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Commemoration of the Battle of Yorktown

The 225th Anniversary of the Battle of Yorktown will be celebrated October 19-22, 2006. The victory there in 1781 by an allied force of American and French troops, led by Generals Washington and Rochambeau, is considered the decisive battle of the war for American Independence.

Alliance Française of Charlottesville is joining with organizers in 9 states, the District of Columbia, and France to delineate the line of march of the allied armies from Rhode Island to Virginia and the battle on the York River. Among other events planned will be the visit of lineal descendants of French officers from Charlottesville’s sister city of Besançon who fought with the Continental Army to achieve the independence of the United States.

Concrete plans for memorializing pivotal events of 1780-83 and the French support that was critical to our success will be posted on this page as they are finalized. Also included will be relevant historical information and related links about the commemoration. Watch this space for developments and, if you wish to join or support this project, contact Alliance Française of Charlottesville to register your interest!

We celebrate the historical context of the events of 1781, acknowledging their meaning for the United States, for France, and for humankind. The Committee is dedicated to exploring the familiar and less-familiar aspects of the drama surrounding Yorktown, from the courage and sacrifice of Jack Jouett -- Virginia's "Paul Revere" -- to the critical contributions -- in manpower and financial assistance -- of our French allies. We aspire to make 2006 not simply the year we commemorate the heroism and achievements of 1781, but the year we recognize independence, freedom and international cooperation as our shared Franco-American heritage.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

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RELATED LINKS

www.w3r-us.org/

the official W3R ("Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route")-Virginia website

www.sar.org/committee/w3r/

website of the Sons of the American Revolution W3R Liaison Committee

www.xenophongroup.com/mcjoynt/hr4794.htm

informative unofficial website hosted by Mr. Albert McJoynt of the Mount Vernon district, Fairfax County.

www.siegeofyorktown.org/

multi-sponsored website of re-enactments at the Yorktown battlefield

RELATED BOOKS & MATERIALS

• Ketchum, Richard M., Victory at Yorktown: The Campaign That Won the Revolution, New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2004.



• Landers, Col. H. L., The Virginia Campaign and the Blockade and Siege of of Yorktown, 1781, Including a Brief Narrative of the French Participation in the Revolution Prior to the Southern Campaign, First Published in 1931. Reprint Cranbury, NJ: The Scholar's Bookshelf, 2005. paper.



• Perkins, James Breck, France in the American Revolution, First Published in 1911. Reprint Cranbury, NJ: The Scholar's Bookshelf, 2005. paper.



• Stone, Edwin Martin, Our French Allies: Rochambeau and His Army, Lafayette and His Devotion, D'Estaing, DeTernay, Barras, DeGrasse, and Their Fleets, in the Great War of the American Revolution from 1778 to 1782, First Published in 1884. Reprint Cranbury, NJ: The Scholar's Bookshelf, 2005. paper.