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The Battle of Yorktown (1781) was the last major battle in the American Revolution. British general Cornwallis was against French general Marquis de Lafayette and General George Washington. French admiral DeGrasse was commander of the French naval fleet and defeated the British navy, thus prohibiting them from entering Chesapeake Bay and giving aid and resources to Cornwallis. Cornwallis was surrendered--Washington's troops came from the North and Lafayette's from the South. This was called the 'pincer' strategy. Cornwallis couldn't go anywhere--by land (blockage by Washington and Lafayette) or by sea (blockage by DeGrasse). Cornwallis surrendered on October 17, his troops vastly outnumbered. By winning this battle, America won the war.
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FranFebruary, 1781 The Major General Marquis de Lafayette was ordered to take his Continental troops to
May 10, 1781 British General Charles Cornwallis, earl Cornwallis, and his army entered Virginia. Cornwallis
believed that American resistance would fail if he defeated Virginia.
August 1-2, 1781 Cornwallis and his army encamped at Yorktown and across the York River at Gloucester
Point. Lafayette's spies overheard Cornwallis's plans to use the port as a base of
supply and Lafayette relayed word to General George Washington in New York.
August 14, 1781 Washington found out that French Admiral de Grasse was sailing for the Chesapeake Bay with
a large battle fleet and army.
August 19, 1781 Washington began to move the allied army south secretly.
September 5, 1781
The French fleet under Admiral de Grasse defeated a British fleet
under Admiral Thomas Graves in the Battle of the Capes,
leaving the British army isolated and without a prospect of
reinforcement at Yorktown.
September 14, 1781 The British navy withdrew from the Virginia coast.
September 14, 1781 Washington and French General Rochambeau arrived in Williamsburg.
October 14, 1781
In the night, 400 French soldiers stormed British Redoubt No. 9 and 400
American soldiers under the command of Lafayette and Alexander
Hamilton stormed Redoubt No. 10.
October 16-17, 1781 Under heavy bombardment from the allied army, Cornwallis realized that reinforcements would
not reach him in time. He decided to escape from Yorktown, but a sudden storm ruined
evacuation attempts.
October 19, 1781 British troops under Cornwallis surrendered to Washington's combined American and French
forces, effectively ending major military operations in the American Revolution.
October 21, 1781 British troops were sent to Winchester, Virginia; Frederick, Maryland; and Lancaster,
Pennsylvania for imprisonment.
October 28, 1781
Cornwallis signed a parole agreeing to stop
fighting the Americans.
November 25, 1781 Prime Minister Lord North exclaimed, "Oh God, it is all over" when news of the Yorktown
defeat reached London.
September 3, 1783 By the terms of the Treaty of Paris, Great Britain recognized the independence of the United
States. Congress ratified the treaty on January 14, 1784.
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What state was the Battle of Yorktown fought in?
The Battle of Yorktown took place in Virginia.
How did Yorktown get its name?
From the Battle of Yorktown. It was the battle that ended the Revolutionary War. Yorktown is the south eastern tip of Virginia.
What battle helped end the American revolution?
the Battle of Yorktown was the last major battle of the American Revolution.
Where was the last battle of the American Revolution fought at?
Shawnee Indian village in the Ohio territory*
Where did General Cornwallis surrender to American and French forces?
Yorktown, in 1781, in Virginia
