 Chapter 11, Part 1 of the Life of Washington, Volume 3 by John Marshall. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 11, Part 1. Farther state of affairs in the beginning of the year, 1781, measures of Mr. Morris, the superintendent of finances, designs of General Washington against New York, count, row, shambo, marches to the North River, intelligence from the Count de Grasse, plan of operations against Lord Cornwallis, naval engagement, the combined army's march for the Chesapeake, Yorktown invested, surrender of Lord Cornwallis. 1781, the deep gloom which had enveloped the prospects of America in the commencement of the year, which darkened for a time in the South, had also spread itself over the North. The total incompetency of the political system adopted by the United States to their own preservation became every day more apparent, state of affairs at the beginning of the year 1781. Each state seemed fearful of doing too much and of taking upon itself a larger portion of the common burden than was borne by its neighbor. The resolutions of Congress had called for an army of 37,000 men to be encamped by the first of January. Had this requisition been made in time, it is not probable that so large a force could have been brought into the field. But it was made late and then the difficulties and delays on the part of the several states exceeded every reasonable calculation. The regular force drawn from Pennsylvania to Georgia inclusive at no time during this active and interesting campaign amounted to 3,000 defective men and the states from New Hampshire to New Jersey inclusive so late as the month of April had furnished only 5,000 infantry. Of these the returns for that month exhibit in the northern department less than 3,000 defectives. The cavalry and artillery at no time amounted to 1,000 men. This small army was gradually and slowly augmented, so as in the month of May to exhibit a total of near 7,000 men of whom rather more than 4,000 might have been relied on for action. The prospects for the campaign were rendered still more unpromising by the failure of supplies for the support of the troops. The long expected clothing from Europe had not arrived and the want of provisions furnished a still more serious cause of alarm. After Congress had come to the resolution of emitting no more bills on the credit of the continent the duty of supplying the army with provisions necessarily devolved on the states who were required to furnish certain specified articles for the subsistence of the troops according to a ratio established by the federal government. These requisitions have been neglected to such a degree as to excite fears that the soldiers must be disbanded from the want of food. To increase the general embarrassment the quarter master department was destitute of funds and unable to transport provisions or other stores from place to place but by means of impressement supported by a military force. This measure had been repeated especially in New York until it excited so much disgust and irritation among the people that the commander-in-chief was under serious apprehensions of actual resistance to his authority. While in this state of deplorable imbecility intelligence from every quarter announced increasing dangers information was received that an expedition was preparing in Canada against Fort Pitt to be conducted by Sir John Johnston and Colonel Connolly and it was understood that many in the country threatened with invasion were ready to join the British standard. The Indians too had entered into formidable combinations endangering the whole extent of the Western frontier. In addition to these alarming circumstances some vessels had arrived at Crown Point from Canada with information that 3000 men had been assembled on the lakes for the purpose of attempting once more an invasion from that quarter. This information though unfounded was believed to be true and was at that critical moment the more alarming because our correspondence of our criminal nature had just been discovered between some persons in Albany and in Canada. A letter intercepted by General Scholar and Clinton stated the disaffection of particular settlements the provision made in those settlements for the subsistence of an invading army and their readiness to join such army. This intelligence from the northern frontier derived increased interest from the ambiguous conduct observed by the inhabitants of that tract of country which now constitutes the state of Vermont. They had settled lands within the chartered limits of New York under grants from the governor of New Hampshire and had early in the war declared themselves independent and exercised the powers of self-government. The state of New York however continuing to assert her claim of sovereignty the controversy on this delicate subject have become so violent as to justify the apprehension that in the opinion of the people of Vermont the restoration of British authority was an evil not of greater magnitude than the establishment of that of New York. The declaration was openly made that if not admitted into the union as an independent state they held themselves at liberty to make a separate peace and some negotiations have been commenced which were believed to manifest a disposition in Vermont to abandon the common cause of America. A custom to contemplate all public events which might grow out of the situation of the United States and to prepare for them while at a distance the American chief was not depressed by the state of American affairs with a mind happily tempered by nature and improved by experience those fortunate events which had occasionally brightened the prospects of his country never relaxed his exertions or lessened his precautions nor could the most disastrous state of things drive him to despair. Although entirely uncertain what operation he might be unable to undertake during the approaching campaign he had adopted such preparatory steps as might enable him to turn to advantage any fortunate incident which might occur. In