Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-07-26
SURRENDER AT YORKTOWN.
Marching 10 the Tune, "The
World Turned Upside Down.

From Harper's Magazine.
AT noon of the 18th (October) we
have the first act Of surrender. York
town changed hands. Two redoubts
on the loft of the enemy's works were
at that hour taken possession of by at
tachments from the allied army, Col.
Richard Butler commanding the
American and Marquis Laval the
French party, each of 100 men. At 2
o'clock we reach the closing scene.
The army of CORVALLIS marched out
as prisoners of war, grounded their
arms, and then marched back. Ac.
counts agree in describing the display
and ceremony on the occasion as quite
imposing. The British appeared in
new uniforms, distributed among
them a few days before, and it only
required the flying of their standards
to give their march the effect Of hol-
iday parade. But their colors were
cased aud they were prohibited from
playing either a French or an Ameri-
can tune. This was return of a
compliment, a piece ofjustifable as
well as poetic retaliation on the part
of the Americans for what the enemy
we're compelled to surrender at Char.
lesion the year before. The matter
came up at the meeting Of the Com
missioners. "This is harsh article, /"
said Ross to Laurens.
Which article?" answered the lat
ter.
THE troops shall march out with
colors cased and drums beating a
British or a German march.
Yes, sill" returned Laurens, with
touch of sang froid, 1T is a harsh
article" f"
Then, said Ross, "if that is your
opinion, why is it here?"
Whereupon Laurens, who had been
made prisoner at Charleston with Lin
coins army, proceeded to remind Ross
that the Americans on that occasion
had made a brave defense, but were
uRgallantly.refused any honors of sur
render other than to march out with
colors aud drums not beating a British
or a German march.
But" rejoined Ross, my Lord
CORVALLIS did not command at Char.
lesion"
"There, sir" said Laurens, you ex-
tort another observation. 1t is not
the individual that is here considered;
it is the nation, This remains an
article, or cease to be a commits.
sioner."
Nothing more was to be said; the
article stood, and the enemy marched
out with colors cased, while the tune
they chose to follow was an old British
march with the quiet 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 for more than mile toward
the field of surrender. The French
troops presented brilliant spectacle
in their white uniforms, with plumod
and decorated officers at their head.
and gorgeous standards of white silk,
embroidered with golden feurs-de- lis,
floating along the line. The Amer
leans were less Of an attraction in
outward appearance, but not the less
eagerly eyed by their late antagonists.
Among the war-worn Continentals
there was variety of dress, poor at the
best, distinguished the men of the
different lines; but to compensate for
lack of show there was a soldiery bear
ing about them which commanded
attention. The militia formed in their
rear presented less martial sight so
far as clothing and order were con
cerne6 But all these men were con.
querors, and their very appearance
bespoke the hardships and privation
they and their State had undergone
to win in the struggle. At the head
Of the respective lines were the COM
handing generals Washington, Ro-
chambeau, Lafayette, Lincoln, Steu.
ben, Knox and the rest. Leading
the British came General O'Hara in
stead of CORVALLIS. The latter plead
ed illness, but he sent his sword by
O'Hara to be given up toWashington.
As O'Hara advanced to the chief, he
was referred to Lincoln, who, upon
receiving the sword as a token of the
enemy's submission, Immediately re-
turned it to the British general, whose
troops then marched between two
lines to a Geld on the right, where
they grounded their arlas.