AWC always enjoys looking at dates (other than July 4) that were crucial to U.S. independence, and today's might be the most important of all. For all the noble concepts and lofty words in our founding documents, none of them would have meant too much without a decisive military victory in the Revolutionary War, which more or less ended 233 years ago with the British surrender at Yorktown, Va., on October 19, 1781.

The first image that came to my mind of this event was Charles Cornwallis surrendering his sword to George Washington, but that's not accurate. Washington had been at the head of an allied American-French force that surrounded Cornwallis' men in late September, and spent the following weeks closing the noose around them. But neither general was directly involved in the ceremonial exchange that resulted in the surrender of 8,000 British and Hessian troops, and effectively ended the war in the colonies. Cornwallis claimed illness, and sent a brigadier general named Charles O'Hara in his place. For his part, Washington refused O'Hara's offer of Cornwallis' sword. He wanted it awarded to his second in command, Benjamin Lincoln, who had lost a humiliating engagement with the British at Charleston. That loss really stung Washington, by the way. When the British requested traditional honors for their surrender (flags waving, muskets shouldered, and all the rest), Washington remembered they had denied Lincoln's men the same privilege and said no.

While this is a red-letter day in American history, it's worth remembering that it probably wouldn't have happened if Britain and France hadn't constantly been at each other's throats in the 18th century. France was still steamed about its losses in the Seven Year's War and wanted to hold down British power, so they were more than happy to add to British headaches by assisting the American cause. French support was crucial for American independence, and Washington knew it. Fearful that any perceived insult to his ally could torpedo the surrender talks at Yorktown, Washington made sure the French were equal partners throughout the process. For all his military expertise, Washington's political instincts were dead on as well. We really should honor that guy somehow.

http://cdn-5.britishbattles.com/images/yorktown/surrender-washington.jpg