What did Cornwallis do to Virginia?

General Cornwallis led British forces during the American Revolutionary War, most notably in Virginia in 1781. He established a base at Yorktown, where his troops were ultimately besieged by a combined American and French force. This siege culminated in Cornwallis's surrender on October 19, 1781, marking a decisive defeat for the British and a turning point in the war, significantly contributing to the eventual independence of the American colonies.