Date: September - October 1781 While small skirmishes would continue until 1783, Yorktown was the last major encounter between the British and the Continental Army - effectively ending the American Revolution... On the rebel side, George Washington had just secured the help of the French, and was anxious to put his new troops in the field. He favoured an attack on the British stronghold at New York - but, since he didn't have the troops or equipment for that, he settled for attacking Cornwallis at Yorktown (I'm sure Cornwallis would have been flattered by the news he was second choice).