Yorktown, Virginia – 1781 French Siege Map

Yorktown, Virginia – 1781 French Siege Map

In the autumn of 1781, American and French troops under General George Washington and the Comte de Rochambeau trapped Lord Cornwallis and his army against the York River at Yorktown, Virginia. The three-week siege that followed was the last major battle of the American Revolution. This plan was drawn on the ground by the engineers of the allied army, men who worked alongside the soldiers digging the siege lines. On October 19, 1781, Cornwallis's army surrendered, and American independence was effectively secured.

Historical Context Cornwallis had fortified Yorktown and Gloucester Point to await relief or evacuation by the Royal Navy. In early September, the French fleet under the Comte de Grasse turned back a British squadron off the Virginia Capes and closed the Chesapeake Bay. Washington and Rochambeau marched their combined armies south from New York and invested the town on September 28. On the night of October 6, allied soldiers opened the first parallel, a trench line dug in darkness within range of the British guns. A second parallel followed, and on the night of October 14, French and American assault columns stormed the two redoubts blocking its path to the river.

The Map's Features Lettered in French, the map follows a three-color key: red for British works and troops, yellow for French, and green for American. Both parallels are traced in detail, along with the lines of fire from the siege batteries, the redoubts abandoned by the British, and the two redoubts carried on the night of the 14th. French brigades are named in position alongside the camps of Lincoln, Lafayette, and Steuben and the shared headquarters of Washington and Rochambeau. On the York River, the map marks the British vessels off the town, the anchorage where HMS Charon burned after a French battery opened fire with heated shot, and the allied line under General de Choisy sealing Gloucester Point. The Moore House is identified as the place where the capitulation was signed on October 19.

Historical Significance Yorktown ended major combat operations in North America. Within months, the House of Commons voted against further offensive war in America, and the Treaty of Paris recognized American independence in 1783. The siege stands as a model of eighteenth-century siege craft, carried out by an alliance in which French engineers, gunners, and seamen played a decisive role. Published in Paris in December 1781, this plan preserves the victory as the allied army itself recorded it.

Framing Options This map is available unframed or professionally framed and ready to hang. Our framing partner uses museum-quality materials to protect and present your print for long-term display. Choose from a classic Black frame or a warm Walnut Brown frame — both available with your order. Please allow 3–4 weeks for delivery on framed orders.

Museum-Quality Reproduction This is a high-quality reproduction of the original historic map, professionally printed on premium archival paper using the Giclée printing process to preserve fine cartographic detail, line clarity, and period authenticity for long-term display.

Perfect For:

Revolutionary War historians and collectors
Students of siege warfare and eighteenth-century military engineering
Veterans, military families, and descendants of Revolutionary War soldiers
Offices, studies, and libraries
Gifts honoring America's founding history

Specifications:

Original Publication: 1781
Scale: 1:15,000
Style: French siege operations battle map
Battle/Conflict: Siege of Yorktown (American Revolutionary War)
Battle Result: American Victory
Product Type: High-Quality Reproduction Print

Dimensions (Width x Height): 17.6 x 13.3

Each map is printed using the finest materials and methods. Your map will be handled with white gloves from start to finish. We use the Giclée printing method on premium archival paper, which produces a clear, extremely detailed, durable map perfect for proud display in your home or office.