Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-10-19
Yorktown.

One hundred years ago to-day occurred an
event which decided the fate of the efforts
of Great Britain to subdue the rebellion of
her North American colonies. From the day
when the "embattled farmers" stood in
ranks at Lexington and fired the shot that
was heard around the world " up to the year
1881 the patriots had experienced great vicis
STUDIES of fortune. If it could be said that
Great Britain had made no substantial
progress towards subduing her rebellious
colonists and possessing the land, it was
equally true that the patriots were as far as
ever from achieving the object to which
they had solemnly pledged their fortunes,
their lives and their sacred honor" Bunker
Hill had bequeathed to their cause its legacy
of hope and confidence. Long Island and
the dispiriting retreat to the Delaware had
been followed by the brilliant achievements
at Trenton and Princeton. Defeat at the
Brandywine and at Germantown was lighted
up by the glory of the success at Saltwater
and Saratoga. The long, dreary winter of
deprivation and hardship at Valley Forge
succeeded. Hope revived among the patriots
with the news of the French alliance and
that armies, fleets and treasure were being
dispatched from over the sea to their relief
The high anticipation of speedy aud favor
able end of the war through the agency of
of the military power of France was destined
to bitter disappointment. From 1878 to
he IF ie
by the brilliant achievements of guerrilla
Chiefs by the fortitude of the patriots under
sufferings and discouragements, by the wis
dom and steadfast purpose of Washington,
exercised and maintained under circum-
stances that would have wrecked cause
less Just and would have crushed leader
less patient, less judicious, less heroic. The
bright hopes inspired by the French alliance
had been long deferred, and three years OF
unavailing warfare with its ravages, suffer
ing, discomfort and treason had made the
brave heart of the great commander-in-chief
exceedingly sick.
A great and favorable change in the for
tunes of the patriots came in the fall of 1871,
a change due, perhaps, more to providen-
tial shaping of events than to the wisdom of
the leaders of the revolution. The transfer
of active military operations from the Hud-
SOIL to the York river was quite from the
original purpose of Washington, but the
skill and celebrity with which he changed
his plans, and adapted them to the unex-
pected opportunity presented for striking
a decisive blow in the possible capture of
Corvallis dreaded army, was one of the
most brilliant achievements in the history
of the war. From the time when, in Au-
gust, Washington's attention was turned
aside from his contemplated attack on New
York, that plan becoming henceforth
feint and Yorktown the actual objective
point of his operations, no event worthy
of note TRANSFERRED to impede the harmoni.
GUS and rapid execution of the commander
in-chiefs designs. Clinton, in New York,
was hopelessly baffled by the keenness Of the
American generals strategy; De Grasse ar
rived promptly in the York with a strong
French fleet and maintained against the
mouth of that stream the transfer of large
American division from the Hudson by
forced marches and by transports down the
Chesapeake, was accomplished in good or
der; seven regiments of French troops and
park of artillery ably commanded were
ready to cooperate, and bodies of militia,
and regular soldiers on detached service as
sembled near Yorktown to the number of
sixteen thousand. A buoyant and fraternal
feeling animated the allied army as it moved
forward from Williamsburg on the 2Sth of
September and commenced the investment
of Yorktown. From that day till the 18th
of October when CORVALLIS first displayed
from the battered parapets of the town, the
white signal of surrender, the operations of
the besiegers proceeded with consummate
skill, energy and spirit. Two days were
spent in arranging the terms of surrender.
The lordly CORVALLIS who, by the boldness
and success of his previous southern cam
paign had won from Greene the name of the
"modern Hannibal" was finally compelled
to swallow the harsh terms the British had
imposed upon Lincoln at Charleston, and
one hundred years ago at noon to-day York
town changed hands. At two o'clock the
grand finale was enacted. The humbled
British forces marched out between an i'm
posing array of French and American
troops drawn up in parallel lines, and de-
posted their arms in a field designated
for this purpose The joy, exultation
and gratitude of the Americans knew no
bounds. The event signifed the end
of hardships, the success of their cause.
We who are familiar with the transports of
joy that burst over the north when at Apo
mattax the end came in 1865, can measure
bly, realize the exultation and thanksgiving
which swelled in the hearts of the patriots
century ago to-day.
These centennial days should lead all read
ers back to the fountain head of our ma
tional history. The story Of the revolutionary
struggle should be the great American classic.
The record of its hardships, its exhibition
of unfaltering devotion to principle amid
appalling privations and misfortunes in an
unequal struggle with the first military
power on the globe should be familiar
knowledge to every American youth. We
apprehend that the history of the revolution
is not as generally read and studied as it
was. 1t is matter of doubt if our young
men and maidens as class are even meas
urably familiar with the leading events
incidantc an1 har of tbat ,,,oat .s,o...