History Of Trench Warfare

On October 9, 1781, the Americans had finished digging their trenches around Yorktown where their artillery would be located. Over the next several days the French and the American artillery would fire over 15,000 rounds into fortified British positions. The constant bombardment was critical for Washington’s plan to work. It suppressed the British ability to organize a effective counter-fire and gave the ground forces the cover they needed to move closer and dig another trench closer to the British positions. To complete the trench, the Franco/American forces would have to capture two redoubts (small fortified outposts). On October 14, each force sent 400 men to capture redoubts 9 and 10. It took them less than 30 minutes to capture both