Yorktown Battlefield

On Friday we visited the Yorktown battlefield. To refresh everyone's memory, the battle of Yorktown was the last major battle of the Revolutionary War and essentially destroyed any remaining will the British had to fight. It was fascinating to learn a bit about war strategy during that time, and particularly what the continental army's strategy was at Yorktown. General George Washington himself led the continental army in this campaign, and pictured below is his sleeping tent. Yes, THE actual tent he slept in during the war. It is the only known surviving 18th century American officer's tent, which I thought was very, very special.

The French were instrumental in helping the continental army win this battle, particularly with their navy which sent the British fleet packing back to New York after sinking several of their ships. Below is A with an actual cannon recovered from the H.M.S. Charon on the bottom of the York River.

This shot of us sitting on cannons was taken at the battlefield, at the first line the continental army dug and occupied, facing Cornwallis's troops. After heavy artillery fire for a number of days, they were able to take a second line only 400 yards from the British troops.

L pretending to fire off the cannon.

This is one of two "redoubts" (earthen fort) built by the British and captured by the continental army.

A climbing up the redoubt the hard way. Boys!

All our children had a grand time running around the battlefield. They could have stayed here all day long!

A view of one entire redoubt from a distance. After learning just a bit about this battle and all that went into its planning and execution, I can see why George Washington was so loved and revered. He was brilliant!