Yorktown, surrender at
Yorktown, surrender at, 1781. After his costly victory at Guilford courthouse in March 1781, Cornwallis moved north into Virginia. Early in August he dug in on the coast at Yorktown, where communication with New York would be easier and supplies could be brought in. But the ships which arrived were French. Cornwallis, with 6,000 men, was blockaded by 9,000 Americans under Washington and 6,000 French under Rochambeau. Heavy bombardment during the first two weeks of October did great damage to Cornwallis's defences and ammunition began to run low. A rescue operation from New York took too long to get started and arrived too late. On 19 October, the British surrendered with full honours of war, marching out to the tune ‘The World Turned Upside Down’, when ‘cats should be chased into holes by the mouse’. Back in England, North received the news like a man taking a ball in the chest: ‘oh God, it is all over’, he exclaimed.
J. A. Cannon
More From encyclopedia.com
Yorktown Campaign , YORKTOWN CAMPAIGN (August–October 1781). On 19 October 1781, American and French troops forced the surrender of a sizeable British army at Yorktown,… French , French
The establishment of the first permanent English settlement in North America at Jamestown in 1607 was immediately followed by the planting of… Shirley Mount Hufstedler , French and Indian War
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. This was the last in a series of conflicts between Great Britain and France for do… Jean Baptiste Marchand , Jean-Baptiste Marchand
Jean-Baptiste Marchand (1863-1934) was a French soldier who led an expedition from the Atlantic coast of Africa to the Nile Ri… Horatio Nelson , Horatio Nelson
The English admiral and naval hero Horatio Nelson, Viscount Nelson (1758-1805), was noted for his bravery and for his victories, inclu… James Wolfe , Born January 2, 1727 Westerhan, Kent, England
British general who led the capture of Quebec
James Wolfe was a hero for the British during the French…
You Might Also Like
NEARBY TERMS
Yorktown, surrender at