Revolutionary War Military Campaigns: Yorktown (September-October 1781)


Figure 1.--General Cornwallis moved into Yorktown expecting relief from the British Royal Navy. Instead after an epic march, General Washington brought the Northern Army south with his French allies and joined the Southern Army. The American and French artillery at then began bombarding the British in Yorktown. After the fall of Redoubt 10 in an attack led by Alexander Hamilton, the American and French could bombard the Bfritish relentlessly from three sides. he British position was untenable. A British counter attack failed. Surrender was the only option left to Corwallis. On the morning of October 17, a lone drummer boy appeared on the British ramparts. He was soon joined by an officer waving a white flag--his handkerchief. The Allied bombardment ceased. It was in essence the momment the United States was born and the world changed forever. Negotiations would drag on for another 2 more years, but the serius fighting was over and America was a newc country. It was also the second field army the British had lost in America, someting the French, Germans, and Spanish never achived. Illustrator: Saber Alexander McConnell.

The War in the North dragged on without any sign of resolution. Washington was concerned that with no end to the War in sight, he would be unable to hold the Continental Army together for another year of campaigning. Little changed in the Spring and early Summer. With the support of the Royal Navy, it was impossible to dislodge the British from New York and end the War. Throughout the Revolutionary war, the overwhelming naval and military superiority of the British allowed them to control the conduct of the War and made it virtually impossible for the Patriots to force the British to surrender--as long as they could fall back on a port for reinforcement and resupply. And this was just what General Cornwallis was seeking to do when after his army was battered in a series of engagements in North Carolina and Virginia. He managed to win these battles, but at great cost. The one successful American offensive was the destruction of Lord Cornwallis' southern army in Virginia (1881). At the beginning of the year the focus of the War was in the North where Washington and Lieutenant General de Rochambeau commanding the French forces were focused on New York. This began to change when dispatches from France raised the possibility of French naval support. The French West Indies fleet commanded by Comte de Grasse might be able to make a forray north. Washington was still focused on New York, but Rochambeau raised the opportunity developing in Virginia. General Henry Clinton ordered Cornwallis to establish a defensible position at a deep-water port. Cornwallis headed for the Chesapeake Bay where he expected to be evacuated by the Royal Navy. [Nelson] He arrived at Yorktown with a badly depleted force. The Colonial Army following him was not strong enough to defeat him and had itself suffered substantial losses. The French and American armies north of New York City received word from de Grasse that he was sailing for the Chesapeake Bay. Washington and Degrasse set about the difficult task of moving their armies south to Virginia (August 19). They did their best to convince the British under Howe they were preparing to lay seige to New York. A small force was left to decoy the British. De Grasse arrived at the Chesapeake Bay (late-August). He had a small contingent of troops with him and estanlished a blockade of Cornwallis in Yorktown. The British fleet dispatched a fleet commanded by Sir Thomas Graves to break the French blockade. Whatv he found was a much larger French force than he expected. The resulting Battle of the Capes, also called the Battle of the Chesapeake, was a standoff which left the French blockade in place and Cornwallis at Yorktown (September 5). This was a rare French naval victory. Graves returned to New York to assemble a larger fleet. The Continental Army passed through Philadelphia (Septenmber 2-4). Washington learned of the arrival of DeGrasse's fleet (September 5). DeGrasse landed his infantry force which joined the Continental southern army. The empty transports were sent to ferry the Continentals and French and their heavy equipment down the Chesapeake Bay. Substantial Continental and French forces reached the Yorktown Peninsula (Septenver 26). Washington led the army out of Williamsburg to surround Yorktown (September 28). Cut off by the French fleet, Cornwallis' army was then defeated in a classic siege strategy by Washington's Continentals supported by the French Army. The French provided the technical advise in siege warfare. The last redoubt (number 10) defending the British position was taken by a force commanded by Alexander Hamilton. Washington was now able to have his artillery shell the British who fell back into Yorktown from three directions. A desperate British effort to destroy the American and French artillery positiions had minimal effect (October 15). The British attempted to escape by crossing the York River, but this also failed. As the Allied artillery bombardment intensified, Cornwallis after a conference with is officers decided to surrender. A lone drummer boy followed by a British officer with a white flag appeared at the British lines (October 17). The Articles of Capitulation were signed (October 19). Two days latter a large British relief fleet sailed from New York (October 21). The British had lost another field army which meant the end of the war, The operations in America had come at enormous cost. Parliament had had enough. The fighting was essentially over. A peace treaty was not signed until 2 years later (1783).

