York town

(york'lown,) in Virginia, a small port of entry, C. of York co., on York River, 70 m. E.S.E. of Richmond. This place was occupied by a British force of8,000 men, under Lord Cornwall is, Aug., 1781, who strongly fortified it. In the month following itwas invested by an allied American-French army under Washington, which compelled Cornwall is with his entire force to surrender as prisoners of war. During the Civil War, P. was besieged, for the second time, byGen. McClellan, April 5 to May 3, 1862, when its Confederate garrison evacuated the place. [s. 975]