Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-08-13
NORTHERN TRIBUNE,
SATURDAY. AUGUST Is. 1881.
THE YORKTOWN SURRENDER.
An Imposing Ceremony which made
us a Nation.


From Harpers Magazine.
At noon of the 10th of 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 attachments
from the allied army. Col. Richard But
Ter commanded the American and the
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, ground
ed 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 few
ing of their standards to give their march
the effect of holiday parade. But their
cOlOrs were cased, and they were prOhib-
tied from playing either French or an
American tune. This was the return of
a compliment, piece of justifable as
we'll as poetic retaliation on the part of
the Americans for what the enemy were
pleased to command when Gen. Lincoln
was compelled to surrender at Charles
ton the year before. The matter came
up at the meeting of the commissioners.
"This is harsh article" said Ross to
Laurens.
(which article?" answered the latter.
"The troops shall march out, NTH coIors
cased, and drums beating a British or
German march"
"Yes, sir" returned Laurens, with
touch of sang troid, lit is harsh ar
ticle."
"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 brave defense, but were ungal-
lantly refused any hOnOrs of surrender,
other than to march out with cOlOrs cas-
ed and drums not beating British or a
German march.
But" rejoined Ross, my Lord Corn
wallis did not command at Charleston"
There, SIR, said Laurens, you extOrt
another observation. 1t is not the indi-
vidual that is here considered; it is the
nation. This remains an article, or l
cease to be a commissioner"
Nothing more was to be said; the ar
ticle Stood and the enemy marched out
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 their right, and extending
for more than mile toward the field of
surrender. The French troops presented
brilliant spectacle in their white uni
forms, with plumed and decorated Off
GERS at their head, and gorgeous stand
ards of white silk. embroidered with
golden .feurs-de-lis, floating along the
line. The Americans were less Of an at
traction in outward appearance, but not
the less eagerly eyed by their late an
tagonists. Among the war-wOrn CONT
nentals there was variety of dress, poor
at the best, distinguishing the men of
different lines; but, to compensate for
lack of show, there was sOldierly bear
ing about them which commanded at
tentiOn. The militia formed in their
rear presented less martial sight, so
far as clothing and order were conquer
Ors, and their very appearance bespoke
the hardships and privatiOn they and
their states had undergone to win in the
struggle. At the head Of the respective
lines were the commanding generals,
nObly Observation-Disclosures, ROcham-
beau, La Fayette, Lincoln, Stueben, Knox
and the rest. Leading the British came
Gen. O'Hara instead of CORVALLIS. The
latter pleaded illness, but he sent his
sword by O'Hara to be given up to WASH
ingtOn. 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 the two
lines to field on the right, where they
grounded their arms.
The time TO kill trees.
rIha Drairia To rraar On xrc thaf tho lanf