Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-09-17

Ge= George 4Eashlnglon's First
Official Announcement
Of the Event.

WASHINGTON, September THE
correspondence which led to the sur
render Of Yorktown is to be found in
more than one Of the histories Of the
Revolution and its battle fields; but
it seems TO have happened, so far as ]
have been able to ascertain, the. they
have all omitted the dispatch of Gen.
Washington TO the President of Con-
gress, in which he announces the sur
render, and congratulates that body
upon the suspicious event. As every
important paper connected with that
browning mercy in the struggle for
independence viii be read with avid
ity on the eve of the approaching CEN
tennial anniversary, this official an
nouncement from the Commander-in.
Chief of the fatal blow which had
been given to British powery'On this
continent cannot fail to attract atten.
ton. | find it in the Pennsylvania
Packet of October %, 1881, which
rare journal is boarded up among the
vast literary treasures of the Congress
sional Library. The document, with
the Introductory statement from the
Packet, is as follows:
ION the 18th instant a letter was
received from Lord CORVALLIS, pro-
posing a meeting Of Commissioners to
consult on the terms fonthe surrender
Of the ports Of York and Gloucester.
This letter (the first which had passed
between us) opened a correspondence:
A copy Of which l do myself the honor
to enclose; that correspondence was
followed by the definite capitulation,
which was agreed to and signed on the
10Th: Copy Of which is also herewith
transmitted, and which | hope will
meet the appreciation of Congress.
II should be wanting in the feelings
Of gratitude did l not mention on this
occasion, with the warmcst sense ac-
acknowledgements, the very cheerful and
able assistance which | have received
in the course Of our operations from
His Excellency, Count de ROcham-
beau, and all his officers of every rank
in their respective capacities. Moth
ing could equal this zeal of our allies
but the emulating spirit Of the Ameri-
can officers, whose ardour would not
suffer their exertions to be exceeded.
PHILADELPHIA, 0oto. Is.
This morning Colonel Tilghman,
Aid. de- Camp to His Exoellency, our
illustrious Commander-in CHIEF, ar
rived in town with the following Dis
patches to the President Of Congress:
"~HEADQUARTRRs, Nav YohE, 1Oth 0ct., I7s1.
SIR have the honour to inform
Congress that a reduction Of the Brit
ish army under the command of Lord
CORVALLIS is most happily effected.
The unremitting ardour which actu-
ated every officer and soldier in the
combined army, on this occasion, has
principally led to this important
event, at an earlier period than my
most sanguine hopes had induced me
to expect.
"The singular spirit Of emulation
which animated the whole army, from
the first commencement Of our opera
tons, has filed my mind with the
highest pleasure and satisfaction, and
had given me the happiert prestige Of
success.
THE very uncommon degree of duty
and fatigue which the nature of the
service required from the officers oil
engineers and artillery Of both armies
obliges me particularly to mention
the obligations l am under to th,
commanding and other officers Of those
corps.
IL wish it was in my power to ex.
press to Congress how much | fee
myself indebted to the Count dc
Grasse and the officers Of the feet
under his command, for the distin.
guished aid and support which ha;
been afforded by them, between whom
and the army the most happy concur.
renee of sentiments and views have
subsisted, and from whom every pos.
sible CO. operation has been expert.
enced, which the most harmonious
A"ulClCOuiSC COulu duUIu.
Returns Of the prisoners, military
stores, ordnance, shipping, and Other
matters, | shall do myself the honor
to transmit to Congress as soon rs
they can be collected by the heads Of
the departments to which they belong
Colonel Laurens and the Viscount
de NOailles, on the part of the com.
bined army, were the gentlemen who
acted as Commissioners for formin|
and settling the terms of capitulatioI
and surrender herewith transmitted
to whom | am particularly obliged fol
their readiness and attention exhibit
ed on the occasion.
Colonel Tilghman, one of my aid
de camp, will have the honor to de
liver these dispatches to Your Excel
lency; he will be able to inform you O
every minute circumstance which il
not particularly mentioned in my let
ter; his merits, which. are too wei
known to need any observations Al
this time, have gained my particular
attention, and | could wish that They
may be honoured by the notice Of
Your Excellency =ad Congress.
Your Excellency and Congress
will be pleased TO accept my congratu.
lations on this happy event, and be.
lieve me to be, with the highest respect
and esteem, sir, Your Excellency'l
most obedient humble servant,
&c. WASHINGTON.
"His Excellency the President of Con.
''gress.
up. S.-Tho' l am not possessed Of
the particular returns, yet | have
reason to suppose that the number Of
prisoners will be between five and siz
hundred, exclusive Of seameR and
Others"
The foregoing is copied verbatim.
There seems to be a word omitted in
the fourth paragraph. Mr.. Spofford
the Librarian Of Congress, thinks THU
dispatch has not bsen republished il
any Of the histories. He says it OK
lists in one other publication contem,
pcrary with the events.
Brother Gardner on Some Mis-.
takes.
Detroit Free Prsss.l