The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-10-27
NUMBER 43.
Yorktown in 1871.

under Washington (being digest from an account
by Washington Irvngl will doubtless beinteresing
Preparations having been concluded. Oh the
9th Of September 1881, the French and American
miles north west Of Yorktown, and made ready
for the decisive blow. CORVALLIS had fortified
Yorktown, by seven redonbts and six batteries on
the land side, connected by intrenchments: and
there was a line OF batteries along the river. 1t
ianked on each side by deep ravines and
creeks emptying into y ork River their heads, in
front OF the town, being not more than half mile
apart. The British had availed themselves Of
these natural detences in the arrangement of eX-
tenslve OutwOrks, with the redoubts strengthened
by abatis; field works mounted with cannon, and
trees cut down and left with the branches pointed
outward
Gloucester Point Oh the York river Immediately
opposite Yorktown had likewise been fortified
Its batteries with those at Yorktown commanded
the intervening river on which ships were station
ed, protected by the guns OF the forts and the
channel was obstructed by sunken vessels. The
defence of Gloucester Point was contided to Lieut.
Col. Dundas, with SIX or seven hundred men The
enemys main army encamped about York
town, within the range of the outer redOubts and
field works
On the night of the 18th Of September, Washing
ton and his staff bivouacked on the ground in the
open air He slept under mulberry tree, the
root serving for his pillow. On the following
morning the two armies-the American and
French-drew out on each side Of Beaver Dam
Greek, a tributary Of James river, extending
across the Peninsula 10 York river The Ameri
cans forming the right wing took station on the
east side of the creek the French forming the
left wing on the west.
That night Lord { orr wallis abandoned his out
works, and drew bis troops within Yorktown,
thus gaining time to complete his fortifcati0ns
The abandoned QutwOTzs seized the next
morning by detachments of American light intan-
try and French troops, and served to cover the
parties employed in throwing up breast works,
The combined American and French forces
were $4,000 strong, exclusive of Virginia militia
And the morning Of he 2Sth they marched
from Williamsburg towards Yorktown, encamping
at night within two miles of it, driving in the
pickets and some patrols OF the enemy. Gen de
Choisy sent across York river, with l.auzuns
legion and Gen. Weeden's brigade Of militia, to
watch the enemy on the side of Gloucester Point
By the first Of October the line of the beseigers
nearly two miles from the works. formed a semi
circle each end resting On the river, so that the
investment by land was completes while the
Count de GraSsee with the main fleet remained
in Lynn Haven bay, TO keep off assistance by sea
About this time the Americans threw up two re
doubts in the night which on being discovered in
the morning were severely cannonaded Several
we're killed and wounded While Washington
was superntend'Hg the works shot struck the
ground close by him Rev. Mr. Evans. chaplain,
who stood near was greatly agtated Taking off
his hat and showing it covered with sand thrown
| by the shot see here, General he exclaimed.
antry. 'Iou had better carry that home and show
Ii to your wife and children
The British now began to suffer for want Of for
age: and, to secure some for their tamishing ami
mails, on the evening of the ID Of October, Tarle-
ton, with his legion and body of mounted intan
try, crossed to Gloucester Point and the next
morning at ten o'clock as the wagons and infantry
i'll guard were returning, loaded to the York river
word was brought that the Allies were advancing
on him in force. 1t proved body of French hus
6 md bp Al 7
skrmish ensued. in which Tarleton was cast from
his horse and his troops thrown in disorder and
roughly handled, when he ordered retreat The
British loss was one officer and eleven men killed
and wounded, and the French two officers and
fourteen hussars The next day, Oct. lth Gen.
