1781. Sept. 17. Cornwallis takes post at Yorktown and Gloucester. CHAPTER Squadron from Newport. Three thousand men from the XIII. West Indies, commanded by the Marquis de St. Simon, had already landed, and united with Lafayette. Transports were immediately despatched up the Chesapeake, to bring down the French and American troops from the Head of Elk and Annapolis. For the purpose of concerting measures for a coöperation between the naval and land forces, the two commanders held a conference with Count de Grasse on board the Ville de Paris at Cape Henry. Lord Cornwallis, expecting aid from Sir Henry Clinton, and hoping the British force at sea would be superior to the French, had taken possession of Yorktown and Gloucester, two places separated by York River, and nearly opposite to each other. The main part of his army was at Yorktown, around which he threw up strong works of defence, and prepared to sustain a siege. To this extremity he was at length reduced. All the troops being assembled, the American and French generals marched from the encampment near Williamsburg, and completely invested Yorktown on the 30th of September. The Americans were stationed on the right, and the French on the left, in a semicircular line, each wing resting on York River. The post at Gloucester was invested by Lauzun's legion, marines from the fleet, and Virginia militia, under the command of M. de Choisy, a brigadiergeneral in the French service. Siege of October. The siege was carried on by the usual process of opening parallels, erecting batteries, firing shot, throwing shells, and storming redoubts. The enemy were neither idle nor inefficient in their efforts for defence and annoyance. The principal event was the storming of two redoubts at the same time; one by a party of the American light infantry, the other by a detachment of French grenadiers and chasseurs; the former headed by Lafayette, the latter by the Baron de Viomenil. They were both successful. The assailants entered the redoubts with the bayonet, in a brave and spirited manner, under a heavy fire from the enemy. The advanced corps of the Amer XIII. 1781. ican party was led by Colonel Hamilton, "whose well- CHAPTER known talents and gallantry," said Lafayette in his report, were most conspicuous and serviceable." Colonels Laurens, Gimat, and Barber were also distinguished in this assault. hostilities. October 17. The besiegers pushed forward their trenches, and kept Cessation of up an incessant fire from their batteries, till the 17th of October, when, about ten o'clock in the morning, the enemy beat a parley, and Lord Cornwallis sent out a note to General Washington proposing a cessation of hostilities for twenty-four hours, and the appointment of commissioners on each side to settle the terms for surrendering the posts of Yorktown and Gloucester. In reply General Washington requested, that, as a preliminary step, his Lordship would communicate in writing the terms on which he proposed to surrender. This was complied with, and hostilities ceased. The basis of a capitulation, furnished by the British general, was, that the garrisons should be prisoners of war, with the customary honors; that the British and German troops should be sent to Europe, under an engagement not to serve against France or America till released or exchanged; that all arms and public stores should be given up; that the officers and soldiers should retain their private property; and that the interest of several individuals in a civil capacity should be attended to. This last clause was designed to protect the traders and other Americans, who had joined the enemy. Some of these points not being admissible, General Washington transmitted an answer the next day, in which he sketched the outlines of a capitulation, and informed Lord Cornwallis, that he was ready to appoint commissioners to digest the articles. All the troops in the garrisons were to be prisoners of war, and marched into such parts of the country as could most conveniently provide for their subsistence; the artillery, arms, accoutrements, military chest, and public stores, with the shipping, boats, and all their furniture and apparel, were to be delivered Basis of a proposed by general. capitulation the British Terms pre- scribed by 1781. CHAPTER up; the officers retaining their side-arms, and both the XIII. officers and soldiers preserving their baggage and effects, except such property as had been taken in the country, which was to be reclaimed. The surrendering army was to receive the same honors as had been granted by the British to the garrison of Charleston. Upon these general terms a treaty was finally adjusted; the commissioners October 19. being Colonel Laurens and the Viscount de Noailles on the part of the Americans and French, and Colonel Dundas and Major Ross on that of the British. The articles of capitulation were signed on the 19th of October, and in the afternoon of that day the garrisons marched out and surrendered their arms. Articles agreed to and signed. Traders and others within the enemy's lines. Number of prisoners. The traders within the enemy's lines were not regarded as prisoners, and they were allowed a certain time to dispose of their property or remove it; but no provision was made for other persons in a civil capacity within the enemy's lines. At the request of Lord