To the left is Redoubt 10 -- the last of the earthen barriers with stakes pointed outward -- the British built  in August 1781 to fortify Yorktown. 

Yorktown -- 16 miles from the colonial capital Williamsburg --was established in 1691 after the Virginia House of Burgesses passed the Act for Ports to ensure collection of customs due from the tobacco trade.   In 1781 there were 300 homes, most of them on a bluff above the York River.   Most of the inhabitants fled before the British arrived.

Cornwallis sank 10 transport ships to protect Yorktown from attack from the York River.