After touring Rosewell Plantation, we drove to Gloucester Point to see the redoubts that were built as fortifications in the American Revolution and Civil War.
A few years ago, we attended the historical reenactment of the Battle of the Hook in Gloucester.
Although the reenactment was held at a lovely plantation site up the river, the actual battle occurred near the redoubts.
17th CENTURY HISTORY
Originally named after Captain John Smith’s mapmaker, Robert Tyndall, the point references the end of the peninsula at this spot, jutting into the Charles River.
Although the Charles River was initially named after King Charles I, that changed during the English Civil War, when the river was renamed the York River, for the Duke of York, who would be crowned King James II.
Since Gloucester County was strategically located on the river at a deep-sea port, a tobacco warehouse was built in the 1630s.
During this age of mercantilism, tobacco was extensively grown in Virginia, to ship to Britain.
The tobacco effectively counted as money, as the colonists were bound to England.
In 1650, George Washington’s great grandfather received a land patent, and it was upon his land in his former home of Warner Hall that the Battle of the Hook reenactment occurred.
Established in 1651, the county was named for Henry Stuart, Duke of Gloucester, third son of King Charles I of England.
By the 18th century the area was renamed Gloucester Point.
LAFAYETTE CORNERS CORNWALLIS IN YORKTOWN 1781
In 1781, Lafayette was sent by General Washington to Virginia to capture the turncoat, Benedict Arnold, who escaped on a ship to New York.
Instead, Lafayette found himself chasing British General Cornwallis and his troops.
With but a small light infantry, Lafayette made use of each opportunity to harass Cornwallis.
Beleaguered and instructed to locate a deep sea port to await British vessels to return his army to New York, British General Cornwallis chose Yorktown.
Cornwallis’ choice became his folly,. which Lafayette again used to his advantage.
“The boy” and his light infantry cornered Cornwallis while the American and French troops, along with Generals Washington and Rochambeau, made their way south from New York.
Realizing his predicament, Cornwallis sent Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton and his light infantry across the river to Gloucester Point.
Literally digging in, the British built fortifications (like redoubts) on each side of the York River, in both Yorktown and Gloucester Point.
The works on the Gloucester side are in some forwardness, and I hope in a situation to resist a sudden attack. -General Cornwallis to General Clinton, August 12, 1781
BATTLE OF THE CAPES
In early September the French navy sealed off the mouth of the Chesapeake from the British, after the Battle of the Capes.
ARRIVAL OF FRENCH AND CONTINENTAL ARMIES
Later in the month, the American and French armies arrived.
Washington and Rochambeau detailed strategy, first at Mount Vernon and then at Williamsburg.
Sap miners, including Joseph Plumb Martin, built the American earthworks in Yorktown.
BATTLE OF THE HOOK AT GLOUCESTER POINT
On October 3, the Battle of the Hook ensued at Gloucester Point, where the British were defeated by the French.
SIEGE OF YORKTOWN
Across the river on October 9, with earthworks completed, the siege of Yorktown began.
Meanwhile the British troops across the river at Gloucester Point watched the daily bombardment.
In desperation, Cornwallis attempted escape, ordering his troops to cross the river to Gloucester Point, October 16-17.
However, bad weather halted the attempt.
Thus expired the last hope of the British army. -Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton
CORNWALLIS SURRENDERS
The British surrendered on October 19, 1781, effectively ending the American Revolution.
Thus, The World Turned Upside Down.
CIVIL WAR
Although there were fortifications here from the American Revolution, the ones we see today are from the Civil War.