Cornwallis, however, the Bonetta sloop of war was left at his disposal for the purpose of sending an aid-de-camp with despatches to Sir Henry Clinton; and in this vessel, which was suffered to depart without examination, all persons of the above description took passage for New York; and thus the British commander was enabled to maintain his good faith towards those, who had joined him in the country, without including them in the terms of capitulation. The Bonetta, with her crew, guns, and stores, was to return and be given up. The whole number of prisoners, exclusive of seamen, was somewhat over seven thousand men; and the British loss during the siege was between five and six hundred. The combined army employed in the siege consisted of about seven thousand American regular troops, upwards of five thousand French, and four thousand militia. The loss in killed and wounded was about three hundred. The land forces surrendered to General Washington, and became prisoners to Congress; but the seamen, ships, and naval equipments, were assigned to the French admiral. XIII. 1781. Congress pass a vote of thanks to the officers and troops. The success was more complete, and more speedily CHAPTER attained, than had been anticipated. The capture of Cornwallis, with so large a part of the British army in America, occasioned great rejoicings throughout the country, as affording a decisive presage of the favorable termination of the war. Congress passed a special vote of thanks to each of the commanders, and to the officers and troops. Two stands of colors, taken from the enemy at the capitulation, were given to General Washington, and two pieces of field-ordnance to Count de Rochambeau and Count de Grasse respectively, as tokens of the national gratitude for their services. Congress moreover resolved to commemorate so glorious an event by causing a marble column to be erected at Yorktown, adorned with emblems of the alliance between France and the United States, and an inscription containing a narrative of the principal incidents of the siege and surrender. He also went on proposes an against General Washington, believing a most favorable op- Washington portunity now presented itself for following up this suc- expedition cess by an expedition against Charleston, wrote a letter Charleston. to Count de Grasse the day after the capitulation, requesting him to join in it with his fleet. board the admiral's ship, as well to pay his respects and offer his thanks for what had already been done, as to explain and enforce the practicability and importance of this plan. By the instructions from his court, and by his engagements to the Spaniards, Count de Grasse was bound to return to the West Indies without delay, and thus it was not in his power to accede to the proposal. It was then suggested, that he should transport a body of troops to Wilmington, in North Carolina, and land them there while on his voyage. To this he at first made no objection; but, when he ascertained that there would be a difficulty in landing the men without running the risk of dividing his fleet, or perhaps of being driven off the coast with the troops on board, he declined the undertaking. Lafayette was to command this expedition; and the purpose of it was to take a British post at Wilming CHAPTER ton, and then march into the interior and unite with the southern army under General Greene. XIII. 1781. Marquis de Troops retire to their winter cantonments. Prisoners. Death of Mr. The troops commanded by the Marquis de St. Simon were embarked, and Count de Grasse set sail for the West Indies. Before his departure, General Washington presented him with two beautiful horses, as a testimony of personal consideration and esteem. As nothing further could be effected by the allied forces during the campaign, a detachment of two thousand men, comprising the Continental troops from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, was put under General St. Clair, with orders to reinforce General Greene at the south. The troops belonging eastward of Pennsylvania were transported by water to the Head of Elk, whence they marched to their winter cantonments in New Jersey and near Hudson's River. The French army remained in Virginia till the following summer, the head-quarters of Count de Rochambeau being at Williamsburg. The prisoners were marched to Winchester in Virginia, and Fredericktown in Maryland; and a part of them subsequently to Lancaster in Pennsylvania. Lord Cornwallis, and the other principal officers, went by sea to New York on parole. All these affairs being arranged, General Washington left Yorktown on the 5th of November. The same day he arrived at Eltham, where he was present at the death of Mr. Custis, the only son of Mrs. Washington. He stayed there a few days to mingle his grief with that of the afflicted widow and mother. The occasion was not less trying to his sympathy than to his sensibility, for he had watched over the childhood and youth of the deceased with a paternal solicitude, and afterwards associated with him as a companion, who possessed his confidence and esteem. Mr. Custis was a member of the Virginia legislature, and much respected for his public and private character. He died at the age of twentyeight, leaving four infant children, the two youngest of whom, a son and daughter, were adopted by General |