Battle of Yorktown
Video
Siege of Yorktown-National Park Video
Leaders of Battle of Yorktown
• George Washington- General of the Continental
Army
• Comte de Rochambeau-Commander of the
French Army sent by King Louis XVI
• General Charles Lord Cornwallis- Commander of
the British Army
Timeline of Battle
• 1777-1778- Valley Forge- George Washington
is suffering defeats and desertions.
• Summer 1780- The French, led by Comte
Rochambeau arrive to help the Americans
defeat the British.
Occupation of Yorktown
• August 1781- Cornwallis occupies Yorktown
and plans to use the port as a base for
resupplying his troops during the battles
Washington Changes Plan
• August 1781- George Washington changes his
battle plans. Currently, he was in New York
fighting General Clinton and getting no where.
He tricks Clinton into believing he is still in
New York, but he sneaks his troops and
cannons south, towards Yorktown. The troops
walk with great speed and bring along their
cannons. They walk approximately 400 miles
in 5 weeks.
French Help
• August 1781- French ships leave Rhode Island and head for the
Chesapeake Bay. British ships leave New York at the end of August,
heading for the Chesapeake.
• September 11, 1781-Cornwallis is told that
British ships are on their way with soldiers and
supplies. Cornwallis feels good about his siege
of Yorktown. Cornwallis and Clinton did not
get along with one another but Cornwallis
believes that Clinton will send help.
Leaders Meet
• September 14, 1781- Washington and
Rochambeau meet in Williamsburg to prepare
for the battle.
This is a picture of
Washington and
Rochambeau after
the Victory at
Yorktown
Artist: James Peale
Fleets fight
• September 1781- French ships are blockading
the Chesapeake Bay and Clinton is still
promising soldiers and supplies. The French
and British fleets have had small battles, but
the French are able to maintain the blockade
of the Chesapeake Bay. The British suffer
defeat and head back to New York. Another
fleet will be sent.
Washington starts attack
• September 28, 1781- George Washington and
troops leave Williamsburg for fight.
Re-enactor from Williamsburg
of George Washington
Re-enactors from Williamsburg
Cornwallis makes a surprising battle move
• Cornwallis is confident that Clinton will be
coming soon. He retreats from his outer
flanks and takes up positions closer to
Yorktown. This is a surprising decision.
Quotes from General Cornwallis:
 On September 29, Cornwallis assured Clinton, “I . . . have no doubt, if relief arrives in any
reasonable time, York and Gloucester will be both in possession of his Majesty’s troops”.
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Battle Begins
• October 3, 1781- The British are defeated in a
battle near Gloucester. Their pathway for fresh
food for the soldiers and their horses are cut off.
• October 9, 1781- Shots are fired from the
Colonial Army and the French troops. The battle
has begun.
• October 10, 1781- Clinton finally sends his navy
fleet and supplies. Should arrive in Yorktown in
2-3 weeks.
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By October 10, though, Cornwallis pleaded that “nothing but a direct move to York
River—which includes a successful naval action—can save me. . . . We have lost about
seventy of our men and many of our works are considerably damaged . . . we cannot
hope to make a very long resistance. P.S. 5 p.m. Since my letter was written [at 12 p.m.]
we have lost thirty men.”
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Storming of the Redoubts
• October 14, 1781- George Washington and
Rochambeau storm the two closest redoubts
(earthen mounds of dirt built for protection)
and moves cannons closer to Yorktown.
Cornwallis Letter to Clinton after the
assault on the redoubt
 After the assault on the redoubts, Cornwallis wrote, “My situation now becomes very critical. We dare not
show a gun to their old batteries, and I expect that their new ones will open tomorrow morning. . . . The
safety of the place is, therefore, so precarious that I cannot recommend that the fleet and army should run
great risque in endeavoring to save us.”
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The Americans storming the redoubts on October 14, 1781 during the
Battle of Yorktown.
Storming the Redoubt
Battle Map
Cornwallis retreats
• October 16, 1781- British troops are being
bombarded and facing heavy causalities.
Cornwallis realizes that Clinton won’t be there in
time. He tries to leave by crossing the York River,
but a freak storm makes the crossing impossible,
so they return to Yorktown. This type of storm
has only happened a few times. It was just luck
that it happened the night that Cornwallis
wanted to retreat
Cornwallis writes:
• “ At this critical moment,” Cornwallis wrote,
“the weather, from being moderate and calm,
changed to a most violent storm of wind and
rain and drove the boats, some of which had
troops on board, down the river. It was soon
evident that the intended passage was
impracticable.” When the storm died down, at
about 2 a.m., the troops on Gloucester rowed
back to Yorktown. As Tarleton wrote, “Thus
expired the last hope of the British army.”
Document Analysis
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Cornwallis seeks surrender
• October 17, 1781- Cornwallis seeks a cease
fire. He argues terms with Washington for the
next two days. Cornwallis realizes that he has
lost and surrenders 1/3 of all British forces to
Washington and the Colonial Army.
Help arrives a little to late
• October 19, 1781- British soldiers march to
Surrender Field and set down their arms. The
soldiers are taken as prisoners and won’t be
released for a couple of years.
• The British fleet arrives a few days later, but it
is to late for Cornwallis. They turn around and
head back to New York. Clinton and
Cornwallis will argue till they die, which
person actually lost the War.
Cornwallis Surrenders
• Cornwallis does not attend the surrender
ceremony. This is seen as a slap in the face to
Washington. Cornwallis sent General O’Hara
in his place. Washington made General
Benjamin Lincoln accept the surrender
because since O’Hara was the second in
charge, it was only appropriate that the
Colonial Army’s second in command (Lincoln)
accept the surrender.
The surrender of the British at Yorktown, Virginia, on October 19, 1781, ended the
Revolutionary War. Trumbull placed American General Benjamin Lincoln at the
center on a white horse, with French officers on the left and Americans on the
right, led by General Washington on the brown horse. The British are
represented by British officers, but Lord Cornwallis himself was not present.
http://www.aoc.gov/cc/art/rotunda/surrender_cornwallis.cfm
British Army Surrender at Yorktown
Washington reviews the captured prisoners after the British surrender.
Primary Source: Whats wrong with this picture?
Gen. Charles Cornwallis surrenders to Gen. George Washington,
Yorktown, Virginia, October 19, 1781. Library of Congress
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