The Russellville Democrat., 1881-10-27
YoRKTOwN's CENTENNIAL.
A Historical Sketch of the Campaign Against and Surrender of CornwaIlis
 In 1781-The eMonument--CeIe-

practically the climax Ofthe Revolutionary War. Up to that time America had apparently reaped little benefit from the alliance with France. English fleets no longer commanded the whole coast, but beyond that little had been effected; The combined operations where attempted had proved abortive, and the English. with their solid stubborn hold, exulted at each victory. s.ut q single important place had been wrestled rom their hands by the allies, although span, light ing on herown account, had taken Pensacola from the English and planted her flag once more in Florida.
 Under the impulse given by Lord Rawdon the English forces which had landed in South Carolina had oyerrun that State, and, traversing North Carolina, were on the soil Of Virginia. The American force there was too weak tu cope with disclipened troops regulars welloiicered and full of confidence. Lafayette could only ma neuvre, thwart and delay the enemy But Nir. ginia did not prove the land of promise and plenty that Cornwallis anticipated. To push on to the North through strongly patriot districts was a serious undertaking; to fall back 10 ms original base at Charleston, through sparseiy settled Sate confronted at every step by the par tisans who had recovered their elasticity and dash, as well las by an organized Continental army was no longer feasible.
 The campaign had grown tiresome. There was no enemy al hand worth fighting, not much plum der Go be gathered, so he planned with his supe- Tior officer Sir Henry Clinton, to transfer opera tions to the North where something might be done He encamped with leisurely ease at Yorktown to await the shipping which with no less leisurely red tHpe was to drift down some day and take on board the Southern English army, with it's laurels and it's pluuder.
 For moment Clinton became anxious at New York, as the armies Of Washington and Rocham- beau seemed to threaten that city, and he sent orders to Cornwalls to dispatch part of his force to his relief The Southern army was then at Portsmouth and three thousand soldiers were actually on the transports ready to sail when orders came countermanding the previous direc- tions. The arrival Of some thousands oi Hesslalls had given Clinton new coWdence, and he re solved not to weaken the army of Cornwallis He might indeed, strengthen 1t to resume the otien sve. Meanwhile, it was to take up aposition on the coast, and Clinton had designated Yorktown as far better than Portsmouth
 Supposing that the transports had actually sailed Lafayette Informed Washington of this heavy draught on CarnWalliss force, and his consequent ly comparatively weak condition, Washington had really meditated an attack on New York, with the aid of Rochambeaus army and that Of the French feet under the Count de Grasse, which was then in the West Indies The French admiral ready to cooperate with him for a time, and the commander Of the French Squa- drOon at Newport De Bars. offered to put him self under the orders Of De trasse still further to increase the forces.
 The failure of the combined arms at Newport and at Savannah taught the American and French commanders theimportanee of neglecuug nothing which could insure certain and decisive success. The plans were formed with great care and judg- ment and q time fixed for De GraSse presence al the entrance of the Chesapeake He seemed to the English too busy in the West Indies to enter into any Northern operations. Clinton saw only the danger of New York. His endorsements and the presence off fleet under Admiral Graves made him feel none too secure.
