Final answer:
The Battle of Yorktown concluded with the Comte de Rochambeau's arrival, American and French forces besieging General Cornwallis's troops, and finally, British troops surrendering, signifying the end of the Revolutionary War.
Step-by-step explanation:
Placing the events surrounding the Battle of Yorktown in order, we see a pivotal moment in American history unfold. First, the Comte de Rochambeau arrived in America to assist General Washington. The American and French forces then combined at Williamsburg and moved to Yorktown on September 28, laying siege to Lieutenant General Lord William Cornwallis's army and trapping it on the peninsula. General Cornwallis was blockaded at sea by the French fleet under Admiral de Grasse, making it impossible for British reinforcements to arrive by water. Eventually, facing insurmountable odds, Admiral Cornwallis requested a cease-fire to begin negotiations for surrender. On October 19, 1781, after eight days of battle, British troops filed out of Yorktown between two lines of Franco-American troops, marking the end of the major combat phase of the Revolutionary War.