Early on September 28, 1781, Washington led the army out of Williamsburg to surround Yorktown.The French took the positions on the left while the Americans took the position of honor on the right. Cornwallis had received a letter from Clinton that promised relief force of 5,000 men within a week. After nightfall on October 6, American troops moved out to dig the first parallel. By October 9, all of the French and American guns were in place. At 3:00 pm, the French guns opened the barrage and drove the British frigate HMS Guadeloupe across the York River. At 5:00 pm, the Americans opened fire. Washington fired the first gun.

Washington’s officers devised a plan in which the French would launch a diversionary attack on the Fusiliers redoubt, and then a half an hour later, the French would assault Redoubt No. 9 and the Americans Redoubt No. 10. At 6:30 pm, gunfire announced the diversionary attack on the Fusiliers redoubt. With bayonets fixed, the Americans marched towards Redoubt No. 10 commanded by Alexander Hamilton and took the redoubt.

On the morning of October 17, a drummer appeared, followed by an officer waving a white handkerchief. The bombardment ceased, and the officer was blindfolded and led behind the French and American lines. Negotiations began at the Moore House on October 18. The next day the British soldiers marched out and laid down their arms in between the French and American armies, while many civilians watched. In all, 8,000 soldiers, 214 artillery pieces, thousands of muskets, 24 transport ships, wagons, and horses were captured.