Hello and welcome to a history of the United States.

Episode 151.

The Welcome to a history of the United States. Episode 151. The Battle of Yorktown, 1781. After winning several victories in the South, Lord Cornwallis sat in control of Georgia and South Carolina. Holding on to these states

was his primary directive, but he was authorised to take the offensive if conditions were favourable.

His victory at Camden emboldened Cornwallis to do just that, setting off for North Carolina on

September 8th, 1780.

He advanced to Charlotte, North Carolina, in late September, and remained there for a few weeks

before withdrawing after pressure from backwoodsman.

It would have been prudent for Cornwallis to stay on the defensive, but that's not the type

of general Cornwallis wants.

Meanwhile, the Patriots had a shake up of their command.

It was clear that Horatio Gates was out of his depth, and so Congress asked Washington

to suggest a replacement. He chose Nathaniel Green, one of his favorites.

Green didn't seek to make a bold and decisive action

to defeat the British, but instead to inflict death by a thousand cuts. He moved deliberately,

but energetically. He would prefer to cut supply lands still contraband. Pick and choose their

battles and places to make a stand.

Green decided to split his forces, sending a small group out west. Cornwallis sent a force out to meet

them, but didn't remember what happened in his last advancement. The Americans were again victorious, with less than

half of the British force managing to escape the debacle. Cornwallis chased the Patriot

Expeditionary Force northwards. The Patriots decided to regroup in Virginia, while Cornwallis moved

to Hillsborough in Northern North Carolina. Cornwallis called

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