Page "Battle of the Chesapeake" Paragraph 4

During the early months of 1781, British and American forces began concentrating in Virginia, a state that had previously not experienced more than naval raids.

The British forces were led at first by the turncoat Benedict Arnold, and then by William Phillips before General Charles, Earl Cornwallis arrived in late May with his southern army to take command.

In June he marched to Williamsburg, where he received a confusing series of orders from General Sir Henry Clinton that culminated in a directive to establish a fortified deep water port.

In response to these orders, Cornwallis moved to Yorktown in late July, where his army began building fortifications.

The presence of these British troops, coupled with General Clinton's desire for a port there, made control of the Chesapeake Bay an essential naval objective.