~ooj I historic resource study september 1976 I I I NAT!Oi·J-':'.~- -~~K :_;En\!!Cf. I DENVi:~1 S~~f~': ~>: C:::'-1TCH BR/~J,l.Cl1 D~-~ r:.:c;:.:2{;,n.:~PH!CS t!GRAH~( c.-_;:·y 0 I NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK I VIRGINIA -I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I United States Department of the Interior I National Park Service I I I I I I HISTORIC RESOURCE STUDY THE BRITISH DEFENSES OF YORKTOWN, 1781 I COLONIAL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK I VIRGINIA I I I I by Erwin N. Thompson I I I I I DENVER SERVICE CENTER HISTORIC PRESERVATION DIVISION NATIONAL PARK SERVICE I UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR DENVER, COLORADO I September 1976 I I I I PREFACE I This study on the British defenses at Yorktown has been prepared in accordance with the approved planning directive for the project (Package 180). The desired objective has been to complete a document that will prove useful to the needs of management, preservation, in­ I terpretation, and planning. Whether that objective has been attained will be known soon enough. Meanwhile, the experience has been exhil­ I arating, frightening, enjoyable, worrisome, exciting, and behind schedule. Logically, a specialist in the American Revolution would be the proper person to prepare a study on Lord Cornwallis's sojourn at York­ I town. But, things being the way they are, a non-specialist who had no prior exposure to the Revolutionary period was chosen. This choice should result in some interesting·reading. Nevertheless, it has been a fine adventure resulting in great associations, in research at in­ I stitutions not before visited, and in generous help from many people every time my ignorance blocked progress. I The highlight in accomplishing the research was being associated with Historian Jerome A. Greene, Denver Service Center. Jerry was assigned a research project concerning the Allies at Yorktown. We I coordinated our research, acquired a common pool of historic maps, visited some libraries together, and exchanged data from other institu­ tions. His competence, tact, understanding of my obstinateness, and gentle wit raised my spirits when they fell down. His innate friendli­ I ness and courtesy paved the way for us on many occasions when meeting the custodians of the resources. This joint undertaking was a re­ I warding experience that I shall not forget. Supervisory Historian John F. Luzader, Denver Service Center, not only supplied primary documents from his collection of German material but also took time to translate them. He also patiently answered all I my questions concerning the American Revolution, of which he is master. Editor Linda Greene, Historic Preservation, had a particularly difficult task in encouraging me, with grace and good humor, to conform my meth­ I odology to the Chicago Manual of Style. Considering my fossilization after eleven years with another style, she deserves sympathy and my thanks. Also, my appreciation goes to Robert H. Todd, Division of I Graphics, Denver Service Center, who drew the many maps in this report in a superb manner. The Division of Graphics is responsible for the fine visual appearance of this study. I Working at Colonial National Historical Park was attended by unusual circumstances. Because the visitor center complex was being I enlarged and remodeled while I was there, I was required to wear a I iii I I hardhat while delving into the history files. Because the building is located within the area defended by the British, the noise of jackham­ I ) mers gave me an inkling of the cannonading that Cornwallis's men en­ dured. Regardless, my appreciation for generous help is extended to the three Jameses: Superintendent Sullivan, Chief Historian Hasket, I I and Park Historian Gott. My thanks also go to Ranger Laura Feller for her translation of a French journal of the siege. The archeological investigation and historical research on York­ I town presently being undertaken by the Southside Historical Sites Found­ ation, Williamsburg, are important additions to our knowledge of the siege. Moreover, the ideas and concepts generated by this group of researchers are a stimulus to the study of the fortifications. Thanks I go to Director of Research Norman Barka, Edward Ayers, Arthur Barnes, and Edward McManus. I A considerable number of historical societies, libraries, and museums fully extended their services and made all their resources available for the purposes of this study. On several occasions, when I machines broke down and so forth, these institutions went to extra­ ordinary lengths to insure that the materials were made available in time. My acknowledgements and thanks are due to the following: ~Irs. Gertrude