Yorktown Battlefield
Yorktown, York County, Virginia
Marker Inscription
Here, October 19, 1781, Lord Cornwallis surrendered his army to General Washington and the French, effectively ending the Revolutionary War.
Erected by National Park Service
The Story
A combined American and French force trapped the British army against the York River while the French fleet blocked escape by sea. The siege's end secured American independence.
Why it matters
Yorktown was the decisive victory of the Revolution — the battle that won the war and the nation.
Related people
- · George Washington
- · Lord Cornwallis
Related events
- · Siege of Yorktown
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
Colonial Williamsburg
Williamsburg, VA · est. 1934
As Virginia's colonial capital, Williamsburg was a center of revolutionary politics. Restored in the 20th century, it is now the largest living-history museum in the country.
St. John's Church
Richmond, VA · est. 1932
The Second Virginia Convention met here, beyond reach of the royal governor. Patrick Henry's speech persuaded delegates — including Washington and Jefferson — to arm the colony's militia.
Independence Hall
Philadelphia, PA · est. 1948
Originally the Pennsylvania State House, this brick Georgian building hosted the Second Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention. The Liberty Bell once hung in its tower.
Fredericksburg Battlefield
Fredericksburg, VA · est. 1936
Union troops crossed the Rappahannock and charged a stone wall held by entrenched Confederates below Marye's Heights. Wave after wave fell; nearly 13,000 Union casualties resulted.