This paper will talk about Lt-Gen Cornwallis and his Soldiers, the overview of the siege of Yorktown, mission command principles Lt-Gen Cornwallis unsuccessfully applied before and during the siege, and the significance of this siege. November 1776, Lt-Gen Cornwallis received his first independent command. He went to Jersey Shore to reduce Fort Lee. Lt-Gen …show more content…
He failed to direct the course of the siege, maintain open communication, and trust with General Clinton and his troops. Lt-Gen Cornwallis failed to apply multiple mission command principles. He did not build a cohesive team through mutual trust, communicate his intent clearly, exercise disciplined initiative, accept prudent risk, create a shared understanding, as well as use mission orders throughout the battle. This ineffective application of mission command principles demonstrated by Lt-Gen Cornwallis directly resulted in the loss of the siege of Yorktown and the freedom for America to become a