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General Charles Cornwallis led the British troops defending Yorktown in October 1781. Yorktown was besieged by American land forces under George Washington, French land forces commanded by the Comte de Rochambeau and French warships under the Comte de Grasse.

Yorktown's defensive fortifications were bombarded until they were weakened sufficiently for the attacking armies to overrun them. As his forces were heavily outnumbered and had no chance of being relieved, Cornwallis decided he had no option but to surrender his army. On 17th October 1781 Cornwallis sent a deputation to discuss surrender terms and the official surrender document was signed two days later.

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11y ago

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