| Choisy being reinforced by detachment OF ma
rues from the fleet of De Grasse cut off all com
munications by land between Gloucester and the
country,
Gen Lincoln had the honor, on the night of the
9TH of October Of opening the first parallel before
orktown. Ii was within GO0v yards of the enemy
nearly two miles in extent, and the foundations
were laid for two redoubts. He had under him a
large detachment of French and American troops
and the work was conducted in such silence in a
night of extreme darkness, that the enemy were
not aware of it till daylight. They then opened a
severe cannonade, but the men we're under cover
and continued working. By the afternoon of the
9th the parallel was completed and two or three
batteries were ready
"Gcu. Washington put the match to the first gun
says Thatcher ' a furious discharge Of cannon and
mOrtars Immediately followed, and Earl Cornwall
lis received ms first saluaion The cannUnade
was kept up almost inceSSautv three or four days
from these batteries, and from three others man
aged by the French The halt finished works OF
| the enemy suffered severely, and the guns were
dlsmounted or silenced, and many men killed
The red hot shot rom the French batteries north
east Of the town reached the E0glish shipping and
| destroyed the CharOn, forty four gun ship and
several transports
0n the night Of the lth, the second parallel was
opened by Baron Steuben's division, within 100
yards Of the works when the British made new
en0rasureS, and for two or three days kept up d
CALLING fire on those at work Two redoubts 300
yards in front of the British works, kept up a
hanking fire upon working parties, entading
the lntrcnchments and it resolved to storm
them on the night of the ttb the one nearest the
river by detachment of Americans under Iatay-
ette, the other, by French detachment led BY
Baron dc Niomenil
Hamilton led the advance OF the Americans
The men, without waiting for the sapperS to demol
sh the abatis in regular STYLE pushed them aside or
pulled them down with their hands, and scrambled
over like rough bush fighters. Hamilton was the
first to mount on the parapet placing one foot on
the shoulder Of a soldier who knelt on one knee
for the purpose
The men mounted after him Not musket
was fired, and the redoubt carried at the point
OF the bdyOnet. Our loss was one sergeant and
eight privates killed, and thirty two wounded.
Inc British loss was eight killed and seventeen
prisoners. The French stormed the other redoubt
which was more strongly garrsoned, with equal
gaIlantry but less precipitation They proceeded
according to rule, and lost more men than did the
Americans by their headlong attack. Several
mobiles were wounded and some killed, and one
third of the gallant regiment, the Royal Auvergue,
we're slain
Washington galed upon these assaults with IN
tense interest and having disluounted from his
horse took his stand IN the grand battery with
Generals Knox and Lincoln and their staff The
risk he ran of a chance shot, while watching the
attack through an embrasure made those about
him uneasy. One Of his aides decamp ventured
tG observe that the situation was very much cx
posed IT you think So he replied gravely,
you are at liberty to step back" Shortly after
brasure, rolled along and fell at his feet ten.
Knox grasped his arm, 'AIy dear General" he
exclaimed, we can't spare you yet 1T is a
spent ball replied Washington gravey, mo harm
is done" When all was and the redoubts
were taken, he drew a long BREATH and turning to
Knox observed, The work is done and well done :"
The redonbts thus taken were included the
same night in the second parallel. and howtzers
were mounted upon them on the following day.
The loss Of them nearly drove CORVALLIS to de
spair, and he wrote to Henry Clinton that he did
not dare to show a gun at their old batteries
The second parallel was nearly ready to open. 70
retard the danger CORVALLIS ordered an attack on
two of the batteries that was nearest completion
and their guns to be spiked The enterprise was
undertaken little before daylight Of the 10th by
Lieut.. Col. Abercombie with $50 men, and proved
nearly successtul-the batteries being forced by
the British and several pieces of artillery spiked
At this moment the supporting party from the
trenches came up and the enemy were forced to
retreat. The failure to disable these batteries was
great disaster. Cornwalis could not show gun
on the side of the works exposed to attack his
she'll were nearly expended; the place was no
longer teneble; and he resolved to attempt to
escape. His plan was to leave his sick, wounded,
and baggage behind cross over to Gloucester
Point, cut his way through the camp which be
leaguered It, and force his army by rapid marches
through Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the Jerseys
and Join Clinton at New York. His plans failed
him, however, for that night violent storm of
wind and rain scattered the boats on which he re-
lied to cross the river and the project had to be
abandoned
The hopes CORVALLIS was now at al end
His works were tumbling in ruins about him
under the incesSant cannOnade; his garrison was