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The '''Battle of Yorktown''' was fought in the fall of 1781 in Yorktown, Virginia, between British forces under the command of General Lord [[Charles Cornwallis]], and the American Continental Army under Lieutenant General [[George Washington]].  The victory at Yorktown effectively ended the [[American Revolution]].

The '''Battle of Yorktown''' was fought in the fall of 1781 in Yorktown, Virginia, between British forces under the command of General Lord [[Charles Cornwallis]], and the American Continental Army under Lieutenant General [[George Washington]] along with the French army under Comte de Rochambeau, and the French fleet under Admiral de Grasse.  The victory at Yorktown effectively ended the [[American Revolution]].

==Final movements into Virginia==

==Final movements into Virginia==

By the summer of 1781, the United States had been at war with England for over six years. The first shots had been fired in April 1775 on the village green in Lexington and at North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts. Merely sustaining the army had been a major accomplishment for the Americans, who did not have much money, food or clothing. The winters of 1777-78 at Valley Forge and 1779-80 at Morristown were particularly devastating, with many soldiers freezing and starving to death, and some giving up and returning home. A deep belief in the cause and an enduring faith in their leader, George Washington, kept this army together.

By the summer of 1781, the United States had been at war with England for over six years.  

In the summer of 1780, the Americans received a major boost to their cause when 5,500 French troops, commanded by Comte de Rochambeau, arrived at Newport, Rhode Island. France had been sending supplies to the United States all along, but after France and England declared war against each other in 1778, French King Louis XVI sent troops and naval assistance to the United States to engage the enemy.

In the summer of 1780, the Americans received a major boost to their cause when 5,500 French troops, commanded by Comte de Rochambeau, arrived at Newport, Rhode Island. France had been sending supplies to the United States all along, but after France and England declared war against each other in 1778, French King [[Louis XVI]] sent troops and naval assistance to the United States to engage the enemy.

When Rochambeau’s forces arrived, the British were operating on two fronts. General Clinton, commander of British forces in North America, was occupying New York City after a largely unsuccessful attempt to control the northern and middle colonies. General Lord Cornwallis was leading through the southern colonies an army that had already captured Savannah and Charleston. The main American army under Washington was stationed along the Hudson River above New York City.

When Rochambeau’s forces arrived, the British were operating on two fronts. General Clinton, commander of British forces in North America, was occupying New York City. Cornwallis was marching north from South Carolina. The main American army under Washington was stationed along the Hudson River above New York City.

In the spring of 1781, Washington traveled to Rhode Island to meet with Comte de Rochambeau and plan an attack on Clinton. A French fleet was expected to arrive in New York later that summer, and Washington wanted to coordinate the attack with the fleet's arrival. As planned, Rochambeau's army marched in July and joined with Washington's troops outside New York City, only to learn that the French fleet was sailing to the lower Chesapeake Bay.

In the spring of 1781, Washington met with Rochambeau to plan an attack on Clinton. A French fleet was expected to arrive in New York later that summer, and Washington wanted to coordinate the attack with the fleet's arrival. As planned, Rochambeau's army marched in July and joined with Washington's troops outside New York City, only to learn that the French fleet was sailing to the lower Chesapeake Bay.

Washington changed his strategy to make Clinton think he was planning to attack him, while instead sneaking away to the south to trap Cornwallis. In order to fool Clinton, Washington had his men build big army camps and huge brick bread ovens visible from New York to give the appearance of preparations for a stay. Washington also prepared false papers under his signature discussing plans for an attack on Clinton, and let these papers fall into British hands. Leaving a small force behind, Washington and Rochambeau set out for Yorktown in mid-August. By early September they were parading before the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, and they arrived in Williamsburg, 13 miles west of Yorktown, in mid September.

Washington changed his strategy to make Clinton think he was planning to attack him in NEw York City, while instead slipping away to the south to trap Cornwallis. In order to fool Clinton, Washington had his men build big army camps and huge brick bread ovens visible from New York to give the appearance of preparations for a stay. Washington also prepared false papers under his signature discussing plans for an attack on Clinton, and let these papers fall into British hands. British intelligence failed and Clinton thought Washington and the French army were stationary. 

 

Washington and Rochambeau set out for Yorktown in mid-August and they arrived in Williamsburg, 13 miles west of Yorktown, in mid September.

Cornwallis was in Yorktown because he had been ordered by Clinton during the summer to provide a protected harbor for the British fleet in the lower Chesapeake Bay. Cornwallis chose Yorktown because of its deep-water harbor on the York River. His army spent the latter part of the summer fortifying Yorktown and Gloucester Point across the York River.

Cornwallis was in Yorktown because he had been ordered by Clinton during the summer to provide a protected harbor for the British fleet in the lower Chesapeake Bay. Cornwallis chose Yorktown because of its deep-water harbor on the York River. His army spent the latter part of the summer fortifying Yorktown and Gloucester Point across the York River.

The French fleet, as part of the overall plan, entered the lower Chesapeake Bay in the end of August and disembarked 3,000 French troops to wait for Washington and Rochambeau in Williamsburg. On September 5, they encountered the British fleet in a naval engagement known as the Battle of the Capes. The British suffered damage to their ships and returned to New York, while the French, commanded by Admiral de Grasse, remained in the lower Chesapeake and established a blockade.

The French fleet, as part of the overall plan, entered the lower Chesapeake Bay in the end of August and disembarked 3,000 French troops to wait for Washington and Rochambeau in Williamsburg. On September 5, they encountered the smaller British fleet in a naval engagement known as the '''Battle of the Capes''. The British broke off the engagement and returned to New York for reinforcements. The French, commanded by Admiral de Grasse, remained in the lower Chesapeake and established a blockade.