consequence of conferences previously held with the Count de Rochambeau for the purpose of digesting a system adapted to contingent events orders were transmitted to that officer directing him to be in readiness to march as larger body of the French troops to the North River as could be spared from the protection of the fleet. Early in May the Count de Borat who had been appointed to the command of the French fleet stationed on the American coast arrived in Boston accompanied by the Viscount de Rochambeau and brought the long expected information from the cabinet of Versailles respecting the naval armament designed to act in the American seas. Twenty ships of the line to be commanded by the Count de Grasse were destined for the West Indies twelve of which were to proceed to the continent of America and might be expected to arrive in the month of July. Designs of General Washington against New York an interview between General Washington and the Count de Rochambeau immediately took place at Weathersfield in which it was determined to unite the troops of France to those of America on the Hudson and to proceed against New York. The regular army at that station was estimated at 4,500 men and though it was understood that Sir Henry Clinton would and though it was understood that Sir Henry Clinton would be able to reinforce it with five or six thousand militia it was believed that the post could not be maintained without recalling a considerable part of the troops from the south in which event the Allied army might be employed advantageously in that part of the Union. The prospect of expelling the British from New York roused the northern states from that apathy into which they appeared to be sinking and vigorous measures were taken to fill their regiments yet those measures were not completely successful in the month of June when the army took the field and encamped at peak skill its effective numbers did not exceed 5,000 men such was the American force in the north with which the campaign in 1781 was opened it fell so far short of that on which the calculations have been made at Weathersfield as to excite serious doubts respecting the propriety of the hearing to the plan there concerted although some compensation was made for this deficiency on the part of the states by the arrival of a reinforcement of 1500 men to the army of Rochambeau under convoy of a 50 gun frigate to supply even this army with provisions required much greater exertions than had ever been made since the system of requisitions had been substituted for that of purchasing the hope of terminating the war produced these exertions the legislatures of the new England states took up the subject in earnest and passed resolutions for raising the necessary supplies but until these resolutions could be executed the embarrassments of the army continued and for some time after the troops had taken the field there was reason to apprehend either that the great objects of the campaign must be relinquished for want of provisions or that coercive means must still be used new England not furnishing flour this important article was to be drawn from New York New Jersey and Pennsylvania the two first states were much exhausted and the application to Pennsylvania did not promise to be very successful on this subject therefore serious fears existed these were removed in a great degree by the activity and exertions of an individual superintendent of finances appointed the management of the finances have been lately committed to Mr. Robert Morris a delegate to Congress from the state of Pennsylvania this gentleman united considerable political talents to a degree of mercantile enterprise information and credit seldom equal in any country he had accepted this arduous appointment on the condition of being allowed the year 1781 to make his arrangements during which time the department was to be conducted by those already employed with the resources which government could command but the critical state of public affairs and the pressing wants of the army furnished irresistible motives for changing his original determination and entering immediately on the duties of his office the occasion required that he should bring his private credit in aid of the public resources and pledge himself personally and extensively for articles of absolute necessity which could not be otherwise obtained condemning the system of violence and of legal fraud which had too long been practiced as being calculated to defeat its own object he sought the gradual restoration of confidence by the only means which could restore it a punctual and faithful compliance with his engagements herculean as was this task in the existing derangement of american finances he entered upon it courageously and if not completely successful certainly did more than could have been supposed possible with the means placed in his hands it is in no inconsiderable degree to be attributed to him that the very active and decisive operations of the campaign were not impeded perhaps defeated by a failure of the means for transporting military stores and feeding the army undetermining to enter on the duties of his office mr morris laid before congress the plan of a national bank whose notes were to be receivable from the respective states as specie into the treasury of the united states congress gave its full approbation to this beneficial institution and past and ordinance or its incorporation important as was this measure to the future operations of the army a contract entered into with the state of pennsylvania was of still more immediate utility after furnishing flour to relieve the wants of the moment on his private credit mr morris proposed to take on himself the task of complying with all the specific requisitions made on pennsylvania and to rely for reimbursement on the taxes imposed by law to be collected under his direction this proposition being accepted the contract was made and supplies which the government found itself unable to furnish were raised by an individual con ro chambo marches to the