Images of the assualts
on British redoubts,
Yorktown, 14 October 1781
Painting by Simeon Fort (1793-1861), entitled Siege D'York-Town (6 octobre 1781), Investissement De La Place. The original is in 'Galerie des Batailles at Versailles. Some modern publications use the image to depict the advance of the French regiments against the British redoubts 9 and 10 on 14 October 1781. The work appears to have been inspired after the famous 'Siege of Yorktown' paintings by Louis-Nicholas van Blarenghe (1716-1794).
This painting of the American attack on British Redoubt 10 (Yorktown, 14 October 1781) . It was executed under the direction of the US Army Chief of Military Historians office. Artist is the well known H. Charles McBarron. Note: that there is an attempt to indicated that it was a night attack, but the artist needed to ‘fudge' a little so as to depict the individual troops and to emphasize the uniforms [probably a little too neat]. It is supposed to represent the Rhode Island regiment, among others. However, there no African Americans are shown is what was an integrated unit that was reportedly more than half 'black'.
Painting of the American attack on British Redoubt 10 (Yorktown, 14 October 1781) This painting is attributed to Eugene Lami. Date of execution and present location are unknown. It appears to be a nineteenth-century technique, and the daylight and the flags are pure fiction.
Another image often used with modern published articles is this painting by Onfroy de Breville, circa 1900, the French regiments of the Gatinais and Royal Deux-Ponts storming British Redoubt 9 on 14 October 1781. The Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection at Brown University, RI, has a print of the painting. The location of the original work is unknown.
Again, the artist's need to emphasize the uniforms – distinctly the Gâtinais on the viewer's left and the Royal Deux-Pont charging center to the right – require a ‘daylight' scene in what was otherwise a night attack. The emphasis of the Deux-Pont colors is not only an artificial touch, but interesting in light of the fact that Gâtinais units not only led the attack, but suffered the most casualties.
Pen and ink illustration by Gérald Forton of French attack against redoubt 9 (Yorktown, 14 October 1781) from modern French bandes dessinées series (Histoire de France, Larousse)
Modern image of French regiments executing their night attack against British Redoubt 9, Yorktown, 14 October 1781. To the right, background, light from the concurrent American attack against British redoubt 10.


Return to webpage on "Seizure of Redoubts 9 and 10, Yorktown 1781."

Page created 7 January 2005 ; revised 12 January 2005.