructed by the National Park On the following day commissioners met Service on original foundations, and an ef- at the Moore House, just behind the Ameri- fort is being made to have new construction can lines, and drafted articles of capitulation. in the town harmonize with the existing In accordance with these articles, the British colonial types. Near the east end of Main Army marched out of Yorktown at 2 p.m. on Street is the Yorktown Victory Monument, the 19th, between the French and American erected by the United States to commemorate Armies drawn up to receive them, and laid the French alliance and the victory over Corn- down their arms. The long war was prac- wallis. The cornerstone of this monument tically over and American independence was was laid in 1881 at the celebration of the becoming a reality . centennial of the surrender. French Battery. Colonial Parkway and York River. Close around Yorktown lie the remains of the self-guiding tour of the battlefield. This the British earthworks of 1781, as modified route connects the principal points of interest. and strengthened by the Confederate forces Markers, field displays, and other aids help during the Civil War. A few hundred yards you to visualize the events of the siege. beyond them are reconstructed portions of Those who plan to visit in a group may the French and American lines. The orig- obtain special service if advance arrange- inal allied works were leveled by Washing- ments are made with the superintendent. ton's order immediately after the siege, but The Moore House, where the Articles of reconstruction of more significant portions Capitulation were drafted, has been restored has been possible through careful archeologi- and is 1 mile outside the town. It is usually cal investigation and documentary research. open every day from April to November. In several of the reconstructed batteries and There is a small admission fee, which is redoubts have been mounted guns of the waived for children and educational groups. American Revolution period, including some There are two sales publications, which that saw service at the siege of Yorktown. are obtainable at the park and from the Super- Highways and park roads through the battle- intendent of Documents, Washington 25, field and beyond lead to the encampment and D.C.: Yorktown and the Siege of 1781 headquarters areas of the French and Ameri- (Historical Handbook Series No. 14) for can Armies. 25 cents, and Yorktown, Climax of the Rev- olution (Source Book Series No.1) for 20 The Park cents. A third item available in the park The area was established as a National Monu- is a reprint of Henry P. Johnson's, The Y ork- ment in 1930, but was changed to Colonial town Campaign and the Surrender of Corn- National Historical Park in 1936. Head- wallis (1881),206 pages, for $2. quarters are in the Yorktown Visitor Center on the southeastern edge of town. Administration How To Reach Yorktown Colonial National Historical Park is admin- Yorktown, on U.S. 17, is 106 miles from istered by National Park Service of the Fredericksburg and 32 miles from Norfolk. United States Department of the Interior. However, the 13-mile drive over the Colonial A superintendent, whose address is York- Parkway from Williamsburg is the most in- town, Va., is in immediate charge. teresting approach. Mission 66 About Your Visit Mission 66 is a program designed to be In the Yorktown Visitor Center (located completed by 1966 which will assure the within the earthworks on the southeast side maximum protection of the scenic, scientific, of Yorktown and at the end of Colonial wilderness, and historic resources of the Parkway), there is information service, an National Park System in such ways and by introductory prc,>gramof slides and movies, such means as will make them available for and exhibits relating to Yorktown and the the use and enjoyment of present and future siege. This is the starting point, too, for generations. The National Park System, of which this area is a unit, is dedicated to conserving the scenic, scientific, and historic heritage of the United States for the benefit and inspiration of its people. ~ ~. It •.... \0 0\ Y 0 R o RIVER ~ ~ ~~ 1 tCTW iLlAMS8[jRG "'.:!tE!srowN- _ z --- ~-------.....::::: ~ zo .C ~ Vl 'tl Ij > tTl ~ 'tl "\ ~ ~ ~ >- l.
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