The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1781-11-07 00:00:00, page 1

Utters from His Excellency General Washington,
to His Excellency the President of Congress ; giving
a particular account of the siege and surrender of
the British army under Lieutenant-General Earl
Cornwallis.
tad-Quarters, Camp before forb, Q3ober I, 1781.
SI R,
LAST evening I was honoured with your
Excellency's favour of the 21st ult, with
its inclofure, The intelligence it contains
refpechng the British fleet is very agreeable,
Iwill be immediately transmitted to the Count de
affe.
my last, which bore date the 23d ult. I inform
that our preparations for a near investment of
enemy at York were faft ripening to a point,
ve now to acquaint your Excellency, that Imarch
rom Williamsburg, with the whole army on the
a and approached within about two miles of the
ly at York, at which distance a shew was made
>me opposition on our left; but upon the Count
hambeau, who commands that part of the army,
noving a few pieces of field artillery, under the
aion of the Baron de Viominil, and giving a few
s, the enemy retired. On the 29th the Ameri
troops moved forward, and took their ground
ront of the enemy's works on their left. No op
ition, except a few scattered (hots from a small
rk by Moore's mid, on Wormley Creek, and a
ctery on the left of Pigeon Quarter. A small fire
I day from our riflemen and the enemy's Jagers,
oth, in the morning, we difeovered that the enemy
ad evacuated all their exterior line of works, and
withdrawn to those near the body of the town.
By this means we are in possession of very advanta
'geous grounds, which commanded, in a very near
advance, almost the whole remaining line pf their
defence. All the expedition that our circumhances
will admit is using, to bring up our heavy artillery
and stores, and to open our batteries. This work,
I hope, will be executed in a few days, when our fire
will begin with great vigour.
The investment of the enemy is now fully com
pleted, and drawn very near their lines, except on
the river above the town, where their communica
tion is still open. To prevent this, and to complete
the new blockade, a request is gone to the Count de
Graffe, desiring him to push, if hethinks it practica
ble one ormore blips above the town. This, if effect
ed; will answer many very valuable purposes.
The position of the Count de Grade is judiciously
taken; the main fleet keeping their Ration in Lynn-
Haven Bay, and detachments made to secure the
rivers. The determination of the Count is favour
ably disposed to comply with our wiihes in every nc
ceffary co-operation.
I (hall continue to keep Congress advised of such
occurrences as are worthy the communication.
With the highest regard and esteem, I have the
honour to be, four Excellency's most
obedient, and most humble
servant,
G. WASHINGTON.
His Excellency the
President of Congress.
Head Quarters before York, October 12, 1781.
SI R,
MY last defpatch to your Excellency was of the
6th. I then informed you that we should open trench
es on that night; we did so, and established our frit
parallel within 600 yards of the enemy's works, with
the loss of only one officer of the French artillery
wounded, and sixteen privates killed and wounded,
the greatest part of which were of the| French line.
The ,th and Bth were employed in completing
the firft parallel, and in erecting batteries fpmewhat
advanced of it.
The 9th, at three o'clock in+the afternoon, the
Trench battery on the left, of four twelve-pounders,
fix mortars and howitzers, opened, and at five o'clock
the American battery on the right, of fix eighteen
and twenty-four pounders, two mortars and two
howitzers, opened also. We were informed that
our Shells did considerable execution in the town,
and we could perceive that our shot, which were
direded against the enemy's embrazares, injured
them much.
The loth two French batteries, one of ten 18 and
twenty- four pounders and fix mortars and howitzers,
the other of four-eighteen pounders, opened, as did
two more American batteries, one of four- eighteen
pounders, the other.of two mortars.
The fire now became so excessively heavy, that
the enemy withdrew 'h. ir cannon from tlieir Im
brazures, placed them behind the merlins, and scarce-
NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE.
[Vol. IV.]
