Siege(s) at Yorktown 

Today in History, September 28: 1781 – The Siege of Yorktown during the Revolutionary War begins as The Continental Army and their French Allies corner British Lt. General Cornwallis’ forces from land and sea. The siege would last until October 19 when Cornwallis sent one of his officers out to surrender. This would be the last major land battle of the war, and would result in the British government negotiating for peace. Ironically, 81 years later, during the Civil War, Confederate forces would use some of Cornwallis’ trenches in another Siege of Yorktown, this time by forces under the command of Union Gen. George B. McClellan. The result would be different this time; by the time McClellan was ready to act, the Southerners and slipped the noose and escaped.