Part 3

The stipulated terms of capitulation are similar to those granted to General Lincoln at Charleston the last year. The captive troops are to march out with shouldered arms, colors cased, and drums beating a British or German march, and to ground their arms at a place assigned for the purpose. The officers are allowed their side arms and private property, and the generals and such officers as desire it, are to go on parole to England or New York. The marines and seamen of the king’s ships are prisoners of war to the navy of France, and the land forces to the United States. All military and artillery stores to be delivered up unimpaired. The royal prisoners to be sent into the interior of Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, in regiments, to have rations allowed them equal to the American soldiers, and to have their officers near them. Lord Cornwallis to man and despatch the Bonetta sloop of war with despatches to Sir Henry Clinton at New York without being searched, the vessel to be returned and the hands accounted for.

At about twelve o’clock, the combined army was arranged and drawn up in two lines extending more than a mile in length. The Americans were drawn up in a line on the right side of the road, and the French occupied the left. At the head of the former the great American commander, mounted on his noble courser, took his station, attended by his aids. At the head of the latter was posted the excellent Count Rochambeau and his suite. The French troops, in complete uniform, displayed a martial and noble appearance, their band of music, of which the timbrel formed a part, is a delightful novelty, and produced while marching to the ground, a most enchanting effect. The Americans though not all in uniform nor their dress so neat, yet exhibited an erect soldierly air, and every countenance beamed with satisfaction and joy. The concourse of spectators from the country was prodigious, in point of numbers probably equal to the military, but universal silence and order prevailed.

It was about two o’clock when the captive army advanced through the line formed for their reception. Every eye was prepared to gaze on Lord Cornwallis, the object of peculiar interest and solicitude; but he disappointed our anxious expectations; pretending indisposition, he made General O’Harra his substitute as the leader of his army. This officer was followed by the conquered troops in a slow and solemn step, with shouldered arms, colors cased and drums beating a British march. Having arrived at the head of the line, General O’Harra, elegantly mounted, advanced to his Excellency the Commander in Chief, taking off his hat, and apologized for the non-appearance of Earl Cornwallis. With his usual dignity and politeness his Excellency pointed to Major General Lincoln for directions, by whom the British army was conducted into a spacious field, where it was intended they should ground their arms.

The royal troops, while marching through the line formed by the allied army, exhibited a decent and neat appearance, as respects arms and clothing, for their commander opened his store and directed every soldier to be furnished with a new suit complete, prior to the capitulation. But in their line of march we remarked a disorderly and unsoldierly conduct, their step was irregular, and their ranks frequently broken. But it was in the field when they came to the last act of the drama, that the spirit and pride of the British soldier was put to the severest test, here their mortification could not be concealed. Some of the platoon officers appeared to be exceedingly chagrined when giving the word “_ground arms_,” and I am a witness that they performed this duty in a very unofficerlike manner, and that many of the soldiers manifested a _sullen temper_, throwing their arms on the pile with violence, as if determined to render them useless. This irregularity, however, was checked by the authority of General Lincoln. After having grounded their arms and divested themselves of their accoutrements, the captive troops were conducted back to Yorktown and guarded by our troops till they could be removed to the place of their destination. The British troops that were stationed at Gloucester surrendered at the same time, and in the same manner to the command of the French general de Choise.

JAMES THACHER, _A Military Journal during the American Revolutionary War._

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_Following the surrender, Cornwallis, as a prisoner of war, gave his parole not to engage in further hostilities against the United States, or its allies, until exchanged and was permitted to go to New York. The original document is in the Virginia State Library._

14. “THE PLAY IS OVER”

Lafayette, exulting in the victory which he had helped to create, wrote in the first flush of enthusiasm to high officials in France.

The play is over, Monsieur le Comte, the fifth act has just come to an end. I was somewhat disturbed during the former acts, but my heart rejoices exceedingly at this last, and I have no less pleasure in congratulating you upon the happy ending of our campaign.... I am happy that our Virginia campaign has ended so well, and my respect for the talents of Lord Cornwallis gives his capture an additional value to my mind. After this attempt, what English general will undertake the conquest of America? Their manoeuvres in the southern country have not been more successful than those at the North, and now the experience of General Burgoyne has been repeated.

