The British initially responded to the siege by attempting to break the siege.

At first, the British response to the Siege of Yorktown focused on breaking the encirclement. General Cornwallis, surrounded by American and French troops, attempted to relieve his forces through a series of military strategies. He intended to dispatch units to disrupt the besieging armies and hoped to receive reinforcements from the British fleet. However, despite these efforts, the effective coordination and positioning of the American and French forces undermined Cornwallis's plans. Ultimately, the inability to lift the siege played a crucial role in the British surrender, marking a pivotal moment in the Revolutionary War and setting the stage for American independence.