Siege and Victory at Yorktown, 
Over-wintering in Virginia,
and the Triumphal Return North

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Siege, Bombardment, and Capitulation On the night of Oct 6 some 1,500 allied troops started digging the first ring of trenches to encircle Yorktown. On Oct 9 the French siege guns, American cannon, and the French fleet began a twenty-four hour bombardment of the British garrison. On Oct 11 work started on a second, closer ring of trenches. On Oct 14 two redoubts that stood in the way of completing the trenches were attacked and captured, allowing the allied cannon to fire at the remaining British defenses at point-blank range. An attempted breakout failed, and on the morning of Oct 17 the British asked for discussion of the terms of surrender. The surrender of standards (flags), and grounding of arms (placing muskets in piles) took place on October 19. "And the Guns Fell Silent, 1781" by David R. Wagner (used with the artist's permission) Many Wounded French Sailors Were Sent to Boston During 1781 Oct The Massachusetts Legislature "Requested the Selectmen of Boston to provide a hospital for the wounded seamen belonging to the Marine of France, and of such as are sick of distempers not infectious, in such part of town as will least expose the health of its inhabitants." The Boston Selectmen approved the use of Faneuil Hall for merchants to entertain French officers for "protecting the Trade of the Commonwealth". They also approved the use by the French of the hospital in the western part of Boston. On 1781 Oct 31 a report to Selectmen said that the French were burying their dead within the hospital inclosure. On 1781 Nov 6 the Boston Selectmen received a request to provide quarters for some French troops, and on Nov 16 the Selectmen permitted the French to erect a building (in addition to the hospital at New Boston) to further accommodate their sick and wounded seamen. On Nov 26 the Selectmen visited West Boston and gave directions for placing the building. The French Fleet Returned to the Caribbean 1781 Nov 4 - Admirals de Grasse and de Barasse started south, carrying some American reinforcements to be dropped off with the U.S Southern Army under Gen. Nathaniel Greene. They also carried Saint-Simon's French Corps to continue the struggle against the British in the Caribbean. Three ships were left behind under La Villesbrunne to protect the siege artillery at West Point VA. 1782 April - The French fleet under Admiral de Grasse lost a battle to the British fleet under Admiral Rodney in the Carribean and deGrasse was captured. He was brought to England, where King George III graciously returned de Grasse's sword. de Grasse worked with Shelburn on the draft of a peace treaty and was freed in August 1782 and returned to the French court as Ambassadeur Extraordinaire for the King of England. 1782 July - Admiral Vandreuil gathered the remnants of the French fleet in the Caribbean and took a large group of ships north to Boston to get wood for masts and other repairs. The U.S. Continentals Returned to New York 1781 Nov 4 - Immediately after the British surrender at Yorktown, General George Washington and the American forces returned to their camp outside New York so as to prevent the large British force there from breaking out into the countryside. The Hessian prisoners were escorted to prison camps in Fredrick MD where the local population spoke German. Prisoners from the British army were put in camps guarded by Americans around Charlottesville VA. Some officers (such as Tarleton) who feared retribution were permitted to be placed in French custody.   The French Army Overwintered in Virginia 1781 Oct to 1782 Jun - French General Rochambeau and most of his army remained in the area of York, Gloucester and Williamsburg during the winter of 1781-82 to discourage further invasions and to reduce the burden of securing food farther north. Two French artillery companies took the siege artillery to West Point VA (25 miles NW of Yorktown), where it could be under the protection of La Villesbrunne's squadron of three ships. Lauzun's Legion was at Hampton (15 miles SE of Yorktown) until February and then until June at Charlotte Courthouse (65 miles SW of Petersburg) so as to support U.S. Gen. Greene's army in North Carolina.        The French Army Returned through MD, DE, PA, and NJ to NY 1782 Jul 1 - the French army left their winter camps and marched north. They traveled in two divisions of about 2,500 men each, spaced a day apart so as to lessen the load on the campsites and on local provisioners. Jul 19 - the troops entered MD, and on July 24 they arrived in Baltimore, where they rested for a month. At the end of Aug 1782, the siege artillery was transferred by ship from West Point VA to Baltimore under the protection of La Villesbrunne's squadron. Aug 29 - Continuing on the same route as on the march south they entered Delaware on Aug 29, Pennsylvania on Aug 30, New Jersey on Sept 2, and New York on Sept 13. They got to Peekskill NY on Sept 17 and stayed a month at Yorktown Heights, after which most of the French Army went east to Boston (see below), while Lauzun's Legion was sent to garrison Wilmington DE for the next six months.     The French Army Continued through CT and RI to MA, then Embarked for the Caribbean 1782 Oct 23 - The main French Army entered CT. They stayed a week in Hartford. Nov 9 - They entered RI and on Nov 10 reached Providence RI, where they had a three week rest. At this point Gen. Rochambeau traveled south from Providence and boarded a ship at Annapolis MD. One company from each of the four regiments boarded a ship at Providence RI (destination??). Nov 23 the Selectmen of Boston MA approved quarters for 1,000 French troops. On Dec 1 the French troops camped at Wrentham MA, and on Dec 2-4 they camped at Dedham MA. The French -- who needed space for several times the offered quarters for 1,000 men -- did not camp in Boston but went directly onto Vaudreuil's troop transports in Boston harbor. By Dec 7 all but the officers were aboard. Some officers stayed in Boston homes, and the people of Boston enjoyed many celebrations with the French officer. On Dec 20 all officers were ordered to the ships, and on Dec 23 the ships left Boston, bound for the Caribbean in preparation for an attack on British-held Jamaica. This plan was set aside due to preliminary negotiations on the peace treaty. Within a year of their departure from Boston the war was over. Treaty of Paris (1783) [Wikipedia]

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