Battle of Yorktown

1. Yorktown Victory Monument

Yorktown, VA

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Cornwallis's army surrendered at Yorktown on October 19th, 1781, ending the Revolutionary War. On October 24th, George Washington's aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Colonel Tench Tilghman, brought the 'glorious' news to Philadelphia and the Continental Congress. On Monday, October 29th, Congress passed a resolution that "the United States in Congress assembled, will cause to be erected at York, in Virginia, a marble column, adorned with emblems of the alliance between the United States and his Most Christian Majesty; and inscribed with a succinct narrative of the surrender of Earl Cornwallis to his excellency General Washington, Commander in Chief of the combined forces of America and France; to his excellency the Count de Rochambeau, commanding the auxiliary troops of his most Christian Majesty in America, and his excellency the Count de Grasse, commanding in chief the naval army of France in the Chesapeake." Although the resolution was not forgotten, no action was taken toward building the monument for a hundred years. The citizens of Yorktown petitioned Congress in 1834 to erect the monument as specified in 1781, but no action was taken that year. The proposal became active again in 1836, but again, their efforts came to nothing. It wasn't until the Centennial of Yorktown began approaching that enough public interest was generated to persuade Congress to act. On June 7, 1880, Congress passed an act to "carry into effect the resolution" of 1781. The "order of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons" laid the monument's cornerstone on October 18th, 1881, as the opening for the Yorktown Centennial Celebration. Sculptor Henry van Brunt, architect J.Q.A. Ward and Chairman R.M. Hunt created the monument from Hallowell Maine granite. It was erected in three parts; a base supports the sculptured podium and extended column. Emblems and inscriptions on the base and pediments share the story of Cornwallis's surrender and represent the alliance between America and France. It is approximately 98 feet tall and overlooks the York River. The monument was completed in 1885. Lightning damaged the "Liberty" figure at the top of the monument in 1942 and again in 1990, but repairs were made and lightning protection was added. This monument symbolizes the great victory that was achieved at Yorktown and honors the French and American alliance that made it possible.