Yorktown | Sep 28 - Oct 19, 1781

In 1781, American and French troops laid siege to Yorktown, Virginia, a stronghold of the British Army. The strength of American and allied artillery, which only increased as the siege wore on, ultimately forced the British to realize that the situation was hopeless. General Charles Lord Cornwallis formally surrendered to George Washington on October 19, 1781. This proved to be the last major action of the Revolutionary War, and though the Treaty of Paris would not be signed until almost two years later, many view Cornwallis’ surrender as the unofficial end of the war.