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Lafayette's Order's
The Major General Marquis de Lafayette was ordered to take his Continental troops to Virginia. Marquis de Lafayette. National Park Service. 26, Feb. 2015. -
Cornwallis enters Virginia
British General Charles Cornwallis, Earl Cornwallis, and his army entered Virginia. Cornwallis believed that American resistance would fail if he defeated Virginia. Gainsborough, Thomas. Charles Earl Cornwallis. circa 1783. National Portrait Gallery. -
Cornwallis Encamps at Yorktown
Cornwallis and his army encamped at Yorktown and across the York River at Gloucester Point. Lafayette's spies overheard Cornwallis's plans to use the port as a base of supply and Lafayette relayed word to General George Washington in New York. Siege of Yorktown. 2014. Rick Britton. Mount Vernon Ladies' Association -
French Admiral de Grasse sails to Chesapeake Bay
Washington found out that French Admiral de Grasse was sailing for the Chesapeake Bay with a large battle fleet and army. Maurin, Antonio. François Joseph Paul, comte de Grasse. 1 Jan 1837. -
Washington Moves South
Washington began to move the allied army south secretly. Rick Britton. Yorktown Campaign April-October 19, 1781. 2014 George Washington's Mount Vernon. -
The French defeat the British at the Battle of the Capes
The French fleet under Admiral de Grasse defeated a British fleet
under Admiral Thomas Graves in the Battle of the Capes, leaving the British army isolated and without a prospect of reinforcement at Yorktown. Zveg, V. Second Battle of the Virginia Capes. 1962. Hampton Roads Naval Museum. -
The British Navy Withdraws
The British navy withdrew from the Virginia coast. Trafalgar. Timetunnel. -
Washington Arrives at Williamsburg
Washington and French General Rochambeau arrived in Williamsburg. The Siege of Yorktown Begins. Revolutionary War and Beyond. 2008. -
American and French Forces Storm British Defenses
In the night, 400 French soldiers stormed British Redoubt No. 9 and 400 American soldiers under the command of Lafayette and Alexander Hamilton stormed Redoubt No. 10. Storming a Redoubt at Yorktown. 1840. Eugene-Louis Lami -
Cornwallis Attempts to Escape Yorktown
Under heavy bombardment from the allied army, Cornwallis realized that reinforcements would not reach him in time. He decided to escape from Yorktown, but a sudden storm ruined
evacuation attempts. A Plan of the entrance of Chesapeake Bay. 1781. Library of Congress. -
Cornwallis Surrenders
British troops under Cornwallis surrendered to Washington’s combined American and French forces, effectively ending major military operations in the American Revolution. Baillie, James S. Surrender of Cornwallis. circa 1845. Gilder Lehrman Collection. -
British Troops Were Sent to Prisoner of War Camps
British troops were sent to Winchester, Virginia; Frederick, Maryland; and Lancaster, Pennsylvania for imprisonment. Yorktown Surrender Ceremony. 1781. Keith Rocco. -
Cornwallis Signs a Parole
Cornwallis signed a parole agreeing to stop fighting the Americans. Washington, George, Charles Cornwallis, and Le Comte de Rochambeau. Articles of Capitulation at Yorktown. 1781. -
News of Cornwallis' Defeat Reach London
Prime Minister Lord North exclaimed, "Oh God, it is all over" when news of the Yorktown defeat reached London. “Be It Remembered!” The Freemans Journal, 24 Oct. 1781. -
The Colonies and Great Britain Sign the Treaty of Paris
By the terms of the Treaty of Paris, Great Britain recognized the independence of the United States. Congress ratified the treaty on January 14, 1784. Foner, Eric and Garraty, John A. Treaty of Paris. 1991.
