November 9, 2007
Jamestown (1607), like Williamsburg, almost disappeared. It became a plantation in the late seventeenth century and farm implements were dragged through the soil until the late 1800’s. Finally, authorities recognized the importance of the site and purchased the property for a preserve. Today, excavation is still ongoing. It was 1993 w
hen the location of the fort, graves, and buildings, were first discovered. The lives of John Smith and Pocahontas are well documented. They kept accurate records which indicated that only 90 of the 300 colonists survived the first three years.
Yorktown (1781), which is recognized as the last battle of the Revolutionary War, is just a few miles east of Jamestown. Here Washington cornered Cornwallis and forced him and his army to surrender. It, again, was a preserved area of fields sprinkled with plaques and antique cannons. Barb and I are getting a bit fatigued at visiting these sites. They bring history to life but there
are too many battlefields in this country. I hope we stop creating them.
Jamestown (1607), like Williamsburg, almost disappeared. It became a plantation in the late seventeenth century and farm implements were dragged through the soil until the late 1800’s. Finally, authorities recognized the importance of the site and purchased the property for a preserve. Today, excavation is still ongoing. It was 1993 w
hen the location of the fort, graves, and buildings, were first discovered. The lives of John Smith and Pocahontas are well documented. They kept accurate records which indicated that only 90 of the 300 colonists survived the first three years.Yorktown (1781), which is recognized as the last battle of the Revolutionary War, is just a few miles east of Jamestown. Here Washington cornered Cornwallis and forced him and his army to surrender. It, again, was a preserved area of fields sprinkled with plaques and antique cannons. Barb and I are getting a bit fatigued at visiting these sites. They bring history to life but there
are too many battlefields in this country. I hope we stop creating them.The first two pictures are from Jamestown, the third is Norm discussing strategy with Washington and French Admiral de Grasse. Washington and deGrasse only met twice, both times on deGrasse's ship. Yet it was deGrasse's defeat of the English navy which enabled Washington to trap Cornwallis, ending the war.
"Viva la France."
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