The next day , the fleet carriers found Know and engaged each other , with the Japanese fleet carrier heavily damaged Damaging , the U.S. fleet carrier critically damaged Damaging ( and later scuttled Destroying ) , and `` Yorktown '' damaged Damaging .

More importantly , the Japanese fleet carriers `` Shōkaku '' and —the former damaged Damaging and the latter with a depleted Expend_resource aircraft complement—were unable to participate Participation in the Battle of Midway the following month , while `` Yorktown '' did participate Participation , ensuring Assistance a rough parity in aircraft between the two adversaries and contributing Bringing significantly to the U.S. victory in that battle Hostile_encounter .

The Yorktown or Virginia campaign was a series of military maneuvers and battles Hostile_encounter during the American Revolutionary War that culminated Process_end in the decisive Siege of Yorktown in October 1781 .

The Yorktown or Virginia campaign was a series of military maneuvers and battles Hostile_encounter during the American Revolutionary War that culminated Process_end in the decisive Siege of Yorktown in October 1781 .

The combined American forces , however , were insufficient in number to oppose Agree_or_refuse_to_act the combined British forces , and it was only after a series of controversially confusing orders by General Sir Henry Clinton , the British commander-in-chief , that Cornwallis moved Motion to Yorktown in July and built Building a defensive position that was strong against the land forces he then faced , but was vulnerable to naval blockade and siege .

American and French armies that had massed outside New York City began Process_start moving Body_movement south in late August , and arrived Arriving near Yorktown in mid-September .

The Siege of Yorktown began Process_start on September 28 , 1781 .

The battle Hostile_encounter was strategically decisive , in that it prevented Preventing_or_letting the Royal Navy from reinforcing Cause_change_of_strength or evacuating Emptying the besieged Besieging forces Causation of Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown , Virginia .

These proved decisive in the Siege Besieging of Yorktown , effectively securing Getting independence Change_of_leadership for the Thirteen Colonies .