The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-10-13
Yorktown Centennial.

IL ~ ll IS 4 n
Yorktown Centennial
The year Of 1850 was q gloomy period fol
| the American patriots struggling against En-
| gland for the independence OF the colonies
| The French feet had arrived under the com
mand ofCeunt Rochambeau, ssbut the whole
American cam paign was thwarted by the ar
| rival of reinforcement of battle ships from
England, which rendered useless the French
| fleet, owing 10 the superiority of the English
naval forces, and the plans OF the Americans,
based on the assistance of the French feet,
were with the most bitter chagrin and reluc-
lance abandoned. 1t was at this period OF
disappointment and chagrin that Benedict
Arnold attempted TO sell his country to the
enemy. Soon after bis detection be was de-
! tached to Virginia with a party OF 600 men.
Here he plundered the inhabitants, burned
their dwellings and carried devastation and
horror wherever he went. In the meantime
the patriot army was assaied by every species
OF distress and almost compelled to disperse
for want OF food In January, 1881, Gen.
Lafayette was sent against him with 1900
! troops, but before they arrived the traitor was
REINFORCED with 1000 regulars. The defence
OF Virginia was then entrusted to Lafayette.
His army was suffering from lack OF supplies
OF all kinds, but he borrowed from the mer.
chants of Baltimore on his own private credit
a sufficient sum Of money TO purchase shoes,
linen, spirits and other articles Of immediate
necessity Gen. Lafayette arrived in Rich
mond just ID lime to save that place, and just
at this time Lord CORVALLIS arrived at Pc
tersburg and took command of the Royal
army in Virginia. He at once determined on
the offensive. His force amounted to 5000
men, including 400 dragons, while the army
OF Lafayette numbered 1000 men. On May
gath Lord CORVALLIS crossed the James river
and Lafayette left his position near Rlchmend
and fell back toward Fredericksburg, followed
by CORVALLIS, who was so sure OF victory that
he wrote letter in which he said s'Fhe boy
cannot escape me-" Lafayette did not stop
his retreat until he had crossed the Rapidan.
Here Gen. Wayne joined him with 500 men,
and CORVALLIS abandoned the pursuit and re-
tired, first to Richmond and afterward to Will
liamsburg. The young French Marquis fol-
lowed with cautious circumspecticn, and on
June 18th was joined by Baron Stcuben with
500 new levIes. The British soldiers on re-
firing destroyed all property that came in
their way, both public and private About
the middle of June the British army left Will
liamsburg, and after sharp engagement with
Gen. Wayne continued its change base un-
til Portsmouth was reached. The consnmmate
generalship of Lafayette during the whole
campaign was a subject Of great praise. With
zeal, courage and sagacity he discharged his
arduous d,lties and infused his heightened
spirit into his army.
YORKTOWN SELECTED AS POST.
After CORVALLIS had reached Portsmouth
he was directed by Sir Henry Clinton, who
commanded at New York. to select and fortifY
permanent post convenient for desultory
maritime expeditions up the Chesapeake and
its numerous rivers, and capable of protecting
line-of-battle ships. The place selected was
Yorktown not far from the mouth of York
river On the opposite shore was GLOUCESTER
Point, piece of land projecting into the riv-
er. Both these points were strongly fortified.
Lafayette prepared to Strike CORVALLIS
blow when the opportunity occurred, and took
steps to prevent his retreating to the South.
Washington, deceiving Clinton AS to his pur-
poses, left rapidly with his army for York
town, and Count de Grasse on August %, ar
rived in the Chesapeake with his fleet The
Count Immediately sent four ships of the line
to block up York river, and landed the Mar
cuts ST. Simon with the French re enforcement
to join Lafayette On September % the last
division of Washlngton's army arrived at
James river, where they disembarked. The
whole American force being collected and the
harbor blockaded by tue French fleet, the
tIllCu dTIily mOfCu lOl WdIu huu toOh PJnt LII
front of Cornwalliss line and about two miles
from him.
THE GALLANT ASSAULT.
The seige was carried on with great vlgor
the American line continuing to advance OH
the enemy until October IA, when CORVALLIS
opened tremendous and effective Ere from
his battery and two front redoubts on his as
sailants The fire was so destructive that
Mo- off dafa po1 tn cilaucp yti ba
bayonet, and for that purpose selected Lafa-
yette to head the assault on the right, leaving
it to ROchambeau to designate the officer who
should lead the left, and Baron de Voimeuil
was detached to operate with the Marquis.
Lieut.-Col. Hamilton commanded the van of
Lafayettes corps, and such was the impetuos-
ity with which the assault was made that the
resistance of the enemy was instantly over
powdered, and the commander and his men,
with five or six exceptions, were either killed
wounded, or taken prisoners. Baron de
VOimeuil was also successful in taking the
other redoubt with sixty prisoners. The re-
doubt were at once included within the lines
of the American army. CORVALLIS continued
his defense until the II, when he proposed a
cessation of hostilitles. On the 18th the art
Giles of capitulation were signed, and Corn
wallis surrendered himselfand his whole army
as prisoners of war Soon after the surrender !
Of CORVALLIS, which was the browning vlctO- ,
ry of the Continentals, and led to the recogni- |
ton of their independence, Lafayette returned
to France and he assisted in Fastening the |
conclusion of the contest. After peace had
been established Lafayette returned to Ameri- |
ca in the summer of 1884 He was received |
in the most cordial manner and public honors
were paid him everywhere. A. Annapolis he |
received thelast paternal benediction OF Wash
ington and in December OF the same year he
returned home. After filling conspicuous
place in the history of France, in 1924, La
1ayette again visited this country and was re-
ceived everywhere with united, spontaneous
and universal applause. Wherever he went
the whole population turned out to welcome
HIM; there were military and civic escorts ;
houses were decorated and triumphal arches
erected; popular lines of welcome were on
many tongues and were blaZoned on decora
tive escutcheQps, on arch and building.
THE BARON DE sTEUBEN
The other distinguished foreign general
who figures in tho above sketch of the cam
paign terminating in the surrender of York
town was Frederick William Augustus Baron
de Steuben. He was Prussian officer of high |
distinction, being an aid-de-camp to Frederick
the Great and no ding the rank OF lieutenant
general in the army OF that renowned soldier.
He arrived in America in 1717, and at once
oHereu lbs services 10 congress TeSarulesS OF
rank, and he entered the army as instructor
In May, 177S, he was made inspector-general
with the rank of major general He exerted |
all his powers for the establishment of regu-
lar system OF military discipline, economy and
uniformity among the heterogeneous bodies |
of soldiers which composed the Colonial army |
He was one of.the officers that composed the |
court-martial at the trial OF Maj. Andre AS |
generous in character as he was capable as an |
officer he spent his whole fortune in clothing |
his men and gave his last dollar to his soldiers
Congress in 1890 voted him an annuity OF |
$4,000 and a township of land in the state OF I
New York, both of which he divided with his
fellow-officers. He died on his estate near |
Utica, November 81, 1884, aged sxty-five
years. Agreeably TO his desire, often express
ed, he was wrapped in his cloak, placed in |
plain coffin and laid in the earth, without |
stone to tell where he lies Subsequently, Col. |
Walker caused the remains to be buried in |