The Gloucester Historical Society welcomed Watermen’s Museum Education Director Mike Steen to its quarterly meeting on Sunday to talk about the status of projects to document and preserve the historic shipwrecks of the York River.

From Abingdon Episcopal Church’s fellowship hall, Steen addressed upwards of 50 attendees on projects pertaining to wrecks from the American Revolution, Civil War, and late 19th century.

As reported last week, surveying is ongoing on multiple targets from Lord Cornwallis’ scuttled fleet at Yorktown. Steen addressed the history of these shipwrecks, past and current archeological efforts, as well as future plans for the sites.

During the siege at Yorktown, following the intentional sinking of ships by the British to protect their rear from a potential landing by French marines, several vessels were sunk on both sides of the river in subsequent action.

Three “fireships,” remnants of an attempt to break the French line at the m...