F16.5A

F16.5A

British Surrender at Yorktown, Ends Revolutionary war Boston, MA, October 30th 1781

 Its 1781, and the Revolutionary war has been going on for six years now and after many casualties from both sides, they are both worn down. General Cornwallis the leader of the British army in the south, has had many failures with his “Carolinas” campaign, so he decides to rest his troops in Yorktown and wait for reinforcements. General George Washington, the leader of the patriot resistance in America, decided that this was the perfect time to strike. Cornwallis who is isolated on an isle in Virginia, has no idea of what is going to happen next, and how it will impact the world in the years to come.

 October, it is many days before the actual battle will take place Gen. Washington is gathering his troops around Yorktown, building rows on fortifications and preparing for an attack. British soldiers spot his rebels building fortifications and expect them to have them surrounded by nightfall. Later in that week Washington orders his troops to attack and after many days of fighting the British are pushed into the confines of Yorktown and the battle is almost lost, but they keep optimism because they thought they were to receive 5,000 troops from New York the battle continues into the late hours of the night and to a climactic end.  The great surrender of General Cornwallis. After General Cornwallis marched his troops down from Carolina, after his defeat, he decided to station his troops in Yorktown, Virginia. He thought that it was a nice, and secure place to rest his troops while they gain their strength back. General Cornwallis will regret than decision for many years to come. The French and American Patriots stormed Yorktown in a semi circle formation, and after hard fought months of fighting no stopped battle, on October 19th, 1781 General Cornwallis finally became outmanned, and out gunned he surrender to the American Army.

  The Battle of Yorktown took place in Yorktown, Virginia on a 49-60 degree day with winds that ranged from 7-20 knots. Yorktown’s government was established in 1681, and was a main import and export town for Great Britain. Most of the town was constructed on the York River. Stately homes and taverns spread thought out the town of Yorktown. The total building count averaged from 200-300, but after the horrific battle of Yorktown, the home count reached a peak of 70 homes and taverns left in the rubble. The Name “Yorktown” will go down in history for America in great success, but Great Britain is a different story.

 George Washington discovered that Cornwallis was encamped at Yorktown, and saw that would be a great chance to defeat him there since Cornwallis is isolated there and can't escape without a fight. American General Greene had led General Cornwallis on a wild chase down and all around south to capture North and South Carolina, and Georgia. each group was trying to capture the land for slave bases and extra land for growing crops. General Greene’s troops fought Cornwallis in the same year that had depleted his troops and caused him to tire of the logistical nightmare of holding these colonies. This led to the Battle of Yorktown. They wanted to strike a major blow to end all wars by capturing Virginia and then the capitol of Philadelphia.

 This fight also had to do with all of the colonies even though it was fought in Virginia. This was because they wanted to gain land and make it free. Also, to gain culture and gin control over colonies and more land for slaves. Washington was ordered to take his troops down to Yorktown to stop Cornwallis from taking over, and that was the start of the Battle at Yorktown. Washington and his troops eventually defeated the British and forced them to go back to Britain. In conclusion, the patriots took Yorktown in climactic deciding battle to end the revolutionary war. Reported By Pavel Galchenko, Ryan Donely, and Stephen Pigza