Charles Cornwallis

Charles Cornwallis started his military career in North America in 1776 under Henry Clinton in the failed Siege of Charleston. Later, he took part in Commander-in-Chief William Howe's successful campaign in New York and New Jersey. The British then took over Philadelphia, and Cornwallis remained Howe's subordinate. He took the lead in several of the campaign's engagements, such as the Battle of Brandywine and the Battle of Germantown. Cornwallis took over as Henry Clinton's second in command after he was named Commander-in-Chief. He and Clinton led the British forces during Charleston's second victorious siege in 1780.

After the siege, Clinton left for New York, and Charles Cornwallis was in command of the south as a result. Following Charleston, Cornwallis started to move northward toward North Carolina. But he was forced to turn around after suffering a crushing loss at the Battle of Kings Mountain and return to South Carolina. South Carolina was reconquered by the Americans from the British. After the French force defeated the Royal Fleet in the Battle of the Chesapeake, Cornwallis was stranded in Virginia. On October 17, 1781, Cornwallis displayed the white flag in the face of constant bombardment from Franco-American forces, the lack of reinforcements, and limited food and artillery ammunition supplies.