The Battle of Yorktown (September 28 - October 19, 1781) was the decisive victory of the American Revolutionary War, where combined American-French forces led by George Washington and Comte de Rochambeau besieged and defeated British forces under General Cornwallis in Virginia.

The Battle of Yorktown stands as one of the most pivotal moments in American history marking the decisive victory that effectively ended the American Revolutionary War. This crucial battle took place from September 28 to October 19 1781 in Yorktown Virginia where American and French forces surrounded and defeated British troops under General Charles Cornwallis.

Led by General George Washington and French commander Comte de Rochambeau the allied forces executed a brilliant strategy that trapped the British army against the York River. The siege lasted three weeks showcasing unprecedented cooperation between American and French military forces. Their combined strength proved too formidable for the British who had dominated much of the war until this point. This battle would become the last major land battle of the Revolutionary War paving the way for American independence.

Several critical military maneuvers in 1781 positioned the Continental and French armies for their decisive victory at Yorktown. The coordination between American and French forces created a strategic advantage that trapped British forces in Virginia.

British General Cornwallis moved his forces to Yorktown in August 1781, establishing a defensive position with 8,300 troops. Three essential developments shaped the campaign:

• Lafayette's forces pushed Cornwallis toward the Virginia peninsula
• Admiral de Grasse's French fleet arrived in the Chesapeake Bay with 3,000 troops
• British naval forces failed to break through the French blockade on September 5

The Franco-American strategy emerged through precise coordination:

Strategic Element	American Forces	French Forces
Total Troops	5,500	7,800
Travel Distance	400 miles	400 miles
March Duration	36 days	36 days
Artillery Units	15	35

• Feinting toward New York to deceive British intelligence
• Coordinating naval blockade timing with ground force arrival
• Establishing supply lines from Philadelphia to Virginia
• Positioning artillery units for maximum effectiveness against British fortifications

The siege of Yorktown unfolded through a series of coordinated military actions across 20 days, combining naval blockades with systematic ground assaults.

The Allied forces initiated their siege operations on September 28, 1781, positioning 18,900 troops around Yorktown. French and American forces established parallel siege lines: the Americans took the eastern sector while the French occupied the western sector. By October 6, the first parallel was completed at 600 yards from British defenses, featuring artillery batteries positioned to maximize damage to British fortifications.

Allied Forces	Number of Troops
Continental Army	8,800
French Army	7,800
French Marines	2,300
Total Allied Forces	18,900

• Damaged 5 British ships forcing their return to New York
• Maintained control of the bay entrance
• Prevented supplies from reaching Cornwallis
• Cut off potential British evacuation routes

Naval Forces	Number of Ships
French Fleet	24
British Fleet	19
Ships Damaged (British)	5
Ships Lost	0

The Battle of Yorktown progressed through three distinct phases marked by strategic trench warfare and artillery placements. Each phase systematically weakened British defenses through coordinated Franco-American operations.

Allied forces constructed their initial siege line 600 yards from British fortifications on October 6, 1781. French and American troops dug trenches overnight, installing 24 heavy guns positioned to target key British defensive positions. The artillery bombardment began on October 9, with 18-pound cannons damaging British earthworks at Fusiliers Redoubt, destroying several British vessels in the harbor.

Construction of the second parallel began 300 yards from British positions on October 11, requiring the capture of two British redoubts. French forces attacked Redoubt 9 while American troops led by Alexander Hamilton captured Redoubt 10 on October 14. The allied forces installed additional artillery batteries, intensifying bombardment with 100 guns firing simultaneously at British positions.

British forces attempted a failed breakout on October 16, losing 150 soldiers during their assault on allied positions. Cornwallis sent a surrender message on October 17 after his ammunition depleted. The formal surrender ceremony occurred at 2 PM on October 19, with:

Surrender Details	Numbers
British Troops Surrendered	7,087
Captured Artillery Pieces	240
Captured Ships	44
British Casualties	156 killed, 326 wounded
American-French Casualties	88 killed, 301 wounded

The British troops marched out to "The World Turned Upside Down" while General Cornwallis remained in his quarters, citing illness. Colonel Thomas Symonds surrendered Cornwallis's sword to General Benjamin Lincoln.