north river as the french troops approach the north river intelligence was received at a large detachment from new york had made an incursion into jersey under appearances indicating an intention not to return immediately this being thought a favorable moment for gaining the post on the north end of york island a plan was formed for seizing them by a coup de marre general washington fixed on the night of the second of july for making the attempt it being supposed that the con du ro chambo might join the american army at kingsbridge by that time in aid to camp was therefore dispatched to meet that officer with letters explaining the enterprise and requesting him to meet the commander in chief at the time and place appointed with the proposed attack on these works and attempt to cut off some light troops stationed on the outside of kingsbridge at morris sania under the command of colonel delaney was to be combined this part of the plan was to be executed by the duke de la zon to whose legion shelled his dragoons in a small body of continental troops dispersed on the lines under the command of general waterbury were to be added on the part of the americans all that could contribute to the success of this enterprise was done a strong detachment commanded by general lincoln which fell down the river and boats with muffled oars reached its ground undiscovered on the night of the first of july and the army conducted by general washington march to valentine's hill the next day lincoln perceived that the detachment had returned from jersey that the british were in camp in great force on the north end of the island and that ship of war watched the landing place these unexpected obstacles having defeated the design upon the works he proceeded to execute his eventual orders of cooperation with the duke de la zon these were after landing above spike in devil creek to march to the high ground in front of kingsbridge and there conceal his detachment until the attack on delaney's core should commence the duke de la zon did not arrive and the return of day betrayed lincoln a british core advanced upon him on hearing which general washington put his troops in motion and on his approach the british troops retired into the island both parts of the plan having thus failed the army retreated to dobbs ferry where it was joined by the con duro chambeau on the 6th of july the thanks of the commander and chief were given to that officer in general orders for the unremitting zeal with which he had proceeded to form his so long wished for junction with the american army and he was requested to convey to the officers and soldiers under his command the grateful sense which the general entertained of that cheerfulness with which they had performed so long and laborious a march had so hot a season the utmost exertions were made for the grand enterprise against new york but as the execution of any plan that could be formed depending on events which were uncertain the commander in chief directed his attention to other objects to be pursued if that which was most desirable should prove unattainable should the siege of new york become unadvisable his views were turned to virginia the carolinas in georgia early in august the apprehension that he should be unable to accomplish his favorite object began to influence his conduct letters from that marquita la faillette announced that a large portion of the troops in virginia were embarked and that their destination was believed to be new york intelligence from the kond gras this intelligence induced him to turn his attention more seriously to the south but to conceal from sir henry clinton this eventual change of plan his arrangements were made secretly in the preparations for acting against new york work continued a reinforcement from europe of near three thousand men induced sir henry clinton to counterman the orders he had given to lord cornwallis to detach a part of the army in virginia to his aid and also to direct that nobleman to take a strong position on the chesapeake from which he might execute the designs meditated against the states lying on that bay so soon as the storm which threatened the british power for the moment should blow over in a few days after the arrival of this reinforcement the kong debora gave general washington the interesting information that du gras was to have sale from cape francis for the chesapeake on the third of august with from 25 to 29 ships of the line having on board 3200 soldiers and that he had made engagements with the offers of commanding the land and naval forces of spain in the west indies to return to those seized by the middle of october this intelligence manifested the necessity of determining immediately and positively on the object against which the combined forces should be directed the shortness of the time appropriated by du gras for his continuance on the american coast the apparent unwillingness of the naval officers to attempt to force a passage into the harbor of new york and the failure of the stage to comply with the requisitions which had been made on them for men decided in favor of operations to the south and lafayette was requested to make such a disposition of his army as should be best calculated to prevent lord cornwallis from saving himself by a sudden march to charleston conformably to the intelligence communicated by the count debora the count du gras arrived in the chesapeake plate in august with 28 ships of the line and several frigates a cape henry he found an officer dispatched by lafayette with full intelligence of the situation of the armies in virginia lord cornwallis had collected his whole force at york town and glossed her point which he was fortifying assiduously and the marquee had taken a position on james river in consequence of this information for ships of the line and several frigates were detached to block up the mouth of york river and convey the land forces brought from the west indies under the command of the marquee de san simon up the james to join lafayette who on receiving this