The+War+is+Won!

Ashland, KY Shelby Street
 * __The War is Won! __**


 * //__On October 19, 1781, after 21 days of siege, British forces finally surrendered to the Americans under Washington and French under Rochambeau __//**.

 After a long campaign and siege, General Cornwallis, with no other hope and no way of escape, surrendered to the allied force of around 19,000. As you may remember, the British army under General Cornwallis was ordered to find a deep-water port and to fortify themselves there. With his movements being shadowed by Lafayette, Cornwallis quickly chose Yorktown. With French and American forces uniting in Virginia and the French fleet on its way to Chesapeake Bay, the British needed to put up a fight or to escape. With the combined French and American forces outnumbering them at over 2 to 1, the British chose to flee. When they sent soldiers across the bay to escape, they were stopped by French forces who anticipated the move. The only thing left for the British to do was escape by sea, but the French fleet arrived and ruined that plan. The British ships were destroyed.  The Americans and French sieging Yorktown continued to bombard and make charges on the British forces. Eventually, after weeks of siege, the British surrendered all their army at Yorktown. As British and Hessian soldiers marched their way through American lines, handing over their weapons, the American band played Yankee Doodle and soldiers cheered and were thankful. Thankful that this might be the last major battle and that the war was won. I believe that there’s no war the British will keep fighting after this kind of defeat and that we have won our independence! As we remember those who have given their lives for our cause and those who led and participated in this triumph, let us celebrate our new nation!  -Shelby Street