Yorktown Victory Center Continental Army Encampment (Part 2)

Earlier this week we had the privilege of touring the Yorktown Victory Center and it's various areas of living history.  Today we are going to cover the Continental Army Encampment.  Again, a super job of recreating an historical view of what life was like during the American Revolution has been extremely well done and again, this one area alone is worth the visit for anyone seeking to further their knowledge of American History.

  One section of the encampment focuses on military operations and demonstrations of firing both muskets and canons are done throughout the day.

An interpreter, well versed in history, explains every step of preparing to fire a musket in a military lineup.  He goes through all the steps and fires the musket into an area free from any form of endangerment to any humans or species.  Once done, he further explains the steps for reloading and demonstrates the process until he once again fires a second shot.

Pictured above is part of a table of tools and weapons used during the period.

Multiple canons are on display and yes one of them does actually get fired.

There are a number of muskets on display and if you have never had the opportunity to hold one in your hands, you get a chance to do so here at the encampment.  Again, this is a living museum and many areas are hands on.  How often do you get such a grand opportunity?

There are numerous tents that you can go into and explore what life was like inside one of these.

Attention to detail is never lacking.  There are surprises around each corner and if you have your camera ready, you have some great opportunities to take advantage of.

An entire area has been dedicated to what cooking for the troops was like and even includes the supply shed.

Foods and their preparations are fully demonstrated.  The above is only a very small sampling of what you will see.

Pictured here is the troops laundry area and costs for having someone wash your cloths for you based on the money used during that period.

There is also the encampments doctor with all his tools and medicines used during the time and he covers their uses in full detail.  Sure we have pictures, but the objective is to get you to pay a visit and see everything for yourself and start your own educational process.  While we seek to educate as many people about our nation's history, we have found that taking a hands on approach gives a more true appreciation for such.  With that said, this is why we are promoting area museums and sites and will continue to do so.  It's a combined effort to bring our nations history to as many people as possible for a greater appreciate of what this country really is and can once again be.

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James Armistead, American Revolutionary Double Agent Spy

Liberty's Kids episode number 35, James Armistead.  The first double agent spy of the American Revolution under the command of General Lafayette.

After getting consent of his master, he volunteered in 1781 to join the army under General Lafayette. He was stationed as a spy. First he spied on Brigadier General Benedict Arnold (by this time, Arnold had defected from the American Continental Army to lead British forces). After Arnold departed north in the spring of 1781, James went to the camp of Lord Cornwallis. He relayed much information about the British plans for troop deployment and about their arms. The intelligence reports from his espionage were instrumental in helping to defeat the British during the Battle of Yorktown.

While pretending to be a British spy, Armistead gained the confidence of General Benedict Arnold and General Cornwallis. Arnold was so convinced of Armistead's pose as a runaway slave that he used him to guide British troops through local roads. Armistead often traveled between camps, spying on British officers, who spoke openly about their strategies in front of him. Armistead documented this information in written reports, delivered them to other American spies, and then returned to General Cornwallis's camp.

Although Virginia passed a manumission act in 1782 allowing for the freedom of any slave by his or her owner, James remained the property of William Armistead. (A 1783 law targeted specifically at freeing slaves whose owners had used them as substitutes for army service in exchange for their liberty did not apply to James). However, in 1786, with the support of William Armistead (then a member of the House of Delegates) and carrying a 1784 testimonial of his service from the Marquis de Lafayette, James petitioned the Virginia Assembly for his freedom. (The facsimile of the letter of commendation can be viewed on the Lafayette College website.[2]). On January 9, 1787, the Virginia Assembly granted James' petition. At that time he chose to add "Armistead" and "Lafayette" to his name, to honor the general.[3]

He continued to live in New Kent County with his new wife, one son and several other children. He became a farmer and at one point owned three slaves.[4]By 1818 he applied to the state legislature for financial aid. He was granted $60 for present relief and $40 annual pension for his services in the Revolutionary War.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Armistead  Source information link.

The Crossing - Sunday Movie

Sometimes you get lucky in your search for great content to share with everyone.  Today we found this film called, "The Crossing", which is an American Revolutionary War film.  So it's more we get to share with everyone as we go through American History here on this site.  We have not yet seen this film but we are looking forward to it.  It's about 90 minutes long.


The drama is about George Washington crossing the Delaware River and the Battle of Trenton during the American Revolutionary War. The film opens with the retreat of the Continental Army across New Jersey after repeated losses and defeats during the campaign of 1776.

After the army narrowly escapes across the river to the Pennsylvania shore, Washington, realizing that something must be done or the Revolution will collapse, conceives a plan to cross the river and conduct a surprise attack on the Hessian garrison at Trenton.

Despite their own fatigue and the winter weather, Washington manages to lift his weary soldiers' spirits, allowing the army to cross the river on Christmas night. The crossing is done in one night, allowing the troops to attack Trenton at eight o' clock on December 26, 1776, and gains a stunning victory, capturing almost all the Hessians to their own advantage.

Emanuel Leutze's depiction of Washington's attack on the Hessians at Trenton on December 25, 1776, was a great success in America and in Germany. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Valley Forge - Battles And Misery

Liberty's Kids episode number 24.  Valley Forge.  Here you get to see some of the many early struggles faced by the continental army.

 Washington, unable to risk a battle, was rapidly retreating through New Jersey. On the 28th of November Cornwallis advanced upon Newark, and Washington fell back upon New Brunswick. On the first of December, as Cornwallis reached the latter place, Washington broke down the bridge over the Raritan, and continued his retreat to Princeton.

 The terms of service for which his troops had been enlisted were now beginning to expire, and so great was the discouragement wrought by the accumulation of disasters which had befallen the army since the battle of Long Island that many of the soldiers lost heart in their work. Homesickness began to prevail, especially among the New England troops, and as their terms expired it was difficult to persuade them to reënlist. Under these circumstances the army dwindled fast, until, by the time he reached Princeton, Washington had but 3,000 men remaining at his disposal.

 The only thing to be done was to put the broad stream of the Delaware between himself and the enemy, and this he accomplished by the 8th, carrying over all his guns and stores, and seizing or destroying every boat that could be found on that great river for many miles in either direction. When the British arrived, on the evening of the same day, they found it impossible to cross. Cornwallis was eager to collect a flotilla of boats as soon as practicable, and push on to Philadelphia, but Howe, who had just joined him, thought it hardly worth while to take so much trouble, as the riverwould be sure to freeze over before many days. So the army was posted—with front somewhat too far extended—along the east bank, with its centre at Trenton, under Colonel Rahl; and while they waited for that “snap” of intensely cold weather, which in this climate seldom fails to come on within a few days of Christmas, Howe and Cornwallis both went back to New York.

Infantry of the Continental Army. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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