LAFAYETTE TO M. DE MAUREPAS AND M. DE VERGENNES, OCTOBER 20, 1781.

15. WASHINGTON CONGRATULATES THE ARMY

Washington, more reserved than his young friend and subordinate, nevertheless felt deeply the triumph which had come after long years of defeat and bitterness and hope deferred. With his pride in the victory was mingled gratitude to the brave allies and the officers and men of his own army who had made it possible.

The General congratulates the Army upon the glorious event of yesterday.

The generous proofs which his most Christian Majesty has given of his attachment to the Cause of America must force conviction on the minds of the most deceived among the Enemy: relatively to the decisive good consequences of the Alliance and inspire every citizen of these States with sentiments of the most unalterable Gratitude.

His Fleet the most numerous and powerful that ever appeared in these seas commanded by an Admiral whose Fortune and Talents ensure great Events.

An Army of the most admirable composition both in officers and men are the Pledges of his friendship to the United States and their cooperation has secured us the present signal success.

The General upon this occasion entreats his Excellency Count de Rochambeau to accept his most grateful acknowledgments for his Counsels and assistance at all times. He presents his warmest thanks to the Generals Baron Viomenil, Chevalier Chastellux, Marquis de St. Simond and Count Viomenil and to Brigadier General de Choissy (who had a separate command) for the illustrious manner in which they have advanced the interest of the common cause.

He requests that Count de Rochambeau will be pleased to communicate to the Army under his immediate command the high sense he entertains of the distinguished merits of the officers and soldiers of every corps and that he will present in his name to the regiments of Gattinois and Deuxponts the Two Pieces of Brass Ordnance captured by them; as a testimony of their Gallantry in storming the Enemy’s Redoubt on the Night of the 14th. instant, when officers and men so universally vied with each other in the exercise of every soldierly virtue.

The General’s Thanks to each individual of Merit would comprehend the whole Army. But He thinks himself bound however by Affection Duty and Gratitude to express his obligations to Major Generals Lincoln, de La Fayette and Steuben for the dispositions in the Trenches.

To General Du Portail and Colonel Carney for the Vigor and Knowledge which were conspicuous in their Conduct of the Attacks, and to General Knox and Colonel D’Aberville for their great care and attention and fatigue in bringing forward the Artillery and Stores and for their judicious and spirited management of them in the Parallels.

He requests the Gentlemen above mentioned to communicate his thanks to the officers and soldiers of their respective commands.

Ingratitude which the General hopes never to be guilty of would be conspicuous in him was he to omit thanking in the warmest terms His Excellency Governor Nelson for the Aid he has derived from him and from the Militia under his Command to whose Activity Emulation and Courage much Applause is due; the Greatness of the Acquisition will be an ample Compensation for the Hardships and Hazards which they encountered with so much patriotism and firmness.

In order to diffuse the general Joy through every Breast the General orders that those men belonging to the Army who may now be in confinement shall be pardoned released and join their respective corps.

Divine Service is to be performed tomorrow in the several Brigades or Divisions.

The Commander in Chief earnestly recommends that the troops not on duty should universally attend with that seriousness of Deportment and gratitude of Heart which the recognition of such reiterated and astonishing interpositions of Providence demand of us.

WASHINGTON’S GENERAL ORDER, OCTOBER 20, 1781.

16. THE MEANING OF YORKTOWN

The surrender of Cornwallis was immediately recognized as bringing within sight the end of the Revolution and the independence of the United States.

Your predictions regarding the fate of Lord Cornwallis have, thank God, been verified. It is a glorious, joyful, and important event. Britain feels the force of that stroke and other nations begin to doubt less of the continuance of our independence. Further successes must prepare the way for peace, and I hope that victory will stimulate instead of relaxing our exertions.

JOHN JAY TO ELBRIDGE GERRY, MADRID, JANUARY 9, 1782.