WEDNESDAY, November 7, 1781.
ly fired a (hot during the hole day. Tn the even
ing the Charon frigate, a. 4 suns, was ^'t ° n fire
by a hot ball from the Fre ch battery on the left,
and entirely confirmed. !'r guns and stores had
been taken out. By the report of a deserter, our
shells, which were throw with the utmolt degree of
precision, did much mifclhfin the course of the day.
Yesterday morning two fthe enemy's transports
were fired by hot shot ai4 burnt. This has occa
sioned them to warp thebwhipping as far ever to
the Gloucester shore as pi idle.
We last night advanced mr second parallel within
300 yards of the enemy'tworks, with little or no
annoyance from them. Oily one man was killed
and three or four wounds . I (ball think it Grange
indeed if Lord Cornwallis stakes no vigorous exerti
ons in the comle of this 1 'it, or very soon after.
1 cannot but acknowLd.v the inhnite obligations
lam under to His Excelle ytile Count de Rocham
beau; the Marquis St. : mon, commanding the
troops from the Weft Im. ; the/ other General
officers, and indeed the oib^ ' ^^ •
tion in the French army. . ^ mmuicc which
they afford me. The exp.,,cc of many of those
gentlemen in the bufinGs b ore us, is of the utmost
advantage in the present operation. And lam fen
hble it must give yow Exc ' ency and Congress the
highest plealure,,to know that the greatest harmony
prevails between the two armies. They seem actu
ated by one fpnit—that -. supporting the honour
of the allied arms, arid frdhing their approaches
with the utmost vigour, 1 nave the honour to be,
with perfect reflect and eftexm,
Tour Excellency's ~.f obedient,
And very bubble servant,
His Excellency the G. WASHINGTON.
President of Congress.
Head-Quarters before 'ork, Dcfoltr 16, 1781.
S IR,
I HAD the honour to i, >rm your Excellency in
my last of the 12th inftatt that we had the evening
before opened car fcrf-r , mild. The 13th and
14th we were employed in completing it. The
engineers having deemed the two redoubts on the
left of the enemy's line fufficiently injured by our
(hot, and shells, to make them practicable, it was
determined to carry them by assault 011 the evening
of the 14th. The following difpohtion was accord
ingly made: The work on the enemy's extreme left
{0 be attacked by the American light infantry, under
the command of the' Marquis de la Fayette; the
other by a detachment of the French grenadiers
and chaffeurs, commanded by Major-General the
Baron de Viominil. I have the pleasure to inform
your Excellency that we succeeded in both. No
thing could exceed the firmnefs and bravery of the
troy-. They advanced under the fire of the enemy
without returning a shot, and effected the business
with the bayonet only. The reports of His Excel
lency the Count de Roch^mbeau, the Marquis de la
Fayette, and Lieut. Col. Hamilton, copies of which
I enclole, enter more particularly, into a detail of
theinode in which the attacks on the part of the
French and American columns were conducted.
We made orfoners in both redoubts, one Major,
two Captains, three fubaiterns, and sixty-seven pri
vates.
The works which we have carried are of vast im
portance to us. From them we ihall enfilade the
enemy's whole line; and I am in hopes we shall be
able to command the communication from York to
Gloucester.
I think the batteries of the second parallel will be
in fufficient forwardnefs to begin to play in the course
of this day.
The enemy last night made a sortie for the firft
time; they entered one of the French and one ofthe
American batteries, 011 the second parallel, which
were imfinifhed. They had only time to thrust the
points oftheir bayonets into four pieces ofthe French
and two of the American artillery, and broke them
pff; but the spikes were easily extracted, They were
repulsed the moment the supporting troops came up,
leaving behind them seven or eight dead, and fix
prisoners. The French had four officers and twelve
privates killed and wounded, and we had one Ser
jeant mortally wounded.
I I enclose your Excellency a return of the killed
and wounded of both armies, up to the present time.
It is much imaller than might have bees expected.
I have the honour to be, nvith perfeß reflect,
Your Excellency's mod obedient servant,
His Excellency the G^ WASHINGTON.
Prefdent of Congress.
[For the above return fee our laf.J
THE
Copy of the report of His Excellency the Cou^ de Ro,
cba mbeau.
