Siege of Yorktown

Lore & Background

The French and American armies united north of New York City during the summer of 1781. Following the arrival of dispatches from France that included the possibility of support from the French West Indies fleet of the Comte de Grasse, disagreements arose between Washington and Rochambeau on whether to ask de Grasse for assistance in besieging New York or in military operations against a British army in Virginia. On the advice of Rochambeau, de Grasse informed them of his intent to sail to the Chesapeake Bay, where Cornwallis had taken command of the British army. Cornwallis, at first given confusing orders by his superior officer, Henry Clinton, was eventually ordered to build a defensible deep-water port, which he began to do at Yorktown. Cornwallis's movements in Virginia were shadowed by a Continental Army force led by Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette.

When word of de Grasse's decision to engage the British navy at the Chesapeake Bay arrived in New York, the American and French armies began moving south toward Virginia, engaging in deception tactics to lead the British to believe a siege of New York was planned. De Grasse sailed from the West Indies and arrived at Chesapeake Bay at the end of August, bringing additional troops and creating a naval blockade of Yorktown. In the beginning of September, he defeated a British fleet led by Sir Thomas Graves, which was dispatched to relieve Cornwallis at the Battle of the Chesapeake. As a result of this victory, de Grasse blocked any reinforcement or escape by sea for Cornwallis and also disembarked the heavy siege guns required by the allied land forces. Washington and Rochambeau arrived at Yorktown on September 28, 1781. Washington moved the army closer to the British defenses on September 29. The American and French army and naval forces had completely surrounded Cornwallis.

After initial preparations, the Americans and French built their first parallel and began the bombardment. With the British defense weakened, on October 14, 1781, Washington sent two columns to attack the last major remaining British outer defenses. A French column under Vicomte de Deux-Ponts took Redoubt No. 9 and an American column under Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton took Redoubt No. 10. With these defenses, the allies were able to finish their second parallel. With the Franco-American artillery closer and its bombardment more intense than ever, the British position began to deteriorate rapidly. Cornwallis asked for capitulation terms on October 17. After two days of negotiation, the surrender ceremony occurred on October 19; Cornwallis was absent from the ceremony. With the capture of more than 7,000 British soldiers, negotiations between the United States and Great Britain began, resulting in the Treaty of Paris of 1783.

Reader's Guide

The Siege of Yorktown marked the decisive end of major combat in the American Revolutionary War. The victory by the Continental Army and French forces forced the surrender of a large British army under Cornwallis, effectively ending British hopes of suppressing the rebellion. The siege demonstrated the importance of Franco-American cooperation, particularly the critical role of the French Navy under de Grasse in blockading Cornwallis by sea and defeating the British relief fleet. The capture of over 7,000 British soldiers directly led to the start of negotiations between the United States and Great Britain, culminating in the Treaty of Paris of 1783, which formally recognized American independence. The siege remains a pivotal event in U.S. history, showcasing combined land and naval operations and the strategic leadership of Washington, Rochambeau, and de Grasse.

Did You Know?

• The siege is also known as the Battle of Yorktown and the surrender at Yorktown.
• Cornwallis was absent from the surrender ceremony on October 19, 1781.
• The French column under Vicomte de Deux-Ponts took Redoubt No. 9, and the American column under Alexander Hamilton took Redoubt No. 10.
• De Grasse defeated a British fleet led by Sir Thomas Graves at the Battle of the Chesapeake.