A. Fisher, Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston; Edward M. I Riley, Mrs. Nancy Merz, and Mrs. Linda Rowe, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Virginia; John L. Lochhead, The Mariners Museum, Newport News, Virginia; Miss J. Miller, Casemate Museum, and Mrs. Thomas, TRADOC I Library, U.S. Army Continental Command, both at Fort Monroe, Virginia; Edward B. Russell and John M. Dervan, U.S. Army Engineer Museum, Fort Belvoir, Virginia; Mrs. Lucy Hrivnak, The Historical Society of Pennsyl­ vania, Philadelphia; Mrs. Mary A. Thompson, Paul Mellon Collection, Oak I Spring, Upperville, Virginia; John S. Aubrey, Newberry Library, Chicago; William S. Dix and Mrs. Agnes B. Sherman, Princeton University Library, New Jersey; Richard Boulind, The John Carter Brown Library, Brown Uni­ I versity, Providence, Rhode Island; Virginia State Library, Richmond; Mrs. Lois B. McCauley, Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore; A. Modelski and Jeffery Clark, Geography and Map Division, The Library of I Congress, Alexandria, Virginia; Gary Morgan, Map Division, the National Archives, Washington, D.C.; Map Information Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia; and the University of Colorado Library, Boulder, and the Denver Public Library, Colorado. I I am particularly indebted to Mr. Joseph P. Tustin, Tuckerton, New Jersey. Mr. Tustin has in his possession the unpublished diary of Capt. I Johann Ewald, Jagers, who had much to say on the British defenses at Yorktown. He has edited this important account and, despite its being on the eve of publication, made generous portions of it available for the benefit of Yorktown. A special thanks is due also to the William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Director Howard N. Peckham, Curators I I iv I I John Dann (Manuscripts) and Douglas W. Marshall (Maps), Assistant Curator Arlene Kleeb, and the entire staff did everything possible to make our I visit there both comfortable and profitable. The riches in the Sir Henry Clinton papers were indispensable for the purposes of this report. I In the text and in the bibliography of this study,note is made of the important research that has already been accomplished by National Park Service people who have been assigned to Colonial NHP over the years. Needless to stress, this body of work was of critical importance to the study. My thanks are due also to the nameless NPS people who have con­ tributed their time and talents toward the creation and management of the history files and of the excellent research library at the park. Last, but most important of all, my gratitude goes to Lael Cleys, who took my handwritten draft and transformed it into a legible document. I I I I I I I I I I v I I I I TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE I • • I o o o o o o , o o iii I. CORNWALLIS COMES TO YORKTOWN 1 I II. YORKTOWN AND GLOUCESTER POINT: EARLY HISTORY 7 A. Yorktown 7 I B. Gloucester Point 10 III. THE BRITISH FORTIFY, AUGUST 1781 11 I A. Cornwallis Sails to Yorktown 11 B. Patrols 13 c. Lafayette Moves 15 D. Fortifying the Posts 15 I E. French Fleet Arrives 19 I IV. THE BRITISH ARMY AT YORKTOWN 23 A. Strength . 23 B. The Units ..... 27 1. British, General. 27 I 2. 17th Regiment of Foot 28 3. 23d Regiment of Foot 28 4. 33d Regiment"of Foot 29 I 5. 43d Regiment of Foot 29 6. ?1st Regiment of Foot 29 7. 76th Regiment of Foot 30 I 8. 80th Regiment of Foot 30 9. 1st and 2d Light Infantry Battalions 31 10. Royal Artillery . 31 11. Royal Engineers ... 31 I 12. German Units, General 32 13. Anspach Battalions 32 14. Fusilier Regiment Erbprinz 32 I 15. Musketeer Regiment von Bose 32 16. Jagers ......... 33 17. German Arti 11 ery . 33 18. British Legion, Provincial 33 I 19. Queen's Rangers, Provincial 33 I 20. Royal Navy ....... 34 I vii I I V. A MONTH OF GRACE, SEPTEMBER 1781. 37 A. Cornwallis's Decisions 37 I B. Military Activities. 38 C. The Allies Gather. 40 D. Fire Ships 42 I VI. THE DEFENSES OF YORKTOWN AND GLOUCESTER 45 I A. Siege Warfare: Theory and Practice 45 1. De Vauban 45 2. John Muller 47 3. A Good Defense 48 I 4. Construction of Fortifications. 54 a) Artillery: Penetration and Range. 55 b) Trace 56 I c) Rampart/Parapet. 56 d) En barbette and Embrasures 57 e) Platforms 58 I f) Sodding 59 g) Ditches 59 h) Palisades 60 i) Fraises. 60 I j) Abatis 61 k) Outworks 62 1) Gabions, Fascines, Saucissons, and Hurdles 63 I B. The Defenses of Gloucester Point 67 C. The Defenses of Yorktown 70 1. Fusiliers' Redoubt. 76 I 2. Outposts, Windmi 11 Point, etc .. 78 3. Main Defenses, Western Yorktown 78 4. Main Defenses, Eastern Yorktown 81 5. Hornwork. 83 I 6. Water Batteries 83 7. Interior Works 84 8. Magazines 84 I 9. Hospital ( s) 85 10. Cemeteries 85 11.