October 19th is the 244th anniversary of the American victory at the Battle of Yorktown during the American Revolution. The Battle of Yorktown took place from September 28-October 19, 1781. The Continental Army under George Washington along with French forces under Comte de Rochambeau lay siege to British and Hessian troops under General Charles Lord Cornwallis. The allied ground forces received naval support from French Admiral Comte De Grasse. Relentless artillery bombardments by American and French forces and infantry assaults on Cornwallis’ positions overwhelmed British and Hessian forces led to a British officer waving a flag of truce on October 17. Cornwallis surrendered his army to George Washington on October 19, 1781.
The Battle of Yorktown was the last major battle of the American Revolution. This American victory led to peace negotiations between the Americans and the British and the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
For reading and resources about the American Revolution, please visit the YPL Revolutionary Yonkers 250 webpage. The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence will be in July 2026. Yonkers has already begun celebrating this anniversary of independence. Same tuned for events on the Revolutionary Yonkers 250 webpage.
Michael Walsh is an Adult Services Librarian at the Will Library. He is currently read Never Flinch by Stephen King.