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The Guns of Independence: The Siege of Yorktown, 1781
The siege of Yorktown in the fall of 1781 was the single most decisive engagement of the American Revolution. The campaign has all the drama any historian or student could the war's top generals and admirals pitted against one another; decisive naval engagements; cavalry fighting; siege warfare; night bayonet attacks; and much more. Until now, however, no modern scholarly treatment of the entire campaign has been produced.
By the summer of 1781, America had been at war with England for six years. No one believed in 1775 that the colonists would put up such a long and credible struggle. France sided with the colonies as early as 1778, but it was the dispatch of 5,500 infantry under Comte de Rochambeau in the summer of 1780 that shifted the tide of war against the British.
In early 1781, after his victories in the Southern Colonies, Lord Cornwallis marched his army north into Virginia. Cornwallis believed the Americans could be decisively defeated in Virginia and the war brought to an end. George Washington believed Cornwallis's move was a strategic blunder, and he moved vigorously to exploit it. Feinting against General Clinton and the British stronghold of New York, Washington marched his army quickly south. With the assistance of Rochambeau's infantry and a key French naval victory at the Battle off the Capes in September, Washington trapped Cornwallis on the tip of a narrow Virginia peninsula at a place called Yorktown. And so it began.
Operating on the belief that Clinton was about to arrive with reinforcements, Cornwallis confidently remained within Yorktown's inadequate defenses. Determined that nothing short of outright surrender would suffice, his opponent labored day and night to achieve that end. Washington's brilliance was on display as he skillfully constricted Cornwallis's position by digging entrenchments, erecting redoubts and artillery batteries, and launching well-timed attacks to capture key enemy positions. The nearly flawless Allied campaign sealed Cornwallis's fate. Trapped inside crumbling defenses, he surrendered on October 19, 1781, effectively ending the war in North America.
Penned by historian Jerome A. Greene, The Guns of The Siege of Yorktown, 1781 offers a complete and balanced examination of the siege and the participants involved. Greene's study is based upon extensive archival research and firsthand archaeological investigation of the battlefield. This fresh and invigorating study will satisfy everyone interested in American Revolutionary history, artillery, siege tactics, and brilliant leadership.
About the Jerome A. Greene is a historian with the National Park Service. He is the author or editor of many books, including Morning Star The Powder River Expedition and the Northern Cheyenne, 1876, and his most recent effort, The U.S. Army and the Southern Cheyennes, 1867-1869. He lives in Colorado.
By the summer of 1781, America had been at war with England for six years. No one believed in 1775 that the colonists would put up such a long and credible struggle. France sided with the colonies as early as 1778, but it was the dispatch of 5,500 infantry under Comte de Rochambeau in the summer of 1780 that shifted the tide of war against the British.
In early 1781, after his victories in the Southern Colonies, Lord Cornwallis marched his army north into Virginia. Cornwallis believed the Americans could be decisively defeated in Virginia and the war brought to an end. George Washington believed Cornwallis's move was a strategic blunder, and he moved vigorously to exploit it. Feinting against General Clinton and the British stronghold of New York, Washington marched his army quickly south. With the assistance of Rochambeau's infantry and a key French naval victory at the Battle off the Capes in September, Washington trapped Cornwallis on the tip of a narrow Virginia peninsula at a place called Yorktown. And so it began.
Operating on the belief that Clinton was about to arrive with reinforcements, Cornwallis confidently remained within Yorktown's inadequate defenses. Determined that nothing short of outright surrender would suffice, his opponent labored day and night to achieve that end. Washington's brilliance was on display as he skillfully constricted Cornwallis's position by digging entrenchments, erecting redoubts and artillery batteries, and launching well-timed attacks to capture key enemy positions. The nearly flawless Allied campaign sealed Cornwallis's fate. Trapped inside crumbling defenses, he surrendered on October 19, 1781, effectively ending the war in North America.
Penned by historian Jerome A. Greene, The Guns of The Siege of Yorktown, 1781 offers a complete and balanced examination of the siege and the participants involved. Greene's study is based upon extensive archival research and firsthand archaeological investigation of the battlefield. This fresh and invigorating study will satisfy everyone interested in American Revolutionary history, artillery, siege tactics, and brilliant leadership.
About the Jerome A. Greene is a historian with the National Park Service. He is the author or editor of many books, including Morning Star The Powder River Expedition and the Northern Cheyenne, 1876, and his most recent effort, The U.S. Army and the Southern Cheyennes, 1867-1869. He lives in Colorado.
528 pages, Hardcover
First published April 15, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 13, 2022
This is an in-depth examination of the siege at Yorktown that led to the surrender of Lord Cornwallis and the British Army in 1781. That defeat helped to convince the British that they could not prevail in their attempt to deny American Independence. Or, at least convinced that they could not prevail without an extraordinary effort and cost; a cost they were unwilling to pay. By an in-depth examination of the siege, I mean that the author goes into great detail to define the structural makeup and dimensions of the various redoubts and fortifications. Plus, there is an in-depth study of the artillery that was in each position, who maned it and what role it played in the bombardment of Yorktown. That level of detail on the armament and fortifications still left room for analysis of the personalities that led both forces and how those personalities and their decision-making process affected the final outcome. All in all, a very worthwhile read for people interested in the nuts and bolts of that final large-scale battle of the American Revolutionary War.
February 27, 2024
This excellent telling of the revolutionary siege of Yorktown, Virginia is a great addition to anyone's library. Its covers the beginnings of the end for the British in the colonies. The movements of both armies and navies into the peninsula area and the vast decisions that led to the end of Lord Cornwallis in North America.
The movement of the American and French forces with all the cannons is covered in detail. There are enough maps to view what the text is describing along with many photos from the NPS site.
The movement of the American and French forces with all the cannons is covered in detail. There are enough maps to view what the text is describing along with many photos from the NPS site.
October 2, 2024
Jerome's meticulous research and his ability to paint a vivid picture for American history fans is on full display! A very impressive historical account of how General Washington, Henry Knox and the French allies methodically positioned their guns to drive out the enemy and win the war.
September 12, 2014
Excellent history of the pivotal battle of the US' war for independence. Goes into depth on the preparations for Washington's siege and the various missteps by the British.
October 7, 2014
This is a great book describing in detail all that happened in Yorktown. A must read for revolution history buffs.
July 23, 2015
The ultimate read for Yorktown.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews