American Revolutionary War Victories of Saratoga and Yorktown Annual Celebration
Each October the LMHA celebrates two of the Continental Army’s most decisive Revolutionary War victories, the battles of Saratoga and Yorktown. While other Continental Army victories, such as the siege of Boston, were essential to the final defeat of British forces and the recognition of United States of America as an independent, sovereign nation by the British Crown, Saratoga and Yorktown are indisputably considered to be the definitive turning points of the American Revolution in that both resulted in the surrender of significant British forces along with their commanding officers (on October 17, 1777 and October 19, 1781, respectively).
For the devotees of lower Manhattan history, these two battles hold special significance. Both General Horatio Gates, the commanding general at the Battle of Saratoga, and Alexander Hamilton, a key aide to General George Washington and the leader the climactic charge against redoubt 10 at the Battle of Yorktown, are buried at the site our ceremony in Trinity Churchyard. We note that while the grave of Alexander Hamilton, well known as the first Secretary of the United States Treasury and a key contributor to the Federalist Papers, has been known to patriots and historians from the day of his burial to the present, that Horatio Gates was left unmarked for almost 200 years; an omission addressed and remedied by the New York State Daughters of the American Revolution. This annual commemorative ceremony, led by the Lower Manhattan Historical Society and its sponsoring member organizations, addresses this gap in the understanding of our city’s contribution to the American Revolution cause. Also buried in Trinity Churchyard and dutifully honored as part of this ceremony is Marinus Willett, a critically important commander at the Battle of Fort Stanwix (a subsidiary battle to Saratoga and a very important post-Revolutionary War New York City politician).
Additionally, the Battle of Yorktown is symbolic of the United States of America’s oldest military alliance. Powerful French land forces, commanded by the Comte de Rochambeau, and an equally important and sizable French fleet, commanded by the Comte de Grasse, played a crucial role in the defeat and capitulation of the British army commanded by Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis. As such, the celebration of this great victory offers us the opportunity to commemorate our friendship with United States of America’s first ally by hosting representatives of the French military and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
2023 Saratoga Yorktown
As a prelude to the Lower Manhattan Historical Association (LMHA)’s annual Saratoga Yorktown Celebration commemorating the American victories of Saratoga on October 17, 1777 and Yorktown on October 19, 1781, visit sites in Lower Manhattan affiliated with Marinus Willett, Alexander Hamilton and Horatio Gates, the key generals in these important battles. This unique tour will visit little-known places in plain sight of which many New Yorkers are unaware relating to New York City’s Revolutionary War history.
2022 Saratoga Yorktown
As a prelude to the Lower Manhattan Historical Association (LMHA)’s annual Saratoga Yorktown Celebration commemorating the American victories of Saratoga on October 17, 1777 and Yorktown on October 19, 1781, visit sites in Lower Manhattan affiliated with Marinus Willett, Alexander Hamilton and Horatio Gates, the key generals in these important battles. This unique tour will visit little-known places in plain sight of which many New Yorkers are unaware relating to New York City’s Revolutionary War history.
October 24, 2020 Virtual Commemoration
In 2020, without the flags, uniforms, and historic venues, the LMHA is virtually celebrating two of the most significant events in American and world history: (a) the first surrender of a British army in history, at Saratoga, NY, on October 17, 1777, which changed the course of the Revolutionary War; and (b) the second surrender of a British army at Yorktown, VA, on October 19, 1781, which effectively ended the hostilities. We honor three heroes of those events buried in Trinity Churchyard in Lower Manhattan.
Program
Introduction and Welcome
Ambrose Madison Richardson, President LMHA
Past President Sons of the Revolution of New York, City Council Proclamation
Geraldine Kaplan, Co-chairperson of the Committee to Save the Thomas Paine Memorial Building
Horatio Gates
Wesley M. Oler IV, President Sons of the American Revolution, First New York Continental Chapter. Independent Investment Consultant
Marinus Willett
James S. Kaplan, Chairman & Co-Founder LMHA, Lawyer, Author, and Tour Guide
Alexander Hamilton
Sergio Villavicencio, Vice President, The Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society
Roundtable
Peter Feinman, President & Founder, Institute of History, Archaeology, and Education
