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Battle of Yorktown

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Battle of Yorktown
Cadet Flake
11-18-2014
Battle Analysis
ROTC

Siege of Yorktown The Revolutionary War was a dreadful war leaving almost 70,000 U.S. and British soldiers dead or wounded. The war lasted eight years with America, France, Spain, and the Dutch on one side and Great Britain on the other. On October 19, 1781 the last major land battle took place, the Battle of Yorktown. Similar to other battles in the Revolutionary War, the Americans were fighting for independence from the British and as threats from them kept increasing, the situation did not get any better. George Washington is recognized to having inspired the victory achieved over the British forces. The tactics, skills, courage and the collaboration George Washington sought with the French and American allies were enough to overcome the British army and force them to surrender. The key elements in the final results of the war were the events that shaped the final revolutionary battle, the mistakes that British General Cornwallis made, and how George Washington seized that opportunity to gain victory.
During the American Revolution, the Americans and French (Franco-American coalition) fought the British at the Battle of Yorktown. The Americans and the French fielded a combined force of roughly 16,000 soldiers to defeat the British force estimated at 7,000 soldiers. American General George Washington and French Lieutenant General de Rochambeau led the American and French soldiers. The British commanding officer was Major General Lord Cornwallis.
The battle occurred from September 28 thru October 19, 1781. Cornwallis lost his dominance in the Carolinas and decided to march his army north to Virginia and seize Yorktown and Gloucester along the York River.
The American Revolution, Siege of Yorktown, the Americans and French against Britain, occurred because the British Parliament was taking advantage of its colonies to pay for the war debt increased from the French and Indian War. The American colonist had



References: Final Victory: The Battle of Yorktown." About. Web. 18 Nov. 2014. <http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/americanrevolutio1/p/yorktown.htm>. "Battle of Yorktown Begins." History.com. A&E Television Networks. Web. 18 Nov. 2014. <http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-yorktown-begins>. "American Revolution : The Battle of Yorktown." American Revolution : The Battle of Yorktown. Web. 18 Nov. 2014. <http://www.britishbattles.com/battle-yorktown.htm>. “History: Battle of Yorktown.” Web. 18 Nov. 2014. <http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/american-revolution->.

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