Yorktown, VA is and was a very interesting place. It is the place where the Revolutionary War for our Indepedence ended! The French (thanks to Lafayette) helped Gen. Washington. The French sailed down the coast from New York to the opening of the Chesapeake Bay to block in Cornwallis' fleet so they could not escape. Washington had a fake armies keeping the British busy in New York while Washington really had a large massive army move south to Yorktown to attack. The French also had an army in place in Yorktown. Gen. Washington is right up there with Captain Moroni, Teancum & Lehi!
Here is Curtis with General George Washington
in Yorktown, looking over the maps.
This is a replica of the Army encampment of Washington's troops.
A sampling of medical supplies from the Revolutionary War era!
This was the medical tent.
This is part of the Fort at Yorktown. The building in the back is
where they tried the tobacco. (While we were there it was Home Schooling Week -
lots of families visiting to learn their History first hand - not in a book.)
This is what tobacco looks like once it is harvested. They hang it over the rafters to dry.
Then they package it for sale.
An original home still standing in the town of Yorktown! There were several on the
Historical registry list. You couldn't go in them. People actually were still living in them.
This is the Civil War cemetery at Yorktown.
This is Redoubt 9 at Yorktown that Washington's troops built to keep the British from coming onto land from the York River. This photo doesn't do it justice. Notice the telephone pole pickets sticking out sharpely from the mounds of dirt! Look up Alma 50:1-4 in the Book of Mormon. They did the same thing!
This is Augustine Moore's house. Here is a bit of history about this famous place:
Lord Cornwallis, realizing the defeat of his army was inevitable, sent a message to General George Washington: "Sir, I propose a cessation of hostilities for twenty-four hours, and that two officers may be appointed by each side, to meet at Mr. Moore's house, to settle terms for the surrender of the posts of York and Gloucester."
Why Cornwallis selected the Moore House for the negotiations was not explained, however, there are a number of possibilities.The Moore House was well outside the line of siege fire, and therefore, not damaged. It was a neutral location, hiding the British situation in town, and possibly selected in the hope of securing better surrender terms. And finally, it was a convenient location for both sides to reach, as it was situated along the York River.
Washington agreed to only a two hour cease fire for Cornwallis to submit general terms of surrender. Messages continued to pass over the battlefield between the two commanders.
Finally, on the afternoon of October 18, the two British commissioners, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Dundas and Major Alexander Ross met in "Mr. Moore's house" with the allied officers, Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, for the Americans, and Second Colonel Viscount de Noailles (Marquis de Lafayette's brother-in-law), representing the French.
The negotiations ended before midnight, and Laurens carried a rough draft of the articles to General Washington. Washington, however, was not completely happy with the results and made a few minor changes. Once the articles were revised and redrafted, a copy was sent to Cornwallis in Yorktown for his signature.
At the end of this circle was the location of General Washington's headquarters. It was about 1 mile or less from the Moore House above. I felt like if I walked into the trees I could hear the sounds of orders.
(NO, I am not crazy!)
This cross was placed here in commemoration of all the french soldiers who died during the Revolutionary War. Very serene location.
