The Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route tells the story of how thousands of American and French troops traveled to Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781. Their journey required much more than soldiers. It depended on animals, wagons, waterways, workers, supplies, and secrecy.
The Trail Is Not One Continuous Path The trail is a network of historic roads and waterways. It extends approximately 680 miles through nine states and what is now Washington, D.C. [1] It Was the Revolution’s Largest Troop Movement The march to Yorktown was the largest troop movement of the American Revolution. The National Park Service also describes it as the longest and most complex military maneuver of the war. [2] Soldiers Started Marching Before Sunrise Reveille, the signal to wake up, sometimes sounded around 2 a.m. Soldiers were usually on the road by 4 a.m. so they could avoid the hottest part of the day. [3] One Soldier Carried Nearly 60 Pounds A French infantryman carried nearly 60 pounds of clothing and equipment, plus his musket. That was more than the weight of a large packed suitcase. [3] The Army Used More Than 1,900 Animals Rochambeau’s wagon train required 855 horses and 600 oxen. The artillery needed approximately 500 additional horses to pull cannons, ammunition, and equipment. [3] Women Helped Keep the Army Moving Rochambeau’s supply train included 15 cooks, most of whom were women. Women also traveled with the army as family members, workers, and part of the larger community supporting the march. [3] The Army Did Not Travel as One Large Group Rochambeau divided his infantry into four divisions that departed on different days. In some areas, American and French forces followed separate roads so one community would not have to supply everyone at once. [3] Washington Helped Spread False Information Washington ordered boats built, bread ovens prepared, and supplies collected near New York. These actions helped convince the British that the allies still planned to attack New York City. [3] Not Everyone Walked to Yorktown At Head of Elk, Maryland, approximately 3,000 troops boarded vessels for the journey down the Chesapeake Bay. Thousands of other soldiers continued marching through Maryland and Virginia. [4] Some Soldiers Were Very Young Private John Hudson of the First New York Regiment had just turned 13 when he marched toward Yorktown. At Elkton, he received the only military pay he remembered receiving during the war. [3] Sources and Further Reading
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Last updated: August 10, 2026