York Shipwreck May Be Part of Cornwallis Fleet

By WYDaily Staff Saturday, August 14, 2010

Next week, a survey team will set up shop at Yorktown’s Watermen’s Museum to investigate a shipwreck in the York River believed to be part of the British fleet sunk during the Battle of Yorktown.

In the 1970s and 1980s, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources located nine shipwrecks near Yorktown that were associated with the Battle of Yorktown, which generated worldwide media attention. Recently, sonar recorded a previously undocumented shipwreck site with ship remains and circumstantial evidence that “strongly suggests” this new wreck was part of the same battle.

The British Fleet at Yorktown was under the command of Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis, and his defeat at the Battle of Yorktown marked the end of the last major land battle of the American Revolutionary War.

According to DHR spokesman Randy Jones, the wreck is threatened by river bottom erosion and possible looting. The organization aims to start work next week to survey the remains.

The Watermen’s Museum is just upriver from the site, and will be a base of operations for the contracted team from Tidewater Atlantic Research. They’ll begin as soon as they can, depending on weather conditions, and will likely be working on the site for two or three days.

DHR representatives and archaeologists will be available to talk about the research during the survey. An illustrated presentation of the research findings will be presented at the Watermen’s Museum once the survey is completed.

Visit the Watermen’s Museum website for directions and contact information, or call 887-2641.