Discover what it took for the United States to be independent as you explore the site of the last major battle of the Revolutionary War. Here at Yorktown, in the fall of 1781, General George Washington, with allied American and French forces, besieged General Charles Lord Cornwallis's British army. On October 19, Cornwallis surrendered, effectively ending the war and ensuring independence. - NPS
| Y/M/D | Person | Association | Description | Composition | Food | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Y/M/D | Person | Association | Description | Composition | Food | Event |
| 1781/08/01 | Charles Cornwallis | British General | Cornwallis occupies Yorktown | Leading to the Siege of Yorktown | ||
| 1781/09/28 | Continental Army | Patriots | General Washington and an army of 17,000 French and Continental troops, arrive in Yorktown to lay siege to General Cornwallis and 9,000 British regulars. | Siege of Yorktown | ||
| 1781/10/00 | Thomas Nelson Jr | American Commander | Brigadier General Thomas Nelson commands the Virginia militia at the Siege of Yorktown, leading one third of all the American troops | Siege of Yorktown | ||
| 1781/10/14 | Alexander Hamilton | American Commander | Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton and his battalion capture Redoubt 10 in a nightime bayonet attack | Siege of Yorktown | ||
| 1781/10/17 | William Russell (Patriot) | American Commander | General Cornwallis surrenders to General Washington in the field at Yorktown on 17 October 1781. | Siege of Yorktown | ||
| 1781/10/17 | Charles Cornwallis | British Commander | General Cornwallis surrenders to General Washington in the field at Yorktown on 17 October 1781. | Siege of Yorktown | ||
| 1781/10/19 | John Malcolm Miller | Patriot Commander | Captain John Malcolm Miller serves in the Continental Army with George Washington at the surrender of Cornwallis. | Siege of Yorktown | ||
| 1781/10/19 | George Weedon | American Commander | British garrison at Yorktown marches to Surrender Field to lay down their arms. One hour later, the garrison at Gloucester Point surrenders. | Siege of Yorktown | ||
| 1781/10/19 | Marquis de Lafayette | American General | British garrison at Yorktown marches to Surrender Field to lay down their arms. One hour later, the garrison at Gloucester Point surrenders. | Siege of Yorktown | ||
| 1781/10/19 | Gen Benjamin Lincoln | American Commander | British garrison at Yorktown marches to Surrender Field to lay down their arms. One hour later, the garrison at Gloucester Point surrenders. | Siege of Yorktown | ||
| 1781/10/19 | David Bushnell | American Captain | British garrison at Yorktown marches to Surrender Field to lay down their arms. One hour later, the garrison at Gloucester Point surrenders. | Siege of Yorktown | ||
| 1781/10/19 | George Washington | American Commander in Chief | British garrison at Yorktown marches to Surrender Field to lay down their arms. One hour later, the garrison at Gloucester Point surrenders. | Siege of Yorktown | ||
| 1781/10/19 | Henry Lee III | American Commander | British garrison at Yorktown marches to Surrender Field to lay down their arms. One hour later, the garrison at Gloucester Point surrenders. | Siege of Yorktown | ||
| 1781/10/19 | Isaac Hite Jr | Aide to General Muhlenberg | British garrison at Yorktown marches to Surrender Field to lay down their arms. One hour later, the garrison at Gloucester Point surrenders. | Siege of Yorktown | ||
| 1781/10/24 | Louis Lebegue Duportail | Patriot Chief Engineer | Washington orders the allied fortifications leveled | 1781 American Revolution - After Yorktown | ||
| 1781/11/05 | John Parke Custis | Died | John Parke Custis dies from 'Camp Fever' at the Yorktown Battlefield | Siege of Yorktown | ||
| 1824/10/18 | Marquis de Lafayette | National Guest | Lafayette is escorted to the Washington's campaign tent erected on its original battlefield site, where a line of military officers shake his hand. Temporary monuments include a 45ft arch at Redoubt 10 and a 76ft obelisk at the British surrender site. | Lafayette's Triumphal Tour of America |
| Particulars for Yorktown Battlefield: | |
|---|---|
| Military Event | American Revolutionary War |
| Sight Category | Site |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.