Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was a decisive engagement fought from September 28 to October 19, 1781, near Yorktown, Virginia, marking the end of major hostilities in the American Revolutionary War. It was the last major battle of the conflict and resulted in a significant victory for the American forces and their French allies against the British.
Background
- By 1781, the British, led by General Cornwallis, had decided to move their forces from the Carolinas to Virginia, establishing a base at Yorktown on the York River, hoping to resupply and receive reinforcements by sea.
- However, this move was intercepted by George Washington and his French allies, who saw an opportunity to trap the British forces.
The Siege
- Washington, with assistance from French General Marquis de Lafayette, moved his army south from New York, while French Admiral Francois Joseph Paul de Grasse blocked British naval support from reaching Yorktown by sea.
- The combined American and French forces, totaling around 17,000 troops, began a siege on October 9, 1781. They bombarded the British defenses with artillery and dug trenches to advance closer to the British lines.
- On October 14, American and French forces attacked two key redoubts (Redoubts 9 and 10), successfully capturing them, which allowed for further artillery positioning and closer encirclement of the British position.
The Surrender
- After intense bombardment and with no hope of reinforcement or escape, Cornwallis sent word to Washington on October 17, 1781, requesting terms of surrender.
- The formal Articles of Capitulation were signed on October 19, 1781. British forces marched out of Yorktown and surrendered their arms, with the British band famously playing "The World Turned Upside Down."
- Approximately 7,000 British soldiers became prisoners of war.
Impact and Aftermath
- While not officially ending the war (the Treaty of Paris in 1783 did that), the Battle of Yorktown effectively concluded major military operations in America.
- The British public's support for the war waned, and the British government soon began negotiations for peace.
- The victory at Yorktown solidified the Franco-American alliance and was a major morale booster for the American cause.
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