Yorktown Colonial National Historical Park * http://www.nps.gov/colo * PO BOX 210, Yorktown, Virginia 23690 *
Yorktown Battlefield
Another National Park of the Historic Triangle lies a small museum and visitor center where the staff will orientate you on the history of the Yorktown Colonial National Battlefield with dioramas showing scenes from life around the battle as well as welcoming you aboard a mock ship from the era. The Visitor center is surrounded by British defensive earthenworks preserved from the battles. There is a 16 minute film on the history of the battle presented within on the “Siege of Yorktown”. General George Washington’s military tents can be viewed as well as artifacts from the siege. After the visitor center, drive the self-guided driving tour around the battlefields for seven miles viewing American and French siege lines, visit the Moore House, and the site of the surrender negotiations ending the Siege, where the British army grounded their weapons in an elaborate ceremony. I’m a history buff, but I’m not much on historic battlefield sites and exhibits, so I can’t say it was one of the highlights of my trip but for the history buff of the era I’m guessing its worth a gander. The center and park was put together very nicely though the driving tour was confusing. Rating 2.5 stars out of 5. Visited 5/22/2008.
In the Spring of 1781 the American War of Independence entered its seventh year. Having practically abandoned their efforts to reconquer the northern states, the British still had hopes of subjugating the South. By trying to do so, they unwittingly set in motion a train of events that would give independence to their colonies and change the history of the world.
Powhatan’s Village – Across the York river is the site of Werewocomoco, an Indian village, that was Powhatan’s ‘chiefest habitation’ in the early period of the Jamestown settlement. Captain John Smith was a prisoner there late in 1607.
Jones Mill Pond
This old mill town and mill dam (now covered by the Colonial parkway) show on Civil War maps, and may have existed in Colonial times.
A Union Advance
On May 5, 1862, Lt. George A Custer (who is 1876 made hist “Last Stand” on the Little Bighorn River in Montana) led a detachment along the roadway here over “Cub Dam Creek” to occupy the Confederate works on the bluff immediately beyond. This manuever in the Battle of Williamsburg came as the Union Army advanced toward Richmond in the Peninsular Campaign.
British Inner Defense Line: After Washington and Rochambeau’s allied armies arrived, Cornwallis withdrew his trioops from ost of his outer defense to consolidate his position behind these earthworks.
Surrender Field
On October 19, 1781, Cornwallis’s army marched onto this field and laid down its arms. This ended the last major battle of the Revolutionary War and virtually assured American Independence.
Second Allied Siege Line
On October 11, Allied troops began this second line within point blank artillery range of the British. The line could not be completed, however, because two small, detached British earthen forts, Redoubts 9 and 10, blocked the way to the river.