The news of Yorktown brought the defeat of Lord North’s war ministry in England. Negotiations ending in a treaty of peace, with recognition of the independence of the United States, soon followed. The succeeding century brought out in stronger relief the significance of this decisive victory in the struggle for American self-government.

Upon this soil one hundred years ago our forefathers brought to a successful issue their heroic struggle for independence. Here and then was established, and as we trust made secure upon this continent for ages yet to come, that principle of government which is the very fiber of our system--the sovereignty of the people.

PRESIDENT CHESTER A. ARTHUR, YORKTOWN, OCTOBER 19, 1881.

With the approach of the 150th anniversary of the Yorktown victory, there was renewed realization of the meaning of the event and of the debt which the people of the United States owed to the men who, by that victory, made the Declaration of Independence a living thing. The National Government and local organizations in 1931 cooperated in impressive commemorative services, and the battlefield of Yorktown was dedicated as a national shrine to be maintained for the people by the National Park Service.

While the events commemorated in other national parks are well worth the expense to the Government in commemorating them, and they all recall to the minds of the citizens important events in our history, as well as the heroism and devotion of our soldiers, they are at best only events, although important ones, in our history, while Yorktown marks the consummation of our national independence. Other battles of the Revolutionary War led up to this one battle, while battles of other wars since then were only struggles for our rights, or for the preservation of the Government, whose existence was decided on the field at Yorktown. It was at the bridge at Concord, Massachusetts, on April 19, 1775, where the embattled farmers stood and fired the shot heard around the world. It was on the field at Yorktown, Virginia, on October 19, 1781, that it was finally decided after six and one-half years of heroic struggle that shot had not been fired in vain. From that date the freedom of our country was secure and has never again been in danger. The treaty of peace acknowledging our independence two years later was but a natural and inevitable sequence to the surrender of our opponent’s finest army and ablest general.

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR’S YORKTOWN COMMISSION.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bland, Schuyler Otis, _The Yorktown Sesquicentennial; Proceedings of the United States Yorktown Sesquicentennial Commission_ (Washington, 1932).

General Richard Butler’s Journal of the Siege of Yorktown, _Historical Magazine_, vol. VIII (New York, 1864).

Deux-Ponts, Count William de, _My Campaigns in America: A Journal kept by Count William de Deux-Ponts, 1780-81_. Translated by Samuel Abbott Green (Boston, 1868).

Fitzpatrick, John C., editor, _The Writings of George Washington_, vol. 23 (Washington, 1937).

Lieutenant-colonel Hamilton’s report to Major-general the Marquis De La Fayette, with a return, _The Remembrancer; or, Impartial Repository of Public Events_ (London, 1782).

Journal of the Siege of York in Virginia (Engineers), _Magazine of American History with Notes and Queries_, vol. IV (New York, 1880).

Johnston, Henry P., editor, _The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay_, vol. II (New York, 1891).

Moore, H. N., _Life and Services of Gen. Anthony Wayne_ (Philadelphia, 1859).

_Report of the Commission Created in Accordance with a Joint Resolution of Congress, Approved March 3, 1881, Providing for the Erection of a Monument at Yorktown, Va., Commemorative of the Surrender of Lord Cornwallis_ (Washington, 1883).

Stevens, Benjamin Franklin, editor, _Clinton-Cornwallis Controversy_, vol. II (London, 1888).

Tarleton, Lieutenant-Colonel, _A History of the Campaigns of 1780 and 1781, in the Southern Provinces of North America_ (Dublin, 1787).

Thacher, James, M. D., _A Military Journal during the American Revolutionary War, from 1775 to 1783_ (Boston, 1827).

Tower, Charlemagne, Jr., _The Marquis de La Fayette in the American Revolution_, vol. II (Philadelphia, 1895).

U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1956 O-406522

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Transcriber’s Notes:

Illustrations have been moved to paragraph breaks near where they are mentioned.

Variations in spelling and punctuation were retained as they appear in the original publication, except that obvious typographical errors have been corrected in the main text, but not in the quoted material.