Campaigns > Yorktown Campaign

Yorktown Campaign

Background

The Yorktown Campaign, fought from September 28 to October 19, 1781, was the decisive campaign of the American Revolutionary War. It culminated in the Siege of Yorktown, where American and French forces, led by General George Washington and the Comte de Rochambeau, successfully besieged the British Army commanded by General Lord Charles Cornwallis. The surrender of Cornwallis's army effectively ended major military operations in the war and paved the way for American independence.

Background:

1. British Strategy:

   • By 1781, British strategy in the southern colonies aimed to consolidate control in the South and then move north. General Cornwallis had experienced some success in the Carolinas but faced persistent resistance from American forces led by Generals Nathanael Greene and Daniel Morgan.
   • Cornwallis moved his army into Virginia, hoping to cut off supply lines and disrupt American operations. He established a fortified base at Yorktown on the Virginia Peninsula, where he could be resupplied and reinforced by the British navy.

2. American and French Cooperation:

   • The American and French forces had been coordinating efforts since France entered the war in 1778. The Comte de Rochambeau and his French troops joined Washington's Continental Army in New York in 1780.
   • In 1781, the French fleet under Admiral François Joseph Paul, Comte de Grasse, sailed to the Chesapeake Bay, providing a crucial opportunity to trap Cornwallis's army at Yorktown.

The Campaign:

1. March to Yorktown:

   • In late August 1781, Washington and Rochambeau moved their combined forces from New York to Virginia in a rapid and secretive march. This movement aimed to surprise Cornwallis and take advantage of de Grasse's naval superiority in the Chesapeake Bay.

2. Naval Engagements:

   • The pivotal naval engagement was the Battle of the Chesapeake (also known as the Battle of the Capes) on September 5, 1781. The French fleet under de Grasse defeated the British fleet under Admiral Thomas Graves, securing control of the Chesapeake Bay.
   • This naval victory prevented Cornwallis from receiving reinforcements or evacuating his army by sea, effectively trapping him at Yorktown.

3. Siege of Yorktown:

   • The siege began on September 28, 1781, when American and French forces surrounded Yorktown. The allied forces numbered around 17,000 troops, vastly outnumbering Cornwallis's 8,000 soldiers.
   • The siege operations involved constructing parallel trenches, with artillery positions bombarding the British defenses. The first parallel trench was completed on October 6, and the second parallel was started on October 11.

4. Key Assaults:

   • A crucial assault occurred on October 14, when American and French troops stormed and captured British redoubts 9 and 10, key defensive positions. The success of these assaults allowed the allies to move their artillery closer and intensify the bombardment.

5. British Surrender:

   • On October 17, under relentless bombardment and with no hope of relief, Cornwallis requested a ceasefire to negotiate terms of surrender. The formal surrender ceremony took place on October 19, 1781.
   • Approximately 8,000 British troops were taken prisoner, marking the largest British army captured during the war.

Aftermath and Impact:

1. Casualties:

   • American and French forces suffered relatively light casualties, with around 389 killed or wounded. British casualties were higher, with approximately 552 killed or wounded before the surrender, and around 8,000 taken prisoner.

2. End of Major Combat:

   • The surrender at Yorktown effectively ended major military operations in the American Revolutionary War. While minor skirmishes continued, the British government recognized that continuing the war was untenable.

3. Path to Independence:

   • The victory at Yorktown strengthened American morale and solidified French support. It also forced the British government to negotiate peace, leading to the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which recognized American independence.

Significance:

• Decisive Victory: The Yorktown Campaign was the decisive victory that secured American independence. It demonstrated the effectiveness of American and French cooperation and strategic planning.
• Naval Power: The campaign highlighted the crucial role of naval power in determining the outcome of the war. The French fleet's victory at the Battle of the Chesapeake was instrumental in trapping Cornwallis.
• End of the War: The surrender at Yorktown marked the end of major combat operations and set the stage for peace negotiations, leading to the formal end of the war and the recognition of the United States as an independent nation.

The Yorktown Campaign remains one of the most celebrated military achievements in American history, symbolizing the successful struggle for independence and the importance of international alliances in achieving strategic goals.

Yorktown Campaign Battles

• Battle of Blandford
• Battle of Cape Henry
• Battle of Green Spring
• Battle of Spencer's Ordinary
• Battle of the Chesapeake
• Francisco's Fight
• Raid on Richmond
• Siege of Yorktown
• Skirmish at Waters Creek

Sources

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Secondary Sources