Siege of Yorktown
Where was the Siege of Yorktown?
Yorktown, Virginia. It is by what was the York River.
Who was involved?
The American Continental Army led by George Washington and the French Army vs. the British Army led by Lord Cornwallis. The Americans had about nineteen thousand and the British had about ten thousand.
What happened?
There was 12 redoubts surrounding the British controlled Yorktown. Cornwallis decided to empty all but two of the redoubts so they would have enough men to defend the city. When the Americans came, they built a parallel. Once the Americans had their artillery set up, Washington wouldn't let them stop firing. They continued to fire so that the British couldn't rebuild. Some of the cannonballs flew over the city and hit the docks and and boats. One of the boats caught fire and lit some of the other boats on fire. Then they started to fire on the redoubts so they could attack. The French took one redoubt and the Americans the other. The redoubt the Americans attacked lost a wall and they chopped down the other on with their bayonets and axes. The French weren't as lucky. they had to climb the first wall and then chop down the second. Both the French and Americans took the redoubts with ease. Then they attacked the city. When Cornwallis saw it was pointless to keep fighting, he surrendered.
What was the impact?
The war was over. The Treaty of Paris was signed. America was a free country.
Yorktown, Virginia. It is by what was the York River.
Who was involved?
The American Continental Army led by George Washington and the French Army vs. the British Army led by Lord Cornwallis. The Americans had about nineteen thousand and the British had about ten thousand.
What happened?
There was 12 redoubts surrounding the British controlled Yorktown. Cornwallis decided to empty all but two of the redoubts so they would have enough men to defend the city. When the Americans came, they built a parallel. Once the Americans had their artillery set up, Washington wouldn't let them stop firing. They continued to fire so that the British couldn't rebuild. Some of the cannonballs flew over the city and hit the docks and and boats. One of the boats caught fire and lit some of the other boats on fire. Then they started to fire on the redoubts so they could attack. The French took one redoubt and the Americans the other. The redoubt the Americans attacked lost a wall and they chopped down the other on with their bayonets and axes. The French weren't as lucky. they had to climb the first wall and then chop down the second. Both the French and Americans took the redoubts with ease. Then they attacked the city. When Cornwallis saw it was pointless to keep fighting, he surrendered.
What was the impact?
The war was over. The Treaty of Paris was signed. America was a free country.
Alec, Willowcreek Middle School, date last edited: 4/9/13