Essay on The Battle of Yorktown - 952 Words

The battle at Yorktown, Virginia in 1781 is most famously known as the â€Å" battle that ended the Revolutionary War.† While this is true, there is still much that can be learned from the principles applied, that still has relevance today. General George Washington, along with his allied French commanders, Lieutenant General Jean-Baptiste Ponton de Rochambeau and Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Graves, they exquisitely displayed how a execute siege operations. This battle also displayed a great example of how multinational operations can be successful. In August 1781, General George Washington, who was camped in New York, learned that Lieutenant General Lord Charles Cornwallis army of nearly 9,000 soldiers was encamped near Yorktown, VA (Lengel,†¦show more content†¦The combination of bombardment and lack of resupply eventually led to Washington’s allied army mounting assaults which lead to Cornwallis surrendering. While not known when he surrendered, Cornwallis effec tively ended the Revolutionary War, as this was the last major battle of the six year conflict between the Americans and the British. We, as a military can still learn much from the actions that George Washington took. The siege operation that was implemented emphasized just how important it can be for an army to have the ability to replenish their supplies. Without this capability, the British troops were rendered ineffective because they were severely depleted of rations, manpower, and even bullets. The Colonial Army basically gave General Cornwallis no other option than to lay down their arms and surrender. While a conventional â€Å"siege† may not be possible in our current areas of operation, the Battle of Yorktown does display the importance of severing the enemies’ supply channels. Soldiers who are tired hungry and weak will eventually begin to lose the will to fight. Couple that with a constant barrage of incoming artillery, and they may feel their situation to be all the more dire. If we can apply some of the ideas of Washington, it may help us to become more successful in future operations. George Washington knew that once his and the French soldiers were in place, Cornwallis would have nowhere to retreatShow MoreRelatedBattle Of Yorktown : Battle For Yorktown1403 Words   |  6 PagesBattle of Yorktown 1 Running Header: Battle of Yorktown Pearson Elizabeth The Battle of Yorktown Battle of Yorktown 2 One of the most important battles of the Revolutionary War took place on September 28, 1781, in Yorktown, Virginia. The Siege of Yorktown was the last battle in the war against Great Britain. Fought between General George Washington with French aid from General Comte de Rochambeau. With a fleet of over 17,000 French and Continental men against General Lord Charles CornwallisRead MoreThe Battle of Yorktown1284 Words   |  5 Pages The Battle of Yorktown was the decisive battle of the American Revolutionary War. The French and American forces laid siege upon the British forces at Yorktown, Virginia and eventually forced the surrender of nearly one-third of the total number of British troops in America. This battle showed that massive loss of life is not the only factor that will determine the victor, as there were a relatively low number of casualties taken by both sides. Instead, it was an aggregate of economic, socialRead MoreThe Battle of Yorktown688 Words   |  3 PagesThe Battle of Yorktown or better known as the Siege of Yorktown was the final battle in the American Revolution. The battle took place in Yorktown, Virginia in 1781. The battle lasted from September 28th 1781 and October 19th 1781. 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It was a decisive battle that turned the table duringRead MoreThe Battle Of Siege Of Yorktown1646 Words   |  7 PagesSeptember 5th, 1781, a French Naval Fleet inhabited the lower Chesapeake Bay, which was a major advantage to the continental army. The siege of Yorktown, was the last major battle against the British army under General Cornwallis, resulting in the inevitable surrender and American independence. The re was a great deal of coordination prior to the actual engagement consequently leading to this outcome. The total number of soldiers consisted of 17,600 American and French soldiers, under the commandRead MoreBattle of Yorktown Analysis2211 Words   |  9 PagesBattle of Yorktown During the American Revolution, the Americans and French (Franco-American coalition) fought the British at the Battle of Yorktown also known as â€Å"The Siege of Yorktown†. The Americans and the French fielded a combined force of roughly 16,000 soldiers to defeat the British force estimated at 7,000 soldiers. American General George Washington and French Lieutenant General de Rochambeau led the American and French soldiers. The British commanding officer was Major General Lord CornwallisRead MoreBattle of Yorktown Essay1401 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Cadet Flake 11-18-2014 Battle Analysis ROTC Siege of Yorktown The Revolutionary War was a dreadful war leaving almost 70,000 U.S. and British soldiers dead or wounded. The war lasted eight years with America, France, Spain, and the Dutch on one side and Great Britain on the other. On October 19, 1781 the last major land battle took place, the Battle of Yorktown. Similar to other battles in the Revolutionary War, the Americans were fighting for independence from the British and as threats fromRead MoreEssay on The Battle of Yorktown3027 Words   |  13 Pages The Battle of Yorktown was a major turning point in the Revolutionary War and led to the creation of the United States of America. After six grueling years of war the end of the war was near. Six months before the morale of the continental army was at the lowest point of the war. Congress was bankrupt due to rampant inflation caused by the mass production of continental dollars. The continental army was being trounced in the south by the British who had regained South Carolina and Georgia. AlsoRead MoreThe Battle Of Yorktown : A Great Indication1664 Words   |  7 Pagessuccessful during military mission battles. The Battle of Yorktown provides a great example of how working with other nations and being their allies can help us to overcome issues within our own units, batteries, and higher echelon. With further analysis of the Battle of Yorktown, it is also apparent that the strategic usage of artillery played a major role in its success and that its utilization was more than just about operating cannons and howitzers. The Battle of Yorktown possesses a lot of artilleryRead MoreThe Battle Of Yorktown By William Faulkner1569 Words   |  7 PagesBattle of Yorktown A Striking Start You are galloping full speed at full speed like it is the last day of your life, you ride into the city of Yorktown fiercely, then your rider wants you to go faster, you are galloping faster than you have ever run, as fast as a speeding bullet. The wind is slapping your face as hard as a hammer, you finally run into the sea of smoke, muskets, and bayonets. The person riding you violently thrusts his mighty sword, and swiftly fires his French pistol. Cannonballs