The last major battle of the American Revolution was fought at Yorktown.

Washington learned that the French Admiral de Grasse was sailing to Virginia to prevent the British army under the command of General Cornwallis from leaving Yorktown. He and the French General Rochambeau rushed their troops to Yorktown to trap the British and prevent them from escaping over land.

The combined troops and sailors of Americans and French were about 18,000 in number.

A siege of the city of Yorktown lasted from August - October 1781.

Cornwallis was told by Sir Henry Clinton, the commander of all British forces in America that he was sending a relief British fleet to sail to Yorktown with supplies and men.

Admiral de Grasse's French fleet defeated the British fleet at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay so the relief that Cornwallis needed was unable to reach him. Cornwallis was surrounded. The American and French troops gradually closed in on him.

Cornwallis surrendered to Washington on Oct 19, 1781.