March and Ship Transport through  
Maryland and Virginia

Main W3R History Page

==== MARYLAND ==== 

Sept 8 -- Head of Elk (now called Elkton) (18 miles from Newport DE via Rt 4, Rt 7, Old Baltimore Pike, and MD Rt 281). After Elkton (Head of Elk) the allied forces took several different routes, as described in Marching to Victory, by Reyes and Fry. Compare NPS maps below to Reyes and Fry's maps A Note about "Official" W3R Routes Group A = On Sept 8th about 1,000 American troops under General Lincoln and 1,000 French troops under the duc de Lauzun (but not his hussars) embarked from Plum Point (now Charlestown MD) on transports brought overland from Christiana DE or acquired locally. At Annapolis MD they were held up until Sept 12 by rough weather and waiting to hear about the outcome of the naval battle between Admirals Hood and de Grasse. They then continued by boat to Williamsburg VA. Group B = On Sept 8th General Washington and his senior staff and guards rode to Baltimore (perhaps 45 miles via US Rt 7) Gen. Rochambeau and his senior staff and guards followed this route a day later, leaving Gen. Viomenil in command of the remaining French force travelling overland (Group C). On Sept 9 Washington continued to Mt. Vernon VA (45 miles on US Rt 1 and Rt 235 at Gum Hill). This was the first time in six years that Washington had seen his home. Rochambeau arrived there the next day. Group C was made up of C1 = 4,000 French infantry, C2 = 300 hussars from Lauzun's Legion (under Baron Ludwig von Closen and Cromot du Bourg), and C3 = the baggage train (220 wagons, 800 oxen, and 1,500 horses). On Sept 9 Group C passed through the Principio Iron Works (which has ceased operating about 1776) and camped at Lower Ferry (now Perryville) (14 miles via Rt 7). On Sept 10 Group C1 (the infantry) was ferried across the Susquehanna River and went on to camp at Bush Town or Hartford (now Bush) (10 miles via Rt 7). Meanwhile Groups C2 and C3 (the hussars and wagon train) forded the Susquehanna River at Bald Friar Ford (near the present Conowingo Dam, eight miles above Perryville) and passed through Darlington, Indian Spring, and Churchville, rejoining the infantry at Bush Town (on Rt 7 near Abington). ==> Also on Sept 10 the French transports under de Barras entered the Chesapeake Bay on their way to Annapolis to pick up Group C.

Portion of the W3R Campsite map developed for the National Park Service 2000-2005 study of significance, feasibility and environmental impact.

On Sept 11 Group C travelled to White Marsh (10 miles via Rt 7), then on Sept 12 travelled to Baltimore (12 miles via Rt 7). They encamped at what later became the Camden Railroad Yards and is now the Camden Yards Baseball Stadium. [The SAR placed a commemorative marker here.] They remained here until Sept 15 before moving on to Annapolis to board the French transport ships. On Sept 16 Group C travelled to Spurrier's Tavern (now Waterloo, 12 miles via Rt 1), and on Sept 17 they travelled to Scott's House (near Millersville, 11 miles via Rt 175). On Sept 18 they travelled to Annapolis (12 miles via Rt 178). Over the next three days 4,000 French infantry (Group C1) embarked on nine transports, escorted by a French ship-of-the-line, for a six-day trip to Jamestown VA. [The SAR participates in an annual ceremony at Annapolis to commemorate French aid during the Revolution.] The baggage train (Group C3) travelled south via Bowie, Bladensburg, Foggy Bottom [now in DC], and Georgetown [a part of Maryland at that time]. The auto route is eighteen miles via Rt 450 to Collington, then Rt 197 to Bowie, then ten miles via Rt 564 to Rt 450 to Bladensburg, then eight miles via Route 1 to Mt Vernon Square, then Rt 29 to Key Bridge. The hussars (Group C2) went from Annapolis to cross the Potomac River at Laidler's Ferry (Laidler's Lower Crossing) MD to Dalhgren VA. The auto route is 65 miles via Rt 50 and Rt 301 at Landover Hills. Group D = several Maryland Continental regiments (1,200 soldiers) under General Clinton. In Baltimore they joined the allied forces moving toward Yorktown. At Fells Point (in SE Baltimore) they boarded ships that had been assembled from the local area.

