Campaigns and Battles

Rochambeau's Expeditionary Corps, the Chesapeake strategy and the victory at Yorktown (1781)

The Expeditionary Corps

In the spring of 1780, an Expeditionary Corps of 5,500 men departed from Brest under the command of the Count de Rochambeau. Its highly diverse composition gave it particular effectiveness: four infantry regiments, a cavalry legion organized by the Duke de Lauzun, and significant artillery elements benefiting from the recent improvements of the Gribeauval system. The muskets were of the very latest model that would serve through the campaigns of the Revolution and the Empire.

Landing at Newport (Rhode Island) in mid-July, Rochambeau prepared the following year’s campaign with Washington, while La Fayette fought at the head of American patriots in Virginia.

The Strategic Choice

In the spring of 1781, Rochambeau and Washington disagreed on strategy: Washington favored an offensive on New York; Rochambeau considered an action against British forces in the south more rewarding. The final choice belonged to Admiral de Grasse, whose reinforcement was indispensable. He opted for a landing in the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia.

The Victory at Yorktown

The troops of British General Cornwallis, harassed by Virginia patriots in a guerrilla campaign led primarily by La Fayette, had retreated to Yorktown on the shores of the Chesapeake.

This campaign is exemplary in several respects:

  • It was the first great combined operation (infantry, cavalry, artillery, engineers, navy) in military history, achieved through the joint efforts of two peoples.
  • The three great men involved (Washington, Rochambeau, de Grasse) selflessly made the best use of their respective talents.

Admiral de Grasse landed the 3,000 men of Saint-Simon, drawn from the Caribbean, on September 2. He arrived ahead of the British fleet in the bay, then engaged and repelled it on September 6. Coming from the north by forced marches, Washington and Rochambeau arrived on the 17th. The siege was organized, and the main redoubts were taken on October 14. Cornwallis was forced to surrender on October 19, 1781. Six thousand British and two thousand German soldiers were disarmed, and 214 cannons were seized.

See the detailed French casualty table and the France in the War page for the diplomatic context.

The Volunteers

In addition to the Expeditionary Corps, approximately 230 French officers or engineers fought in American units, along with officers of foreign origin in French service.

See the Leaders and Volunteers page for the complete list and detailed portraits.

The French Antilles

The French Antilles were a major asset for the French armies, serving as a logistics platform, troop reserve and base for attacks in the Caribbean. More than 50,000 men were sent to the Antilles from 1778 to 1783.