VA-E106 Washington-Rochambeau Route Alexandria Encampment

Marker text: WASHINGTON-ROCHAMBEAU ROUTE ALEXANDRIA ENCAMPMENT

Most of the American and French armies set sail from three ports in Maryland -- Annapolis, Baltimore, and Head of Elk -- in mid-Sept. 1781 to besiege the British army in Yorktown. The allied supply-wagon train proceeded overland to Yorktown, its itinerary divided into segments called "Marches." Its "Fourth March" was from Georgetown to Alexandria; the wagons took two days, 24-25 Sept., to cross the Potomac and reunite in Virginia. The Alexandria camp was roughly a half-mile in area, located north of Oronoco Street bisected by Washington Street. The train left Alexandria on 26 Sept.

Department of Historic Resources, 1998