==== VIRGINIA ==== 

In Virginia the route has been marked with small green highway markers with white lettering. This was described in a brochure produced by the Expédition Particulière (Durf McJoynt, PO Box 137, Mt Vernon VA, 1981). In what follows, SR is State Route and SnR is Secondary Route. A Note about "Official" W3R Routes 1781 Sept 10 and 11 - For two days the allied generals -- Washington and Rochambeau -- and their senior staff members enjoyed the amenities of Mount Vernon and consulted about very serious military matters. The allied operation was at the most precarious phases of an exceptionally high risk operation – as the allied land and naval forces flowed in from distant geographic locations to focus on the British at Yorktown. The timely successes of three separate strategic movements were essential for victory – but they were beyond the immediate control of Washington or Rochambeau. Two Days at Mount Vernon [Expédition Particulière] provides the full story. "First Official Use of Mt. Vernon's Dining Room" by David R. Wagner (used with the artist's permission) Sept 12 -- The officers followed SR 235 to US 1 to SnR 611 to US 1 again, to Woodbridge, Dumfries, Stafford Court House, and Falmouth. The officers spent the night in Fredericksburg. George Washington had spent his boyhood here, and his brother had built the Rising Sun Tavern here in 1760.

Portion of the W3R Campsite map developed for the National Park Service 2000-2005 study of significance, feasibility and environmental impact.

Sept 13 -- SR 2 to New Post, Wideawake, Villboro to SnR 626 to SnR 609 to SR 2 again. Then SnR 631 to SR 2 north of Bowling Green to SnR 695 south of Bowling Green to SR 2 again to SnD 627 to SnR 654 west to SnR 656, then SnR 648 south to Lorne where they moved onto SnR 649 to SnR 600 to SnR602 to SnR 651 and back and forth across SR 2 several times to stay at the Hanover Court House Inn, travelling some 53 miles for the day. Sept 14 -- SnR 605 to SnR 604 to SnR 606 east of Studley to Old Church and Tunstall then SnR 609 to SR 249 to SR 30 to US 60 past Toana, Norge, and Lightfoot to arrive at Williamsburg after travelling 47 miles.

Portion of the W3R Campsite map developed for the National Park Service 2000-2005 study of significance, feasibility and environmental impact.

Sept 17 - General Washington met with Admiral de Grasse on the French flagship, the Ville de Paris at Hampton Roads [the bay area at the mouth of the James River]. To better match the British cavalry under Tarleton at Gloucester the allied commanders sent a dispatch to the hussars (Group C2) directing them to leave the baggage train (which could be guarded by local militia now) and instead travel to Gloucester. A more detailed and documented description [Expédition Particulière] of their route is available. Sept 21 -- The French baggage train, accompanied by Lauzun's cavalry, crossed the Potomac River at Georgetown (then a part of Maryland, now a part of the District of Columbia) [This site has been marked by the SAR.] About this time 200 cavalry in the Compaigne General under Baron Ludwig von Closen & Cromot du Bourg crossed the Lower Potomac River at "Laidlers Ferry" in Morgantown MD (near US Route 301). Sept 24 -- The troop transports from Annapolis began to arrive at Archer's Hope with the 7,500 infantry. They joined the French expeditionary regiments delivered Sept 2 (see above) by de Grasse. ==> Also on this day the baggage train was loading large amounts of hay at Col. Daingerfield's plantation, Belvidere, east of SR 2 and north of SR 17, south of the Rappahannock River near Fredericksburg. The hussars (Group C2) received the dispatch with new orders and set out (via Todds Bridge) for Gloucester. The wagons (Group C3) continued on their original route and would not all arrive at Williamsburg until Oct 4. Sept 28 - At 5 AM the grand army -- some 16,000 troops -- marched out of Williamsburg and set up camp outside the British defenses at Yorktown. Final preparations for a siege had to hurry forward, since food supplies were scarce. This area was not accustomed to raising or importing food for the 9,000 French and American soldiers in Yorktown. The troops surrounding Yorktown could eat up all of the colony's food reserves in a few weeks. Virginia Governor Thomas Jefferson struggled to obtain the required food, often giving his personal promissary notes to farmers to pay for supplies. Oct 7 - The French wagon train -- the last unit to arrive -- delivered its goods to the allied camp. On that same day American troops began digging trenches to encircle the British camp. The last major military action of the Revolutionary War that would take place in the United States was about to begin.

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