All commemorators of the siege and surrender at Yorktown might also
reflect on the fact that by far the largest contingent of African
Americans there were the thousands of slaves or ex-slaves who had run off
to the British to win their freedom. They were used by Cornwallis to dig
earthworks and perform other labors behind British lines. At some point,
they were turned out--many starving and sick with smallpox--into "no
man's land" where they tried to evade capture and find food. For most
of these we have no rosters, yet they too were in their own way fighting
for freedom. Who will commemorate their sacrifices and suffering?

Douglas Deal
Professor of History and Chair of History Department
State University of New York at Oswego
Oswego, NY 13126
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(315)-312-5632

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