By the end of September, approximately 17,600 American and French soldiers were gathered in Williamsburg, while 8,300 British soldiers were occupying Yorktown

By the end of September, approximately 17,600 American and French soldiers were gathered in Williamsburg, while 8,300 British soldiers were occupying Yorktown

News of the British defeat at Yorktown spread quickly. Celebrations took place throughout the United States. London was shocked. The British prisoners were marched to prison camps in Winchester, Virginia and Frederick, Maryland. The American army returned to the Hudson River, while the French army remained in Yorktown and Williamsburg for the winter. Clinton and Cornwallis eventually returned to England where they engaged in a long and bitter public controversy over who was to blame for the British defeat at Yorktown.

News of the British defeat at Yorktown spread quickly. Celebrations took place throughout the United States. London was shocked. The British prisoners were marched to prison camps in Winchester, Virginia and Frederick, Maryland. The American army returned to the Hudson River, while the French army remained in Yorktown and Williamsburg for the winter. Clinton and Cornwallis eventually returned to England where they engaged in a long and bitter public controversy over who was to blame for the British defeat at Yorktown.

==Aftermath==

==further reading==

The defeat at Yorktown caused a change in the British government. Prime Minister Lord North and the Tory party were ousted, and the Whigs, under Rockingham, assumed power. This new government opened negotiations with the American commissioners in Paris.

* Adams, Randolph G. "A View of Cornwallis's Surrender at Yorktown." ''American Historical Review'' 1931 37(1): 25-49. Issn: 0002-8762 [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0002-8762(193110)37%3A1%3C25%3AAVOCSA%3E2.0.CO%3B2-X online at Jstor]

 

*Clement, R: “The World Turned Upside down At the Surrender of Yorktown”, ''Journal of American Folklore'', Vol. 92, No. 363 (Jan. - Mar., 1979), pp. 66-67 (available on Jstor)

The American had eight main goals, four of which were considered to be essential to any peace settlement, and the other four to be favorable additions. The four essential terms included:

* Greene, Jerome. ''Guns of Independence: The Siege of Yorktown, 1781'' (2005)

*Independence from Great Britain and removal of all British troops from United States territory;

* Ketchum, Richard M. ''Victory at Yorktown: The Campaign That Won the Revolution'' (2004)

*Settlement of all boundaries;

* Morrissey, Brendan and Adam Hook. ''Yorktown 1781: The World Turned Upside Down'' (1994) British perspective

*Canadian territory to revert to those boundaries before the Quebec Act;

* Tuchman, Barbara W.  ''The First Salute'' 1988, chapter on battle

*American rights to fish in the Grand Banks and use of Canadian shores to dry and cure the catch.

* Willcox, Walter. “The British Road to Yorktown: A Study in Divided Command”, ''The American Historical Review'', Vol. 52, No. 1. (Oct., 1946), pp. 1-35  [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0002-8762(194610)52%3A1%3C1%3ATBRTYA%3E2.0.CO%3B2-W in JSTOR]

The optional terms included Britain ceding all of Canada to the United States, British payment for damage caused by British military action, a formal apology by Parliament admitting that Britain was wrong to have caused the war, and allowing American ships and merchants to have the same rights and privileges of commerce as their British counterparts within the British Empire.

*Wood, W. J. ''Battles of the Revolutionary War, 1775–1781''. ISBN 0-306-81329-7 (2003)

 

*Wright, J: “Notes on the Siege of Yorktown in 1781 with Special Reference to the Conduct of a Siege in the Eighteenth Century”, ''William and Mary Quarterly'', 2nd Ser., Vol. 12, No. 4 (Oct., 1932), pp. 229-249, [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0043-5597(193210)212:4%3C229:NOTSOY%3E2.0.CO;2-M&origin=historycoop ONLINE AT jstor]

By November 1782, the British and American commissioners had reached agreement and signed preliminary terms of peace. However, under the terms of the Franco-American alliance, this peace treaty could not go into effect until Britain and France reach agreement. In turn, France had an additional alliance with Spain, so no Anglo-French treaty could go into effect until Britain and Spain also reach agreement. Unfortunately, Spain's nominal contribution to the war was counterbalanced by the most ambitious territorial demand - the return of Gilbralter by Great Britain.

* ''West Point Atlas'' excellent coverage of major battles[http://www.military.com/Resources/HistorySubmittedFileView?file=history_americanrevolution_maps.htm online]

 

The French proposed that Gilbralter be returned to Spain, that Great Britain be compensated by awarding her several French islands in the Caribbean, and that Spain cede control of Santa Domingo to France. The war-weary British expressed interest in this plan.

 

In September 1782, Spain had mounted an expedition, attempting to retake Gilbralter. Negotiations were frozen as all eyes turned expectantly to view the result. It was a humiliating failure, which, together with the French naval defeat in the Caribbean, reinvigorated the British and hardened their negotiating position. Spain and France were now forced to be more accommodating at the negotiating table.

 

The British put forth a proposal in which they would retain Gilbralter, but Spain would be bought off by awarding her East and West Florida. The Spanish were also reluctant to accept the Mississippi River as the western border of the United States, having their own claims to the territory between the Mississippi and the Appalachian Mountains (Spain had gained control of Louisiana after the [[Seven Years War]]). France, on the verge of bankruptcy, pressured Spain to accept this settlement and thus end the war.

* [http://www.nps.gov/archive/colo/Ythanout/ytsiege.html National Archives report, the main source for this article]

{{License|license = This work is in the [[public domain]] in the United States because it is a work of the United States Federal Government under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code.| source = [http://www.nps.gov/archive/colo/Ythanout/ytsiege.html]}}

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[[Category:American Revolutionary War Battles]]

[[Category:American Revolutionary War Battles]]