[Illustration: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR · March 3, 1849] UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Stewart L. Udall, _Secretary_ NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Conrad L. Wirth, _Director_ _HISTORICAL HANDBOOK NUMBER FOURTEEN_ This publication is one of a series of handbooks describing the historical and archeological areas in the National Park System, administered by the National Park Service of the United States Department of the Interior. It is printed by the Government Printing Office and may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, Washington 25, D. C. Price 25 cents YORKTOWN and the Siege of 1781 _by Charles E. Hatch, Jr._ [Illustration: Quill pen, inkwell, and paper] NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HISTORICAL HANDBOOK SERIES No. 14 Washington, D. C., 1954 (Revised 1957) _The National Park System, of which Colonial National Historical Park is a unit, is dedicated to conserving the scenic, scientific, and historic heritage of the United States for the benefit and inspiration of its people._ [Illustration: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE · DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR] _Contents_ _Page_ THE VIRGINIA CAMPAIGN 1 Battle of Green Spring 6 The British Move to Yorktown 7 SIEGE OF YORKTOWN 9 Strategy of the Siege 9 Battle of the Virginia Capes 11 Assembly of the Allied Armies 15 Investment of Yorktown 18 British Position 18 Opening of the Siege 21 Gloucester Side 22 First Allied Siege Line 23 Second Allied Siege Line 25 Capture of Redoubts No. 9 and No. 10 25 Last Days of the Siege 27 Negotiation and Surrender 30 The Sequel 31 THE “TOWN OF YORK” 32 GUIDE TO THE AREA 39 Battlefield Tour 40 “Town of York” 47