Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-19

AAhAc tAc GlOrF tne F6tners W Ole
YORKTOWN, October 1S.-The celebration
OF the one huudredth anniversary Of the
surrender of Cornwallis to the allied French
and American forces, which confirmed the
liberties of the American colonies, was
properly begun to-day in the laying of the
corner stone OF the monument originally
proposed by Edmund Randolph and after
the lapse of century voted by Congress.
The history Of the memorable siege and of
the memorial movement and the ceremonies
Of to-day are herewith presented.
The siege Of Yorktown aud its results
| has been sptly termed the one great surprise
OF the American revolution. BurgOyne's
surrender at Saratoga was not unexpected.
His march from Canada through New York
TO the Hudson was wild enterprise at the
best. aud its utter failure did not much
astOnish either friends or foes. Quite diff
feIent was CORVALLIS grand overthrow in
that northeastern corner OF Virginia. He
had gained the reputation OF being the
sblest British commander the war had pro-
| duced. His conquest of the Carolinas had
shown him to be both daring aud cautious.
Lafayette had given him the name Of ''the
terrible BTitisher who makes no mistakes"
and both Generals Green and Gates, who
had commanded the American forces op-
posed to MIN, had to acknowledge his skill
as leader. How, then, did it come to pass
that he allowed himself to be caught like a
rat In a trap?
The answer to this question has puzzled
historians not little, and the acrimonious
correspondence concerning it, which in after
years passed between Cornwallis and Sir
Henry Clinton, his then chief, rather OBJ
sr,rv,
years and a half after the beginning OF
actual armed resistance to the British domi-
nation, the effort to overcome that resist
a0ce at the North was confessedly failure.
Although the efforts Of the combined
American forces TO drive the English from
Rhode Island in the previous August had
proved unsuccessful, the close Of 177S
saw the American and French cause
far stronger than at any time since
the outbreak of actual hOstilties. II
was therefore decided to try another plan
than that hitherto pursued by the British.
The war was TO be transferred to the South,
In the hope that after Georgia, the Caro-
linss and Virginia had been subdued, the
Middle and New England States could be
more easily handled. An army and feet were
dispatched to Savannah, and afterwards
another to Charleston, and in both places
success crowned the movement. Corn
wallis operations in North and South Caro-
lima followed, and Tsrleton's troopers
ravaged both States. Successive Generals
who had been sent by Congress to oppose
CORVALLIS were defeated, and, although
Kings Mountain and Cowpens gave the
Americans hope, the outlook, at the South
especially, was dark in the spring of 1871.
The battle of Guilford Court House was
fought in March, and was almost neces
sary antecedent to Yorktown. 1t was a
British victory, but it was bought dearly,
and it led CORVALLIS to decide that before
the more southerlY States could be
thoroughly subjugated Virginia would have
TO be conquered. Hence his march north
ward in Maya march which his superior at
New York, Sir Henry Clinton, did not ap-
prove of, however.
Before CORVALLIS arrived in Virginia Sir
Henry Clinton had sent two expeditions to
ravsge the coast. To oppose them, Wash
ington had dispatched Lafayette with twelve
hundred men. On May 20, 1881, CornWallis
arrived at Petersburg from Wilmington, n.
c., and there the expeditionary forces were
joined to his own, thus giving him body
Of five thousand veteran troops wherewith
to operate in the State. Lafayette retreated
before him without an engagement TO North
And, where CORVALLIS turned southwest
aud made for the Upper James river, there
to cover cavalry raid upon some stores at
the Point Of Fork, which Steuben was
guarding with some five hundred militia.
10 the meantime Lafayette had received re-
Inducements in the shape OF one thousand
Pennsylvania infantry, under Wayne's COM
mand. He fOlloEed CORVALLIS, and pre-
vented any further destruction OF stores.
Steuben's troops were joined to his own,
and Cornwallis went TO Richmond. He did
not remain there long though, but moved
to Williamsburg, closely watched all the
time bv Lafayette.
Exactly why COrnWalls went TO this eX-
IRENE corner Of the peninsula it is difficult
TO understand. II was not because he could
not hold his own elsewhere, for his troops
greatly outnumbered those of Lafayette.
Presumably he intended to await further
developments, and to mature his plan for
completely subjugating Virginia Whatever
dis intentions were, he was given no oppOr-
tuni'y to carry them out. At Williamsburg
ne found orders from Sir Henry Clinton to
send three thousand Of his men north, and
TO establish 8 defensive post on the coast.
Before the troops had been actually en-
barked, another order allowed him TO keep
them, and told him definitely to fortify Old
Point Comfort as basis for future naval op-
erations. He found that the Point could
not be defended, and pushed on to York
town, where he began throwing up fOrtif-
cations This was in the first week Of Au-
gust, 1871.
Sir Henry Clinton'siorders were the result
of the junction Of the American and French
armies and tue consequent threatening as
pect Of affairs around New York. The allied
army was at least match for the British
stationed around New York, the capture of
which city was generally supposed 70 be its
object. When Washington, however, heard
that CornWallis was entrenching himself on
the Virginia peninsula, he began to enter
tain a scheme for a movement southwark.
| This scheme was adopted when it was learn
ed that the Count DeGrasse, commander Of
the French fleet, then IN the West Indies,
would sail no further north than Chesapeake
Bay.
Il was late in August when, BY dexter
ous feint, Sir Henry Clinton was deceived
aT5but the real plan Of campaign adopted by
the allies. The Americans and French were
far on their way tO,Virginia. when the Brit
ish commander discovered the truth. 1t
was too late 70 pursue the allies by land,
and the only alternative was to send rein
forcements to CORVALLIS by sea. This
would take time, however.
Washington reached Lafayette's camp at
Williamsburg on September 14th. DeGrasse
and the French feet, and three thousand
French troops that DeGrasse had embarked
/ in the West indies were already there.
Washington's arrival was made the occa
sion of great rejoicing, which lasted until
/ late at night. The troops from the vicinity
of New York arrived few days later, being
taken down the Chesapeake bay In trans
ports, while Washington and Rochambesu
| had come overland, in order to visit Mount
Vernon, which its owner had not seen for
six years.
Cornwallis did not find Yorktown a very
strong position. He threw up earthWorks,
which were protected on the right by deep
raviue, and on the left by Wormsley creek.
II was on the morning Of September 2oth
that the allied French aud American army
moved forward from Williamsburg to the
investment Of Yorktown. 1t was march
of eleven miles, and was made without any
incident worth noting. At night the troops
epcamped within mile and half OF the
enemy's position, and the following morning
they advanced still nearer, and had several
skirmishes Cornwallis now evacuated his
outworks, much to the surprise OF the allies,
but. as he claimed, in consequence OF In
formation from Sir Henry Clinton that rein
forcements would be sent on october 9TH
/ Information which determined him to save
| all his strength until they arrived.
The allied army now began regular
| siege. The French took possession on the
left from the river, and the Americans on
| the right, thus forming a semi circle. The
American wing consisted OF three divisions
Of two brigades each of Continental
| about 5000 men altogether-and OF 1000
! Virginia militia. The division commanders
were Lincoln, Lafayette and Steuoen. La
| fayette's division held the extreme right OF
the line. General Muhlenberg commanded
/ the First Brigade. General Hszen the Sec
ond. SteuOen's Brigadiers were wayne and
| Gist, and Lneoln's, James.Clinton and Day
ton. The French contingent consisted Of
seven regimen's, called by the names OF
| pourhopnafr nauvnopta SOfecOnAfe Sat