Princess Anne County, Virginia

Welcome to...
Princess Anne County
Virginia

Our trip to Virginia Beach, Virginia was a side trip to our vacation. We knew that Fort Story was in the area we were staying in and decided to explore :) Little did we know that what we would find would be a bonus to our original vacation plans. We got a little lost and just made it to the Cape Henry Lighthouse right before it closed and to add a little spice to our day we were dodging thunderstorms!

The information on this page goes hand in hand with the information on the Charles City and York County, Virginia pages. The links given here will take you directly to Charles City and York County in Virginia.

The old lighthouse is on the left, the new on is on the right

Cape Henry Lighthouse

Has been desionated a registered National Historic Landmark

Under the provisions of the historic sites act of August 21, 1935 this site possesses exceptional value in commemorating and illustrating the history of the United States

U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service
1963

John McCombs, a New York briclayer, as contractor.

Sectretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, and the contractor signed the contract on March 31, 1791.
Construction on this $17,700 project started August 1, 1791. The lighthouse began it's 100 years of service in the fall of 1798.

Commemorated this 20th day of August, 1981by Public Works Historical Society and Virginia - D.C. - Maryland Chapter American Public Works Association

First Public Works Project of the United States Government

Construction of the Cape Henry Lighthouse was Authorized by the First United States Congress on August 7, 1789. President George Washington personally reviewed bids in January, 1791 and chose

Battle of the Capes 1781

In September 1781, a naval engagement between two powerful fleets denied British forces access to the Chesapeake Bay and trapped Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown. This little know battle helped end British domination in America. What led to this dramatic turn of events? After six years of war, colonies seemed far from independence. The young nation was almost bankrupt and the army seemed to be disintegrating. A decisive victory was essential to survival.

General Washington, camped outside of New York City, knew that only by the cooperative efforts of his small force of Continental Soldiers and the French Army (commanded by General Rochambeau), together with the French Navy (commanded by Admiral De Grasse) would any chance of victory be possible. On July 28 De Grasse, who was in the West Indies, informed Washington that his fleet would sail for the Chesapeake Bay. Washington moved his army South in hopes of capturing Cornwallis, who was fortifying Yorktown. The possiblity of vicotory hinged on the arrival of De Grasse and his

ability to maintain French naval supremacy in the Chesapeake Bay.

On August 30, the French fleet, consisting of 24 ships of the line, sailed past Cape Henry into the Bay, bringing reinforcements and supplies to the American forces near Yorktown. The British fleet of 19 ships, under Admiral Graves sailed from New York on September 1, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation. By Septemeber 5, at 9:30 a.m., the French were sighted within the Bay. The approaching British fleet had the advantage of the wind and tide, while the French fleet had not yet formed its line of battle. Graves, however, chose to follow the Royal Navy's fighting instructions and did not disrupt the French fleet's emerging battle line. For six and one-half hours the fleets manuevered for positioin. The French fleet gradually moved out past Cape Henry into the Atlantic. Finally, at 4:15 p.m., the leading ships opened fire. An indecisive but vigorous cannonade continued until 6:30 p.m. The forward British ships were heavily engaged and suffered losses in masts and rigging. The British and French fleets continued to sail on parallel course for four days. On the evening of September 9, the French fleet slipped away and headed back to the Chesapeake Bay where it was joined by an additional French squadron which had arrived from Rhode Island. Graves decided his ships were too badly damaged to continue fighting. On September 13, he made the fatal decision to return to New York for repairs.

This action in which no Americans participated, and in which few men or ships were lost, gave America the opportunity it needed for independence. On October 19, 1781, Cornwallis was forced to surrender his army to Washington. Thus the English rule which had begun at Jamestown in 1607 was effectively ended at Yorktown in 1781. And Cape Henry, strategically located, played a role in the history of these two events

Gateway to the Chesapeake Bay

Cape Henry Memorial is part of Colonial National Historical Park. This park encompasses two other significant areas: Jamestown, the site of the first permanent English settlement in 1607, and Yorktown, the last decisive battle in the American Revolutionary War 1781. In order to fully comprehend the total story of the park, plan to visit these other historic sites.

Yorktown is approximately one hour away in driving time from Cape Henry. You may then proceed on the Colonial Parkway, a 23-mile scenic drive, to reach Jamestown. Cape Henry Memorial is administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Cape Henry Memorial Cross

On April 26, 1607 three small ships approached the Chesapeake Bay from the southeast and made their landfall at Cape Henry, the southernmost promontory of that body of water. The Virginia Company expedition had set sail from England in December, 1606. Released from their four month confinement, the colonists, led by the Reverend Robert Hunt, gave thanks to God for their safe voyage. Before them lay the vast American wilderness known as Virginia.

Captain Christopher Newport, the commander of the expedition, went ashore with a party of thirty to explore this new land filled with "faire meddowes." Near the end of the day an encounter with Indians left two of the party wounded.

The next day a second party was put ashore to "recreate themselves" and to assemble a small boat (shallop). This "shallop" was launched and used to explore the lower reaches of the Chesapeake Bay.

On April 29, the colonists, possibly using English oak already

fashioned for the purpse, "set up a Crosse at Chesupioc Bay, and named that place Cape Henry" for Henry, Prince of Wales, oldest son of King James I. They were then ready to follow their instructions to push deeper into Virginia to seek a site suitable for settlement.

Early on April 30, they moved to a new anchorage at a place named "Cape Comfort" (Old Point Comfort); shortly thereafter they entered the James River. After two weeks of searching along both sides of the river, they established a permanent settlement at Jamestown on May 13, 1607.

This memorial cross, erected in 1935 by the Daughters of the American Colonists, serves as a reminder of that original oak cross planted by a group of Englishmen in search of gold, adventure and natural resources. But more importantly, Cape Henry marks the beginning in a continuing chain of events which saw the shaping of American culture by English institutions and customs.

"...I wish it was in my power to express to Congress how much I feel myself indebted to the Count deGrasse and his fleet..." G. Washington Oct. 19, 1781

"...I consider myself infinitely happy to have been of some service to the United States...reserve me a place in your memory..." deGrasse Nov. 3, 1781

Here at Cape Henry first landed in America, upon 26 April 1607, those English colonists who upon 13 May 1607, established at Jamestown, Virignia, the first permanent English settlement in America.

Erected by
National Society Daughters of the American Colonists April 26, 1935

Francois Joseph Paul de Grasse
This statue a gift from France is placed here overlooking the water where Admiral Comte de Grasse successfully engaged the British Fleet on September 5, 1781. The "Battle of the Capes" prevented crucial reinforcements from reaching Cornwallis thus hastening his surrender.

Dedicated in grateful remembrance of the decisive contribution of Admiral de Grasse to the winning of American independence.

October 17, 1976