The Battle of Yorktown was an American victory.

General Cornwallis set out to capture Marquis de Lafayette and his men. By this time the Americans had French troops in many areas. Cornwallis fortified Yorktown, and Lafayette was encamped at Williamsburg. In the summer of 1781, it became possible to unite all the French forces with the Americans to strike an attack on the British. The Americans and their French allies decided to besiege Cornwallis at Yorktown. Rochambeau led his men to New York and joined the main American army. Washington now took command of the allied forces. He pretended that he was about to attack New York and deceived Henry Clinton completely that he ordered General Cornwallis to send some of his soldiers to New York. The French and American allies were marching southward through Philadelphia before General Clinton realized what they were doing. The French West India fleet under De Grasse reached one end of the Chesapeake Bay at the same time the allies reached the other end. The British fleet attacked it and were defeated. There was no hope for Cornwallis. No help could reach him by sea and the Americans and their allies outnumbered his forces.

How Was the Battle Won?