This assigned blog is about the battle of Yorktown, Virginia. The Battle of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory for the colonies because it was the last major battle in the American Revolutionary War. The French casualties were 60 killed and 194 wounded and the American casualties were 28 killed and 107 wounded with a grand total of 88 killed and 301 wounded. The British official casualty return for the siege listed 156 killed, 326 wounded and 70 missing.
The Americans had 8,000 regulars and 3,100 militia. The French had 7,800–8,800 regulars and 29 war ships which totals 18,900- 19,900 for the American side. The British had 9,000 troops which includes German troops. So the American side had twice as much troops as the British side. The generals were General Washington commanded the Americans, Lieutenant General de Rochambeau commanded the French and Major General Lord Cornwallis commanded the British.
On the morning of October 17 1781, a drummer followed by an officer waving a white handkerchief and ended the American Revolutionary War. Cornwallis' British men were declared prisoners of war. They were promised good treatment in American camps, and the officers were permitted to return home after taking their parole. Cornwallis refused to meet formally with Washington, and also refused to come to the ceremony of surrender, claiming he was sick. Instead, Brigadier General Charles O'Hara presented the sword of surrender to Rochambeau. Rochambeau shook his head and pointed to Washington. O'Hara offered it to Washington, but he refused to accept it, and motioned to his second in command, Benjamin Lincoln, who had been embarrassed by the British at Charleston, to accept it.
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