Battle of Yorktown by Johnathan Hake

Malaria

johnathanhake1 — 2024-03-30 20:09:22 UTC

In South Carolina and Georgia, British and American troops are facing scores of casualties relating to malaria due to the suitable climate for mosquitos forcing General Cornwallis to relocate more north.

The French and Americans make a decisive attack on two of the redoubts

johnathanhake1 — 2024-03-30 20:29:56 UTC

The assault on British redoubts 9 & 10 was conducted by a small force of French and American troops. This is the first and largest skirmish of the entire battle. The British sustained a third of their entire force at Yorktown as casualties as a result.

Admiral Thomas Graves

johnathanhake1 — 2024-03-30 20:44:53 UTC

British Naval Commander

Admiral de Grasse

johnathanhake1 — 2024-03-30 20:47:05 UTC

Commander of the French Naval Forces

General Washington

johnathanhake1 — 2024-03-30 20:48:45 UTC

Commander of the Continental Army

General Rochambeau

johnathanhake1 — 2024-03-30 20:50:49 UTC

Commander of French ground forces

General Cornwallis is now without support

johnathanhake1 — 2024-03-30 20:56:58 UTC

After French Admiral De Grasse defeats the British fleet at Chesapeake Bay General Cornwallis can no longer receive supplies or make for a retreat by sea leaving him surrounded. Admiral Graves takes his beaten fleet north to New York.

General Cornwallis

johnathanhake1 — 2024-03-30 21:02:06 UTC

Commander of British Forces

Cornwallis settles on Yorktown

johnathanhake1 — 2024-03-30 21:09:00 UTC

Chosen for its easy access to the sea, General Cornwallis establishes himself at Yorktown and begins the systematic construction of defensive redoubts (seen above is one of many redoubts)

French and American troops march on Yorktown

johnathanhake1 — 2024-03-30 21:17:28 UTC

Washington heeds the advice of his French counterpart and decides to attack Cornwallis at Yorktown instead of his original plans to attack British General Clinton located in New York. Prior to their departure, Washington sent false orders to attack New York to keep the British preoccupied.

The Americans and French lay siege

johnathanhake1 — 2024-03-30 21:46:32 UTC

French offer valuable experience on siege warfare and assist in the creation of the trenches and redoubts. Once a trench is created for infantry the cannons are brought forward successively until optimum artillery fire is achieved. (above is one of the parallel siege lines created at Yorktown)

Cornwallis takes no action on the advancing troops

johnathanhake1 — 2024-03-30 23:13:08 UTC

For 2 weeks the British position is bombarded with artillery fire. The British suffer deeply... Supplies are thin, morale is weak, and the British at Yorktown have resorted to feed on their horses. (This is a depiction of the French gun line at the siege)

Action by the British

johnathanhake1 — 2024-03-30 23:37:45 UTC

General Cornwallis launches a counterattack on the alliance in an attempt to destroy artillery pieces that would allow them to survive long enough for reinforcements. With limited success, the counterattack failed. The British attempted to flee across the York River under the cover of darkness but rough weather ended their withdraw.

General Cornwallis surrenders

johnathanhake1 — 2024-03-30 23:49:07 UTC

General Cornwallis agrees to the Articles of Capitulation laying out conditions of the surrender. Cornwallis himself did not attend the surrender ceremony instead he sent his second in command. Symbolically General Washington did not allow the British to fly their colors during the laying down of arms ceremony as they had done so to the Americans in a similar situation.

The end is near

johnathanhake1 — 2024-03-31 00:08:58 UTC

While the war went on for some time, this was the last major battle. It took over a month for the news of the surrender to reach Britian. British government decided not to send any more troops to the cause and on 17 February 1782 the House of Commons voted to end the war in America. Officially the war came to a conclusion on September 3rd, 1783 when the Treaty of Paris 1783 was signed. (above is the last page of the treaty signed by John Jay, John Adams, and Ben Franklin)

Here you see how all the puzzle pieces come together.

johnathanhake1 — 2024-03-31 00:24:14 UTC

Washington's trip initially started in Rhode Island where he was met by Rochambeau on the way there. You can see Cornwallis making movement from the South and where Graves and de Grasse come into contact with each other.

Bird eye view of the entire siege

johnathanhake1 — 2024-03-31 00:27:55 UTC

You see that there are two parallel siege lines, systematically developed one at a time. Across the river you see a portion of British troops had made it across before the storm was too rough to pass the river.