Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis (1738 – 1805) was a British Army officer and colonial administrator. He was one of the leading British generals in the American Revolutionary War.
Biography[]
In 1781, General Cornwallis was ordered to secure a deep water port in Virginia, and chose Yorktown, on the Chesapeake Bay. He had the city fortified by September and awaited supplies from New York,[1] unaware that the Royal Navy was defeated at the Battle of the Chesapeake by the Assassin Ratonhnhaké:ton and the French Navy Comte de Grasse earlier that month.[2][3]
George Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, secured an alliance with France and decided to attack Yorktown, as he was not prepared for an attack on New York. By 6 October the Continental and French forces had settled around the city and began their siege, using French artillery to bombard and invade the city by 14 October.[1] During the battle, Ratonhnhaké:ton sent his Assassin apprentices to infiltrate and sabotage the British fortifications.[4] The British forces crumbled at last, and Cornwallis surrendered on 19 October.[1]
The loss at Yorktown made the war too costly for Great Britain, and Parliament began peace negotiations after British citizens started voicing disinterest in the conflict.[1]
Appearances[]
- Assassin's Creed III (mentioned only)
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Assassin's Creed III – Database: Battle of Yorktown
- ↑ Assassin's Creed III – Battle of the Chesapeake
- ↑ Assassin's Creed III – Database: Battle of the Chesapeake
- ↑ Assassin's Creed III – Contracts: "The Saboteur"