Revolutionary War: Yorktown
September 28 – October 19, 1781
Click on the map for Interactive, Aerial and Birds Eye Views.
The American Revolutionary War was decided at Yorktown when General Washington surrounded General Cornwallis and said, “lets finish this thing, I’ll Rochambeau you for it.”
Ok, that is not quite how it happened. Washington wanted to attack New York but the French General Rochambeau suggested attacking Cornwallis at Yorktown instead. Cornwallis had moved his troops into Yorktown where he could receive supplies by sea and would only have to defend on one front. While on the face of it this seemed like a good plan, the French Navy sealed up the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay and the combined French and American forces sealed off the landward communications routes leaving Cornwallis cutoff and trapped. As in any siege, where the besieged army can be sealed off from re-supply, surrender become inevitable.
Note: The only exception I can think of was in 594 B.C. when the army of Chu (China) was besieging another Chinese city and a couple of spies from the opposing sides met and revealed to each other that both sides were starving. The army in the city couldn't very well leave, so the army of Chu went home. All other sieges I know of either worked or were broken by an outside relief force. There was the siege of Acre during the Third Crusade where Muslim defenders were surrounded by Christian attackers who were in turn surrounded by a Muslim relief force led by Saladin. In this case no one was totally cut off and the Christians were reinforced by another army led by Richard the Lionhearted who came in by sea. The Crusaders ended up winning that battle for the city but ultimately lost the war: so, guess the siege of Acre doesn't really prove anything, but it's kind of interesting.
My thing really is the Civil War so I don't have any serious insights on the Battle of Yorktown, but I did get some nice pictures and thought I'd throw in an off topic page. Also, for the past few years I've known people who disparaged the French for one reason or another. We wouldn't be a country today if the French hadn't done their bit for our liberty, we should remember that.
Yorktown Battlefield Visitors Center is sited inside the British position next to their main defensive line.
Yorktown Battlefield Visitors Center: Part of the ouside exibits
Yorktown Battlefield Visitors Center
Yorktown Battlefield Visitors Center
Yorktown Battlefield Visitors Center
Yorktown Battlefield Visitors Center
Yorktown Battlefield Visitors Center
Yorktown Battlefield Visitors Center
Yorktown Battlefield Visitors Center
Simulated British cannon position on the works near the bay.
View of the American position from the British position
Cannon outside the Yorktown Battlefield Visitors Center on the works the American position can be seen just past the muzzle in the above picture.
The flag marking the British position at the Yorktown Battlefield Visitors Center. The white flag in the distance marks the French position.
Scenes around the battlefield
Monument to the French dead. Also the reason we should not hate the French. George.
Thank you, France.
Moore House: The place where the surrender was signed.
Moore House, nice view.
Moore House cemetary
Some Civil War Stuff