Battle of the Capes

The Battle of the Capes, also known as the Battle of Chesapeake (September 5, 1781), was a crucial naval engagement during the American Revolutionary War. The French fleet, under Admiral de Grasse, blocked the British navy from reaching Yorktown, Virginia. This prevented the British from reinforcing or evacuating their forces there. The French control of the Chesapeake Bay helped General Cornwallis’s army become trapped, leading to their surrender. The battle was decisive in ensuring American independence, demonstrating the importance of naval power in controlling key routes and supporting land campaigns.