Yorktown in York County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Grand American Battery
1781 Siege of Yorktown
| | Colonial National Historical Park | |
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 12, 2008
1. Grand American Battery Marker
The Works which we carried are of vast importance to us. From them we shall enfilade the enemys whole line
General George Washington to the President of Congress, October 16, 1781.
The capture of British Redoubts 9 and 10 enabled the Americans to quickly finish the Allied Second Siege Line, constructing the Grand American Battery within point blank artillery range of the British Inner Defensive Line. On October 17, Continental artillery crews began bombarding the British from their new battery. According to Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Dearborn of the 1st New Hampshire Regiment, the allied barrage that day made the Enemies situation so very disagreeable. that about the middle of the day his Lordship was induced to send out a flag, with some proposels for a Capitulation.
The following day officers from both sides met at the home of Augustine Moore to negotiate the British surrender terms.
Grand American Battery Artillery:
7 18 pounder siege guns
3 24 pounder siege guns
8 mortars
4 howitzers
Erected by Colonial National Historical Park, National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • Notable Places • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical date for this entry is October 16, 1858.
Location.
this page online
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 location: Redoubt 9 (within shouting distance of this marker); French Soldiers and Sailors (within shouting distance of this marker); The Second Siege Line (within shouting distance of this marker); Redoubts 9 and 10 (within shouting distance of this marker); Capture of Redoubt No. 10 (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Redoubt 10 (about 500 feet away); Communicating Trench (about 500 feet away); Time, Tide and Erosion (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yorktown.
More about this marker. The left side of the marker contains a map showing the location of fortification at Yorktown. Shown are the First Parallel, Second Parallel (where the marker is located) and the British Inner Defense Lines.
The right side of the marker features a Continental Army artillery officer. It has a caption of Second Continental Artillery Regiment
Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 18, 2021
2. Grand American Battery Marker
Marker is significantly unreadable.
Also see . . .
1. Yorktown Battlefield. National Park Service. (Submitted on August 23, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
2. The Battle of Yorktown. The Patriot Resource website. (Submitted on August 23, 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 23, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
Additional commentary.
1. Artillery Removed
Because of continued funding cuts, NPS has removed essentially all displayed cannon in the Grand American Battery rather than repair rotting carriages.
— Submitted February 15, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 12, 2008
3. Marker on the Yorktown Battlefield
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 12, 2008
4. Grand American Battery Marker
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 12, 2008
5. Grand American Battery
This photo shows the different types of artillery used in the Grand American Battery. They include 18 and 24 pounder seige guns (to the left in the photo), a howitzer, and mortars (rightmost of the guns).
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 12, 2008
6. Grand American Battery
Howitzers and mortars, like these found near the marker, were part of the Grand American Battery and took part in the British bombardment. A howitzer is on the extreme left, while the rest are mortars.
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, November 4, 2023
7. Grand American Battery
The park's artillery display is a shell of its former self. The earthworks are regularly allowed to grow over during tourist season as well, obscuring views.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 23, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,613 times since then and 34 times this year. Last updated on November 9, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1. submitted on August 23, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 2. submitted on November 9, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 23, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 7. submitted on February 15, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
