Changes

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.

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.

Cornwallis recognized the odds were in the allies' favor, and he sent Clinton a note asking for help. Clinton responded that a British fleet with 5,000 men would sail for Yorktown from New York on October 5.

 

The British forces included a small number of German auxiliary troops hired to help fight the war. Cornwallis recognized the odds were in the allies' favor, and he sent Clinton a note asking for help. Clinton responded that a British fleet with 5,000 men would sail for Yorktown from New York on October 5.

Cornwallis had his men construct a main line of defense around Yorktown that consisted of ten small enclosed forts (called redoubts), batteries with artillery and connecting trenches. The Americans and French marched from Williamsburg to Yorktown on September 28 and began digging a trench 800 yards from the British defense line to begin a siege. By October 9, the allies' trench was finished and their artillery had been moved up. Firing at the British continuously, they had virtually knocked the British guns out of action by October 11. Cornwallis had the additional misfortune to learn at that time that Clinton's departure from New York had been delayed.

Cornwallis had his men construct a main line of defense around Yorktown that consisted of ten small enclosed forts (called redoubts), batteries with artillery and connecting trenches. The Americans and French marched from Williamsburg to Yorktown on September 28 and began digging a trench 800 yards from the British defense line to begin a siege. By October 9, the allies' trench was finished and their artillery had been moved up. Firing at the British continuously, they had virtually knocked the British guns out of action by October 11. Cornwallis had the additional misfortune to learn at that time that Clinton's departure from New York had been delayed.

==The Surrender==

==The Surrender==

At 10 o'clock on the morning of October 17, 1781, a drummer beating a "parley," and a British officer with a flag of truce, mounted a parapet south of Yorktown. The allies saw the signal, and soon the incessant, devastating artillery fire ceased. A hushed stillness fell over the field.  Lord Cornwallis, realizing the defeat of his army was inevitable, sent a message to General George Washington:

At 10 o'clock on the morning of October 17, 1781, a drummer beating a "parley," and a British officer with a flag of truce, mounted a parapet south of Yorktown. The allies saw the signal, and soon the incessant, devastating artillery fire ceased. A hushed stillness fell over the field.  Lord Cornwallis, realizing the defeat of his army was inevitable, sent a handwritten note to Washington:

:''"Sir, I propose a cessation of hostilities for twenty-four hours, and that two officers may be appointed by each side, to meet at Mr. Moore's house, to settle terms for the surrender of the posts of York and Gloucester."''

:''"Sir, I propose a cessation of hostilities for twenty-four hours, and that two officers may be appointed by each side, to meet at Mr. Moore's house, to settle terms for the surrender of the posts of York and Gloucester."''

Washington agreed to only a two hour cease fire for Cornwallis to submit general terms of surrender. Messages continued to pass over the battlefield between the two commanders.  Finally, on the afternoon of October 18, the two British commissioners, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Dundas and Major Alexander Ross met in "Mr. Moore's house" with the allied officers, Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, for the Americans, and Second Colonel Viscount de Noailles (Marquis de Lafayette's brother-in-law), representing the French.  The negotiations ended before midnight, and Laurens carried a rough draft of the articles to General Washington. Washington, however, was not completely happy with the results and made a few minor changes. Once the articles were revised and redrafted, a copy was sent to Cornwallis in Yorktown for his signature.

Washington agreed to only a two-hour cease fire for Cornwallis to submit general terms of surrender. Messages continued to pass over the battlefield between the two commanders.  Finally, on the afternoon of October 18, the two British commissioners, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Dundas and Major Alexander Ross met in "Mr. Moore's house" with the allied officers, Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, for the Americans, and Second Colonel Viscount de Noailles (Marquis de Lafayette's brother-in-law), representing the French.  The negotiations ended before midnight, and Laurens carried a rough draft of the articles to General Washington. Washington, however, was not completely happy with the results and made a few minor changes. Once the articles were revised and redrafted, a copy was sent to Cornwallis in Yorktown for his signature.

===The Articles===

===The Articles===

The third article referred to the surrender ceremony and contained the provision that deprived the British of the honors war. Customary honors allowed the surrendering troops to march out of their works with their regimental flags flying and playing an enemy's tune in honor of the victor. George Washington was not going to allow these honors, instead he stated, " The same honors will be granted to the surrendering army as granted to the garrison of Charlestown". In May, 1780, an American army was captured at Charleston, South Carolina and not given the honors of war, therefore, in retaliation, the British would not be granted them at Yorktown. The troops, the article read, were to "...march out...with shouldered arms, colors cased, and drums beating a British or German march. They are then to ground their arms and return to their encampment, where they will remain until they are dispatched to the places of their destination..."

The third article referred to the surrender ceremony and contained the provision that deprived the British of the honors war. Customary honors allowed the surrendering troops to march out of their works with their regimental flags flying and playing an enemy's tune in honor of the victor. George Washington was not going to allow these honors, instead he stated, " The same honors will be granted to the surrendering army as granted to the garrison of Charlestown". In May, 1780, an American army was captured at Charleston, South Carolina and not given the honors of war, therefore, in retaliation, the British would not be granted them at Yorktown. The troops, the article read, were to "...march out...with shouldered arms, colors cased, and drums beating a British or German march. They are then to ground their arms and return to their encampment, where they will remain until they are dispatched to the places of their destination..."

By the afternoon of October 19th, 1781, both commanders had signed the Articles of Capitulation, and the defeated British army was marching out from Yorktown to lay down their arms, ending the last major battle of the American Revolution.

By the afternoon of October 19, 1781, both commanders had signed the Articles of Capitulation, and the defeated British army was marching out from Yorktown to lay down their arms, ending the last major battle of the American Revolution.

They did not know that on that very day, Clinton sailed for Yorktown from New York with 5,000 troops.

They did not know that on that very day, Clinton sailed for Yorktown from New York with 5,000 troops.

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.

==further reading==

==Further reading==

* 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]  

* 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]  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

* 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]

* 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]

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

*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]

*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]

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

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

[[Category:American Revolutionary War Battles]]

[[Category:American Revolutionary War Battles]]