Yorktown

Drove down here on a cold, rainy Sunday from Harpers Ferry. As luck would have it we arrived the day before the 228th anniversary of the British surrender at Yorktown on Oct. 19, 1781, an event that effectively ended the Revolutionary War. Our hosts gave us a head's up about the memorial festivities planned for the next day so we decided to go and enjoy them. It was a beautiful, sunny, crisp Autumn day which added to the whole package, especially since we hadn't seen the sun for several days.

They had a very charming, small-town parade featuring numerous bands and marching units in period regalia - including several fife and drum corps. The units came primarily from the various military bases in the area as well as the JROTC outfits from local high schools. After the parade everyone walked up Main St. to the Victory Monument for a memorial program featuring representatives from the French government, as well as local patriotic organizations. The French Army & Navy both played critical roles in enabling the victory. Fact is that there wouldn't have been a victory without them. One of the highlights was the singing of the French and American anthems. I've always thought the French National Anthem - Le Marseillaise - was the best on earth. The woman who sang it here did credit to it...and brought tears to the eye.

After the formal ceremonies broke up we walked around the battlefield and the charming little town and generally enjoyed the pretty Fall day. Next day we biked around the outer works along the National Park lanes - especially pretty in Autumn dress.

Here are a few photos:




Lots of these guys.


Kicking off the Parade.



Victory Monument. Authorized by Congress in 1782 but not funded until 100 years later - not much has changed in National Government since then.


On the drive down we stopped at a couple of other Civil War sites of interest near Richmond. The first was the battlefield at Cold Harbor - a horrendous battle in 1864 that led to the siege at Petersburg and the ultimate Confederate defeat although the battle itself was a Confederate victory - Lee's last one in the war.

The photo below is a view of the Confederate line with the entrenchments still visible. The Union lost 7000 killed in about 30 minutes trying to charge these works.


Second stop was a place called City Point - a peninsula on the James River near Richmond where Grant had his headquarters during the 10 month siege of Petersburg. It's also where Lincoln came down to confer with Grant, Sherman & Admiral Porter in the last days before Lee surrendered. Lincoln also stopped here 2 days after Richmond fell and took a small boat up the river to see what was left of the Southern capital - much to the terror of Adm. Porter, who apparently was scared to death that someone would take a potshot at the obvious target as they sailed up the narrow waterway to the wharf at Richmond. The main house and its surrounding grounds are historic in their own right - being one of the early Jamestown plantations in the 1600's and the site of a lot of Revolutionary war history.

This is Gen. Grant's cabin, which he used from June of 1864 until April of 1865.

We're thoroughly enjoying this area, both for the history and the Indian Summer days we've been having since we got here. Lots of Revolutionary War & Civil War history as well as Jamestown and Williamsburg nearby. Could probably spend a few months here just wringing out all the history.
We'll be leaving Saturday morning to drive up to DC and visit the Wellers before we head for Annapolis.

Here's a final look at the Yorktown Day Parade on Oct. 19.