The Battle of Yorktown featured three prominent commanders who shaped the outcome of this decisive engagement. Each leader's military expertise influenced the strategic decisions that determined the battle's result.

George Washington commanded the Continental Army as Commander-in-Chief during the Battle of Yorktown. His strategic prowess emerged through coordinating the allied forces' movements from New York to Virginia executing a complex deception campaign that misled British intelligence. Washington directed 8,800 Continental troops during the siege positioning them in the eastern sector of Yorktown where they systematically weakened British defenses through artillery bombardment.

Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur comte de Rochambeau led 7,800 French troops during the Yorktown campaign. His forces occupied the western sector of the siege lines deploying experienced French artillery units that proved crucial in breaching British fortifications. Rochambeau's coordination with Washington created an effective command structure integrating French naval forces with land operations through precise timing of troop movements communications.

Lieutenant General Charles Earl Cornwallis commanded 8,300 British troops defending Yorktown's fortifications. His decision to establish defensive positions in Yorktown proved strategically flawed when French naval forces cut off his escape route. Cornwallis attempted a failed breakout on October 16 1781 leading to his surrender three days later. His absence from the formal surrender ceremony citing illness left Colonel Thomas Symonds to present his sword.

Commander	Forces Under Command	Casualties (Killed/Wounded)
Washington	8,800 Continental	88/301 (Combined American-French)
Rochambeau	7,800 French	88/301 (Combined American-French)
Cornwallis	8,300 British	156/326

The Battle of Yorktown delivered a decisive blow to British military operations in North America, effectively ending major combat operations in the American Revolution. This pivotal victory transformed the political landscape and accelerated negotiations for American independence.

The surrender at Yorktown eliminated 25% of Britain's military forces in North America, comprising 7,087 troops, 240 artillery pieces and 44 ships. This significant reduction in military capabilities forced the British to abandon their southern campaign strategy. Prime Minister Lord North received news of the defeat on November 25, 1781, declaring "Oh God, it's all over." The British Parliament voted to end offensive operations in North America in February 1782, maintaining only defensive positions in New York, Charleston and Savannah.

• Recognition of American sovereignty over territory from the Atlantic to the Mississippi River
• British withdrawal from American territory within 6 months
• American access to the Newfoundland fishing banks
• Protection of loyalist property rights
• Payment of pre-war debts to British creditors

Treaty of Paris Outcomes	Details
Territory Gained	13 colonies plus land to Mississippi River
British Withdrawal	All posts evacuated by 1784
American Debt	$4.5 million owed to British creditors
Fishing Rights	Access to Grand Banks guaranteed
Population Gained	2.5 million citizens recognized as Americans

• The Battle of Yorktown took place from September 28 to October 19, 1781, in Yorktown, Virginia, marking the last major land battle of the American Revolutionary War
• General George Washington and French commander Comte de Rochambeau led a combined force of 18,900 Allied troops against British General Cornwallis's 8,300 soldiers
• The battle involved a three-week siege where French naval forces blocked British escape routes while Allied ground forces systematically weakened British defenses
• British forces formally surrendered on October 19, 1781, with 7,087 troops captured along with 240 artillery pieces and 44 ships
• The victory at Yorktown effectively ended the American Revolutionary War, leading to British Parliament voting to cease offensive operations and eventually signing the Treaty of Paris

The Battle of Yorktown stands as a testament to the power of strategic alliance military operations and effective leadership. This pivotal engagement demonstrated how coordinated naval and land forces could achieve decisive victories even against formidable opponents.

The battle's outcome changed the course of American history by securing independence and establishing the United States as a sovereign nation. The surrender of British forces at Yorktown not only marked the end of major military operations but also initiated the diplomatic processes that would formally recognize American independence through the Treaty of Paris.

Today the Battle of Yorktown remains one of history's most significant military engagements serving as a remarkable example of how determination strategic planning and international cooperation can alter the fate of nations.