Prelude to Victory schedule : The official site of Colonial Williamsburg

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Prelude to Victory
August 30 - August 31, 2003

Saturday - August 30, 2003

Camps Open

8:30 a.m.

Location: Robert Carter House on Palace Green
Women and soldiers perform duties as they prepare the camps.

Lafayette and Battalion Commanders

*10:00 a.m.

Location: Courthouse
General Lafayette arrives and meets with Battalion Commanders at the Courthouse.

General Washington and General Rochambeau

10:00 a.m.

Location: Botetourt Street
Washington’s Guard meet with Generals Washington and Rochambeau.

Military Hospital

10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Location: Palace East Advance
Medics tend to the sick and wounded.

General Orders Read Aloud

10:30 a.m.

Location: Courthouse.
The army forms in front of the Courthouse to receive Generals Washington and Rochambeau. Music and a 21-gun salute follow.

Preparing for a Siege

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Location: Courthouse (every 20 minutes)
Generals Washington, Lafayette, and Rochambeau discuss contingencies for Yorktown.

Light Infantry Tactics Demonstration

11:00 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.

Location: Market Square
The infantry displays its proficiency.

Farmer at the Supply Depot

11:30 a.m.

Location: Magazine
A farmer arrives with produce, doves, and chickens to sell to the army.

Domestic Skills Demonstration

11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Location: Behind the Roscoe Cole House
Demonstration of 18th-century domestic skills.

Military Musick Demonstration (Beatings & Signals)

12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Location: Capitol
A demonstration of beatings and signals used by the army.

Colonial Williamsburg Fifes & Drums March

1:00 p.m.

Location: Capitol to Palace Green
The Fifes & Drums march from the Capitol to the Palace Green.

Court Martial

1:00 p.m. - 1:40 p.m.

Location: Courthouse (every 20 minutes)
A mutineer is brought before the Court Martial Board.

Artillery Demonstration

2:15 p.m.

Location: Market Square
Artillery crews practice firing the artillery.

Mutineer Awaits Execution

2:30 p.m.

Location: Courthouse to Guardhouse
A mutineer announces his plight to visitors as he is transported to the Guardhouse to await execution.

Firing Demonstration

3:00 p.m.

Location: Market Square
A demonstration of the Manual of Arms

Dragoon Tactics Demonstration

3:30 p.m.

Location: Market Square

Execution of the Mutineer

4:00 p.m.

Location: Magazine Yard

General Lafayette and Dragoons

*4:50 p.m.

Location: Courthouse
General Lafayette returns to Courthouse for a firing demonstration.

Military Review

5:00 p.m.

Location: Market Square
The army displays its proficiency before General Washington and the public with a firing demonstration by the Second Battalion. Generals Lafayette and Rochambeau address the battalion about the upcoming siege of Yorktown.

Sunday - August 31, 2003

Camps Open

8:00 a.m.

Location: Robert Carter House on Palace Green
See the reenactment of an encampment.

Drum Head Church Services

9:45 a.m.

Location: behind Courthouse.

Conversations with Lafayette

10:00 a.m. - 10:40 a.m.

Location: Courthouse (every 20 minutes)
Lafayette talks with the public and disgruntled citizens.

Military Hospital

10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Location: Palace East Advance
Medics tend to the sick and wounded.

Domestic Skills Demonstration

10:30.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Location: behind the Roscoe Cole House
Demonstration of 18th-century domestic skills.

Preparing for the Siege

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Location: Courthouse (every 20 minutes)
Generals Washington, Lafayette, and Rochambeau discuss contingencies for Yorktown.

Dragoon Tactics Demonstration

12:30 p.m.

Location: Market Square

Military Musick

1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Location: Magazine
A demonstration of beatings and signals used by the army.

Use of the Rifle on the Battlefield

1:30 p.m.

Location: Market Square
Rifle tactics demonstration.

Officers' Dinner

2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Location: Randolph House
Generals Washington, Lafayette, Rochambeau and other officers enjoy dinner and conversation.

Artillery Demonstration

4:00 p.m.

Location: Market Square

Army Prepares to March

5:00 p.m.

Location: Market Square
Infantry exercise and firing demonstration.

Washington Addresses Troops

*5:20 p.m.

Location: Market Square
The reading of General Washington’s marching orders.