Siege of Yorktown
American War of Independence · Yorktown, Virginia, United States
Summary
From 28 September to 19 October 1781, the Siege of Yorktown in Virginia saw surrender of General Cornwallis's British army. Rochambeau's and Washington's Franco-American troops, supported by De Grasse's French fleet, encircled Cornwallis on the Yorktown peninsula. British capitulation ended the American War of Independence.
Historical context
In 1781 the American War of Independence was stalled in the north. Washington and Rochambeau decided to march to Virginia to strike Cornwallis, isolated on the Chesapeake. De Grasse, with 28 ships, defeated Graves's British fleet at the Battle of the Chesapeake (5 September) and blocked all naval evacuation.
Tactics
Allies established classical siege with parallel trenches and artillery batteries. Franco-Americans advanced by sap to 150 meters from British lines. On 14 October Allies took redoubts 9 and 10; Cornwallis attempted night evacuation which failed. On 19 October 7,087 British soldiers laid down arms.
Consequences
Yorktown convinced the British Parliament to accept peace. The Treaty of Paris (1783) recognized United States independence. For France, victory weakened the British rival but deepened the royal deficit, indirectly contributing to the 1789 crisis. Rochambeau and De Grasse entered shared Franco-American memory.