campaign virginia campaign series military maneuvers battles american revolutionary war culminated decisive siege october result campaign surrender british_army force general charles event led directly beginning peace negotiations eventual end war campaign marked disagreements british leaders remarkable set cooperative decisions times violation orders french americans campaign involved land naval forces great_britain france land forces united_states british forces sent virginia january april joined army came north extended campaign southern states forces opposed weakly virginia militia general george_washington sent continental_army troops oppose raiding economic havoc british combined american forces insufficient number oppose combined british forces series confusing orders general sir british commander chief moved july built defensive position strong land forces faced vulnerable naval blockade siege british naval forces north_america west indies weaker combined fleets france spain critical decisions tactical british naval commanders french fleet gained control chesapeake_bay blockading naval support delivering additional land forces blockade land royal_navy attempted dispute control admiral defeated key battle september american french armies outside new_york_city began moving south late august arrived near mid september movement successfully delayed attempts clinton send troops siege began september step probably shortened siege decided abandon parts outer defenses successfully stormed clear position opened negotiations october surrendered days later news reached london government lord north fell following ministry entered peace negotiations culminated treaty paris king recognized independent united_states_of_america clinton engaged public war words defending roles campaign british naval command discussed navy shortcomings led defeat background december american revolutionary war north american theaters reached critical point continental_army suffered major defeats earlier year southern armies captured dispersed loss charleston south armies george_washington british commander chief north_america sir watched new_york_city north national currency virtually worthless public support war enter sixth year army troops pay conditions americans favor loyalist recruiting south checked severe blow kings mountain october french american planning virginia largely escaped military notice raid destroyed state capacity seized destroyed large amounts tobacco significant trade item americans virginia defenses consisted locally raised militia companies naval force virtually wiped raid militia overall direction continental_army general baron prussian excellent alienated subordinates difficult relationship state governor established training center new continental_army recruits factory manufacture repair weapons ammunition french military planners balance competing demands campaign series unsuccessful attempts cooperation americans leading failed assaults newport rhode_island savannah georgia realized active participation north_america needed needed coordinate actions spain potential interest making assault british stronghold jamaica turned spanish interested operations jamaica dealt expected british attempt reinforce besieged gibraltar merely wanted informed movements west_indies fleet french fleet preparing depart brest march important decisions west_indies fleet led operations windward_islands directed present day determine resources required assist spanish operations lack transports france promised million support american war effort instead providing additional troops french fleet newport given new commander ordered newport fleet harass british shipping nova_scotia newfoundland french army newport ordered combine washington army outside new_york orders deliberately fully shared instructed assist north american operations stop french general instructed tell washington able assist making commitment washington learned stationed paris discretion come north french fleet sailed brest march british fleet busy preparations resupply gibraltar attempt oppose departure french fleet sailed ship sailed newport carrying orders credits million separate dispatch sent later important requests notified situation north_america decide able assist operations second supplied pilots familiar north american waters british planning general clinton articulated coherent vision goals british operations coming campaign season early months problem lay difficult relationship naval counterpart new_york aging vice admiral men prone temper personalities repeated clashes working relationship completely broken fall clinton requested recalled orders recalling arrive june according historian men act act replaced sir clinton somewhat better working relationship british presence south consisted strongly fortified ports savannah georgia charleston south_carolina string outposts interior states strongest outposts relatively immune attack patriot militia formal opposition states smaller outposts supply convoys target militia commanders like portsmouth recently occupied october force command major general lieutenant general charles commanding british southern army ordered south_carolina november replace general portsmouth general clinton sent troops general arnold recently commissioned british_army brigadier virginia late december british raiding virginia fleet carrying general arnold troops arrived chesapeake_bay december waiting rest transports arrive arnold sailed disembarked troops virginia january overnight forced march raided richmond state capital day encountering minimal militia resistance days raiding area returned boats sail portsmouth arnold established fortifications sent men raiding foraging expeditions local militia called small numbers british presence disputed prevent raiding expeditions running