Virginia Beach near Yorktown, Virginia

From this point near the village of Yorktown on August 13, 1781, the warships of French Admiral Comte de Grasse defeated the British fleet, unloaded reinforcements to join Lafayette's ground troups, and transported the bulk of George Washington's and Rochambeau's troops to Yorktown battlefield. There, in late September, Lord Cornwallis surrendered, ending the long battle for independence.