While Greene went off to gain control of South Carolina, Cornwallis marched into Virginia where he was reinforced by Benedict Arnold, now commanding British troops. By summer Cornwallis had 7,000 men and was raiding throughout Virginia, no match for the Americans under Baron Von Steuben. And then on August 1 Cornwallis moved to Yorktown.

Washington, meanwhile, had launched a series of coordinated movements with the French army and navy that resulted in a 21 day seige of Yorktown. Rochambeau marched south from Rhode Island and the French fleet under the Comte de Grasse blockaded the Chesapeake Bay. The last British route of escape was cut off. Cornwallis surrendered on October 19, 1781. Although there were other battles and the British did not evacuate New York until November 25, 1783, the American Revolution had come to a close at the little colonial village along the York River.

Lord Cornwallis was "sick" on the day his army was surrendered to the Americans. He sent Gen. Charles O'Hara topresent his sword to General Washington. Washington refused to accept the surrender from other than the commander of British troops. Instead Gen. Benjamin Lincoln accepted for the Continental Army. John Trumbull depicted this scene in his famous painting.

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