opposition waters creek march news arnold activities reached george_washington decided response necessary wanted french send naval expedition base newport commanding admiral refused assistance received reports storm damage british fleet january february captain sailed newport ships ship line frigates arrived portsmouth days later arnold withdrew ships shallower drafts french follow determining local militia completely insufficient attack arnold position returned newport way captured hms frigate sent british new_york investigate movements congress authorized detachment continental forces virginia february washington assigned command expedition left new_york day troops numbering light regiments drawn troops assigned continental regiments new_jersey new_england regiments led force reached head present day maryland northern limit chesapeake_bay march awaiting transportation troops traveled south reaching march assess situation american attempts defense expedition strong encouragement traveled newport press case convinced larger commitment march sailed entire fleet ships line frigates including recently captured carrying french troops join virginia admiral alerted departure sailed march sending arnold dispatch warning french movement copper clad ships sail faster reached march ahead french fleet ensuing battle largely left free enter control access chesapeake_bay returned newport saw british fleet orders preparations return troops new_york area early april returned head received orders washington stay virginia departure fleet newport prompted general clinton send arnold reinforcements wake sailing sent transports carrying men command general joined arnold portsmouth march phillips senior commander took force resumed raiding targeting richmond time baron militia commanders virginia felt stand maintain morale despite inferior strength troops established defensive line near city fought disciplined losing action april retreated advance phillips hoped raid richmond series forced marches reached richmond april hours phillips counter british threat carolinas washington sent major general best rebuild american army north_carolina defeat general leading british troops south wanted deal gain control state divided inferior force sending army threaten british post ninety south_carolina sent morgan wiped command january battle captured process action followed called race dan gave chase attempt catch reunited forces successfully crossed entered virginia stripped army baggage gave pursuit received reinforcements supplies dan returned north_carolina battle earl won battle able withdraw army intact british suffered casualties forced retreat wilmington reinforcement resupply went regain control south_carolina georgia violation orders absence significant strategic direction general clinton decided army numbering men virginia april day phillips fought phillips beat richmond turned east continuing destroy military economic targets area phillips received dispatch ordering effect junction forces days later phillips arrived briefly british position feel strong actually attack phillips died fever arnold retook control force caused men arnold particularly respected waiting forces arnold watched arnold attempted open communications orders washington hang arnold returned letters arrived prompting commanded militia retreat richmond british reinforcements led colonel arrived new_york shortly raising size army general arnold new_york set follow general clinton recent orders phillips instructions establish fortified base raid rebel military economic targets virginia decided deal threat posed set pursuit clearly outnumbered retreated rapidly protect important supply depot retreated present day columbia virginia militia continental_army gathered supplies pulled raiding british reached courthouse june send army detached separate raiding expeditions reduced rode rapidly small force captured members virginia legislature captured governor jefferson content bottles wine jefferson estate went point fork deal supply depot brief skirmish june forces numbering suffered casualties withdrawn supplies river men exaggerated size force lighting large number prompted withdraw leaving supplies destroyed day meantime expecting imminent arrival long delayed reinforcements battalions brigadier general authorized congress service virginia february wayne deal mutiny january nearly wiped fighting force rebuilt line begun march virginia great deal wayne men wayne ammunition lock key needed wayne ready march force departure delayed day renewed threat mutiny units paid continental dollars wayne men joined forces ford june days later reinforced militia command successful raids began way east richmond ignoring movements force grown confidence began edge closer earl army time reached june miles away day learned remove main british force sent cavalry light infantry intercept precipitated skirmish ordinary believed range main army allied decisions arnold phillips virginia allied leaders washington considered options arrived boston days later washington informed arrival vital dispatches funding washington held conference connecticut discussed steps agreed orders army newport continental_army camp white plains new_york decided send dispatches outlining possible courses action washington favored idea attacking new_york favored action virginia british established washington letter outlined options private note informed preference lastly convinced hold fleet readiness assist operation taking expeditions north ordered sailed newport june carrying dispatches washington pilots requested french army left newport june joined washington army ferry new_york july washington embarked inspection tour british defenses new_york awaited word somewhat successful campaign west_indies forces successfully captured june minor engagement british fleet