The battle of Yorktown took place on August 1781. It was a decisive victory by combined assault of American forces led by George Washington. This was the last major land battle of the Revolutionary War. Cornwallis Surrendered. In 1780, 5,500 French soldiers landed in Rhode Island to try and help their American allies against Britain. When 8,000 British soldiers were captured, he got alliances between the United States and Great Britain. This resulted in the Treaty of Paris in 1783.