Battle+of+Yorktown

By Kara Atterberry, Katie Waters, and Michael Deam.  The battle of Yorktown started September 28, 1781, and ended October 19, 1781. This battle took place in Yorktown, Virginia. The French allied with the American troops to fight against British forces. George Wasngton was the general of the American army; Lieutenant General de Rochambeau was the leader of the French forces for America. Major General Lord Cornwallis was the leader of the British troops. There were 8,800 American soldiers plus the 7,800 French soldiers fighting against the 7,000 British soldiers. The French armies wore white coats, the Americans wore blue coats, and the British wore red coats. In 1781, Washington sent a letter to Lafayette (a French Admiral) with his plans to attack New York City. Washington’s letter got into the hands of his enemy, Cornwallis. On August 14, 1781 Washington received word from French Admiral de Grasse that the long awaited French fleet was coming. So Washington changed his plans to attack New York and moved his troops to Virginia. Meanwhile in May of 1781, Cornwallis moved his army north to Virginia. He reached Virginia on May 20, 1781. After arriving Cornwallis soon received reinforcements, increasing his army from 1,500 to 7,000 soldiers. By August 22, 1781, Cornwallis was ready to fight. ** **French Admiral de Grasse decided to attack Cornwallis at Yorktown. On August 14, 1781 Washington received word from Admiral de Grasse that the long awaited French fleet was coming in mid-September. On September 5, the French fleet arrived led by Admiral de Grasse and they battled the British. Then on October 6, 1781, about 20,000 allied troops were facing Cornwallis and his troops. This was the start of the siege of Boston. ** Works Cited "american revolutionary war." //teachers paradise// N.p., 2008. Web. 9 Dec. 2009. Funk. //Defeat at Yorktown//. N.p.: World Almanac Education group, 2005. Print. //liberty// PBS, 2004. Web. 3 Dec. 2009. "The battle Yorktown 1781." //British Battles// N.p., 2007. Web. 3 Dec. 2009. //Top Treasures// Library of Congress, 7 June 2005. Web. 3 Dec. 2009. Weber, Micheal. //Battle// //Fields Across America//. New York: Twenty First Century Books, 1997. Print. "Yorktown is Won." //liberty// PBS, 2004. Web. 3 Dec. 2009.
 *   Battle at Yorktown
 * During the war French Admiral de Barras slipped into the bay and occupied it. This meant that Cornwallis was cut off from support and any sea escape. Cornwallis was obligated to surrender after attempts to break through the allied lines. On October 19, 1781, Cornwallis signed orders surrendering his army. There was so many American and French soldiers that he could not win. The Americans and the French won the battle at Yorktown and this ended the Revolutionary. **