Grand French Battery

First stop was the Grand French Battery located in the first siege line. The French brought three types of guns: cannon, howitzer, and mortar. Shots went not only into British encampments, but also into the town. The guns shelled for nine days.

The sign says:

"The battery lay across the York-Hampton Road, being a series of connected positions, one of which in large part has been reconstructed as you see it here. The "Grand French" was the largest battery in the French position of the first siege line."

Jumbo French Grand Battery Information Panel (very slow: 276K)

When the second siege line was finished in order to bring artillery into point blank range, Cornwallis asked for a ceasefire. It was October 17, 1781.

Lower right: Siege artillery pieces emplaced.

More Yorktown Battlefield

Introduction
Historical Preliminaries
Visitor's Center
The Quick Tour
Forward March...Ouch! Ouch!
Redoubts 9 and 10
Grand French Battery
Augustine Moore House
Surrender Field
Yorktown Victory Monument

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