Situation in the North

At the beginning of 1881 the focus of the War was in the North where Washington and Lieutenant General de Rochambeau commanding the French forces were focused on New York. The War in the North dragged on without any sign of resolution. Washington was concerned that with no end to the War in sight, he would be unable to hold the Continental Army together for another year of campaigning. Little changed in the Spring and early Summer. With the support of the Royal Navy, it was impossible to dislodge the British from New York and end the War.

The Royal Navy

Throughout the Revolutionary war, the overwhelming naval and military superiority of the British allowed them to control the conduct of the War and made it virtually impossible for the Patriots to force the British to surrender--as long as they could fall back on a port for reinforcement and resupply.

British Southern Campaign

Lord Cornwallis was seeking resupply and reinforcement after his army was battered in a series of engagements in North Carolina and Virginia. He managed to win these battles, but at great cost. The one successful American offensive was the destruction of Lord Cornwallis' southern army in Virginia (1881). General Henry Clinton ordered Cornwallis to establish a defensible position at a deep-water port. Cornwallis headed for the Chesapeake Bay where he expected to be evacuated by the Royal Navy. [Nelson] He arrived at Yorktown with a badly depleted force. The Colonial Army following him was not strong enough to defeat him and had itself suffered substantial losses.

Sir Henry Clinton

The British commander in America was Sir Henry Clinton, no stranger to America. He first came to America as a boy when his father was appointed royal govrnor in New York. He then pursued a destinguished military career with service in Germany durung the Seven Years War. Gen. Howe after the disaster at Saratoga resigned as commander-in-chief of British forces in America (February 1778). Clinton was appointed to relace him and conceived of a southern strategy. Clinton successful laid siege to Charleston, South Carolina (1780). It began as a stunning success. Clinton captured vitually the entire American southern army. Clinton at this point returned to New York and left his second in command, General Cornwallis, in command of the south. Clinton delayed sending promised reinforcements to Cornwallis. At first he had not realized that Washington and his Continentals along with the French had moved south. But even after this became apparent, he did not rush reenforcements south. In the aftermath, the British did not blame Cornwallis for the disaster at Yorktown, so much as Clinton. The British relieved Clinton from command and replaced him with Sir Guy Carleton (May 1782). Clinton would spend much of the rest of life defending his actions leading to the surrender at Yorktown, but with limited success.

Opportunity Emerges

General Washington's focus on the north began to change when dispatches from France raised the possibility of French naval support. The French West Indies fleet commanded by Comte de Grasse might be able to make a forray north. Washington was still focused on New York, but Rochambeau raised the opportunity developing in Virginia.

Moving the Army South

The French and American armies north of New York City received word from de Grasse that he was sailing for the Chesapeake Bay. Washington and Degrasse set about the difficult task of moving their armies south to Virginia (August 19). They did their best to convince the British under Howe they were preparing to lay seige to New York. A small force was left to decoy the British. The Continental Army passed through Philadelphia (Septenmber 2-4). Washington learned of the arrival of DeGrasse's fleet (September 5). DeGrasse landed his infantry force which joined the Continental southern army. The empty transports were sent to ferry the Continentals and French and their heavy equipment down the Chesapeake Bay. Substantial Continental and French forces reached the Yorktown Peninsula (September 26).

