XVIII.

YORKTOWN.

IN the first days of autumn (1781), few persons in England or America suspected that the Revolution, with its shifting scenes and varying fortunes, was approaching its end. The British Government seemed as resolute as ever to continue hostilities until the American rebels submitted. Sir Henry Clinton occupied New York; and Lord Cornwallis, after marching nearly unopposed through Virginia, had retired to the strong position of Yorktown, to await reënforcements. With the coming spring it seemed probable that a last campaign. would decide the struggle, and force the worn-out rebels to surrender at discretion.

Suddenly the whole prospect changed. Late in August Lafayette sent a dispatch to Washington on the Hudson, opposite New York, that the Count de Grasse, commanding a French fleet, had sailed from St. Domingo for Chesapeake Bay, to coöperate in the movements against Lord Cornwallis. At this intelligence Washington's "soul was in arms." The Count de Rochambeau had landed in Connecticut with a force of 6,000 men, and it seemed possible, with the assistance of this corps and the fleet of De Grasse, to hem in Lord Cornwallis and capture his army.

The movement was at once decided upon. All depended upon concealing it until it would be too late to reënforce Cornwallis. Camps were ostentatiously laid out, opposite New York, in sight of the enemy; a feigned assault was made on their posts; and Rochambeau moved

Once

from Newport, as though to take part in these operations. The movement southward then followed. begun it was unresting. On the 20th of August (1781), the American forces crossed the Hudson; on the 22d Rochambeau arrived; on the 25th the march began; and on the 2d of September the army passed through Philadelphia without stopping, and hastened on toward the head of the Chesapeake. The shifting scenes resembled those of a "theatrical exhibition," is the comment of an eye-witness. Until the troops reached the Delaware the object of the movement was a mystery, especially to Sir Henry Clinton. Then it was seen that a great blow was to be struck in Virginia.

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The march through Philadelphia was a species of triumph. The windows were filled with ladies waving handkerchiefs and uttering exclamations of joy. The ragged "Continentals came first, with their torn battle-flags and cannon; and the French followed in " white uniforms faced with green," to the sound of martial music. A long time had passed since Philadelphia had seen such a pageant; the last resembling it had been the splendid "Mischianza" festival, devised by poor André, in the days of the British occupation.

At the head of Elk the bulk of the forces were embarked on transports which carried them down the Chesapeake; and before the end of September the whole American army was concentrated at Williamsburg.

While these movements were taking place, important events had occurred in Virginia. Lord Cornwallis had erected works at Yorktown, and was confident of his ability to repulse any assault. The movements of Washington, and the approach of the Count de Grasse, were

both unknown to him. He felt secure in his strong position, with only Lafayette opposed to him, and awaited, without apprehension, until he was reënforced by Sir Henry Clinton, or a fleet was sent to transfer him to New York.

The movements of Lafayette ought to have warned him of his danger. A net was already drawn around him. While the main American force was facing him at Williamsburg, General Wayne, and General Nelson, who had succeeded Jefferson as Governor, were sent south of James River to prevent his escape to North Carolina. Lord Cornwallis was thus hemmed in by land, and the arrival of De Grasse would completely cut off his retreat by water. Lafayette was in the highest spirits. In a dispatch to Washington, he wrote: " Adieu, my dear General: I heartily thank you for having ordered me to remain in Virginia, and to your goodness to me I am owing the most beautiful prospect I may ever behold."

The beautiful prospect was the capture of Lord Cornwallis; and the arrival of the French fleet (August 28, 1781), seemed to render that event nearly certain. De Grasse appeared in the Chesapeake; four men-ofwar were sent to blockade the mouth of the York; and a force of about three thousand men landed to reënforce Layfayette.

In the midst of these movements a British fleet, of twenty ships, commanded by Admiral Graves, made its appearance at the mouth of the Chesapeake. De Grasse promptly sailed out to attack it, and a sharp action followed (September 7, 1781). Both sides sustained injuries, but at sunset De Grasse retired, with two ships which he had captured, and Admiral Graves disappeared with his fleet northward.

This engagement had taken place within hearing of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown. The distant cannonade must have filled him with solicitude. His perilous situation was now plain to him, and he sent urgent messages to Clinton to reënforce him. Instead of the reën forcements the American army made its appearance, commanded by Washington.

The Commander-in-chief reached Williamsburg before the troops, on the 14th of September, and on the 18th visited the Count de Grasse on board his flagship, the Ville de Paris, in Lynhaven Bay. De Grasse was plain and prompt in manners, and received his visitor with every mark of respect. The ships were manned, and a salute fired; and Washington dined, and remained in consultation with the Count until sunset. The plan of operations was agreed upon, and was to be carried into effect on the arrival of the American troops. Washington then returned to Williamsburg, in the midst of a second salute from the French ships.

On the 25th of September the American forces were concentrated at Williamsburg, and ready to march on Yorktown. They numbered eleven or twelve thousand regulars, and about five thousand militia under General Nelson; and (September 28, 1781), the whole force advanced to attack Lord Cornwallis.

The march was a joyous affair. The troops were in the highest spirits and went on through the bright autumn weather with the light step of men who see victory hovering in the air. The French in their new uniforms, and the tattered "Old Continentals," were equally gay. To many of the former this was their first campaign, and they welcomed it with enthusiasm; to almost all of the latter the great source of rejoicing was that it

was probably their last. The war promised to come to an end now, and the weary veterans, who had followed Washington for so many years, would soon see wife and child again in the dear old home.

By sunset the little army had passed over the short distance, and bivouacked within about two miles of Yorktown.

These movements preceding the famous " Siege of Yorktown" have been noticed in some detail; they will interest the military student more than what followed them. The terrible wars of the nineteenth century have dwarfed these old skirmishes. We go back, in fancy, and listen with smiles to the shouting and hurrahing; to the patriotic acclamations, and the glowing descriptions of the great combat. The scene, we are told, was "sublime and stupendous." The bomb-shells were seen "crossing each other's path in the air, and were visible in the form of a black ball in the day, but in the night they appear like a fiery meteor, with a blazing tail, most beautifully brilliant." These fearful emissaries "ascend majestically from the mortar to a certain altitude, and gradually descend to the spot where they are destined to execute their work of destruction." One remarkable circumstance is noticed: "When a shell falls, it wheels round, burrows and excavates the earth to a considerable extent, and bursting makes dreadful havoc around." When these beautifully brilliant meteors fall in York River the sight is no less stupendous. They "throw up columns of water like the spouting monsters of the deep."

In such glowing terms does patriotic Dr. Thacher describe the fearful ordeal to which the enemy were subjected. The day of fate has dawned at last for the