{Spring Break - Yorktown}

Our second day traipsing around the countryside brought us to Yorktown.  I was not very well informed at the importance of Yorktown before we came.  I was surprised to find out how pivotal Yorktown had been in the Revolutionary War.  The above picture is of the battle ground where part of the siege of Yorktown played out (from the British side looking out).  You can still see the earthen works that were built by the British, American and French (the French were on our side) armies.  There are two parts to see at Yorktown.  The Yorktown Victory Center where you see how the Armies and civilians lived during the Revolutionary war and the Yorktown Battlefield, which is a National Park.  There is a visitor center there and you can walk (on specific walkways) out and around the battlefield.  We were able to see both the battle field and the Victory Center.

Young boys would build these and then fill them with dirt to make the walls of the embankments.  I had the idea that Ayden should make some for our backyard as ornamental yard art.  He didn't think that was such a great idea.  

The British side of the battle field was along the York river (in the background).  At the visitor center book store we bought a CD that was an audio tour of the entire battle field including where the American and French troops were.  

In September of 1781 Washington realized that with General Cornwallis sitting on the York River at the mouth of the Chesapeake it was pivotal that America act.  He sent a group of soldiers with Lafayette to surround Cornwallis on land and had the French Navy block Cornwallis on water, basically surrounding him.  Then the Americans and French started bombing the British headquarters.  After three weeks of non stop bombardment Cornwallis surrendered to Washington.  What I found really interesting was that Cornwallis had at an earlier time in the war, won a battle in North Carolina and had not granted the Americans full honors in surrender.  Full honors were allowing the surrendering army to still display their flag and play their national song as they left the battle field.  Yet when he surrendered at Yorktown he wanted nothing less than full honors.  I am glad to say that he was not granted that request.  He did not attend the surrender meeting, he was interestingly enough ill!!  The siege was over when the French and American armies were able to take over the British redoubts #9 and #10 (#9 is below).  

This is the monument that stands as a tribute to the soldiers that fought at Yorktown.

This is the Moore home, where the meeting of capitulation occurred.  

That brings us the Yorktown Victory Center.  This place was wonderful.  Lots of hands on stuff and several demonstrations.  We learned about the flint lock musket and how advanced it was for it's time.  We also got the finer points of operating a cannon and the different types used in the war.  

This was the homestead that was a working homestead.  They grew crops, made soap, butchered pigs, made and dyed clothing, preserved food.  You name it they do it here.  

The kids had a great time trying out everything.  And we left a permanent mark on Yorktown.  Wyatt found a bottle of ink and dumped it all over a bench inside the house.  He got his hand, shirt as well as Meysa's shorts (she was standing beside him at the time) splattered with black ink.  It was a good thing we were at the end of the day.  We made our exit and will always think fondly of Yorktown.