Battle of Yorktown

HistoryCentral · Primary Source & History

After a long period of inactivity, the British decided to pursue the Southern strategy. The British were initially successful, but soon found themselves only in a tenuous control of coastal cities. After a number of tactical defeats, General Cornwallis, the British commander, retired to Yorktown, awaiting relief from the British fleet. American and French forces converged on him, however, and he was forced to surrender. The surrender at Yorktown marked the last major campaign of the war.