October 14
Allied Forces Storm Redoubts at Yorktown
A swift nighttime bayonet assault by American and French troops on October 14, 1781, seized two vital British outposts and brought the allied siege lines within striking distance of Lord Cornwallis’s main defenses at Yorktown.
Summary
By mid-October 1781, American and French forces under George Washington and the Comte de Rochambeau had besieged British troops commanded by Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia. After weeks of artillery bombardment that weakened the outer defenses, Washington ordered a nighttime assault on two key British redoubts. On October 14, 400 French soldiers captured Redoubt No. 9 while 400 Americans led by Alexander Hamilton took Redoubt No. 10, using bayonets in a swift operation that lasted under 30 minutes. These positions allowed the allies to complete a second parallel trench closer to the British lines. Cornwallis soon sought terms, leading to the formal surrender on October 19.
Context
By the summer of 1781 the American Revolutionary War had reached a critical juncture. After years of inconclusive fighting in the northern and southern colonies, General George Washington and the French commander Comte de Rochambeau concentrated their forces for a decisive campaign. News that a powerful French fleet under Admiral Comte de Grasse would sail to the Chesapeake Bay shifted allied attention southward, where British Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis had established a base at Yorktown, Virginia, following operations across the South.
What Happened
After the allied armies arrived at Yorktown in late September and completed their first parallel of siege works, heavy artillery fire steadily eroded the British outer defenses. Washington decided to strike the two remaining major redoubts that blocked completion of a closer second parallel. On the evening of October 14 he ordered simultaneous attacks: roughly 400 French troops under the Comte de Deux-Ponts assaulted Redoubt No. 9, while an equal number of American light infantry commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton stormed Redoubt No. 10. Both columns advanced with unloaded muskets and fixed bayonets to preserve surprise.
Aftermath
The redoubts fell in less than half an hour. With the new positions in hand, the allies quickly extended their second parallel and intensified the bombardment of Cornwallis’s inner lines. Two days later the British commander requested terms; after brief negotiations the formal surrender ceremony took place on October 19, with more than 7,000 British and German troops laying down their arms.
Legacy
The capture of the redoubts proved the decisive tactical stroke of the Siege of Yorktown, the last major land battle of the Revolutionary War. Cornwallis’s capitulation convinced British leaders that the cost of continuing the conflict outweighed any possible gain, leading directly to the preliminary peace articles of 1782 and the definitive Treaty of Paris in 1783 that recognized American independence.
Why It Matters
The capture of the redoubts was the decisive action in the Siege of Yorktown, the last major battle of the American Revolutionary War. It forced British capitulation and directly contributed to the negotiations that produced the Treaty of Paris in 1783, securing American independence and altering the balance of power in the Atlantic world.
Related Questions
Why were the redoubts important?
They formed the last significant obstacles preventing the allies from placing artillery close enough to bombard Cornwallis’s main positions directly.
Who led the American attack on Redoubt No. 10?
Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton commanded the 400 American light infantrymen who stormed the position.
How long did the assaults take?
Both redoubts were taken in under thirty minutes using bayonets rather than gunfire to maintain surprise.
What happened immediately after the redoubts fell?
The allies completed their second parallel, intensified the bombardment, and forced Cornwallis to seek terms within days.
How did the Yorktown victory affect the war?
It ended major fighting in North America and prompted Britain to begin peace negotiations that led to American independence.
Related Portfolio Site
US Military Atlas: Decisive action in the Siege of Yorktown during the American Revolutionary War.
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Sources
- Siege of Yorktown, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-07-06.
- Yorktown | Assaults on Redoubts 9 and 10 | Oct 14, 1781, American Battlefield Trust. Accessed 2026-07-06.