Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-10-19
RECALL YORKTOWN
SURRENDER, 1781.
Patriotic Thousands Take
Part in Fete Marking
End of Revolution.

<oINN " w N. va, oFtODer Is tSne-
ciaD.-Commemorating the annlver-
aary OF American independence. won
In the last battle of the Eevo utIon
at Yorktown October 10 1881, this
years observance. held here yester-
DAY with elaborate ceremonies,
awakened wide spread interest Thou
sands paid tribute to the occasion
Here Lord CORVALLIS surrendered
TO Washington, thus ending British
hostilities IN the new world col
onies. News of victory won at York.
town WaS heralded by messengers
riding on horseback from town to
town With freedom gained, new
government of independence was
created. Pre-eminent success of our
republic and far-reaching achieve
ments contrast to Yorktown, i'm
mortalized as the birthplace OF our
Nation. the most intrinsic historical
shrine in America. or old colonial
towns. Yorktown today is less
changed and possesses intact the
glory Of long ago.
Old Town Picturesque.
Picturesquely located upon a high
bluff the old town of York overlooks
fine harbor. The view extending
from York River into Chesapeake
Bay. In the days of Virginia's set
tlement. the English traded directly
o'AA sA'o poA - hopih6 " iftAhc VI n
town the metropolis OF the new
worlds commerce. Although with the
passing of regal government this
ambition never nlaterialized. Today
a daily steamer from Baltimore and
a railroad at Lee Hall, six miles dis
tant continue to link this locality
by accessible means. 1t is a land
whore there is room enough and
time enough" for dreaming of ro-
nance in colonial southland. Moth
ing seems to change in this quaint
town. When patriots assemble to
celebrate every historical place bears |
tablet or Is reminiscent. And the !
entire town of less than 800 popula-
ton was in gala attire for the annual
event.
Quaint Structures.
Following the main path from the !
waterfront near the water landing, |
or from the concrete roadway, the |
only street of Yorktown is easily i
reached. On either side of this main !
thoroughfare some quaint tlilapidated !!
or stolid old structure bears impor- |
tant relation to new world ciyiliZa-
ton or policies.
The old courthouse, the debtors |
Jail, and in the county office among |
valued aged papers we may read the !
will OF Nathaniel Bacon who led the |
first rebellion. in 1876, hundred |!
years before the war for indepen-
dence.
The first custom house in the United !!
States was built before IT'S at York. !
At that age New York and Phila- |
delphia we're in embryo and the |
trade injunction read: All goods i
must needs pass through the customs |
Virginia colony before passing to |
these cities. This building is solidly |
built of English blue and red brick, |
and was the scene of spirited conten-
tions when ships unloaded from over
seas.
Church Built in 1905.
Grace Church was built about 1895.
Its original communion service is still |
used and its bell was given by Queen
Anne in 1925. The church is of marble
stone, found in abundance along the
vicinity of York River. The ancient
graves bear record of men who lost
fortunes and yet gained fame to make
successful the early history of this
country.
Ye Ode Yorktown Hotel dates it's
origin-the first in America-to 1925.
On the opposite side of the street is
weAthered brick residence, which
required several years of painstak-
ing and slave labor. and since 1899
has been in the ownership of the
same family, now the home of Mr.
Conway Shields. The Nelson house
is the handsomest home and has
greatest historical interest to every
visitor. 1t was once the abode of
Maj. Gen. Nelson Of the American
Army.
In the siege Of 1871 Lord Corn
wallis occupied this best house in
Yorktown as headquarters. During
hAo ~ - l
Washington commanded the gunners
not to demolish Gen. Nelson's home.
Not understanding that such an order
had been given, and noting the gun
nSrs hesitation to open fire, Nelson
called to them: spare no particle of
my property SO long as it affords shell
ter to the enemies of our country"
non ball which. among others fired,
lodged in the walls and routed the
red coats from the sumptuous dinner.
Visited By Lafayette.
In 1928. when Lafayette visited
corded the honor Of entertaining here
the Nations honored guest.
The old. gnarled mulberry trees
seen all about the old gardens and
homes OF Yorktown were planted
years before the Revolutionary War
and were for the purpose of feeding
silk worms.
In the battle at Yorktown Lord
CORVALLIS conferred his assault by
land forces and the British ships be-
Iore the port. Washington, with a
remnant of his army and French
forces, advanced from the South. De
Grasse commanded the French fleet
and transported the allied army from
the head of the Chesapeake to vicin-
ity of Williamsburg, then the capital |
Of the Virginia colony. The position
was that Of a semicircle. Lafayette
commanding the French land forces,
Washington in command of the CO.
1onial forces, with Count De Grasse
liz command Of the French fleet. which |
position checked any possible depart
Vicinity Under Fire.
From September 2s the vicinity was
under fire. Fearing the enemy might
outhank him CORVALLIS abandoned
the outposts the following night and
withdrawing to the inner defense
which numbered seven redoubts and
six batteries.
The allied army. $4,000 strong took
possession of the British outposts and
closed in partly on the town-the line
extending from Wormsley's Creek be-
low to approximately a mile above
the creek. In this position Americans
held the right. and the French held
the left fighting continued. on
October SIS the allies again opened
fire-six days later the second parallel
was only 800 yards of the British
line. On October 16 CORVALLIS order
ed Lieut.. Col. Abercrombie to make
a hard assault for the two French