The Princeton union., 1881-08-18
TEE SURRENDER OF YORKTOWN.

Marching to the Tune .'The World Turned
Upside Down."
From Harper's Magazine.
At noon of the 18th (October) we have
the first act of surrender. Yorktown
changed hands. Two redoubts on the
left OF the enemy's works were at that hour
taken possession of by detachments from
the allied army, Col. Richard Butler com
mandlng the American and Marquis Laval
o'clock we reach the closing scene The
army of Cornwallis marched out as prison
ers OF war, grounded their arms, and then
marched back. Accounts agree in describ-
ing the display and ceremony on the oc-
caslon as quite imposing. The British ap-
peared in new uniforms, distributed among
them few days before, and it only re-
CURED the flying of their standards to give
their march the effect of holiday parade
But their colors we're cased and they were
prohibited from playing either French or
American tune. This was the return of a
compliment, a piece of justifable as well
as poetic retaliation on the part Of the
Americans for what the enemy were pleased
to command when Gen. Lincoln was COM
peDed to surrender at Charleston the year
before. The matter came up at the meet
ing OF the commissioners. "This is a
harsh article" said Ross to Laurens.
(which article?" answered the latter.
The troops shall march out with colors
cased and drums beating a British or
German march,"
Yes, sir,'' returned Laurens, with a
touch of sang froid, 1T is harsh arti-
cle."
Then" said Ross, IF that is your opin-
ion, why is it here?"
Whereupon Laurens, who had been made
prisoner at Charleston with Lincoln's army.
proceeded to remind Ross that the Ameri-
cans on that occasion had made brave
defense, but were ungallantlv refused any
honors of surrender other than to march
out with colors cased and drums not beat
ing British or g German march.
But, rejoined Ross, "my Lord Corn
wallis did not command at Charleston.
There, sir, said Laurens, ''you extort
another observation. It is not the indiyid-
ual that is here considered it is the nation.
This lemains an article or cease to be a
commissioner.
Nothing more was to be said; the article
stood, the enemy marched out with the
Colors cased, while the tune they chose to
follow was an old British march with the
quite appropriate title of ''The World
Turned Upside Down.
AS the prisoners moved out of their
works along the Hampton road they found
the French and American armies drawn up
on either side of the way, the Americans
on the right, and extending more than o
mile toward the field of surren-
der. The French troops present.
ed brilliant spectacle in their white uni
forms with plumed aud decorated officers
at their head. and gorgeous standard of
white silk, embroidered with golden fieurs-
de-lis, floating along the line. The Ameri-
cans were less of an attraction in outward
appearance, but .lot the less eagerly eyed
by their late antagonists. Among the war
worn Continentals there was variety of dress
poor at the best, distinguishing the men of
the different lines; but to compensate for
lack Of show there was soldierly bearing
about them which commanded attention.
The militia formed in their rear presented
a less martial sight SO far as clothing and
order were concerned. But all these men
were conquerors, and their general appear
ance bespoke the hardships they ana their
states had undergone to win in the struy-
gle. At the head Of the respective lines
we're the commanding generals, nobly
mounted Washington, Rochambeau, La
fayetce, Lincoln, Steuben, Knox, and the
rest. Leading the British came General
O'Hara instead of CORVALLIS. The latter
pleaded illness, but sent his sword to
O.Hara to be given up to Washington. AS
. Hara advanced to the chief, he was re-
ferred to Lincoln, who, npon receiving the
sword, as token of the enemy's submis-
sion, Immediately returned it to the Brit
ish general, whose troops then marched be-
tween the two lines to field on the right.
where they grounded their arms.