Olde Towne in Portsmouth, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Cornwallis' Embarkation

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 30, 2015

1. Cornwallis' Embarkation Marker

Inscription. Near this spot on August 20, 1781, General Cornwallis and his troops embarked for Yorktown. This fateful action enabled the combined forces of General George Washington and French Admiral De Grasse to bottle up the British and force the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown on October 19, 1781.

Erected 1981 by Portsmouth Virginia Revolutionary Bicentennial Committee.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1869.

Location. 36° 50.153′ N, 76° 17.802′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, Virginia. It is in Olde Towne. It is at the intersection of Water Street and High Street, on the right when traveling north on Water Street. Mounted on the south wall of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 High Street, Portsmouth VA 23704, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Hampton Roads,

specifically 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: Revolutionary War at Portsmouth (a few steps from this marker); Naval Shipyard Museum (a few steps from this marker); 4 Pounder Cannon (within shouting distance of this marker); John Luke Porter (within shouting distance of this marker); Portsmouth Medal of Honor Memorial (within

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shouting distance of this marker); Seaboard Air Line Railroad (within shouting distance of this marker); Home Site of William Crawford (d. 1762) Founder of Portsmouth (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gosport Shipyard (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portsmouth.

Also see . . . Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum. (Submitted on May 31, 2015.)

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, April 9, 2026

2. Cornwallis' Embarkation Marker

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, April 9, 2026

3. Cornwallis' Embarkation Marker

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum image. Click for full size.

May 30, 2015

4. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum

Plaque on right side of entry door.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, April 9, 2026

5. Cornwallis' Embarkation Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 31, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 670 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 31, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 2, 3. submitted on April 9, 2026, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. 4. submitted on May 31, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 5. submitted on April 9, 2026, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia.