Yorktown    

As part of the annual fifth grade field trip (December 1997), students visited Yorktown Battlefield in Virginia. General Cornwallis surrendered the British Army here on October 19, 1781 to end the Revolutionary War. The site we toured portrays the daily life of a colonial soldier and recreates the colonial farm, the background of the majority of soldiers.

Most colonial soldiers came from small farms.	In the southern colonies, tobacco was an important crop. It would be hung to dry in a separate building before it was sold.	Colonial soldiers were excellent marksmen since hunting provided them with fresh meat. Food was cooked in a separate building on many southern farms to prevent fires and to keep the house cool in summertime.
During the war, tents or brush shelters provided shelter. Tour guides explained medical practices and military punishments.	Students learned that campfires could be seen and counted by the enemy, so cookstoves were made in a central area for soldiers to use.	Cannon played an important part in the battle. Soldiers demonstrated how it fired.
Participants were chosen from the crowd to explain each role: gunner, rammer, sponge, powder monkey.	Mrs. Winkler was the gun captain and called out commands.	The students enjoyed watching their parents following directions. But the best part was when the cannon fired!

The next day we visited Williamsburg !

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