The Gamble for America: Why General Charles Cornwallis Decided to Attack Virginia in 1781

After the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, General Charles Cornwallis was able to gain a minor victory against Nathanael Greene but had suffered great losses during the battle. Instead of making the cautious decision to retreat to Charleston, Cornwallis decided to make an ambitious attack into Virginia. While this offense was met with initial success, his army was ultimately destroyed at the Siege of Yorktown, thereby causing Britain to lose the War for America. This research seeks to understand why Cornwallis made the risky decision to move into Virginia at this late stage of the war. This study will utilize a qualitative historical analysis framework to examine primary source material, particularly letters sent by Cornwallis and a treatise made by Cornwallis in 1783 to justify his actions during the war. This study will also utilize secondary source material, such as books and journal articles, to gain a proper understanding of the historical context surrounding Cornwallis’ mindset. After examining these sources, this study finds that the underlying reasons for Cornwallis' attack on Virginia were his ambitious personality, which caused him to make aggressive actions, his lack of respect for his commanding officer, Sir Henry Clinton, and his insistence on using 18th-century Enlightenment military doctrine. This research also seeks to gain a deeper understanding behind the strategic failures that led to the British defeat in the American Revolution.