Sharp's Travels

Americans won their independence here in Yorktown during the last major battle of the American Revolutionary war on Oct. 19, 1781. British troops surrendered to General George Washington and his French Allies. Yorktown played a very important role in American history.
Today we visited Yorktown battlefield. We watched a film that discussed the importance of the battle and then went out onto the battle field with a Park Ranger. The National Park Service has reconstructed a nearly complete picture of General Washington’s siege. Our guide took us to 3 different locations on the field and explained how the battle took place. She was really into history so it was very interesting to listen to her.
We also took the 16 mile driving tour to the British Inner Defense Line, the Allied Siege Lines, the Moore House, where the negotiations for the surrender terms took place and the Surrender Field where Cornwallis’ Army marched onto and laid down their arms.
We were able to catch the trolley into Yorktown and saw Cornwallis’ cave where he made his headquarters, the Yorktown Victory Monument.
Yorktown Victory Center consisted of great artifacts museum. We also checked out the Army Encampment. It includes sleeping quarters, supply tents and cooking fires. They demonstrated the firing of one of their big cannons.
Also at the Victory Center was a re-created 1780 Virginia Farm. There was a house with a detached kitchen, a tobacco barn and fenced crop fields.
It started to sprinkle so we headed for home making a stop at Wal-Mart for a few groceries.
Gay has uploaded pictures of the day. See album: Yorktown