Analysis Of George Washington's Victory At Yorktown

849 Words2 Pages

Kayla Griffin
His-111
4/21/2014

George Washington’s Victory at Yorktown
George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Virginia. He received his primary education at a nearby churchyard school, and then was sent to boarding school. In his early teens his education came to an end. When he was 16 he got his first job surveying the lands of Shenandoah Valley. He was able to earn money to buy his own land. By the age of 21, he owned more than 1500 acres of land. In 1752 Washington’s older brother Lawrence died, passing down his Mount Vernon estate to George. In 1754, he served as a colonist in the French and Indian War. In 1775, Washington became military advisor for New York. By 1781, Washington forced Cornwallis to surrender at Yorktown. The war was won (Toward Fact: A Biography). George Washington’s s struggles and accomplishes gave him the military power to defeat Cornwallis at Yorktown by forcing him to surrender, blocking Cornwallis’ escape from Yorktown by land and having a strong army.
The Battle of Yorktown took place from September 28th until October 19th 1781 in Yorktown, Virginia. It was the last major battle toward in the American Revolution. The Americans and French fought against the British. General Washington commanded the Americans; Rochambeau commanded the French and Cornwallis commanded the British. There was about 8,800 Americans fighting, 7,800 French fighting and 6,000 British fighting. Both sides were armed with guns and ready to fight (The British Surrender at Yorktown, 1781).
On September 28th, when the battle begins Cornwallis did not attend the surrender ceremony. He had General O’Hara substitute for him because he claimed he was sick. Around mid-day, the American and French army was in two lines s...

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...y and agreed their situation was hopeless. On the morning of October 17th, a drummer appeared followed by an officer waving a white handkerchief. To make sure nothing went wrong between the French and the Americans, Washington ordered that the French be given an equal share in every step of the surrender process. The articles of capitulation were signed on October, 19th, 1781. Cornwallis refused to meet Washington and refused to come to the ceremony of surrender. Instead General O’Hara presented the sword of surrender to the Americans and the French. The British soldiers marched out and laid down their arms between the French and American armies (Siege of Yorktown).
In conclusion General Washington had a strong army and was happy he got victory. I think he is a good man and deserved victory. He is a good leader and commander and knows how to form a good army.

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