> In 1781, the American Revolutionary War is considered to have ended at whichVirginia location?And the answer: Yorktown.Photo courtesy: History.comIn October 1781, the Battle of Yorktown effectivelyended the American Revolutionary War. American Continental Army troops led byGeorge Washington combined with French Army troops, led by the Comte deRochambeau, to win against a British army commanded by Charles Cornwallis.Cornwallis thought strategy was on his side as he moved his base to Yorktown,Virginia. From there, he could be supplied by land or sea, and could dispatchhis troops freely. However, General George Washington sensed opportunity. OnceCornwallis and his troops were in their new position, he ordered Lafayette tokeep the army busy at Yorktown while combining his forces with Comte deRochambeau’s 4,000 French troops. The combined armies rushed south, pinningCornwallis’ army to the shore.British naval reinforcements, sent to rescue Cornwallis, were defeated. If theytried to escape by land, the forces were sent reeling back into theirfortifications. The rest of the fateful day was filled with gunfire, as some16,000 French and American troops sent shells into British frontlines. Thatnight, a daring attack by Alexander Hamilton and Rochambeau led to the captureof two key British forts, cutting off Cornwallis’ final route of escape. By thefollowing morning, surrender rang through the air. The war was over.Did you know?As British troops marched to surrender, many refused to look in the direction ofthe American soldiers. Appalled by this treatment, Lafayette ordered his band tosnap into a bold rendition of "Yankee Doodle."