Historians claim final American Revolution battle occurred in India.

The Last Battle of the American Revolution: A Hidden Chapter in History

Contrary to popular belief, the Battle of Yorktown was not the final clash of the American Revolution. According to a growing number of historians, the true last battle took place thousands of miles away in India. The Battle of Cuddalore, a naval engagement between Britain and France in 1783, challenges what most American children are taught in the classroom.

Historians have recently broadened their focus, viewing the Revolutionary War as a global conflict rather than one confined to the 13 colonies. Kathleen DuVal, a history professor at the University of North Carolina, explains, “The Revolutionary War was, as you say, a world war.”

A Shift in Perspective

Looking at the conflict from an international standpoint, DuVal concludes that the Battle of Cuddalore off the coast of India in June 1783 marked the true end of the American Revolution, nearly two years after Yorktown.

While the victory at Yorktown played a crucial role in bringing Britain to the negotiating table, it took several more years for the peace treaty to be signed. As the Journal of the American Revolution notes, George Washington himself did not consider Yorktown the end of the war. He believed it was his duty to keep the Continental Army together until a final peace treaty was approved.

The American Revolution had a far-reaching impact beyond the 13 colonies. Hostilities between Britain and France extended to Europe, the Caribbean, and even India, where both powers had established colonies.

A Global Conflict

When France joined the war as an American ally, the British East India Company launched attacks on France’s Indian colonies, drawing both countries’ Indian allies into the fight. By 1783, the British targeted France’s garrison in Cuddalore, recognizing India’s strategic importance for supplies and commerce during the war.

Although a preliminary peace treaty had been agreed upon, news of the end of the war had not reached British and French troops in India. This delay in communication mirrors the situation during the War of 1812 when the news of the Treaty of Ghent did not reach British and American forces in New Orleans in time to prevent a final battle.

The British laid siege to the French base in Cuddalore, but the French navy successfully repelled British ships attempting to provide reinforcements. After a failed attempt to break the land siege, the French eventually withdrew. Plans for another offensive were halted when news of the peace finally arrived.

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