On This Day – 14th October 1781

#OnThisDay, Octobre 14, in 1781, companies of le Gatinois and le Royal-Deux-Ponts make their way through the trenches surrounding Yorktown, as they launch their assault on Redoubt 9. Chasseurs and Grenadiers from across these two regiments were ordered forward at 8pm; as Samuel F. Scott has written, the fighting was “brief but bitter”, with a quarter of the force wounded or killed. It was a success, though, and the capture of Redoubt 9 (alongside the American capture of Redoubt 10) paved the way for British surrender only days later.

Yorktown was the bloodiest of those that French land troops took part in on the North American continent – casualties were a daily occurrence throughout the siege, and an estimated 50-80 members of Le Régiment Gatinois gave their lives during the Yorktown Campaign. Our impression serves as a reminder of their story and their sacrifice. #lestweforget

Photo by kind permission of Matt Armett