Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-10-11
The ORIOLR AND YORKTOWN.
Coming Events that Are Attract
ing Attention in ALI Parts
OF the Country.

The Baltimore 0riole and York
town Centenary are now twin topics
Of conversation all over the country,
and the countless thousands who will
visit tho City Of Monuments to view
the magnificent spectacle of the three
DAYS carnival viii no doubt after
wards proceed to the historic Virginia
village to participate in the mammoth
demonstration to take place a week
later in commemoration Of the surreA-
der of Lord CORVALLIS one hundred
years ago. The descendants Of the
chiyalrous Frenchmen who aided the
Americans in the memorable siege OF
1871, and who are now coming from
their own sunny cline to take part in
the approaching Centenary, will re-
main over in Baltimore for the Oriole,
while on route for Yorktown. The
demonstrations in both places will be
interesting in the extreme, the dag
cling mystic and local tableaux Of the
Oriole bidding fair to exceed in
grandeur the great military and naval
display Of the Yorktown festival.
After the Oriole, ample accommda-
ton will be afforded visitors to reach
Virginia, various excursions being
already announced. In this connec.
ton, a brief history Of Yorktown and
the circumstances that make Infamous
will be read with interest.
The village is the capital of York
county, Virginia, and is situated on
the right bank of the York river,
about ten miles from the Chesapeake
bay. There are schools for white and
c%olored children, an Episcopal church
and two Baptist churches, the latter
colored. The town was occupied on
August l, 1871, by the British forces
under the command Of Lord Cornwall
lis. in accordance with the orders OF
Sir Henry Clinton. lord CORVALLIS,
had with him at that point his whole
army, some 5000 men. They we're
supported by several frigates and
smaller vessels of war, which were an
chored in the York river. Lord Corn
wallis fortified his position by earth
works and batteries on the land side
and also by lines OF intrenchments.
The river approach to the town was
defended by a line Of batteries. Addi-
tional notifications in the shape Of a
series Of outlying redoubts with can
non aided in making the place Seem
even more impregnable. Gloucester
Point across the river was strongly
fortified. About the last of Septem-
Der the allied French and American
with Gems. Lafayette and
Washington, marched on to Yorktown,
starting from WILLIAMSBURG on the
18th of the month. This force was
composed of about 10000 men,
1000 being French and the remaining
regulars and militia. The British
outposts we're forsaken On the
approach Of the combined forces,
and on the Both the town was
completely invested. On the 9th Of
October several heavy batterie;
opened up fire upon the place, dis
mounting many Of the enemy's guns
and destroying the next night a frigat'
and three large transports. The sec
ond parallel was opened on the nigh.
OF the 18th, the first having beer
opened on the 9th. The working par
ties were much embarrassed by
cross fire from two redoubts, and OIL
the evening of the 18th an attack wa
boldly aud successfully made upol
these works and they were include
in the parallel. The attack was mad
by two forces, one American and on
French. About one hundred of tn
latter we're killed; the American los
was much less. CORVALLIS was no
in an exceedingly critical position
He could not receive reinforcement
nor could he escape by sea, as a fee
o. thirty-seven French ships, undt
DeGrasse, was lying in Chesapeal
!, Bay. The British made a sortie upc
the 18th, which proved futile. c
) the 18th of October, Lord Cornwall
proposed to surrender, and after a sa
~isfactory arrangement Of terms he su
rendered on the 18th Of October b
whole force, comprising 7247 regul
troops, $40 sailors and LOG guns. II
total loss sustained by the besieg,
= army exceeded $50. This capitul
ton virtually decided the war {
; Independence. Yorktown was AGA
: besieged during the civil war, the b.
a tie being known as that of Chick
hominy.