Essay on The Battle of Yorktown

During the American Revolution, the Americans and French (Franco-American coalition) fought the British at the Battle of Yorktown also known as “The Siege of Yorktown”. The Americans and the French fielded a combined force of roughly 16,000 soldiers to defeat the British force estimated at 7,000 soldiers. American General George Washington and French Lieutenant General de Rochambeau led the American and French soldiers. The British commanding officer was Major General Lord Cornwallis. The battle occurred from September 28 thru October 19, 1781. Cornwallis lost his dominance in the Carolinas and decided to march his army north to Virginia and seize Yorktown and Gloucester along the York River.

Washington first plans for a strategic defensive, thereby preserving his army. He avoids battle whenever possible and continues to draw the British into a prolonged war of attrition. It is this continuous maneuvering that gives Washington control of the flow of the War. For no matter where the British Army strikes, or what city they may take, or

In August 1781, General George Washington, who was camped in New York, learned that Lieutenant General Lord Charles Cornwallis' army of nearly 9,000 soldiers was encamped near Yorktown, VA (Lengel,

During the Revolutionary War, there were many battles that were fought, but there were a few that changed the result of the war. The battles of Trenton and Princeton were fought strategically. During both of the battles, Washington made bold moves that later impacted the army’s success. Another battle that was fought was the Battle of Saratoga, and before this battle, the Continental Army did not have a strong chance of winning because they were facing the powerful and well equipped British army. The Battle of Saratoga was the battle that completely changed the tide of the war. The Battle of Yorktown was the last land battle fought of the Revolutionary War. It was also the battle where the British surrendered to the Americans and won

Washington took away that fear when he launched the attack on Hessian troops. He followed up this victory by a win at Princeton. Next, he was forced to fight a battle that he knew he would lose. The British navy took over Philadelphia at the battle of Brandywine Creek. Washington’s militia was strengthened in October, when General Gates won at Saratoga, New York. In the spring of 1778, good news arrived when the French decided to send money, troops, and a fleet to help the colonies. When the British heard the news they decided to consolidate their position to New York and New Jersey. In the time period between 1778 and 1781 Washington kept the British army concealed to New York City. At the time he faced a variety of disappointments by losing the battles of Brooklyn Heights, Kip’s Bay, Harlem Heights, and White Plains.

Ewing was supposed to cross with his group of about one thousand men down south while General Caldwalader was supposed to cross at Bristol with two thousand men, however they did not succeed in crossing. Luckily Washington succeeded and caught the Hessians by surprise. The battle did not last long and Washington and his men came out with a victory. They captured nine hundred eighteen Hessians and killed approximately one hundred while the Patriots only had 5 casualties (Murphy).

The Revolutionary War started in 1775. The American colonies have had enough of the British occupants and set their foot down in pursuit to freedom and independence. Each battle that happened during the Revolutionary War had its own significance and contributions to the independence of the colonies. Many brave men laid their lives in pursuit of the dream of independence from British control. One particular battle paved the way for that independence to become a reality. That battle is known as the Battle of Yorktown. The Battle of Yorktown took place in what we know today as Virginia. It was a decisive battle that turned the table during the Revolutionary War. The battle ultimately led to the liberty of the American Colonies from the

The news got back to England, and King George III was angered when he heard the outcome of Boston. He spoke before Parliament and ordered that the rebels were to be stopped. The British, devastated by the defeat, returned later in the year, this time with more reinforcements and the help of the Hessians. New York City was now the new battleground. The battles and conflicts that lie ahead once again reminded Washington of what kind of army he had.

George Washington’s tactics and skills when it came to the Continental army and war were very helpful in the many battles that he led. In Trenton, Washington planned a sneak attack on the British, in which they had to cross the Delaware River on. Because of Washington’s quick thinking and great army skills allowed the Continental Army to succeed in surrounding all the Hessians in Trenton in an orchard, leaving them with

As Sir Washington was heading back from delivering the message, he saw a point of land at an intersection of Allegheny and the Monongahela form the Ohio, where he thought would be a brilliant idea to build a fort. Dinwiddie agreed to his suggestion therefore building Fort Prince George, but ended with the French coming and taking over changing the name to Fort Duquesne. Washington ended up moving to the Great Meadows where he and his troops decided in building a fort that would be called, Fort Necessity. Three days within encampment, Washington and 40 men went looking for a group of French that were seen about seven miles away from Chestnut Ridge. When finding the French they were made prisoners, killed the commander Joseph Coulon de Villiers, and several others were killed as well, especially since it was a surprise attack they surrendered. George Washington won that encounter but the French weren’t about to give up yet. Not to long after, French troops were sent out from Fort Duquesne and defeated the British which left the French in charge of the west Allegheny Mountains. In 1755, General Edward Braddock came from Britain to America as commander in chief I order to help Britain gain Fort Duquesne back. Again the British had failed, loosing men as well as General Braddock who passed away four days after the

The Battle of Trenton occurred approximately 20 months after the revolution started. On November 16, 1776, the Battle of Fort Washington marked a decisive victory for the British. The British forces killed 59 Continental soldiers and took another 2,837 prisoner (“Weapons and war,” n.d.). Due to the defeat, Continental soldiers retreated across New Jersey into Pennsylvania. The Continental Army did not suffer any losses, but the troops suffered from a sense of defeat. Washington and his men faced a cold winter ahead, they were not sufficiently equipped to survive, enlistment contracts neared the end, local militants refused to take up arms, and the Continental Congress abandoned the

Washington desperately needed to gain intelligence of General William Howe’s next plan of attack, however there were few who wanted to risk partaking in such a dishonorable task as spying. Hale was the first, and most well known, of the many spies to scout

The final battle for Yorktown began at least a year before any armed military conflict even took place. Each army moving their assets like chess pieces honing in for the checkmate. This game of strategy requires great planning and many different, yet important parts. One piece that combined with other acts of espionage to win the battle was James Rivington. George Washington knew that for the French Naval Fleet to be most effective, some of the British naval codes must be discovered to give the American allies an upper hand. James Rivington, an undercover agent posing as a Tory coffeehouse owner and printer or the largest loyalist newspaper in New York, was the man for the job. Although history is still unclear of how Rivington, a member of

In the spring of 1781, Washington met with Comte de Rochambeau and devised an attack on Clinton and his troops. A French naval fleet was expected in New York, and Washington wanted to lead an attack when the ships sailed in. They were

When Lafayette learned of the struggle of Americans in their endeavor to secure their independence he resolved to come to the colonies to aid them in their efforts as a volunteer. He also persuaded several French officers to come with him later he arrived by Charleston, SC, June 13,1777 when the leaders learned of his mission they welcomed him very gracefully. In December,1777 Lafayette went with George Washington and the army into winter quarters at Valley Forge. In the early days of the camp several officers were interested in trying to have a sentiment developed against Washington to have congress relieve him of the command of the continental armies (Conway Cabal).However, they were unable to gain the support they expected,They also tried to gain the cooperation of Lafayette, but failed, Lafayette wrote a long letter to Washington in which he pledged his loyalty in a letter which was marked by his sincere appreciation. General Gates who was only lukewarm in his support of Washington had succeeded in convincing several members of Congress to appoint a board of war in which Gates would have complete control. He suggested that plans should be developed to invade