The Siege of Yorktown

In 1781, British general Lord Charles Cornwallis brought his army to Yorktown, Virginia to establish a navy base. In that same year, Continental Army general, George Washington, attacked the port. Comtes de Rochambeau led his French troops to assist George Washington in the taking of the base. Comte de Grasse aided Washington and Rochembeau with a fleet of ships to block Cornwallis' retreat in the Chesapeake Bay.

 From the sea, Grasse bombarded the British defenses with his ships. This weakened them, and allowed Washington, on October 14, 1781, to send to columns to attack the remaining British outer defenses. Outnumbered, and surrounded by enemy forces, Cornwallis had no choice but to surrender. The Siege of Yorktown was a key victory for the Americans. It also proved that our French allies were valuable to our war efforts.