The Surrender Field at Yorktown, Virginia. June 22, 2007.
This is my post for the Scenic Sunday meme, which shares beautiful scenes from around the world. To see more Scenic Sunday posts, or to join and show your own pictures, click HERE.
This peaceful — and scenic — spot near Yorktown, Virginia, was the site of the surrender of the British army of Lord Cornwallis to the allied armies of America and France on October 19, 1781.
The British had been trapped in Yorktown by the Allies on September 28, 1781. Formal siege operations began o September 30, 1781, and the Americans and French began bombarding British positions on October 9. On October 14 the Americans and French captured two redoubts (small fortified positions) in front of the British lines, which made the British position untenable.
When the British actually surrendered, French troops lined on side of the road in the picture above, and the Americans lined the other side. The British laid down their arms and flags in the field on the far side of the road.
Tradition says that as the British marched down the road to the surrender site, their bands played a tune called “The World Turned Upside Down”.
Senior Moments 
May 23, 2011 at 7:08 am |
Interesting post and such a wonderful photo, George. Thanks for sharing this morning.
May 23, 2011 at 7:49 am |
and I am so glad the world was turned upside down there. I love America
May 23, 2011 at 7:57 am |
Just a pretty spot – too bad many of these pretty sites had to see battles – but at least some things were turned right side up and surrender took place! Have a great day!
May 23, 2011 at 10:34 am |
Chilling, George! I’m going to have to look up that tune!
May 23, 2011 at 10:42 am |
Terrific post for the day, George! I do love the history and what a lovely place! So very peaceful looking, it takes some imagination to see it as a battlefield! I think many worlds have been turned upside down over the years. Very interesting song!! Have a great day!
Sylvia
May 23, 2011 at 11:24 am |
I LOVE THIS POST! I love history!
Thanks, George!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
May 23, 2011 at 3:31 pm |
Interesting post and a nice picture. I love pictures with split rail fences.
May 23, 2011 at 4:53 pm |
In all the years I lived in Virginia I never visited the field.
I do remember my kids had a history teacher that loved the subject and could talk endlessly about Virginia history.
Lovely shot!
May 23, 2011 at 9:29 pm |
Oh How interesting!
May 24, 2011 at 12:22 am |
that is a very historic spot. thanks for teh education.
May 24, 2011 at 5:27 pm |
When you look at a scene like this, it is hard to imagine the fighting that happened there.
Often times as we just go about our normal drives to and from places, I wonder what has happened before, or how long it would have taken to travel from here to there back in the ‘old’ days…
May 27, 2011 at 1:46 am |
Very interesting George. Photo and history, they are thing which I love.
Thank You.