Prelude to Victory is a grand yearly event which commemorates the September 1781 arrival of Generals Washington and Rochambeau with the Continental and French Forces, with an estimated 17,600 soldiers.
General Lafayette had over the summer engaged British General Cornwallis in numerous “cat and mouse campaigns,” ultimately cornering him, with an estimated 8,300 soldiers, on a southern Virginia peninsula at the deep sea port of Yorktown, 13 miles east of Williamsburg, the former capital of Virginia.
Victory was certain.
French General Rochambeau recommended that this was the perfect situation for a siege.
While waiting for Prelude to Victory to begin, we partook of our favorite 18th century hobbies.
We attracted the attention of a few photographers!
ARRIVAL OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY
Ah! Then the moment that we’ve all been waiting for! The generals have finally arrived in Williamsburg after their long, long trek from New York!
The Continental troops have arrived as well!
The generals had much to say about their arrival and the manner of their time in the city of Williamsburg, assuring us that we’d be safe.
After the announcements to the town, the generals left in haste to Washington’s headquarters at the Wythe House where there was much planning to be done.
My son and I were thrilled that despite their most urgent task, Generals Washington and Lafayette paused to specially greet us with kind words while tipping their hats!
WASHINGTON’S HEADQUARTERS AT THE WYTHE HOUSE
After a bite of lunch my son and I went to the Wythe House where we were privileged to peek into the strategic planning of the generals.
Then we listened to General Washington himself strategize with many of his officers as they analyzed maps of Yorktown!
Quite often we heard that there was to be a siege, which was a new idea to the Americans.
The French were siege experts, and they were indeed sharing all their secrets to General Washington to combat their age old enemy.
After General Washington stepped aside, he again most kindly noted us, tipped his hat in grand greeting, then asked another lady’s pardon, explaining that my son and I are old friends of his!
(Indeed, we are neighbors and anticipating dinner again at Mount Vernon soon after the war!)
ONEIDA CONFEDERATION ALLIES
He also answered some of our questions, including mine about why the Oneida Confederation was there.
The Oneidas, being allies of the French, became our allies when the French allied with the Americans.
When French General Rochambeau traveled south to Virginia with the allied forces to attack Yorktown, the Oneida Confederation wanted to follow him in his support, meet General Washington and see the action!
Washington was most definitely supportive of this, in part because they needed all the Indian allies they could get, since many allied with the British.
Also the Indians were amazed with all the French weaponry and siege plans.
Then we went into the Wythe house where we got to visit with Generals George Washington and Benjamin Lincoln for a brief time when Mrs. Wythe entered to invite the generals to dinner!
As the generals went to their delicious meal, my son and I went to the Palace Green where I visited with my regimental friends while my son visited and played colonial games, like trapball, with some of his CW friends.
SILK SATURDAY AT THE MILLINER SHOP
A few weeks ago while attending Colonial Williamsburg’s wonderful yearly program, Prelude to Victory, I got to visit with one of my regimental friends.
She took me aside and whispered that she heard that it was Silk Saturday at the Millinery Shop! Did I want to join her? Oh yes!
While in our own costumes (fun!) we felt “oh-so 18th century” as we strolled the streets of the historic area as we chit chatted in lighthearted fashion!
We were most delighted to see some of our favorite gowns which we usually see hung up on a peg or dressed on a mannequin, rustling about on the lovely milliners!
With the certainty of victory around the corner, we will most certainly celebrate again with silks!
BUILDING EARTHWORKS FOR A SIEGE
Afterwards my son and I joined up again to attend a brand new PTV event!
My son helped build earthwork fortifications, the results of which can be seen today at Yorktown Battlefield, left behind from both the American Revolution and the Civil War.
These are one type of earthwork structure, called a gabion, vine wrapped cylinders (the shell of which is comprised entirely of wood) which are then filled with dirt, hence the dirt pile in the above picture.
Inside is a layer of dirt in the bottom…
He’s dumping in a bucket of dirt…he recruited my son and other boys to help with this job!
Leaves laid around the edges keep the dirt from seeping through.
These structures are obviously built and filled quite quickly.
When the sappers and miners of the Continental forces began building these earthworks on September 30, 1781, the work went quite speedily.
Whereas Saturday was warm and sunny, Sunday was cold, windy and rainy.
The morning began with a drumhead church service.
Because of the rain, they couldn’t stack the drums like they normally do.
CHATTING WITH GENERAL HAND
We got to meet the Mamma and Baby Devons again during Prelude to Victory, when General Hand led us to them. Their little nubs of horns are beginning to grow. Aww.
They were quite sweet to pet, even though one of them tried to eat my petticoat!
Meanwhile General Hand assured us all was safe and well. Not to fear.
I greatly took to heart his words of comfort, amidst all the turmoil of spies lurking about.
Afterwards we revisited the regiments.
Then we went to the Courthouse where we planned to listen in on the generals’ secret plans.
ONEIDA CONFEDERATION AT THE TAILOR SHOP
After the program we went to see the tailor, hoping for a bit of advice about my stays.
When we arrived, the Orientation Interpreter told us the Oneida Confederation was inside! Oh! Were we allowed in? Yes, we could go in too!
When we entered we found a room full of members of the Oneida Confederation, including their French speaking interpreter.
A few of them were engaging the tailor in a fascinating discourse on clothing, one of which I do believe was the blue “Bavarian” hunting suit.
I was fascinated by their array of clothing, a mix of English and Indian components, which you can see at the link.
Later that day my son watched rifle tactics, as used by sharpshooters like the famed Daniel Morgan. We learned all about their strategy, technique and form.
GABION PROGRESS
Later, we checked upon the progress of the earthworks.
These gabions had been quite quickly completed the afternoon before and had survived the rainy, rainy day!
The sides were layered with large leaves from the trees above, which effectively did their job in keeping the dirt from sifting out.
Tired soldiers were sitting upon fascines, another type of earthwork fortification.
After a military review, the troops marched out to begin the siege on Yorktown!
For more photos, check my Flickr set.
