The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-04-26

An lassseric RaseIsA:IA.,ITc1ne Siege Of
History repeats itself; and, in the siege now
much isreer scale, the repetition Of the siege
of l7sl. TO result, We cannot doubt, 10 like
msnner-in the triumph OF Liberty over IL
On the 2sth OF September, 1851, Gen. wash
;ngton marched from Williamsburg, on the
peninsula between the James and York rivers,
Tor the even then old yorktown. He Was &C.
COMMANDED BY Rochambeau, Chatelleux Du
Portesll OF the French army. Lafayette was
already in advance, and the Count de Grasse lay
off with the French feet IN Lynhaven Bay Inc
allied army, including militia, amounted to about
Is 900 men. The English army did not number
more than 800. 9
The main body Of the English, under Lord
CORVALLIS. was encamped in the open ground
around the town, within the range Of outer re-.
doubts and field works calculated to command
the peninsula, while q detachment OF 600 or 7OO
men held Gloucester Point, projecting from the
opposite shore far into the river, and narrowing
IL to the space of one mile. Communication
between was protected by the batteries and
English shps.of.war lying under the batteries.
The allied army advanced upon the town
the Americans having the right and the French
the left-and pressed on 90 eagerly that in the
night Of the 3Otb, Lord CORVALLIS withdrew
from his outer lines, and the works he had eva.
cuated were next day occupied by the besieging
army which invested the position in asemicrcle;
1000 men we're stationed on the Gloucester side
for the purpose of keeping up rigorous block
ade, which, after sharp skirmish, terminating
unfavorably for the British, they made no fur
ther attempt to interrupt.
On the night of Oct. q, the first parallel was
opened within GOO yards of the British lines,
and by the evening OF the 9th several batteries
and redoubta we're completed, and the fire Of the
allies became very effective, compelling the enc.
my in many cases to withdraw his cannon from
the embrasures, and shells and hot shot passing
over the town, set fire to the Chaser frigate, of
A guns, and several transports, which were en-
tirely consumed.
The second parallel was opened ON the night
OF the llth, within 800 yards of the British
lines, when, finding that it was fanked by two
advanced redoubts in front of the British works,
it was determined on the 14th TO carry them by
storm, and accordingly two attacking parties,
one American, led by Lafayette, with whom
served Alexander Hamilton, as Lieut.. Colonel,
the other French, led by the Baron de Vic
menil, toward the close of the day rushed upon
their works, and, though receiving hot and
rapid fire, returned not single shot, hut carried
leading the American column with his battalion
of tight infantry. These captured works being
now included in the second parallel, the fire
upon the fort became SO fierce that surrender
seemed unavoidable. A vigorous sortie led by
Lieut.. Col. Abercrombie, was made on the 10th
OF October, but was triumphantly repulsed, and
Lord CORVALLIS then conceived the desperate
plan of passing his force over to Gloucester
Point, and thence, mounting them as best he
might by impressed horses-to force his way
through Maryland to Philadelphia. part of
the army were actually thus transferred, when
storm arose, which put an end to the transpor-
tation OF the rest OF the army, and as soon as
possible those sent over were brought back On
the morning OF the 18th the fire Of the allies be.
came 80 hot that the place was no longer tena.
BILE, and Lord CORVALLIS asked cessation of
hostilities for twenty-four hours, and the ap.
pointment Of Commissioners to treat OF sur.
render.
Gen. Washington replied that only for two
hours could he consent to suspend hostilifies,
and transmitted at the time such articles of cap.
itulation as he would be willing to grant, Com.
hiissioners were appointed in conformity, on the
18th, on both sides-Viscount de Mouilles and
COL Laurens on the side OF the Allies, Colonel
DuAdas. and Major Ross, on behalf of the Eng
fish. They agreed upon certain articles, of
which rough copy only was made, but this
General Washington transmitted to Lord Corn.
wallis early on the 18th, expressing his expecta-
tons that the terms would be agreed to and
signed by ii CLOCK, and that the garrison would
march out by 2 p. H. Accordingly at that hour
the posts Of Yorktown and Gloucester Point
with their garrison and the ships in their harbor
with their seamen, we're surrendered to the land
naval forces Of America and Frsnce. The army
artillery, arms, military chest, aud public stores
OF every kind, were surrendered to Gen. Wash.
ington--the ships and seamen to Count de
Grasse the total number of prisoners, excluding
seamen, rather exceeded 1000 men, among
whom were two generals, thirty one field officers
three hundred and twenty.six captains and SUBJ
alterns, &c.
The negotiation for surrender was opened on
the eleventh day after breaking ground, and
the captulation was signed on the thirteenth
day.
The military and naval forces surrender as
"prisoners Of war-the artillery, arms, accou-
trements, and military chests and public stores
OF every denomination, TO be delivered I'D unim
paired-the garrison to march out at o'clock,
to place appointed in front of the post, with
shouldered arms, eolors cased and drums beating
they are then to g Ound their arms and return
to their encampment-oficers to retain their
side.arms and officers and soldiers to keep their
property. and no part of their baggage or pa
pers to be subject to search or inspection" The
spot on which this memorable surrender was
made is well known. 1t is designated in plan
of the siege, and is soon, we may trust, to be
rendered more memorable by a like surrender of
a much larger army-and thus combine in one
glorious memory two great victories on the same
ground.-lN. Y. Tribune, 18th.
At Island No. 10, Major Corse, Inspector
General on General Pope's staff, discovered
crowd OF secessionsts in q corn-fed As soon
as he was seen by them they hid themselves
amongst the corn, and the Major, being alone,
naturally feared that he himself would be taken
prisoner instead of making them his captives.-
There was nothing to be done, however, but to
put bold face on the matter, SO he took down
the rail fence surrounding the field, rode in
among them, and ordered them to march into
the road and stack arms there. This order was
obeyed, and the Majors feelings were consider.
ably relieved when guard came along with
other prisoners, to whom he very willingly trans.
ferred those he had taken, and went on his way
rejoicing. Secretary Scott and Adjutant Gen.
Butler found themselves, at one time in SINH
lar position; they, too, trusting to the business
of their cause, commanded the rebels to surren-
der. THIS they did, and these two officers
brought into camp one hundred and fifty. three
natl Commercial.
EMANCIPATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The President has signed the bill. Those
who importuned him not to do SO should read
over the record here unvailed, and cover their
faces to hide the confusion produced by their
own consciences. The abolition IF slavery here
will not cause it to be removed elsewhere
This was not the design nor the desire of the
majority of those who voted for it, But it will
be productive Of good consequences 1t will
attract free white labor here. 1t will call into
use and culture our now deserted lots and
suburbs. 1t will employ our unsurpassed wa
ter powers 1t will build factories and machine
shops along our wharves. It will prevent men
from specializing in slaves; women from reioic-
ing over the birth of slaves as so much more
money in their own pockets, and will cleanse
the community of those sympatnizers with
treason who have infested this ten miles square
for so many years. l wish my Northern read
ers, especially those who have allowed these
objections to the removal of slavery from the
capital Of their country to effect their minds,
could see for themselves what slavery has done
in this single spot.
There has hoau M procnsrnno ,n;JJ,o L..