Colonial National Historical Park - Yorktown Battlefield - National Parks (U.S.) on Waymarking.com

Long Description:
The "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorktown_Campaign" target="_blank">Siege of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by a combined assault of French forces led by General "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Baptiste_Donatien_de_Vimeur%2C_comte_de_Rochambeau" target="_blank">Comte de Rochambeau and American forces led by General "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Baptiste_Donatien_de_Vimeur%2C_comte_de_Rochambeau" target="_blank">George Washington, over a British Army commanded by General "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Cornwallis%2C_1st_Marquess_Cornwallis" target="_blank">Lord Cornwallis. The surrender of Cornwallis's army caused the British government to eventually negotiate an end to the "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolutionary_War" target="_blank">American Revolutionary War.

Battle of Yorktown
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admiral_de_Grasse" target="_blank">Admiral de Grasse sailed his French battle fleet of twenty-eight ships north toward Virginia. Simultaneously, on 21 August 1781, Washington began moving his army south. As they marched south, Admiral de Grasse's fleet arrived at the Chesapeake Bay. De Grasse defeated Admiral "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Graves" target="_blank">Thomas Graves' fleet in the "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Chesapeake" target="_blank">Battle of the Chesapeake, also known as the "Battle of the Capes", and won control of the bay thereby sealing its entrance and stranding Cornwallis from supply by sea. The defeat in Chesapeake Bay was the only major naval defeat suffered by the Royal Navy of Great Britain in two hundred years of empire building in the 18th and 19th centuries.

On September 28, 1781, Washington and Rochambeau, along with "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_du_Motier%2C_marquis_de_La_Fayette" target="_blank">Lafayette's troops and 3,000 of de Grasse's men, arrived at Yorktown. With them was the "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Canadian_Regiment" target="_blank">2nd Canadian Regiment lead by Brigadier General "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses_Hazen" target="_blank">Moses Hazen. In all, there were approximately 17,000 men converging on the camp established by Cornwallis. With the arrival of these troops, the stranded British forces in Yorktown were outnumbered by a two to one margin and they were then subjected to heavy fire as work began on a siege line. Offshore, the French fleet effectively blocked aid from Cornwallis while Washington made life unbearable for the British troops with three weeks of shelling.

Cornwallis, realizing the scope of his predicament, managed to send a message to Clinton in New York. Clinton promised that a relief expedition carrying 5,000 men would leave by the 5th of October. Meanwhile, the British and Franco-American forces were digging in and improving their respective earthworks. On October 11, the allies started a second siege line only 400 yards away from the British forces. Three days later, the French and Americans captured two major British "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redoubt" target="_blank">redoubts, the French taking redoubt 9 and the Americans taking redoubt 10, completing the second siege line and the close investment of the British garrison.

While the allies were enveloping his position, Cornwallis had found out that the relief force from New York was going to be late. On October 16, a British attack, intended to silence a French battery, failed. The allied batteries, from their closer second siege line, were now firing directly into the British defensive works. That night, an attempted breakout across the York River to Gloucester Point failed due to a severe storm. Cornwallis, whose army was running low on food and ammunition and still awaiting help from Clinton, offered to surrender on October 17. On 19 October, the papers were signed and he officially surrendered. About 7,000 British troops became prisoners of the American forces.

The British signed the "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Paris_%281783%29" target="_blank">Treaty of Paris in September 1783 recognizing the United States and promising to remove all British troops from the country.

Operating Hours & Seasons
All park grounds are closed at sunset. Yorktown Visitor Center: Opened daily 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; closed December 25 and New Years Day.

State/States the Park is located...: Virginia Park Designation: Battlefield/Military Park Times the Visitors Center (or Park) is Open....: From: 9:00 AM To: 5:00 PM Months the Visitors Center/Park is open...: From: 1/1/2007 To: 12/31/2007 Website From the National Parks Service Page of this Waymark...: [Web Link] Are pictures included?: yes SECONDARY website.: Not listed

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