The northern army landed at Williamsburg and marched for Yorktown on the 28th.

They reconnoitred the outlying works the next day, and prepared for an immediate assault; but in the night Cornwallis abandoned all his outside works and withdrew into the town.

Washington thereupon advanced at once, and prepared for the siege.

On the night of the 5th, the trenches were opened only six hundred yards from the enemy's line, and in three days the first parallel was completed.

On the 11th the second parallel was begun, and on the 14th the American batteries played on the two advanced redoubts with such effect that the breaches were pronounced practicable.