The Siege of Yorktown Begins
On September 28, 1781, American and French forces advanced on Yorktown and began surrounding the British army. The campaign would lead to one of the most consequential victories of the American Revolution.
The march to Yorktown
On September 28, 1781, the allied American and French army marched from Williamsburg toward Yorktown, Virginia. British forces under General Charles Cornwallis held defensive positions there.
Closing in
The allied troops began surrounding the British positions. French naval forces also prevented British reinforcements or an easy escape by sea. The siege developed over the following days.
The outcome
Cornwallis surrendered in October 1781. The victory at Yorktown dealt a decisive blow to Britain's effort to defeat the American Revolution, although the war formally ended later.
Why September 28 matters
This was the day the allied army reached Yorktown and began investing the British defenses. The surrender was still weeks away: September 28 marks the start of the siege, not its end.