another example of a decisive victory is the battle of yorktown (1781) fought at the end of the american revolutionary war. the american and the french forces defeated the british army, led by general lord charles cornwallis. cornwallis believed he could end the rebellion in the carolinas and georgia by setting up a fortress and naval base at yorktown, virginia. seeing an opportunity to trap the british on the virginia peninsula, american general george washington and french general rochambeau marched their armies to yorktown and established a siege. the french navy prevented the british fleet from reinforcing cornwallis. a month later cornwallis surrendered, effectively ending the war.