Lily Pad Travels: Summer of 21 - # 50 - Historic Yorktown Pt.1

August 23rd, 2021 - Part 1 of 2

This area is extremely historical and we had a lot to explore.

Our first visit was to Yorktown.

Taken from the wikipedia link above,

"The town is most famous as the site of the siege and subsequent surrender of General Charles Cornwallis to General George Washington and the French Fleet during the American Revolutionary War on October 19th, 1781. Although the war would last for another year, this British defeat at Yorktown effectively ended the war. Yorktown also figured prominently in the American Civil War (1861-1865), serving as a major port to supply both northern and southern towns, depending on who held Yorktown at the time."

"Yorktown was named for the ancient city of York in Yorkshire, Northern England. It was founded in 1691 as a port on the York River for English colonists to export tobacco to Europe."

Siege of Yorktown 1781 - This link describes the siege that happened on the battlefields we were about to tour.

Our first stop was Yorktown Visitor Center.

"The Final winning of Independence"

Most of the visitor centre was closed due to covid but there were exhibits depicting the 1781 Siege of Yorktown, the Battle of the Capes, and the campaign table used by British General Cornwallis during the siege.

The next two pictures are of a full size replica of the quarter deck of a British Warship.

British Brown Bess

1776 Vezbruggen 3 pounder cannon

Lord Cornwallis' Campaign Table

We left the Visitor Center and started a self driving tour of the battlefields.

Here is a LINK to a more detailed report "Live and Let Hike" did of the red route. Its far better than I could ever do.

A. British Inner Defense Line

B. Grand French Battery

"Earthworks Restoration underway. Please do not climb on the earthworks"

C. Second Allied Siege Line

Yorktown National Cemetery was next to the Second Allied Siege Line.

I liked that they had a directory on show with grave sites, so if you saw a name you recognized you could locate the grave.

Three Unknown U.S. Soldiers

D. Redoubts 9 & 10

D, Redoubts 9 & 10

The quote below is taken from the Wikipedia link near the beginning of this blog, Siege of Yorktown 1781

"By October 14, the trenches were within 150 yards (140 m) of redoubts No. 9 and No. 10.^[46] Washington ordered that all guns within range begin blasting the redoubts to weaken them for an assault that evening.^[47] Washington planned to use the cover of a moonless night to gain the element of surprise.^[e] To reinforce the darkness, he added silence, ordering that no soldier should load his musket until reaching the fortifications; the advance would be made with only "cold steel." Redoubt 10 was near the river and held only 70 men, while redoubt 9 was a quarter-mile inland, and was held by 120 British and Germans.^[47] Both redoubts were heavily fortified with rows of abatis surrounding them, along with muddy ditches that surrounded the redoubts at about 25 yards (23 m).^[46] Washington devised a plan in which the French would launch a diversionary attack on the Fusiliers redoubt, and then a half an hour later, the French would assault redoubt 9 and the Americans redoubt 10.^[47]^[49] Redoubt 9 would be assaulted by 400 French regular soldiers of the Royal Deux-Ponts Regiment under the command of the Count of Deux-Ponts and redoubt 10 would be assaulted by 400 light infantry troops under the command of Alexander Hamilton.^[49] There was a brief dispute as to who should lead the attack on Redoubt No. 10. Lafayette named his aide, Jean-Joseph Sourbader de Gimat, who commanded a battalion of Continental light infantry. However, Hamilton protested, saying that he was the senior officer. Washington concurred with Hamilton and gave him command of the attack.^[50]^[f]

Storming of Redoubt #9

At 6:30 pm, gunfire announced the diversionary attack on the Fusiliers redoubt.^[51] At other places in the line, movements were made as if preparing for an assault on Yorktown itself, which caused the British to panic.^[51] With bayonets fixed, the Americans marched towards Redoubt No. 10. Hamilton sent Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens around to the rear of the redoubt to prevent the British from escaping.^[52] The Americans reached the redoubt and began chopping through the British wooden defenses with their axes. A British sentry called a challenge, and then fired at the Americans.^[52] The Americans responded by charging with their bayonets towards the redoubt. They hacked through the abatis, crossed a ditch and climbed the parapet into the redoubt.^[53] The Americans forced their way into the redoubt, falling into giant shell holes created by the preparatory bombardment. The British fire was heavy, but the Americans overwhelmed them.^[53] Someone in the front shouted, "Rush on boys! The fort's ours!" The British threw hand grenades at the Americans with little effect.^[53] Men in the trench stood on the shoulders of their comrades to climb into the redoubt. The bayonet fight cleared the British from the redoubt and almost the entire garrison was captured, including the commander of the redoubt, Major Campbell.^[54] In the assault, the Americans lost 9 dead and 25 wounded.^[54]

The French assault began at the same time, but they were halted by the abatis, which was undamaged by the artillery fire.^[54] The French began to hack at the abatis and a Hessian sentry came out and asked who was there. When there was no response, the sentry opened fire as did other Hessians on the parapet.^[55] The French soldiers fired back, and then charged the redoubt. The Germans charged the Frenchmen climbing over the walls but the French fired a volley, driving them back.^[55] The Hessians then took a defensive position behind some barrels but threw down their arms and surrendered when the French prepared a bayonet charge.^[55]"

Near Tour Stop D is this waymarking sign.