reinforcement took post at weemsburg in the meantime the fleet lay at anchor just within the capes on the 25th of august the count debora sailed from newport for the chesapeake rodney was surprised of the destination of de gras but seems not to have suspected that the whole fleet would sail for the continent of america supposing therefore that a part of his squadron would be sufficient to maintain an equality of naval force in the american seas he detached sir samuel hood to the continent with only 14 sail of the line that officer arrived at sandy hook on the 28th of august admiral greaves who had succeeded abarth not in the command of the fleet on the american station lay in the harbor of new york with seven ships of the line only five of which were fit for service on the day that hood appeared and gave information that de gras was probably on the coast intelligence was also received that debora had sailed from newport the ships fit for sea were ordered out of the harbor and greaves with the whole fleet consisting of 19 sail of the line proceeded in quest of the french not suspecting the strength of de gras he hoped to fall in with one of the other of their squadrons and to fight it separately early in the morning of the fifth of september while the french fleet lay at anchor just within the chesapeake the british squadron was described orders were immediately given by de gras to form the line and put to sea about four in the afternoon the action commenced between the headmost ships and continued until sunset several ships were much damaged but neither admiral could claim the victory for five successive days the hostile fleets continued within view of each other after which de gras returned to his former station within the capes at his anchorage ground he found debora with the squadron from newport m14 transports laden with heavy artillery and military stores proper for carrying on a siege the british admiral approaching the capes found the entrance of the chesapeake defended by a force with which he was unable to contend and therefore bore away for new york plan of operations against lord cornwallis general washington had determined to entrust the defense of the hudson to general heath and to command the southern expedition in person all the french and a detachment amounting to upwards of 2000 men from the continental army were destined for this service on the 19th of august hazin's regiment and the jersey line were directed to pass the hudson at dob's ferry and take a position between springfield and chatham where they were to cover some bake houses to be constructed in the neighborhood for the purpose of bailing the real designs of the american chief and of exciting fears for statten island the combined armies march for the chesapeake on the same day the whole army was put in motion and on the 25th the passage of the river was completed to conceal as long as possible the real object of this movement the march of the army was continued until the 31st in such a direction as to keep up fears for new york and a considerable degree of address was used to countenance the opinion that the real design was against that place the letters which had been intercepted by so henry clinton favored this deception and so strong was the impression they made that even after it became necessary for the combined army to leave the root leading down the hudson he has stated to have retained his fears for new york and not to have suspected the real object of his adversary until he had approached the delaware and it had become too late to obstruct the progress of the allied army towards virginia he then resolved to make every exertion in his power to relieve lord cornwallis and in the meantime to act offensively in the north september six an expedition was planned against new london in connecticut and a strong detachment under the command of general arnold was embarked on board a fleet of transports which landed early in the morning of the sixth of september on both sides of the harbor about three miles from the town new london is a seaport town on the west side of the tims a fort called fort trumble and a redoubt have been constructed just below it on the same side of the river and opposite to it on groten hill was fort griswold a strong square fortification but not fully manned general arnold who commanded in person the troops that landed on the western side of the harbor advanced immediately against the post on that side these being untenable were evacuated on his approach and he took possession of them with inconsiderable loss to prevent the escape of the vessels up the river lieutenant colonel air who commanded the division which landed on the groten side of the harbor had been ordered to storm fort griswold which had been represented to arnold as too incomplete to make any serious resistance but the place being of some strength in the approach to a difficult colonel led year who commanded it with a garrison of 160 men determined to defend it on his refusing to surrender the british assaulted it on three sides and overcoming the difficulties opposed to them made a lodgement on the ditch and phrased work and entered the embrasures with charge bayonets further resistance being hopeless the action ceased on the part of the americans and colonel led year delivered his sword to the commanding officer of the assailants irritated by the obstinacy of the defense and the loss sustained in the assault the british officer on whom the command had devolved tarnished the glory of victory by the inhuman use he made of it instead of respecting with the generous spirit of a soldier the gallantry which he had subdued he indulged the addictive feelings which had been roused by the slaughter of his troops in the account given of this affair by governor trumble to general washington he says the sword presented by colonel led yard was immediately plunged into his bosom and the carnage was kept up until the greater part of the garrison was killed or wounded in this fierce assault colonel air was killed in major montgomery