Historic Triangle Part II

Trip Day:	71	Latitude:	37°50.14 ' N	Locks Today:	0
Miles Today:	52	Longitude:	076°16.39 ' W	Locks Total:	8
Total Miles:	1,367	Location:	Reedville VA / Cockrell Creek Anchorage

It was an early start this morning to run 50 miles up the eastern shore of the Chesapeake passing Mobjack Bay, the Piankatank River, Rappahannock River and entering the Great Wicomico River. We are anchored in a secure little cove off Reedville, second only to Alaska in fish processed per year.

Part II of the Historic Triangle: Willamsburg and Yorktown

Leaving Jamestown on the shuttle bus, we drove into the future and arrived in Williamsburg which lies between the James and York Rivers. Founded in 1632 as Middle Plantation, the city served as the capital of the Colony of Virginia from 1699 to 1780 and was the center of the politics of the revolution. Ron had a little chat with George Washington upon our arrival.

The Governor’s Palace, authorized by the 1706 Virginia General Assembly and built in 1722, was home to many governors including Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson.

Bruton Parrish Church has been in continuous service since 1715.

George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry were all members. Family pew boxes are still in use today.

The Historic Area of Colonial Williamsburg stretches over 301 acres, and includes 88 original 18th-century structures. Hundreds of houses, shops and public outbuildings have been reconstructed on their original foundations.

George Wythe House 1722—Tutor and friend of Thomas Jefferson. Wythe was the first Virginian signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Right: 1771– Court House

British Justice

"Be assiduous in learning, take much exercise for your health, and practice much virtue. Health, learning and virtue will ensure your happiness; they will give you a quiet conscience, private esteem, and public honor.”

–Thomas Jefferson to Peter Carr, 1788

Yorktown - the final battle for independence!

Yorktown was established in 1691 by an Act for Ports passed by the Virginia House of Burgesses. 50 acres of land were purchased from Benjamin Read next to the York River and the town was surveyed into 85 half-acre lots. At it’s peak in the 1750s the population was about 1,800 and tobacco fueled the economy.

It was late in the summer of 1781 that Lord Cornwallis brought his army to Yorktown seeking a victory that would subdue the states back to British allegiance. The allied French Fleet sailed from the West Indies to blockade the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, cutting off Cornwallis from help or escape by sea.

The armies of Gen. George Washington and Gen. Jean Baptiste de Rochambeau and Lafayette joined forces in Yorktown to attack Cornwallis by land. Camps were built, trenches were dug, the allied army siege line was formed and bombardment commenced. After 9 days of intense, round-the-clock bombardment and a failed attempt to escape across the York River, Lord Cornwallis requested a cease-fire to discuss surrender terms. Two days later on October 19, 1781 he surrendered his army ending the last major battle of the revolution for independence.

Beaten and unwilling to accept the terms of surrender, Cornwallis hid in this cave along the shoreline of the York River, sending his second in command to lay down arms and surrender.

(Our boat was anchored just off the shore in front of this cave.)