General Lafayette Marker, West Point, Virginia (VA-12)

During the Virginia Campaign, General Lafayette encamped between the Forks of the York River and nearby areas on multiple occasions in August 1781 to monitor the movements of Lord Cornwallis and his troops. The area referred to in historical documents corresponds to the site of the Town of West Point. Lafayette’s tactical decisions in Virginia widened the pool of strategic opportunities for Washington and Rochambeau up north. When the news of De Grasse’s arrival from the West Indies broke, attacking in Virginia was an option only because Lafayette had been preparing it for months.

With Lafayette and his troops holding the York River to the east, and Admiral de Grasse’s ships blocking the western entrance to the River, Lord Cornwallis was gradually surrounded at York during August and September. Generals Rochambeau and Washington arrived in late September with their troops, fully surrounding Cornwallis on the northern and southern sides. The Battle of Yorktown would occur only a few weeks later, in October 1781.

Learn about Revolutionary War Combat Strategy. Watch the Revolutionary War Animated Map. For a summary, read An Overview of the American Revolution.