the second in command also fell as he entered the american works the total loss of the assailants was not much less than 200 men the town of new london and the stores contained in it were consumed by fire to escape the odium which invariably attends the wanton destruction of private property this fire was attributed to accident but all the american accounts unite in declaring it to have been intentional september 6th the march of general washington was not arrested by this excursion into new england having made the arrangements for the transportation of his army down the chesapeake he proceeded in person to virginia attended by the con du rochambeau and the chariot de chateau lo and on the 14th of september reached williamsburger company by rochambeau chateau lo nox and due poor tyre he immediately repaired to the fleet and planted cooperation was adjusted on board the via de paris conforming to his wish in every respect except that the con de gras declined complying with the proposition to station some of his ships in the river above yorktown thinking it too hazardous while the close investment of the british army was delayed only until the troops from the north should arrive serious apprehensions were excited that the brilliant results confidently anticipated from the superiority of the landed naval forces of the allies will be put in imminent hazard information was received that a reinforcement of six ships of the line under admiral digby had reached new york confident that the british fleet thus augmented would attempt everything for the relief of lord cornwallis the gras expected to be attacked by a force not much inferior to his own thinking his station within the chesapeake unfavorable for a naval combat he designed to change it and communicated to general washington his intention to leave a few frigates to block up the mouths of james and york rivers and to put to sea with his fleet in quest of the british if they should not have left the harbor of new york he proposed to block them up in that place supposing that his operations in that quarter would be of more service to the common cause than is remaining in the bay an idle spectator of the siege of york the commander-in-chief was much alarmed at this communication should the admiral put to sea the winds of many accidents might prevent his return to the chesapeake during his absence a temporary naval superiority might be acquired by the british and those waters and the army of lord cornwallis might be placed in perfect security the movement would expose to the caprice of fortune an object of vast importance which was now reduced almost to certainly the admiral was therefore entreated to preserve his station fortunately the wishes of the general prevailed and the admiral consented to relinquish those plans of active enterprise which his thirst for military glory has suggested and to maintain the station which the american general deemed so conducive to the interests of the allies september 25 on the 25th of september the last division of the ally troops arrived in james river and were disembarked at the landing near williamsburg soon after which the preparations for the siege were completed end of chapter 11 part 1 chapter 11 part 2 of the life of washington volume 3 by john marshal this libra vox recording is in the public domain chapter 11 part 2 york invested york is a small village on the south side of the river which bears that name where the long peninsula between the york and the james is only eight miles wide in this broad and bold river a ship of the line may ride in safety its southern banks are high and on the opposite shore is glossed her point a piece of land projecting deep into the river and narrowing it at that place to the space of one mile both these posts were occupied by lord cornwallis the communication between them was commanded by his batteries and by some ships of war which lay under his guns the main body of his army was encamped on the open grounds about york town within a range of outer redoubts and fieldworks calculated to command the peninsula and impede the approach of the assailants and lieutenant colonel dundas with a small detachment consisting of six or seven hundred men held the post at glossed her point he was afterwards reinforced by lieutenant colonel torlton the legion of lausanne and a brigade of militia under general weeden the whole commanded by the french general de schwoise were directed to watch the enemy on the side of glossed her and on the twenty eighth the grand combined army moved down on the south side of the river by different roads towards york town about noon the heads of the columns reached the ground assigned them respectively and after driving in the pks and some cavalry encamped for the evening the next day the right wing consisting of americans extended farther to the right and occupied the ground east of beaver dam creek while the left wing consisting of french was stationed on the west side of that stream in the course of the night lord cornwallis withdrew from his outer lines and the works he had evacuated were the next day occupied by the besieging army which now invested the town completely on that side two thousand men were stationed on the glossed her side for the purpose of keeping up a rigorous blockade on approaching the lines a sharp skirmish took place which terminated unfavorably for the british after which they remained undercover of their works making no attempt to interrupt the blockade october six on the night of the sixth of october until which time the besieging army was incessantly employed in disembarking their heavy artillery and military stores and drawing them to camp the first parallel was commenced within six hundred yards of the british lines this operation was conducted with so much silence that it appears not to have been perceived until the return of daylight disclosed it to the garrison by which time the trenches were in such forwardness as to cover them in by the evening of the ninth several batteries and redoubts were completed and the