October19
Early Modern
1781
World War II
Cornwallis Surrenders at Yorktown
12 PM · Yorktown, Virginia

Trapped between American-French land forces and a French fleet blocking the Chesapeake, Cornwallis had no way out. His troops marched from their lines to surrender their arms while a band reportedly played "The World Turned Upside Down." News of the defeat reached London within weeks and effectively finished Parliament's appetite for continuing the war.