The battle of Yorktown refers to the battle that took place in 1781 as a result of the American Revolution. During this battle the British troops that were under the leadership of Cornwallis surrendered after being fought by the American and the French troops. The United States army combined forces with the French army and this led them to defeat the war against the British Empire. The war had lasted for about six years and the victory of the Americans and the French at the battle of York forced the British forces to surrender. General George Washington was the commander of the Continental army as well as the French with his force numbering to approximately 17,000 people against the 9,000 troops from the British Empire. This revolutionary war that came to be known as the battle of Yorktown took place in Yorktown which is based in Virginia.
Causes of the Battle of Yorktown
The battle was generally caused by the British dominance in America. The British had removed their forces from Philadelphia and brought them to settle in New York as the main location where they would conduct their operations. Additionally, the British then captured Savannah, which is based in Georgia in the year 1778. There was also so much fighting going on in the North in 1779. This resulted to a stalemate amongst the military and it because difficult to determine which side would oust the other.
During the period of 1780, the British took an initiative to engage in Southern Campaigns in an attempt to quash the rebellion that was present in the colonies of the South before they could head to the north. Furthermore, Charleston, which was based in South Carolina, was surrendered to the troops belonging to the Crown. The troops belonging to the Americans had been defeated while at the Battle of Camden held in South Carolina.
In January 1781, the British army had been crushed in South Carolina at the Cowpens. This defeat angered them and this was one of the reasons why they constantly engaged in war with the Americans. The battle of the Guilford Court House saw the British emerge victorious but not without being seriously injured. Consequently, they felt that it was necessary for them to attack Virginia in order to deal with the American resistance against the crown because Virginia was densely populated. In addition to this, the battle had been caused by the clash between the French and the British, which had occurred during the Battle of the Capes. As such, the battle had arisen as a retaliatory strategy against the British.
On goings before the battle
There were a number of events which took place before the battle of Yorktown took place. These events especially by the American forces took place despite the fact that there were several difficulties facing the American soldiers. The Continental Congress did not have money at the time and therefore the soldiers were faced with the problem of lack of food as well as pay.
On 8th May, 1781 a French fleet had been dispatched from Brest in France so that they would come and assist the Americans fight against the British troops. George Washington then called for a conference on the arrival of the French troops so that they would be able to strategize on how to fight against the British. Lord Cornwallis later on arrived from North Carolina as he was to be the commander of the vast British army. In order to strengthen his position Lord Cornwallis shifted the British forces from where they were located in Portsmouth in Virginia to Yorktown so that he could build earthworks on the York River.
In August 1781, General Washington saw an opportunity to defeat Cornwallis who was in Virginia when Admiral Comte de Grasse was travelling to Virginia with his large French troops. Washington made his intentions to seek the support of the French navy who had come in with de Grasse. Admiral Comte de Grasse reached Chesapeake Bay with his fleet of French soldiers on August 30, 1781 and added 3,000 thousand soldiers from France to the troop he had arrived with. On September 2nd on the same year the battle took place the French and the American allies got into Philadelphia and marched south. They set out on their journey to the south using various means of transportation. Some of the troops used ships while others travelled on land using wagon trains and cavalry in order to get to Virginia.
The British fleets fought against the fleet of the French warships at Chesapeake on September 5th, 1781. The battle that took place in Chesapeake came to be known as the ‘Battle of the Capes.’ Even though both the French and the British fleets suffered numerous losses, the damaged experienced by the British was extensive as they had lost even lost one of their ships. On 9th of the same month, the French fleet went back to Chesapeake Bay while the fleet belonging to the British returned to the city of New York. Crucial siege artillery was then taken to General Washington from the small army belonging to de Grasse who did not take part in the war.
Rochambaeu and Washington then went to Williamsburg in Virginia as the remaining forces of the French and the Americans continued to arrive throughout the period of September. General Clinton got wind of the fact that Lord Cornwallis had been trapped while at Chesapeake Bay and made preparations to mobilize a troop, which would be able to rescue him.