effect of their fire was soon perceived new batteries were opened the next day and the fire became so heavy that the besieged withdrew their cannon from the embrasures and scarcely returned a shot the shells and red hot balls from the batteries of the allied army reached the ships in the harbor and in the evening set fire to the cairn of forty four guns and two three large transports which were entirely consumed reciprocal esteem and a spirit of emulation between the french and americans being carefully cultivated by the commander-in-chief the siege was carried on with great rapidity october the second parallel was opened on the night of the eleventh within three hundred yards of the british lines the three succeeding days were devoted to the completion of this parallel during which the fire of the garrison which had opened several new embrasures became more destructive than at any previous time the men in the trenches were particularly annoyed by two redoubts advanced three hundred yards in front of the british works which flanked the second parallel of the besiegers preparations were made on the fourteenth to carry them both by storm the attack of one was committed to the americans and of the other to the french the marquis de la faillette commanded the american detachment and the baron de vio menel the french towards the close of the day the two detachments marched with equal firmness to the assault colonel hamilton who had commanded a battalion of light infantry throughout this campaign led the advance corps of the americans and colonel laurence turned the redoubt at the head of eighty men in order to take the garrison in reverse and intercept their retreat the troops rushed to the charge without firing a gun and without giving the sappers time to remove the appetis and palisades passing over them they assaulted the works with irresistible impetuosity on all sides at the same time and entered them with such rapidity that their loss was inconsiderable this redoubt was defended by major cambell with some inferior officers and 45 privates the major captain a subaltern and 17 privates were made prisoners and eight privates were killed while the assailants were entering the works the redoubt attacked by the french was defended by a greater number of men and the resistance being greater was not overcome so quickly but with so little loss 120 men commanded by a lieutenant colonel were in this work 18 of whom were killed in 42 including a captain and two subaltern officers were made prisoners the assailants lost and killed and wounded near 100 men the commander in chief was highly gratified with the active courage displayed in this assault speaking of it in his diary he says the bravery exhibited by the attacking troops was emulous and praiseworthy few cases have exhibited greater proofs of intrepidity coolness and firmness than were shown on this occasion the orders of this succeeding day congratulating the army on the capture of these important works expressed a high sense of the judicious dispositions in gallant conduct of both the baron de vio menel and the marquis de la faillette and requested them to convey to every officer and man engaged in the enterprise the acknowledgments of the commander in chief for the spirit and rapidity with which they advanced to the attack and for the admirable firmness with which they supported themselves under the fire of the enemy without returning a shot the general reflects concluding the orders with the highest degree of pleasure on the confidence which the troops of the two nations must hereafter have in each other assured of mutual support he is convinced there is no danger which they will not cheerfully encounter no difficulty which they will not bravely overcome the moorhouse at yorktown virginia where the terms for the surrender of the british army were arranged between washington and cornwallis the actual drafting of the terms was done by the vio count de noia and lieutenant colonel laurence representing the french american forces and colonel dundas and major ross for the british during the same night these redoubts were included in the second parallel and in the course of the next day some howitzer's were placed in them which by five in the afternoon were opened on the besieged the situation of lord cornwallis was becoming desperate his works were sinking in every quarter under the fire of the besiegers the batteries already playing on him had silenced nearly all his guns and the second parallel was about to open which must in a few hours render the town untenable to suspend a catastrophe which appeared almost inevitable he resolved on attempting to retard the completion of the second parallel by a vigorous sortie against two batteries which appeared to be in the greatest forwardness and were guarded by french troops october 16 the party making this sortie was led by lieutenant colonel abercrombie who attacked the two batteries with great impetuosity about four in the morning and carried both with inconsiderable laws but the guards from the trenches immediately advancing on the assailants they retreated without being able to effect anything of importance about four in the afternoon the besiegers opened several batteries in their second parallel and it was apparent that in the course of the ensuing day the whole line of batteries in that parallel would be ready to play on the town the works of the besiege were not in a condition to sustain so tremendous a fire in this extremity lord cornwallis formed the bold design of forcing his way to new york he determined to leave his sick and baggage behind and crossing over in the night with his effectives to the gloss to shore to attack the schwaase after cutting two pieces or dispersing the troops under that officer he intended to mount his infantry on the horses taken from that detachment and on others to be seized on the road and by a rapid march to gain the forwards of the great rivers and forcing his way through maryland pennsylvania and jersey to form a junction with the army in new york this