On the return march from Yorktown, Virginia, Rochambeau’s Army again set up encampments surrounding Hunt’s Tavern. The army stayed nearly five weeks at Hunt’s Tavern, which was also known as Crompond after Crom Pond, one of two ponds (tangs in French) just north of the village. General Rochambeau made his headquarters at the house of Captain Samuel Delavan, which formerly stood on Hallock’s Mill Road. Four additional camps surrounding Hunt’s Tavern housed the Bourbonnais Brigade, which included the Royal Deux-Ponts regiment as well as the Bourbonnais regiment, the Soissonnais and Saintonge regiments, and Lauzun’s Legion.

The first camp was located on the north side of Baldwin Road, near the intersection with Crompond Road. A second encampment was on the north slope of French Hill, near the intersection of present-day Blossom Court and Giordano Drive. A third camp was situated on the north side of Hallock’s Mill Road by Parker Lane. The fourth camp was located south in Croton Heights, in what is now known as Hilltop Hanover Farm.

During these five weeks, the French soldiers helped repair some of the ravages of the war. They restored the mill and part of the home of Captain Samuel Delavan. They improved the local infrastructure by building an aqueduct to increase the water supply which is still here today and is a prominent part of Yorktown’s local geography. They constructed barracks in the fields, and built two large field ovens to allow the army to bake bread.

But they also angered the local community by cutting large amounts of wood and tearing down fences in order to keep themselves warm in the colder weather and cook their meals.
Right before departing for Boston on October 20th, 1782, an unpleasant incident occurred. Captain Delavan claimed what the French regarded as an exorbitant amount as damages to his property and demanded to be paid. He even arranged for a sheriff to be prepared to arrest Rochambeau. Gracious as always, Rochambeau ordered his quartermaster to settle the dispute by paying for the damages.

What impressed Rochambeau’s fellow officers, in addition to Rochambeau’s wisdom and generosity, was that the Americans had such respect for property rights that they would not hesitate to seek redress from a person of the Count’s social standing. In turn, Rochambeau’s respect for colonial landowner rights in this widely publicized affair reportedly helped save his life at least once during the French Revolution. With this incident resolved, the French departed Yorktown on October 21, 1782.

Of note is that when Yorktown was incorporated in 1788, residents changed the name of their community from Crompond to Yorktown to commemorate the role they had played in achieving the victory in Yorktown, Virginia.