British General Charles Cornwallis was on the losing side of the Battle of Yorktown. On October 19, 1781 Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia. This was a decisive victory for the American Continental Army led by by General George Washington and the French Army troops of Comte de Rochambeau, during the American Revolutionary War.
2. Battle of Gettysburg
Answer: George Meade
During the American Civil War, the Union forces of the North fought against the Confederate forces of the South. The Battle of Gettysburg was fought in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania from July 1 to July 3, 1863. General George Meade led the Union forces to a decisive victory for the North. Often called a turning point, the battle resulted in the greatest number of casualties of the entire war in a single battle.
3. First Battle of Bull Run
Answer: P.G.T. Beauregard
The first major battle of the American Civil War was the First Battle of Bull Run, aka the First Battle of Manassas. The battle was fought in Prince William County, Virginia on July 21, 1861, just a few months after the firing on Fort Sumpter. Brigadier General P.G.T. Beauregard led the Confederate forces to victory, with the help of reinforcements from the Shenandoah Valley led by Brigadier General Joseph E. Johnston.
4. Operation Desert Storm
Answer: Norman Schwarzkopf
Operation Desert Storm was another name for the Gulf War, the Persian Gulf War, the First Iraq War and the Kuwait War. It was fought from January 17, 1991 to February 28, 1991, in response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. Along with a coalition of other nations, President George H.W. Bush deployed U.S. forces to Saudi Arabia. General Norman Schwarzkopf served as commander of the US Central Command, leading the coalition forces in the war.
5. Vietnam War
Answer: William Westmoreland
Did you know that the Vietnam War was also known as the Second Indochina War? The conflict pitted North Vietnam against South Vietnam, but included Cold War enemies, the United States (backing the South) and the Soviet Union (backing the North). The conflict lasted fifteen years, ending with the fall of Saigon on April 30. 1975. General William Westmoreland served as commander of the United States forces from 1964 to 1968.
6. Chateau-Thierry
Answer: John J. Pershing
There were actually two Battles of Chateau-Thierry in France, the first of which was in 1814 between Napoleon and Prussian forces. The second, prompted by a German offensive, was fought during World War I, beginning on July 18, 1918. It was part of the Second Battle of the Marne. The American Expeditionary Forces were led by General John J. "Black Jack" Pershing.
7. Siege of Bastogne
Answer: Anthony McAuliffe
Beginning in December 1944, the Siege of Bastogne was part of the larger Battle of the Bulge during World War II. During this battle, American forces fought against the Germans in the town of Bastogne, Belgium, with the German goal of taking over the Antwerp harbor. U.S. General Anthony Clement "Nuts" McAuliffe was the acting commander of the 101st Airborne Division troops who were successful in defending Bastogne.
8. Battle of Inchon
Answer: Douglas MacArthur
The Korean War pitted North Korea against South Korea. The fighting lasted from June 25, 1950 until July 27, 1953 (which is eight years less than the TV show "M*A*S*H* which depicted the war). One of the major battles of the war was the Battle of Inchon, fought in South Korea in September 1950.
The battle led to a decisive victory for the United Nations forces and Republic of Korea Army led by General of the Army, Douglas MacArthur.
9. Spanish-American War
Answer: Valeriano Wyler
With so many wars, it's easy to forget that in 1898 there was an armed conflict between the United States and Spain. ("Remember the Maine"?) The issue behind this war was Cuban independence. The ten-week war, which lasted from from April 21, 1898 to August 13, 1898, was fought in the Caribbean and the Pacific.
The Treaty of Paris ended the conflict, with Spanish General Valeriano Wyler on the losing side. The treaty granted the U.S. temporary control of Cuba, and ownership of Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines.
10. Little Bighorn
Answer: George A. Custer
The Battle of the Little Bighorn is also known as "Custer's Last Stand". The battle pitted the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army against the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes. It took place along the Little Bighorn River in the Montana territory, and lasted from June 25th to June 26th, 1876.
The cavalry was under the command of Lt. Colonel George Custer, previously a Major General during the Civil War. Custer died in the battle.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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