ON the night between the 14th and 15th ingant ?
the trench was mounted by the regiments of Gati
nois and Royal Deux-ponts, commanded by the
Baron de Viominil, to which were added four com
panies of French auxiliary grenadiers. We had re
iolvtd to attack, as soon as dark, the two redoubts
' on the left of the enemy, that were detached frorq
their other Works. The Marquis de la Fayette un
dertook that on our right, with the American troops;
the Baron de Viominil that on the left, with.tne
French. Four hundred grenadiers, commanded by
the Count William Deux-ponts a^d Mr de L'Eftrade^
Lieut. Col. of Gatinois, opened the arttack; they
were supported by the regiment of Gatinois. The
Marquis de la Fayette and the Baron de Viominil
made so vigorous and firpng a disposition of their
troops, that they carried the two redoubts sword in
hand, and killed, wounded, or took the greater
part of those who defended them. . The nnmbcY of
primers amc %3 : uric MQr wm fye other
officers included.
The troops, both American and French, have
(hewn the mod distinguished courage. The Count
Wilham Deux-ponts was (lightly wounded by a can
non ball; he is not in the least danger. The Cheva
lier de la Methe, Adjutant Quarter-Matter-General^
has been severely wounded in both knees by two
different musket balls. M. de Sireuit, Captain of
the Chaffeurs of the regiment of Agenois, and twp
other officers ofthe fame regiment, have been wound
ed., 'Tis the 'third time that M. de Sireuit, though
very young, has been wounded; unluckily,' this
time the wound is very dangerous. We have had
100 men killed or wounded. The troops Ire full
of the highest praises of the Baron de Viominil, who
likewise is exceedingly pleafcd with their courage
and firmnefs.
, I have ordered two days pay to be distributed to
the four companies of grenadiers and chaffeurs of
the regiment of Gatinois and Royal Deux-ponts,
brides a more considerable reward to the ax-bearers
and carpenters, who opened the way fpr the troops
through the abbattis and pallifadoes.
Camp before York, October 16, 1781,
% dear GENERAL,
YOUR Excellency having personally seen our dis
positions, I (ball only give an account of what pass.
cd in the execution."
Col. Gimat's battalion led the van, and was fol
lowed by that of Col. Hamilton, who commanded
the whole advanced corps; at the fame time a party
of 80 men, under Col. Laurens, turned the redoubts.
I beg leave to refer your Excellency to the report I
have received from Col. Hamilton, whose well known
talents and gallantry were on this occasion most con
spicuous and serviceable. Our obligations to him,
to Col, Gimat, to Col. Laurens, and to each and all
the officers and men, are above expression. Not one'
gun was fired, and the ardour of the troops did not
give time to the sappers to derange the abbittis ; and
owing to the conduct ofthe commanders, and brave
ry of the men, the redoubts was stormed with un
common rapidity,
Col. Barber's battalion, which was the firft in the
supporting column, being detached to the aid of the
advance, arrived at the moment they were getting
over the works, gnd executed their orders with the
utmost alacrity. The Colonel was (lightly wounded.
The remainder of the column, under Generals Muh
lenberg and Hazen, advanced with admirable firm
nefs and discipline. Col. Vofe's battalion displayed
to the left, a part of the division successively dressing
by him, whilst a kind of second line was forming
columns in the rear. It adds greatly to the charac
ter of the troops, that under the fire of the enemy,
they displayed with perfect silence and order.
Give me leave particularly to mention Major Bar
ber, Division Infpedor, who distinguished himfelf,
and received, a wound by a cannon ball.
In making the arrangements for the flipport ofthe
works we had reduced, I was happy to find General
Wayne and the Pennsylvanians so situated, as to have
given us, in case of need, the most effectual support.
I have the honour to be, with the most perfect rc
fpe^f,
Your Excellency's most humble servant,
LA FAYETTE.
His Excellency General ICafington.
Camp before York-Tsqvn, O3ober 15, 1781.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to render you an account of
the corps under my command, in your attack of last
[Numb. 20.2.]