Fought on September 5, 1781, the Battle of Chesapeake Bay (Battle of the Capes) was a French victory that set the stage for British General Lord Charles Cornwallis’ surrender at Yorktown, Virginia, October 19, 1781. On August 15th, a French fleet commanded by Rear Admiral Francois Joseph Paul, the Comte de Grasse, sailed from Hatti … Continue reading Battle of the Chesapeake Bay: Gateway to Yorktown