My Genealogy Hound

Yorktown, Virginia, The Moore House, Where terms for the surrender of the British Army led by General Charles Cornwallis were negotiated, historic photo

Yorktown, Virginia, The Moore House, Where terms for the surrender of the British Army led by General Charles Cornwallis were negotiated, historic photo

An historic photo view of the house of Augustine Moore, known as the Moore House at Yorktown, Virginia. This photo is by William Henry Jackson and published in 1903 by the Detroit Publishing Co. See the additional photo below.

On the morning of October 17, 1781, British General Charles Cornwallis proposed a truce for the purpose of negotiating terms for surrender of the British troops under his command at Yorktown, Virginia. This would bring an end to the Siege of Yorktown which had been ongoing since September 28, 1781 and effectively end the last major military engagement of the Revolutionary War.

Cornwallis suggested that those that would negotiate the terms of surrender would meet at the Moore House which was located on neutral ground. The meeting of negotiations was held in the Moore House on October 18, with the formal surrender taking place on October 19, 1781. Rather than surrender in person to General George Washington whom he considered to be his inferior, General Cornwallis claimed illness and sent his sword by another officer.

The Moore House in a photograph from the Civil War period, probably during 1862

The Moore House in a photograph from the Civil War period, probably during 1862. The house received considerable damage during the Civil War and even had some of the wood removed to be used as firewood. In 1881, during the Centennial Celebration of the Siege of Yorktown, the house was somewhat repaired. During the years of 1931 to 1934, the National Park Service restored the house to its appearance at the time of the Revolutionary War. The restored home is maintained by the National Park Service as an important feature of the Yorktown Battlefield which is part of the Colonial National Historical Park.

View additional Revolutionary War related vintage postcards, historic photos and images

View additional Virginia vintage postcards, historic photos and images

View additional vintage postcards, historic photos and images for other topics and locations

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of family biographies, vintage maps, historic photographs, and vintage postcards.

Follow My Genealogy Hound on Facebook: Follow me on Facebook