The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-01-04

uosP"ches, explaining the arrangements WHICH
had been made, and requesting him to come to his
assistance, DE Grasse, who aware Of tho diff
cuies experienced by D'Estang in entering New
York harbor decided to enter the Chesapeake.
Rochambeau left New York with his army ,Ieav
ing 500 men TO protoc, the heet,and marched them
through Connecticut and Rhode Island in small
divisions. Grea. fatigue and suffering under
gone by the troops in the march owing the heat
and bad state of the roads. But they were all well
received by the people, who did all in their power
to mitigate the sufleiings of the troops, and the
French made themselves acceptable wherever they
came. The visitors to the camp welcomed
with true French politeness-the military bands
played their most lively airs, and the Frenchmen,
both officers and men, with their visitors mingled
in the merry dance. Among those officers was
the Vscount de NouailIes, the bro ther.in.a OF
Lafayette, and the young women were eager TO
! obtain the distiction of dancing with the relative
of their gallant young defender. In this way, dan
cling, and playing, the French army joined Wash
ington the 10Th of July
A accommodating movement was made near New
York but no attack attempted until the arrival
of Count de Grasse. On the 9th of August News
was received from de Grasse that he should be at
the mouth Of the Chesapeake in short time This
once decided that the combined armies should
march to Virginia, and act against Corvallis
Gen. Heath was now left in the Highlands with
5000 men. In order 10 deceive The British, the
French bakers built ovens in New jersey, as ifthe
troops meant to remain there for the winter, and
by this simple ruse en-. Clinton was so far decei.
we'd as TO prevent his in ercepting de Grusse at the
mouth of the Chesapeake, as he might easily have
done. The French fleet, combined on the Chesa
peake under Count de Grasse and Admiral Barras,
and amounted to 81 ships of the line.
The expedition was fully successful and the de-
tail of operations passed rapidly and briefly
over by the lecturer. CORVALLIS pursued by LaFay
cite, shut himself up in Yorktown, with a large
force. The siege of Yorktown now commen~
ce by Washington and Rochambeau with the
combined armies of l 900 men, 5000 Of whom
were French After a siege of twenty days, Corn
| wallis surrendered with his whole force. The sol
diers army, stores land munitions of war Civ
en- to the Americans, and the vessels, sailors and
marines awarded to the French. Washington then
returned to his old quarters the Hudson, and
Rochambeuu put his army into winter quarters al
Williamsburg and Yorktown
The cnpitu lation of Yorktown was the last mill.
tary operation in the South of moment, and soon
paved the way for the final termination OF the
The French troops remained in Virginia nine
months, 81 proceeded from thence to Boston, where
they embarked, December, 1889, on their return
to France, having been in this country two years
and half
| DR.. Sparks concluded his lecture with few
marks upon the remarkable good feeling which
had existed between the French army and the PEG
pie, and paid high compliment to the conciIitory
and high minded conduct preserved by the French
both officers and men, No complaint for misde-
meanor was ever brought against the French sol.
der, and lasting friendships were formed between
officers Of the American and French armies. Their
career has formed bright page in the history of
nations, and it honor to both countries. and
glorious example to all men who have the mis-
fortune to be engaged in civil warfare.