What if the British evacuated New York City and redeployed to Virginia in 1781?
According to a book i'm reading, Cornwallis on April 18th, 1781 proposed to Lord Germain that the British evacuate New York City and bring its 15,000 man garrison, plus the naval squadron, to the Chesapeake region.
Clinton and his men head south. The British navy blockades Hampton Roads and secure the Virginia Capes.
What would the result have been? Would the disaster at Yorktown be averted? Could the British conquer Virginia and win the war in the south?