desperate attempt would be extremely hazardous but the situation of the british general had become so hopeless that it could scarcely be changed for the worse boats prepared under other pretexts were held in readiness to receive the troops at ten in the evening and convey them over the river the arrangements were made with such secrecy that the first embarkation arrived at the point unperceived and part of the troops where it landed when a sudden and violent storm interrupted the execution of this hazardous plan and drove the boats down the river the storm continued till near daylight when the boats returned but the plan was necessarily abandoned and the boats were sent to bring back the soldiers who were relanded on the southern shore in the course of the forenoon without much loss october 17 in the morning of the 17th several new batteries were opened in the second parallel which poured in a way to fire not to be resisted the place being no longer tenable lord cornwallis about ten in the forenoon beat up parlay and proposed a cessation of hostilities for 24 hours that commissioners might meet at moore's house which was just in the rear of the first parallel to settle terms for the surrender of the posts of york and gloster to this letter general washington returned an immediate answer declaring his ardent desire to spare the further effusion of blood and his readiness to listen to such terms as were admissible but as in the present crisis he could not consent to lose a moment in fruitless negotiations he desired that previous to the meeting of the commissioners the proposals of his lordship might be transmitted and writing for which purpose of suspension of hostilities for two hours should be granted the general propositions stated by lord cornwallis as forming the basis of the capitulation though not all admissible being such as led to the opinion that no great difficulty would occur in adjusting the terms the suspension of hostilities was prolonged for the night in the meantime to avoid the delay of useless discussion the commander in chief drew up and proposed such articles as he would be willing to grant these were transmitted to lord cornwallis with the accompanying declaration that if he approved them commissioners might be immediately appointed to digest them into form october 18 inconsequence of this message the viscount de no aya and lieutenant colonel laurence were met next day by colonel dandas and major ross by being unable to adjust the terms of capitulation definitively only a rough draft of them could be prepared which was to be submitted to the consideration of the british general determined not to expose himself to those accidents which time might produce general washington could not permit any suspense on the part of lord cornwallis he therefore immediately directed the rough articles which had been prepared by the commissioners to be fairly transcribed and sent them to his lordship early next morning with a letter expressing his expectation that they would be signed by 11 and that the garrison would march out by two in the afternoon surrender of lord cornwallis finding all attempts to obtain better terms unavailing lord cornwallis submitted to a necessity no longer to be avoided and on the 19th of october surrendered the posts of yorktown and glaster point with their garrisons and their ships in the harbor with their seamen to the land and naval forces of america and france 19th the army artillery arms military chest and public stores of every denomination were surrendered to general washington the ships and seamen to the con de gras the total number of prisoners excluding seamen rather exceeded 7 000 men the loss sustained by the garrison during the siege amounted to 552 men including six officers lord cornwallis endeavored to introduce an article into the capitulation for the security of those americans who had joined the british army but the subject was declared to belong to the civil department and the article was rejected its object however was granted without appearing to concede it his lordship was permitted to send the bonetta's loop of war untouched with dispatches to sir henry clinton and the americans whose conduct had been most offensive to their countrymen were embarked on board this vessel the allied army may be estimated including militia at 16 000 men in the course of this siege they lost and killed and wounded about 300 the treaty was opened on the 11th day after the ground was broken by the besiegers and the capitulation was signed on the 13th the whole army merited great approbation but from the nature of the service there are tillerists and engineers were unable to distinguish themselves particularly generals do portalia and nox were each promoted to the rank of major general and colonel govian and captain roche fantin of the core of engineers were each advanced agreed by brevet in addition to the officers belonging to those departments generals lincoln the lafayette and steuben were particularly mentioned by the commander-in-chief in his orders issued the day after the capitulation and terms of peculiar warmth were applied to governor nelson who continued in the field during the whole siege at the head of the militia of virginia and also exerted himself in a particular manner to furnish the army with those supplies which the country afforded the highest acknowledgments were made to du rochambeau and several other french officers were named with distinction so many disasters had attended the former efforts of the united states to avail themselves of the suckers occasionally afforded by france that in opinion not very favorable to the alliance appears to have gained some ground in the country and to have insinuated itself into the army the commander-in-chief sees this occasion to discountenance a course of thinking from which he'd always feared pernicious consequences and displayed the great value of the aids lately received in language highly flattering to the french monarch as well as to the land and naval forces of that nation knowing the