The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-08-18
The Surrender of Yorktown.

At noon of the 10Th (October) we
have the first act of surrender. York
town changed hands. Two redoubts on
the left of the enemy's works were at
that hour taken possession of by de-
tachments from the allied army. Colo
mel Richard Butler commanded the
American and the Marquis Laval the
French party, each of one hundred
men. At 2 o'clock we reach the closing
scene. The army of CORVALLIS marched
out as prisoners of war, grounded their
arms, and then marched back. Accounts
agree in describing the display and cere-
monv on the occasion as quite imposing.
The British appeared in new uniforms,
distributed among them few days be-
fore, and it only required the flying of
their standards to give their march the
effect of holiday parade. But their
colors were cased, and they were pro-
hibited from playing either French or
American tune. This was the return OF
compliment, a piece of justifable as
well as poetic retaliation on the part of
the Americans for what the enemy were
pleased to command when General Lin
coin was compelled to surrender at
Charleston the year before. The matter
came up at the meeting of the comis-
sioners. "This is harsh article" said
Ross to Laurens.
(Which article?' answered the lat
| ter.
"The troops shall march out, with
colors cased, and drums beating Brit
ish or a German march
eyes, sir" returned Laurens, with a
touch of sang froid cit is harsh ar
ticle."
"Then," said Ross, if that is your
opinion, why is it here?"
Whereupon Laurens, who had been
made prisoner at Charleston with Lin
coins army, proceeded to remind Ross
that the Americans on that occasion had
made brave defense, but were ungal-
lantly refused any honors of surrender,
other than to march with colors cased
and drums not beating a British or a
German march.
"But," rejoined Ross, "my Lord
CORVALLIS did not command at Charles
ton."
"There, sir" said Laurens, "you ex
tort another observation. it is not the
individual that is here considered it is
|
| | cease to be commissioner"
Nothing more was to be said the ar
ticle stood, and the enemy marched
out with colors cased, while the tune
they chose to follow was an old British
march with the quite appropriate title
of "The World Turned Upside Down.
As the prisoners moved out of theil
works along the Hampton road they
found the French and American armies
drawn up on either side of the way, the
Americans on their right, and extending
for more than mile toward the field ol
surrender The French troops pre-
sented a brilliant spectacle in theil
white uniforms, with plumed and dec
Grated officers at their head, and gor
geous standards of white silk, embroid
cred with golden .feUS-de-liS, floating
along the line. The Americans were
less of an attraction in outward appear
ance, but not the less eagerly eyed by
heir late ANTAGONISTS Amnn no tho -v"'
worn Continentals there was variety o
dress, poor at the best, distinguishing
the men of the different lines; but tC
compensate for lack of show, there was
a soldierly bearing about them which
commanded attention. The militi;
formed in their rear presented les
martial sight SO far as clothing and or
der were concerned. But all these mel
were conquerors, and their very appear
ance bespoke the hardships and priva
tion they and their States had under
gone to win in the struggle. At tn
head Of the respective lines were tn
commanding generals, nobly MOUNTED
Washington, ROchambeau, Lafay
ette, Lincoln, Steuben, Knox and tn
rest. Leading the British came Gen
eral O'Hara instead of CORVALLIS. TIL
latter pleaded illness, but he sen
his sword by O'Hara to be given up t
Washington. AS O'Hara advanced t
the chief, he was referred to Lincoln
who, upon receiving the sword as
: token of the enemy's submission, immt
diately returned it to the British ger
eral, whose troops then marched be
tween the two lines to a field on tn
right, where they grounded their arms
-Hmpe,'s Magnzine.