british admiral avoided significant engagement arrived july awaited immediately engaged negotiations spanish informed intent sail north promised return november assist spanish operations exchange critical spanish cover sailed north secured promise protect french commerce territories bring north entire fleet ships line addition fleet took troops command simon appealed spanish havana funds needed pay troops july sent newport informing washington expected arrive end august need leave mid october sailed august beginning deliberately slow route north little channel bahamas british decisions movement french army new_york area caused general clinton great deal concern letters written washington clinton intercepted suggested allies planning attack new_york beginning june wrote series letters containing confusing controversial set suggestions recommendations contained concrete direct orders letters significantly delayed reaching exchange june apparently reaction threat new_york clinton requested send troops spare new_york received letters june engineer inspected found defensively inadequate wrote letter clinton indicating portsmouth order send troops north transports available july began moving army ferry cross broad march portsmouth scouts observed motion realized british force vulnerable crossing advanced army based intelligence british rear guard left crossing sent general wayne forward attack july reality earl laid clever trap crossing baggage troops guard sent falsely inform situation general wayne managed escape trap significant casualties loss field pieces crossed river marched army suffolk detached raid central virginia raid based intelligence supplies intercepted route general raid force rode miles days failure supplies moved raid men supposedly minor skirmish american heroes received letter general clinton suffolk dated june stating forces embarked attack philadelphia reached portsmouth began embarking troops clinton orders july transports ready sail new orders arrived previous ones direct terms clinton ordered establish fortified deep water port army thought necessary clinton took decision navy long dissatisfied new_york naval base firstly sand bars entrance hudson_river damaging hulls larger ships secondly river winter vessels inside harbour recently replaced satisfaction development clinton navy request despite warning open bays rivers meant base exposed sudden french attack prove fatal error judgement clinton need defend new facility denied freedom movement having inspected portsmouth found favourable wrote clinton informing alerted july embarking troops lacked intelligence eventual destination began maneuvering troops cover possible landing points august learned landed convergence admiral warned planning fleet north clues fleet aware number pilots requested example assumed leave french convoy fleet escort france admiral previous year accordingly balancing likely requirements fleet north_america need protect britain trade convoys sixteen battleships sail hood pursuit proceeding new_york ill took battleships england merchant escorts leaving remaining dock repairs hood satisfied arrangements telling colleague fleet equal fully defeat designs enemy let bring send number ships aid hood knew minute decision entire fleet north_america ensuring french superiority battleship strength unaware development hood eventually sailed antigua august days voyage smaller ships carrying intelligence american pilots captured british new_york valuable information hood following direct route reached august found entrance bay sailed new_york meet admiral sir command new_york station following departure august general washington learned decision sail day reluctantly abandoned idea assaulting new_york writing having come crisis decisive plan determined obliged idea attacking new_york combined franco american army began moving south august engaging tactics designed fool clinton intentions forces sent route new_jersey shore ordered camp preparations preparing attack army carried landing craft lend idea washington sent orders prevent returning north_carolina learn august days later army passing philadelphia mutiny funds troops threatened stay paid admiral sailed fleet newport carrying french siege equipment august sailed route deliberately took away coast avoid encounters british reached august days hood immediately troops fleet assist blockading stationed ships blockade york news sailing reached new_york august graves clinton hood meeting discuss possibility making attack french fleet newport french army longer defend clinton realized washington marching south confirmed september learned departure immediately concluded headed know strength graves sailed new_york august ships line clinton wrote warn washington coming send reinforcements september british fleet arrived mouth french fleet anchored men ashore forced cut cables scramble fleet meet british won narrow tactical victory battle fleets drifted southeast days british avoiding battle fleets making repairs apparently ploy ensure british interfere arrival fleet spotted distance september making bay followed day graves forced ships returned new_york repairs smaller ships french fleet assisted transporting franco american army completing september general clinton wrote letter telling expect reinforcements received september letter instrumental decision remain try fight way despite urging break comparatively weak general washington spending days time years arrived camps outside september day british military leadership new_york held council agreed reinforced regained control describes decision council leaving wind day earlier wrote desperate plea help opinion service coming directly place letter 17th added relieve soon prepare hear worst washington held council aboard flagship paris preparations siege agreed provide marines cannons