Daily Republican., 1881-09-29
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER IS. 1881
Tho yorktown Anniversary.

three months and during the calm tha
succeeds, one of the next inportan
things to absorb public attention is tn
Centennial anniversary OF the battle Q
Yorktown, Virginia, on the 18th OF Oc
4ober, when and where Lord Corn
wallis and his splendid army of Britis
soldiers surrendered to the combines
forces of America and France and viz
ltually ended the revolutionary struggl
which made us nation and secured IL
personal freedom and liberty of speech
For eight long years the colonists ha'
prolonged the unequal contest, com
mencing with pouring ont the tea il
Boston Harbor, the battles Of Lexing
ton and Bunker Hill. The contest wa
waged by the American people as i
only could be by people struggling
for the sacred cause of liberty, and or
the other side with all the desperation
of a nation loath to surrender so rich ;
jewel to the British crown. American
hearts beat with fresh enthusiasm
when they scan the struggles of thost
eventful eight years, which ended in
victory at Yorktown. The heroic deeds
of our fathers at Lexington, Bunker
Hill, Saratoga, White Plains, Long Is.
land, Fort Ticonleroga, before Quebec,
at New York, at Monmouth, Princeton,
Trenton, Chadd's Ford, their sutferings
at Valley Forge their slaughter at
Paoli, their victories at the Cowpens and
Ninety-six, defeat at Camden and final
victory at Yorktown, what a grand his
tory it all makes for our nation. When
the reveille is beaten at Yorktown on
the morning Of the 10Th of October, its
sound will fall upon other than Ameri-
can ears. The celebration would have
been incomplete without the participa-
tion of those who contributed 40 largely
to the success of the victory, and it is a
roal source of Joy to all Americans, to
know that our allies in the revolution
the French will be represented and
will participate in our festivities and
joy. No patriotic American can wei,
read the story Of the knightly enthusi-
ssm with which the first gentlemen of
France contended for the honor of
drawing their swords in aid of our
struggling colonies without higher
beating of the heart, and sense of pro-
found gratitude to the nation which
came to our assistance at the nost criti-
cal period of our contest.
Should we let this centennial pass
without recalling that generous aid and
expressing in fitting words and manner
to the descendants of the gallant French
men Of 1881, in remembrance of their
all important services, we should b(
guilty of an ingratitude that is still, we
are happy to say, foreign to American
nature. 1t is not too much to say that
the American cause was raised from
the very slough of despoud by the help
which came to it by the French bayo.
nets and the French feet and that but
for their opportune arrival, the 10th Of
October, 1881, might have recorded a
British instead Of au American victory,
and might have been black instead o1
red letter day in our history, and in
stead Of enjoying the proud distinction
We hold amongst the nations of th'
earth, we might still have been subject
and still paying stamp dudes t.
Great Britain. 1t will do us good to re
call an incident Of the siege of York
town, which showed the great fore
sight and wisdom Of Washington.
There were two redoubts in posses
sion Of the enemy that had to b
stormed and taken before the plac
could be captured. OF course 30 wise
commander as CORVALLIS, would no
leave these redoubts which were o
such vast Importance to his success, III
defended by his heaviest guns and bes
troops. Two storming parties vera DIT
tailed for the duty of capturing thes
redoubts, composed of the very tlowf
and chivalry Of the American army
One of them was tax en- from the Amer
Nd ha ptI frpy = 40 Erann
wing of the army, but oyer tie Amer
can stOrming party was placed Frenc
officer, and over the French party VIZ
placed an American officer. When tt
thickness of darkness had gathert
around the camp and the grim bate
les Of the enemy could scarcely be ou
lined, these two picked companies
troops came from their entrenchmen
and with the cry of liberty upon the
lips they fell like lightning upon the
doubts. The guns from the gre
French ships Of war in the harbor o
ened their black throats and belchcd
storm of iron hail into the British o
trenchments and from the hidd'
American batteries flashed the red 8
tillery. The French and America
each captured their redoubt about T.
same time, and after short and sha
conflict the enemy withdrew. That il
petuous and gallant charge ended t
battle, and there was nothing left
to do the 16, 900 British, ,humiliating
it was, but to march out and lay do
their arms. If therefore we rejoice
the blessings Of freedom which w
then finally won, we must with that
joicing remember gratefully the N
and the nation which made that hap
consummatiop possible.
DIR. f. G. Booth, formerly OF '