Yorktown in York County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Redoubt 10
1781 Siege of Yorktown
— Colonial National Historical Park —
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 12, 2008
1. Redoubt 10 Marker
“The column marched in silence, with guns unloaded, and in good order: Many, no doubt, thinking that less than one quarter of a mile would finish the journey of life … ”
Captain Stephen Olney, 1st Rhode Island Regiment
The Marquis de Lafayette selected the light infantry companies from his Continental Army division to carry out the American attack on Redoubt 10. Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Hamilton led the assaulting force of 400 Americans against the 70 British defenders.
Concerned an accidental musket firing would give away their advance, the light infantry approached the redoubt with unloaded weapons. The British discovered the attack column as it neared the redoubt and vigorously defended their position. The Americans surged through the abatis obstructions surrounding the redoubt, then through holes in the palisaded log walls within the trench, breached the top of the redoubt, and within 10 minutes of mostly hand-to-hand combat, secured their objective.
Alexander Hamilton, in his report to Lafayette on the action, noted that the British were “intitled to the acknowledgement of an honorable defence.”
Erected by Colonial National Historical Park, National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in
this page online
Location. 37° 13.752′ N, 76° 29.852′ W. Marker is in Yorktown, Virginia, in York County. Marker can be reached from Ballard Street (Virginia Route 238), on the left when traveling south. Marker is located on the Yorktown Battlefield in Colonial National Historical Park, at stop D on the Battlefield Tour. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Yorktown VA 23690, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Capture of Redoubt No. 10 (here, next to this marker); Redoubts 9 and 10 (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Time, Tide and Erosion (about 400 feet away); The Second Siege Line (about 400 feet away); Grand American Battery (about 500 feet away); Redoubt 9 (about 600 feet away); French Soldiers and Sailors (about 600 feet away); Communicating Trench (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yorktown.
More about this marker. The right of the marker features a picture of Alexander Hamilton in the fortifications at Yorktown. He is next to a cannon and in front of a grouping
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 12, 2008
2. Marker on the Yorktown Battlefield
Next to this is an illustration of a “1st Rhode Island Light Infantry Soldier – The light infantry company of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, a predominantly African-American unit, participated in the assault on Redoubt 10. Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection, Brown University.”
The background of the right side of the marker contains the “Signatures on the Articles of Capitulation. After General Cornwallis signed the ‘Articles of Capitulation,’ from his Yorktown headquarters, the surrender terms were sent to General Washington at Redoubt 10, where Washington signed them.”
Also see . . .
1. Yorktown Battlefield. National Park Service. (Submitted on August 29, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
2. The Battle of Yorktown. The Patriot Resource website. (Submitted on August 29, 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 29, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 12, 2008
3. Redoubt 10
On the night of October 14, 1781, while the French troops were attacking nearby Redount 9, Americans stormed this position. Both redoubts were taken in less than a half hour and were incorporated into the Second Allied Siege Line.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 29, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 2,855 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 29, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
