The French became allies in 1777 and came to the aid of a new American nation. Here are elements of two regiments on their way from Rhode Island to Yorktown, Virginia, a march of over 400 miles as well as a ships journey from Annapolis, Maryland to Yorktown. The Bourbonnais Regiment is followed on by the Royal Deux-Ponts with General Staff Officers looking on. On September 15 of 1781 they cross the Patapsco River just southwest of Baltimore, below the Hockley Forge dam. Smoke from Avalon Forge can be seen upriver. Maps made onsite at the time by Louis-Alexandre Berthier show the riverbed nearly dry just below the dam, perhaps the river water was diverted down the headrace through the sluices, and on to turn the water wheels which supplied power to local industry. The French troops made their journey successfully and were key to defeating the English Army entrenched in Yorktown.
The French became allies in 1777 and came to the aid of a new American nation. Here are elements of two regiments on their way from Rhode Island to Yorktown, Virginia, a march of over 400 miles as well as a ships journey from Annapolis, Maryland to Yorktown. The Bourbonnais Regiment is followed on by the Royal Deux-Ponts with General Staff Officers looking on. On September 15 of 1781 they cross the Patapsco River just southwest of Baltimore, below the Hockley Forge dam. Smoke from Avalon Forge can be seen upriver. Maps made onsite at the time by Louis-Alexandre Berthier show the riverbed nearly dry just below the dam, perhaps the river water was diverted down the headrace through the sluices, and on to turn the water wheels which supplied power to local industry. The French troops made their journey successfully and were key to defeating the English Army entrenched in Yorktown.