 Meanwhile, Washington, aided by a loan oi money from ROchambeau'e military chest, began his march southward. Though warned by Hes sian officer on the outposts that Washington was evidently aiming at Cornwaltis and Virginia Clinton would not believe lt. Ills army and fleet lay idle below, while the allied armies at the end of August leisurely crossed the Hudson unnoliced and unmolested and full of eXultation faced souihward. Even then Washington kept up the deluSon Of Clinton by letters which he allowed the British to intercept in New Jersey. Not till after De Grasse was ill the Chesapeake, did Clinton FAr ttr l iasaft Graves i'll haste to relieve or save Cornwallis \ man of greater ability genius than Graves would have found it hard to wiring success from such confusion. De GTasSC had landed three thousand French soldiers under the Marquis de saintSimon, who placed himself and his men under the command of the American General Lafayette, and lay with his fleet between the Capes of the Chesapeake when Graves at last appeared. A curious battle ensued-a naval engagement not to capture or destroy each others vessels but on the one side to effect an entrance 10 the pay and on the other to prevent it. There was strong temptation for the French admiral tO cause all possible damage to his antagonist but he held 10 his main object The brunt of the fighting fell on B0ugainvilc who, as Montcalm's ablest general, had struck the English many hard blow i'll Canada, aAd now won laures aS a naval com mander, Graves was SO terribly handled that he had to abandon and burn one of his ships, and at last sailed sullenly off, leaving CornWallis com pletely hemmed in by sea. So little was this eN- pected that the first boat that put out from the shore of Virginia, when De Grasses fleet anchor ed in the Chesapeake, bore Tory who asked to be introduced Co Lord Rodney, and the French ad mirals dessert was made up Of dainties intended for his British rival,
 Curnwallis saw Lafayette's armies well by Saint -Simon's and Waynes s forces nearly to his own numbers, and De Barras fleet arrive with heavy siege guns to menace his position. Affairs began to look OminOusly serious. The allied armies had marched down through Jersey, cross ed the DcleWare, and before all the divisions passed Philadelphia, news came that De GrasSe with his fleet of twenty eight ships, was in the Chesapeake and had landed three thousand men 4tia yrlL ns Ia raj m WNf around the house of the French Ambassador 10 cheer and hurrah in anticipation Of victory Regiment afterregiment now of splendldly uni formed French veterans now or tdttered Cont nentials or militia in every guise marched on till all enCamped at the Head of Elk stream NOW- ing into the Chesapeake, from which they were to be conveyed by water tO the scene Of action
 Washington, leaving ROchambeuu ut Baltimore went on 10 Mount Vernon, which he had not seen for more than six years Here the trench general joined him, and the two commanders proceeded with their stafiS tO Williamsburg. Meanwhile the boats and light vessels ofthc French Fleet had been rapidly transporting the army To its destination. "The Chesapeake bay is n small Mediterranean writes Q French officer, and some immense rivers empty into 1t, which bears the largest shipe.'
 on the 17th of September Washington writes:
 In company with Count de Rochumbesu, the Cheyallier dc ChastcueuN, General Knox and General Dupurtau, set out for an interview with the admiral and arrived on board the Vile de Paris (oT Cape Henry the next day about noon and, having settled most points with him tO my satisfaction, except not obtaining assurance Of fk, ] the queen Charlotte the vessel l went down on, but by reason of hard blowing and contrary winds, dld not reach Williamsburg again till the 22d"
 All was now arranged for the siege of Lord COuWalis in Yorktown He resolved to do his utmost for an obstinate defense, hoping almost against hope for relief by land or water. York town had been well fortified, but two rcdOubts that he had thrown up at some distance Were now abandoned The Notifications were earth works, redoubts and batteries on the right with n nf sf i SlUnOFtH0 nigh pRrapet Over marshly rayine in front of the right was a large redOuht; the morass was defended by a stockade and batteries. Two small redoubts had been thrown up in front Of the lett. The ground in front of the works, cut up in many places by rayines, was difficult Of approach.
 The Count de Grasse kept his fleet off the capcs, for he felt that Rodney might appear at any mo- ment, and he was already irettng at the delay. No time, therefore was to be lost in pushing the siege operations. AS the bcSieglng army took po- sitOn before Yorktown, the French were on the left SaiutSimons troops brought by De GuSse from the West Indies, being at the extreme of the line, then the French light infantry under Baron Niomenil, with the brilliant officers, NiscOunt Viomenil Duke de Laval MontmorQnti, Count DeuXpent and Count Castine. Around the quarters Of Washington and Rochamheau, in the centre, were the French artillery. On the right across the marsh. were the American trooTs, Knox with his artillery. Steuben with the Nir- ginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania line; Clinton with the men of New York, Jersey and Rhode Island; Lafayette with height infantry, among them Hazens Canadians, and then on the eX trtme right General Nelson with the Virginia militia
 De Lauzon, with his cavalry, was watching the British horse at Gloucester. At last be got q chance Co strike blow as he came mp With Tar teton. With q laugh these gay trenehmen rode down the British troopers. Iarleton was wounded and unhorsed, and narrowly escaped capture The man whose cruelty and rdpine had made him dreaded throughout the country lost all his pres
 On the dark and stormy evening of october Gth the first parallel was commenced within six hun