Yorktown in York County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
American Encampment
1781 Siege of Yorktown
| | Colonial National Historical Park | |
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 12, 2008
1. American Encampment Marker
“The American troops encamped in a wood within a mile of the Enemys left line – and the French troops encamped on their right.”
Lieutenant William Feltman, Pennsylvania Battalion, September 28, 1781
On September 28, 1781, as General Washingtons army marched within a mile of Yorktown, the various brigades were assigned locations for their camps, hospitals, and artillery parks.
Some of those camps filled these woods as soldiers carried out essential activities for the siege. Washington described in his diary the work done behind the scenes prior to the construction of the First Allied Siege Line:
“Much diligence was used in debarking and transporting the Stores, Cannon, & Ca. from Trebells Landing (distant 6 Miles) on James Rivr. To Camp; which for want of Teams went on heavily and in preparing Fascines, Gabions & ca. for the Siege ”
Routine tasks, such as guard duty, repairing equipment, setting up tents, and preparing meals, also occupied the soldiers days as they prepared for a prolonged siege.
Erected by Colonial National Historical Park, National Park Service.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Places
this page online
Location. 37° 12.717′ N, 76° 29.512′ W. Marker is in Yorktown, Virginia, in York County. It is on Historical Tour Road, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located on the Yorktown Battlefield in Colonial National Historical Park, on the Battlefield Tour Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Yorktown VA 23690, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Virginia’s Peninsula, in Coastal Virginia, and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Tidewater. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Major General Benjamin Lincoln and His Division (approx. Ό mile away); Wear Of Centuries (approx. 0.3 miles away); Wormley Creek Crossing (approx. 0.4 miles away); Virginia Militia (approx. 0.4 miles away); Marquis de Lafayette and His Division (approx. 0.4 miles away); American Field Hospital (approx. half a mile away); American Approach Road (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Deposit (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yorktown.
More about this marker. The upper right of the marker contains a picture of American soldiers in camp. The
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 12, 2008
2. Marker on the Yorktown Battlefield
Also see . . .
1. Yorktown Battlefield. National Park Service. (Submitted on August 30, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
2. The Battle of Yorktown. The Patriot Resource website. (Submitted on August 30, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
3. The Battle of Yorktown 1781. A British perspective of the Battle of Yorktown from BritishBattles.com. (Submitted on August 30, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,519 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 30, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