Battle of the Capes (September 5, 1781)

De Grasse arrived at the Chesapeake Bay (late-August). He had a small contingent of troops with him and estanlished a blockade of Cornwallis in Yorktown. The British fleet dispatched a fleet commanded by Sir Thomas Graves to break the French blockade. Whatv he found was a much larger French force than he expected. The resulting Battle of the Capes, also called the Battle of the Chesapeake, was a standoff which left the French blockade in place and Cornwallis at Yorktown (September 5). This was a rare French naval victory. Graves returned to New York to assemble a larger fleet. There was, however, no rush. It wold be more than a month before Graves would sail south again to relieve Cornbwallis.

Seige

Washington led the army out of Williamsburg to surround Yorktown (September 28). Cut off by the French fleet, Cornwallis' army was then defeated in a classic siege strategy by Washington's Continentals supported by the French Army. The French provided the technical advise needed for siege warfare.

The Redoubts

The last redoubt (number 10) defending the British position was taken by a force commanded by Alexander Hamilton.

Artillery Bombardment

Washington was now able to have his artillery shell the British who fell back into Yorktown from three directions. A desperate British effort to destroy the American abnd French artillery positiions had minimal effect (October 15). The British attempted to escape by crossing the York River, but this also failed. As the Allied artillery bombardment intensified.

Surrender (October 17-19)

Cornwallis after a conference with is officers decided to surrender. A lone drummer boy followed by a British officer with a white flag appeared at the British lines (October 17). The Articles of Capitulation were signed (October 19).

Relief (October 24)

Relief did come to Corwallis, only it arrived after he had surrendered. A large British relief fleet sailed from New York again commanded by Admiral Thomas Graves (October 21). Even before reaching Yorktown, Graves began to realize that a disaster had occurred. British ships picked up several Loyalists who had escaped Yorktown (October 18). They reported that they believed that Cornwallis had surrendered. Graves subsequentky picked up more Loyalists along the coast. They confirmed the surrender. The Royal Navy fleet sent by Clinton arrived 5 days after Corwallis' surrender (October 24, 1781). Graves sighted the French Fleet, but given the fact that Cornwallis had surrendered chose to turn back and not give battle. H was outnumbered by nine ships.

Aftermath

After Cornwallis' surrender, Washington dispatched Tench Tilghman to inform Congress of the American victory. He had a difficult journey to Philadelphia. The news was jouously celebrated. This lasted for several days. The impact on London was far different. The British and English before them had beem fighting battles for centuries with stunning battle laurels. The idea that of all people American colonials could defeat two well-equuiped field armies in the space of 4 years defied belief. And Corwallis' arny was not lost in the Nrth American backwood interior, but right along the coast where the Royal Navy should have resued it. British Prime Minister Lord North, who had along with the King, had led the war party exclaimed, "Oh God, it's all over". Washington with no British Army left in the South moved his army to New Windsor, New York outside New York City to oppose Clinton's forces. Yorktown would, however, prove to be the last important engagement of the War. Washington and the Continental army remained stationed at New Windsor for the remainder of the War and the conflict reverted to the palatial negotating rooms in Europe. .

Consequences

The British had lost another field army which meant the end of the war. British military operations in America had come at enormous cost. Parliament had had enough. The fighting was essentially over. All that was left was inmake peace. A peace treaty was, however, not signed until 2 years later (1783). The last 2 years of the War were persued by diplomats in refined chambers who negotiated the settlemeht -- which of course the British could have done earlier at little cost and avoided the War. The Treaty of Paris was finally signed (September 3, 1783). The Treaty proved to be a stunning victory for the Americans--extending the American border west all the wy to the Mississippi. The American Congress was called the Continental Congress and the American army the Continental Army. Many Americans had visions of a continental nation, but when the War began, the colonies were hardly a continental force. The 13 colonies were small and narrowly pinned east of the Appalachin Mountains along the Atlantic seaboard. The British negotiators surprisingly, largely desiring to limit French gains, agreed to American control of half the Continent. It was an outcome that the American negotiators could scarcely believe.

Sources

Nelson, James L. George Washington's Great Gamble and the Sea Battle that Won the American Revolution.





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Created: 9:24 PM 12/12/2011
Last updated: 8:14 PM 9/20/2016