page_title: Cornwallis in North America
section_title: Chasing Lafayette
hierarchical_section_title: Cornwallis in North America / American War of Independence / Virginia campaign / Chasing Lafayette
caption_attribution_description: English: I took photo myself.
context_page_description: Charles, Earl Cornwallis was a military officer who served in the British Army during the American War of Independence. He is best known for surrendering his army after the 1781 Siege of Yorktown, an act that ended major hostilities in North America and led directly to peace negotiations and the eventual end of the war.
  Born into an aristocratic family with a history of public service, Cornwallis was politically opposed to the war, but agreed to serve when it became clear that Britain would require a significant military presence in the Thirteen Colonies. First arriving in May 1776, he participated in the Battle of Sullivan's Island, before joining the main army under General William Howe. He played a notable role in the partially successful New York and New Jersey campaign when George Washington successfully eluded him after the Battle of the Assunpink Creek and inflicted a decisive defeat on troops left at his rear in the Battle of Princeton.
  Cornwallis was also involved in the Philadelphia campaign, leading a wing of Howe's army, before he became one of the leading figures of the British "southern strategy" to gain control of the southern colonies.
context_section_description: Cornwallis, in the absence of instructions from Clinton, sought to execute the orders Clinton had given Phillips.  These were to establish a naval station and to engage in raids against economic and military targets, and did not include any organized scheme of offense.  Sending General Arnold, who complained of gout, back to New York, he set out in pursuit of the marquis on May 27.  He also sent a letter to Clinton, outlining his preference for Yorktown over Portsmouth as the site of a naval station.
  Lafayette, aware that he was not strong enough to oppose Cornwallis, fell back rapidly toward his supply base at Fredericksburg.  When Cornwallis reached Hanover Court House he stopped the chase, and instead detached Tarleton and John Graves Simcoe on two separate raiding expeditions.  Tarleton he sent to raid Charlottesville, where the Virginia legislature was meeting, while he sent Simcoe to Point of Fork, where Baron von Steuben had a supply depot.  Both expeditions were qualified successes; Tarleton very nearly captured Virginia governor Thomas Jefferson at his home of Monticello, while Simcoe managed to destroy a significant cache of supplies despite being outnumbered by von Steuben's force.  While these raids went on, Lafayette and Wayne joined forces, and Lafayette was further reinforced by the arrival of about 600 experienced militia a few days later.
  Cornwallis began to slowly move east toward Williamsburg, practically ignoring Lafayette.  He periodically detached Simcoe or Tarleton on foraging and raiding expeditions as he went, and his main army reached Williamsburg on June 25.  Lafayette, buoyed by his reinforcements, followed the earl, and began sending out detachments of his own light troops to bring at least part of the British army to battle.  Learning that Simcoe was foraging behind the main army, Lafayette sent out 600 men to track him down before he could rejoin Cornwallis.  These two forces clashed on June 26 not far from Williamsburg, and Cornwallis escorted out reinforcements to cover Simcoe's retreat.
caption: House where Cornwallis completed the surrender to George Washington, located near Yorktown, Virginia
exif: {}