Cornwallis

The British still held New York when Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown in October 1781.

After all, Cornwallis' surrender only deprived Britain of 8,000 of its 42,000 troops in North America (p. 74).

Cornwallis himself remained in Yorktown, pleading indisposition but perhaps unable to face the triumph of revolution.

General Steuben observing the large radius of camp concluded that Cornwallis' entire force was across the river.

Simcoe destroyed all the heavy baggage and military stores and returned successfully to Cornwallis the next morning.

General Cornwallis had taken possession of this house for his headquarters at Yorktown.

In the meantime, General Lafayette surrounded Cornwallis and his troops on the south and on the west.

This movement prevented Cornwallis from either receiving British enforcements or from escaping out to sea.