Rochambeau who was in charge of the French troops and General Washington had led the British to believe that they would be waiting for them in New York yet in the actual sense they had travelled to South Virginia. As such, they were able to completely surround the British on land and even bar them from escaping through the York River. This strategy that was adopted by the American and French troops made it difficult for them to get any kind of reinforcements. As a result, the General Cornwallis together with his troops surrendered because they had been overpowered.
On goings during the battle
The events of this period signified determination to face rival in war with courage. During battle of Yorktown some of crucial that took place include French and American troops marching out of Williamsburg heading towards Yorktown which was approximately 11 miles. At the time, the allied troops started digging a trench which was named as parallel which was purposely created in order to provide cover for the army. In October 9, 1781, the French and American troops started bombarding the British army positions. On October 11th, General Washington commanded his men to start another parallel which granted the allies’ troop a clear vision or glance of the rival. Both American and French seized the British Redoubts 9 and also 10 which were British main defense point or lines. During this strategic move, the British counterattacked the Allies troop which prompted for a war. This move forced Cornwallis to evacuate his troops from Yorktown to Gloucester which as on the north side of the River.
On goings after the battle
After the battle of Yorktown all the parties that participated in the war reported massive damages. Some of the damages included the fact that approximately 72 allies were reportedly killed as 180 people were seriously wounded. On the other hand, British losses were considered too high because about 156 British soldiers were reported dead whereas 326 people were seriously wounded. This indicated that British had lost the entire battle as well as experienced a lot of damages compared to the rival side.
Moreover, the remaining Cornwallis’ men who were approximately 7,018 were taken into prison and served a jail term as prisoners of war. This move prompted Cornwallis to negotiate for the same terms and conditions which Major General John Burgoyne received during his surrender at Saratoga. However, Washington refused the terms due to the fact that Major General Benjamin Lincoln deal was ignored by the British troops at Charleston just a year before.
Washington refusal left Cornwallis with no alternative but to compile with the harsh conditions imposed on his troops. Cornwallis signed and surrendered all the necessary documents by October 19 which followed by total compliance of all the conditions imposed or demanded by both French and America armies. Therefore, the American troops as well as French armies lined up waiting for the British troops to surrender in accordance to all the essentials of the documents signed. The British army marched with their flags furled as well as their bands playing to signify their surrender. However, General Charles O’Hara claimed that he was ill and was sent to Lincoln who at the time the second-in-command.
During the time all the Cornwallis troops surrendered and taken to custody immediately rather than paroled. In addition, Cornwallis was shortly exchanged for Henry Laurens who was the continental congress former president. This victory was considered as the last foremost engagement in connection to the American Revolution as it effectively ended the conflict or clash just the way America wanted.
Effects of the battle
The battle led to the signing of a peace treaty. The British entered into an agreement with the Americans under a treaty that came to be known as the Treaty of Paris. This treaty was signed in 1783 and it acted as a peace deal between the United States and Great Britain. The treaty was mainly an agreement of three things. To begin with, Great Britain was to recognize and accept that the US was now an independent nation. As such, the British were not to try to rule America in any way or treat her as though she was still a colony. Secondly, the debts that were in existence between the Americans and the British were to be paid off. This meant that the Americans would pay the British merchants any debts that were owed to them before the war took place. Finally, it was agreed that the borders that were located at the east of Mississippi would be the borders belonging to the US.
There was a change in the leadership of the British as the then Prime Minister of Britain Lord North, and his entire party of Tory were removed from office because of their defeat during the battle in Yorktown.
Conclusion
The Siege of the Yorktown was necessary in order for the Americans to attain the much needed Independence from British rule. The war had been caused by the series of attacks mainly by the British, which had led the American to suffer so much loss and destruction. The American forces emerged victorious because they had properly strategized and also because the alliance they had formed with the French enabled them to outnumber the British. The battle had its positive effects as it restored peace British the Americans and the British through the signing of a peace treaty.
Bibliography
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