influence which the loss of the army in virginia must have on the war sir henry clinton determined to hazard much for its preservation about 7 000 of his best troop sale for the chesapeake under convoy of a fleet augmented to 25 ships of the line this armament left the hook the day on which the capitulation was signed at yorktown and appeared off the capes of virginia on the 24th of october unquestionable intelligence being there received that lord cornwallis had surrendered the british general returned to new york the exaltation manifested throughout the united states at the capture of this formidable army was equal to the terror it had inspired in congress the intelligence was received with joy proportioned to the magnitude of the event and the sense of that body on this brilliant achievement was expressed in various resolutions returning the thanks of the united states to the commander-in-chief to the con de rochambeau to the con de gras to the officers of the allied army generally and to the core of artillery and engineers particularly in addition to these testimonials of gratitude it was resolved that a marble column should be erected at yorktown in virginia with emblems of the alliance between the united states and his most christian majesty and inscribed with a succinct narrative of the surrender of url cornwallis to his excellency general washington the commander-in-chief of the combined forces of america and france to his excellency that con de rochambeau commanding the auxiliary troops of his most christian majesty in america and his excellency con de gras commanding in chief the naval army of france and the chesapeake to stand of colors taken in yorktown were presented to general washington two pieces of field ordinance to the con de rochambeau and application was made to his most christian majesty to permit the admiral to accept a testimonial of their approbation similar to that presented to the con de rochambeau congress determined to go and sell in procession to the dutch lutheran church to return thanks to almighty god for crowning the allied arms with success by the surrender of the whole british army under lord cornwallis and also issued a proclamation appointing the 13th day of december for general thanksgiving and prayer on account of this signal interposition of divine providence it was not by congress only that the public joy at this great event and the public approbation of the conduct of general washington were displayed the most flattering and affectionate addresses of congratulation represented from every part of the union and state governments corporate towns and learned institutions vied with each other in the testimonials they gave of their high sense of his important service as and of their attachment to his person and character the superiority of the allied force opened a prospect of still farther advantages the remaining posts of the british and the southern states were too weak to be defended against the army which had triumphed over lord cornwallis and the troops which occupied them could neither escape nor be reinforced if the con de gras could be prevailed on to cooperate against them although in his first conference he had explicitly declared his inability to engage in any enterprise to be undertaken subsequent to that against your town the siege of that place had employed so much less time than the admiral had consented to appropriate to it that the general resumed his plan of southern operations in a letter addressed to de gras he used every argument which might operate on his love of fame or his desire to promote the interests of the allies to prevail on him to cooperate in an expedition against charleston if this object should be unattainable his attention was next turned to wilmington in north garland which was still occupied by a small detachment of british troops who kept that state in check the capture of this detachment though not an object of much consequence in itself was supposed to derive some importance from the influence which the complete liberation of north carolina might have on the future military operations of the united states and on their negotiations general washington proposed a center detachment intended to reinforce general green as far as wilmington under convoy the reduction of that place he supposed would detain the fleet but a few days after which it might proceed to the west indies to enforce the representations contained in his letter as well as to pay his respects to the admiral and to express in person the high sense entertained of his important services the commander-in-chief repaired on board the dia de paris october 23 the count the count acknowledged his conviction of the advantages to be expected from an expedition against charleston but said that the orders of his court ulterior projects and his engagements with the spaniards rendered it impossible for him to remain on the coast during the time which would be required for the operation as he also declined taking on board the troops designed to reinforce general green preparations were made for their march by land and major general saint claire who commanded the detachment was ordered to take wilmington in his route and to gain possession of that post november the con grass having consented to remain in the bay a few days for the purpose of covering the transportation of the eastern troops and of the ordinance to the head of elk they were embarked in the beginning of november under the command of general lincoln who was directed to march them into new jersey in new york and to can town them for the winter in those states the french troops remained in vijinia not only for the protection of that state but to be in readiness to march southward or northward as the exigencies of the ensuing campaign might require the transportation of the troops and ordinance to the head of elk being affected the con grass sailed for the west endings and the commander in chief proceeded to philadelphia end of chapter 11 part 2 end of the life of washington volume three by john marshal