The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-12-01
Wi = eel n m G O ~ g.

"a If Washington, we copy the following, relating IL
Va the seige Of Yorktown, and domestic scene:
The weather during the sege of Yorktown was
a rropi,ious in the extreme, being, with tho cxcep-
inn Of the squal on The night Of the 10Th, the fine
,u,umnal weather Of the South, commonly called
the Indian summer, which greatly facilitated the
military operations. Washington's head quarters
,yero under canvas the whole time.
# The situation OF Yorktown, after the surrender,
"A was peslentia. Numbers of wreched negroes
syho had either been taken from the plantations, or
bad of themselves followed the fortunes ofthe Brit
M jsh army, had died of the small pox, which, with
'Yhe camp.fever, was raging in the place, and re-
n NAMED unbured in the streets When all hope Of
escape was gwen up, the horses of the British Lee
zion led TO the margin of the river, shot, and
,he,, thrown into tho stream: the carcasses float
a ing with the tide, lodged the ad iacent shores
and flats producing efIluyia that affected the at
n mospherc for miles around. Indeed, it was many
months be fore Yorktown and it's environs became
sufficiently purified to be habiable with any degree
of comfort.
A domestic affection threw n shade over Wash
4 ingions happiness, while his camp still rang with
IA shouts of triumph for the surrender of Yorktown
"a His s,epson. to whom he had been parent and
"A nmector an 10 whom he WAS fund'y attached
"a who had accompanied him To the camp at Cam
" bridge, and among the first of his aids in the
W dawn OF the Revolution, sickened while on duty as
N extra aid Of the Commander m Chief in the trench
cs before Yorktown Aware that his disease the
camp fcvrr) would lie mortal, The sufferer had yet
last lingering wish to be gratifed, and he would
die content. 1t was to behold The surrender of tho
sword of CORVALLIS. He was supported 10 the
nd and witnessed the admiral sneciocle md
,hen removed 10 Elhem, distance of thirty
NJ miles from the camp,
~ An express from Dr. Craik announced that there
by single officer, and groom left the head. quar-
Icrs at midnight, and rode with all speed for FL.
than.
# The anAions watchers by the couch OF the dying
were, in the grey of twilight aroused by tramp.
" ling of horse, and, looking ou:. discovered the
Commander in Chief aghng from faded charg-
er in the courtyard. lie Immediately summoned
Il Dr. CraIk and put the eager inquiry, is there any
nope' Cralk mournfully shaking his heud, the
General retired to n room to indulge his grief, re-
ques'ing to be left alone In little while the poor
sufferer expired. Washington, tenderlv embraced
he bereaved wife and mother, observed TO the
weeping group around the remans of him he so
'I '"'"p' tnlS moment L ADOPT ms TWO
Youngest children my own" Absorbed in grief
ne then WA we'd with his hand melancholy adieu
and, fresh horses being ready, without rest or re-
'eslment, he re-mounlcd and returned 10 the
camp.
For grea distance around York town the earth
oembled unt err the cannonade, while many an anx
Jus and midnight watcher assembled to the house
tops to listen tns he sound, and to look upon the
Ori1on Iiuhf ~ h 81, ,ha hot,o
the explosion of the shells, and the flames from the
burning vessels H. the harbor.
At length on the morning of the 9TH, the thun-
dering ceased, hour after hour passed away ,and the
most attractive could not catch another sound.
what had happened' Can he have escaped? To
suppose he had fallen, was too much TO hope for.
and now an intense anxiety prevails, every eye
II Smrned towards the great southern road and the
express the express! is upon every lip. Each ham
"a N' and homestead pours forth it's inmates. Age is
M VOC" ean'ng on his staff, woman with infants at
"' "eas', children with wandering eyes, and tiny
a"oS 0u's'ietchcd, all, all with breathless hopes
-. u"u ears, await the oourer's coming Ay, and
courier rode with red spur that day; but had
q ~ Deeh mounted on the wings of the wind, he
sOu.a scarcely have kept pace with the general
anxiety.
length there is n cry--He comes! he comes!
merging from cloud Of dust, a horseman is
,u.' 81 headlong speed. He plies the lash and
no,,'., ''vered with foam, with ,hrobbng flank and
bor.. '"a'ed to catch the breeze, the generous
rdo. De'ours tho road while ever and anon the
that es MS cap and shouts to the eager groupe
'u MS way, CORVALLIS is taken.
wsILiu now rose joyous cry that made the very
.brpnL "e"o'e The tories, amazed, COMPOUNDED,
Will. , '"ay to their holes and hiding places,
arm, @ pa'r'otc Wings rushed into each other $
Of no,N "u wept for gadness. And OH in that day
ssa;,.. s'a' thanksgiving and praise, how many an
bess;n" U" assembled to the Most High, imploring
n, w. ss on HIM whom all Time will oonsecrate
'' u" me Father ofhs Country. '
Wa,h;. p''u'c'on of CORVALLIS in the tent Of,
l7sI o" was verified. The 10th of October,
The Ro,a,'' eeeo tho browning glory OF the war o.
''''a''oo; hos,ilities languished thereafter,