As I former resident of "The County" * I cherish this important day in American history.
On this day in 1781 General Cornwallis surrendered to the Army of George Washington ending the Revolutionary War, we won!!!!!!!
Cornwallis did not attend the ceremony sending an aide instead. Washington refused to accept Cornwallis's sword from anyone else.
The band played "The World Turned Upside Down"
The English and the German mercenaries actually had to lay down their arms in what is now called "Surrender field" just off Cook road.
Of course without the aid of Generals Rochambeau and Lafayette as well as the
FRENCH NAVY Commanded by Admiral de Grasse it would not have been possible. The French Navy drove away the English Navy in a battle in the Chespeake Bay and Cornwallis could not escape. Also a violent storm came into the York River cutting off the chance to cross into Gloucester. The cave Cornwallis used as his HQ is right there on the Yorktown beach.
http://members.aol.com/spursfan50/davidallen/yorktown.htm* We called it "The county" because it is the only county in the area. In Virginia cities and counties must be seperate entities and James City county is really dominated by the City of Willimasburg.