The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-05-08
Yorktown In TIC Revolution.

On tie alst and Gath Of August. 1901,
L.fayet.e wrote from his camp al the fork
of York river 10 Washington at Phiad-l-
nhia. On the 22d Lord CORVALLIS, com
:ortably secure, wrote from Yorktown to
81, Henry Clinton at New York, offering
10 spMe lin ten or twelve hundred men
Washington instructed Lafayette 10 pre-
vent any escape up the peninsula Which
Coruwslli> might attempt when the French
feet uuder DE Grasse arrived. Accord
iugly troops were sent to the south ct
James River. and Gen-ral Wayne was
ready to cross it at Westover. Lafayette
was meanwhile ready to move soWilliams
turgh and join the forces which might be
landed from the French feet.
Oa The 9th Of september, Washington
left for The scene Of operations and heard
on the way, of the arrival of the Capes
ON tie 9slh of August. Of the French
flsc, OF twenty. eight shirs Of the line.
lie immedia.el, wrote De Grasse tha. the
van Of the two armies would drop down
the Chesapeake to cooperate with him
and Layfayette. De Grasse Immediately
closed the mouth Of the York River and
landed $500 men. A, the same time
James River vas full of armed vessels to
cover the transportation ofour troops and
Wayne crossed. CORVALLIS saw that his
escape wa, cut of-streugthened his
works, and seut 10 Sir Henry Clinton lor
aid.
d. Gr,sse and French General beg
gei Lafayette 10 storm Yorktown and
Gloustrr. The young chief, humane as
honorable, preferred to await the coming
Of the combined forces to secure more
blnodl,ss, if less brilliant victory. De
Grasse, expecting the feet of De Birras
from Rhode Isl,nd. and hearing OF the
English fi4et under Graves. off the Q pes,
sailed out with many Of his ships and a
mused. Graves for few days. during
which Dc 9arras slipped in. De Grasss
followed him, and Graves, outwit'ed, re-
turned to NV York.
Meanwhile Washington had reached
Williamsburg, and sent TO hasten the ar
rival Of the French troops. while he beg
gsd General Lincoln TO press forward t.
junction. These troops we're coming
down the Chesapeake. On the 22d o|
September. Washington heard of the ar
rival Of Admiral .Digby at New York will
troops aud six ships. De Grasse was a
fraid Of the combined fleets. and proposed
to leave few vessels in the James ant
York rivers, while he put 10 sea to en-
gage the English with the rest. Wash
jng,on saw that il the feet went. C2rn
wallis had chance Of suocor; If it le
maiued he must surrender; and he en-
treated Dc Grasse to remain. The Coun
was persuaded. and by the 25'h of Sep
tcmber the American and French troops
wets encamped near Williamsburg. ant
ready. The enemy was mainly at York
town, but also held Glouster Point. oppo
site. On the 26th our troops we're draw
out twelve thousand strong. In the eve
ming Corn wallis beard from Clinton tha
a aeet Of twenty. three ships with 500
troops would sail to his relief on the oil
Of 0clob.r. ln the night OF tue 9Th h
abandoned his out works. Our men selz
ed them in the morning. On the 2Sth
September our army marched from Viii
liamsburg. and. driving 10 the BIitisI
pIckets and patrols. encamped within tw
miles Of Yorktown. On the lst Of Octc
bsr our lines completely invested the piac
while De Grasse's feet held the mouth c
tue river. In the evening Of the 9d Tai
Teton aud his troops crossed to Glouste
Point from Yorktown to forage; skirm
ish followed, and he retreated. Tie neI
day the Freuoh General, Choisy, With
detachment Of marines, cut Oft Gloueeste
Point from the rear country.
On the 9th OF October General Lincol
opened our first parallel. six hundred yC
from the enemy. On the 9Th it was con
pleted, aud Washington fred the fiji
gun. On the night 1.-THE l1th the se'
ond parallel was opened, within thr'
hundred yards Of the works. On Il