Cornwallis…Yorktown…Lafayette…Comte de Grasse…Battle of the Capes…Washington…Rochambeau…espionage…timing…Providence…all came together to a Prelude to Victory.
Colonial Williamsburg allows guests a behind the scenes look at the strategy that fell into place for one of the very few American victories in the American Revolution, that figuratively and literally “Turned the World Upside Down.”
(An apt title, even though we don’t know if the British actually played this tune or not at the surrender ceremony at Yorktown on October 19, 1781.)
ARRIVAL OF GENERAL WASHINGTON AND THE CONTINENTAL ARMY
The normally quiet streets of the sleepy town of Williamsburg came alive with action with the arrival of General George Washington, commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, who has just arrived with his troops from New York.
Lafayette has been in Virginia for several months with his men, sending regular reports of British movements to General Washington.
Who knew the big battle would come to Virginia?
Cornwallis and his men were cornered 13 miles away in Yorktown.
General Washington addresses the townspeople, assuring them that his troops’ encampment in their town of Williamsburg will be brief and civil, quite unlike that of the British earlier in the year.
GENERAL WASHINGTON’S HEADQUARTERS AT THE WYTHE HOUSE
As the troops march in, the generals leave for the George Wythe house to plan strategy.
At the Wythe house we first visited the Officers’ tent in the back gardens, where many of the generals were sharing their intent with the public.
Indians from the Iroquois league in Canada arrived, talking to Lafayette.
After watching their meeting, we went to Lt. Col. Tench Tilghman’s tent, where some of the Indians joined us to ask many strategic questions.
Then I went to Lafayette’s tent, where he pulled various notes from his desk (above) and even answered questions with his maps.
Leaving through the Wythe house, we found General Washington and General Knox in one of the rooms!
There was such a flurry of activity that Washington was urgently called out.
We listened to Knox explain how he oversaw artillery, working the cannons and figuring trajectory, which comprises deep logic skills.
Suddenly Lafayette and the Iroquois entered.
When Lafayette left, one of the Indians interpreted between his men and General Knox.
During this time the room was quite crowded and one of the Indians motioned for me and my kids to enjoy the window seat behind the generals.
MEETING WILLIAM LEE
As we left the house I saw this horseman, whom I had seen earlier at the Courthouse.
I exclaimed, “I know you! You’re Billy Lee!”
He got a big smile on his face and said he certainly was. Billy Lee, or William Lee, was the famed man servant to General George Washington.
William Lee talked to me like we’ve known each other for years! 😉
DRAGOONS
Behind him were the dragoons waiting under the trees, who called us over to talk to them.
While talking to them, General Washington came out, mounted his horse and they all left in a Grand Procession down the street.
Later that afternoon, Washington and Lafayette addressed the crowd, where Washington patiently answered questions from the concerned citizens.
Then we watched a special program, where Lafayette displayed his horsemanship and explained the duty of the dragoons.
JAMES ARMISTEAD
Then we watched as Major James McHenry prepared papers for an extremely important report.
General Knox arrived to question him about that very paperwork and a spy named James Armistead.
After receiving a brief explanation, he PROMISED to be a fly on the wall.
Before long Knox had to micromanage, nearly destroying a top secret opportunity.
Between you and me, James Armistead was actually a spy for Lafayette, gathering information from the British, while letting them think he was spying for them.
Knox didn’t like this espionage business. To him battle is about hard-core facts and figures, trajectories and projectiles found in working ammunition.
As he grew to better understand the situation, he wanted to protect Armistead, but that would be too dangerous.
It was quite an emotional scene, seeing how dangerous such exploits were and how far-reaching the consequences could be if captured.
(Later, Armistead receives his freedom with the help of Lafayette.)
CONTINENTAL ARMY ENCAMPMENT
The next morning wood smoke beckoned us to walk througout the Continental Army encampment in Market Square and the Palace Green.
DRUMHEAD CHURCH SERVICE
Then we watched the troops come in, led by the fife and drum corps who left their drums to form a pulpit for the preacher for the drumhead church service attended by the generals.
After listening to a planning session with the generals inside the Courthouse, we walked through the camps and watched another dragoon presentation.
MARCHING TO YORKTOWN
The weekend ended with a final review of the troops before heading to Yorktown…
What a great weekend, what a great event, and what a great way to teach my kids (and me) history!
Thanks to all the reenactors who made this possible!
