National Republican., 1881-10-22
THE HISTORIC TOWN.
WHEN YORKTOWN WAS ESTABLISHED
The Surrounding Country--Tho Story Of the Rsvo-
lutlonary Campaisn-The French Fleet on
the Town-Its Cooperation with
Our Land Forces.

Yorktown was established in 1705, and
soon became the centre of a thriving country--an
Episcopal parish Of sixty commun icants, and for
period II We'd In importance even with Williams
burg, the capital. IL Is situated upon high bluff
Of stone mari on the south bank the York about
twelve miles from Its mouth, on level plateau,
embraced by deep ravines on either side, which
nearly meet In Its rear. The river, which has an
average width above nd below Of some two miles,
Is narrowed by projecting cape, on which stood
the settlement Of Gloucester, q thriving place Of
a considerable commerce, from which most of the
tobacco grown on the north bank was shipped to
England. The surrounding country Is quite level
but between It aud Williamsburg pine forest
lines most Of the roadway relieved here and there
by occasional clearlngs which increase as they
reach the Chlckahominy.
THE STORY OF THE CAMPAIGN
OF CORVALLIS, successful at the start in which he
defeated the American Generals-Gates and
Greenc-and reduced TO subsection Georgia and the
Carolinas is familiar to all His success was to be
supplemented ns he confidently expected by tho
subjugation Of Virginia, and as II had been deter
mined both by Generals Clinton and Washing
ton, TO transfer the battle ground TO that State
defeat of the Americans would have ended the
six years struggle in favor Of the English crown
GENERAL LAFAYETTE
was the only ono who had at all rebufied the con.
quering general, although he was harassed by
steuben and Wayne so that he concluded 1t best
to secure some strong position on the Chesapeake
and continue his predatory warfare in Virginia
and Maryland. In pursuance Of these tactics the
bluhs OF tho York about Yorktown and Gloucester
about twenty four miles from Old Polut Com
fjrt-appcarng the most eligible for offensive and
defensive operations, hc evacuated Portsmouth on
the 20th of September, and on the 22d his whole
army, about 1900 strong was concentrated at these
points, and Immediately entered upon the work OF
fortiiication. His line OF works, which
COMPLETELY SURROUNDED THE VILLAGE
OF Yorktown, consisted of seven redoubts and six
batteries on the land side. connected by intrench
| ments, line of batteries OH tho river bank com.
mandng the channel, seven redoubts on the out
works. and some field works at communicating
distance to impede the approach of an enemy. A
| line OF intrenchments were also extended across
| the peninsula in the rear of Gloucester. York
| town then contninod about sixty houses md not
exceeding four hundred Inhabitants Lafayette
In the meantime was within observing distance,
but not sufficiently strong, aud strategically inds
posed to impede the progress OF fort!6cation.
| Thus the two forces confronted each other until
about the 1st OF September, $751; each awaiting re-
Inducements as both Washington and Clinton
had arranged to transfer the campaign to Vir-
| ginia soil, as has been already stated.
| THE FRENCH NAVY.
| The Count de Grasse arrived offCape Henry with
twenty eight ships and $500 troops, and reported
to Lafayette. De Grasse learning the situation,
at once dispatched four ships of the line and sew.
| eral frigates to blockade the mouth of the York
River, and landed troops to join Lafayette Corn
wallis situation was now critical, and he was not
slow TO perceive It. Ho conceived a plan for
| escaping to North Carolina, but the vigilance OF
| Lafayette prevented II; and, consoling himself
with the hope that Clinton would send him timely
aid, settled himself down to await the progress OF
events. Washington, Rochambeau, and the Mar
| quis de Chasbelleux, who had moved south from
the Hudson ''-.--
TO COOPERATE WITH LAFAYETTE,
| reached Baltimore on the Sth of September, where
the General left his associates and proceeded to
Mount Vernon. which he visited for the first time
since he had left IL to attend the Continental Con
gress In 1775, period of nearly six years and q
half on the evening of the 14th he arrived al
Williamsburg, where the colums were directed to
rendezvous, and OH the 2sth the combined armies
about 1900 strong, left Williamsburg by different
roads and marched to Yorktown. Ground wa,
broken for the first parallel on the 9th OF October
and the seige continued until the 18th, when the
commissioners met to consider articles of surren.
| der.
WHO WERE THE COMMISSIONERS.
On the part of the allies these were the Wis coun
de Noailles, q relative Of Lafayette, and Lieuten
ant Colonel Laurens. whose father, once presiden
Of Congress, was ut the moment prisoner in tn,
Tower OF London, having been captured at SEE
while on his way to negotiate loan in Holland
For the British appeared Lieutenant Colonel
Dundas and Major Ross. "Moores house." SC
9. called by reason Of being occupied by n widow
Moore, was the property OF Governor Nelson; a
frame building with brick foundation, situated IN
the midst of a level lawn, within quarter of a
mile from the river. and is, with its surrounding
grounds part Of what Is now known us the
"Temple Farm" from the fact that vestiges of a
mall temple or church, and other remains of an
ancient settlement are yet seen about mile and O
half south of Yorktowon. Thirty years ago
ToMBsToSEs WERE YET STANDING
within the temple" ruins on one of which was in.
scribed the year 1855 as the date of the death of III
occupant Moores house is of finterest to the Wis.
itor of 1881 rs being the place of meeting OF the
commissioners. The articles OF surrender were
signed by Washington, Rochnmbeau Barras, aud
De Grasse on the part OF the allies and by Corn
wallis aud Thomas Symonds, who commanded
the naval forces, on the part Of the British.
Such is a brief sketch of the memorable even
which is to be celebrated with pomp and circum
stance that has been for about two years in prepa
| ration.