Major Generals Involved

General George Washington

General Charles Cornwallis

American General

British General

Lord Cornwallis served King George III and Britain as one of the leading generals of Revolutionary War. He was forced to surrender his troops to American and French forces at the Battle of Yorktown.

George Washington was appointed Commander-in-chief of the Continental forces on June 17, 1775. On August 20, 1781, he began moving American and French forces south from New York to join Marquis de Lafayette's (American General) American troops and engage Cornwallis at Yorktown. As supreme commander, Washington was responsible for coordinating the American and French parts of the army, as well as strategy.

Rochambeau joined Washington for the journey to Yorktown. Rochambeau commanded the French forces while Washington commanded the combined American and French army. Rochambeau, a veteran of 14 sieges in Europe, provided valuable expertise in the conducting of the siege at Yorktown. The success at Yorktown was very much a result of this expertise and his leadership skills.

Comte de Rochambeau

French General joining Americans