effort meeting convinced delay departure originally planned mid october end october return generals heard rumors british naval reinforcements arrived new_york french fleet threatened wanted pull fleet bay precaution took pleas washington delivered convince remain siege formally got underway september despite late attempt escape siege lines closed positions allied cannons wrought havoc british camps october opened negotiations surrender day british fleet sailed new_york carrying troops outnumbered combined french fleets eventually turned french naval officer noting british fleet departure october wrote late eaten aftermath disposition british army negotiations surrender complicated issues american forces surrendered charleston granted customary terms capitulation included flying colors playing enemy tune washington insisted terms applied surrender british army pointing defenders instances acted second issue concerned disposition loyalists british camp issue addition clause terms allowed british vessel sloop sent sort inspection carry dispatches new_york americans runaway slaves loyalists aboard prevented searching vessel british garrison marched positions october colors possibly playing british tune claiming illness attend ceremony sending deputy general deliver sword sought deliver french officer finally directed washington officers defeated commander charleston lincoln briefly held sword returned following weeks army marched guard camps virginia maryland officers returned new_york allowed return england parole ship sailed december carried family disposition allies local militia supported siege dismissed service forces returned new_york_city region washington continued stand british presence end war sent south assist general efforts carolinas issues pay condition ongoing problem war ended washington fought battles french forces came sailed west_indies fleet early november number british held targets preparing join spanish assault jamaica admiral defeated april battle capturing flagship forces general virginia marched rhode_island summer reactions general washington aide lieutenant dispatched deliver news congress arriving philadelphia october days notice surrender expressed baltimore ahead news electrified congress populace church bells reportedly actions repeated news traveled colonies introduced resolution calling arrest hang general debate continue day resolution voted news british occupied new_york_city mourning met skepticism news finally confirmed october city awaited news clinton abortive relief effort clinton recalled london left city march replaced general orders suspend offensive operations news reached london november lord described reaction lord north news taken ball breast opened arms wildly paced apartment minutes god king george reported receive news dignity later depressed news sank considered king supporters parliament depressed opposition resolution calling end war introduced december failed pass single vote lord dismissed early north administration fell shortly afterward peace negotiations followed war formally ended signing treaty paris september general despite commander surrendered blamed defeat received return london writer echoed common sentiment lord army sold general clinton spent rest life defending reputation laughed rebels despised british cursed loyalists published narrative campaign north_america attempted lay blame campaign failures general met public response leveled criticisms clinton highly public debate included publication correspondence admiral graves suffer defeat eventually promoted admiral given aspects subject contemporary historical debate beginning right battle september admiral graves issued memorandum confusing use signals indicating signal line battle ahead time signal battle understood signal shall rendered strict adherence hood commentary written reverse copy observed eliminated possibility engaging enemy require british line instead maintained british fleet compact possible order critical moment advantage opening hood aid chief lesser officer court engage enemy dispatched deliver news paris unusual consequences french military politics distinguished siege sent separate ships bring news accompanied favorite french naval minister urged send political reasons king ministers received news warmly ensured denied delayed rewards success rewarded command regiment analysis historian describes later stages campaign british allied operations proceeded precision naval historian described naval campaign encompassed addition successful contributions french capture spanish siege pensacola perfectly executed naval campaign age sail compared string french successes favorably british observes significant number individual decisions times orders previous agreements contributed success campaign french ministers convinced french establishment decisive action needed north_america order end war french naval minister wrote orders gave sufficient flexibility assist campaign spanish louisiana governor released ships troops cover french territories sailed north french military establishment west_indies spanish cuban colonial official decision making enabled northward expedition general urged decide admiral violated orders operate newfoundland making possible timely delivery french siege train george_washington decided attack new_york instead embarked risky march virginia admiral agreed planned time understanding importance undertaking negotiations spanish secured use fleet order economic fleet remain west_indies royal_navy captain analysis campaign wrote british government sanctioned british admiral adopted measure turned hung wonder succeeded failed legacy principal points commemoration events campaign managed national_park_service addition battlefield park includes cape henry memorial french naval victory remembered
Yorktown campaign