Yorktown and back to Colonial Williamsburg

Tuesday, October 30
Yesterday we were at the birthplace of the British settlement in North America at Jamestown. Today we fast forward to the American Revolution at one of its main historical sites at Yorktown, VA. Yorktown is on the opposite side of the peninsula from Jamestown. Williamsburg is roughly in the middle.

Yorktown was established in 1691 and was a key port serving the new capital of Williamsburg.

A decisive battle was won here by combine American and French forces in October of 1781.

The Visitor Center had some interesting displays including this tent. It was used by George Washington.

The tent was delivered to Washington in 1776. 

Outside on the grounds you could clearly see the ditches and ridges that were constructed by the British as defenses to attack.

The British commander Cornwallis decided to retreat from his outer defense line and establish the inner defense line. The Americans and French took over the outer defense line. The two lines were only 400 yards apart and they blasted at each other for days.

In 1862 the old Revolutionary war battlefield became a Union stronghold after a siege on the town of Yorktown successfully drove the Confederate soldiers out. This cemetery was used throughout the War.

The Yorktown National Cemetery contains the graves of  2183 soldiers from the Civil War. Only 747 are identified.

A Sergeant from the US Sharpshooters. Died in June 1864.

Unknown soldiers remains were often buried with more than one per grave.

An earlier grave from 1862. This was a Private from Pennsylvania Infantry.

We continued our road tour and back to the Revolutionary War. This was an important turning point in the battle where the British and French captured Redoubt (Outpost) 9 & 10.

Redoubt 9 captured by the Americans.

The offensive line of the American and French was complete after the Redoubt's were captured.

This is a Mortar. Used for short range fighting it shot large balls that blew apart when they landed. They caused a lot of damage to the enemy.

Twenty pounder cannons.

Redoubt 10 captured by the French. Notice the sharpened posts that protruded around the Redoubt. These posts slowed down advancing troops.

See the posts?

Next site was the Moore House. Some very tame deer lived near here.

So cute.

The Moore House. On October 18, 1781, officers from both sides negotiated the terms of surrender of Cornwallis's army.

After exploring some of the graveyards and battle sites from the 1770's and some Civil War history, we headed back toward Williamsburg on the beautiful Colonial Parkway. We had more of Colonial Williamsburg to see.

The Navy Station at Yorktown has been in existence through two world wars and Korea. Even today war ships use this station to re-arm ships.

This time we parked closer to the shopping area at the edge of Colonial Williamsburg. This way we could cover more ground without taking buses and walking too much.

Some of the shopping area. This is Williams Sonoma, a high end houseware store.

Popular Cheese Shop.

Christmas Store

The Art Museum Building. We didn't visit although we heard it was very interesting.

Vegetable garden demonstration. Many of the crops had already been harvested.

Flower garden. The summer flowers have given way to fall plants.

Colonial Williamsburg is open to the public, but if you want to see inside most of the buildings you need a ticket (which we had). However not all buildings were open every day so we didn't get to see in many of them.

The courthouse. The stockades were just to the right.

The Magazine building

Stock of powder.

The guide did a great job explaining the arms and method of fighting in the colonial days. The rifles didn't have gun sights as the smooth bore were so inaccurate that sights were useless. That is why the opposing rows of soldiers lined up facing each other at close range. Then they just blasted the hell out of each other and see how many fell. It was a battle of attrition. 

A small mortar that could be carried by two people and placed near the front line.

Small cannon they used for demonstrations to the public at the end of each afternoon.

Carriage ride anyone?

In colonial times they could 'make change' by cutting up silver coins in segments.

The cut the coins with hammer and chisel.

The restored homes were very well done. Right down to the hearth.

Period-dressed staff answered any questions you had.

This gent was making a hand bell from silver.

This was the 'Palace', the home of the Governor of Virginia.

Nice gardens in the back.

The back entrance of the Palace.

The kitchen buildings. Kitchens were always outside of the living quarters for safety.

The original palace burned down in the early 1900's. (Even with a separate building for a kitchen!) It was painstakingly rebuilt in the 1930's. 

The front gate.

This is Theresa, our docent. She did a great tour of the building.

The front entrance showing off the 'firepower'

Beautiful bedrooms.

Reception area between the two upstairs bedrooms.

Entrance to the Ballroom.

The ballroom.

Theresa showing us the exit door!

Harpsichord.

After two full days in the Historical Triangle we have a good view of the early history of the US. From the landing of the first settlers to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This area also has many Civil War battlefields and historical sites. The Battle of the Peninsula was an important stage of the Civil War.

........and that was Our View From Here!